Worksheet

Clues at the Lost-and-Found Window

Read an original story set at a train station lost-and-found, then use details to answer questions and back up inferences.

Grade 4ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toRL.4.1

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What’s included

Single worksheet
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1 Common Core standard
Printable answer key
11 questions
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Details

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 4
Subject: ELA
Question types: Fill in the blank, Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students use details from a story to explain what the text says directly.
Students make inferences about characters and events and support them with text evidence.

How to use

Have students read the story once for meaning, then reread to find the sentences that prove each answer before they write.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

RL.4.1

Use details and examples from a text to explain what it says directly and to support inferences drawn from it.

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Name Date

Clues at the Lost-and-Found Window

Use details from a story to explain what it says and what you can infer.

Read the story

The Lost-and-Found Window

1Every Saturday, Mateo helped his grandmother at the lost-and-found window in the city train station. Abuela Rosa had worked there for as long as Mateo could remember. He loved sorting the odd things people left behind: mittens, lunch boxes, umbrellas, and once, a rubber chicken.

2That morning, a cleaner named Mr. Okafor set a tan canvas bag on the counter. "Found this under a bench on Track 4," he said. Mateo peeked inside. He saw a pair of pink ballet slippers, a hairbrush, and a folded sheet of paper. Across the top of the paper were the words "Spring Show: Dress Rehearsal at 11:00."

3Mateo looked up at the big clock above the ticket booth. It was already 10:15. "Whoever owns this has somewhere important to be," he said. Abuela Rosa nodded and wrote the bag's number in her notebook. "Then let's hope they come back soon," she said.

4A few minutes later, a girl about Mateo's age appeared at the window. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she wore a gray sweatshirt. She was breathing so hard that she could barely speak. "Did anyone find a tan bag?" she asked.

5Mateo's heart jumped. He wanted to hand her the bag right away. But Abuela Rosa held up one finger. "Every lost thing goes home to the right person," she said kindly. "Please tell me something that is inside your bag."

6The girl took a deep breath. "My ballet slippers," she said. "The ribbons are sewn on with purple thread, because my mom ran out of pink." Mateo turned one slipper over. Tiny purple stitches held the ribbon in place.

7Abuela Rosa slid the bag across the counter. The girl, whose name was Keiko, hugged it to her chest and closed her eyes for a moment. "Thank you," she said. "Our show is tonight, and I can't dance without these." Then she glanced at the big clock and hurried toward the exit.

8Mateo watched her go. "How did you know to ask about what was inside?" he asked. Abuela Rosa tapped the crowded shelves behind her. "Lots of bags look alike from the outside," she said. "But only the owner knows what is inside."

What the story says

Use the story to answer each question.

Where did Mr. Okafor find the bag?

A. next to the ticket booth
B. on a seat inside a train
C. by the doors at the exit
D. under a bench on Track 4

Read paragraph 3. Write the time the big clock shows when Mateo looks up.

The clock shows .

Read paragraph 6. Why are the ribbons sewn on with purple thread? Write the missing color word.

Keiko's mom ran out of thread.

Why does Mateo say, "Whoever owns this has somewhere important to be"?

A. The bag holds a train ticket for a trip that leaves soon.
B. Mr. Okafor saw the owner run off to catch a train.
C. The paper shows a rehearsal that starts in less than an hour.
D. The owner left a note asking for the bag to be sent back.

Before the girl comes to the window, what can the reader infer about the owner of the bag?

A. The owner is going to dance in a show.
B. The owner works as a cleaner at the station.
C. The owner is taking a train to visit family.
D. The owner bought the bag at the station.

Make inferences

Use clues from the story to answer each question.

Read paragraph 4. Underline the sentence that best supports the inference that the girl had been running.

A few minutes later, a girl about Mateo's age appeared at the window.Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she wore a gray sweatshirt.She was breathing so hard that she could barely speak."Did anyone find a tan bag?" she asked.

Read paragraph 5. What can you infer about Mateo?

A. He thinks the girl is not telling the truth.
B. He is eager to give the girl her bag back.
C. He is afraid his grandmother will be upset.
D. He is bored and wishes he could go home.

Read paragraph 6. Underline the sentence that proves the girl's description of her slippers is correct.

The girl took a deep breath."My ballet slippers," she said."The ribbons are sewn on with purple thread, because my mom ran out of pink."Mateo turned one slipper over.Tiny purple stitches held the ribbon in place.

Match each inference to the detail from the story that best supports it.