P5 RC - Unit 3

Po Leung Kuk Hong Kong Taoist Association
Yuen Yuen Primary School
2017 -2018

Primary 5
Unit 3 – Roald Dahl
English Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Name: ____________________ ( )

Class: _________________

W.S. Checked

3.1
3.2
3.3

PO LEUNG KUK HONG KONG TAOIST ASSOCIATION 3.0
YUEN YUEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

P. 5 Third Term English Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Name: _____________ ( ) Class: _______ Date: ________________ Grade:_________

Summarizing
Summarizing is taking a longer text and reducing it down to the main points that are worth
noting and remembering. When we summarize we try to lose or get rid of all the details that
aren’t important for the key idea, the gist of the story.

In this unit, we will read and summarize short stories or play scripts. Play scripts are texts
that are written for the performance on stage. It includes the list of characters and the
description of the setting. It may be split into acts or parts. A special feature of a play
script is that it shows what each character is saying, often with instructions on how they say it,
for example in a loud voice, whispering, excitedly etc. Unlike a story, there is no narrator to
describe what is going on. The reader should infer that part through the character’s speech,
behaviour etc.

To summarize a short story or play script we will use a strategy called “Somebody Wanted But
So Then”. Using this strategy we answer the following important questions about the play:

Somebody - the main character. Who is it?
Wanted – the main character wanted to do something. What is the main character’s goal?
But – the problem that prevents the character from reaching his/her goal. What is the main
problem?
So - the main character solved the problem. What did the character do about it?
Then – What happened after the problem was solved? Did everyone live happily ever after?
Here is an example of this strategy used with the Little Red Riding Hood story:

Somebody – Little Red Riding Hood
Wanted – to take food to her grandma at the other end of the woods
But – the Big Bad Wolf tried to eat her and grandma
So – a hunter came and rescued them by killing the wolf
Then – they all lived happily ever after.

So here is the final summary:
Little Red Riding Hood wanted to take food to her grandma at the other end of the woods but
the Big Bad Wolf tried to eat her and grandma. Luckily, a hunter came and rescued them by
killing the wolf. In the end, they all lived happily ever after.

Paraphrasing

Sometimes when we summarize a story or a play or retell what someone said to a friend, family
or teacher, we can paraphrase it.

To paraphrase means use OUR OWN WORDS, and NOT COPY the original author’s words. It
might seem hard but, it’s really not. Just think of the prefix PARA and you will do it with ease:

P – Put the text in your own words
A – Avoid copying the original
R – Reword similar text or sentences that might repeat
A – Ask yourself if you’ve included the important detail

Here is an example:

PO LEUNG KUK HONG KONG TAOIST ASSOCIATION 3.1
YUEN YUEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

P. 5 Third Term English Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Name: _____________ ( ) Class: _______ Date: ________________ Grade:_________

Objective: Students can understand the structure of a "Somebody Wanted But So Then"
summary.

Match these items.

Somebody The main problem
Wanted
How the protagonist solves
the problem

But The Reorientation

So Protagonist or main character
Then
What the character wants to
do

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

The Two Goats

Over a river, there was a very narrow bridge. One day a goat was
crossing this bridge. Just in the middle of the bridge, he met another goat.
There was no room for them to pass. "Go back," said one goat to the other,
"There is no room for both of us.”

"Why should I go back?" said the other goat. "Why don’t you go back?"
“You must go back," said the first goat, "because I am stronger than
you."
"You are not stronger than me," said the second goat.
"We will see about that," said the first goat, and he put down his horns
to fight.
"Stop," said the second goat. "If we fight, we will both fall into the river
and be drowned. Instead, I have a plan! I will lie down so that you can walk
over me."
Then, the wise goat laid down on the bridge, and the other goat walked
lightly over him. They passed each other and went on their ways.

Find the main points of this story.

1. Who are the main characters in the story? (Somebody)
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2. What did the characters want to do? (Wanted)
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3. What problem did they encounter? (But)
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4. How did the characters solve the problem? (So)
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5. What happened in the end? (Then)
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6. Use your answers from questions 1 – 5 and summarize the story, “The Two Goats”.
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PO LEUNG KUK HONG KONG TAOIST ASSOCIATION 3.2
YUEN YUEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

P. 5 Third Term English Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Name: _____________ ( ) Class: _______ Date: ________________ Grade:_________

Objective: Students can use the “Somebody Wanted But So Then” summary structure for a
play script.

Read the following play script, then answer the questions.

Jack and Jill

Cast: Jack, Jill, Narrator
Scene 1

Narrator: Brother and sister, Jack and Jill have been sent by their mother
to go and fetch water from the well.
(Jack and Jill are walking along the lane holding empty buckets.)

Jack: (Grumpily) Can’t believe mum is making us fetch water again.

Jill: Yeah, I know. I wanted to play with my skipping rope. Oh, look
there are the hill and the well. Race you?(Jill starts running and
Jack follows)

Jack: (Sounding out of breath) Wow, this hill is really steep. Be
careful you don’t fall.

Jill: You be careful you know how clumsy you are.
(Pulls a funny face)

Narrator: Suddenly, as Jack and Jill are running up the hill.
(Jack trips up over a rock and falls over)

Jack: (Screaming) Ahh, it hurts……. (Starting to cry)
My head is bleeding. Mummmmeeeeyyy!

Narrator: Jill hears Jack screaming and turns back to go and help Jack.

Jill: (Looking worried) Are you ok? I’ll stop the bleeding.

Narrtor: As Jill is coming back down the hill to help, she......

(Jill trips too and comes tumbling down after Jack)

Jack: Oh no!

Jack: Are you alright, Jack?

Jill: I’m ok, just a scratch. Has your head stopped bleeding? You
really are clumsy, Jack.

Narrator: (Jack looks up in disbelief)

Jack: I’m clumsy? You fell down too you fool. Sisters, who need
them?

Jill: (Looks at Jack angrily then softens) Whatever, you are hurt.
Jack: You are hurt and we can see our home from here. Wait here
and I’ll go get mum.

Narrator: Jill told mum what happened and the pair quickly went back to
look for Jack and helped him get home safely.

(End of Scene 1)

Answer the following questions to find all the elements needed to summarize this play.

1. Who are the main characters in the story? (Somebody)
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2. What did the characters want to do? (Wanted)
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___________________________________________________________________

3. What problem did they encounter? (But)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

4. How did the characters solve the problem? (So)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

5. What happened in the end? (Then)
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___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

6. Use your answers from questions 1 – 5 and summarize the play script, “Jack and Jill”.
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PO LEUNG KUK HONG KONG TAOIST ASSOCIATION 3.3
YUEN YUEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

P. 5 Third Term English Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Name: _____________ ( ) Class: _______ Date: ________________ Grade:_________

Objective: Students can use the summary structure to paraphrase the play script in their own
words.

Read the following play script, then answer the questions.

Jack and the Beanstalk
Cast: Jack, Narrator, Jack’s Mom, Woman, Giant, Man

(Scene 1)

Narrator: Long ago, there lived a mother and her son. The son’s name was
Jack. One day, the mother said to Jack.

Mother: We cannot afford to buy even a loaf of bread. We have to sell
our cow.

Jack: Okay, mother. I will take the cow to the market and sell her.

Narrator: On the way to town, Jack came across a man walking along the
road.

Man: Hello, there boy. Are you taking your cow to town to sell?

Jack: Yes, sir. Are you interested in buying her?

Man: Yes. However, I only have these magic beans.

Jack: (Curiously) Magic beans? Well, okay.

Narrator: Jack and the man traded. Jack was so excited and he ran all the
way home.

Jack: Mother! Look what I got for our cow. Magic Beans.

Narrator: Jack’s mother became angry with Jack.
To be continued on next page.

Mother: How could you be so foolish? There are no such things as magic
beans.

Narrator: Jack’s Mother took the magic beans from Jack and threw them
out the window into the garden. Jack and his mother did not
have anything to eat for dinner. So they finished their chores
and went to bed. The next morning Jack and his mother had a big
surprise. During the night, the beans had sprouted. They had
grown into a thick beanstalk so tall that it was in the clouds.

(Scene 1 Ends)

(Scene 2)

Jack: I wonder where it ends?

Narrator: He jumped on the beanstalk and began climbing. He climbed and
climbed all day until he reached the clouds. At the very top, he
found a path that took him to the front door of an enormous
house. When Jack knocked, a tall woman opened the door.

Jack: Please, ma’am, I’m hungry and thirsty.

Woman: You’ll be worst off if you don’t go away. My husband likes to eat
little boys and he will soon be home.

Narrator: Suddenly the earth shook with the giant’s footsteps. Jack
darted into the house.

Woman: Quickly, hide in here!

Narrator: The woman picked up Jack and put him in the oven. The giant
entered the kitchen shortly after the woman closed the door.

Giant: Fee – fi – fo – fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.

Woman You must be smelling the stew from last night’s dinner. I’ll bring
you some.

Giant: Never mind. Bring me my magic hen.

Narrator: The woman brought the giant his magic hen. Jack peeked out and
watched the hen lay one golden egg after another. Soon the
giant was fast asleep and snoring. Jack quietly grabbed the
magic hen. But the hen cackled loudly and woke the giant.

Giant: Come back here you thief!

Narrator: Jack ran like the wind. He climbed down the beanstalk but the
giant was close behind him.

Jack: Mother, get an axe!

Narrator: When Jack reached the bottom, he took the axe and chopped
down the beanstalk. Down tumbled the giant and with a mighty
grown he fell dead on the ground.

Jack: Mother, look what I found at the giant’s house. A hen that lays
golden eggs.

Narrator: Jack’s mother smiled and gave Jack a big hug. Jack and his
mother lived happily ever after. Thanks to the golden eggs, they
never needed anything ever again.

(The End)

1. Reread Scene 1 of the play and fill out the table.
Somebody:

Wanted:

But:

So:

Then:

2. Paraphrase scene 1 of the play script.
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3. Reread Scene 2 of the play and fill out the table.
Somebody:

Wanted:

But:

So:

Then:

4. Paraphrase scene 2 of the play script.
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