Tom's Midnight Garden - Chapters 13 and 14 - Reading Comprehension

In the reading comprehension exercise on Chapters 13 and 14 of "Tom's Midnight Garden," students are prompted to explore various aspects of the story's intricate relationship with time. The questions delve into why time appears confusing to Tom, probing the reasons behind his desire to extend his stay with his aunt and uncle. The exercise also inquires about the paradoxical benefit of Tom's illness and his decision to converse with Mrs Bartholomew. The conversation with Mrs. Bartholomew leads Tom to discuss the notion of being a ghost, which is a pivotal theme in these chapters.

Further questions encourage students to consider why Tom researches fashion, particularly focusing on what he discovers about trousers, which serves as a clue to the era he has found himself in during his nocturnal adventures. The comprehension questions culminate in asking students to deduce how Tom concludes that Hatty, the girl he meets in the garden, might be a ghost, and how Hatty, in turn, suggests that Tom himself could be the spectral presence. The final task challenges students to succinctly summarise the key events of these chapters in no more than 50 words, encapsulating the essence of Tom's experiences and discoveries.