The Secret Garden Reading Comprehension Questions
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Book Summary
The story is about Mary Lennox, a lonely and spoiled orphan sent to live with her uncle in a large, mysterious manor in England. She discovers a hidden, neglected garden and, with the help of a local boy named Dickon and her sickly cousin Colin, brings both the garden and Colin back to life, finding friendship and happiness along the way.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The Secret Garden.
1.Where did Mary Lennox live before she came to Misselthwaite Manor?
2.What did Mary hear crying in the manor that led her to discover Colin?
3.Who helped Mary bring the secret garden back to life and also helped Colin?
4.Why do you think Mary felt so lonely when she first arrived at Misselthwaite Manor?
5.Why do you think Mr. Craven kept the secret garden locked for ten years?
6.What do you think would have happened to Colin if Mary had not found him and told him about the garden?
7.What is a big lesson Mary learns about friendship in the story?
8.How does the secret garden help Mary and Colin change by the end of the story?
9.How can you tell that Mary changed from being a spoiled child to a caring friend?
10.What does it mean if Mary was an 'orphan'?
11.In the story, the garden was 'withered' and neglected. What does 'withered' mean?
12.When Mary became 'curious' about the manor, what did she want to do?
13.If you found a secret garden like Mary did, what kinds of plants or animals would you want to put in it to make it special?
14.How do you think it feels to help someone like Mary helped Colin, bringing them joy and health?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The Secret Garden to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The Secret Garden with children.
What was your favorite part of The Secret Garden? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The Secret Garden, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The Secret Garden make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The Secret Garden to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Frances Hodgson Burnett wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The Secret Garden?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 4.2. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The Secret Garden?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Secret Garden, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The Secret Garden 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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