SBAC - Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium ELA Grade 3 Reading Literature 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a character's 'trait' describe?
- The place where the character lives
- A quality that describes what a character is like on the inside (Correct answer)
- The problem the character needs to solve
- The words a character says out loud
Correct answer: A quality that describes what a character is like on the inside
A character trait is an inside quality — like being kind, brave, or stubborn — that tells us what a character is really like.
Question 2: In a story, what is the 'plot'?
- The feeling a reader gets at the end of the story
- The place and time where the story takes place
- The series of events that happen from beginning to end (Correct answer)
- The lesson the author wants the reader to learn
Correct answer: The series of events that happen from beginning to end
The plot is the sequence of events in a story — everything that happens from start to finish, including the problem and how it is solved.
Question 3: Read this passage: 'Liam had practiced his speech every night for a week. When his name was called, he walked slowly to the front of the room and took a deep breath.' What is Liam most likely feeling?
- Bored and uninterested
- Nervous but prepared (Correct answer)
- Angry at his teacher
- Surprised by the assignment
Correct answer: Nervous but prepared
Liam practiced a lot, which shows he is prepared, but walking slowly and taking a deep breath are clues that he is also nervous.
Question 4: When a story is told using the words 'I,' 'me,' and 'my,' which point of view is being used?
- Third-person point of view
- Second-person point of view
- First-person point of view (Correct answer)
- Narrator's outside point of view
Correct answer: First-person point of view
First-person point of view uses words like 'I,' 'me,' and 'my' because the narrator is a character inside the story telling it from their own perspective.
Question 5: In a story, what is the 'conflict'?
- The first sentence of the story
- The main challenge or problem the character must face (Correct answer)
- The happy ending where the problem is solved
- The title that tells what the story is about
Correct answer: The main challenge or problem the character must face
The conflict is the main problem or challenge a character must deal with — it is what drives the story forward and keeps readers interested.
Question 6: How are fables different from other stories?
- Fables always take place in real cities and towns
- Fables are very long and have many characters
- Fables usually feature animal characters that talk and end with a lesson called a moral (Correct answer)
- Fables are always told from first-person point of view
Correct answer: Fables usually feature animal characters that talk and end with a lesson called a moral
Fables are a special type of short story that typically uses talking animals to teach a life lesson, called a moral, at the end.
SBAC - Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium ELA Grade 3 Reading Literature 1
What does a character's 'trait' describe?