Fiction · Level 2 · 105 words
The Spare Key
Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.
Dev kept the spare key under the third flowerpot, the cracked one, because no one would think to look there. His neighbor, old Mr. Okafor, knew about it. So when Dev's phone buzzed at work with a photo of his front door standing open, he did not panic. The message under the photo read: Your cat got out. I put her back. Locked up. Key returned. Dev set down his sandwich and smiled at the screen. He had never told Mr. Okafor he was grateful for these small rescues. He decided that tonight he would knock on the old man's door and finally say it.
Comprehension questions
1. Why does Dev NOT panic when he sees the photo of his open door?
- A He knew the door was broken
- B He trusts Mr. Okafor, who has the key
- C He does not own a cat
- D He was already on his way home
Show answer
B. He trusts Mr. Okafor, who has the key
Mr. Okafor knows where the spare key is, and the message shows he handled the problem, so Dev stays calm.
2. What does Dev's plan to knock on the door suggest about him?
- A He wants to scold his neighbor
- B He feels he has overlooked thanking someone kind
- C He plans to move away
- D He no longer trusts Mr. Okafor
Show answer
B. He feels he has overlooked thanking someone kind
He realizes he 'never told' the old man he was grateful and decides to finally say it.
3. Here, 'rescues' refers to
- A dangerous accidents
- B helpful acts that fix small problems
- C loud arguments
- D money lent to Dev
Show answer
B. helpful acts that fix small problems
The 'small rescues' are Mr. Okafor's quiet acts of help, like returning the cat and locking up.
Source: Written for Hone Literacy. Original passage © Team AM, written for Hone Literacy.