Thunder Fort Reading Passage
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2nd Grade Reading • Character Motivation
The Secret Thunder Fort
Reading Focus: Character motivation is the why behind what a character does. As you read, ask yourself: Why is Sam acting this way?
All week long, Sam rushed straight home after school. Usually, he stayed at the park to kick the soccer ball with his best friend, Leo. Now, Sam barely said goodbye before running down the sidewalk.
On Wednesday, Leo walked past Sam’s house and saw him carrying a huge cardboard box into the garage. Leo frowned and kicked a pebble. Did I do something wrong? Leo wondered. Maybe Sam doesn’t want to be friends anymore.
Inside the garage, Sam was hard at work. He taped two giant boxes together and cut out a small, round doorway. Next, he stuffed his old blue sleeping bag and three fluffy pillows inside. He even hung a flashlight from the top with a piece of string. Every time he heard a rumble of thunder in the distance, Sam worked a little faster.
Just then, dark clouds rolled in, and raindrops began to tap on the garage roof. Boom! A loud clap of thunder shook the windows. Sam’s little brown dog, Max, whimpered and squeezed behind a stack of flowerpots. Max always shook like a leaf during storms.
“Come here, buddy,” Sam whispered gently. He pointed to the cozy cardboard doorway. Max sniffed the soft pillows, crawled inside, and curled up in a tight ball. Sam’s mom peeked into the garage, and Leo stood right behind her with a worried look. When Leo saw Max peacefully sleeping inside the glowing fort, his frown turned into a big smile.
Read the story carefully before answering the questions on the next page. Turn the page →
Character Motivation Questions
Circle the best answer for 1–6.
1. Why does Sam rush straight home after school all week?
A.He is tired of playing soccer.
B.He wants time to build a fort for Max.
C.He has to clean the whole garage.
D.He is trying to hide from the rain.
2. Why does Leo frown when he sees Sam carrying the box?
A.He worries Sam is mad at him.
B.He wants the cardboard box for himself.
C.He dropped his soccer ball in the mud.
D.He does not like Sam’s dog, Max.
3. Why does Sam put a sleeping bag and pillows inside the box?
A.To make a bed for himself to nap in
B.To keep his toys from breaking
C.To make a soft, cozy spot for Max
D.To hide the box from his mom
4. Why does Sam work faster when he hears thunder?
A.He wants to finish before Max gets scared.
B.He is afraid of the dark garage.
C.He wants to go outside and play in puddles.
D.His mom told him to hurry up for dinner.
5. Why does Max squeeze behind the flowerpots during the storm?
A.He is looking for a lost bone.
B.He wants to play hide-and-seek.
C.He is frightened by the loud thunder.
D.He is trying to stay dry from rain.
6. What causes Leo to smile at the end of the story?
A.The storm finally stops raining.
B.He sees why Sam was really busy.
C.Sam’s mom gives him a snack.
D.He gets to keep the flashlight.
7. Short Answer
What motivated Sam to build the thunder fort? Use at least one detail from the story in your answer.
