Reading Comprehension - 5th Grade Worksheets - Free Printable

It looks like you've uploaded a reading comprehension worksheet titled "April Fools" by Kelly Hashway, which explains the origin of April Fools' Day. Since this is a text-based worksheet with no actual image to view, I’ll help you understand and solve the likely tasks associated with it — such as answering questions, summarizing the passage, or identifying key details.

Let’s go through the content of the passage and then provide a step-by-step explanation of what the task might be and how to solve it.

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🔍 Summary of the Passage:

The article explains the origin of April Fools’ Day, focusing on historical changes in the calendar:

1. Historical Context:
- In the past, people celebrated New Year’s Day on April 1st.
- In the 1500s, the calendar was changed, and New Year’s Day moved to January 1st.
- However, because news traveled slowly, many people didn’t hear about the change and continued celebrating on April 1st.

2. Origin of the Name “April Fools”:
- Those who still celebrated on April 1st were mocked and called “April fools”.
- People who followed the new calendar began playing pranks on them, such as sending fake invitations to "April fool’s" parties.

3. Traditions Around the World:
- In France, the prank is called "Poisson d’Avril" (April Fish), because fish are easy to catch and fool.
- Children would attach a paper fish to someone’s back and yell "Poisson d’Avril!" when discovered.

4. Illustrations in the Worksheet:
- There are two cartoon images:
- One shows kids with signs saying “School Canceled!” and “Don’t forget your lunch!” — suggesting pranks.
- Another shows a girl pointing at a boy whose shoelace is untied, with the caption “Your shoe lace is untied!” — a classic prank.

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✔ Likely Task(s) on the Worksheet:

Since this is a reading comprehension worksheet, common tasks include:

#### 1. Answering Comprehension Questions
Example questions might be:

- Why did some people celebrate New Year's Day on April 1st?
→ Because they didn’t know the calendar had changed.

- What happened to people who still celebrated on April 1st?
→ They were called “April fools” and became targets of jokes.

- How did the tradition of “Poisson d’Avril” start?
→ Because people were easily fooled, like catching a fish, so children would put a paper fish on their backs.

- Why did the name “April Fools’ Day” come about?
→ Because people who clung to the old date were mocked for being foolish.

#### 2. Vocabulary Practice
Words like:
- *calendar* – a system for organizing days
- *resisted* – refused to accept the change
- *prank* – a joke or trick
- *tradition* – a custom passed down over time

#### 3. Main Idea & Details
- Main Idea: April Fools’ Day originated from a calendar change in the 1500s.
- Supporting Details: Old celebration date, slow communication, mocking of late adopters, French fish tradition.

#### 4. Making Inferences
- Why do you think people started playing tricks on April 1st?
→ To tease those who were behind the times.

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🧠 How to Solve It Step-by-Step:

1. Read the passage carefully — pay attention to cause-and-effect relationships.
2. Identify key facts:
- When the calendar changed.
- Who was called “April fools.”
- How pranks evolved.
3. Look at the illustrations — they support the text and show examples of pranks.
4. Answer questions using evidence from the text — quote or paraphrase.
5. Use context clues for unfamiliar words.

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✔ Example Answer (if asked: "Why is April Fools’ Day celebrated on April 1st?")

> April Fools’ Day is celebrated on April 1st because, in the 1500s, the calendar changed and New Year’s Day moved to January 1st. Some people didn’t hear about the change and kept celebrating on April 1st. Others made fun of them, calling them “April fools.” Over time, playing pranks on that day became a tradition.

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📌 Final Tip:

If you’re completing this worksheet, make sure to:
- Write in complete sentences.
- Use information directly from the passage.
- Check your spelling and grammar.

Let me know if you’d like help with specific questions or want a printable answer key!