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“Just One Touch”
Reading Comprehension – Short Stories
Directions: Read the story. Then answer the questions below.
I am sitting in a chair next to Momma’s bed. I am watching her get ready for a
party.
She opens the beautiful jewelry box on her nightstand.
It is the size of a shoebox. It is wooden. It has colorful stones on top. They are
red, green, yellow and blue. To me, the box looks magical. It looks like it has
special powers.
“Now, you know you must never touch this box, right?” Momma says. I feel like
she knows exactly what I am thinking.
I just want to touch it. I just want to open it.
I just want to try on all the jewelry inside and dance around
the room!
“Yes, Momma,” I say. “I know.”
What do I know?
I know Momma has always told me not to touch the box. She has said it since I
was a little girl.
“You are not old enough to wear my jewelry,” Momma says.
I am 11-years-old now! What is the big deal ?
I know that when Momma puts on the rings and bracelets from the box, she looks
different. She seems to glow.
There is one necklace with a yellow stone like a tiger’s eye. When Momma puts
this on, she seems to float instead of walk. Her feet do not seem to touch the
ground. She moves lightly and gracefully. She moves without effort.
Momma kisses me goodnight. She leaves for the party. I run to the window to
wave to her, but she is already gone.
Tonight I am very curious.
Just one touch
I sit on the edge of Momma’s bed. I place my hand on the nightstand. I pause. I
think.
My hand moves up and rests on the jewelry box. The box quickly flips open by
itself! Jewels fly into the air. They dance around my head. I feel strange. I fall
down to the floor.
I wake up in a place I have never seen before.
Questions:
1) Where does most of this story take 2) Who is telling the story?
place?
A. Momma
A. at a party B. a young girl
B. in a pretend place C. Momma's friend
C. outside a window D. a make-believe person
D. in Momma's bedroom
3) At the beginning of the story, where 4) The jewelry box looks magical.
is the girl sitting? What does this mean?
A. in a chair A. It looks simple.
B. on the bed B. It looks expensive.
C. on the floor C. It looks like it has special
D. next to the window powers.
D. It looks like it was made a long
time ago.
5) What does Momma tell her 6) Where is Momma going?
daughter about the box?
A. ____________________
A. that it is magical
B. that she must never touch it _______________________
C. that the jewels are expensive
D. that she can touch it when she is _______________________
older
7) What does the jewelry box look 8) Which word best describes how the
like? girl feels about the jewelry box?
▼Check all that are correct.
A. angry
A. □ It is brown. B.
C.
curious
in love
B. □ It is wooden. D. scared
C. □ It is the size of a shoebox.
D. □ It has colored stones on top.
Questions (continued):
9) When does the girl say Momma 10) What does the girl seem to be
seems to glow? thinking about when she sits on
the edge of the bed?
A. when she puts on make-up
B. when she puts on a necklace A. going to a party
C. when she puts on the rings and B. how to open the box
bracelets C. dancing around the room
D. when she puts on nice shoes D. if she should touch the box
and a fancy dress
11) How old is the girl? 12) What does the reader learn about
the box?
A. ____________________
A. It is evil.
_______________________ B. It can fly.
C. It is very heavy.
_______________________ D. It has special powers.
13) What does it mean if something is 14) What does the girl mean when she
a big deal ? says that Momma seems to float ?
A. It is a heavy thing. A. that Momma is swimming
B. It is very important. B. that Momma looks like a boat
C. It cannot be forgotten. C. that it is difficult for Momma to
D. It can make a lot of money. move
D. that Momma moves without
much effort
15) How might the end of the story
make a reader feel?
▼Check all that are correct.
A. □ unsure of what has happened
B. □ curious about the power of
the box
C. □ sure that the girl is in danger
D. □ wondering what happens
next
