Running Out of Time Reading Comprehension Questions
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book Summary
Jessie Keyser lives in a village called Clifton, which she believes is in the year 1840. When a deadly sickness spreads, Jessie learns a shocking secret: Clifton is actually a hidden experiment from the year 1996, and her parents are scientists. Jessie must bravely leave her village, travel to the confusing modern world, and find real medicine to save her sick sister and the other children before it's too late.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Running Out of Time.
1.What is the name of the village where Jessie lives at the beginning of the story?
2.What terrible sickness starts to spread through Clifton village, making many children ill?
3.Who gives the villagers a 'cure' for the sickness that doesn't actually work?
4.Why do you think Jessie's parents waited to tell her the big secret about Clifton?
5.How do you think Jessie felt when she first stepped into the year 1996 and saw all the strange new things?
6.Why did Jessie have to pretend to be a boy when she left Clifton?
7.What lesson does Jessie learn about being brave by the end of the story?
8.What is one important message the story teaches about keeping big secrets?
9.How can you tell that Jessie changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
10.In the story, what does the word 'diphtheria' mean?
11.When the story says Mr. Neely was the village 'prophet,' what does 'prophet' mean in this sentence?
12.Jessie's parents said Clifton was an 'experiment.' What is an 'experiment'?
13.If you were Jessie, how would you feel if you found out your whole life was a secret experiment? What would you do first?
14.Why do you think some people wanted to keep the Clifton experiment a secret, even when children were sick? What do you think about their choice?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Running Out of Time to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Running Out of Time with children.
What was your favorite part of Running Out of Time? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Running Out of Time, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Running Out of Time make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Running Out of Time to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Margaret Peterson Haddix wanted young readers to learn from this story?
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Running Out of Time?
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 5.5. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Running Out of Time?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Running Out of Time, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Running Out of Time for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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