Daily Reading Practice

Day 3 of 10
Grade 3 ELA | Character Development | Part A/Part B Format
FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.1.1 - Explain how one or more characters develop throughout the plot in a literary text.
IXL Skills: Describe characters using text evidence; Analyze character traits
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Directions: Read the passage below carefully. Then answer the questions that follow. Pay close attention to how the main character changes from the beginning to the end of the story.
Maya's Garden

Maya stomped into the backyard and crossed her arms. "I don't want to plant a garden!" she complained to her grandmother. "It's too hot outside, and I'll get dirt under my fingernails."

Grandmother smiled softly. "Just try it for one afternoon. If you still don't like it, you can stop."

Maya frowned but picked up a small shovel. She dug a hole and dropped in some tiny seeds. "This is boring," she muttered. But Grandmother showed her how to pat the soil gently, like tucking the seeds into bed.

Every day for two weeks, Maya watered her seeds. At first, she rushed through it. But slowly, she started to notice things: a tiny green sprout pushing through the dirt, a ladybug resting on a leaf, the way the morning sun made the dew sparkle.

"Grandmother, look!" Maya shouted one morning. Her tomato plant had a small yellow flower. Maya couldn't stop smiling.

By summer's end, Maya had her own basket of bright red tomatoes. "Can we plant even more next year?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Questions 1-2: Character Development
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
How does Maya CHANGE from the beginning to the end of the story?
A
She goes from being helpful to being lazy.
B
She goes from being excited to being bored.
C
She goes from being unhappy about gardening to loving it.
D
She goes from being scared to being brave.
Part B
Which detail from the story BEST shows how Maya feels at the end?
A
"Maya stomped into the backyard and crossed her arms."
B
"'Can we plant even more next year?' she asked, her eyes shining with excitement."
C
"'This is boring,' she muttered."
D
"Maya frowned but picked up a small shovel."
Practice this skill on IXL: Describe characters using text evidence
Questions 3-4: Character Motivation
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
What causes Maya to start enjoying the garden?
A
Her grandmother gives her a reward for helping.
B
The weather becomes cooler and more comfortable.
C
Her friends come over to help her plant seeds.
D
She begins to notice beautiful things growing in the garden.
Part B
Which sentence from the story BEST supports your answer in Part A?
A
"But slowly, she started to notice things: a tiny green sprout pushing through the dirt, a ladybug resting on a leaf."
B
"Just try it for one afternoon."
C
"She dug a hole and dropped in some tiny seeds."
D
"Every day for two weeks, Maya watered her seeds."
Practice this skill on IXL: Analyze character motivations
FAST Success Kit | Grade 3 Daily Reading Practice | Day 3
FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.3.R.1.1 | Lexile: 530L-650L
Practice questions mirror Florida FAST assessment Part A/Part B format
Back to Daily Reading
← Previous: Day 2 - Central Idea Next: Day 4 - Point of View →

Answer Key (Teacher Reference)

Question 1 Part A: C - She goes from being unhappy about gardening to loving it.
Maya starts by complaining and ends by asking to plant more next year.
Question 1 Part B: B - "'Can we plant even more next year?' she asked, her eyes shining with excitement."
This quote shows Maya's enthusiasm and love for gardening at the end of the story.
Question 2 Part A: D - She begins to notice beautiful things growing in the garden.
The story shows Maya's attitude changing as she observes nature in the garden.
Question 2 Part B: A - "But slowly, she started to notice things: a tiny green sprout pushing through the dirt, a ladybug resting on a leaf."
This sentence describes the moment Maya begins to appreciate the garden.