📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 5 (Adapted)
Title: A Distraction in Church
The next Sunday, Tom was again dressed in his stiff, uncomfortable “Sunday clothes” and marched off to church with Aunt Polly, Sid, and Mary. The summer sun was hot, and Tom already felt bored before the service even began.
Tom had no interest in the sermon. He shifted in his seat, looked around, and wished for something—anything—to happen.
The Pinch-Bug
In his pocket, Tom carried a little wooden box. Inside was a shiny black-and-yellow bug called a pinch-bug, which could give a sharp bite with its jaws. He quietly opened the box and placed the bug on the floor between the pews.
At first, the bug just sat there. Tom watched it with interest. Then a small dog wandered into the church. It noticed the bug, sniffed it, and gave it a gentle push with its nose.
The bug responded with a bite! The dog jumped and barked, spinning in circles. People in the pews began to notice. The dog tried to bite the bug, then yelped and pawed at its mouth.
Trouble in the Aisle
The congregation struggled to keep quiet, but soon there was laughter. The minister tried to keep speaking, but the dog was now rolling on the floor, whining and barking. Finally, it grabbed the bug in its mouth, ran down the aisle, and disappeared out the door.
Tom sat back in his seat, trying to look innocent. Aunt Polly gave him a sharp glance but said nothing.
The rest of the service went smoothly, but for Tom, the pinch-bug had made it far more entertaining than the sermon.
📘 Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sermon | A religious talk given in church |
| Pew | Long bench where people sit in church |
| Pinch-bug | An insect that can bite or pinch |
| Congregation | The group of people attending church |
| Aisle | Space for walking between seats |
| Innocent | Not guilty of doing something wrong |
❓ Comprehension Questions
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Who went to church with Tom that Sunday?
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What was inside Tom’s wooden box?
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What did the dog do when it found the bug?
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How did the congregation react?
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What made the service more interesting for Tom?
✅ Answers
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Aunt Polly, Sid, and Mary.
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A pinch-bug.
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Sniffed it, pushed it, got bitten, and rolled around barking.
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They struggled to keep quiet but then laughed.
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Watching the dog and the pinch-bug.
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