Story Elements

The snow melted off the pine trees and a puddle formed in the shadows of the trees. The sun began to shine, and the hibernating animals began to awaken from their sleep.

Which story element is being described in this passage?

• setting

• characters

• problem

• solution

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Mary looked everywhere for her lost doll. It wasn’t in her toy bin, it wasn’t hiding under her covers, and it wasn’t hiding in her doll house. Where could it be?

Which story element is being described in this passage?

• setting

• characters

• problem

• solution

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

After spending all morning worrying about who he would sit with at lunch, as Jordan walked up to the lunch table, a friendly boy named Cameron waved to him and asked him to come sit by him.

Which story element is being described in this passage?

• character

• setting

• problem

• solution

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Lisa was the most kind and caring mother to her children. She loved her children more than anything, and she would do anything to keep them happy. Lisa was amazing!

Which story element is being described in this passage?

• character

• setting

• problem

• solution

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

Principal Simmons sat in front of her laptop. She was refreshing the page every thirty seconds or so in hopes that the information would change. She had 300 students and their families arriving in an hour for the welcome picnic. She had 50 tables and 350 chairs already set up on the soccer field. Right about now, 50 gigantic sandwiches were in a van speeding this way from JoJo's deli, and her secretary, Mr. Kline, was on his way with a truckload of beverages. The band was already setting up on the tiny stage, and had already run all of their necessary cables and cords to the center of the field. Principal Simmons took another deep breath and clicked her mouse on the "refresh" button once again. She was no meteorologist, but it certainly looked like they were in for a storm. On the weather map she was looking at, the huge dark area seemed to be inching right toward Elmdale. She glanced out the window. Was that a raindrop? There might still be enough time to move everything into the gym, but It was so small and stuffy. These weather maps were often wrong, right?

What is the conflict in the story?

• The principal is worried that too many people will show up.

• The principal is concerned about the weather forcing them into the gym.

• The drivers of the deli van and truckload of beverages are running behind.

• The weather map the principal is looking at is inaccurate.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Francis had told his neighbor Judy that he would help her rearrange a couple pieces of furniture today at noon. He glanced at the clock above the television and saw that it read 11:15. She had said it would only take a few minutes, but Francis was really into this cartoon marathon. He glanced out the window. Was it going to rain? Francis figured rain was at least a slight possibility. Plus, Judy lived practically at the other end of the block, so a few minutes was really more like maybe fifteen minutes, he figured. Maybe 45 minutes would give him enough time to call a moving company and have them send someone to Judy's at noon. He would rather spend the money than get up from his couch, which had to be the most comfortable couch in history. Without looking, he reached down to the floor and pawed around for his phone. In horror, he realized that it was plugged into the wall way across the room.

What character trait best describes Francis?

• motivated

• energetic

• lazy

• malicious

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

About two hours before the birthday party, I went to my usual pet store. I wanted to get either a dove or a rabbit, whichever one was less expensive. Unfortunately, they were out of both! I had to get a porcupine instead, which is an animal I've never worked with before. Hopefully it will be pretty well- behaved. Nothing will ruin your act more quickly than an unruly animal. This little guy would fit in my top hat, which was the most important part. I left the pet store with my new partner in a little box and headed to the dry cleaner to pick up my tuxedo. I'd had to get it cleaned since one of my bits didn't go off as planned last weekend. You see, I fill my hat with milk and put it back on my head. The milk is supposed to disappear before the hat flips over, but this time, the special compartment in the hat malfunctioned. As you can guess, I was covered in milk. Anyway, I hope this week's show goes better. Otherwise, I may have to go back to my job at the bank.

What evidence from the text best supports that the narrator is a magician?

• About two hours before the birthday party, I went to my usual pet store.

• Hopefully it will be pretty well-behaved. Nothing will ruin your act more quickly than an unruly animal.

• As you can guess, I was covered in milk.

• Otherwise, I may have to go back to my job at the bank.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Simon went to the circus and was entranced by a clown that juggled everything from sandwiches to flaming bowling pins. Immediately, Simon wanted to do this himself, so the next morning, he grabbed three oranges from the kitchen and went outside. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the pattern of movements the clown had made with his hands and arms, and then Simon opened his eyes and gave it a go. One orange landed on the roof, and another hit the ground and split open. The third landed in a tree where a squirrel grabbed it and ran off. Simon was very bad at juggling, but he didn't give up because he still wanted to learn. He used his allowance to buy a ten-pound bag of oranges, and he woke up every day at five to practice for two hours before school. At the end of the first week, he was only breaking a few oranges a day. By the end of two weeks, he wasn't breaking any. At the end of the third week, he added a fourth orange. He kept up the daily routine, and in two months’ time, he could juggle any four objects you handed him.

Which statement best represents the theme of the story?

• Practice can make you better.

• You should give up if you are not good at something.

• Sometimes it helps to buy more things.

• Simon didn't give up and eventually got better at juggling.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Sitting at Carter Beach, Deonte glanced down the beach to where two groups were playing beach volleyball. Deonte absolutely loved beach volleyball, but he was also painfully shy. He could never work up the nerve to introduce himself to strangers. He watched closely, wishing that he had the courage to join in, but knowing he probably never would. They were having so much fun, and it made Deonte sad to have this silly obstacle in his way. However, he kept watching, and as he did, he saw a phone fly out of one of the player's pockets as she dove into the sand. It appeared that none of the players saw it happen, and the phone was immediately covered over with sand. Deonte knew that he should say something, but his heart was already beating out of his chest just thinking about it. I'll keep it simple, he thought, fast, and no talking. He sprinted over, dug out the phone, handed it to the girl, and turned to run away. “Wait!” she yelled. He turned and she thanked him. She asked Deonte if he wanted to play. Just above a whisper, Deonte replied, “Yes.”

How is the conflict resolved?

• The girl sees Deonte all alone and asks him if he wants to play.

• The girl is nice to Deonte, so it makes him brave enough to ask to play.

• The conflict is not resolved, and Deonte does not join in the game.

• Deonte acts helpfully, which gives him a chance to overcome his fear.

Tags

CCSS.RL.3.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

It's definitely hard to concentrate when the sky outside the window is as blue as the ocean and filled with joyful puffy white clouds. However, these last four questions are standing between me and freedom. It seems almost cruel to give a test today. I know it's not just me and that everyone else's brains are probably floating off somewhere else, too. It might be on a beach, a road trip, or camping, but it sure isn't focused on these

multiple-choice questions about Thomas Jefferson. Technically, I guess that this test isn't the last thing standing in my way. I still have to clean out my locker, and I'm pretty sure that there are some sandwiches in there that were lost and never heard from. I'm certainly not looking forward to rediscovering them. Okay, I'm almost there. I just need to focus. Thomas Jefferson, here we go.

Which statement best describes the narrator of this story?

• Student taking an important test

• Annoyed student who did not study for a test he/she was taking

• Distracted student right before summer vacation

• Focused student taking a test on Thomas Jefferson

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6