Reading widely across genres

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 11-14

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Kofi read four mystery novels, two plays, and one poetry book this term. How many different kinds of books did he read?
Answer: ______________
Three friends talk about their reading this term. Mia read a mystery, a book of poems, and a true book about sharks. Leo read five football magazines and nothing else. Ana read a play, then a graphic novel, then a history book. Which friend is NOT reading widely?
- Mia
- Ana
- Leo
A reading record is just a list of titles, with nothing about what you thought of each book.
Circle one: True False
Keeping a list of books you've read, with notes on what you liked or didn't, is called a personal reading record.
Circle one: True False
Flo keeps a reading record and wants to check whether she is reading widely. Which question should she ask about her list?
- Did I read faster each month?
- Did my friends like the same books?
- How many different kinds of books have I tried?
Amir just finished a graphic novel about superheroes and loved it. What's a good next step toward reading widely?
- Read the same graphic novel again
- Try a non-fiction book or a play
- Stop reading until school assigns something
Sara read a novel set in Nigeria, a collection of Japanese haiku, and a classic British mystery. Besides different genres, what else is Sara exploring?
- Only books written in the last year
- Books that all have the same setting
- Stories and poems from different places and cultures
Omar has read a mystery novel, a book of poems, and a non-fiction book about bridges this year. He wants to try a kind of book he has never read before. Which choice adds a new kind for Omar?
- Another mystery with the same detective
- A play to read out loud with friends
- A longer non-fiction book about tunnels
Tess says: 'Books written long ago are boring and have nothing to teach me.' What would a wide reader say back?
- Older books show how language and stories have changed, so they are worth trying
- Tess is right, so she should skip anything written before she was born
- Older books are fine, but only if a teacher makes you read them
Dex says: 'I read thirty books this year, so I must be a wide reader.' All thirty were dragon fantasy novels. What is the best reply?
- Thirty books is a lot, so Dex is right
- Fantasy is not a real genre, so none of them count
- Dex read deeply in one genre, but wide reading means many different kinds

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Reading widely across genres W1-mt_9k1qcpvVi_-s1

3 · Mysteries, plays, and poems are three different kinds, no matter how many of each he read.
Leo · Leo stayed with one kind of reading all term. Mia and Ana each tried three different kinds.
False · A reading record also holds your notes on what you liked or didn't, like the lines Priya wrote.
True · A reading record tracks titles and your own thoughts on each one, so you can spot patterns in what you enjoy.
How many different kinds of books have I tried? · Wide reading is about the variety of kinds, so the useful check counts genres on her list.
Try a non-fiction book or a play · Enjoying a book is a great sign. The next step is branching out to a genre Amir hasn't tried yet.
Stories and poems from different places and cultures · Nigeria, Japan, and Britain are three different places, so Sara is reading across cultures as well as genres.
A play to read out loud with friends · A play is a genre Omar has not tried. Another mystery or another non-fiction book repeats what he already reads.
Older books show how language and stories have changed, so they are worth trying · Older writing is part of wide reading. It shows how stories and language have changed over time.
Dex read deeply in one genre, but wide reading means many different kinds · Wide reading is about the variety of genres, not the total number of books.