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The Case of the Missing Jump Ropes

Wondered, suspected, believed or knew? Tell how sure someone is.

Read the mystery

Read the story. Notice the words that tell how sure Kofi is.

The Case of the Missing Jump Ropes

1On Monday morning, the jump rope bin in the school gym was empty. All six jump ropes were gone! Kofi stared into the bin. He wondered where the ropes could be. Jump ropes cannot walk away by themselves.

2At lunch, his friend Lena leaned across the table. "I heard that some fifth graders took the ropes out to the playground," she whispered. Kofi did not know if that was true. Lena had heard it from someone else, and nobody had seen the ropes outside.

3After lunch, Kofi looked around the gym. He spotted a tiny red bead from a jump rope on the floor. Then he spotted another one, and another. The beads made a trail to the storage room. Now Kofi suspected the ropes were in the storage room, but he had no proof.

4Then Kofi noticed a note on the storage room door. It was in Coach Rivera's handwriting: "Fixing the jump ropes. Back soon!" Kofi believed the mystery was almost solved. He ran to find the coach.

5Coach Rivera unlocked the storage room. There, on a long table, lay all six jump ropes. Now Kofi knew exactly where they were. The coach explained that one rope had broken on Friday, so she took them all in to check them.

Words in the story

Answer the questions about the words in the mystery.

1.
In paragraph 1, Kofi wondered where the ropes could be. What does the word wondered tell you about Kofi?
  • A. He was sure he already knew where they were.
  • B. A friend had told him where the ropes were.
  • C. He had a question and no idea of the answer.
  • D. He had seen the ropes lying in the storage room.
2.
In paragraph 2, Lena says she heard about the fifth graders. What does the word heard tell you about her news?
  • A. Lena saw the fifth graders with her own eyes.
  • B. Lena got the news from another person.
  • C. Lena found the jump ropes on the playground.
  • D. Lena checked the news with Coach Rivera.
3.
In paragraph 3, Kofi suspected the ropes were in the storage room. In paragraph 4, he believed the mystery was almost solved. What made Kofi more sure?
  • A. He found the coach's note on the storage room door.
  • B. Lena told him that fifth graders had taken the ropes.
  • C. He saw all six ropes lying on a long table.
  • D. Coach Rivera told him that a rope broke on Friday.
4.
Read paragraph 5 again. Underline the sentence with the word that shows Kofi was completely sure.

Coach Rivera unlocked the storage room.There, on a long table, lay all six jump ropes.Now Kofi knew exactly where they were.The coach explained that one rope had broken on Friday, so she took them all in to check them.

5.
Match each word from the story to what it means.
  1. wondered
  2. heard
  3. suspected
  4. knew
  1. A. got the news from another person
  2. B. was sure because there was proof
  3. C. had a question with no answer
  4. D. had a clue but was not sure

How sure?

Think about how sure each word shows a person is.

6.
Write the words from the word bank in order, from least sure to most sure.
Word bank: knew · wondered · believed · suspected

1 (least sure):  
2:  
3:  
4 (most sure):  

7.
Choose the word from the word bank that fits each sentence. Write it in the blank. Use each word once.
Word bank: heard · knew · wondered · suspected

Ana   whether the museum would be open on Sunday, so she asked her dad.
Ben   on the radio that the parade would start at noon.
Cora saw crumbs on her brother's shirt. She   he ate the last cookie, but she was not sure.
Dev counted the marbles two times and got 20 both times. He   for sure that there were 20 marbles.

8.
Is the speaker sure or not sure? Sort the sentences.
I know the store opens at nine because I read the sign.I wonder if the museum has a dinosaur room.I suspect the puppy chewed my slipper.I am certain the door is locked because I just checked it.I wonder who left this note on my desk.I know my sister is home because I just saw her come in.
SureNot sure
9.
Which sentence shows that Maya is the most sure?
  • A. Maya wondered if the box held a puzzle.
  • B. Maya suspected the box held a puzzle.
  • C. Maya heard the box held a puzzle.
  • D. Maya knew the box held a puzzle.
10.
Write one sentence about something you know for sure and one sentence about something you wonder about. Use the words know and wonder.