Who Is Serena Williams?
Lexile: 600 | Grade: 3
Passage
Serena Williams is one of the greatest tennis players in the world. She has won more Grand Slam tournaments than almost any other player in history. But her journey to success wasn’t easy.
Serena was born in Michigan in 1981 and grew up in California. She started playing tennis with her older sister Venus when they were very young. Their father, Richard, taught them how to play on old, cracked tennis courts near their house. They didn’t have fancy clothes or expensive equipment, but they worked hard every day.
Serena became known for her powerful serve and strong will. She played her first major tournament when she was just 14 years old. She kept training and practicing, even when people said she wouldn’t make it.
Over the years, Serena has won many championships and Olympic gold medals. She is also known for speaking out about fairness in sports and standing up for women and people of color.
Today, Serena inspires kids and adults around the world. She shows that with hard work, confidence, and determination, you can reach your dreams—no matter where you start.
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.
Questions
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
- A. Serena Williams and her sister never played tennis together.
- B. Serena Williams is a tennis champion who worked hard to reach her goals.
- C. Serena Williams stopped playing tennis when she was 14.
- D. Serena Williams only won one gold medal.
Q2: What sport does Serena Williams play?
- A. Soccer
- B. Tennis
- C. Basketball
- D. Gymnastics
Q3: What does the word 'determination' mean in the last paragraph?
- A. Giving up easily
- B. Playing with friends
- C. Never quitting, even when it’s hard
- D. Changing your mind often
Q4: How did Serena first learn to play tennis?
- A. From a coach at a tennis club
- B. From reading books about tennis
- C. From her father on public courts
- D. From watching TV
Q5: Why do people find Serena Williams inspiring?
- A. She plays with her dog on the court
- B. She won every match she played
- C. She shows how hard work and confidence can lead to big success
- D. She never trained or practiced
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.
Answers & Reasoning
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage describes Serena’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s best tennis players through hard work.
Q2: What sport does Serena Williams play?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage states multiple times that Serena is a tennis player.
Q3: What does the word 'determination' mean in the last paragraph?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Serena didn’t quit, even when people didn’t believe in her. That shows determination.
Q4: How did Serena first learn to play tennis?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage says her father taught her and her sister on cracked tennis courts.
Q5: Why do people find Serena Williams inspiring?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage highlights how she worked hard, overcame challenges, and inspires others through her actions.
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.