Reading Comprehension Worksheets for Grade 7 - Free Printable

Here is the solution to the Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Worksheet “Against the Clock: A Cricket Story” by P.G. Wodehouse.

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1. What is the main idea of the whole passage?

The main idea is that a young narrator cleverly resolves a community dispute — between her father and the villagers over a right-of-way across his land — by suggesting they settle it with a cricket match. The story highlights how a creative, lighthearted solution (using sport) can resolve serious conflicts, while also revealing character dynamics: the narrator’s intelligence and diplomacy, her father’s principled but flexible nature, and Mr. Rastrick’s snobbish attitude toward cricket and rural life.

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2. Underline the most important information in each paragraph.

*(Note: Since I cannot physically underline text here, I will quote the key sentence(s) from each paragraph that carry the most important information.)*

Paragraph 1:
> “There was that business of the right-of-way for example... Father didn’t mind. He, after letting them do it for years, has suddenly said they mustn’t, and closed the field.”

→ *This introduces the central conflict: the father closing a path villagers have used for years.*

Paragraph 2:
> “Mr. Morris says Mr. Rastrick kept on telling the colonel he was being put upon, and must stand up for his rights.”

→ *This reveals the catalyst: Mr. Rastrick’s influence on the father, pushing him to assert ownership and cause tension.*

Paragraph 3:
> “I made up my mind that I stop it... I thought a great deal about it as I dressed for dinner.”

→ *This shows the narrator’s decision to intervene — she takes initiative to solve the problem.*

Paragraph 4:
> “I had been trying all the time to find some way of settling this quarrel... Why not get up a match to decide it, father? It would be a fun. If they win, let them have the right-of-way. And if we win, you could do what you liked.”

→ *This is the turning point — the narrator proposes the cricket match as a fair, fun, and diplomatic solution.*

Paragraph 5:
> “Father loved this idea. ‘Excellent!’ He cried. ‘It doesn’t matter to me whether they go through the field or not. It’s only the principle of the thing. I’ll arrange it tonight.’”

→ *This confirms the success of the narrator’s idea — the father agrees, showing he values principle over personal gain, and the conflict is resolved peacefully.*

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3. Write a summary. Tell what is most important.

Summary:

The narrator, a thoughtful and clever young person, becomes concerned when her father abruptly closes a path through his land that villagers have used for years — a change influenced by their snobbish guest, Mr. Rastrick. To prevent growing tension and restore harmony, she devises a brilliant plan: propose a cricket match between the family and the villagers to settle the dispute. She suggests that whoever wins the match gets to decide the fate of the right-of-way. Her father loves the idea — not because he cares who uses the path, but because he values the principle of fair play. He immediately agrees to organize the match.

Most Important:

The most important part of the story is the narrator’s creative and diplomatic solution. Instead of arguing or forcing a decision, she turns a serious conflict into a friendly game — using cricket, a symbol of British tradition and sportsmanship, to resolve a social dispute. This demonstrates how wit, empathy, and understanding human nature can transform potential hostility into cooperation. The story also subtly critiques class attitudes (through Mr. Rastrick) and celebrates the power of youthful insight to heal adult disagreements.

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✔ Final Answer Format for Student Submission:

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1. Main Idea:
The narrator cleverly resolves a village dispute over a right-of-way by suggesting a cricket match, showing how creativity and sportsmanship can solve serious problems.

2. Key Sentences (Important Info per Paragraph):
- Para 1: Father closed the field villagers used for years.
- Para 2: Mr. Rastrick pressured father to “stand up for his rights.”
- Para 3: Narrator decides to stop the quarrel.
- Para 4: Narrator proposes a cricket match to decide the right-of-way.
- Para 5: Father agrees — it’s about principle, not the path itself.

3. Summary:
The narrator solves a conflict between her father and villagers over a closed path by suggesting a cricket match to decide who gets the right-of-way. Her clever, peaceful solution works because it appeals to fairness and fun, and her father agrees — proving that sometimes, the best way to fix a grown-up problem is with a child’s imagination.

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Let me know if you’d like this formatted as a printable worksheet answer sheet!