Grade 3 · English Language Arts · Unit 2 of 10
Story Elements
Characters, settings and plots
What your child practises
Naming the characters, setting, problem and solution of a story, describing how characters feel and what they are like, and finding a story's lesson.
BC Curriculum learning standard: Story/text: elements of story (character, setting, plot, problem and solution); literary elements
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
How did Zoe most likely feel at the start of recess?
It was Zoe's first day at a new school, and she did not know anyone.
At recess, she stood by the fence and watched the other kids play.
A boy named Ravi walked over. “We need one more player for tag. Do you want to join us?”
Zoe grinned and ran to play. By the end of recess, she had three new friends.
- Proud
- Lonely
- Silly
Show answer
Lonely
Hint: Zoe stood by herself and watched the others play.
Question 2
What is the problem in this story?
It was Zoe's first day at a new school, and she did not know anyone.
At recess, she stood by the fence and watched the other kids play.
A boy named Ravi walked over. “We need one more player for tag. Do you want to join us?”
Zoe grinned and ran to play. By the end of recess, she had three new friends.
- It was raining at recess.
- Zoe was new and did not know anyone.
- Zoe forgot her lunch.
Show answer
Zoe was new and did not know anyone.
Hint: The problem is the trouble a character needs to fix. It usually shows up near the beginning.
Question 3
How is the problem solved?
It was Zoe's first day at a new school, and she did not know anyone.
At recess, she stood by the fence and watched the other kids play.
A boy named Ravi walked over. “We need one more player for tag. Do you want to join us?”
Zoe grinned and ran to play. By the end of recess, she had three new friends.
- Zoe moved to a different school.
- Zoe went back inside to read.
- Ravi invited her to play tag.
Show answer
Ravi invited her to play tag.
Hint: The solution is how the problem gets fixed. Look near the end of the story.
Question 4
What is the setting of this story?
Leo was spending the night at his grandma's farmhouse.
When the lights went out, he heard a strange “hoo-hoo” sound outside his window.
Leo pulled the blanket over his head. He could not fall asleep.
Grandma came in with a flashlight and shone it on the tree outside. A fluffy owl blinked back at them!
Leo smiled, whispered goodnight to the owl and soon fell fast asleep.
- At a city park in the morning
- At Grandma's farmhouse at night
- At school during lunch
Show answer
At Grandma's farmhouse at night
Hint: The setting is where and when a story happens. Look for clues about the place and the time.
Question 5
What is the problem in this story?
Leo was spending the night at his grandma's farmhouse.
When the lights went out, he heard a strange “hoo-hoo” sound outside his window.
Leo pulled the blanket over his head. He could not fall asleep.
Grandma came in with a flashlight and shone it on the tree outside. A fluffy owl blinked back at them!
Leo smiled, whispered goodnight to the owl and soon fell fast asleep.
- Grandma could not find the owl.
- A strange sound kept Leo awake.
- Leo lost his flashlight.
Show answer
A strange sound kept Leo awake.
Hint: The problem is the trouble a character needs to fix. It usually shows up near the beginning.
Question 6
How is the problem solved?
Leo was spending the night at his grandma's farmhouse.
When the lights went out, he heard a strange “hoo-hoo” sound outside his window.
Leo pulled the blanket over his head. He could not fall asleep.
Grandma came in with a flashlight and shone it on the tree outside. A fluffy owl blinked back at them!
Leo smiled, whispered goodnight to the owl and soon fell fast asleep.
- Leo moved to a different room.
- Leo turned on the radio.
- Grandma showed him the sound came from an owl.
Show answer
Grandma showed him the sound came from an owl.
Hint: The solution is how the problem gets fixed. Look near the end of the story.