📖 Reading Literature: The Old Violin (Grade 4)

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Read the story. Then answer using details from the text.

The Old Violin

In the back of Mr. Okafor’s music shop hung a scratched violin with a crack along its side. Customers walked right past it.

One afternoon, a girl named Elena lifted it down. "It’s broken," said a boy beside her. "It looks broken," said Mr. Okafor. "Play it and see."

Elena tucked it under her chin. The first note was rough, but the second was warm and deep, like honey poured into a cup. The whole shop went quiet.

"Some things are better than they look," said Mr. Okafor. Elena saved her allowance for six months, and the old violin went home with her.

1. Why did customers walk past the violin?

2. What did Mr. Okafor mean by "It looks broken"?

3. How is the violin’s sound described?

4. What theme does the story show?

Theme: What lesson or message does the story share? Use a detail.

Answer key: 1) it was scratched and cracked · 2) it may look damaged but could still sound good · 3) warm and deep, like honey poured into a cup · 4) don’t judge something by how it looks · Theme: Don’t judge something by its appearance.

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Worksheets › Grade 4 English › Reading Literature › Reading Literature

Grade 4 (ages 9–10)Reading comprehensionFree printable PDF

About this grade 4 worksheet

Free Grade 4 English worksheet (Common Core RL.4.1): read "The Old Violin" and answer questions about key details, characters and theme. Skill: Key ideas and details in literature. Level: Grade 4 — also suits Year 5 (UK).

For teachers: skills & standards

CCSS RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples when explaining and drawing inferences
CCSS RL.4.2: Determine a theme and summarise the text
CCSS RL.4.3: Describe a character, setting or event in depth using specific details
Works as a morning-work page, a centre/station activity, homework or an early-finisher task.

Frequently asked questions

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What age is it for?

It is designed for Grade 4 (ages 9–10), but use it with any child who is ready.

What skills does it build?

Key ideas and details in literature.

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Pagine's free library has 20,000+ children's books you can read in the Pagine e-reader or the free Pagine app — sorted by age and grade, with free audiobooks too.

More “Reading Literature” printables (rl.4.1–3: key ideas and details in literature)

Reading Literature: The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter (Grade 4) · Reading Literature: The Science Fair Rival (Grade 4) · Reading Literature: Lost in the Corn Maze (Grade 4) · Reading Literature: Coyote and the Sun (Grade 4)

All 5 reading literature sheets → · Grade 4 English: all 10 skills → · All Common Core grades

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