Hans and Gretel Find a Friend
by Mary Mapes Dodge from Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates
American author Mary Mapes Dodge wrote “ Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates” in 1865. It’s the story of a Dutch boy, Hans Brinker, and his family. The family is very poor. Hans and his sister, Gretel, are excellent ice skaters. They want to take part in a race to win silver skates, but their homemade wooden skates aren’t good enough for them to win. In this passage, a wealthy young girl has given Hans some money. The children try to decide how to spend the money.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Hans and Gretel Find a Friend
by Mary Mapes Dodge from Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates
Reading Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary List
Vocabulary List
Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.
- dreaded
- plausible
- lithe
- resolutely
- sprightly
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “he dreaded to see his sisters’ blue eyes overflowing”
a. feared; hated b. looked forward to; liked c. waited or paused d. expected happily
2) “Gretel’s argument was plausible”
a. untrue; impossible b. charmingly silly c. long and confusing d. believable or possible
3) “she, with her strong but lithe little frame”
a. clumsy; awkward b. slender and willowy c. young and immature d. plump or pudgy
4) “Hans shook his head resolutely as he trudged on”
a. sadly; sorrowfully b. purposefully; firmly c. angrily or furiously d. in circles; roundly
5) "'Oh! I know!” cried Gretel in a sprightly tone'”
a. loudly or noisily b. quietly; silently c. energetically; brightly d. sweetly or gently