The Second of the Three Spirits
by Charles Dickens from A Christmas Carol
Stave Three passage: This passage from Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” is the end of the visit from the Ghost of Christmas Present and reflects the theme of the entire story. Students will read the text and respond to questions about the theme.
Reading Comprehension Passage
The Second of the Three Spirits
by Charles Dickens from A Christmas Carol
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.
- Condensed
- Unaltered
- Observed
- Brief
- Intently
- Abject
- appalled
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “It was a long night, if it were only a night; but Scrooge had his doubts of this, because the Christmas holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together.”
a. lengthened b. stretched c. packed d. distributed
2) “It was strange, too, that, while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older.”
a. unchanged b. different c. handsome d. older
3) “Scrooge had observed this change, but never spoke of it until they left a children's Twelfth-Night party....”
a. studied b. noticed c. ignored d. investigated
4) “'My life upon this globe is very brief,' replied the Ghost. 'It ends tonight.'”
a. long b. fun c. sad d. short
5) “'Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask,' said Scrooge, looking intently at the Spirit's robe, 'but I see something strange…'”
a. with confusion b. with curiosity c. with attention d. with sadness
6) “From the foldings of its robe it brought two children, wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable.”
a. hopeless b. hopeful c. cute d. sweet
7) “Scrooge started back, appalled.”
a. Confused b. shocked c. embarrassed d. ashamed