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Year 4 Reading Challenge – Spring 1 2024

  • Picture of Mrs Khaliq Mrs Khaliq
  • January 8, 2024

Extract from Harry Potter

October arrived, spreading a damp chill over the grounds and into the castle. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was kept busy by a sudden spate of colds among the staff and students. Her Pepperup potion worked instantly, though it left the drinker smoking at the ears for several hours afterward. Ginny Weasley, who had been looking pale, was bullied into taking some by Percy. The steam pouring from under her vivid hair gave the impression that her whole head was on fire.

Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid’s pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. Oliver Wood’s enthusiasm for regular training sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry was to be found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning to Gryffindor Tower, drenched to the skin and splattered with mud.

Even aside from the rain and wind it hadn’t been a happy practice session. Fred and George, who had been spying on the Slytherin team, had seen for themselves the speed of those new Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. They reported that the Slytherin team was no more than seven greenish blurs, shooting through the air like missiles.

As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across somebody who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, “. . . don’t fulfill their requirements . . .half an inch, if that . . .”

“Hello, Nick,” said Harry.

“Hello, hello,” said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, and Harry could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain outside.

Bronze

Use a dictionary to find the meaning of the following words. Then write 3 synonyms for them.

*vivid

*spate

*morosely

*drenched

Silver

  • What does the phrase ‘shooting through the air like missiles’ suggest about how the Nimbus Two Thousand and One moves through the air.
  • What words and phrases help the reader to imagine that Harry is miserable? E.g. Squelched along. List 3 more.

Gold

Find a quote on the Harry Potter quote finder or in the text above. Copy the quote into the blog and then explain why you like the quote. What language tricks/techniques have been used and why is it effective?

http://www.harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/uk/fun-stuff/quotes/

Key vocabulary: openers, similes, metaphors, adverbial phrases, adjectival phrases, personification, figurative language, adjectives, sentence types, multiclause sentences, coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, punctuation.

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54 responses

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  1. Dean-Junior L. says:
    04/02/2024 at 6:29 pm

    Powerful feelings
    Similar things comes fast to success
    Not very happy or in an annoyed mood
    Wet throughly

    Blowing in a whistle means going really fast through the wind

    Drenched to the skin
    Splattered With mud
    Pale with smokestack

    Gold

    As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across somebody who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, “. . . don’t fulfill their requirements . . .half an inch, if that . . .”

    I liked it because Harry Potter was making noises along a quiet corridor and it has inverted comas and comas to shorten the paragraph up

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  2. Esa A. says:
    04/02/2024 at 6:25 pm

    Bronze

    Vivid=powerful feelings and clear images in the mind.
    Spate=A sudden flood in a river
    Morosely=in a bad mood.
    Drenched=wet thoroughly.
    Silver
    1. It means that the bullets are as fast as light.
    2. Staring morosely
    3. Muttering under his breath
    4. Drenched to the skin
    Gold
    Shooting in the air like a bullet I like this because it has different language.

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  3. Adrian O. says:
    04/02/2024 at 5:43 pm

    I’ve read the books so I know
    It suggests that they move super super duper fast.
    Drenched to the skin and splattered with mud and pale as smoke.
    Gold:
    I liked shooting through the air like a missile because it’s a simile and tells you how it moves through the air.

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  4. Javishan R. says:
    04/02/2024 at 5:30 pm

    Bronze:
    Vivid: producing powerful feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Spate: a large number of similar things coming In quick succession
    Moroely: in a bad mood without talking much
    Drenched: wet and soaked.
    Silver:
    1. The text is saying that the bullets are moving very quick and the nimbus two thousands and one moves at lightning speed.
    2. Squelched
    Preoccupied
    Morosely
    Gold:
    shooting through the air like missiles.
    I chosen this part because it uses a simile and it has vocabulary like ‘shooting’ and ‘missles’.

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  5. Ebeid M. says:
    04/02/2024 at 4:55 pm

    Bronze

    Vivid means producing power.
    Spate means a large number of similar things coming in quivk succesion.
    Morosely means in a annoyed way.

    Drenched means wet thoroughly.
    A synonym for vivid is graphic.
    A synonym for spate is series.
    A synonym for morosely is glumly.
    Asynoym for drenched is soaked.
    Silver
    The sentence shooting like air missles is like its going really fast and it is loud.
    Squelched along
    Drenched to the
    skin
    Pale with smokestack.
    Gold.
    Shooting in the air like missles i like this quote because it has lots of vocabulary in it.

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  6. Rayan M. says:
    04/02/2024 at 4:17 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid means producing powerful feelings or strong.
    Spate means a large number of similar things coming in quick succession.
    Morosely means in s bad mood.
    Drenched means wet and soaked.
    Silver
    1. It means that the Nimbus’s are really fast in the air.
    2. Drenched to the skin and splattered with mud. Harry mood was probably feeling really low in the dirt.
    The rain and wind portrays that it hadn’t been a happy practice session and it wasn’t really good.
    Looked just as preoccupied as he was. Harry was thinking one thing and another.
    Gold.
    “. . . don’t fulfill their requirements . . .half an inch, if that . . .”
    I like this quote because there are so many spots that only have full stops and it sounds so mysterious.

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  7. Yasmin A. says:
    04/02/2024 at 3:53 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid = producing powerful feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming In quick succession
    Moroely=in a bad mood without talking much
    Drenched=past participle
    Silver
    Moving like a misill is like fast

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  8. Hadiya M. says:
    04/02/2024 at 2:16 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid=producing feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming in fast succession.
    Morosely=were you are feeling down and in a bad mood.
    Drenched=wet thoroughly and soaked
    Antonyms
    Vivid=were you don’t have strong feelings for anyone.
    Spate=A low number of unfamiliar things coming in slow succession
    Morosely=you are feeling happy,joyful and positive
    Drenched=were you are completely dry and spotless.
    Silver:
    1) The text is telling us that the bullets are going really fast telling us that the number two thousand and one is as fast as lightning.🤗
    2)Something fired through the sky like a firework.
    *Squelched
    *Preoccupied
    *Morosely
    Gold:
    Shooting through the air like missiles
    I like this quote because it is describing and also it includes similies adjectives to.

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  9. Emil D. says:
    04/02/2024 at 12:31 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid:bright,colourful bold.
    Spate:wave,rush and flood.
    Morosoly:glumly,gloomily and darkly.
    Drenched:soaked,wet through and wet thoroughly.
    Silver
    The phrase shooting through the air like missiles means that the Nimbus 2001 flys through the air really fast like a missile.
    Muttering under his breath,drenched to the skin and he saw someone as preoccupied as him.

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  10. Muhammed H. says:
    04/02/2024 at 12:31 pm

    bronze
    vivid means bright powerful
    spate means a large number of similar things coming quick succession
    morosly means sullen and ill tempred
    drenched means wet throughly

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  11. Ranj M. says:
    04/02/2024 at 12:15 pm

    Bronze:
    Vivid=producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind synonyms=colorful, brilliant and bright
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming in quick succession synonms=wave, flood and flurry
    Morosely= ​in a bad mood and without talking very much synonms=cheerlessy
    Silver
    The text is saying that the bullets are moving very quickly and the Nimbus two thousand moves at lightning speed
    Drenched to the skin.
    Splattered with mud.
    Those are the words that I think mean Harry is miserable
    Gold
    Shooting air like missiles I really like that because it was unique and it is a simile

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  12. Safaa Y. says:
    04/02/2024 at 10:37 am

    Vivid is strong
    Spare is a large number
    Morosely is bad mood
    Drenched is soked

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  13. Havin A. says:
    04/02/2024 at 10:32 am

    Vivid means bright 🌞
    Spate means alot of similar things
    Moroesley sad gloomy
    Drenched tired sleepy 😴 q

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  14. Ariyan S. says:
    03/02/2024 at 10:14 pm

    Bronze
    1.Vivid means producing powerful feelings or strong,clearing in mind.
    2.Spate means a large number or amount.
    3.Morosely means in a bad mood and without talking very much.
    4.Drenched means wet throughly;soak.
    Silver
    2. -Drenched to the skin
    – Splattered with mud.
    – Pale with smokestack

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  15. Abigail F. says:
    03/02/2024 at 7:52 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid synonym bright , glowing and powerful.
    Spate synonym rush , surge and upsurge.
    Morosely synonym cheerlessly , dismally and gloomily.
    Drenched synonym wet, thoroughly ; Soak.
    Silver
    Something fired through the sky like a firework.
    -Drenched to the skin.
    -Splattered with mud.
    Gold
    1) “Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?”
    I chose this quote because I want to know who said that and who they met on the train.
    I think that inverted commas are effective to the sentence because a person Is speaking as a speech.

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  16. Ahyan K. says:
    03/02/2024 at 4:17 pm

    BRONZE.
    Vivid= A powerful or strong image pictured in your mind.
    Spate= A large number on similar things coming in quick succession .
    Moroesly=In a bad mood and not talking much.
    Drenched= really wet and soaked.
    SILVER.
    1. As Harry squelched.

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  17. Gift O. says:
    03/02/2024 at 4:11 pm

    Bronze
    1. vivid-producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind synonym-true to life, clear and lucid.
    2. spate- a large number of similar things coming in quick succession synonym-wave, flurry and rush.
    3. morosely-in bad mood without talking very much synonym-sullen, glum and morose.
    4. drenched- wet thoroughly synonym-soak, submerge and flood.

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  18. Sumayyah A. says:
    03/02/2024 at 3:32 pm

    BRONZE
    Vivid-Means producing powerful feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Synonym-Bright coloured .
    Spate-Means a large number of similar things coming in quick succession.
    Synonym-Succession.
    Morosely-Means in a bad mood and without talking very much.
    Synonym-Cheerless.
    Drenched- Means very wet.
    Synonym-Soak.

    GOLD
    I liked when Headless Nick said “Hello hello.” I liked it because it gave me a picture in my mind !

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  19. Zakariyah T. says:
    03/02/2024 at 2:07 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid=producing feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming in fast succession.
    Morosely=were you are feeling down and in a bad mood.
    Drenched=wet thoroughly and soaked
    Antonyms
    Vivid=were you don’t have strong feelings for anyone.
    Spate=A low number of unfamiliar things coming in slow succession
    Morosely=you are feeling happy,joyful and positive
    Drenched=were you are completely dry and spotless.
    Silver
    1. The text is saying that the bullets are moving very quick and the nimbus two thousands and one moves at lightning speed.
    2.
    Squelched
    Preoccupied
    Morosely
    Drenched
    Gold
    Shooting through the air like missiles.
    I like this quote because it uses similies as like and how they compared it to something different.

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  20. Ilyas Ali K. says:
    03/02/2024 at 1:06 pm

    I have done the reading Bronze and Silver challenges in my homework book.

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    1. Mrs Khaliq says:
      03/02/2024 at 4:08 pm

      Superstar. Do you think you could challenge yourself and complete the gold challenge too?

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  21. Alya M. says:
    03/02/2024 at 12:07 pm

    1.prounounsing powerful feelings or strong images in head
    2.simler things coming quick succsedtoins
    3.in an not very annoying way or an joyful way(๑˃̵ ᴗ ˂̵)و
    4.wet soak

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  22. Sandra A. says:
    03/02/2024 at 12:07 pm

    Bronze
    vivid-producing powerful feelings or strong,clear images in the mind
    spate -a large number of similar things coming in quick succession
    drenched -wet thoroughly

    Silver
    The Nimbus two thousand moves quickly because missiles are in movement.
    He saw someone as preoccupied

    Gold
    My favourite quote was hello nick because it what harry said to nick

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  23. Musa B. says:
    02/02/2024 at 4:45 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid-Pruducing powerful or strong clear images in the mind
    Spate-A large number of similar thing coming in quick succession
    Morosely -In a bad mood are not talking slot
    Dreanched-wet throughly soke
    Silver
    1.As harry squelched

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  24. Eva H. says:
    26/01/2024 at 10:59 am

    Vivid=Producing feelings or strong clear images in there mind
    Spate:A large number of similar things coming in fast succession
    morosely=lway. Feeling down in a bad mood
    Drenched=soaked and wet
    Antonyms
    Vivid=were u don’t have feeling for anyone

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  25. Hamida K. says:
    10/01/2024 at 8:42 pm

    Bronze:
    Vivid=producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind synonyms=colorful,brilliant and bright
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming in quick succession synonms=wave,flood and flurry
    Morosely= ​in a bad mood and without talking very much synonms=cheerlessy,dismally and dolefully
    Drenched=when you are really soaked synonms=dripping,satured and flooded
    Gold:
    My favourite phrase is when harry potter says hello nick.I like it because someone actually said something nice to him,noone talks to him because he has a pale face.It dosent matter what skin color you are,we are all unique.

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  26. Minnah M. says:
    10/01/2024 at 7:09 pm

    Bronze
    drenched =soaking ,full of water, lots of water. means full of a liquid
    morosely= sully,moody,acting unusually.means ill tempered.
    vivid = bright ,bold,stand out .means bold
    spate = attracting, following,leading.means following in quick succession.
    Silver
    The Nimbus two thousand moves quickly because missiles are quick in movement. Three more words that suggest Harry is miserable is “he saw someone as preoccupied as he was” ” Had not been a happy practice session ” and “Morosely out of the window.
    Gold
    My favourite quote is half an inch because it really wants you to find out about what Nick is talking about.

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  27. Rexford A. says:
    09/01/2024 at 10:11 pm

    Bronze
    Vivid=producing feelings or strong clear images in the mind.
    Spate=a large number of similar things coming in fast succession.
    Morosely=were you are feeling down and in a bad mood.
    Drenched=wet thoroughly and soaked
    Antonyms
    Vivid=were you don’t have strong feelings for anyone.
    Spate=A low number of unfamiliar things coming in slow succession
    Morosely=you are feeling happy,joyful and positive
    Drenched=were you are completely dry and spotless.
    Silver
    1. The text is saying that the bullets are moving very quick and the nimbus two thousands and one moves at lightning speed.
    2.
    Squelched
    Preoccupied
    Morosely
    Drenched
    Gold
    Shooting through the air like missiles.
    I like this quote because it uses similies as like and how they compared it to something different.

    Rexford.A

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  28. Rayan M. says:
    09/01/2024 at 7:31 pm

    Vivid mean strong and synonym are bright brilliant intense.

    Spare means a large number of similar things coming in quick sucession. Synonym is, rush, surge, upsurge

    Morosely meaning in a bad mood and synonym cherrlessly glomily

    Drenched meaning wet soaked synonym is dripping washed wet

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  29. Aiza B. says:
    09/01/2024 at 6:21 pm

    Silver:
    1.They were moving like a missile means they were moving very fast in the air because of the blowing wind.
    2.He looked like preoccupied ,deserted corridor, Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, don’t fulfill their requirements .
    Gold: Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid’s pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds.

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    1. Ariyan S. says:
      03/02/2024 at 10:13 pm

      Bronze
      1.Vivid means producing powerful feelings or strong,clearing in mind.
      2.Spate means a large number or amount.
      3.Morosely means in a bad mood and without talking very much.
      4.Drenched means wet throughly;soak.
      Silver
      2. -Drenched to the skin
      – Splattered with mud.
      – Pale with smokestack

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  30. Aiza B. says:
    09/01/2024 at 5:47 pm

    1Producing powerful feelings or strong images in head.
    2 Simlar things coming in quick succession
    3 in very not happy or annoyed way
    4 wet thoroughly ; soak

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