Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts : Understand Unknown Vocabulary

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources

2 Diagnostic Tests 51 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Craft And Structure

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 does "bloom" mean? 

Possible Answers:

To live

To have flower petals 

To die

To eat

Correct answer:

To have flower petals 

Explanation:

To help us answer this question, we need to think about what we know about flowers. 

They start as a seed. They have a stem and leaves. But what makes flowers pretty and colorful? Their flower petals. 

The text says, "Then, a flower will start to bloom" This is the final step to grow a flower, and the petals are the final thing to show on a flower. The best answer, is "To have flower petals". 

Example Question #1 : Craft And Structure

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.

What is wool? 

Possible Answers:

A bag

A house on a lane

Hair from a sheep

A house

Correct answer:

Hair from a sheep

Explanation:

Wool is hair from a sheep. We can infer this from the poem because the man is asking the sheep for the wool. Based on our other answer choices, "Hair from a sheep" makes the most sense. Wool is not a bag or a house. A bag is something you carry full of things and a house is something we live in. 

Example Question #2 : Craft And Structure

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 the title?

Possible Answers:

Baby Animals

Babies

Animals and Their Babies

Animal Babies

Correct answer:

Baby Animals

Explanation:

The title is the heading of a text.

Example Question #3 : Understand Unknown Vocabulary

Which word does not belong?

Which word does NOT belong?

Possible Answers:

calf

lamb

cow

foal

Correct answer:

cow

Explanation:

Cow is the adult animal name. The other words are baby animals.

Example Question #3 : Craft And Structure

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.

The letter “a” can make a short or long sound. The short “a” sound is used in the word apple, hat, and dad. Which word from the passage also makes the short a sound?

Possible Answers:

bear

cat

foal

baby

Correct answer:

cat

Explanation:

The “a” in cat makes the short a sound. In the words “baby” and “bear” the a makes the long a sound. In the word “foal” the a is silent.

Example Question #4 : Craft And Structure

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.

 

Which word does not belong?

Possible Answers:

Hand

Beak

Wings

Feathers

Correct answer:

Hand

Explanation:

 Beak, feathers and wings all describe parts of birds. Hand does not describe a part of birds.

Example Question #5 : Craft And Structure

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.

Based on the passage, which word does NOT below? 

Possible Answers:

Slide

Walk

Fly

Swim

Correct answer:

Fly

Explanation:

 Walk, slide and swim are all ways penguins move. Penguins do not fly.

Example Question #6 : Craft And Structure

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.

Which word does not belong?

Possible Answers:

Blue

Black

White

Purple

Correct answer:

Purple

Explanation:

 Black, White and Blue are all colors of penguins. Penguins are not purple.

Example Question #8 : Craft And Structure

Animals That Swim

 

Many different animals can swim.

Fish can swim. Fish use their tails and fins to help them swim.

Ducks can swim. Ducks use their webbed feet to help them swim.

Penguins can swim. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.

Turtles can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.

Sharks can swim. They use their tails and fins to help them swim.

Otters can swim. They use their feet and tails to help them swim.

Bears can swim. They use their paws to help them swim.

Seals can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.

Snakes can swim. They use their bodies to help them swim.

Frogs can swim. They use their feet to help them swim.

 

What category would you put the words feet, fins, flippers, wings, and paws in?

Possible Answers:

Body parts animals use to swim

Body parts animals use to walk

Body parts animals use to hide

Body parts animals use to eat

Correct answer:

Body parts animals use to swim

Explanation:

According to the text, feet, fins, flippers, wings and paws are all body parts that animals use to swim. Frogs, otters and ducks use their feet to swim. Fish and sharks use their fins to swim. Seals and turtles use their flippers to swim. Penguins use their wings to swim. Bears use their paws to swim.

Example Question #7 : Craft And Structure

Animals That Swim

 

Many different animals can swim.

Fish can swim. Fish use their tails and fins to help them swim.

Ducks can swim. Ducks use their webbed feet to help them swim.

Penguins can swim. Penguins use their wings to help them swim.

Turtles can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.

Sharks can swim. They use their tails and fins to help them swim.

Otters can swim. They use their feet and tails to help them swim.

Bears can swim. They use their paws to help them swim.

Seals can swim. They use their flippers to help them swim.

Snakes can swim. They use their bodies to help them swim.

Frogs can swim. They use their feet to help them swim.

The “i” in the word “fin” makes the short “i” sound. The short “i” sound is also used in the words big, hit, and tip. Which of the words from the passage below also make the short “i” sound?

Possible Answers:

Tail

Fish

Their

Can

Correct answer:

Fish

Explanation:

 The “i” in fish makes the short sound. In their and tail, the “i” does not make the long or short sound. There is no “i” in can.

All Common Core: Kindergarten English Language Arts Resources

2 Diagnostic Tests 51 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors