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Reading Worksheets | Fifth Grade Reading Worksheets - Free Printable

Reading Worksheets | Fifth Grade Reading Worksheets

Educational worksheet: Reading Worksheets | Fifth Grade Reading Worksheets. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.

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Here is the solution to the Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet titled “The Otter Family” by Arabella Buckley, with clear explanations for each answer.

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1. What was Tom doing at five o’clock in the morning?

Answer:
Tom was examining the traps set for weasels, stoats, and other vermin.

Explanation:
The very first sentence of the story says: *“About five o’clock one fine morning in May, Tom, the gamekeeper's son, was examining the traps set for weasels, stoats, and other vermin.”* This directly answers the question.

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2. What did Tom hear?

Answer:
Tom heard a strange whistling noise.

Explanation:
The text states: *“...as he came near it he heard a strange whistling noise.”* The next sentence explains that Tom knew this cry came from an otter parent fishing with their young — so the sound was made by otters.

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3. Did Tom know the home of the otters?

Answer:
Yes, Tom knew the home of the otters.

Explanation:
The story says: *“Just below the bridge, where the bank was very high, there grew an old willow tree, and a big hole between its strong roots. Now Tom knew that this hole was the home of some otters.”* This clearly shows Tom recognized the location as the otters’ den.

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4. What were otters doing?

Answer:
The otters were swimming in the river, then climbing up onto the island to eat fish they had caught.

Explanation:
The passage describes: *“By-and-by on came the otters, swimming smoothly along... So one by one they scrambled up on the island, each with a fish in its mouth. Then they each took hold of their fish with their front feet, and began to eat...”* They later went back to fish again.

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5. What did otters eat and how?

Answer:
Otters ate fish. They held the fish with their front feet and ate them just behind the head, sometimes tearing pieces off with their teeth.

Explanation:
The text says: *“...each with a fish in its mouth. Then they each took hold of their fish with their front feet, and began to eat just behind the head.”* It also mentions: *“The father tore the fish with his teeth quite fiercely, and sometimes threw small pieces to the young ones.”*

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6. How did Tom give the description of the otter?

Answer:
Tom described the otter based on what he observed while watching them eat — including their long bodies, broad flat heads, short broad mouths and noses, webbed feet with sharp claws, soft brown fur, and thick strong tails.

Explanation:
The story says: *“While they were eating, Tom could see what they were like. They had long bending bodies, and broad, flat heads, and their mouths and noses were short and broad. Their feet were webbed like duck’s feet, but each foot had very sharp claws at the end. Their fur was a lovely soft brown. Their tails were thick and strong.”* This shows Tom was observing them closely and describing their physical features as he saw them.

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Summary of Key Skills Used:
- Literal comprehension – finding direct answers in the text.
- Inference – understanding that the whistling noise came from otters.
- Detail recall – remembering specific descriptions and actions.
- Observation-based reasoning – recognizing that Tom described otters based on watching them.

This worksheet helps students practice close reading and extracting information accurately from a narrative text.

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Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 5th grade reading worksheet with answer key.
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