Common Core: 2nd Grade English Language Arts : Identify Key Details
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 2nd Grade English Language Arts
All Common Core: 2nd Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identify Key Details
The Big Game
Max plays on a summer baseball team. The team’s name is The Dragons and the team wears bright green jerseys to each of their games. So far this season, The Dragons have won every game that they have played. They have one game left, the championship game. The winner of the championship game gets a giant trophy and a big pizza party after the game.
On the morning of the championship game Max woke up early, too excited to sleep! From his room he could smell bacon and pancakes, so he rushed to the kitchen. His mom had woken up early and cooked a breakfast for a champion! After his belly was full and he had put on his bright green uniform, Max and his family drove to the ballpark for his final baseball game.
The game started out slow, the score was still 
The final score of the game was 
What did Max do right before leaving for the game?
Took a shower
Put on his uniform
Brushed his teeth
Woke up
Put on his uniform
The answer to this question can be found in the story. In the second paragraph we are told that Max put on his uniform and then his family drove to the ballpark.
"On the morning of the championship game Max woke up early, too excited to sleep! From his room he could smell bacon and pancakes, so he rushed to the kitchen. His mom had woken up early and cooked a breakfast for a champion! After his belly was full and he had put on his bright green uniform, Max and his family drove to the ballpark for his final baseball game."
Example Question #1 : Identify Key Details
Passage 1
Adapted from Little Cinderella (1858)
It happened that the king's son sent invitations to a ball, which was to last two nights, and to which all the great people of the land were invited, the two sisters among the rest. This delighted them extremely, and their thoughts were entirely occupied in selecting their most becoming dresses for the important occasion. Poor Cinderella had now more work to do than ever, as it was her business to iron their linen, and starch their ruffles. The sisters talked of nothing but preparations for the ball. The eldest said, “I shall wear my crimson-velvet dress, and point-lace;” and the younger, “I shall put on my usual dress-petticoat, a mantle embroidered with gold flowers, and a tiara of diamonds.“
They sent to engage the services of the most fashionable hairdresser. They also called Cinderella to their aid; for she had very good taste, and she offered, in the most amiable manner, to arrange their heads herself; of which offer they were only too happy to avail themselves. Whilst so occupied, the eldest said, “Cinderella, should you like to go to the ball?”
“Alas!” said she, “you are ridiculing me. I am not likely to go to the ball.”
“You are right,” replied the sister; “people would be amused to see a Cinderella there.”
Passage 2
Adapted from Cinderella by Henry W. Hewet (1855)
It happened that the king's son gave a ball, to which he invited all the nobility; and, as our two young ladies made a great figure in the world, they were included in the list of invitations. So they began to be very busy choosing what head-dress and which gown would be the most becoming. Here was fresh work for poor Cinderella: for it was she, forsooth, who was to starch and get up their ruffles, and iron all their fine linen; and nothing but dress was talked about for days together. "I," said the eldest, "shall put on my red velvet dress, with my point-lace trimmings." "And I," said the younger sister, "shall wear my usual petticoat, but shall set it off with my gold brocaded train and my circlet of diamonds."
They sent for a clever tire-woman to prepare the double rows of quilling for their caps, and they purchased a quantity of fashionably cut patches. They called in Cinderella to take her advice, as she had such good taste, and Cinderella not only advised them well, but offered to dress their hair, which they were pleased to accept. While she was thus busied, the sisters said to her: "And pray, Cinderella, would you like to go to the ball?"
"Nay, you are mocking me," replied the poor girl; "it is not for such as I to go to balls." "True enough," rejoined they; "folks would laugh to see a Cinderella at a court ball."
Why did the sisters ask Cinderella to help them get ready for the ball?
She had nothing else to do
They wanted to wear her jewelry
They wanted to wear her clothes
She had good taste
She had good taste
The sisters asked Cinderella for help getting ready for the ball because she had good taste. This answer can be found in either passage.
Passage 1:
"They also called Cinderella to their aid; for she had very good taste, and she offered, in the most amiable manner, to arrange their heads herself; of which offer they were only too happy to avail themselves. Whilst so occupied, the eldest said, “Cinderella, should you like to go to the ball?”
Passage 2:
"They called in Cinderella to take her advice, as she had such good taste, and Cinderella not only advised them well, but offered to dress their hair, which they were pleased to accept. While she was thus busied, the sisters said to her: "And pray, Cinderella, would you like to go to the ball?"
Example Question #3 : Identify Key Details
The Big Game
Max plays on a summer baseball team. The team’s name is The Dragons and the team wears bright green jerseys to each of their games. So far this season, The Dragons have won every game that they have played. They have one game left, the championship game. The winner of the championship game gets a giant trophy and a big pizza party after the game.
On the morning of the championship game Max woke up early, too excited to sleep! From his room he could smell bacon and pancakes, so he rushed to the kitchen. His mom had woken up early and cooked a breakfast for a champion! After his belly was full and he had put on his bright green uniform, Max and his family drove to the ballpark for his final baseball game.
The game started out slow, the score was still 
The final score of the game was 
What did Max's mom make for breakfast?
Both pancakes and toast
Both pancakes and bacon
Bacon
Pancakes
Both pancakes and bacon
The answer to this question can be found in the story. We are told in the second paragraph that Max could smell bacon and pancakes, so we can assume that is what his mom cooked for breakfast.
"On the morning of the championship game Max woke up early, too excited to sleep! From his room he could smell bacon and pancakes, so he rushed to the kitchen. His mom had woken up early and cooked a breakfast for a champion! After his belly was full and he had put on his bright green uniform, Max and his family drove to the ballpark for his final baseball game."
Example Question #3 : Identify Key Details
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 are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.
Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.
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 the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Just like the rest of its body, an elephant has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
According to the text, why does an elephant have pads on the bottom of its feet?
To help protect it from the hot ground
To help it stomp on branches
To help it fight off predators
To help it walk quietly
To help it walk quietly
The text says “Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to help them walk quietly.”
Example Question #4 : Identify Key Details
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 are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.
Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.
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 the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Just like the rest of its body, an elephant has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
According to the text, how does an elephant stay cool when it is hot?
It covers itself in mud and dirt
It sleeps in the shade of large trees
It sprays water on itself with its trunk
It flaps its ears
It flaps its ears
The text says “Elephants use their ears to stay cool on hot days. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.”
Example Question #5 : Identify Key Details
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 are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.
Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.
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 the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Just like the rest of its body, an elephant has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
According to the text, how does an elephant protect itself from predators?
It uses its long trunk to fight predators
It walks away quietly so predators do not hear it
It makes a loud horn noise to scare predators away
It covers itself in mud and dirt to hide from predators
It makes a loud horn noise to scare predators away
The text says “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.”
Example Question #4 : Identify Key Details
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 are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Elephants eat fruit, leaves and grass. Adult elephants eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.
Elephants suck up water in their trunks and spray it onto themselves to stay clean. They also use their trunks as snorkels to help them breathe when they are swimming or in deep water.
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 the largest ears of any animal. Elephants use their ears to hear, stay cool, and show feelings. Elephants flap their ears to cool off and keep insects away.
Wrinkled Skin
Elephants have wrinkled skin. Their skin looks rough and tough but it is very sensitive. Elephants cover their skin in mud and dirt to protect themselves from getting a sunburn and bug bites.
Feet
Just like the rest of its body, an elephant has very large feet. Elephants have pads on the bottom of their feet to protect them and help them walk quietly.
What has a long trunk, two big tusks, big ears and wrinkled skin? It’s an African elephant!
Which two features help an elephant stay safe and protected from predators?
Trunk and tusks
Tusks and Ears
Skin and Ears
Trunk and Feet
Trunk and tusks
An elephant’s trunk helps it stay safe because it uses its trunk to make a loud sound to scare off predators and warn of danger. An elephant’s tusks help it stay safe because it uses its tusks to fight predators and enemies.
Example Question #3 : Identify Key Details
Dogs at Work
Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?
Therapy Dogs
Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.
Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.
Service Dogs
Some dogs have jobs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are called service dogs. Many people who cannot see or hear have service dogs. Service dogs are trained to help their owners in their everyday lives. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run into something.
Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.
Search-and-Rescue Dogs
Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.
Detection Dogs
Some dogs, like search-and-rescue dogs, use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost. Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.
Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.
Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!
Dogs that help keep people who are sick are called _______
search-and-rescue dogs.
therapy dogs.
detection dogs.
hospital dogs.
therapy dogs.
The text says “Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick.”
Example Question #8 : Identify Key Details
Dogs at Work
Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?
Therapy Dogs
Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.
Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.
Service Dogs
Some dogs have jobs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are called service dogs. Many people who cannot see or hear have service dogs. Service dogs are trained to help their owners in their everyday lives. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run into something.
Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.
Search-and-Rescue Dogs
Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.
Detection Dogs
Some dogs, like search-and-rescue dogs, use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost. Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.
Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.
Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!
What do detection dogs help find?
People who are sick
People who break the law
People who cannot see well
People who are trapped
People who break the law
The text states “Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.” Therapy dogs help people who are sick, Service dogs help people who cannot see, Search-and-Rescue dogs help people who are trapped.
Example Question #5 : Identify Key Details
Dogs at Work
Many people have dogs. Dogs are good friends. They love to play and cuddle. Dogs will keep you company and make you feel better. Dogs will keep you safe and protect you from danger. Dogs are smart. They know their names and can learn cool tricks. Dogs are great pets. But did you know, many dogs have important jobs?
Therapy Dogs
Many dogs work to help people feel better. These dogs are called therapy dogs. Many therapy dogs work in hospitals to keep people happy and comfort people who are sick. Dogs make people feel happy and calm, which can help someone feel better when they are ill.
Some therapy dogs work with kids in schools. Kids can read to dogs and practice their skills to become better readers.
Service Dogs
Some dogs have jobs to help people with disabilities. These dogs are called service dogs. Many people who cannot see or hear have service dogs. Service dogs are trained to help their owners in their everyday lives. Service dogs can help people who cannot see by telling them when it is safe to cross the street and leading their owners so they do not trip or run into something.
Other service dogs help people who have illnesses. These service dogs are trained to sense when their owner is going to get sick and warn their owner to take medicine or call for help.
Search-and-Rescue Dogs
Search-and-rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped. Dogs have a very good sense of smell – much better than humans. Search-and-rescue dogs use their senses to help locate missing people or people who are trapped in caves or fallen buildings.
Detection Dogs
Some dogs, like search-and-rescue dogs, use their sense of smell to help find people who are lost. Other dogs use their sense of smell to find things that are hidden. These dogs are called detection dogs.
Detection dogs can help police find people who have broken the law and are hiding. Detection dogs can also help find explosives or bombs before they can cause damage.
Dogs are great pets. They are smart, friendly and good companions. Dogs also work hard and help us in many ways. It’s a good thing there are dogs!
What do search-and-rescue dogs help find?
People who cannot see well
People who break the law
People who are missing
People who are sick
People who are missing
The text states “Search-and-Rescue dogs help find people who are lost or trapped.” Therapy dogs help people who are sick, Service dogs help people who cannot see, Detection dogs help people who break the law and are hiding.
All Common Core: 2nd Grade English Language Arts Resources
