Grade 3 Reading Comprehension Worksheet: "Tom and His Coffee-Colored Horse"
Let's go through the story and answer each question step by step.
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Story Summary:
Tom is a boy who has a horse named Coffee. After getting off the school bus, he greets his horse, but his father scolds him for forgetting to feed Coffee that morning. Tom had overslept and forgotten again, which upset his father because Tom had previously forgotten twice last week. His father reminds him of his responsibility — taking care of Coffee means Coffee will take care of him. To help remember, Tom puts marbles in his gloves as a reminder. The next morning, when he feels the marbles, he remembers his duty. He feeds Coffee and runs toward the road to catch the bus.
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Answers to Questions:
1. Who was Coffee?
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Coffee was Tom’s horse.
*Explanation:* The story says, “There was a snort behind him. Tom turned to find his horse leaning over the fence…” and Tom calls him “Coffee.” This shows Coffee is the name of Tom’s horse.
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2. Why was Tom’s father angry with him?
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Because Tom forgot to feed Coffee that morning.
*Explanation:* The father says, “You didn’t feed your horse this morning, Tom.” He also mentions that Tom had forgotten twice last week, showing this is a repeated issue.
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3. What did he say to Tom?
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He said, “You didn’t feed your horse this morning, Tom,” and reminded him that when he got the horse, he agreed to take care of it. He also said, “It’s not just a job, Tom. If you take care of Coffee, he’ll take care of you. Life’s like that.”
*Explanation:* These are direct quotes from the father, emphasizing responsibility and mutual care.
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4. What did Tom do to feed the Coffee?
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Tom measured oats into the feed bucket and pounded on the ice to break it so Coffee could eat.
*Explanation:* The text says, “Tom measured the oats into the feed bucket then pounded on the ice.” This shows he prepared the food and made sure it was accessible.
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5. Did Tom miss the bus or feed the Coffee? How?
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Tom fed Coffee and ran down the lane toward the road, meaning he missed the bus.
*Explanation:* After feeding Coffee, Tom realized he would miss the bus. The story ends with him running toward the road, so we can infer he missed the bus because he prioritized feeding Coffee.
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
Coffee was Tom’s horse.
2.
Tom’s father was angry because Tom forgot to feed Coffee.
3.
He told Tom he hadn’t fed the horse and reminded him of his responsibility, saying, “If you take care of Coffee, he’ll take care of you.”
4.
Tom measured oats into the feed bucket and pounded on the ice to break it.
5.
Yes, Tom missed the bus. He fed Coffee first and then ran toward the road, too late to catch the bus.
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This story teaches about
responsibility,
consequences, and
the importance of keeping promises — even when it's hard. Tom learns to use a smart trick (marbles in gloves) to remember his duties, showing growth.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of grade 3 reading comprehension worksheet.