-ist Suffix Reading Passages Worksheets
About Our -ist Suffix Reading Comprehension Worksheets
The -ist suffix turns root words into nouns that describe people-those who perform an action or hold a belief-such as artist, scientist, or dentist. Recognizing the -ist suffix helps students identify roles, professions, or belief systems within reading.
This worksheet collection offers vivid reading passages rich with -ist words, paired with engaging illustrations to bring context to life. Each passage is followed by multiple-choice questions designed to help students notice how the -ist suffix functions and what it conveys. These materials support both phonics and comprehension by encouraging readers to connect word structure with meaning.
By working through these passages, students develop fluency in decoding -ist words while deepening their understanding of ideas tied to roles and identities. These worksheets make suffix learning both meaningful and accessible, building a stronger connection between word formation and reading comprehension.
Looking At Each Worksheet
Aquarium Adventure
A lively trip to the aquarium introduces an aquarist, someone skilled in caring for aquatic life. The text includes -ist words like aquarist, tourist, and biologist to illustrate roles in the setting. Comprehension questions may ask which role helped visitors learn the most or which expert inspired curiosity. As students read, they decode each -ist word while following a watery, educational journey. This supports both vocabulary growth and story comprehension. It's a fun, suffix-powered dive into marine worlds.
Artville Mystery
Set in a charming town of artists and critics, this passage uses -ist words like artist, detectivist (playful invention), and pessimist to enrich the narrative. Readers might discover which artist painted the clues or which critic noticed the hidden secret. The comprehension task may involve identifying who solved the mystery and how their role mattered. Students practice decoding -ist endings while following the unfolding clues. This builds suffix awareness alongside detective-style reading. A creative and suffix-smart whodunit.
Camp Curiosity
At Camp Curiosity, students meet a scientist, a naturalist, and a biologist guiding their explorations. The story includes -ist words to describe each expert and their unique field. Comprehension questions may ask which scientist made the most important discovery or what insight the naturalist shared. As they read, learners decode the -ist endings and understand each role's contribution. The suffix work deepens both vocabulary and comprehension of who does what. A nature-themed suffix adventure.
Forest Quest
This passage follows an adventurist on a mission through a mysterious forest filled with clues and critters. Words like naturalist, tourist, and forester-ist (playful) appear in context to define who notices detail or leads the way. Students may be asked which explorer acted like a naturalist or which newcomer behaved like a curious tourist. This practice sharpens their ability to decode -ist words while making meaning in narrative. The exercise builds phonics and comprehension tied to discovery. It's an immersive suffix-rich forest story.
Inventive Ingenuity
At an invention fair, students encounter an inventor, a scientist, and a specialist who helps test gadgets. The passage uses -ist terms to clarify each person's role in the creative process. Comprehension might ask which inventor impressed judges or what role the specialist played. Learners decode suffix-rich words while understanding how each role shapes the story. This supports vocabulary growth alongside narrative understanding. A suffix-forward, STEM-infused reading scene.
Science Showdown
Two scientists compete in a challenge, watched by students, fans, and a realist who observes merit. The text weaves in -ist words like scientist, chemist, and realist to frame the competition. Comprehension may ask which scientist performed best or how the chemist differed from the realist. Readers practice decoding -ist endings while following a suspenseful showdown. This builds both phonics and comprehension within a scientific setting. A suffix-powered learning match.
Space Spectacle
An astronaut, an instrumentalist (playfully space-themed), and a cosmetologist-ist (fun twist) prepare for a cosmic concert above Earth. The passage uses -ist terms to define each role in a stellar preparation. Comprehension might ask which astronaut helped launch the show or which instrumentalist dazzled the crowd. Students decode -ist endings as they picture each expert's task. This supports both suffix recognition and imaginative story interpretation. A suffix-savvy adventure set among the stars.
Talent Triumph
At a talent contest, participants include an artist, a pianist, and a confident optimist cheering from the sidelines. -ist words create vivid characters and roles within the storyline. Comprehension questions may ask which artist wowed the judges or how the pianist prepared. Learners decode -ist endings while interacting with narrative details and character traits. This enhances both vocabulary and comprehension of people's roles. A suffix-rich performance packed with personality.
Talent Twist
At the big show, a surprise illusionist steals the spotlight, alongside a guitarist and a dramatic activist sharing stories through art. -ist words help define each performer's role and impact. Comprehension might ask which illusionist amazed the audience or how the activist changed the mood. Readers practice decoding suffix-rich words while processing plot twists and roles. This builds both phonics awareness and narrative understanding. A playful, twist-filled suffix tale.
Treasure Trail
This adventure unfolds under the guidance of a geologist, an artist, and a hopeful treasure-ist (invented for context), each offering clues. The passage integrates -ist words to highlight how each person's skill helps on the quest. Comprehension tasks might ask who uncovered a map or which role solved the trail's puzzle. Students decode suffix endings while following detective-style adventure. The suffix work deepens vocabulary and comprehension of collaborative effort. It's a suffix-rich search full of teamwork and discovery.
An Example -ist Reading Passage
In the enchanted gallery, the artist painted magic into every portrait, guided by the precise hand of a specialist in ancient color restoration. A curious scientist watched as pigments glowed under moonlight, while a hopeful tourist admired the art from the edge of the room. Each visitor, whether painter,ologist, or admirer, played a powerful role in bringing wonder to life.
Where Is The -ist Pattern?
You can spot the -ist suffix in words like artist and scientist, where "-ist" turns a root into a noun describing someone skilled or involved in a field. Two clear examples: specialist (a person highly skilled in a particular area) and tourist (someone who explores a place for pleasure).