Mateo looked at the dark sky. He put the folded tarp in his bag. At the gate he untied the empty water drums and set them on the grass. What can the reader conclude about Mateo?

Sea turtles return to the beach where they hatched. Bright lamps near the shore confuse them at night. Many coastal towns now switch their shore lamps off from June to October. Why do the towns switch the lamps off?

Lena set two plates on the table but ate alone. She kept turning to look at the door. At nine she covered the second plate and washed her hands. What can the reader conclude?

Bamboo can be cut again three years after planting. Hardwood trees need thirty years or more. Several furniture makers have changed to bamboo. What can the reader conclude about their choice?

The bell rang, but Nico stayed in his seat. He read the same line on his paper again and again. When Rico walked past, Nico folded the page in half. What can the reader conclude about Nico?

The town repaired its cracked water pipes in April. From May the clinic saw far fewer patients with stomach illness. The doctor sent a letter thanking the repair crew. What can the reader conclude?

Ana packed her bag on Friday night. On Saturday she stood at the bus stop before sunrise. In her hands was a small wrapped gift with her grandmother's name on the card. Where is Ana most likely going?

In June the library added ten chairs. In July it began opening an hour earlier. In August the staff asked for a bigger reading room. What can the reader conclude?

"I already ate," Ben said, but his lunch box was still shut. He kept looking at Rico's extra rice. "Take some," Rico said, and Ben took it fast. What can the reader conclude about Ben?

Mangrove roots hold the soft soil of the shore in place. After last year's storm, the coast behind the mangroves lost half a meter of land. The bare coast nearby lost six meters. What can the reader conclude?

Rosa sang the song every night for a week. On stage her hands shook and her first words came out soft. By the second line her voice filled the whole hall. What can the reader conclude about Rosa?

In January the school began serving free breakfast. Nurses recorded fewer morning visits for headaches. Teachers counted more pupils in class before ten o'clock. What can the reader conclude?

Wet nets hung on the fence outside Marco's window. Salt dried white on the glass. Every morning the boats left the shore before he woke. Where does Marco live?

Pineapple leaves used to be burned after harvest. One factory now spins the leaves into cloth. Farmers who once burned the leaves are paid for them. What can the reader conclude?

Grandfather said nothing when the vase broke. He swept up the pieces, put the flowers in a glass jar, and set the jar back on the same table. What can the reader conclude about him?

A single bat can eat thousands of insects in one night. Farms near the bat caves buy less insect spray than farms farther away. Their crops cost less to grow. What can the reader conclude?

Tina always sits alone at the back. When the new pupil came in, Tina moved her bag off the empty chair and smiled. Then she pushed her pencil case to the middle of the desk. What kind of person is Tina?

The old bridge closed for repair in May. Trucks had to take the long road past the public market. Market shop owners said May was their best month of the year. What can the reader conclude?

Fireflies flash at night to find their mates. New lamps along the river now stay lit until morning. Each year fewer fireflies are seen there. What can the reader conclude?

Ana asked for more rice. Her brother pushed away his plate of fried fish, his favorite. He held his stomach and put his head on the table. What can the reader conclude?