In a small place called Rivertown, there was an old clock tower. People in the town thought it was very pretty and mysterious. They believed it had a secret or even treasure inside, but no one was brave enough to go in and look.

A girl named Lucy, with her dog Rufus, decided to find out the tower’s secret. She went up the tower’s stairs until she reached the top. There was a strange, quiet room where the clock was.

Lucy found a secret spot in the room and discovered an old map with a big red “X” by the river. Being curious, she and Rufus followed the map’s path.

The “X” led them to an underground place with a secret cave full of shiny treasure. Lucy found out it was pirate treasure from a long time ago. The pirates used to take from rich people and help poor ones with the money.

Lucy learned that helping others was the best treasure. She used the gold and jewels to start a fund to help needy people in Rivertown. Everyone in the town helped out, and the clock tower became a symbol of kindness.

Lucy had made her town a better place by being brave and caring. The story of the clock tower was now about bravery and kindness.

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did the people in Rivertown think about the clock tower?
2. Who decided to find out the tower’s secret?
3. Where did Lucy find a secret spot?
4. What did Lucy and Rufus find when they followed the map’s path?
5. What did Lucy learn was the best treasure?
6. How did Lucy make her town a better place?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small place called Rivertown, there was an old clock tower. (1)______ in the town thought it was very pretty and (2)______. They believed it had a secret or even (3)______ inside, but no one was brave enough to go in and look.

A girl named Lucy, with her dog Rufus, decided to find out the tower’s (4)______. She went up the tower’s stairs until she reached the top. There was a strange, (5)______ room where the clock was.

(6)______ found a secret spot in the room and discovered an old map with a big red “X” by the river. Being curious, she and Rufus followed the map’s path.

The “X” led them to an underground place with a secret cave full of shiny treasure. Lucy found out it was pirate treasure from a long time ago. The (7)______ used to take from rich (8)______ and (9)______ poor ones with the money.

Lucy learned that helping others was the best treasure. She used the gold and jewels to start a fund to help needy people in Rivertown. Everyone in the town helped out, and the clock (10)______ became a symbol of kindness.

Lucy had made her town a (11)______ place by being (12)______ and caring. The story of the clock tower was now about bravery and kindness.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a clock tower? Why do you think people in Rivertown thought it was pretty and mysterious?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret spot in a room? Why?
3. Do you like adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the pirates helping poor people with the money they took from rich people? Do you think it was a good thing? Why or why not?
5. How do you think Lucy felt when she found out the treasure was pirate treasure? Why?
6. Do you think it’s important to help others? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you found a treasure like Lucy did? Why?
8. Do you think the clock tower becoming a symbol of kindness is a good thing? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mysterious
2. stairs
3. secret
4. curious
5. map
6. underground
7. cave
8. shiny
9. pirate
10. fund
11. symbol
12. caring

Meanings:
(A) Something that represents an idea or feeling
(B) Very interesting and hard to understand
(C) A drawing that shows you where to go
(D) Money that is collected to help people in need
(E) A big hole in the ground
(F) Wanting to know more about something
(G) Very bright and reflecting light
(H) Below the ground
(I) A person who steals from others at sea
(J) Something that is hidden and not known by many people
(K) The steps you walk up or down to go to a different level
(L) Showing kindness and concern for others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the people in Rivertown believe about the clock tower?
(a) It had a secret or treasure inside
(b) It was haunted
(c) It was going to collapse
(d) It was just a regular clock tower

2. What did Lucy find in the clock tower’s room?
(a) A hidden staircase
(b) A secret door
(c) A treasure chest
(d) An old map

3. Where did the map lead Lucy and Rufus?
(a) A haunted house
(b) A hidden garden
(c) An underground cave
(d) A secret beach

4. What did Lucy find in the underground cave?
(a) Ancient artifacts
(b) Magical creatures
(c) A secret message
(d) Pirate treasure

5. What did Lucy learn from the pirate treasure?
(a) She should keep the treasure for herself
(b) Helping others is the best treasure
(c) She should become a pirate
(d) Treasure is more important than kindness

6. What did Lucy do with the gold and jewels?
(a) Kept them for herself
(b) Sold them for more money
(c) Started a fund to help needy people
(d) Gave them to the pirates

7. How did the people in Rivertown help Lucy?
(a) They tried to steal the treasure
(b) They all contributed to the fund
(c) They ignored her and the clock tower
(d) They laughed at her for being brave

8. What did the clock tower become a symbol of?
(a) Kindness
(b) Wealth
(c) Mystery
(d) Fear

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The people in Rivertown think the clock tower is ugly and ordinary.
2. Lucy and her dog Rufus decide to uncover the secret of the clock tower.
3. Lucy discovers a secret room at the bottom of the tower where the clock is not located.
4. There is an old clock tower in a town called Rivertown.
5. Lucy uses the treasure to start a fund to help wealthy people in Rivertown, making the clock tower a symbol of greed.
6. Lucy discovers an old map with a big green “O” near the river in the secret room.
7. The townspeople believe that the clock tower holds a secret or even treasure.
8. Lucy and Rufus follow the map’s path and discover an underground cave full of pirate treasure.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did the people in Rivertown think about the clock tower?
The people in Rivertown thought the clock tower was pretty and mysterious.

2. Who decided to find out the tower’s secret?
A girl named Lucy decided to find out the tower’s secret.

3. Where did Lucy find a secret spot?
Lucy found a secret spot in the room where the clock was.

4. What did Lucy and Rufus find when they followed the map’s path?
Lucy and Rufus found an underground cave full of shiny treasure.

5. What did Lucy learn was the best treasure?
Lucy learned that helping others was the best treasure.

6. How did Lucy make her town a better place?
Lucy made her town a better place by using the treasure to start a fund to help needy people, and everyone in the town helped out.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) People
(2) mysterious
(3) treasure
(4) secret
(5) quiet
(6) Lucy
(7) pirates
(8) people
(9) help
(10) tower
(11) better
(12) brave
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mysterious
Answer: (B) Very interesting and hard to understand

2. stairs
Answer: (K) The steps you walk up or down to go to a different level

3. secret
Answer: (J) Something that is hidden and not known by many people

4. curious
Answer: (F) Wanting to know more about something

5. map
Answer: (C) A drawing that shows you where to go

6. underground
Answer: (H) Below the ground

7. cave
Answer: (E) A big hole in the ground

8. shiny
Answer: (G) Very bright and reflecting light

9. pirate
Answer: (I) A person who steals from others at sea

10. fund
Answer: (D) Money that is collected to help people in need

11. symbol
Answer: (A) Something that represents an idea or feeling

12. caring
Answer: (L) Showing kindness and concern for others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the people in Rivertown believe about the clock tower?
Answer: (a) It had a secret or treasure inside

2. What did Lucy find in the clock tower’s room?
Answer: (d) An old map

3. Where did the map lead Lucy and Rufus?
Answer: (c) An underground cave

4. What did Lucy find in the underground cave?
Answer: (d) Pirate treasure

5. What did Lucy learn from the pirate treasure?
Answer: (b) Helping others is the best treasure

6. What did Lucy do with the gold and jewels?
Answer: (c) Started a fund to help needy people

7. How did the people in Rivertown help Lucy?
Answer: (b) They all contributed to the fund

8. What did the clock tower become a symbol of?
Answer: (a) Kindness
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The people in Rivertown think the clock tower is ugly and ordinary. (Answer: False)
2. Lucy and her dog Rufus decide to uncover the secret of the clock tower. (Answer: True)
3. Lucy discovers a secret room at the bottom of the tower where the clock is not located. (Answer: False)
4. There is an old clock tower in a town called Rivertown. (Answer: True)
5. Lucy uses the treasure to start a fund to help wealthy people in Rivertown, making the clock tower a symbol of greed. (Answer: False)
6. Lucy discovers an old map with a big green “O” near the river in the secret room. (Answer: False)
7. The townspeople believe that the clock tower holds a secret or even treasure. (Answer: True)
8. Lucy and Rufus follow the map’s path and discover an underground cave full of pirate treasure. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧