FAST Practice Quiz

Character Analysis
Grade 4 Reading
FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.4.R.1.1
10 Questions
/10
Directions: Read each passage carefully. Then answer the questions about the characters. Use evidence from the text to support your answers.
The Tryouts

Kenji had dreamed of making the school basketball team for years. He practiced every day after school, shooting hoops until the sun went down. But on the day of tryouts, his hands were shaking so much he could barely dribble.

"You've got this," his older sister Yuki whispered from the bleachers. Kenji nodded, but doubt clouded his mind. What if all that practice wasn't enough?

During the scrimmage, Kenji missed his first three shots. His face burned with embarrassment. The other players were so much taller, so much faster. He wanted to give up and walk off the court.

Then he heard Yuki's voice: "Keep going, Kenji! You didn't practice all year to quit now!"

Something clicked inside him. Kenji took a deep breath and focused. On his next possession, he faked left, drove right, and sank a perfect layup. Then another. And another. By the end of tryouts, he had scored more points than anyone else.

When Coach posted the roster the next day, Kenji's name was at the top. "I almost gave up," he told Yuki. "Thanks for not letting me."

"You didn't need me," she said, ruffling his hair. "You just needed to remember how hard you've worked."

1
What character trait BEST describes Kenji throughout the passage?
A
Lazy - He wanted to quit during tryouts.
B
Determined - He practiced every day and didn't give up.
C
Arrogant - He thought he was better than everyone else.
D
Unfriendly - He didn't talk to the other players.
2
At the beginning of tryouts, Kenji's "hands were shaking." Is shaking a character TRAIT or a character FEELING? How do you know?
A
Trait, because Kenji is always nervous about everything.
B
Feeling, because it describes his emotion at that specific moment.
C
Trait, because shaking describes his personality.
D
Feeling, because it describes what he looks like.
3
Which detail BEST shows how Kenji changes during the tryouts?
A
"Kenji had dreamed of making the school basketball team for years."
B
"He wanted to give up and walk off the court."
C
"Kenji took a deep breath and focused... he had scored more points than anyone else."
D
"His older sister Yuki whispered from the bleachers."
4
What MOTIVATES Kenji to keep playing instead of quitting?
A
He wants to impress the taller players on the court.
B
His sister's encouragement and remembering all his hard work.
C
The coach promised him a spot on the team.
D
He was embarrassed about his missed shots.
The Rescue

Ava had never liked dogs. They were loud, messy, and unpredictable. When her neighbor's golden retriever, Biscuit, escaped through a hole in the fence, Ava was annoyed. Now she'd have to help look for him.

"I saw him run toward the creek!" shouted Mrs. Patterson, the worried owner. "But I'm too old to climb down there. Please, Ava, can you check?"

Ava hesitated. The creek bed was muddy and full of thorny bushes. Her new sneakers would be ruined. But when she saw the tears in Mrs. Patterson's eyes, she sighed and headed down the slope.

She found Biscuit stuck in a tangle of branches, whimpering softly. His paw was caught. "Okay, okay," Ava murmured, carefully freeing him. "I've got you."

Biscuit licked her face gratefully, and despite herself, Ava laughed. She carried him up the hill, not caring about the mud on her clothes anymore.

Mrs. Patterson hugged them both, crying with relief. "You're a hero, Ava! I don't know how to thank you."

Ava looked down at Biscuit, who was wagging his tail at her. "Maybe... maybe dogs aren't so bad after all."

5
How does Ava's CHARACTER ARC (change) develop in this passage?
A
She goes from being kind to becoming angry about dogs.
B
She goes from disliking dogs to having a more positive view of them.
C
She goes from being brave to becoming fearful of the creek.
D
She stays the same and still dislikes dogs at the end.
6
Based on her ACTIONS, what character trait does Ava show when she helps rescue Biscuit?
A
Selfishness - She only helped because she had to.
B
Compassion - She helped even though it was inconvenient for her.
C
Carelessness - She didn't think about what she was doing.
D
Pride - She wanted everyone to think she was a hero.
7
What MOTIVATES Ava to help look for Biscuit even though she doesn't like dogs?
A
She wanted her sneakers to get muddy.
B
She saw how worried and upset Mrs. Patterson was.
C
She wanted to play in the creek bed.
D
She thought Biscuit was a cute dog.
8
Which sentence from the passage shows how Ava's feelings toward Biscuit start to change?
A
"Ava had never liked dogs."
B
"Her new sneakers would be ruined."
C
"Biscuit licked her face gratefully, and despite herself, Ava laughed."
D
"Mrs. Patterson hugged them both, crying with relief."
9
Using evidence from "The Tryouts," explain what character trait Kenji shows and how you know. Use the ACE method (Answer, Cite, Explain).
10
Compare how Kenji and Ava are SIMILAR in how they change throughout their stories. What do both characters learn?
___Multiple Choice (8)
___Written Response (2)
___Total (10)
FAST Success Kit | Grade 4 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.4.R.1.1
Practice quiz format mirrors Florida FAST assessment style