Free Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Practice Worksheet

On July 20, 1969, the world watched in awe as the Apollo 11 spacecraft successfully landed on the moon. American astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder of the lunar module and became the very first human being to set foot on the lunar surface. As he stepped onto the dusty ground, he famously declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He was soon joined by astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Together, they spent two hours exploring the craters, taking photographs, and collecting moon rocks to bring back to Earth for scientists to study.

Oliver and his best friend, Sam, were exploring the dense woods behind their neighborhood when they stumbled upon an abandoned, crumbling stone mill. The wooden water wheel was completely broken, covered in thick green moss. Oliver carefully pushed the heavy wooden door open, and it creaked loudly in the silent forest. Inside, sunlight peeked through holes in the roof, illuminating a dusty wooden table. Resting in the center of the table was a rolled-up piece of yellowed parchment tied with a faded red ribbon. Sam gasped, “Do you think it’s a treasure map?”

Did you know that the sun produces enough energy in one hour to power the entire Earth for a whole year? To capture this incredible power, engineers have created solar panels. Solar panels are made of special materials, usually silicon, that absorb sunlight. When the sun’s rays hit the panels, they create an electrical current. This clean, renewable energy can be used to light up homes, charge computers, and even power entire schools without creating harmful pollution.

The empty dirt lot on Elm Street was an eyesore, filled with weeds and trash. One Saturday, Mrs. Higgins organized a group of neighbors to clean it up. The children picked up the garbage, while the adults used shovels to turn the hard soil. Over the next month, they planted rows of carrot, tomato, and pumpkin seeds. By the end of the summer, the ugly lot had transformed into a beautiful, thriving community garden. The neighbors agreed to donate half of their fresh vegetables to the local food bank to help families in need.

Located off the coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It is so massive that it can actually be seen from outer space! The reef is home to thousands of different marine animals, including colorful clownfish, sea turtles, and playful dolphins. The coral itself looks like hard rock, but it is actually made of thousands of tiny living animals. Unfortunately, the reef is currently in danger due to ocean pollution and rising water temperatures.