Reading comprehension worksheet titled "Birthday Blues" with a story and questions for students.

Let’s go step by step to answer each question based on the passage “Birthday Blues.”

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Question 1: What was Nathan’s family doing inside the house while he followed the clues?

We need to find this in the text. Let’s look at the last paragraph:

> “Nathan spent hours trying to trace. He slowly walked back to the house with his head hung low. He couldn’t see the balloons inside the house. If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

Wait — that sentence is cut off, but it says:
> “He couldn’t see the balloons inside the house. If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

That implies the people (his family) were hiding inside the house.

Also, earlier it says:
> “His dad and brother were going on a treasure hunt… The first clue was in the Smarti Nest…”

So while Nathan was outside following clues, his family was preparing for his surprise party — which means they were inside hiding, probably setting up or waiting to surprise him.

The key sentence is:
> “If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…” → This tells us they were hiding.

✔ So, Nathan’s family was hiding inside the house while he followed the clues.

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Question 2: How does Nathan find out they’re finding the last clue? Which sentences in the text show this?

Look at this part of the text:

> “There was the second clue. Nathan spent an hour following an old map after another! Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’”

Then:

> “Nathan spent hours trying to trace. He slowly walked back to the house with his head hung low. He couldn’t see the balloons inside the house. If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

Wait — actually, let’s reread carefully.

After he finds the note under the tree that says “Happy Birthday, Nathan!”, he realizes something.

But then it says:

> “Nathan spent hours trying to trace.” ← That might be a typo? Maybe meant “trying to figure it out”?

Actually, looking again:

> “Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’ Then he realized what was happening. His birthday wasn’t ruined — it was just being celebrated differently!”

Wait — no, that’s not in the original text provided.

Hold on — let me re-read the exact text from the image description:

From the passage:

> “There was the second clue. Nathan spent an hour following an old map after another! Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’”

Then:

> “Nathan spent hours trying to trace. He slowly walked back to the house with his head hung low. He couldn’t see the balloons inside the house. If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

Ah — here’s the key: When he gets to the last tree and sees “Happy Birthday, Nathan!”, he realizes it’s all part of a surprise party.

But how does he know they’re *finding* the last clue? Actually, the question may be misphrased. Let’s read it again:

> “How does Nathan find out they’re finding the last clue?”

Wait — maybe it’s asking: How does Nathan realize that his family is involved in the treasure hunt / surprise?

Actually, the text says:

> “Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’”

That’s when he realizes — because the final clue isn’t a direction, it’s a birthday message. So he understands the whole thing was set up by his family.

Also, later:
> “If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…” — this confirms they were hiding to surprise him.

So the sentences that show this are:

- “Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’”
- “If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

These tell us he figured it out when he saw the birthday message at the last clue location, and then noticed his family hiding.

✔ So, Nathan finds out when he reads “Happy Birthday, Nathan!” at the last tree — that’s when he realizes it’s a surprise party. The sentences showing this are:
> “Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’”
and
> “If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

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Question 3: What will happen next?

This is a prediction question. Based on the story:

- Nathan thought his birthday was forgotten.
- He went on a treasure hunt arranged by his family.
- At the end, he found a “Happy Birthday” message.
- He saw his family hiding inside the house.
- He didn’t see the balloons yet — but now he knows it’s a surprise.

So what happens next?

He will probably walk into the house, and his family will jump out and yell “Surprise!” They’ll have cake, presents, and celebrate together.

The text hints at this:
> “He couldn’t see the balloons inside the house. If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”

So once he enters, they’ll reveal themselves.

✔ Next, Nathan will enter the house, and his family will surprise him with a birthday party — balloons, cake, gifts, and everyone celebrating together.

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Final Answer:

1. Nathan’s family was hiding inside the house while he followed the clues.
2. Nathan finds out when he reads “Happy Birthday, Nathan!” at the last tree. The sentences that show this are: “Finally, he got to the last tree. But it said ‘Happy Birthday, Nathan!’” and “If he had not seen the people quickly hiding…”
3. Next, Nathan will go inside the house, and his family will jump out to surprise him with a birthday party — complete with balloons, cake, and celebrations.