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Comprehension Exercise9th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 9th Grade The Last Crossing — Short Story Reading Comprehension

An original short story about a ferry operator's final night before a new bridge replaces his boat, told through the eyes of his granddaughter. Students answer literal questions, make inferences about characters' unspoken feelings, explain similes and symbols such as the gift of a tomato, work out vocabulary from context and write an analytical paragraph about how the writer shows emotion without stating it.

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Grade
9th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
16
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • retrieving key details from a narrative
  • inferring characters' feelings from actions and dialogue
  • explaining the effect of similes and symbols
  • working out word meanings from context
  • writing an analytical paragraph with evidence

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: The Last Crossing — Short Story Reading Comprehension

  1. 1Persuasive Speech Reading Comprehension: Lights Out for Migrating Birds
  2. 2Whooping Cranes Feature Article — Reading Comprehension
  3. 3Sentence Variety and Cohesion
  4. 4Active and Passive Voice for Effect

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?

9th Grade students (typically ages 14–15) 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 35 minutes for 16 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 Persuasive Speech Reading Comprehension: Lights Out for Migrating Birds.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets9th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

The Last Crossing — Short Story Reading Comprehension

Name

Date

Score /

Good readers notice what characters do and what they leave unsaid, not only what they say.

Part A: Literal questions

The answers are stated in the story.

1.How long has Tomas run the ferry?[1 mark] (answer space)
2.Give two reasons why Ines holds the rope instead of her grandfather.[2 marks] (answer space)
3.Why will there be no more crossings after tonight?
  1. AThe ferry has broken down.
  2. BTomas is moving away.
  3. CA new bridge upstream opens in the morning.
  4. DThe river is too dangerous.
4.How many passengers are on the last trip across?
  1. Atwo
  2. Bthree
  3. Cfour
  4. Dfive
5.What does the old man give Tomas, and what does he say about it?[1 mark] (answer space)

Part B: Inferential questions

The answers are not stated directly. Use clues from the story and explain your thinking.

6.Tomas greets every passenger by name and does not need to ask where they are going. This suggests that:
  1. Ahe is a strict and careful operator
  2. Bthe passengers are regulars and the ferry is part of a close community
  3. Che has a list of passengers
  4. Dthe passengers are all members of his family
7.Ines asks, "Will you miss it?" Tomas answers that the bridge is faster. The narrator says, "That was not an answer, and they both knew it." What does this suggest about Tomas's feelings?[2 marks] (answer space)
8.At the ramp, the old man "opened his mouth, closed it again, and simply nodded." Why might he do this?[2 marks] (answer space)
9.The bridge lights are "strung across the water like a necklace no one had asked for." What attitude towards the bridge does this simile suggest?[2 marks] (answer space)
10.Why does Tomas keep the tomato in his pocket instead of eating it?
  1. AHe does not like tomatoes.
  2. BHe plans to sell it.
  3. CIt has become a keepsake that stands for the passengers' gratitude.
  4. DHe forgot about it.
11.How does the final paragraph show that the night is both happy and sad?[2 marks] (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

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