Compare Stories in Same Genre Practice Test
•8 QuestionsRead the two mystery story excerpts, then answer the question.
Story 1: “The Locker Rattle”
Yuki heard it again—tap, tap, tap—coming from locker 214. It was after band practice, and the hallway was nearly empty. Her hands shook, but she stepped closer anyway.
A slip of paper was wedged in the vent: MEET ME AT THE COURTYARD.
Yuki swallowed. She could ignore it, but the sound had been bothering her all week. She opened the locker with her friend Carlos watching.
Inside was a small wind-up toy bird, clicking its beak. Beneath it lay a lost-and-found tag with the name “Mrs. Grant.”
Carlos pointed. “That’s the music teacher’s tag.”
Yuki marched to Mrs. Grant’s room and placed the bird on the desk. “Someone hid this,” she said. “I wanted you to know.”
Mrs. Grant smiled with relief. “Thank you for being brave enough to bring it.”
Story 2: “The Quiet Clue”
Maya noticed the strange thing during science lab: every time the class left the room, the thermometer on the window ledge moved a few inches.
She felt nervous, but she didn’t rush in. She watched for two days, writing down times and who was in the room. On the third day, she stayed behind to sharpen her pencil.
A breeze slipped under the window. The latch was loose.
Maya didn’t shout. She tightened the latch and placed a tiny piece of tape over it. After class, she showed her notes to Mr. Hill.
“So the window was shifting it,” Mr. Hill said.
Maya nodded. “I was scared I’d look silly. I waited until I was sure.”
Both mystery stories explore courage. How do the characters in the two stories show courage differently?
Read the two mystery story excerpts, then answer the question.
Story 1: “The Locker Rattle”
Yuki heard it again—tap, tap, tap—coming from locker 214. It was after band practice, and the hallway was nearly empty. Her hands shook, but she stepped closer anyway.
A slip of paper was wedged in the vent: MEET ME AT THE COURTYARD.
Yuki swallowed. She could ignore it, but the sound had been bothering her all week. She opened the locker with her friend Carlos watching.
Inside was a small wind-up toy bird, clicking its beak. Beneath it lay a lost-and-found tag with the name “Mrs. Grant.”
Carlos pointed. “That’s the music teacher’s tag.”
Yuki marched to Mrs. Grant’s room and placed the bird on the desk. “Someone hid this,” she said. “I wanted you to know.”
Mrs. Grant smiled with relief. “Thank you for being brave enough to bring it.”
Story 2: “The Quiet Clue”
Maya noticed the strange thing during science lab: every time the class left the room, the thermometer on the window ledge moved a few inches.
She felt nervous, but she didn’t rush in. She watched for two days, writing down times and who was in the room. On the third day, she stayed behind to sharpen her pencil.
A breeze slipped under the window. The latch was loose.
Maya didn’t shout. She tightened the latch and placed a tiny piece of tape over it. After class, she showed her notes to Mr. Hill.
“So the window was shifting it,” Mr. Hill said.
Maya nodded. “I was scared I’d look silly. I waited until I was sure.”
Both mystery stories explore courage. How do the characters in the two stories show courage differently?