The Reading Room

The Reading Room

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about understanding what you are reading.
Read "The Reading Room", pages 2 and 3 of School Journal Part 3 No 1 1998.
 
Answer the following questions.

Question 1Change answer

a)  What part of the house does the title refer to?

Question 1Change answer

b)  The story has been printed in two different types (fonts), standard and italic.
     Explain what each font has been used for.
1. Standard font
    (e.g., Mum's finished)
2. Italic
    (e.g. His feet feel ...)

Question 1Change answer

c)  Give two reasons why Lisa does not want to be found.
1.
2.

Question 1Change answer

d)  Who is Mark?

Question 1Change answer

e)  Why won't Lisa leave the Reading Room?

Question 1Change answer

f)  Read the last lines of the story. What is Kathy probably going to do?

Question 1Change answer

g)  Retell the story in about 40 words.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online (without auto-marking).
 
Equipment:
 
The Reading Room by Joy Cowley - School Journal Part 3, No 1, 1998, pp. 2-3.
Copyright: 
The Reading Room - Text was first published by Learning Media Limited on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Copyright Joy Cowley, 1998.
 
Source: School Journal Part 3, No 1, 1998, pp. 2-3.
Level:
3
Key Competencies: 
Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
recount, comprehension, prediction, SJ-3-1-1998
Description of task: 
This is a resource in which the students read a short story 'The Reading Room' and answer ten short written questions. SJ-3-1-1998. Text provided.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:

  • use comprehension strategies

as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
 

Answers/responses: 
 

Y5 (10/1998)
a)   Bathroom/toilet easy
b) i) 
ii)		 Standard font is the main story/narrative.
Italics is any 1 of:

•   The book Lisa is reading.
•   Lisa's thoughts.
•   For emphasis.

 difficult 
difficult
c)   Any 2 of:

•   To avoid a job from her mother.
•   So she doesn't get caught reading.
•   So she can finish her book.

 2 correct –
moderate

1 correct –
very easy
d)   The main character in Lisa's book. easy
e)   Because her story is so exciting that she can't stop reading. moderate
f)   Tell their mother that Lisa's reading in the bathroom/avoiding work. difficult
g)   The essential ideas are: Lisa is avoiding work and reading (her book) by staying in the bathroom. After pressure from Kathy she emerges. Kathy realises Lisa has been reading and goes to tell. Lisa heads for the library.
[36 words]

•   All or most essential ideas
     mentioned (must mention reading).
•   Some of essential ideas present, or
     other story intrudes on main story.

 2 correct –
difficult

1 correct –
moderate