Recalling Story Details
Story:
Carlos went to the zoo with his class. He saw a lion, a zebra, and a monkey swinging on a tree.
Question:
What animal did Carlos see last? (Check story order)
A. Zebra
B. Monkey
C. Lion
D. Tiger
Answer:
B. Monkey
Proof: The story says the monkey was swinging “last” after the lion and zebra were mentioned.
Story:
Jordan spilled his water bottle on his desk. He used paper towels to clean it up, and the teacher helped him dry his notebook.
Question:
How big is this problem? (Look at how long it lasted and who had to help)
A. Small
B. Medium
C. Big
Answer:
A. Small
Proof: The problem was short, easy to fix, and no one got hurt. Jordan and the teacher handled it quickly.
Story:
Lena carefully balanced the glass vase in her hands. “Be careful — it’s fragile,” her mom warned. Lena nodded and slowly placed it on the shelf beside the other decorations.
Question:
What does “fragile” most likely mean?
A. Colorful
B. Expensive
C. Breakable
D. Empty
Answer:
C. Breakable
Clues: The sentence says Lena had to “carefully balance” the vase and was told to “be careful.” This shows that the object could break easily — that’s what “fragile” means.
Mini Essay:
My favorite holiday is Halloween. I love picking out a costume and decorating the front porch with pumpkins. My sister and I usually go trick-or-treating together. We trade candy when we get home and laugh about the best costumes we saw.
Question:
Which sentence is the topic sentence?
A. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
B. We trade candy when we get home.
C. My sister and I usually go trick-or-treating.
D. I love picking out a costume.
Answer:
A. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
Clues: This sentence introduces the whole idea — what the paragraph is about. The rest of the paragraph gives supporting examples of why the author loves Halloween.
Story:
Carla packed her lunch, grabbed her backpack, and put on her coat. She waved goodbye to her brother and stepped outside. The school bus had just pulled up in front of her house. She climbed aboard and took her usual seat by the window.
Question:
What did Carla do right before getting on the bus?
A. She said goodbye to her teacher
B. She grabbed her lunch
C. She put on her coat and waved goodbye to her brother
D. She looked out the window
Answer:
C. She put on her coat and waved goodbye to her brother
Clues: The sequence clearly says she did those things right before the bus “pulled up” and she “climbed aboard.”
Story:
Samantha tripped while walking to class and dropped all her pencils. A student helped her pick them up and smiled.
Question:
What caused Samantha to drop her pencils? (Look for the action that came before it)
A. She was tired
B. She tripped
C. She ran
D. She dropped her notebook
Answer:
B. She tripped
Proof: The phrase “Samantha tripped… and dropped her pencils” clearly shows cause and effect.
Story:
Leah forgot her project at home and started to cry. The teacher said she could bring it tomorrow, but Leah still felt upset.
Question:
What is the best response to this problem? (Consider the teacher’s reaction)
A. Yell and cry more
B. Ask to restart the project
C. Calm down and bring it tomorrow
D. Leave the classroom
Answer:
C. Calm down and bring it tomorrow
Proof: The teacher gave her a solution. Accepting help and staying calm shows flexibility and problem solving.
Story:
After weeks of practice, Mateo finally nailed his guitar solo in front of the entire class. He felt a rush of pride and stood with a confident smile on his face as the room applauded.
Question:
What does “confident” most likely mean?
A. Nervous
B. Proud and sure
C. Bored
D. Quiet
Answer:
B. Proud and sure
Clues: Mateo “nailed his guitar solo” and “stood with a confident smile” while people clapped. He clearly feels proud and self-assured — that’s confidence.
Mini Essay:
Playing team sports is good for kids. First, sports help build strong muscles and healthy habits. But even more importantly, they teach cooperation and communication. When players work together, they learn how to support each other and solve problems as a group. These are skills that kids will use in school, at work, and in life.
Question:
Which sentence is the concluding sentence?
A. First, sports help build strong muscles.
B. These are skills that kids will use in school, at work, and in life.
C. When players work together, they learn how to support each other.
D. Playing team sports is good for kids.
Answer:
B. These are skills that kids will use in school, at work, and in life.
Clues: This sentence wraps up the paragraph by restating the benefit of sports — not just physical health, but life-long skills. It summarizes and connects back to the topic sentence.
Story:
After dinner, Leo washed the dishes while his sister dried them. Then, they both helped their dad take out the trash. When everything was clean, they sat down together to watch a movie. Leo picked the movie and made popcorn for everyone.
Question:
What happened after Leo and his sister dried the dishes?
A. They watched a movie
B. They helped take out the trash
C. They made popcorn
D. They went to sleep
Answer:
B. They helped take out the trash
Clues: First they did the dishes, then helped with the trash. Watching the movie and popcorn came later.
Story:
Jalen was excited to show his science project. First, he explained his poster. Then, he did a demonstration with baking soda and vinegar. His classmates clapped.
Question:
What did Jalen do first? (Look for sequencing words)
A. He did the demonstration
B. He explained his poster
C. He got nervous
D. He answered questions
Answer:
B. He explained his poster
Proof: The sentence uses “First” to show order.
Story:
Tyson pushed his classmate during recess because he thought they were laughing at him. The classmate fell and got hurt.
Question:
Was this behavior appropriate or inappropriate? (Think about how Tyson responded to a social situation)
A. Appropriate
B. Inappropriate
C. Helpful
D. Confused
Answer:
B. Inappropriate
Proof: Pushing is a physical reaction and hurt someone. Even if Tyson felt upset, there were safer, more respectful ways to respond.
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.
Mini Essay:
Walking to school has its benefits. First, it gives me time to wake up before the day starts. I also get to talk with my friends on the way, which makes the morning more fun. On nice days, I enjoy seeing the flowers, hearing birds, and feeling the fresh air. It may take longer than riding the bus, but I feel more energized by the time I arrive at school.
Question:
What is the main idea of this paragraph?
Answer:
Walking to school is beneficial because it helps the writer wake up, enjoy nature, and spend time with friends.
Clues: The author gives three reasons for liking the walk: (1) waking up, (2) social time, (3) enjoying the outdoors. The topic sentence sets up this idea clearly, and the examples all support it.
Story:
Jacob woke up late and skipped breakfast. He threw on his clothes and sprinted out the door. Halfway to the bus stop, he realized he had left his math homework on the kitchen table. With only a minute to spare, he raced back home, grabbed the paper, and made it to the bus just as the doors were closing. He climbed in, breathing hard, but relieved.
Question:
What did Jacob do immediately after realizing he forgot his homework?
Answer:
He ran back home to get it.
Clues: The text says, “he realized he had left his math homework… With only a minute to spare, he raced back home…” That shows what he did right after realizing it was missing.
Story:
Tara spent her Saturday baking cookies with her grandmother. First, they gathered all the ingredients from the pantry. Tara measured the flour, sugar, and butter while her grandmother cracked the eggs. After mixing the dough, they added chocolate chips and placed spoonfuls on a tray. Tara carefully slid the tray into the oven and set a timer. When the cookies were done, she shared them with her family, who all smiled and asked for seconds.
Question:
List 3 important details from the story in the correct order. (Focus on action steps and outcome)
Answer:
Tara measured the ingredients while her grandmother cracked the eggs
They mixed the dough and baked the cookies
She shared them with her family after they were done
Proof: These steps show the key sequence from preparation to final outcome, reflecting both process and purpose.
Story:
Ali accidentally deleted his friend’s drawing on the class computer. His friend looked shocked and walked away without saying anything. Ali tried to act like nothing happened, but he felt bad. Later, the friend told the teacher what happened. The teacher asked Ali what he should do next and how he would fix it.
Question:
How big is the problem, and what would be an appropriate response? (Think about who was affected, and whether it can be fixed)
Answer:
Problem Size: Medium
Response: Ali should apologize, explain what happened, and ask the teacher if there’s a way to redo or recover the drawing.
Proof: The problem upset someone else, required teacher help, and affected classroom relationships — but it wasn’t dangerous or permanent.
Story:
When the team lost the championship game, Jordan felt crushed. But instead of blaming others, he took a deep breath and congratulated the winners. His coach put a hand on his shoulder and said, “That’s what it means to show grace in defeat.” Jordan nodded, even though it was hard not to feel disappointed. He knew that handling loss with maturity was just as important as winning.
Question:
What does the word “grace” mean in this context?
Answer:
It means showing kindness, dignity, or maturity, especially during a difficult moment.
Clues: Jordan didn’t blame others, congratulated the winners, and handled his loss calmly. The coach said this showed “grace in defeat,” meaning he acted respectfully and honorably even though he was upset.
Mini Essay:
Paragraph 1:
Video games can actually teach kids useful skills. Some games help players improve their memory, reflexes, and problem-solving abilities. In fact, many strategy games force players to think ahead and adjust their plans when the situation changes. One time, I had to lead a team through a puzzle game that required math and logic — and it took me days to solve it. Even though it was challenging, I stuck with it and felt proud when I finally figured it out.
Paragraph 2:
Besides building thinking skills, video games can also promote teamwork. Multiplayer games often require players to communicate clearly and divide tasks. For example, in one game, I had to work with three other players to protect a base. We had to agree on a strategy, assign roles, and support each other when problems came up. These kinds of games show that learning doesn’t always look like school — sometimes it looks like play.
Question:
What is the main idea across both paragraphs?
Answer:
Video games can help kids build useful skills like problem-solving and teamwork.
Clues:
Paragraph 1 focuses on mental skills like logic, memory, and persistence.
Paragraph 2 shows how video games also teach communication and cooperation.
Together, the essay argues that games are more than entertainment — they’re educational tools in disguise.
Story:
On Friday afternoon, Ana and her science group stayed after school to finish their volcano project. First, they added red food coloring to their baking soda mixture. Then, they built a paper-mâché mountain around the bottle to make it look realistic. After the glue dried, they painted the mountain brown with streaks of black and orange. Once everything was dry, they placed the project on a tray and carefully carried it to the classroom display table. Just before leaving, Ana tested the eruption and smiled when the foam bubbled over the top.
Question:
What was the last thing Ana did before leaving?
Answer:
She tested the volcano and watched it erupt.
Clues: The passage says “Just before leaving, Ana tested the eruption…” showing that this was the final action in the sequence before she left.
Story:
Noah’s teacher challenged the class with a tricky riddle at the end of the day. Everyone was quiet, trying to figure it out, but Noah approached it step by step. He copied the riddle into his notebook and underlined the key words. Then he listed what he knew and crossed off the options that didn’t make sense. While others started guessing out loud, Noah stayed focused and quietly reread the question. Finally, he raised his hand and explained his thinking in a clear voice. His classmates turned to look as the teacher smiled and said, “Exactly right!”
Question:
Name 4 details that show how Noah solved the riddle. (Focus on the steps he took and how he used reasoning)
Answer:
He wrote the riddle down and underlined key words
He listed what he knew
He eliminated incorrect options
He explained his answer clearly to the class
Proof: The passage emphasizes Noah’s logical steps, attention to detail, and his use of reasoning and self-control, which led to success.
Story:
During a group science experiment, Mason kept interrupting and taking control of the materials. His teammates asked him to stop several times, but he ignored them. When the teacher came by, Mason said the others “weren’t doing it right” and rolled his eyes. After the activity, one student told the teacher he didn’t want to work with Mason again. The teacher pulled Mason aside to talk about what happened and how the group felt.
Question:
Was Mason’s behavior appropriate or inappropriate, and what should he have done differently? (Think about respect, teamwork, and communication)
Answer:
Behavior: Inappropriate
Better Response: Mason should have listened to the group, shared the materials fairly, and used respectful words like “Let’s try it this way together.”
Proof: Ignoring others, eye-rolling, and blaming teammates broke classroom expectations for cooperation and respect.
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.
Mini Essay:
Paragraph 1:
Volunteering can change your life. When I first helped at the local food pantry, I didn’t know what to expect. But after a few shifts, I started noticing how grateful people were for even the smallest items. I met families who reminded me how lucky I was to have what I needed. It made me more aware of the struggles that others go through every day. Volunteering showed me how to think beyond myself.
Paragraph 2:
It also helped me grow as a person. I learned how to take responsibility, stay organized, and communicate better. I even became a team leader for the Saturday shift. Before volunteering, I didn’t see myself as someone who could lead, but helping others helped me see my own potential. Giving back didn’t just help the community — it helped me become more confident.
Question:
What are the two main ways volunteering helped the writer?
Answer:
Volunteering helped the writer (1) become more grateful and aware of others' struggles, and (2) grow personally by gaining leadership and confidence.
Clues:
Paragraph 1 focuses on empathy and awareness from interacting with people in need.
Paragraph 2 focuses on personal growth — responsibility, leadership, and confidence.
The conclusion makes the dual impact clear: it helped both others and themselves.
Story:
Darius spent all week planning his best friend’s surprise party. On Monday, he made a list of everyone to invite. On Tuesday, he texted the guests and picked up decorations. Wednesday, he ordered a custom cake and bought snacks. By Thursday, he had finished decorating his garage and hidden the presents. On Friday, he texted his friend to come over for “a regular hangout.” When the door opened and everyone yelled “surprise,” his friend froze, then burst into laughter. Later, they all played games, ate cake, and stayed up late watching movies.
Question:
What are the first three things Darius did to prepare for the party?
Answer:
Made a guest list (Monday)
Texted guests and got decorations (Tuesday)
Ordered cake and bought snacks (Wednesday)
Clues: The story lays out each day of the week and what he did on that day — this is a chronological structure that must be followed to sequence the actions correctly.