Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Text

My Mother

by Jeanne Hill

Read the passage. Then answer the questions.


A dirty-yellow sky had threatened rain all day and a hollow stillness hung over the valley. Mother went to the field and gathered the last cucumbers and tomatoes. As she approached the house, she heard a frightening noise in a brush pile near the steps. Peering into the pile. she glimpsed a terrifying creature - a huge black monster with green head and giant green fangs. Mother's hands shook as she came up the steps dumped her apron and reached for her hoe. "Joe," she said struggling to steady her voice, "you go get Mr. Riley. "Jeanne, you stay in the house. I'm going out to stand guard at the brush pile until Mr. Riley gets here." It seemed an eternity before Mr. Riley arrived, scooped mother to one side, and pointed his shotgun into the brush pile. Then, quite suddenly, he lowered the gun and leaned down to take a better look.


"Is that your monster?" he asked mother gently, smiling and pointing into the brush. "Come here," he said. "And look closely at an ordinary black snake whose appetite is bigger than his mouth. That's a huge green frog, stuck half in and half out of his mouth. Those fangs are the frog's legs."


That was when mother finally broke. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she slumped forward. But Mr. Riley moved quickly enough to catch her small collapsing figure. And right then I knew that things could never be the same again.


As thunder pierced the hollow stillness, I looked at mother and suddenly knew her secret. She was desperately afraid - and had been all along - of the foxes. the hawks, the snakes. But she had faced them anyway! No more would I be amazed at her fearlessness, but I would ever marvel at her enormous courage.

Answer these questions:

1. based on the story, what are the creatures mother is afraid of?


a Foxes, cockroach and hawks

b Foxes, hawks and snakes

c Foxes, snakes and monsters

d Foxes, snakes and rats




Why do you think the mother faced her fears?


a She needs to be strong to protect her kids

b She needs to show them how to fight

c To become powerful in the future

d To show that she is strong mentally


In the story, Mother asked to get Mr. Riley. What can you infer from this scenario?


a Father died early.

b Mother is a single parent.

c Mr. Riley is our father.

d Our neighbors are all kind.


What is the theme that the writer wants you to understand from this story?


a Creature’s Attack

b Death of a Father

c Fear of Monsters

d Mother’s love


If you were the child, how will you treat your mother?


a Be rude and show some disrespect.

b Create a herb garden for her.

c Include her in family celebrations

d Listen to her and reply respectfu