Grade 4 Comprehension 1.
The Magical Farm
Luke's father is a farmer. To be more precise, his dad is a fruit‐and‐vegetable farmer. Instead of cows, pigs, sheep, and horses, Luke's house is surrounded by corn, squash, lettuce, and tomatoes. Luke does not mind that, there are not any animals. In fact, he likes living on a fruit‐and vegetable farm much better. If you asked Luke, he would say that a fruit‐and‐vegetable farm is magical."What do you mean, magical?" Luke's friend Tom asked one day."Well, it's like this," said Luke. "My dad casts a spell, and soon enough the fruits and vegetables appear where there used to be bare dirt!" Now, Luke knows that this is not really magic. But all the same, he feels it is pretty special that his dad is able to create something as grand as a corn field where there used to be nothing.
Sometimes, Luke sets his alarm clock, so he can wake up before the sunrise, too. He eats cereal with his dad and asks him what spells he is going to cast. "I'm planting tomatoes today, son," Luke's father explained. "Tomatoes ripen best in very hot summer heat, so I need to plant the seeds early in spring. That way there will be tall, healthy tomato vines once August arrives."
"How do you make sure the vines grow tall and healthy?" Luke asked.
"They grow strong when you give them care and attention and have a little bit of hope," his father laughed. "Can I help?" Luke begged.
"Of course!" exclaimed his father. So on days Luke did not have school, he helped his father, and Luke learned more about his dad's magical work. Luke learned that a tomato plant indeed needs a lot of care. He spent one whole day in the early June sun, sinking wooden stakes into the ground by young tomato sprouts. After the tomato vines had grown a little taller, Luke tied them to the stakes, so that they would not topple over and lose their special fruit. "The tomatoes sure need a lot of attention!" Luke exclaimed one late afternoon. He had been double and triple tying the vines, because the weatherman had predicted wind and rain for that night. Luke's father wanted to make sure his tomatoes did not get blown over in the storm. "Most worthwhile things do require a lot of attention, Luke," replied his father with a smile.
"What do you mean?" asked Luke. "Well," said his father, standing up straight and wiping the sweat from his forehead. "We should pay close attention to things that make our lives better." "That is why you pay attention to Mom?" asked Luke. "Yes," replied his father. "I pay close attention to you and Mom, because you both make my life better. You both make me very happy." The rest of Luke's work that day went by a lot quicker. Taking care of the tomato plants, Luke imagined he was taking care of his mom and dad. With a little bit of family magic and a lot of attention, Luke was certain these would be the most beautiful tomatoes he had ever seen once August arrived.
Read the given passage and answer the following questions:
1. What kind of farmer is Luke's dad?
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2. Luke's father pays a lot of attention to his son.
What evidence from the story supports this statement?
A Luke's father is a fruit-and-vegetable farmer.
B Luke's father says that most worthwhile things require a lot of attention.
C Luke's father pays a lot of attention to Luke's mother.
D Luke's father listens to his son's questions and answers them.
3. What is Luke's opinion of the work his father does?
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4. "Luke's father is a farmer. To be more precise, his dad is a fruit-and vegetable farmer." Why does the author start the second sentence with the words, "To be more precise"? Explain this sentence in your own words.
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5. Why is Luke certain that the tomato plants he is working with will become "the most beautiful tomatoes he had ever seen" once August arrives?
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Directed writing:
Imagine you are Luke from the passage. Write a letter to your friend about your father's farm.
· Why do you think your farm is magical?
· How did you help your father in the farm?
· What lesson did you learn from your father's advice?
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