EnglishFreePrintable

Reading and Writing Skills

A free english worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Reading and Writing Skills

Read the passage, then complete the activities. For open-ended writing, your response may differ from the example answer as long as it meets the task.

The Signal

Mereana was halfway along the coastal track when the sky darkened. A gust shoved at the flax, and the wind whistled through its long leaves. Ahead, the footbridge crossed a narrow stream. Rain had swollen the water until it rushed beneath the bridge, brown and restless. On the far bank, a small dog barked beside a red backpack. Mereana scanned the track. No one else was in sight. She wanted to help, but the slippery bridge trembled under her shoes. Then she noticed a bright orange whistle attached to the backpack. She blew three sharp notes and waited. A voice called from behind the trees. A soaked walker hurried into view, calling the dog’s name. The dog bounded towards its owner. Mereana stayed on the safe side of the stream and pointed out the slick bridge. Together, they chose a higher path back to the car park. The storm still rumbled, but Mereana felt steadier. A small, sensible choice had made a big difference.

Read closely

Use details from “The Signal” to support your answers.

1.In the passage, what does “swollen” mean in the sentence about the stream? Choose the best answer.

The stream had become wider or fuller
The stream had dried up
The stream had turned clear
The stream had stopped moving

2.Which detail most strongly suggests that crossing the bridge would be dangerous?

3.What is Mereana’s most important decision in the story, and why does it matter?

4.The final sentence says, “A small, sensible choice had made a big difference.” Explain what the choice was and what difference it made.

5.Find one example of personification in the passage. Copy it and explain what human action or quality is given to something non-human.

Shape your writing

Use precise details, varied sentence beginnings and clear links between ideas.

6.Rewrite this sentence to make the storm feel more vivid: “It was windy and raining on the track.” Include a strong verb and one sensory detail.

7.Combine these ideas into one complex sentence using “although”: Mereana wanted to help. She did not cross the bridge.

8.Plan a short suspense scene inspired by the stormy track. Write one detail for each: setting, character, problem and a sensible action the character could take.

9.Write a short opening paragraph for your scene from Question 8. Establish the setting and character, build a little suspense, and include at least one simile or example of personification.

10.Revise one sentence from your paragraph in Question 9. Make its beginning different from the sentence before it, and add or replace a word to make the meaning more precise. Write the original and revised versions.