In the Old Graveyard
by Mark Twain from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Chapter IX passage: Mark Twain’s 1876 masterpiece "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is the story of Tom, an orphan boy living with his aunt in Missouri in the mid-1800s. Tom is a little wild and full of mischief, but his friend Huckleberry Finn is more wild and more mischievous. In the passage, Tom and Huck sneak out late at night to go to a graveyard in order to test a cure for Huck’s warts on his hands.
Reading Comprehension Passage
In the Old Graveyard
by Mark Twain from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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.
- staggered
- pervading
- solemnity
- ensconced
- oppressive
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “round-topped, worm-eaten boards staggered over the graves”
a. towered; soared b. laid flat c. in a zigzag pattern; not lined up d. rotted; decayed
2) “the pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits”
a. filling completely; penetrating b. gross; ugly c. unexpected or startling d. gentle; easy
3) “the pervading solemnity and silence oppressed their spirits”
a. stink or odor b. darkness; gloom c. wind or breeze d. seriousness; quiet dignity
4) “They found the sharp new heap they were seeking, and ensconced themselves within the protection of three great elms”
a. uncovered; revealed b. galloped or ran c. settled or established d. threw; flung
5) “Tom’s reflections grew oppressive.”
a. faint; dim b. heavy or depressing c. encouraging d. optimistic or hopeful