Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts : Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understand Point Of View
The following text is from Brian’s point of view:
Looking up at the stands, I see the crowd growing. I’m excited to see that so many people wanted to come out to watch us play in the state championship game. As I run onto the field, I can’t help but smile as my entire family waves at me.
The following text is from Charlie’s point of view:
My knees began to shake as I sat on the bench and watched all of the fans coming through the gate to find an open seat in the stands. I wasn’t expecting to have to play the state championship game in front of so many people. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to move from the bench when the game started.
What is Brian’s point of view about the state championship game?
He is nervous to play in front of so many fans.
He is excited to play in front of so many fans.
He wasn’t expecting a crowd full of people.
He is excited to have won the game.
He is excited to play in front of so many fans.
We are told in the text that Brian is excited to play in the game, and as he took the field he was smiling. This means that he is excited to play in front of so many fans. “He was excited to have won the game”, could be a tempting answer choice. However, at the point that this text was written, the game hadn’t been played yet.
Example Question #6 : Understand Point Of View
The following text is from Brian’s point of view:
Looking up at the stands, I see the crowd growing. I’m excited to see that so many people wanted to come out to watch us play in the state championship game. As I run onto the field, I can’t help but smile as my entire family waves at me.
The following text is from Charlie’s point of view:
My knees began to shake as I sat on the bench and watched all of the fans coming through the gate to find an open seat in the stands. I wasn’t expecting to have to play the state championship game in front of so many people. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to move from the bench when the game started.
What is Charlie’s point of view about the state championship game?
He makes it sound like playing in the game is exciting.
He makes it sound like winning the game is impossible.
He makes it sound like he isn’t a good player so he will sit out on the bench.
He makes it sound like playing in the game is scary.
He makes it sound like playing in the game is scary.
We are told that Charlie’s knees were shaking as he watched all of the fans coming into the game. Shaking knees are a reaction to being nervous. When you are nervous about something, you might be scared. He didn’t think he would be able to move from the bench because of his nervousness. The best answer to this question is, “He makes it sound like playing in the game is scary.” The text doesn’t talk about him being excited, or them winning the game. You might be tempted to select “He makes it sound like he isn’t a good player so he will sit out on the bench.” because Charlie does talk about not being able to move from the bench. However, nothing in the text talks about his skill level, just that he is nervous. This is why “He makes it sound like playing in the game is scary. “ is the best answer.
Example Question #5 : Understand Point Of View
The following text is from Brian’s point of view:
Looking up at the stands, I see the crowd growing. I’m excited to see that so many people wanted to come out to watch us play in the state championship game. As I run onto the field, I can’t help but smile as my entire family waves at me.
The following text is from Charlie’s point of view:
My knees began to shake as I sat on the bench and watched all of the fans coming through the gate to find an open seat in the stands. I wasn’t expecting to have to play the state championship game in front of so many people. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to move from the bench when the game started.
How is Brian’s point of view different from Charlie’s?
Brian makes it sound like playing in the championship game is scary.
Brian makes it sound like winning the game will be a challenge.
Brian makes it sound like playing in the championship game is exciting.
Brian makes it sound like finding a seat will be hard.
Brian makes it sound like playing in the championship game is exciting.
Brian’s text is about how excited he is, whereas Charlie’s text is about how nervous he is. We are told in the text that Brian is excited to play in the game, and as he took the field he was smiling. This means that he is excited to play in front of so many fans. The correct answer is, “Brian makes it sound like playing in the championship game is exciting.”
Example Question #7 : Understand Point Of View
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe’s dad:
After I dropped Gabe off at the birthday party, I drove around worrying. Will he be polite? Will he have fun with the other boys at the party? It’s not easy meeting a lot of new people at once, and Gabe didn’t know everyone that was invited to the party. It can be scary to make new friends, and he was late to the party, so he would be the last boy to arrive.
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe:
I couldn’t wait to get out of the car when we pulled up to my friend’s birthday party. My dad was driving so slow, it took us forever to arrive. When I finally got to the party, I had a great time. I remembered to say please and thank you to all of the adults, and I met a lot of great new friends. I can’t wait to invite them all over to my house for my birthday next month.
What is Gabe’s dad’s point of view about the party?
Gabe isn’t going to be nice to everyone at the party.
Gabe might be in a bad mood during the party because he was late.
It might be overwhelming for Gabe.
Gabe is going to have a great time at the party.
It might be overwhelming for Gabe.
We read in the text that Gabe’s dad was worried after he dropped Gabe off. Gabe didn’t know everyone that was going to be at the party, so his dad was worried that it might be hard for Gabe to make friends with people he didn’t know. Therefore, the correct answer is, “It might be overwhelming for Gabe.”
Example Question #2 : Understand Point Of View
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe’s dad:
After I dropped Gabe off at the birthday party, I drove around worrying. Will he be polite? Will he have fun with the other boys at the party? It’s not easy meeting a lot of new people at once, and Gabe didn’t know everyone that was invited to the party. It can be scary to make new friends, and he was late to the party, so he would be the last boy to arrive.
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe:
I couldn’t wait to get out of the car when we pulled up to my friend’s birthday party. My dad was driving so slow, it took us forever to arrive. When I finally got to the party, I had a great time. I remembered to say please and thank you to all of the adults, and I met a lot of great new friends. I can’t wait to invite them all over to my house for my birthday next month.
What was Gabe’s point of view about the party?
He didn’t like anyone he met at the party.
He was nervous because he was going to be late.
He had a great time at the party.
He was nervous because he didn’t know anyone.
He had a great time at the party.
In the text, Gabe was excited about the party- he couldn’t wait to arrive. He made a lot of new friends that he planned to invite to his own party. The correct answer is, “He had a great time at the party”.
Example Question #6 : Understand Point Of View
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe’s dad:
After I dropped Gabe off at the birthday party, I drove around worrying. Will he be polite? Will he have fun with the other boys at the party? It’s not easy meeting a lot of new people at once, and Gabe didn’t know everyone that was invited to the party. It can be scary to make new friends, and he was late to the party, so he would be the last boy to arrive.
This text is written from the point of view of Gabe:
I couldn’t wait to get out of the car when we pulled up to my friend’s birthday party. My dad was driving so slow, it took us forever to arrive. When I finally got to the party, I had a great time. I remembered to say please and thank you to all of the adults, and I met a lot of great new friends. I can’t wait to invite them all over to my house for my birthday next month.
How was Gabe’s point of view different from his dad’s?
He makes the party sound scary and intimidating.
He makes the party sound fun and enjoyable.
He makes the party sound adventurous.
He makes the party sound boring.
He makes the party sound fun and enjoyable.
Gabe’s dad was worried that the party might be scary and intimidating for Gabe since he was going to be arriving late and he didn’t know everyone that was invited to the party. However, Gabe didn’t feel the same way. From Gabe’s point of view, he was excited about the party and he had a great time at the party! The correct answer is, “He makes the party sound fun and enjoyable.”
Example Question #323 : Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts
The following text is from Maria’s point of view:
I looked forward to dance class all day during school. Every day after school, my mom drops me off at a dance studio and I rehearse on my own for 2 hours before my actual dance class begins. I love the way I can move my body to the beat of the music.
The following text is from Ali’s point of view:
My mom forced me to join an after school activity. I decided to take dance lessons because I thought it would be easy. I arrive right before class begins, if not a few minutes late, and move through the motions as the teacher instructed, but without much enthusiasm.
What is Maria’s point of view about the dance class?
She enjoys dance class but doesn’t put a lot of effort into it.
She is only doing dance class because her mom forced her to.
She would rather be doing homework.
She loves dance class.
She loves dance class.
We are told that Maria looks forward to dance class all day while she’s at school. She also shows up to class 2 hours early to practice on her own. This shows that she loves dance class.
Example Question #1 : Compare And Contrast Texts
Text 1: Where to see African Animals
Animals that are from Africa are some of the most fascinating animals to see. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the animals that live in Africa, there are two ways to make this happen. The first is to visit a local zoo. Most zoos have an African section, which have many of the animals that you would find in Africa. The other, and probably the more exciting option, would be to take a trip to Africa and go on an African safari!
Visiting a Zoo
If you go to a zoo to see African animals, you can usually follow signs straight to the African section. There you will see an area that is modeled off of what an African habitat, or area where animals live, would look like. There will be tall trees for the giraffes and lots of grass and small plants for the elephants. The neat thing about seeing animals in a zoo is that you can see tons of different animals from all over the world.You can see Polar Bears found in Alaska or Kangaroos found in Australia, just to name a few!
African Safari
An African safari is a trip that is very popular in Africa. People sign up for tours and ride around Africa to see many African animals in their homes in the wild. During an African safari, the driver is also the tour guide. He, or she, will know many facts and details about the area and the animals. During the safari, you might go by giraffes eating from tall trees, elephants spraying water from their noses, and lions laying in the sun.
Text 2: African Animals
Africa is home to many amazing and different animals! The weather in Africa is generally very warm, but depending on where in Africa you are, you will see different habits and animals. The top half of Africa, or the northern part, is mainly made up of deserts. The bottom half of Africa, or the southern part, is made up of plains and jungles.
Desert
African deserts are home to animals that can live in very hot temperatures, with very little water. If you were to visit an African desert you might see animals such as camels, foxes, or sheep. Reptiles also live in African deserts. Reptiles that you might see include snakes or lizards.
Plains
African plains are flat areas with a lot of grass. You might see some tall trees spread out, but the majority of this area is covered in grass. If you visit this area of Africa, you might run into some dangerous animals. The plains are where lions and chetahs call home. However, many other animal call the plaines their home. If you want to see elephants, giraffes, or zebras, the plains are where you will find them.
Jungles
The jungles in Africa are rainforest. They are filled with tall trees, plants, and many animals. If you were in an African rainforest, you might see monkeys hanging from branches, or big snakes wrapped around trees. Also, bright colored parrots can be seeing flying from tree to tree. Much bigger animals, such as gorillas and jaguars also live within all of the trees of the rainforest.
What is the main difference between the two texts?
Text 1 talks about going to Africa and Text 2 does not
Text 2 talks about zoos and Text 1 does not
Text 1 talks about zoos and Text 2 does not
Text 2 talks about going to Africa and Text 1 does not
Text 1 talks about zoos and Text 2 does not
The main idea of both passages is seeing African animals. Text 1 talks about seeing them in a zoo or seeing them in Africa. In contrast, Text 2 only talks about going to Africa and seeing the animals.
The correct answer is "Text 1 talks about zoos and Text 2 does not".
Example Question #322 : Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts
Story 1: Prince Meanerman
Once upon a time, a mean prince ruled over a farming kingdom called Summersville. The prince was named Prince Sweeterman, but he was known throughout Summersville as Prince Meanerman. The people of Summersville were very poor farmers, as the prince kept most of the wealth and food for himself. The farmers worked day and night trying to grow enough food for themselves, but still, the Prince took more and more. The sight of the hard-working farmers cracked Prince Sweeterman up as he watched from his castle in joy as the farmers struggled day after day. The Prince was warned that he should not treat his people this way, but the warning went in one ear and out the other. He never changed his ways.
One, by one the farmers began to look for other kingdoms to take them in. Eventually, Prince Sweeterman was left with no workers and no kingdom to rule over. With no food to eat for himself, he grew very hungry and meaner and meaner each day. Prince Meanerman never did learn his lesson.
Story 2: The Kingdom of Cherry Blossoms
Once upon a time, Prince David and Princess Caroline were fortunate enough to rule over a beautiful kingdom. All over the kingdom, great big cherry blossom trees bloomed year-around, which is how the kingdom received its name. The Prince and Princess were not your average rulers. They were very kind and shared their wealth with all the townspeople. Instead of living in a castle, they lived in a regular home just like everyone else. The parties that they hosted were not just for the wealthy, but for everyone in town. Many days were spent with everyone laughing and dancing under the beautiful pink blooms of the cherry blossom trees.
How are Prince Sweeterman and Prince David different?
Prince Sweeterman is sweet and Prince David is mean.
Prince Sweeterman is a real prince and Prince David is just pretending to be a prince.
Prince David is kind and generous, whereas Prince Sweeterman is mean and greedy.
Prince David is selfish and harsh and Prince Sweeterman is generous and kind.
Prince David is kind and generous, whereas Prince Sweeterman is mean and greedy.
Prince David is described in Story 2. We are told that Prince David is very kind and shares his wealth with all the people of his kingdom. This means he is generous. In Story 1, Prince Sweeterman is described as “a mean prince”. He also keeps all the money and food of the kingdom for himself, which makes him greedy. The correct answer is “Prince David is kind and generous, whereas Prince Sweeterman is mean and greedy.”.
Example Question #3 : Integration Of Knowledge And Ideas
Story 1: Prince Meanerman
Once upon a time, a mean prince ruled over a farming kingdom called Summersville. The prince was named Prince Sweeterman, but he was known throughout Summersville as Prince Meanerman. The people of Summersville were very poor farmers, as the prince kept most of the wealth and food for himself. The farmers worked day and night trying to grow enough food for themselves, but still, the Prince took more and more. The sight of the hard-working farmers cracked Prince Sweeterman up as he watched from his castle in joy as the farmers struggled day after day. The Prince was warned that he should not treat his people this way, but the warning went in one ear and out the other. He never changed his ways.
One, by one the farmers began to look for other kingdoms to take them in. Eventually, Prince Sweeterman was left with no workers and no kingdom to rule over. With no food to eat for himself, he grew very hungry and meaner and meaner each day. Prince Meanerman never did learn his lesson.
Story 2: The Kingdom of Cherry Blossoms
Once upon a time, Prince David and Princess Caroline were fortunate enough to rule over a beautiful kingdom. All over the kingdom, great big cherry blossom trees bloomed year-around, which is how the kingdom received its name. The Prince and Princess were not your average rulers. They were very kind and shared their wealth with all the townspeople. Instead of living in a castle, they lived in a regular home just like everyone else. The parties that they hosted were not just for the wealthy, but for everyone in town. Many days were spent with everyone laughing and dancing under the beautiful pink blooms of the cherry blossom trees.
Given the choices below, what is something that Prince Sweeterman and Prince David have in common?
They are both kind princes.
They are both rulers of farming kingdoms.
They are both mean princes.
They are both rulers of kingdoms.
They are both rulers of kingdoms.
Prince Sweeterman and Prince David are both rulers of kingdoms. Only Prince Sweeterman is mean and a ruler of a farming kingdom. And only Prince David is described as being kind.
All Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts Resources
