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Daily 
Warm-Up
3
Fiction: Fantasy
Riches to Rags
Would this be the day? Tabitha had been optimistic 
that soon Jason would notice her. Receiving no 
response to her daily greeting, she slouched on a vacant 
seat toward the back of the bus.
Hoping to offset the persistent rejection, Tabitha exited 
the bus one stop early, planning to browse the windows 
of her favorite retro shop. A trinket caught her eye, and 
she ventured into the business.
“How are you today, Tabitha?” the store clerk came 
around the counter.
“All right.” Tabitha tried to hide her disappointment.
“Just wanted to see if you have anything new in 
your inventory.”
Coming alongside Tabitha, Agnes put a hand on her 
shoulder. “You can’t fool me. What happened?”
“Jason continues to ignore me, as if I don’t exist.”
Tabitha took a ragged breath.
“Will you let me assist you?” 
Tabitha hesitated. Granted, Agnes resembled an 
overgrown teenager, but Tabitha imagined her friend’s 
days of boy-girl relationships long gone. “Well… what 
did you have in mind?” 
“I’d like to give you something.” Agnes motioned for 
Tabitha to follow her to the rear of the shop, where she 
presented the girl with a gorgeous shirt. While the 
fabric didn’t exactly shimmer, it reminded Tabitha of 
her beloved aunt’s mother-of-pearl pendant. She 
anticipated wearing it the next day, wondering if Jason 
would notice.
“Hey, Tabitha, are you ready for the vocabulary test?”
Tabitha stumbled in the aisle, shocked when Jason 
spoke. Assuming the shirt was having the desired 
effect, she smiled and gave him what she hoped was a 
coherent answer. She’d figure out a dozen ways to wear 
this article of clothing.
The next morning, Tabitha sifted through her clothes, 
searching for the shirt. Calling to her mother, she 
didn’t wait for an answer, but hurried to the laundry 
room, in case it had landed in the hamper.
“This rag?” Her mother held up an iridescent piece of 
cloth, shredded and in tatters.
Text Questions
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 1 . What changed in Jason’s response to Tabitha?
a. He ignored her after she visited the retro shop.
b. He noticed her and responded when she wore the shirt.
c. He followed her to the retro shop.
d. He waited for her to get on the bus.
 2 . What does the word inventory mean as it is used in the text?
a. cash register
b. grocery list
c. property Agnes owns
d. goods for sale
 3 . Based on what you read, what can you infer about the shirt?
a. It had magical qualities.
b. It fit Tabitha perfectly.
c. It made Tabitha look more attractive.
d. It was the latest style.
 4 . How would you describe Agnes’s relationship with Tabitha?
a. Agnes was a busybody who meddled in other people’s business.
b. Agnes cared and wanted to help.
c. Agnes wanted to make things more difficult for Tabitha.
d. Agnes thought Jason was insensitive.
 5 . Why do you think the shirt was in tatters?
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#3658 Daily Warm-Ups: Reading

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