English Worksheet

Activity 1
Reading Comprehension
BLACK BLIZZARD
By Maurine V. Eleder (2015)

“Ooooh, Betty. Come quick!” said four-year-old

Mary Ann. Paper dolls lay forgotten on the floor
as she stared out the window. Betty felt her
stomach muscles tighten as she joined Mary
Ann. On the horizon loomed a rolling black
cloud. It stretched from the ground into the sky,
and it was heading directly toward them. “It’s
another dust storm, Mary Ann,” Betty said, trying to
stay calm. How many more would there be, she wondered.
For the last four years — since 1932 — Oklahoma and nearby states had endured dozens of
such storms. Betty knew the routine. “Let’s get some towels from the kitchen,” she said. The
girls went from window to window, closing each and placing a rolled-up towel where the window
met the sill. It would keep out some of the windblown dirt, but Betty knew that powdery dust
would cover everything — dishes in cupboards and clothes in closets — long after the storm
had passed.
“I’m scared,” said Mary Ann.
“I know,” said Betty, “but we’ll be safe if we stay in the house.”
“What about Mommy and Daddy?” Mary Ann asked. “They’re probably on their way home from
the bank. They won’t be able to drive in the storm. I expect they’ll stop at a neighbor’s home.”
The dust cloud hid the sun and brought eerie darkness, even though it was the middle of the
afternoon. The wind howled. Tiny particles of soil pelted the window glass. No wonder they call
these storms “black blizzards,” thought Betty. She stared out the window.
“Oh no!” she said suddenly.
“What’s wrong?” asked Mary Ann. “I thought I saw Fancifoot. See there — near the fence,”
Betty said. Fancifoot was Betty’s colt. She had seen him born. She had named him. She
helped carry his hay and clean his stall. Fancifoot would stumble around trying to find shelter.
“I’m going to get Fancifoot back into the barn,” Betty said. “You stay in this chair and don’t
move.” Mary Ann nodded solemnly. Betty jammed on her old straw hat and pulled the brim low
over her forehead. She wound a scarf around it so her nose and mouth were covered. In the
storeroom near the kitchen, she found her mother’s long clothesline. She wrapped one end
around her wrist and tied it in a knot. Then she plunged into the storm. She was struggling
against the wind. Then Betty turned left to follow the fence. The fence ended. No Fancifoot.
Betty couldn’t see more than a few yards in the swirling blackness. Then
she heard him whinny, and she stumbled toward the sound.

1 | © Venny English Course (+6281 228 596 040) ® 2021

“Fancifoot!” Betty called. Where was he? Again she heard a low whinny. She turned and
stepped forward. Now she thought she heard him to her right. She walked backward to keep the
grit from hitting her face.
Maybe the wind is playing tricks, she thought. Maybe I didn’t really see or hear him. But then
she smacked right into him. “Fancifoot,” she said with relief, “you’re OK.” She glided her hands
over his ears and neck. Quickly, she looped the slack of the clothes-line around his neck.
“We’ll never make the barn,” she said. “I’ve turned around so many times I can’t tell where it is.
You’re coming home with me.”
Hand over hand, Betty guided Fancifoot along the clothesline, back to the end she had fastened
to the porch. “Come on, Fancifoot. Up two steps and we’ll be safe. Come on, boy,” Betty coaxed
as she pulled him into the house. “All safe,” Betty gasped to a surprised Mary Ann.“We’ll put him
in the storeroom until the storm is over,” Betty said.
The storm continued to blow as Betty prepared supper. The storm had died down so she and
Mary Ann fell asleep.
Ai-ooga-ai-ooga! Betty sat up, wide awake. Then she heard it again. Ai-ooga! “What
is it?” Mary Ann asked. “Our car! They’re home!” Betty answered.
They raced to the front door. A hazy rising sun shone on drifts of dirt piled against the
house.“Are you all right?” Mommy and Daddy asked as they hugged and kissed the girls.
“We were passing Schuler’s farm when the storm hit and had to stay there overnight. We
were so worried.”
“Thank goodness you’re all right,” said Daddy. He looked uncertainly at Betty. “I noticed the
barn door was open. I’m afraid we may find that Fancifoot got out of the barn and — ”He
stopped as Mary Ann and Betty giggled. “He did get out of the barn, but he’s OK. He’s right
there,” Betty said, pointing to the storeroom where Fancifoot stood — munching Betty’s old
straw hat.

Answer the questions.

1. How is the weather described in paragraph 1? How do you know?

The weather is described as a dust storm, and i know because Betty told Mary Ann that
it was.
2. What year did this story take place?
This story take place in the year 1932.
3. Read this statement from the passage.
The dust cloud hid the sun and brought eerie darkness, even though it was the
middle of the afternoon.
What is the meaning of eerie according to the context?
The meaning of eerie is something that is scary or is terrorific.

4. Why do people in Oklahoma call it a black blizzard?

Because this dust storm is a total black and hid the sun with particles of soil.

5. What kind of animal is Fancifoot?

Fancifoot is the colt of Betty.

2 | © Venny English Course (+6281 228 596 040) ® 2021

 6. What is the best word to describe the situation in the story above when the storm came
and Fancifoot was out there in the barn by himself?
Danger, because Fancifoot ran danger with all that soil fliying in the air.

7. What does “Ai-ooga-ai-ooga” represent ?

Ai-ooga-ai-ooga represent a word with which they greet their family or local traditions.
What is the technique used here?
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Onomatopoeia
d. Personification

8. Pay attention to the excerpt of the paragraph below.

Hand over hand, Betty guided Fancifoot along the clothesline, back to the end
she had fastened to the porch. “Come on, Fancifoot. Up two steps and we’ll be
safe. Come on, boy,” Betty coaxed as she pulled him into the house. “All safe,”
Betty gasped to a surprised Mary Ann. “We’ll put him in the storeroom until the
storm is over,” Betty said.
Which word has the same meaning as “persuade gently”?
A word that has the same meaning is guided.

9. Which statement expresses the main theme of the short story?

a. Animals and children should be taken to safety first in an emergency.
b. The bond between humans and animals is unbreakable.
c. It's easier to respond to emergencies when you don't let fear control you.
d. Panicking during a life-threatening situation can lead to more problem.

10. How do Betty and Mary Ann's emotions compare to their parents at the end of the story?
a. Betty and Mary Ann are just as worried to see that their parents are safe as their
parents are.
b. Betty and Mary Ann are light-hearted after surviving the storm, while their parents
are nervous to make sure everyone is ok.
c. Betty and Mary Ann are shaken after the storm, while their parents are calm, as
they knew everyone would be safe.
d. Betty and Mary Anne are proud of their actions during the storm, while their
parents are surprised that everyone is safe.

11. What kind of text is the passage above?

This is a text narrative.

12. Mention 5 features of the text above

a. Calm.

3 | © Venny English Course (+6281 228 596 040) ® 2021

 b. Help.
c. Concern.
d. Fear.
e. Joy.
13. What grammatical tense is used in the text above?
The time grammatical is past perfect.
14. What is the point of view used in the passage above?

15. “The wind is playing tricks.” What figurative language technique is used here?
a. Metaphor
b. simile
c. onomatopoeia
d. personification

4 | © Venny English Course (+6281 228 596 040) ® 2021