Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts : Describe Characters, Setting, and Events

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts

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Example Question #1 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

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.

Which group of words describes the deer in the story?

Possible Answers:

sad, friendly, playful

lonely, sad, friendly

happy, friendly, sad

happy, friendly, playful

Correct answer:

happy, friendly, playful

Explanation:

We learn in the story that the deer is laughing and smiling as it is playing in the pond. We are also told the the deer looked very happy. 

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.

We are never told that the deer is sad or lonely. The correct answer is "happy, friendly, playful". 

Example Question #11 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

 

Which word describes Bella in the beginning of the story?

Possible Answers:

Disappointed

Worried

Kind

Excited

Correct answer:

Excited

Explanation:

 In the beginning of the story Bella is excited because it is her birthday. We know she is excited because she jumps out of bed and shouts “today is my birthday!” Then she runs downstairs.

Example Question #12 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

Which word describes Bella in the middle of the story?

Possible Answers:

Happy

Kind

Excited

Worried

Correct answer:

Worried

Explanation:

 In the middle of the story Bella is worried because she thinks her friends forgot her birthday. When she got downstairs she did not see any of her friends or her party.

Example Question #13 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

Why was Bella upset in the middle of the story?

Possible Answers:

Today was her birthday

Her friends brought her cake and presents

She thought her friends forgot her birthday

Her friends were all coming over today

Correct answer:

She thought her friends forgot her birthday

Explanation:

In the middle of the story Bella is worried because she thinks her friends forgot her birthday. When she got downstairs she did not see any of her friends or her party. Bella says, “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday.”

Example Question #14 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around. 

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!” she said.

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

Why was Bella happy at the end of the story?

Possible Answers:

Her friends forgot her birthday

She ate 2 pieces of cake

She got a lot of presents

Her friends surprised her

Correct answer:

Her friends surprised her

Explanation:

At the end of the story her friends surprised her and jumped out of their hiding spots. Bella was happy because her friends did not forget her birthday after all.

Example Question #6 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

Hardworking Holly and Sporty Sarah

 

Holly and Sarah are identical twins. They both have long, brown hair and big blue eyes. They look and sound so similar that even their teachers mix them up. But Holly and Sarah are very different.

This morning Holly woke up bright and early, an hour before her alarm was set. She made her bed, folded her clothes and did her chores. She had a spelling test on Monday so during breakfast she practiced her spelling words. After breakfast Holly made a “Get Well Soon” card for one of her classmates who had broken his leg on the playground last week and had to get a cast. She took her time to draw a detailed picture of Josh in his bright blue cast and even used bubble letters on the front. Holly was quiet and shy, but she was always ready to help anyone who needed it. She preferred to read and play with her pet dog Buddy than with kids her own age. At the soccer game that afternoon Holly sat quietly on the bench cheering on her teammates. Holly was not very athletic and usually helped the team by passing out water during breaks, but she was happy to help.  

This morning when Sarah’s alarm went off she unplugged it and went back to sleep. Finally Buddy woke her up with slobbery kisses and licks. She threw on an old t-shirt and shorts that she found crumpled up on her bedroom floor along with the rest of her laundry that she forgot to fold. She laced up her shoes and took Buddy out for a run. Sarah’s soccer team had their championship game today and she wanted to warm up so she was ready. One of their best players had broken his leg on the playground last week and she knew she would need to play her best for the team to win. After she got home Sarah glanced at her calendar and saw she had a spelling test on Monday. “I’ll study later” she thought, as she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah grabbed a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV, searching for the Saturday morning Cartoons. Sarah was the star of the soccer game that afternoon. She made 3 assists and scored 4 goals, winning the game for her team! After the game Sarah and her friends went and played on the playground until it was time to go home.

 

Which set of words best describe Holly?

Possible Answers:

artistic, athletic, popular

shy, athletic, hardworking

hardworking, kind, shy

messy, athletic, shy

Correct answer:

hardworking, kind, shy

Explanation:

 Holly is hardworking, kind and shy. She is hardworking because she woke up early to study for her spelling test. She is kind because she made a card for her classmate who had broken his leg and passed out water and cheered for her teammates at the soccer game. She is shy because she likes to play with her dog instead of a lot of kids.

Example Question #7 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

Hardworking Holly and Sporty Sarah

 

Holly and Sarah are identical twins. They both have long, brown hair and big blue eyes. They look and sound so similar that even their teachers mix them up. But Holly and Sarah are very different.

This morning Holly woke up bright and early, an hour before her alarm was set. She made her bed, folded her clothes and did her chores. She had a spelling test on Monday so during breakfast she practiced her spelling words. After breakfast Holly made a “Get Well Soon” card for one of her classmates who had broken his leg on the playground last week and had to get a cast. She took her time to draw a detailed picture of Josh in his bright blue cast and even used bubble letters on the front. Holly was quiet and shy, but she was always ready to help anyone who needed it. She preferred to read and play with her pet dog Buddy than with kids her own age. At the soccer game that afternoon Holly sat quietly on the bench cheering on her teammates. Holly was not very athletic and usually helped the team by passing out water during breaks, but she was happy to help.  

This morning when Sarah’s alarm went off she unplugged it and went back to sleep. Finally Buddy woke her up with slobbery kisses and licks. She threw on an old t-shirt and shorts that she found crumpled up on her bedroom floor along with the rest of her laundry that she forgot to fold. She laced up her shoes and took Buddy out for a run. Sarah’s soccer team had their championship game today and she wanted to warm up so she was ready. One of their best players had broken his leg on the playground last week and she knew she would need to play her best for the team to win. After she got home Sarah glanced at her calendar and saw she had a spelling test on Monday. “I’ll study later” she thought, as she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah grabbed a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV, searching for the Saturday morning Cartoons. Sarah was the star of the soccer game that afternoon. She made 3 assists and scored 4 goals, winning the game for her team! After the game Sarah and her friends went and played on the playground until it was time to go home.

Which set of words best describe Sarah?

Possible Answers:

messy, athletic, popular

kind, hardworking, helpful

hardworking, sporty, artistic

shy, organized, kind

Correct answer:

messy, athletic, popular

Explanation:

Sarah is messy, athletic and popular. She is messy because her clothes were all over her bedroom floor. She is athletic because she was a good soccer player. She is popular because she has many friends that she likes to play with.

Example Question #8 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

Hardworking Holly and Sporty Sarah

 

Holly and Sarah are identical twins. They both have long, brown hair and big blue eyes. They look and sound so similar that even their teachers mix them up. But Holly and Sarah are very different.

This morning Holly woke up bright and early, an hour before her alarm was set. She made her bed, folded her clothes and did her chores. She had a spelling test on Monday so during breakfast she practiced her spelling words. After breakfast Holly made a “Get Well Soon” card for one of her classmates who had broken his leg on the playground last week and had to get a cast. She took her time to draw a detailed picture of Josh in his bright blue cast and even used bubble letters on the front. Holly was quiet and shy, but she was always ready to help anyone who needed it. She preferred to read and play with her pet dog Buddy than with kids her own age. At the soccer game that afternoon Holly sat quietly on the bench cheering on her teammates. Holly was not very athletic and usually helped the team by passing out water during breaks, but she was happy to help.  

This morning when Sarah’s alarm went off she unplugged it and went back to sleep. Finally Buddy woke her up with slobbery kisses and licks. She threw on an old t-shirt and shorts that she found crumpled up on her bedroom floor along with the rest of her laundry that she forgot to fold. She laced up her shoes and took Buddy out for a run. Sarah’s soccer team had their championship game today and she wanted to warm up so she was ready. One of their best players had broken his leg on the playground last week and she knew she would need to play her best for the team to win. After she got home Sarah glanced at her calendar and saw she had a spelling test on Monday. “I’ll study later” she thought, as she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah grabbed a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV, searching for the Saturday morning Cartoons. Sarah was the star of the soccer game that afternoon. She made 3 assists and scored 4 goals, winning the game for her team! After the game Sarah and her friends went and played on the playground until it was time to go home.

What evidence shows that Holly is responsible?

Possible Answers:

She practiced before her soccer game

She liked to play with Buddy instead of other kids

She woke up late and took Buddy for a run

She woke up early to study for her spelling test

Correct answer:

She woke up early to study for her spelling test

Explanation:

 We know Holly is responsible because she woke up early, did her chores and studied for her spelling test. Someone who is responsible works hard and remembers to do important things.

Example Question #9 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

Hardworking Holly and Sporty Sarah

 

Holly and Sarah are identical twins. They both have long, brown hair and big blue eyes. They look and sound so similar that even their teachers mix them up. But Holly and Sarah are very different.

This morning Holly woke up bright and early, an hour before her alarm was set. She made her bed, folded her clothes and did her chores. She had a spelling test on Monday so during breakfast she practiced her spelling words. After breakfast Holly made a “Get Well Soon” card for one of her classmates who had broken his leg on the playground last week and had to get a cast. She took her time to draw a detailed picture of Josh in his bright blue cast and even used bubble letters on the front. Holly was quiet and shy, but she was always ready to help anyone who needed it. She preferred to read and play with her pet dog Buddy than with kids her own age. At the soccer game that afternoon Holly sat quietly on the bench cheering on her teammates. Holly was not very athletic and usually helped the team by passing out water during breaks, but she was happy to help.  

This morning when Sarah’s alarm went off she unplugged it and went back to sleep. Finally Buddy woke her up with slobbery kisses and licks. She threw on an old t-shirt and shorts that she found crumpled up on her bedroom floor along with the rest of her laundry that she forgot to fold. She laced up her shoes and took Buddy out for a run. Sarah’s soccer team had their championship game today and she wanted to warm up so she was ready. One of their best players had broken his leg on the playground last week and she knew she would need to play her best for the team to win. After she got home Sarah glanced at her calendar and saw she had a spelling test on Monday. “I’ll study later” she thought, as she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah grabbed a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV, searching for the Saturday morning Cartoons. Sarah was the star of the soccer game that afternoon. She made 3 assists and scored 4 goals, winning the game for her team! After the game Sarah and her friends went and played on the playground until it was time to go home.

Why does Holly make a card for her classmate?

Possible Answers:

Her classmate was the best player on the soccer team

Her classmate broke his leg last week

Her classmate did not have many friends

He classmate helped her study for her spelling test

Correct answer:

Her classmate broke his leg last week

Explanation:

 Holly made a get well soon card for her classmate because he had broken his leg on the playground and she wanted to make him feel better.

Example Question #10 : Describe Characters, Setting, And Events

Hardworking Holly and Sporty Sarah

 

Holly and Sarah are identical twins. They both have long, brown hair and big blue eyes. They look and sound so similar that even their teachers mix them up. But Holly and Sarah are very different.

This morning Holly woke up bright and early, an hour before her alarm was set. She made her bed, folded her clothes and did her chores. She had a spelling test on Monday so during breakfast she practiced her spelling words. After breakfast Holly made a “Get Well Soon” card for one of her classmates who had broken his leg on the playground last week and had to get a cast. She took her time to draw a detailed picture of Josh in his bright blue cast and even used bubble letters on the front. Holly was quiet and shy, but she was always ready to help anyone who needed it. She preferred to read and play with her pet dog Buddy than with kids her own age. At the soccer game that afternoon Holly sat quietly on the bench cheering on her teammates. Holly was not very athletic and usually helped the team by passing out water during breaks, but she was happy to help.  

This morning when Sarah’s alarm went off she unplugged it and went back to sleep. Finally Buddy woke her up with slobbery kisses and licks. She threw on an old t-shirt and shorts that she found crumpled up on her bedroom floor along with the rest of her laundry that she forgot to fold. She laced up her shoes and took Buddy out for a run. Sarah’s soccer team had their championship game today and she wanted to warm up so she was ready. One of their best players had broken his leg on the playground last week and she knew she would need to play her best for the team to win. After she got home Sarah glanced at her calendar and saw she had a spelling test on Monday. “I’ll study later” she thought, as she headed downstairs for breakfast. Sarah grabbed a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV, searching for the Saturday morning Cartoons. Sarah was the star of the soccer game that afternoon. She made 3 assists and scored 4 goals, winning the game for her team! After the game Sarah and her friends went and played on the playground until it was time to go home.

What evidence shows that Sarah is messy?

Possible Answers:

She put on dirty clothes from her bedroom floor

She scored 4 goals and helped her team win the soccer game

She watched cartoons instead of studying for her test

She folded her clothes when she woke up

Correct answer:

She put on dirty clothes from her bedroom floor

Explanation:

We know Sarah is messy because she did not fold her laundry and her clothes were all over her bedroom floor. She put on dirty clothes when she woke up.

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All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources

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