Problem Solving
Story:
Liam forgot to charge his tablet before school and it died during reading group.
Question:
What should Liam do next?
A. Yell at the teacher
B. Ask to borrow a classmate’s tablet
C. Ask the teacher for paper instead
D. Go home
Answer:
C. Ask the teacher for paper instead
Clues: Yelling or leaving is inappropriate. Borrowing may not be allowed. Asking for an alternative is calm and flexible problem-solving.
Story:
Emma slipped on the wet floor and dropped her books. A classmate helped her pick them up.
Question:
What caused Emma to drop her books? (Look for a cause-effect clue)
A. She was running
B. The floor was wet
C. She tripped over her classmate
D. She forgot her homework
Answer: B. The floor was wet
Story:
Oliver took out his telescope and pointed it at the sky. He loved looking at the stars and planets, especially when the moon was full. Tonight, he was hoping to see Mars, which was supposed to be bright and easy to spot. He adjusted the lens and waited patiently.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Oliver is cleaning his telescope
B. Oliver enjoys stargazing
C. Oliver is scared of the dark
D. Oliver is waiting for his friend
Answer:
B. Oliver enjoys stargazing
Clues: The passage says he "loved looking at the stars and planets," and that he was hoping to see Mars and “waited patiently.” These details show that stargazing is something he enjoys, not just something he’s doing once.
Story:
Emma raised her hand during reading group. She had practiced the paragraph at home and felt ready to read. But the teacher called on someone else. Emma lowered her hand and looked down at her desk.
Question:
What is Emma most likely thinking?
A. “I’m upset I didn’t get picked.”
B. “I hope it rains today.”
C. “This book is too easy.”
D. “I don’t like reading out loud.”
Answer:
A. “I’m upset I didn’t get picked.”
Clues: She practiced, wanted to read, and looked down after being skipped — classic signs of disappointment.
Question:
Which word best describes both a rabbit and a squirrel? (Think of category: type of animal)
A. Reptile
B. Insect
C. Mammal
D. Bird
Answer: C. Mammal
Story:
Amira spilled water on the table and her group’s math worksheets got wet.
Question:
What’s the best way to solve the problem?
A. Blame someone else
B. Ask the teacher for new copies and apologize
C. Walk away
D. Yell at her classmates
Answer:
B. Ask the teacher for new copies and apologize
Clues: Taking responsibility and fixing the damage is the expected response.
Story:
Marcus packed a sandwich, a water bottle, and his soccer cleats. Then he left for practice.
Question:
What is Marcus probably going to do? (Use item clues)
A. Go swimming
B. Go on a field trip
C. Go to soccer practice
D. Go to music class
Answer: C. Go to soccer practice
Story:
Each morning, Mia feeds her parrot, Cleo, before going to school. After school, she changes Cleo’s water, cleans the cage, and talks to her while doing homework. On weekends, she plays music, and Cleo dances along. Mia says Cleo is the smartest, funniest bird she’s ever met.
Question:
What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Mia enjoys dancing with her parrot
B. Cleo is a loud bird
C. Mia takes good care of her parrot and enjoys spending time with her
D. Parrots make good pets for everyone
Answer:
C. Mia takes good care of her parrot and enjoys spending time with her
Clues: The text shows that Mia regularly feeds, cleans, plays music for, and talks to Cleo. The last sentence shows her affection: “the smartest, funniest bird she’s ever met.” This is both about care and connection.
Story:
Jamal’s friend is sitting alone at lunch with his head down.
Question:
What might Jamal’s friend be thinking?
A. “I’m feeling left out.”
B. “I want to go swimming.”
C. “I’m so excited!”
D. “This is the best lunch ever.”
Answer:
A. “I’m feeling left out.”
Clues: Sitting alone with head down indicates sadness or exclusion.
Question:
Which item is used for measuring? (Think about function)
A. Ruler
B. Marker
C. Eraser
D. Glue stick
Answer: A. Ruler
Story:
During art class, Eli took the last red marker. Jada asked to use it, but he said no. Later, Jada told the teacher, and Eli was told to share.
Question:
What was the problem, and what could Eli have done differently?
Answer:
Problem: Eli didn’t share supplies fairly.
Solution: He could have taken turns or used a different marker and let Jada go next.
Clues: The teacher’s intervention and Jada’s request show that sharing was expected.
Story:
Jada forgot her lunch, so the teacher let her call home. Later, her dad dropped it off.
Question:
What happened after Jada called home? (Look at sequence of events)
A. She ate lunch from the cafeteria
B. Her dad brought her lunch
C. Her mom took her home
D. She skipped lunch
Answer: B. Her dad brought her lunch
Story:
Ever since she got her camera for her birthday, Amira had become fascinated by wildlife photography. She spent her afternoons in the park, quietly waiting behind trees to snap pictures of birds, squirrels, or even raccoons. She studied how animals moved and read about their behaviors. Her photo journal was filling up quickly, and she started dreaming about one day working for a nature magazine.
Question:
What does the word “fascinated” most likely mean?
Answer:
It means extremely interested or deeply curious about something.
Clues: Amira goes out every day, hides behind trees, studies animal behavior, and dreams of making it a career. Her actions show a strong passion — she’s not just “interested,” she’s captivated — that’s what “fascinated” means.
Story:
During a group project, Olivia kept trying to share ideas, but everyone ignored her. She crossed her arms and stopped talking.
Question:
What do you think Olivia is thinking or feeling?
Answer:
She likely feels frustrated, ignored, or unimportant.
Clues: Being talked over, crossing arms, and going silent show withdrawal and emotional hurt.
Question:
Which sentence best compares a lion and a house cat? (Look for size or behavior comparison)
A. Lions live in cages, and cats live in trees.
B. Lions and cats both have fur, but lions are much bigger.
C. Cats are dangerous, but lions are not.
D. Cats bark, and lions roar.
Answer: B. Lions and cats both have fur, but lions are much bigger.
Story:
Maya and her friend were playing a game when Maya lost and threw the pieces. Her friend looked upset and walked away.
Question:
What was the problem, and how should Maya fix it?
Answer:
Problem: Maya overreacted when she lost and made her friend upset.
Solution: She should apologize, calm down, and say, “Can we try again?”
Clues: Friend walking away signals hurt feelings; throwing game pieces shows poor emotional regulation.
Story:
Omar stayed up too late watching TV. The next morning, he was tired and missed the bus.
Question:
Why did Omar miss the bus? (Think about cause and effect)
A. He forgot to set an alarm
B. He stayed up too late
C. The bus came early
D. He got sick overnight
Answer: B. He stayed up too late
Story:
Nadia was known for being meticulous. Whether she was organizing her school binder or decorating a birthday card, she always paid close attention to every detail. Her pencil case was color-coded, and each assignment she turned in looked like it had been printed — even though it was handwritten. One afternoon, her teacher asked her to help arrange the classroom bookshelf. Nadia alphabetized the books, wiped the shelves, and even created labels for each genre. Her classmates stared, impressed.
Question:
What does “meticulous” mean in this passage?
Answer:
It means being extremely careful and detail-oriented.
Clues: Nadia color-codes her supplies, her handwriting is neat, she alphabetizes books, and creates labeled categories. These are all signs of someone who takes time to make sure everything is precise and organized — that’s what being meticulous means.
Story:
Isaac studied all week for his presentation. When he got up to speak, two classmates in the front row started laughing and whispering. Isaac looked down and rushed through his slides.
Question:
What was Isaac probably thinking?
Answer:
He might be thinking, “They’re laughing at me,” or “I’m not doing well.”
Clues: His rushing, lowered gaze, and the timing of their behavior suggest embarrassment or anxiety.
Question:
Which sentence describes something by category, size, and color?
A. The ball is rolling.
B. It is on the floor.
C. The round object is a large red beach ball.
D. The toy is mine.
Answer: C. The round object is a large red beach ball.
Story:
Corey was asked to work in a group with two students he didn’t like. During the task, he ignored them and did the work alone. At the end, the group got a low grade, and the teacher asked what happened.
Question:
What is the social problem, and what could Corey have done differently?
Answer:
Problem: Corey didn’t collaborate, which affected group performance.
Solution: He could have used respectful teamwork, spoken to the teacher privately if needed, or found a way to divide the task fairly.
Clues: “Group grade,” “ignored them,” and “teacher asked what happened” all show that lack of cooperation caused a consequence.
Story:
After reading the story, Ava knew the girl was upset because her dog ran away. She noticed the girl had tears and wouldn’t speak.
Question:
How did Ava know the girl was upset? (Look for clues Ava used to infer feelings)
A. The girl was smiling
B. The girl had tears and was quiet
C. Ava heard someone say it
D. The dog barked at her
Answer: B. The girl had tears and was quiet
Story:
The cafeteria was louder than usual, buzzing with students holding colorful posters. It was election day for the student council. Omar, one of the candidates for president, stood near the door shaking hands and thanking people for voting. He had spent the past two weeks hanging flyers, rehearsing speeches, and listening to what students wanted to change about the school. One student asked about longer lunch periods, while another brought up the idea of after-school clubs. Omar took notes after every conversation. Though he was nervous, he knew he had done his best. Win or lose, he felt proud that he ran for something he believed in and tried to represent others.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
Answer:
Omar worked hard to run for student council president and felt proud that he tried to make a difference for others.
Clues: He hung flyers, rehearsed speeches, listened to peers’ concerns, and reflected that “win or lose,” he was proud to stand for something he believed in. The story isn’t just about running — it’s about leadership, effort, and purpose.
Story:
Taylor made a birthday card for her classmate Max. When she gave it to him, Max smiled politely but didn’t say much and tucked it into his desk.
Question:
What might Max be thinking, and how might Taylor feel in response?
Answer:
Max: Might be shy, unsure how to respond, or didn’t like the attention.
Taylor: Might feel confused, disappointed, or unsure if Max liked it.
Clues: Max’s quiet reaction and Taylor’s kind gesture create a mismatch — interpreting both sides builds empathy.
Question:
Which of the following is the best way to categorize these: fork, spoon, knife? (Think: what do they have in common?)
A. They’re all sharp.
B. They’re all silver.
C. They’re all used for cooking.
D. They’re all eating utensils.
Answer: D. They’re all eating utensils.