Create a grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet in middle level with answer key
Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet – The Seed Packet Mystery
Reading Passage
The Seed Packet Mystery
One rainy Saturday, Noor wandered into the town library after helping her mother carry groceries. The library reading corner smelled of old paper and fresh coffee from the librarian’s desk. In a neat, dusty shelf, Noor spotted an old seed packet tucked inside a science book about plants. The packet was faded, but the label read: Sunflowers for a Small Garden, dated 1998. The seeds looked small and brittle, but the idea of growing something right there in the library fascinated Noor.
Noor asked Ms. Rivera, the librarian, if she could plant them in a pot near the window. Ms. Rivera smiled and fetched small pots, soil, and a tray for water. Noor labeled her pot with the date and the words Seed Packet Mystery. She opened the packet and sprinkled a few seeds into each pot. She watered them gently and placed the pots near the sunny window, where a plant watch began.
For the next two weeks, Noor checked the pots every morning. She wrote in a small notebook how the soil looked, whether the surface felt dry, and if there were tiny green specks pushing through the soil. On day seven, she saw the first sign: a little green sprout. By day ten, more sprouts appeared. Noor learned that this moment—the first signs of life—was called germination. She learned that seeds need warmth, water, and light to wake up.
The library community took notice. The principal announced a garden club in the school, and Noor joined to learn more. They discussed the life cycle of plants, from seed to stem to leaves to flowers. They talked about pollinators—bees and butterflies—that helped sunflowers produce seeds. Noor began keeping a weekly height chart, measuring the tallest plant with a ruler and noting the days of growth.
As the sunflowers grew taller, Noor realized a sprout is not the end but the beginning. The seeds that were once tiny became tall plants that could bloom with bright yellow petals. The librarian suggested saving some seeds to plant again next year. Noor agreed. She also learned a valuable lesson about patience. Growth took time, and it was important to care for living things every day, even when the results were not immediate.
When the sunflowers finally opened, Noor stood back and smiled. The flowers seemed to stretch toward the light, like readers turning pages in a good book. What began as a curious find in a library book had become a small, living project that taught Noor to observe, care, and wait for nature to unfold.
Comprehension Questions
A. Multiple Choice (circle the best answer)
- Where did Noor find the seed packet?
- A) In a science magazine
- B) In a library book
- C) In her kitchen drawer
- D) In a friend’s backpack
- Where did Noor plant the seeds?
- A) In a school garden bed
- B) In a pot near the window at the library
- C) In the science lab
- D) Outside in the rain
- How long did it take for the first seeds to sprout?
- A) 1-2 days
- B) 3-4 weeks
- C) 7-10 days
- D) 1 month
- What is the main idea of the passage?
- A) Gardening is too hard for kids
- B) Seeds grow only in summer
- C) Caring for living things teaches patience and observation
- D) The library should have more plants
- How did Noor feel when she saw the first sprouts?
- A) Confused
- B) Excited
- C) Scared
- D) Angry
- What did Noor learn about what plants need to grow?
- A) They need only water
- B) They need warmth, water, and light
- C) They can grow without sunlight
- D) They grow best in complete darkness
- What added activity did the library community start after Noor’s success?
- A) A book club
- B) A sports program
- C) A garden club
- D) A math club
- What lesson did Noor take away from her project?
- A) Plants grow instantly
- B) Seeds cannot be saved for next year
- C) Growth takes time and daily care
- D) Seeds never need attention
B. True/False (write T or F)
9. Noor found the seed packet in the library after helping her mother.
10. The seeds sprouted in about seven to ten days.
11. Noor did not keep any notes about the plants’ growth.
12. The library suggested saving some seeds to plant again next year.
13. Sunflowers need light, water, and care to grow.
C. Short Answer (3–4 sentences each)
14. In your own words, why did Noor decide to plant the seeds?
15. List two things Noor learned about growing plants from this experience.
16. If you could ask Noor one question about the seeds, what would it be and why?
D. Vocabulary in Context
Match the word to its meaning (one word may be used more than once)
- sprout
- germination
- pollinators
- patience
- seed packet
A. The process of a seed beginning to grow
B. The actions of bees and butterflies helping plants make seeds
C. A small bag or envelope containing seeds
D. A young plant growing from a seed
E. The ability to wait calmly and without complaining
Answer Key
A. Multiple Choice
- B, 2) B, 3) C, 4) C, 5) B, 6) B, 7) C, 8) C
B. True/False
9) T, 10) T, 11) F, 12) T, 13) T
C. Short Answer (sample responses)
14. Noor found the seed packet and was curious about whether the seeds could grow, so she decided to plant them to learn about plants and growth.
15. She learned that seeds need warmth, water, and light; and that growth takes time and daily care (patience, observation over days/weeks).
16. Possible answer: “What surprised you most about watching the seeds grow?” (Any thoughtful, passage-based question and reason are acceptable.)
D. Vocabulary in Context
- sprout: D
- germination: A
- pollinators: B
- patience: E
- seed packet: C
If you’d like, I can tailor the passage to a different topic (informational vs. narrative), adjust difficulty, or add more questions.