Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #61 : Reading
Fox and Friends
Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.
As I walk to the pond, I hear laughing and a lot of splashing. I see a deer and a rabbit playing in the water. The deer is laughing and smiling. He looks very happy.
I decide to hide behind a bush and ask them if I can play. This way they can hear me but not see me. “Can I come play with you?” I yell.
The deer and rabbit look for me, but they cannot see me. The deer says, “Yes, but you have to stop hiding!”
When I come out the rabbit seems scared, but the deer comes straight to me and gives me a big hug. As I play in the pond with my two friends, I feel so happy.
Select the answer that best describes the deer and the fox.
The deer was lonelier than the fox.
The deer was sadder than the fox.
The fox was lonelier than the deer.
The fox was happier than the deer.
The fox was lonelier than the deer.
In the story, we first learn that the fox is sad because he doesn't have any friends. If you don't have any friends, you would be lonely. The deer had a friend, the rabbit, who was playing with him in the water. Because of this, the fox was lonelier than the deer.
Example Question #62 : Reading
Passage 1: Wolves
A wolf is a wild dog. They do not live in houses like a dog does, but they look alike.
Body
Like a dog, a wolf walks on four legs and has a lot of fur. The fur keeps the wolves warm. Some wolves live in cold weather and need a lot of fur. The Arctic is a very cold place and many wolves live there.
Food
A wolf does not eat the same food as a dog. A wolf eats other animals. One animal that a wolf eats is called a deer. A wolf can run very fast, so it is able to catch a deer.
Family
A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs. A pack is like a family. There can be as many as 20 wolves in a pack.
Passage 2: Gray Wolves
Gray Wolves used to live all over America. Now, they only live in some parts of America. They form groups, or packs, of 7 to 8 wolves. They live and look for food together.
There are two leaders in every pack. One leader is a girl wolf and one leader is a boy wolf. The leaders pick where the pack lives and what they eat.
Do not let the name trick you. Gray Wolves are not just gray. Their fur can be black, white, or gray.
What do we learn about wolves in both passages?
Their fur can be gray, black, and white
The eat deer
They can live in the Arctic
They live in packs
They live in packs
Of our answer choices, the only fact that was in both passages was that wolves live in packs.
Passage 1: "A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs."
Passage 2: "Gray Wolves used to live all over America. Now, they only live in some parts of America. They form groups, or packs, of 7 to 8 wolves. They live and look for food together. "
We learn that wolves eat deer in Passage 1.
We learn that wolves can be gray, white, or black in Passage 2.
We learn that wolves can live in the Arctic in Passage 1.
Example Question #63 : Reading
Passage 1: Wolves
A wolf is a wild dog. They do not live in houses like a dog does, but they look alike.
Body
Like a dog, a wolf walks on four legs and has a lot of fur. The fur keeps the wolves warm. Some wolves live in cold weather and need a lot of fur. The Arctic is a very cold place and many wolves live there.
Food
A wolf does not eat the same food as a dog. A wolf eats other animals. One animal that a wolf eats is called a deer. A wolf can run very fast, so it is able to catch a deer.
Family
A wolf does not live alone. Wolves live in groups called packs. A pack is like a family. There can be as many as 20 wolves in a pack.
Passage 2: Gray Wolves
Gray Wolves used to live all over America. Now, they only live in some parts of America. They form groups, or packs, of 7 to 8 wolves. They live and look for food together.
There are two leaders in every pack. One leader is a girl wolf and one leader is a boy wolf. The leaders pick where the pack lives and what they eat.
Do not let the name trick you. Gray Wolves are not just gray. Their fur can be black, white, or gray.
What is the main difference between the two passages?
Passage 2 is about Gray Wolves and Passage 1 is about deer
Passage 2 is about all wolves and Passage 1 is about Gray Wolves
Passage 1 is about all wolves and Passage 2 is about Gray Wolves
Passage 1 is about Gray Wolves and Passage2 is about dogs
Passage 1 is about all wolves and Passage 2 is about Gray Wolves
Both of the texts are about wolves. However, we can see from the title that the first text is about all wolves and the second text is about one type of wolf, the Gray Wolf. The correct answer is "Passage 1 is about all wolves and Passage 2 is about Gray Wolves".
Example Question #4 : Compare And Contrast
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy Arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.
What is different about the Arctic hare in the summer and the Arctic hare in the winter?
In the summer the Arctic hare has brown fur and in the winter the Arctic hare has white fur
The Arctic hare swims in the summer but not in the winter.
In the summer the Arctic hare has white fur and the winter the Arctic hare has brown fur
The Arctic hare has thicker fur in the summer than in the winter
In the summer the Arctic hare has brown fur and in the winter the Arctic hare has white fur
The text says in the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter the fur grows thicker and warmer and turns white. The color of the fur changes from brown to white. They also grow more hair in the winter when the temperature is colder.
Example Question #5 : Compare And Contrast
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy Arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.
How are the Arctic hare and the Arctic fox similar?
They both hunt during the day
They both change their fur from brown to white in the winter
They both can swim
They both have a thick layer of blubber
They both change their fur from brown to white in the winter
The text says “In the winter, the hare grows more thick hair. Their fur also turns white in the winter.” The text also says “When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur.” Both animals change their fur color from brown to white in the winter.
Example Question #5 : Compare And Contrast
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy Arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.
How are the harp seal and the penguin different?
The harp seal swims and the penguin slides
The harp seal lives in the icy water but the penguin lives on icy land
The harp seal has blubber to stay warm but the penguin has waterproof feathers
The harp seal changes its fur in the winter but the penguin stays the same color
The harp seal has blubber to stay warm but the penguin has waterproof feathers
Both the harp seal and penguin swim in icy water. The seal stays warm using a thick layer of blubber when it swims but the penguins stays warm with waterproof feathers when they swim. Neither the harp seal nor the penguin change colors from summer to winter.
Example Question #4 : Compare And Contrast
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy Arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.
How are the harp seal and the polar bear similar?
They both have a thick layer of blubber
They both swim in icy water
They both have thick, white fur
They both turn white in the winter
They both have a thick layer of blubber
The text says “Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy water.” The text also says “Polar bears also have thick blubber.” Penguins have waterproof feathers to stay warm. The Arctic hare has thick, white fur to stay warm. The Arctic wolf has thick gray and white fur to stay warm.
Example Question #5 : Compare And Contrast
Arctic Animals
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.
Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.
Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.
Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.
Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy Arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.
Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.
Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.
The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.
How are the harp seal and the penguin similar?
Their babies coats turn white in the winter
Their babies have thick blubber to stay warm
Their babies have waterproof feathers to stay warm
Their babies are born with fluffy coats to stay warm
Their babies are born with fluffy coats to stay warm
According to the text, when a baby seal is born it has fluffy, white fur to stay warm before it grows its blubber. When a baby penguin is born it has fluffy white feathers to stay warm before it grows waterproof feathers.
Example Question #1 : Compare And Contrast
Dogs are the Best Pet
Dogs are the best pets!
Dogs are fun. Dogs love to play with you. Dogs love to play catch, fetch, tug-of-war, and chase. Dogs are so much fun to play with.
Dogs keep you healthy. Dogs love to go for walks. When you walk your dog you get exercise and fresh air.
Dogs keep you safe. Dogs will bark when they hear a strange noise or if they sense danger.
Dogs are smart. Dogs know their names and follow directions. Dogs can even learn how to do tricks.
Dogs are helpful. Some dogs work on farms. Other dogs are used to help people who cannot hear or see.
Dogs keep you company. Dogs love to cuddle and be with you. Dogs love you and want to make you happy.
Cats are the Best Pet
Cats are the best pets!
Cats love to play. Cats love to chase their toys around the house. Cats take care of their toys and do not chew them up.
Cats take care of themselves. You do not need to take your cat out for walks or give them a bath. Cats lick themselves clean and go to the bathroom in a litter box.
Cats are quiet. They do not bark. Cats make quiet purr sounds when they are happy or meow when they need something.
Cats love to cuddle. Happy cats will cuddle with you or rub against your legs. When cats purr they are happy.
According to the text, how are dogs and cats similar?
They are clean
They love to cuddle
They can learn tricks
They like to go on walks
They love to cuddle
Both authors describe how their pet loves to cuddle. In “Dogs are the Best Pet,” the author states “Dogs keep you company. Dogs love to cuddle and be with you. Dogs love you and want to make you happy.” In “Cats are the Bets Pet” the author states “Cats love to cuddle. Happy cats will cuddle with you or rub against your legs. When cats purr they are happy.”
Example Question #1 : Compare And Contrast
Dogs are the Best Pet
Dogs are the best pets!
Dogs are fun. Dogs love to play with you. Dogs love to play catch, fetch, tug-of-war, and chase. Dogs are so much fun to play with.
Dogs keep you healthy. Dogs love to go for walks. When you walk your dog you get exercise and fresh air.
Dogs keep you safe. Dogs will bark when they hear a strange noise or if they sense danger.
Dogs are smart. Dogs know their names and follow directions. Dogs can even learn how to do tricks.
Dogs are helpful. Some dogs work on farms. Other dogs are used to help people who cannot hear or see.
Dogs keep you company. Dogs love to cuddle and be with you. Dogs love you and want to make you happy.
Cats are the Best Pet
Cats are the best pets!
Cats love to play. Cats love to chase their toys around the house. Cats take care of their toys and do not chew them up.
Cats take care of themselves. You do not need to take your cat out for walks or give them a bath. Cats lick themselves clean and go to the bathroom in a litter box.
Cats are quiet. They do not bark. Cats make quiet purr sounds when they are happy or meow when they need something.
Cats love to cuddle. Happy cats will cuddle with you or rub against your legs. When cats purr they are happy.
What is a reason both authors use to support their opinion?
Both cats and dogs keep you safe
Both dogs and cats like to play
Both dogs and cats are helpful
Both cats and dogs are clean
Both dogs and cats like to play
One reason both authors use to support their opinion is that the pet likes to play. The author of text 1 states that dogs love to play catch, fetch, tug-of-war and chase. The author of text 2 states that cats love to play and chase their toys around the house. Only the author of the first text supports their opinion with ways dogs are helpful and keep you safe. Only the author of the second text supports their opinion with ways cats are clean.
All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
