Helen's Views on Friends
by Helen Keller from The Story of My Life
Chapter XXIII passage: In her dark and silent world, one might think Helen Keller would have trouble connecting with people and making friends. On the contrary, Helen connected very well with people and had many friends. In this passage from her autobiography, she talks about the people she interacts with. Students will read the passage and answer questions on the figurative language, the vocabulary, and the main idea.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Helen's Views on Friends
by Helen Keller from The Story of My Life
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.
- enrich
- genuine
- inopportune
- dear
- solemn
- frosty
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “Would that I could enrich this sketch with the names of all those who have ministered to my happiness!”
a. worsen b. decorate c. improve d. summarize
2) “A hearty handshake or a friendly letter gives me genuine pleasure.”
a. real b. big c. several d. unique
3) “I suppose the calls of the stupid and curious, especially of newspaper reporters, are always inopportune.”
a. timely b. welcome c. annoying d. inconvenient
4) “Some of them would be found written in our literature and dear to the hearts of many, while others would be wholly unknown to most of my readers.”
a. disconnected b. unimportant c. special d. hurtful
5) “The solemn nothings that fill our everyday life blossom suddenly into bright possibilities.”
a. busy b. sincere c. joyful d. unusual
6) “The touch of some hands is an impertinence. I have met people so empty of joy, that when I clasped their frosty finger tips.”
a. warm b. cold c. pointy d. sweet