UST Elementary Reading Challenge
Week 8 — Mysteries & Problem Solving
Grades 3–5 • Focus: Evidence & Logical Thinking
This Week’s Reading
Week 8 • Evidence & Logical Thinking
Reading 1: The Missing Library Book
Reading 2: Footprints by the Garden
Each reading includes 5 comprehension questions.
Read → Find Evidence → Think → Explain
Reading 1 — The Missing Library Book
Part 1 of 2
Ms. Chen could not find the class copy of The Secret Island. Three students had used the reading corner that morning: Leo, Priya, and Sam.��Leo said he had read a science magazine. Priya said she had looked at The Secret Island but left it on the blue table. Sam said he had moved a stack of books from the blue table to a shelf because the table was needed for an art project.
Reading 1 — The Missing Library Book
Part 2 of 2
The class searched the blue table, but the book was not there. Then Priya noticed that one shelf held several books with blue covers. The missing book also had a blue cover.��Sam checked the stack he had moved. The Secret Island was between two larger books. No one had taken it from the room; it had simply been moved without anyone noticing.
Questions — The Missing Library Book
Evidence & Logical Thinking
1. What is the main idea of “The Missing Library Book”?
2. Which detail from the passage best supports the main idea?
3. Choose one important word or phrase from the passage. What does it mean as used here?
4. What can you infer from the passage that the author does not state directly?
5. Write a 1–2 sentence summary using evidence from the passage.
Answer Guide — The Missing Library Book
How to Solve • Part 1
1. Suggested answer: Answers will vary; identify the central idea.
How to solve: Ask: What idea connects most paragraphs? Do not choose a detail that appears only once.
2. Suggested answer: Answers will vary; cite a specific fact.
How to solve: Return to the passage and choose a sentence that directly supports the central idea.
3. Suggested answer: Answers will vary.
How to solve: Use the words around the unfamiliar term, plus the topic of the paragraph, to infer its meaning.
Answer Guide — The Missing Library Book
How to Solve • Part 2
4. Suggested answer: Answers will vary but must be supported by evidence.
How to solve: Combine a clue from the text with what you already know. The inference should not contradict the passage.
5. Suggested answer: Answers will vary.
How to solve: Include only the most important idea and key supporting information; leave out minor details.
Reading 2 — Footprints by the Garden
Part 1 of 2
On Tuesday morning, Mr. Hall found several young lettuce plants bent over in the school garden. Beside the garden were small muddy footprints.��The students studied the clues. The prints had four toes and were about the size of a large coin. A broken fence board left a low opening near the ground. They also found a few short gray hairs caught on the wood.
Reading 2 — Footprints by the Garden
Part 2 of 2
One student guessed that a deer had entered the garden, but deer tracks are much larger and shaped differently. Another guessed a bird, but birds usually leave thin, pointed toe marks.��The class compared the clues with a field guide and decided that a rabbit was the most likely visitor. They repaired the opening and watched the garden carefully the next morning.
Questions — Footprints by the Garden
Evidence & Logical Thinking
1. What is the main idea of “Footprints by the Garden”?
2. Which detail from the passage best supports the main idea?
3. Choose one important word or phrase from the passage. What does it mean as used here?
4. What can you infer from the passage that the author does not state directly?
5. Write a 1–2 sentence summary using evidence from the passage.
Answer Guide — Footprints by the Garden
How to Solve • Part 1
1. Suggested answer: Answers will vary; identify the central idea.
How to solve: Ask: What idea connects most paragraphs? Do not choose a detail that appears only once.
2. Suggested answer: Answers will vary; cite a specific fact.
How to solve: Return to the passage and choose a sentence that directly supports the central idea.
3. Suggested answer: Answers will vary.
How to solve: Use the words around the unfamiliar term, plus the topic of the paragraph, to infer its meaning.
Answer Guide — Footprints by the Garden
How to Solve • Part 2
4. Suggested answer: Answers will vary but must be supported by evidence.
How to solve: Combine a clue from the text with what you already know. The inference should not contradict the passage.
5. Suggested answer: Answers will vary.
How to solve: Include only the most important idea and key supporting information; leave out minor details.