Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet: A Lesson in Manners
Let's go through the story and answer each question with clear explanations.
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Story Summary
The story is about a man who brings gifts (a duck, then a quail, then a rabbit) to Dean Swift from his neighbor, Mr. Boyle. The man behaves rudely—handing off the gifts without ceremony and speaking roughly. The servant complains that he has no manners. When the man comes again with a rabbit, the Dean decides to teach him a lesson in manners. He pretends to be the man and knocks gently at the door. The man opens it, bows, and speaks politely. The Dean teaches him that proper etiquette involves respect and politeness. From then on, the man becomes courteous, and the Dean gives him a tip as a reward.
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Answer the Questions
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1. Why did a man come at the Dean Swift’s home?
Answer:
The man came to deliver presents from Mr. Boyle, who was a sporting neighbor and an admirer of Dean Swift.
Explanation:
The first sentence says, *"A man handed her a fine duck and said, 'Here's a present for the Dean. It's from Mr. Boyle.'"* This shows the man was delivering gifts sent by Mr. Boyle.
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2. Who had sent the presents?
Answer:
Mr. Boyle sent the presents.
Explanation:
The man clearly states, *"It's from Mr. Boyle,"* when handing over the duck. Later, he says, *"Here's a rabbit from Mr. Boyle,"* confirming Mr. Boyle is the sender.
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3. What did he do when the man came with a present?
Answer:
He behaved rudely—tossing the gift into the servant’s arms and speaking roughly.
Explanation:
When the man brought the quail, he said, *"Here's something else for the Dean,"* and *"tossed it into the servant's arms."* The servant comments, *"That fellow has no manners,"* showing his rude behavior.
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4. How did the Dean Swift teach him the manners?
Answer:
The Dean taught him manners by role-playing: he pretended to be the man bringing the gift, knocked gently, bowed, and spoke politely. Then, the real man opened the door and had to respond with proper manners.
Explanation:
The Dean said, *"Just step inside and make believe that you are Dean Swift. I will go out and make believe that I am bringing him a present."* He then acted like the delivery man, knocking gently and bowing. The man, now in the position of receiving the gift, responded politely. This role reversal made the man realize how to behave properly.
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5. Who was the Dean Swift and why was he famous?
Answer:
Dean Swift was Jonathan Swift, a famous writer. He was famous because he wrote books such as *Gulliver’s Travels*.
Explanation:
The last sentence of the story says, *"Jonathan Swift, often called Dean Swift, was famous as a writer. Among other books he wrote 'Gulliver's Travels.'"* This tells us his full name and his literary fame.
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
Why did a man come at the Dean Swift’s home?
→ To deliver presents from Mr. Boyle.
2.
Who had sent the presents?
→ Mr. Boyle.
3.
What did he do when the man came with a present?
→ He tossed the gift into the servant’s arms and spoke roughly.
4.
How did the Dean Swift teach him the manners?
→ By pretending to be the delivery man and acting politely, making the man experience proper manners firsthand.
5.
Who was the Dean Swift and why was he famous?
→ He was Jonathan Swift, a famous writer known for *Gulliver’s Travels*.
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This worksheet teaches both reading comprehension and the importance of good manners through a clever story.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 5th grade reading worksheets.
