Unseen Passage for Class 5: The Match That Was Never Finished

  • 190 words
  • 5 questions
  • Ages 10–11
  • With answers

Leo reads the passage out loud and highlights each word, then asks whether your child would like to try the questions. Free, no sign-up.

Read the passage

The rules of gully cricket in our lane were fixed long before any of us were born. One tip and you were out. The wall behind the bowler was six. A ball hit into Mrs Kulkarni's compound was six and out, and the batsman had to fetch it himself.

That Sunday the match had reached its ninth over and we were four runs behind with two wickets left. Sameer was batting. Everything depended on him, and he knew it.

He hit the next ball cleanly and high. We watched it rise, and rise, and disappear over Mrs Kulkarni's wall — and then we heard glass break.

What happened next surprised everyone. Sameer did not run. He walked to the gate, knocked, and waited. When Mrs Kulkarni opened it he told her exactly what he had done and said he would pay for the window from his Diwali money.

She looked at him for a while. Then she said the window was old and had needed replacing for years, and she gave the ball back. We never finished the match. Somehow nobody minded, and Sameer has been our captain ever since.

Questions

  1. What was the rule for a ball hit into Mrs Kulkarni's compound?

    1. Six runs
    2. Out, with no runs
    3. Six and out, and the batsman had to fetch it
    4. The match was stopped

  2. What was the state of the match when Sameer was batting?

    1. His team was winning easily
    2. His team was four runs behind with two wickets left
    3. The match had just begun
    4. His team had already lost

  3. Why does the writer say "What happened next surprised everyone"?

    1. Because Sameer hit a six
    2. Because the window broke
    3. Because Sameer owned up instead of running away
    4. Because Mrs Kulkarni came out

  4. Why did Mrs Kulkarni give the ball back?

    1. She was afraid of the boys
    2. She respected Sameer for telling the truth
    3. She wanted the match to continue
    4. The ball was not hers to keep

  5. What is the central idea of this passage?

    1. Gully cricket has strict rules
    2. Owning up to a mistake earns more than winning a match
    3. Old windows break easily
    4. Neighbours should be patient with children

Answers

Show the answer key
  1. Six and out, and the batsman had to fetch itThe passage lists this rule precisely: six and out, and the batsman fetched the ball himself.
  2. His team was four runs behind with two wickets leftIt was the ninth over and they were four runs behind with two wickets remaining.
  3. Because Sameer owned up instead of running awayBoys who break a window usually run. Sameer walked to the gate and knocked, which is what surprised them.
  4. She respected Sameer for telling the truthShe looked at him a while, then let him off and returned the ball. His honesty earned it.
  5. Owning up to a mistake earns more than winning a matchThe match was never finished and nobody minded — because what Sameer did mattered more than the result.

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