Inferential Questions
Why did Jack feel nervous when he saw a shadow disappear?
Answer: He could not identify what was outside, which made him feel uncertain and frightened.
100 points: Who is the main character in the story? Give one detail from the text that supports your answer.
Answer: Jack. The story follows his actions and reactions when he hears knocking at the door.
Replace chilly with a synonym: “It was a chilly October evening.”
Answer: Cold
Replace chilly with an antonym: “It was a chilly evening.”
Answer: Warm.
100 points: Complete the sentence: Jack heard three sharp knocks, ___ he walked to the door.
Answer: So.
Why did Jack's dad think the visitor was probably a neighbor?
Answer: Someone knocking at the door could be a neighbor stopping by, and his dad did not have a reason to suspect anything unusual.
200 points: What is the setting of the story? Provide two details from the text that describe it.
Answer: The story takes place at Jack's house on a chilly October evening. The wind is howling, and bare branches scrape against the windows.
Replace uneasy with a synonym: “Jack felt uneasy when he saw the shadow.”
Answer: Nervous, anxious, or worried.
Replace empty with an antonym: “The porch appeared empty.”
Answer: Occupied.
200 points: Complete the sentence: ___ his dad was cooking, Jack checked the door.
Answer: While.
How did the weather contribute to Jack's misunderstanding?
Answer: The wind moved the Halloween decoration and made the branches scrape against the windows, creating strange shadows and noises.
300 points: What is the main problem or conflict in the story? Use a detail from the text to support your answer.
Answer: Jack hears strange noises and cannot figure out who or what is outside. The porch appears empty, but he sees a shadow and hears more knocking.
Replace hurried with a synonym: “He hurried back to the kitchen.”
Answer: Rushed.
Replace uneasy with an antonym: “Jack felt uneasy when he saw the shadow.”
Answer: Calm or relaxed.
300 points: Complete the sentence: Jack saw a shadow, ___ he could not identify who was outside.
Answer: But or yet.
Why might Jack's mom have called his name instead of knocking again?
Answer: She wanted Jack to recognize her voice and know she was outside.
400 points: What actions does Jack take to solve the problem? Give two examples from the text.
Answer: He looks through the peephole to check who is outside, then returns to the door to listen carefully and investigate the noises.
Replace convinced with a synonym: “Jack wasn't convinced it was a neighbor.”
Answer: Certain or persuaded. For example, “Jack wasn't certain it was a neighbor.”
Replace hurried with an antonym: “Jack hurried back to the kitchen.”
Answer: Strolled or moved slowly.
400 points: Combine the sentences using although: Jack felt nervous. He returned to the door.
Answer: Although Jack felt nervous, he returned to the door.
How did Jack's feelings change throughout the story? Use two details to explain your answer.
Answer: Jack initially felt nervous when he saw the shadow and heard strange noises. He felt relieved when he discovered his mom and learned what caused the noises.
500 points: What is the resolution of the story? Use two details from the text to explain how the problem is solved.
Answer: Jack discovers that his mom is outside with groceries and learns that the wind moved a Halloween decoration, causing the strange shadows and scraping noises. He feels relieved once he understands what happened.
Replace sharp with a synonym: “Three sharp knocks echoed through the house.”
Answer: Loud.
500 points: Replace faint with an antonym: “Jack heard a faint scraping sound.”
Answer: Loud or strong.
500 points: Create a sentence about the story using the conjunction unless.
Answer: Jack would not open the door unless he could identify the visitor.