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Comprehension Exercise5th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 5th Grade Big Bend National Park — Reading Comprehension

An information text about Big Bend National Park in West Texas, where the Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico and desert, mountains and river canyons meet. Students locate key facts, compare the park's different landscapes, explain the author's purpose, and write a persuasive postcard inviting someone to visit.

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Grade
5th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
30 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
14
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • locating key facts in an information text
  • comparing and contrasting information
  • identifying the author's purpose
  • using context clues for vocabulary

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Big Bend National Park — Reading Comprehension

  1. 1Storm Over the Pecan Trees — Poetry Comprehension
  2. 25th Grade Grammar Quiz
  3. 3Commas in Direct Address, Titles, and Abbreviations
  4. 4Complex Sentences and Clauses
Study guide

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

5th Grade students (typically ages 10–11) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes for 14 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Storm Over the Pecan Trees — Poetry Comprehension.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets5th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

Big Bend National Park — Reading Comprehension

Name

Date

Score /

Read the text first. Then answer the questions in order.

Part A: Find the facts

1.How did Big Bend National Park get its name?[1 mark] (answer space)
2.In what year was the park established?[1 mark] (answer space)
3.What does the Rio Grande form along the park's southern edge?[1 mark]
  1. Aa lake
  2. Bthe border between the United States and Mexico
  3. Cthe border between Texas and New Mexico
  4. Da waterfall
4.Which desert is most of the park part of?[1 mark] (answer space)
5.Name two animals that live in the desert part of the park.[1 mark] (answer space)

Part B: Think about it

6.Pine trees grow on the desert floor of the park. ☐ True   ☐ False
7.In Santa Elena Canyon, Texas is on one side of the river and Mexico is on the other. ☐ True   ☐ False
8.Compare the desert and the mountains. Give one difference and explain why it exists.[2 marks] (answer space)
9.Explain why Big Bend has such dark night skies.[1 mark] (answer space)
10.What is the author's main purpose in this text?[1 mark]
  1. Ato tell a funny story about a camping trip
  2. Bto inform readers about the different landscapes of Big Bend
  3. Cto give instructions for paddling a canoe
  4. Dto argue that the desert should be protected from visitors
11.How do the headings help the reader?[1 mark] (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.