The Cat Who Stole the List
Leo had a very funny problem on Christmas Eve. He had lost the family holiday list! His mother had asked him to guard the paper with his life. The long yellow paper listed all the fun games and holiday treats they needed to buy. Leo checked under the soft rug in the front hall. He looked inside his warm winter boots. He even checked behind the big green sofa cushions. All he found was an old peanut and a silver jingle bell.
Leo called his little sister, Maya, to help him solve the case. Maya loved to play detective. She put on a silly plaid holiday hat and took out a plastic magnifying glass. She said that every great mystery left a trail of clues. First, they looked under the tall pine tree in the corner. Next, they checked the kitchen counter near the gingerbread cookies. Maya pointed to the shiny wood floor and gasped. A trail of red ribbon led right down the dark hallway!
- guard:
- To watch over and protect something so it stays safe.
- cushions:
- Soft pads or pillows used on chairs and sofas to make sitting comfortable.
- detective:
- A person who looks for clues to solve a mystery or puzzle.
- clues:
- Hints or facts that help someone find an answer or solve a problem.
- traded:
- Gave something away in exchange for something else.
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.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
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
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
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
- 1What special holiday paper did Leo lose on Christmas Eve?
- 2Where did Leo find an old peanut and a silver jingle bell?
Where this passage belongs
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About this short story passage for 2nd Grade
“The Cat Who Stole the List” is a short story reading passage about Holiday Problem Solving, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (256 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.