Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read the short story. Then answer each question.
“Bring Your Pet Day”
Disaster
I had my backpack on my back and a leash in my hand. I t was “Bring
Your Pet to School” day! My dog Jax was happily trotting beside me as
we walked to the bus stop. The other kids in my neighborhood had their
pets, too. Josie had a fish bowl with her beta fish. John had a crate with his
cat, Maxie, inside. Paula had a bird cage with her parakeet, Gerald,
perched on a l i ttle swing. We were all excited to have our pets with us.
Once we got on the bus, though, things started to go downhill. The bus
was so noisy! In addition to the normal chatter of the kids, the animals
would not use their inside voices. And the smell was terrible ! Jax’s nose
was trying to sniff all the new smells, and i t was hard to get him to follow
me into a seat. When we were seated, another dog rushed up to us with a
leash trailing behind her. She and Jax started to sniff each other curiousl y,
and started to play.
“Fluffy! Get back here!” I heard one of the third graders shout. The dog
ran towards the voice. The bus driver’s voice came over the speaker,
“Please hold on to your pets! I t i s dangerous to have them running all over
the bus!”
Finally, we were at school. As we were walking off the bus, I stepped in a
small puddle. “Ugh, someone’s pet made a mess…” I said to myself. I
wiped my shoes in the grass once I was off the bus. Then, I looked at the
schoolyard.
I t looked l ike a zoo! There were animals everywhere! Dogs
of all shapes and sizes. Colorful birds in cages. Rabbits,
chinchillas, and hedgehogs in l i ttle carrying
cases. And… some animals running free
through the grass and on the sidewalks,
with kids chasing them in every direction!
Reading Comprehension Worksheet
They were making a mess. Their food and bedding was strewn over the
grass. Some kids weren’t cleaning up after their dogs went to the
bathroom. Fur was floating through the air. If i t looks l ike this outside, I
don’t want to see what i t looks l ike inside , I thought.
Then, something crazy caught my eye. I saw a kangaroo hopping in the
grass! And a peacock strutting up the stairs! I didn’t know people could
have them as pets…
I walked into the building to my classroom. The hallways smelled worse
than the bus. There were still animals running wild and messes
everywhere. My classroom was no better. Mrs. Doltyn looked frazzled as
she instructed us to keep our pets in their cages, or keep the leashes tied
to our desks during class. As she was talking, she slowl y started to turn into
a parrot…
And I woke up, snug in my bed. Wow, no wonder our school doesn’t have
a “Bring Your Pet to School” day! I thought. As much as I love Jax, I was
really glad I wouldn’t have to worry about him or his messes all day at
school.
Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Questions:
1. Retell the story in your own words.
2. In the second paragraph, how did things start to “go downhill”?
3. Did you realize that this was a dream? What clues helped you, or
could help you, figure i t out before the end of the short story?
4. What does the word “strewn” mean? How do you know?
5. Why i s the main character thankful that there really i s not a “Bring
Your Pet to School” day?
Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Answers:
1. Retell the story in your own words.
Answers wi ll vary.
2. In the second paragraph, how did things start to “go downhill”?
Things started to go downhi ll on the bus where the animals made a
log of noise and the smell was terrible.
3. Did you realize that this was a dream? What clues helped you, or
could help you, figure i t out before the end of the short story?
Answers wi ll vary, but acceptable answers would include the
kangaroo on the grass, the peacock in the stairwell and the teacher
turning into a parrot.
4. What does the word “strewn” mean? How do you know?
Strewn means untidi ly scattered. The kids and their pets were
making a mess with their food and bedding untidi ly scattered over
the grass.
5. Why i s the main character thankful that there really i s not a “Bring
Your Pet to School” day?
The main character was thankful there is no real Bring your Pet to
School day as he/she would not have to worry about his/ her dog,
and clean up the dog’s mess, all day at school .
