According to the passage about David and his grandmother, when she was not at home David would drop in for a short visit and leave a _____ as a sign on the porch of his grandmother.

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage describing the warm relationship between David and his grandmother. The passage explains that David had a special way of letting his grandmother know he had visited when she was not at home. You must recall and identify exactly what object he left on the porch as a sign of his visit.

Given Data / Assumptions:
From the passage we know:

• David often visited his grandmother.
• When she was not at home, he left something on her porch.
• This later became known as his calling card.

The options provided are:

• schedule
• chunk of dirt
• calling card
• cup of coffee

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you must distinguish between the actual physical object that David left and the phrase that described its symbolic role. The passage states that David left a chunk of dirt on her porch and that this object later came to be known as his calling card. The question asks what he would leave as a sign, referring to the literal object, not the metaphorical label.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the narrative detail. One day, when David did not find his grandmother at home, he left a piece of dirt on the porch. Step 2: The passage continues to say that this chunk of dirt started what was later known as his calling card. Step 3: The expression calling card is a figurative description for the thing he left, not a separate physical object he carried. Step 4: Therefore, the literal object for the blank is chunk of dirt. Step 5: Schedule and cup of coffee do not appear as objects left on the porch in the story. Step 6: Thus, the correct option is chunk of dirt.

Verification / Alternative check:
Reconstruct the key sentences from the passage in simple form: When David found no one at home, he left a chunk of dirt on her porch. This later came to be known as his calling card. These lines show a clear sequence: first the physical act of leaving the chunk of dirt, then its symbolic meaning as a calling card. The question asks what he would leave as a sign on the porch, which must refer to the physical item rather than the later nickname.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Schedule is wrong because the passage mentions David's schedule only to explain that he visited whenever it permitted; it is not something he left behind. Calling card is wrong in this blank because, although the chunk of dirt was called his calling card later, the question focuses on what he actually left on the porch, that is, the chunk of dirt itself. Cup of coffee is wrong because coffee appears only as something they shared during visits, not as an object left as a signal.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to be distracted by the phrase calling card and choose it automatically. However, comprehension questions often play on such symbolic terms. It is important to read carefully and separate literal objects from figurative labels. Another pitfall is not paying attention to the exact wording in the question, which here focuses on what he would leave as a sign on the porch, clearly pointing to the physical item.

Final Answer:
According to the passage, David would leave a chunk of dirt on the porch of his grandmother as a sign of his visit.