A Game for Two


Finn the dolphin loved to play. One day, he saw a shark near a patch of sea grass.
“Will you play with me?” Finn asked.
The shark looked up. “I’m Dot,” she said. “What do you want to play?”
“Tag!” said Finn. He swam in a fast loop around her.
Dot tried to follow, but Finn was too quick. Soon she stopped.
“I can’t catch you,” she said. “This game is not much fun for me.”
Finn slowed down. He had not thought about that. “What do you like to do?” he asked.
“I like to look for things,” said Dot. “The sea has lots of surprises.”
Just then, a shell tumbled past them. Finn nudged it with his nose. It spun down to the sand.
“Let’s find it!” said Dot.
They peeked behind rocks and under long blades of sea grass. Dot found a round stone. Finn found a shell, but it was not the right one.
Then Dot saw a pale shape near a rock. “Is that it?” she asked.
Finn swam down for a closer look. “Yes! You found it!”
A little wave stirred the sand, and the shell rolled away again. This time Finn and Dot followed it side by side.
When it came to rest, Finn pointed with his nose. “Now I found it!”
- tumbled:
- Moved by rolling or turning over.
- nudged:
- Gave a gentle push.
- peeked:
- Looked quickly or carefully.
- pale:
- Light in color.
- stirred:
- Moved something around.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
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Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Who does Finn meet near the sea grass?
- 2What game does Finn want to play first?
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About this fiction passage for Lower Elementary
“A Game for Two” is a fiction reading passage about Friendship, written for Lower Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (269 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.


