English Reading Comprehension For Grade 5 Children

• Passage-1: My Nephew
• Passage-2: Bu-cola
• Passage-3: Yusri and Yusra
• Passage-4: Mother
• Passage-5: Pangolins
• Passage-6: Earthquakes
• Passage-7: When Your Time Comes
• Passage-8: Collecting Fossils
• Passage-9: The Bicycle
• Passage-10: The Egg and the Bottle
• Passage-11: Sasha’s Night Alone
• Passage-12: About The Cat
• Passage-13: Isle Of Jormuguar
• Passage-14: Shoes: Taking One Step at A Time

Passage 7 - When Your Time Comes

Read the following passage carefully.

[1]

Dane lived with his grandfather. They shared a unique relationship. They were always seen together – Dane with his thick crop of hair and his grandfather with dark glasses and trusty walking stick. The two seemed inseparable and their bond was strengthened by a passion they shared. Whether eating in a restaurant or shopping for groceries, their topic of conversation was always the same – Football.

[2]

Soon after starting secondary school, Dane joined the school football team. Although he was only selected as a reserve player, he practised hard in the hope that one day he would be picked for the first – team.

[3]

All through secondary school Dane dreamed of being a first - team player, yet he remained a substitute. Sometimes he would replace an injured player or a teammate who had run out of steam, but he was never chosen to start. Determined to become a better footballer, he asked his coach for advice and studied videos of his favourite players. His grandfather was supportive and always ready with words of encouragement. He went with Dane to every game, hoping that his grandson would be picked to play.

[4]

Dane continued to dream. When he went to the university, he tried out for the football team there. Yet again, he was selected as a reserve player. The coach admitted he was impressed with Dane's enthusiasm and felt sure that his dedication would inspire the rest of the team. His grandfather was excited when Dane told him about this and, like before, made a point of being at every game with his grandson. But still, Dane was never picked to start.

[5]

One day, near the end of his first year at university, Dane trotted onto the field to practice with his teammates. His coach handed him a note. "What's this?" Dane asked. "I don't know," replied the coach. "Your tutor asked me to give it to you.”

[6]

Curiously, Dane opened the folded piece of paper and read the message written on it. He turned pale. “My grandfather ... passed away this morning,” he whispered. “Is it alright if I miss practice today?” The coach looked sadly at Dane and put an arm around his shoulders. “Of course, it's alright, " he said kindly. “There are more important things than football. I'll find someone to take you home. And don't worry about the game on Saturday. Have some time off. I'm really sorry about your grandfather," he added. “Thank you, “said Dane,” but I'll be here as usual for the game. Grandfather would have wanted that. "

[7]

And so Saturday arrived, but the game was not going well for Dane's team. They were two goals behind at half - time and the captain had twisted his ankle. The coach didn't know what to do. “Put me on,” said Dane. “Are you sure you can play? You don't have to,” the coach said. “I’m sure. Just put me on," replied Dane. The coach thought for a moment and then made the change. Dane jogged onto the field, while the coach went to get some ice for the injured ankle.

[8]

The game restarted and soon the spectators were cheering wildly. They could not believe their eyes. The substitute, who had never been picked to start a game, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. Dane's team began to take control and levelled the score at 2-2. In the closing minutes Dane got the ball. He raced past two defenders. The cheering was thunderous as he moved forward and smashed the ball past the goalkeeper. It was the winning goal. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders in celebration.

[9]

After the game, the coach patted Dane on the back and said, “You were fantastic today! You'll be in the first - team from now on! How did you do it?" Dane looked at his coach with tears in his eyes and replied, “You know that my grandfather died, but did you know that he was blind?" He swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Grandfather came to all my games, but perhaps today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!”

[10]

Thus began Dane’s very illustrious career in football. He was always practicing and playing the game, and soon made it to the national team. He came to be regarded as a role model for youngsters as he had worked his way right from the bottom with sheer determination. He gave talks in schools and appeared on TV shows. He became hugely popular and well-known. However, he never forgot how his grandfather played a significant role in his growth as a football star.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

From paragraph 1

1. Which of the options below is NOT a synonym for unique (line 1) as used in this paragraph? Write the corresponding letter in the box given.
a) special
b) elite
c) extraordinary
d) distinctive

2. Which word later in this paragraph continues the idea of the words in italics ‘They were always seen together’

From paragraph 2

3. What did Dane hope would happen in the future? Write no more than 8 words in your answer.

4. How old do you think Dane was when he joined the school football team?

From paragraph 3

5. What do you think 'run out of steam' means?

From paragraph 4

6. “... he was selected as a reserve player. "
Pick out and write down another word used in this paragraph that has the same meaning as ‘selected’. (Your answer should be a single word.)

7. State two qualities that Dane had that the coach appreciated.

From paragraph 6

8. Do you think Dane was shocked after reading the note? Explain how you know this.

9. "... the coach went to get some ice for the injured ankle."
Why do you think he did this?

From paragraph 8

10. How many goals did Dane's team score in this game?

11. How can we tell that the people watching the game were excited?

From paragraph 9

12. What had Dane's grandfather been unable to do when he was alive?

From paragraph 10

13. Why was Dane regarded as a role model for youngsters?

14. Which of the following words can be a substitute for the word in italics in the phrase ‘……right from the bottom with sheer determination.’
Write the letter of the answer in the box given.
a) fine
b) steep
c) pure
d) transparent

Answer Scheme

1. Which of the options below is NOT a synonym for unique (line 1) as used in this paragraph?
a) special
b) elite
c) extra ordinary
d) distinctive
Answer is b) elite

2. Which word later in this paragraph continues the idea of the words in italics ‘They were always seen together’
The word is ‘inseparable’

3. What did Dane hope would happen in the future? Write no more than 8 words in your answer.
= Dane hoped that he would one day he would be picked for the first-team in his school football team.

4. How old do you think Dane was when he joined the school football team?
= Dane was at least 13 years old when he joined the school football team.

5. What do you think 'run out of steam' means?
= ‘Run out of steam’ means to have gotten extremely exhausted and having no energy left.

6. " ... he was selected as a reserve player. "
Pick out and write down another word used in this paragraph that has the same meaning as ‘selected’. (Your answer should be a single word.)
= The word is ‘picked’.

7. State two qualities that Dane had that the coach appreciated.
The qualities are ‘enthusiasm’ and ‘dedication’.

8. Do you think Dane was shocked after reading the note? Explain how you know this.
= Yes, he was shocked because he turned pale as soon as he read the note.

9. " ... the coach went to get some ice for the injured ankle. "
Why do you think he did this?
= The coach went to get some ice to prevent or reduce the swelling on the injured ankle.

10. How many goals did Dane's team score in this game?
= Dane’s team scored 3 goals in the game.

11. How can we tell that the people watching the game were excited?
= The people watching the people were excited because their cheering was thunderous and wild.

12. What had Dane's grandfather been unable to do when he was alive?
= Dane’s grandfather had been unable to watch Dane play football when he was alive.

13 Why was Dane regarded as a role model for youngsters?
This is because he had worked his way right from the bottom with great determination.

14. Which of the following words can be a substitute for the word in italics in the phrase ‘……right from the bottom with sheer determination.’? Write the letter of the answer in the box given.
a) Fine
b) Steep
c) Pure
d) transparent
The answer is c) pure.