All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identify The Narrator
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.
Who is telling this story?
Tom
Pam
The cats
An unknown narrator
An unknown narrator
A narrator tells a story. This story is about two cats, Tom and Pam. Someone is telling the reader what Pam and Tom like to do in the park. Pam and Tom are not telling the story because neither of them say "I" in the passage. They are also the cats, so that is not the correct answer.
We aren't introduced to the person who is telling us about the cats, Tom and Pam, so an unknown narrator is telling the story.
Example Question #2 : Identify The Narrator
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.
Who is telling the story?
The deer
The rabbit
The fox
The forest
The fox
The person who is telling the story is called a narrator. We learn in the first section of the story that the fox is telling this story. He uses the word "I" and then we find out that he is a fox.
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.
Example Question #2 : Identify The Narrator
When I Grow Up
When I grow up I want to be tall like my mom! I have a lot to do before I become an adult.
First, I will go on a trip just like my siblings. When I finally get to my new home I will be very thirsty. I will soak up as much water as I can.
Once I have enough water I will begin to grow. First I will grow my roots. My roots will help me get even more water and nutrients, or vitamins, so I can grow taller and stronger. My roots will also help me stay in my home. My roots will grow long and strong so I do not blow over in a strong wind or storm.
Now that I have water and vitamins I can start to grow tall. I wish I could touch the sun. I will try! I will grow as tall as I can. The sun gives me my food. As I grow taller I will also grow leaves. My leaves help me get more water and sunlight so I can grow even bigger and stronger.
When I am an adult I will grow pink petals just like my mom! Then I will have seeds of my own.
Who is telling the story?
An unknown narrator
The sun
The flower
The seed
The seed
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is told by a seed who is growing into a plant.
Example Question #3 : Identify The Narrator
Seed to Plant
A plant starts as a small seed. Different seeds become different plants. It is a long journey from a seed to a plant.
First, a seed finds its spot in the dirt. Some seeds travel very far before they finally land. Wind can spread seeds long distances. Other seeds are carried and dropped by animals, such as squirrels or birds.
Next, seeds need water and sunlight. Soon the seed breaks open and roots begin to grow down into the ground. Roots soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Soon a small stem pops out above the ground.
The small stem continues to grow and forms leaves. The leaves soak up more water and sunlight to help the plant grow. Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow. Water and sunlight are food for plants.
Some plants have flowers and others have fruit. Flowers and fruit make more seeds. These seeds will drop and spread and soon start their journey to becoming a plant.
Who is telling the story?
An unknown narrator
The seed
The flower
The sun
An unknown narrator
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is being told by a narrator that is not in the story.
Example Question #4 : Identify The Narrator
Good Job Jack!
Every morning when I wake up I run into my brother Sam’s bedroom, jump on top of him, and wake him up with wet kisses. “Good morning Jack!” he says to me. Sam is the best brother!
We eat breakfast and then Sam heads to school. I miss Sam when he is gone. Sometimes I even cry when mom and Sam leave in the morning.
While Sam is working hard at school I am busy at home. First, I play with my toys. My favorite game is to take all my toys out of my toy basket and hide them throughout the house. I take some of my bones and hide them in the backyard for later. Sometimes the mailman comes by. I do not like the mailman and I growl at him to stay away from our house. After I play with my toys I am very tired and take a nap. Then I wait by the door for Sam to get home from school.
When Sam gets home I am so excited that I jump up and yell “hello!” Sam puts my leash on and we go outside for a walk around the block. Some days we go to the park and play fetch. I am very good at fetch, much better than Sam. When we get home I drink lots of water and Sam gives me a treat.
I love my brother Sam. I wonder if he will find the bones I hid.
Who is telling the story?
A dog
A girl
An unknown narrator
A boy
A dog
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is told by the dog. We know this because the narrator says that he wakes up Sam with wet kisses, hides his bones in the backyard, plays fetch and gets treats from Sam – these are all examples of things dogs do.
Example Question #284 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
Good Job Jack!
Every morning when I wake up I run into my brother Sam’s bedroom, jump on top of him, and wake him up with wet kisses. “Good morning Jack!” he says to me. Sam is the best brother!
We eat breakfast and then Sam heads to school. I miss Sam when he is gone. Sometimes I even cry when mom and Sam leave in the morning.
While Sam is working hard at school I am busy at home. First, I play with my toys. My favorite game is to take all my toys out of my toy basket and hide them throughout the house. I take some of my bones and hide them in the backyard for later. Sometimes the mailman comes by. I do not like the mailman and I growl at him to stay away from our house. After I play with my toys I am very tired and take a nap. Then I wait by the door for Sam to get home from school.
When Sam gets home I am so excited that I jump up and yell “hello!” Sam puts my leash on and we go outside for a walk around the block. Some days we go to the park and play fetch. I am very good at fetch, much better than Sam. When we get home I drink lots of water and Sam gives me a treat.
I love my brother Sam. I wonder if he will find the bones I hid.
Who is Sam?
A boy's dog
A teacher
A dog's owner
An unknown narrator
A dog's owner
Sam is the narrator/dog’s owner. In the passage the narrator, the dog, calls Sam his brother. Sam takes the narrator on walks, goes to school, gives the narrator treats and plays fetch with the narrator. We know Sam is a human because he goes to school.
Example Question #4 : Identify The Narrator
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.
Who is telling the story?
An unknown narrator
Bella
The friends
Niel
An unknown narrator
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is being told by a narrator that is not in the story.
Example Question #5 : Identify The Narrator
Valentine’s Day
February is one of my favorite months because we get to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I make each of my students their own very special Valentine’s Day card. Everyone wears red and pink instead of their usual blue uniforms. In class we play games to celebrate. My students make cards for their families with construction paper, paint, and glitter. Then everyone passes out Valentines to the rest of the class and they even give me Valentines. At the end of the day every class gets to go to the school’s Valentine’s Day dance. They play music and there is plenty of food and snacks for the kids to enjoy. I even dance a little too.
Who is telling the story?
A student
An unknown narrator
A dog
A teacher
A teacher
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is being told by the teacher. The narrator says “my students…” and “our class…” which shows she is the teacher.
Example Question #287 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
First Day Jitters
I woke up feeling sick. I had knots in my stomach. When my mom came into my room to hurry me up I told her I was sick but she said I just had first day jitters. I threw the covers back over my head.
I finally decided to get up. I brushed my teeth, put on my new dress and walked downstairs. I told my mom over and over again at breakfast that I was sick, but she told me it was just first day jitters. “You will have a great day!” she said.
“Grab your backpack and hurry to the bus stop before you miss your bus,” mom yelled.
I sulked out the door and made it on the bus just before the doors closed. I would have been okay if I had missed my bus.
After 20 minutes we pulled up and I followed the other kids into the building. I was definitely sick, I could feel my stomach in my throat.
I read the banner above the door: WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!
“Good morning! My name is Mrs. Sweeterman! I am so glad you are here!” said the woman at the door. “Go find your cubby with your name and meet your new classmates.”
Mrs. Sweeterman seemed nice. My stomach was starting to feel a little better. I walked in and looked for the cubby with my name: ADLEY. There was another girl unpacking in the cubby next to mine. I looked at the name on her cubby: ALISON. Then I saw that Alison had the same backpack that I had. She looked up and smiled. “Hi!” she said. “My name is Alison but you can call me Ali. What’s your name?”
Maybe my mom was right. Maybe I wasn’t sick. My stomach felt much better. Maybe it was just jitters. Maybe I would like Kindergarten after all.
Who is telling the story?
Alison
Mrs. Sweeterman
Adley
Adley's mom
Adley
The narrator is the person telling the story. The story is being told by a girl on her first day of Kindergarten. We know the girl’s name is Adley because when she finds her cubby the name on the cubby says “ADLEY.”
Example Question #288 : Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts
First Day Jitters
I woke up feeling sick. I had knots in my stomach. When my mom came into my room to hurry me up I told her I was sick but she said I just had first day jitters. I threw the covers back over my head.
I finally decided to get up. I brushed my teeth, put on my new dress and walked downstairs. I told my mom over and over again at breakfast that I was sick, but she told me it was just first day jitters. “You will have a great day!” she said.
“Grab your backpack and hurry to the bus stop before you miss your bus,” mom yelled.
I sulked out the door and made it on the bus just before the doors closed. I would have been okay if I had missed my bus.
After 20 minutes we pulled up and I followed the other kids into the building. I was definitely sick, I could feel my stomach in my throat.
I read the banner above the door: WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!
“Good morning! My name is Mrs. Sweeterman! I am so glad you are here!” said the woman at the door. “Go find your cubby with your name and meet your new classmates.”
Mrs. Sweeterman seemed nice. My stomach was starting to feel a little better. I walked in and looked for the cubby with my name: ADLEY. There was another girl unpacking in the cubby next to mine. I looked at the name on her cubby: ALISON. Then I saw that Alison had the same backpack that I had. She looked up and smiled. “Hi!” she said. “My name is Alison but you can call me Ali. What’s your name?”
Maybe my mom was right. Maybe I wasn’t sick. My stomach felt much better. Maybe it was just jitters. Maybe I would like Kindergarten after all.
Who said “Good morning! I am so glad you are here!”?
The narrator
Alison
Mrs. Sweeterman
Adley
Mrs. Sweeterman
Mrs. Sweeterman is the teacher. When Adley gets to the door the banner says “WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN” and the woman standing at the door says “Good morning. My Name is Mrs. Sweeterman. I am so glad you are here!”
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All Common Core: 1st Grade English Language Arts Resources
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