Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts : Identify Setting, Main Idea, and Characters
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts
All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Text 1
Pets are animals that live with people. Pets are fun to have. There are many types of pets that people have.
A gold fish is a type of pet. Gold fish live in fish tanks filled with water. Gold fish use fins to swim in fish tanks.
A cat is another type of pet. Cats can live outside or inside. Cats walk and run on four legs.
A dog is another type of pet. Dogs can be big or small in size. Like cats, dogs walk and run on four legs.
There are many other animals that people could have as a pet. But, fish, cats, and dogs are what most people have as pets.
Text 2
Dogs are great pets to have. Dogs can be big or small, but they all have fur and walk and run on four legs.
When dogs are first born they are called puppies. Once a puppy gets older it’s only called a dog.
Dogs can learn many tricks. Dogs can learn to sit, lay down, and shake. Most people give dogs treats when they are teaching them tricks.
Most dogs like to be around people. If you plan to get a dog as a pet, be ready to love the dog, because the dog will love you!
What is the main topic of Text 2?
Tricks that dogs can learn
Dogs walk on four legs
Dogs are called puppies
Dogs as a pet
Dogs as a pet
The main topic of a text is what the text is about. We don't want to confuse this with a detail found directly in the text. Text 2 is about dogs as pets. Text 2 provides details about dogs, but remember a detail is not the main topic. The fact that dogs can learn tricks, have four legs, and are called puppies when they are born are all details.
Example Question #1 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Grow Flower, Grow by Marie Smith
A flower starts out as a very small seed.
The seed gets planted in the dirt.
The seed needs lots of water to help it grow.
Soon, a green stem and green leaves will poke out of the dirt.
Then, a flower will start to bloom.
Water and sunlight are a flower's food.
So, water and sunlight will help keep a flower alive.
What is the main topic of this text?
Different types of flowers
Taking care of grass
Growing grass
A seed growing into a flower
A seed growing into a flower
This passage is about how a flower starts out as a seed, and then grows into a flower. This passage does not talk about grass or different types of flowers, it just talks about flowers in general.
The correct answer is "A seed growing into a flower".
Example Question #3 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Text 1
Pets are animals that live with people. Pets are fun to have. There are many types of pets that people have.
A gold fish is a type of pet. Gold fish live in fish tanks filled with water. Gold fish use fins to swim in fish tanks.
A cat is another type of pet. Cats can live outside or inside. Cats walk and run on four legs.
A dog is another type of pet. Dogs can be big or small in size. Like cats, dogs walk and run on four legs.
There are many other animals that people could have as a pet. But, fish, cats, and dogs are what most people have as pets.
Text 2
Dogs are great pets to have. Dogs can be big or small, but they all have fur and walk and run on four legs.
When dogs are first born they are called puppies. Once a puppy gets older it’s only called a dog.
Dogs can learn many tricks. Dogs can learn to sit, lay down, and shake. Most people give dogs treats when they are teaching them tricks.
Most dogs like to be around people. If you plan to get a dog as a pet, be ready to love the dog, because the dog will love you!
What is the main topic of Text 1?
The sizes of dogs
How cats walk
Types of pets
How fish swim
Types of pets
The main topic of a text is what the text is about. We don't want to confuse this with a detail found directly in the text. Text 1 is about different types of pets. It specifically talks about cats, dogs, and gold fish. Text 1 provides details about each of these animals, but remember a detail is not the main topic.
The size of dogs, how cats walk, and how fish swim are all details found in the text. The main topic of the text is types of pets.
Example Question #2 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Adapted from Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum (1897)
Tom, the Piper's Son
Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
Stole a pig and away he run;
The pig was eat and Tom was beat
And Tom ran crying down the street.
Who is the piper's son?
Tom
Cat
Piper
Pig
Tom
The first line of the poem tells us that Tom is the piper's son.
Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
Stole a pig and away he run;
The pig was eat and Tom was beat
And Tom ran crying down the street.
Example Question #3 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Adapted from Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum (1897)
The Black Sheep by L. Frank Baum
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for my master,
And one for my dame,
and one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Who is the main character in the poem?
The Sir
The Black Sheep
The boy
The master
The Black Sheep
The title of this poem gives us a clue. The poem is about a black sheep's wool; thus, the main character is the Black Sheep.
Example Question #4 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Baby Animals
Baby animals have many different names.
A baby cat is called a kitten.
A baby dog is called a puppy.
A baby chicken is called a chick.
A baby lion is called a cub.
A baby cow is called a calf.
A baby goat is called a kid.
A baby sheep is called a lamb.
A baby horse is called a foal.
A baby elephant is called a calf.
A baby bear is called a cub.
A baby fox is called a pup.
What is this book mostly about?
names of adult animals
animals at the zoo
baby animal names
animal pets
baby animal names
The book gives the names of adult animals and the name of the baby for each adult animal.
Example Question #5 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Baby Animals
Baby animals have many different names.
A baby cat is called a kitten.
A baby dog is called a puppy.
A baby chicken is called a chick.
A baby lion is called a cub.
A baby cow is called a calf.
A baby goat is called a kid.
A baby sheep is called a lamb.
A baby horse is called a foal.
A baby elephant is called a calf.
A baby bear is called a cub.
A baby fox is called a pup.
What did the author want to teach the reader?
how animals have babies
what to call adult animals
what different baby animals are called
which animals are good pets
what different baby animals are called
The book gives the names of adult animals and the name of the baby for each adult animal.
Example Question #6 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Penguins
Penguins are birds.
Like all birds, penguins have feathers and lay eggs.
Penguins live on land and in water. Some penguins live in cold places. Some penguins live in warm places.
Penguins can be different sizes. Some penguins are big. Some penguins are small.
Penguins can be different colors. Some penguins are black and white. Some penguins are blue and white. Some penguins are all black. Some penguins have yellow or orange spots.
Penguins are birds but penguins cannot fly.
Some penguins walk. Penguins can walk on ice.
Some penguins slide. Penguins can slide on snow.
Some penguins hop. Penguins can hop on rocks.
All penguins are good swimmers. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Penguins are amazing birds.
What was this text mostly about?
facts about penguins
ways animals move
ways penguins and birds are similar
animals that live in the cold
facts about penguins
The text teaches the reader true facts about penguins, including where they live, their size, color, and how they move. “Mostly about” refers to the entire text.
Example Question #7 : Identify Setting, Main Idea, And Characters
Penguins
Penguins are birds.
Like all birds, penguins have feathers and lay eggs.
Penguins live on land and in water. Some penguins live in cold places. Some penguins live in warm places.
Penguins can be different sizes. Some penguins are big. Some penguins are small.
Penguins can be different colors. Some penguins are black and white. Some penguins are blue and white. Some penguins are all black. Some penguins have yellow or orange spots.
Penguins are birds but penguins cannot fly.
Some penguins walk. Penguins can walk on ice.
Some penguins slide. Penguins can slide on snow.
Some penguins hop. Penguins can hop on rocks.
All penguins are good swimmers. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.
Penguins are amazing birds.
What information can we learn from the article?
What penguins eat
Noises penguins make
How penguins move
Types of penguins
How penguins move
The text explains many ways penguins move including walk, slide, hop, swim. The text does not tell the reader what penguins eat, sound like, or the types of penguins.
Example Question #8 : 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 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.
Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. They have thick, white fur to keep them warm and stay safe 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.
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. 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.
What is the main idea of the text?
Ways animals survive in the water
Ways animals survive in the Arctic
Animals that like the snow
Animals in the summer and winter
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.
All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources
