The Fun of Gardening

1 Have you ever planted a seed and waited to see what would happen? Gardening may seem like something only adults enjoy, but children can learn it too. It is not just about flowers. It is a way to grow food, take care of the Earth, and spend time outside.

2 Health experts say gardening is good for people. Being outside in the sun gives you vitamin D, which helps your body stay strong. Gardening also gives you exercise because you bend, dig, and carry. Plus, when you grow fruits and vegetables, you eat healthier food.

Learning While Gardening
3 Some people think gardening is too much work. They say children will not like pulling weeds or watering every day. But children who try gardening may discover that it is fun. When you see a sprout pop up from the dirt, you feel proud.

4 Gardening is also a way to learn science. You find out how plants need sunlight, water, and soil to grow. You may even keep a journal about your garden. Writing notes and measuring plant growth help you practice math and reading.

Be Creative
5 A garden does not need to be large. Even one pot on a windowsill can become a mini garden. Some people like to grow plants in funny containers, like old boots or colorful buckets. Others enjoy arranging flowers by color or making patterns in the soil.

6 Not everyone will become a farmer. But everyone can learn to garden. What other hobby teaches so much and grows so beautifully?

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Questions

1. Read this dictionary entry:

proud \proud\ adjective

1. very happy about something you did
2. larger or taller than usual
3. unwilling to accept help
4. showing too much self-importance

Which meaning of the word proud is used in paragraph 3?
A. Definition 1
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 4

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2. Which sentence from the article is an opinion?
   A. Being outside in the sun gives you vitamin D. (paragraph 2)
   B. Gardening is also a way to learn science. (paragraph 4)
   C. A garden does not need to be large. (paragraph 5)
   D. What other hobby teaches so much and grows so beautifully? (paragraph 6)

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3. Which sentence shows that gardening is worth the effort?
   A. Gardening may seem like something only adults enjoy. (paragraph 1)
   B. Gardening also gives you exercise because you bend, dig, and carry. (paragraph 2)
   C. When you see a sprout pop up from the dirt, you feel proud. (paragraph 3)
   D. Some people like to grow plants in funny containers. (paragraph 5)

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4. Who is the author’s main audience?
   A. Adults who grow flowers for a living
   B. Children who may want to try gardening
   C. Scientists who study soil and plants
   D. Farmers who already work in fields

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5. What is the most likely reason the author uses a cause-and-effect structure in the section “Learning While Gardening”?
   A. To explain how plants grow when children care for them
   B. To show how gardening can be boring for children
   C. To explain the benefits of gardening and what children can learn
   D. To list the tools children should use in the garden

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6. Read these sentences from paragraph 5:
   “Some people like to grow plants in funny containers, like old boots or colorful buckets. Others enjoy arranging flowers by color or making patterns in the soil.”

How does the word choice in these sentences add to the author’s voice?
A. By repeating the word people, the author shows gardening is serious.
B. By naming creative ideas, the author makes gardening sound fun.
C. By listing containers, the author warns that gardening is hard.
D. By using the word patterns, the author makes gardening seem scientific.

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7. Which detail from paragraphs 3–4 supports the key idea that gardening teaches many things?
   A. Children may not like pulling weeds.
   B. You may keep a journal about your garden.
   C. A garden does not need to be large.
   D. Some people grow plants in funny containers.

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8. What is the author’s main claim in the article?
   A. Gardening is only for adults.
   B. Children should try gardening.
   C. Flowers are better than vegetables.
   D. Farmers have the hardest jobs.

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Would you like me to also create an answer key for this worksheet (like a teacher’s guide), or keep it student-facing only?

You said:

answers

ChatGPT said:

Perfect 👍 Here’s the answer key for the “Fun of Gardening” comprehension worksheet:

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Answer Key

A. Definition 1 – very happy about something you did (You feel proud when a sprout pops up).

D. What other hobby teaches so much and grows so beautifully? – This is an opinion.

C. When you see a sprout pop up from the dirt, you feel proud. – Shows gardening is worth it.

B. Children who may want to try gardening – The author is encouraging kids.

C. To explain the benefits of gardening and what children can learn – Cause-and-effect structure.

B. By naming creative ideas, the author makes gardening sound fun.

B. You may keep a journal about your garden. – Supports the key idea that gardening teaches many things.

B. Children should try gardening. – Main claim of the article.