Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts : Reading
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 #11 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
African Elephants
Elephants are the biggest animals living on land. An adult male elephant can weigh as much as 11,000 pounds and be more than 13 feet tall. The biggest elephants live in Africa.
Trunk
Elephants have a long trunk. An elephant uses its trunk in many ways.
An elephant’s trunk is its nose. It uses its trunk to smell and breathe. Elephants also use their trunks like a hand. An elephant can pick up grass and branches with its trunk. It uses its trunk to reach high up and grab food from trees. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and plants.
Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean.
Elephants use their trunks to make sounds. Elephants roar, rumble and growl. When there is danger, elephants use their trunks to make a loud horn noise to warn others and scare away predators.
Tusks
African elephants have 2 tusks on either side of their trunk. Elephants use their tusks to dig holes and find food and water. They also use their tusks to carry things and even rest their trunks on their tusks. An elephant’s tusks also help it stay safe. Elephants can use their tusks to battle and protect themselves from enemies.
Ears
Elephants have big ears. Elephants use their ears to stay cool on hot days. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Elephants have big feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
What does the author want the reader to learn?
How African elephants talk to each other
What African elephants eat and drink
How African elephants use their different body parts
How African elephants look
How African elephants use their different body parts
Each section of the text describes an African elephant’s body part and how it is used including the trunk, tusks, ears, skin and feet.
Example Question #12 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
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 the main idea of the text?
Animals in the summer and winter
Animals that like the snow
Ways animals survive in the Arctic
Ways animals survive in the water
Ways animals survive in the Arctic
The text gives many animals that live in the Arctic and tells how they are able to survive in the cold.
Example Question #13 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
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.
Why did the author write this text?
To teach people how to stay warm in the Arctic
To teach people about weather in the Arctic
To teach people about why the Arctic is a difficult place to live
To teach people about the ways animals stay warm in the Arctic
To teach people about the ways animals stay warm in the Arctic
The text describes many animals that live in the Arctic and tells how they are able to stay warm and survive. The author does explain that the Arctic is a difficult place to live but only in the first paragraph. The text is mostly about the animals and how they survive. The text does not tell people how they can stay warm in the Arctic and does not describe the weather in the Arctic.
Example Question #1 : Identify Key Details
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.
Where can a wolf live?
The Arctic
A house
The beach
A city
The Arctic
Wolves can live in the Arctic. This answer can be found in the text.
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.
Example Question #2 : Identify Key Details
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 color is a Gray Wolf?
All choices are correct
Black
Gray
White
All choices are correct
The answer to this question will be in the text about the Gray Wolves, which is Passage 2.
Do not let the name trick you. Gray Wolves are not just gray. Their fur can be black, white, or gray.
The correct answer is "All choices are correct".
Example Question #3 : Identify Key Details
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.
How many Gray Wolves live in a pack?
20
2
9 or 10
7 or 8
7 or 8
The answer to this question will be in the text about the Gray Wolves, which is 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.
The correct answer is "7 or 8".
Example Question #4 : Identify Key Details
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.
How many leaders are in a pack?
One
Two
Four
Three
Two
The answer to this question will be in the text about the Gray Wolves, which is Passage 2.
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.
The correct answer is "Two".
Example Question #241 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
The Cats
Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by.
Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue.
Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.
Where do the cats live?
The slide
The park
The tree
The swing
The park
The answer to this question can be found in the story. The second sentence of the story, "The Cats", tells us that Pam and Tom live in the park.
Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by.
Example Question #6 : Identify Key Details
The Cats
Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by.
Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue.
Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.
What does Pam like to do in the park?
Slide down the slide
Swing on the swings
Watch for Blue Jays in the park
Watch the kids play in the park
Watch the kids play in the park
The answer to this question can be found in the story. The third paragraph in the story, "The Cats", starts by telling us that Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park.
Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.
Example Question #242 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
The Cats
Pam and Tom are two cats. They live in the park and watch as the days go by.
Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue.
Pam likes to watch the kids play in the park. She watches as a boy goes down the slide and a girl swings on the swing set. Pam’s favorite part about the park is the slide. She is too scared to slide down the slide, but she likes to watch the kids slide down.
What does Tom like to do in the park?
Slide down the slide
Watch the birds fly around the park
Watch the swings
Swing on the swings
Watch the birds fly around the park
The answer to this question can be found in the story. The second paragraph in the story, "The Cats", starts by telling us that Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park.
Tom likes to watch the birds fly around the park. He watches them fly up in the tree tops and down to the ground. Tom’s favorite bird is the Blue Jay because he loves the color blue.
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