Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet: "The Otter Family"
Let's go through the story and answer each question based on the text.
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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 first sentence of the story states: *"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 clearly tells us what Tom was doing at that time.
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2. What did Tom hear?
Answer:
Tom heard a strange whistling noise.
Explanation:
The story says: *"as he came near it he heard a strange whistling noise."* Later, it is explained that this cry came from an otter parent fishing with their young ones.
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3. Did Tom know the home of the otters?
Answer:
Yes, Tom knew the home of the otters.
Explanation:
The text mentions: *"Now Tom knew that this hole was the home of some otters."* This shows that Tom had prior knowledge about where the otters lived.
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4. What were otters doing?
Answer:
The otters were swimming, fishing, eating fish, and playing.
Explanation:
From the story:
- They were swimming smoothly along the river.
- They were fishing and bringing fish to the island.
- They ate the fish by holding them with their front feet and eating just behind the head.
- The young otters were playing and twisting about.
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5. What did otters eat and how?
Answer:
The otters ate fish. They held the fish with their front feet and ate from just behind the head, leaving the tail uneaten.
Explanation:
The passage says: *"Then they each took hold of their fish with their front feet, and began to eat just behind the head. They ate on till they nearly reached the tail and then left that."*
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6. How did Tom give the description of the otter?
Answer:
Tom described the otters' physical features such as their long bending bodies, broad flat heads, short and broad mouths and noses, webbed feet with sharp claws, soft brown fur, and thick strong tails.
Explanation:
After observing the otters while they were eating, Tom noticed details like:
- *"They had long bending bodies, and broad, flat heads..."*
- *"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 detailed observation shows that Tom carefully watched and described the otters’ appearance.
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
Tom was examining the traps set for weasels, stoats, and other vermin.
2.
Tom heard a strange whistling noise.
3.
Yes, Tom knew the home of the otters.
4.
The otters were swimming, fishing, eating fish, and playing.
5.
The otters ate fish by holding them with their front feet and eating just behind the head, leaving the tail.
6.
Tom gave a detailed physical description of the otters, including their body shape, head, feet, claws, fur, and tail.
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✔ These answers are directly supported by the text and reflect careful reading comprehension.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of reading comprehension grade 5 worksheet.
