The Mystery of the Missing Lunch — 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheet
"The Mystery of the Missing Lunch" is a short fiction passage written for 3rd graders, followed by 5 comprehension questions that focus on inference. A student solves the mystery of who has been taking food from the classroom fridge. Print the passage and questions, or download the PDF with the answer key on the last page — it is free for home, classroom and homeschool use.
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Free to print for home, classroom and homeschool use. The answer key prints on page 2.
The Mystery of the Missing Lunch
Grade 3 · Fiction · inference
Read the passage carefully. You may underline parts that help you answer.
Every day that week, someone's lunch had gone missing from the classroom refrigerator. First it was Devon's apple, then Priya's yogurt, then Sam's sandwich. The class was upset, and everyone wondered who could be doing it. Ms. Chen decided the class would work together to solve the mystery.
Devon noticed something strange. Every time food disappeared, it happened right after morning recess, when the classroom was empty for just a few minutes. He also noticed small crumbs near the window, which was always left open a crack for fresh air. That gave Devon an idea.
The next day, Devon watched from the hallway during recess. He saw a fluffy gray squirrel squeeze through the open window and hop straight to the fridge, which didn't close all the way. The squirrel grabbed a granola bar and scurried back out the window. Devon told Ms. Chen, and the class laughed with relief. They closed the window tightly, and no more lunches went missing.
Answer the questions. Use details from the passage.
Answer Key
The Mystery of the Missing Lunch
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How to teach inference in fiction text
- 1
Read it once for enjoyment
Let your reader go through "The Mystery of the Missing Lunch" straight through without stopping. The first pass is about getting the story or the topic, not about the questions.
- 2
Read it again with a pencil
On the second read, underline names, numbers, dates and any sentence that answers a question. Marking the text is the habit that lifts comprehension scores.
- 3
Answer with evidence
For each question, ask “which sentence proves that?” Short answers should quote or paraphrase a line from the passage.
- 4
Check with the answer key
Compare answers together. For any miss, go back to the paragraph instead of just correcting the letter.
Common mistakes kids make
- Answering from memory instead of rereading — teach kids to point at the line that proves it.
- Picking the first choice that sounds familiar; familiar words often appear in the wrong answer too.
- Skipping the inference question because it needs more than one detail. Have them list two details first, then answer.
- Writing one word for a short-answer question. Ask for a full sentence that restates the question.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Read aloud together the first time if fluency is still developing.
- Cover the questions while reading so kids read the whole passage, not just for answers.
- Keep sessions to 15 minutes — one passage a day beats five on Sunday.
Grade alignment
This worksheet supports Common Core standard RL.3.1, typically taught in 3rd grade. Use it for practice, homework, review or a timed check of fluency.
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Open worksheetFrequently asked questions
What reading level is "The Mystery of the Missing Lunch"?
It is written for 3rd grade readers, so it fits most kids in grade 3 and works as review for grade 4 or a challenge for grade 2.
Does this worksheet include an answer key?
Yes. Turn on the answer key option and the answers print on the page after the questions, with model answers for the short-answer items.
Is this reading worksheet free to print?
Yes, every passage on KGD Sheets is free to print and download as a PDF for home, classroom and homeschool use.
How many questions come with each passage?
This passage has 5 questions, mixing multiple choice with short written answers so kids practice both formats.
Can I use this passage for a reading test?
Yes. Print it without the answer key for testing, then print the key for grading. The questions follow the same style as state reading assessments.
What skill does this passage practice?
The questions center on inference, plus vocabulary in context and finding evidence in the text.