Museletter Junior 4
Part 4: The Trap
Read the passage carefully before answering the questions. Click any word to collect it. Click an underlined word to reveal its definition below.
Simon mewled loudly, stretching out his length to their full, if insubstantial, length. The sun shone in through a crack in the curtains, glinting off Simon's silver water bowl as well as the spilled droplets scattered round it.
"Reginald," growled Simon.
He hated it when Reginald drank from his bowl. Simon resolved in that moment that today was the day he would catch Reginald. Today was the day that he eliminated his foe. But how?
Simon's usual strategy was to wait for Reginald to stop paying attention so he could sneak up on him, but Reginald was always paying attention. Always. No, Simon would need something far more proactive. A trap.
Simon's eyes flicked around the room. The Little Sister's iPad was strewn on the floor. The humans seemed to be endlessly fascinated by this — perhaps he could use it to distract Reginald. Simon scuttled over and pawed the screen. His claws clacked on the surface, but to no avail. This wouldn't work.
On the armchair was a pink feather boa. It lay there, draped intriguingly over the arm. Simon knew that this was the most fascinating thing in the world. When it moved it glided through the air, demanding his attention with every swish. This would be the perfect bait for Reginald. Who could resist the majesty of the boa.
Half an hour later, the Little Sister came in to find Simon batting the boa back and forth with his paws.
"Silly puss-puss," she giggled, taking the boa from Simon.
"Give it back," hissed Simon, "I was about to use that."
Just then, Penelope sauntered in from the kitchen. She looked at Simon with a look of amused confusion.
"Productive morning?" she asked.
"No…" scowled Simon.
Vocabulary
Click an underlined word in the passage above to reveal its definition here.
Section 1: What Happened?
Answer using evidence from the passage. Use full sentences where possible.
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1What is Simon's usual strategy for catching Reginald?(1 mark)
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2Why does Simon decide his usual strategy will not work?(1 mark)
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3What is the first thing Simon tries to use as bait, and why does it fail?(2 marks)
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4Where is the feather boa when Simon spots it?(1 mark)
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5What is Simon doing when the Little Sister comes into the room?(1 mark)
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6How long had Simon been distracted by the boa before the Little Sister arrived?(1 mark)
Section 2: Understanding the Characters
Think about what the characters are like and what their actions tell us.
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7What does it tell us about Reginald that Simon needs to think of something "far more proactive"?(2 marks)
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8What does Simon getting distracted by the boa tell us about his character?(2 marks)
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9How does Penelope's behaviour at the end of the passage show that she is different from Simon?(2 marks)
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10How do you think Simon feels when Penelope asks "Productive morning?"(2 marks)
Section 3: Writer's Corner
Think about the choices the writer makes and the effect they have on the reader.
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11The writer repeats the word "Always" on its own as a one-word sentence. What effect does this create?(2 marks)
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12The writer says the boa was "demanding his attention with every swish." What technique is this, and what does it make the reader imagine?(2 marks)
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13The writer gives Simon a speaking voice. What effect does hearing Simon speak have on the reader?(2 marks)
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14How does the writer use humour in this passage? Use an example to support your answer.(3 marks)
Section 4: Writing Task
Your Challenge
Write a story about a character with a clever plan — that goes completely wrong because they get distracted.
You could think about:
- What is the character trying to achieve?
- What distracts them, and why can't they resist it?
- Who catches them out — and what do they say?
- Can you end on a funny or embarrassing moment?
Try to include dialogue, a one-word sentence for dramatic effect, and at least one word that describes how a character moves.