Worksheet

The Next Call

Analyze episodes, character responses, and resolution in an original story about a goalkeeper recovering from a costly mistake.

Grade 6ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toRL.6.3

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What’s included

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

Format: Interactive · Printable
Grade: Grade 6
Subject: ELA
Question types: Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

Students explain how connected episodes move a plot toward its resolution.
Students analyze changes in a character's responses using specific story evidence.
Students distinguish the outcome of a game from the resolution of a character's conflict.

How to use

Have students read the story independently, then complete the paired analysis and evidence questions. Discuss how the final episode answers the opening conflict.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

RL.6.3

Describe how a plot unfolds in episodes and how characters respond or change as it moves toward a resolution.

Preview

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Name Date

The Next Call

Trace how a goalkeeper responds to a mistake and works toward a different ending.

The Mistake and Its Aftermath

Read the story. Choose the best answers and underline the requested evidence.

The Next Call

1With a minute left in the soccer match, Ellis stepped forward to collect a slow cross. “Mine,” he meant to shout, but defender Zadie was already approaching. Ellis hesitated between calling and waiting. The ball slipped between them, and an opposing player tapped it into the goal. That goal decided the match.

2On Monday, Ellis arrived early and practiced catching until his fingers ached. When teammates began a passing drill, he stayed beside the empty goal. He wanted to repair the mistake without having to discuss it. Zadie rolled a ball toward him. “We need you over here,” she said. Ellis bent to tighten a lace that was already tied.

3Coach Vega joined him but left the pile of balls untouched. “What happened before the ball got past you?” she asked. Ellis described his hands, his feet, the bounce. Coach waited. Finally he admitted, “I didn't know whether Zadie could hear me.” Coach nodded. “Then we need something you can both practice.”

4During the next drill, Ellis and Zadie agreed that he would call early and she would answer. His first shout cracked. Zadie kept running, and Ellis snapped, “I called it!” She stopped. “After I had already turned.” Ellis opened his mouth to argue, then asked her to walk through the play slowly with him. They repeated it until each knew when to speak and when to move.

5On Saturday, Ellis watched another cross float toward the penalty area. For a moment he saw last week's ball sliding beyond his gloves. His chest tightened, but he called before leaving his line. Zadie answered and moved aside. Ellis caught the ball against his shirt. The crowd's noise seemed to return all at once.

6Later, a hard shot struck the post and bounced out toward a teammate. Ellis started to apologize for not catching it, then pointed toward an unmarked attacker. “Behind you!” he called. His teammate turned and cleared the ball. Ellis stayed alert as play moved away.

7The match ended in a draw. Ellis glanced at the scoreboard, then found Zadie collecting the cones. “Tuesday, same drill?” he asked. She tossed him a cone. As they carried the equipment off, Ellis explained where his second call could have come sooner. This time, he did not lower his voice.

How does Ellis initially respond to the costly mistake?

A. He asks his teammates to help him examine the play.
B. He works alone while avoiding discussion with teammates.
C. He tries to persuade the coach to change his position.
D. He studies how the opposing player scored the goal.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 2 that most directly explains the reason for Ellis's behavior in question 1.

On Monday, Ellis arrived early and practiced catching until his fingers ached.When teammates began a passing drill, he stayed beside the empty goal.He wanted to repair the mistake without having to discuss it.Zadie rolled a ball toward him.

How does the conversation in paragraph 3 move the plot forward?

A. It persuades Ellis to concentrate on catching harder shots.
B. It settles which player should have collected the cross.
C. It gives Ellis a reason to practice apart from the team.
D. It identifies a communication problem the players can address.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 3 in which Ellis identifies the uncertainty that helps the coach suggest a shared practice task.

Coach Vega joined him but left the pile of balls untouched.Ellis described his hands, his feet, the bounce.Coach waited.Finally he admitted, “I didn't know whether Zadie could hear me.”

Practice and Pressure

Analyze how Ellis's responses change across the practice and match episodes. Support each interpretation with the requested sentence.

Which action marks the turning point in Ellis's response to Zadie's criticism in paragraph 4?

A. He chooses to investigate the play with her instead of arguing.
B. He raises his voice to prove that she should have heard him.
C. He decides to practice catching before discussing her concern.
D. He follows their agreement without needing any adjustments.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 4 that shows Ellis choosing cooperation over an argument.

During the next drill, Ellis and Zadie agreed that he would call early and she would answer.His first shout cracked.Zadie kept running, and Ellis snapped, “I called it!”Ellis opened his mouth to argue, then asked her to walk through the play slowly with him.

What does paragraph 5 reveal about Ellis's progress?

A. He succeeds because the memory of his mistake has faded.
B. He relies on Zadie to decide when he should leave the goal.
C. He uses the practiced response despite feeling afraid.
D. He catches the cross by waiting until Zadie moves first.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 5 that shows both Ellis's fear and his decision to use the practiced response.

On Saturday, Ellis watched another cross float toward the penalty area.His chest tightened, but he called before leaving his line.Ellis caught the ball against his shirt.The crowd's noise seemed to return all at once.

How does Ellis's request in paragraph 7 help resolve his conflict?

A. It shows he wants a stronger result before discussing his mistakes.
B. It shows he now seeks shared practice rather than private repair.
C. It shows he believes one successful catch has completed his training.
D. It shows he plans to replace communication drills with equipment duties.

10.

Underline the sentence from paragraph 7 in which Ellis requests another shared practice session.

The match ended in a draw.Ellis glanced at the scoreboard, then found Zadie collecting the cones.“Tuesday, same drill?” he asked.She tossed him a cone.

Connect the Episodes

Consider how the episodes work together. Use specific events in your written explanations.

11.

Match each episode to its distinct role in the plot.

The hesitation and goal in paragraph 1
The slow walk-through in paragraph 4
The successful catch in paragraph 5
The warning about an attacker in paragraph 6

A. Shows Ellis applying his learning when a similar challenge returns
B. Shows Ellis using his voice to help beyond the rehearsed situation
C. Establishes the costly problem that drives Ellis's later choices
D. Develops a shared solution by working through a disagreement

12.

In paragraph 6, Ellis begins to apologize but changes his response. Explain how this episode develops his character beyond what the successful catch in paragraph 5 shows.

13.

The team does not win the final match. Explain why the story still reaches a resolution. Contrast Ellis's response in paragraph 2 with his behavior in paragraph 7.