Class 7 Comprehension passage - The secret garden
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Passage - The secret garden
Mary Lennox was a sour and disagreeable little girl. She had lived in India with her parents who had ignored her for the most part. When a cholera epidemic killed her parents, she was sent to live with her uncle in England.
Her uncle, Archibald Craven, was a reclusive man who lived in a huge and gloomy house in the countryside. Mary was lonely and bored until she discovered a secret garden on the estate. She met a local boy named Dickon who showed her how to bring the garden back to life.
Mary also learned that her uncle had a secret. He had locked up his wife's garden after she died in an accident there. Mary became determined to find the key and unlock the garden so that it could be enjoyed once again.
The story of The Secret Garden is about the transformative power of nature and friendship. Mary changes from a spoiled and unhappy child to a kind and loving one as she spends time in the garden and becomes friends with Dickon and her sickly cousin, Colin. The garden helps them all to heal and find happiness.
Questions to check comprehension
1. What was Mary's personality like at the beginning of the story?
2. What happened to Mary's parents?
3. Where did Mary go to live after her parents died?
4. What did Mary discover on the estate?
5. Who showed Mary how to bring the garden back to life?
6. Why did Mary want to find the key to the garden?
7. What is the story of The Secret Garden about?
8. How does Mary change throughout the story?
9. Who does Mary become friends with?
10. What does the garden help the characters to do?
Check answers
Answers:
1) sour and disagreeable
2) They died in a cholera epidemic.
3) She went to live with her uncle in England.
4) A secret garden.
5) Dickon.
6) To unlock the garden so it could be enjoyed again.
7) The transformative power of nature and friendship.
8) She changes from a spoiled and unhappy child to a kind and loving one.
9) She becomes friends with Dickon and her sickly cousin, Colin.
10) The garden helps the characters to heal and find happiness.