Nana the Nanny
by J. M. Barrie from Peter Pan
Chapter 1 passage: The novel “Peter Pan” began as a play in 1904. The author of the play, J.M. Barrie, turned it into novel in 1911. “Peter Pan” is the story of three English children, Wendy, John, and Michael Darling. They meet the amazing Peter Pan, a boy who lives in magical Neverland. In this passage, the reader is introduced to Nana, the Darling children’s nurse and nanny, who happens to be a dog.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Nana the Nanny
by J. M. Barrie from Peter Pan
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.
- acquainted
- perambulators
- contempt
- new-fangled
- sedately
- forms
- affected
- assure
- gaiety
- pirouette
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) the Darlings had become acquainted with her in Kensington Gardens"
a. familiar; known b. annoyed; irritated c. neighbors d. stuck; saddled
2) she spent most of her spare time peeping into perambulators"
a. dining room windows b. purses; handbags c. baby carriages d. doggy doors
3) "made sounds of contempt over all this new-fangled talk about germs"
a. joy; happiness b. boredom; disinterest c. interest d. dislike; scorn
4) "made sounds of contempt over all this new-fangled talk about germs"
a. modern b. highly scientific c. exaggerated d. recently disproved
5) "It was a lesson in propriety to see her escorting the children to school, walking sedately by their side"
a. excitedly; energetically b. quickly or hurriedly c. calmly; quietly d. sleepily
6) "They sat on forms, while Nana lay on the floor"
a. tablecloths b. benches c. pillows d. boxes
7) "They affected to ignore her"
a. pretended b. hated c. started d. failed
8) “I know she admires you tremendously, George,” Mrs. Darling would assure him"
a. contradict; challenge b. scold c. question d. comfort or promise
9) "The gaiety of those romps!"
a. length; duration b. merriment; fun c. seriousness; somberness d. beauty
10) "Mrs. Darling, who would pirouette so wildly that all you could see of her was the kiss"
a. turn; spin b. kick c. flapped; waved d. run; gallop