Museletter Junior 6 — J23 Education

Part 6: The Deal

Read the passage carefully before answering the questions. Click any word to collect it. Click an underlined word to reveal its definition below.

"What do you want?" asked Penelope.

Of course, she knew what Simon wanted. He wanted to catch that rat, because he thought it would impress her. She'd tried to tell him, so many times she felt like a stuck record, but it didn't seem to get through to him. She actually quite admired the rat. He took what he wanted and didn't ask for permission. He didn't harm them.

"Nothing," said Simon, unconvincingly.

They both looked at each other.

"Well, actually," Simon continued, sheepishly, "I was wondering if you could help me get the humans to order sushi."

"Why?" replied Penelope, exasperated.

Simon mumbled some lie about wanting some fish. Penelope took pity on him; he was like a newborn kitten, so naïve and silly. She explained to him that the best way to get them to order a particular food was to knock that menu off the fridge door, so that they pick it up and are reminded of it.

An upside, that Penelope had not anticipated, was that in trying to knock down the menu, Simon had to repeatedly jump at the fridge, swatting at the menus that were just out of reach. Simon thudded repeatedly into the fridge, jumping off the counter, from the floor, from the top of the fridge, a frenzied ball of furry incompetence.

Eventually, Penelope tired of watching him and slipped out through the catflap, the sound of Simon thudding into the floor still reverberating through the kitchen. It was still wet from the rain earlier, but the sun was out now, glinting off the grass. Reginald was sat on his hind legs munching a beetle.

Penelope nodded and Reginald nodded back.

"I think there's going to be some sushi for you tonight," said Penelope.

Reginald removed the beetle from his mouth and grinned.

Word Collector

Click any word in the passage to collect it

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.

1

What does Penelope already know Simon wants, before he tells her?

(2 marks)
2

Give two reasons from the passage why Penelope actually admires Reginald.

(2 marks)
3

What does Penelope advise Simon to do to get the humans to order sushi?

(2 marks)
4

Describe what happens when Simon tries to follow Penelope's advice. Use evidence from the text.

(3 marks)
5

What does Penelope say to Reginald, and what does his reaction suggest?

(2 marks)

Section Total: _____ / 11

Section 2: Perspectives & Feelings

Think about how the characters are feeling and why they behave the way they do. Use the text to support your ideas.

6

How does Penelope feel about Simon at the start of the passage? Use two pieces of evidence.

(3 marks)
7

Penelope compares Simon to "a newborn kitten, so naïve and silly." What does this comparison suggest about the way she sees him?

(2 marks)
8

Do you think Penelope is being kind to Simon by helping him? Give reasons using evidence from the passage.

(3 marks)
9

At the end, Reginald "removed the beetle from his mouth and grinned." What does this single action tell us about his character?

(3 marks)

Section Total: _____ / 11

Section 3: Writer's Corner

Think about the choices the writer has made and what effect they have on the reader.

10

The writer describes Simon as "a frenzied ball of furry incompetence." What makes this phrase funny, and what picture does it create in your mind?

(2 marks)
11

The narrator tells us what Penelope is thinking and feeling, but never what Simon thinks. What effect does this have on the way we see Simon?

(3 marks)
12

How does the writer build humour throughout the passage? Use at least two examples in your answer.

(3 marks)

Section Total: _____ / 8

Section 4: Writing Task

Writing Task — 20 minutes

Write the same scene from Reginald's point of view. You are outside in the garden when you spot Simon through the kitchen window, hurling himself repeatedly at the fridge. Then Penelope slips through the catflap and delivers the news.

What do you think as you watch Simon? How do you feel when Penelope tells you about the sushi? You might think about:

What does Simon look like from the outside?
Does Reginald suspect what Simon is really up to?
What does Reginald think of Penelope?

Try to match the funny, observational tone of the original!