Nebraska NSCAS ELA — Grade 3

Mia planted sunflower seeds in a small patch of dirt behind her house. She watered the seeds every morning and pulled out any weeds she found. After a few weeks, tall green stems pushed up through the soil. Mia smiled and gave the young plants more water. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AMia takes care of her growing sunflowers.
• BMia wants to sell sunflowers at the store.
• CMia is learning about different kinds of flowers.
• DMia is decorating her yard with painted pots.

Ty's class visited the apple orchard. Farmer Beth showed them rows and rows of apple trees. She explained how the trees grow flowers in the spring that turn into apples. The children picked a basket of red apples to take back to school. What did Farmer Beth explain to the class?

• AHow the trees grow flowers that turn into apples
• BHow to bake an apple pie from scratch
• CWhy apple trees need tall ladders
• DWhen the class should visit the orchard again

One afternoon, Sam found a tiny kitten hiding under the porch. The kitten was shaking and would not come out. Sam put a small bowl of milk nearby and sat very still. After a few minutes, the kitten crept out and drank. Sam's mom called the animal shelter to help. Which retells the story best?

• ASam finds a scared kitten, helps it feel safe, and gets help.
• BSam wants a pet kitten and keeps it as his own.
• CSam learns about cats from a book and watches them play.
• DSam finds a kitten and chases it away.

Jada wanted to ride the big roller coaster, but it looked very fast. Her dad said, 'You can do it, Jada. I'll sit right next to you.' Jada watched the cars zoom down and people laugh. She buckled in and rode with a big grin. What is the central message of this story?

• ATrying something new can be fun.
• BRoller coasters are the best ride at the park.
• CDads always know what to do at amusement parks.
• DAmusement parks should have slower rides.

Lily and Rosa were best friends who lived next door to each other. Every Saturday, they took turns picking a game to play. One week Lily picked tag, and the next week Rosa picked hide-and-seek. They always shared their snacks under the big oak tree. Who are the main characters in this story?

• ALily and Rosa
• BLily and her mom
• CRosa and her brother
• DThe children in the neighborhood

The story begins on a snowy morning in a small wooden cabin. Outside, pine trees bend under the heavy white snow. Inside, a fire pops in the stove and a pot of soup bubbles. A girl looks out the window at the falling flakes. Where does this story take place?

• AIn a snowy cabin near pine trees
• BOn a sunny beach by the ocean
• CIn a tall apartment building in a city
• DOn a farm with green fields

Read this short poem: 'Rain taps on the roof, / soft fingers drumming the glass, / flowers lift their heads.' What is the poem mostly about?

• AGentle rain falling and helping flowers
• BA loud storm breaking windows
• CA gardener watering plants
• DA child playing in puddles

Every Saturday, Leo helped his grandpa in the workshop. Grandpa showed Leo how to sand wood until it was smooth. Leo held the pieces while Grandpa nailed them together. At the end of the day, they had built a small birdhouse. What is the main idea of this passage?

• ALeo and his grandpa work together to build things.
• BLeo wants to learn how to paint pictures of birds.
• CGrandpa teaches Leo how to fix broken chairs.
• DLeo plays outside while Grandpa works alone.

Ben's dog, Biscuit, knew a lot of tricks. When Ben said 'sit,' Biscuit sat down and wagged his tail. When Ben tossed a ball, Biscuit ran fast and brought it back. Biscuit could even roll over for a tasty treat. Which trick does Biscuit do when Ben tosses a ball?

• AHe runs and brings the ball back.
• BHe sits and wags his tail.
• CHe rolls over for a treat.
• DHe jumps onto a chair.

The Kim family went camping by the lake. They set up a tent with bright blue poles. Dad cooked soup on a small stove while the kids collected pinecones. When the stars came out, they sang songs and roasted marshmallows. The next morning, they packed up and drove home. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AThe Kim family enjoys a camping trip by the lake.
• BThe Kim family learns how to fish in the lake.
• CDad is the only one who knows how to cook.
• DThe kids get lost in the woods at night.

Grace stood on the stage with her class. Her knees felt wobbly, and her hands were sweaty. The music started, but Grace's voice would not come out. Then she saw her mom smiling in the front row. Grace took a deep breath and sang her part loud and clear. How does Grace feel at the beginning of the story?

• ANervous about singing on stage
• BBored with the song
• CAngry at her classmates
• DExcited to dance

Owen had two cookies in his lunch. His friend Max forgot his lunch at home. Owen thought for a minute, then handed one cookie to Max. Max smiled and said thank you. At recess, Max shared his new soccer ball with Owen. What is the central message of this story?

• ASharing with others can lead to kindness in return.
• BCookies are the best snack to bring for lunch.
• CFriends should never forget their lunch at home.
• DSoccer is the funnest game to play at recess.

Ava walked into the library with a long list of books she wanted. She found a chapter book about a girl detective, a funny comic, and a book about stars. The librarian helped her check out all three. Ava put the books in her backpack and skipped home. Which retells the story best?

• AAva finds books she wants and checks them out with help.
• BAva reads all three books at the library before going home.
• CAva writes her own book about a girl detective.
• DAva loses her book list at the library.

Read this part of a story: 'I pedaled as fast as I could. The wind pushed against my face. My legs burned, but I did not stop until I reached the top of the hill.' Who is telling this story?

• AA character who is riding a bike
• BA character who is watching a bike race
• CA narrator who is not in the story
• DA character who is fixing a bike

While cleaning the attic, Theo found an old wooden box. Inside was a brass key that gleamed in the light. A small note read, 'Open the door at the end of the hall.' Theo's heart beat fast as he tiptoed down the stairs. What did Theo find inside the box?

• AA shiny brass key and a note
• BA pile of old photographs
• CA bag of gold coins
• DA broken clock

Jamal and his little sister Nina wanted to build a fort. Jamal held the blankets while Nina found heavy books to weigh them down. When the fort kept falling, Nina had an idea. She moved two chairs closer together, and the blankets stayed up. They crawled inside and told ghost stories with a flashlight. What does Nina do to help the fort stay up?

• AShe moves two chairs closer together.
• BShe finds heavy books to weigh down the blankets.
• CShe tells a ghost story with a flashlight.
• DShe crawls inside the fort first.

The story begins on a bright summer morning at the beach. Waves crash softly on the sand, and seagulls call overhead. A boy and his dad walk along the shore looking for shells. The warm sand squishes between their toes. Where does this story take place?

• AAt a beach on a summer morning
• BAt a lake in the winter
• CIn a forest in the fall
• DIn a city park at night

Read this short poem: 'Yellow, red, and brown, / leaves dance down to the ground, / autumn has come to town.' Which word best tells what the leaves do in the poem?

• ADance
• BCry
• CSleep
• DHide

Mr. Lopez's class started a community garden in an empty lot. Each student chose a vegetable to grow. Some planted carrots, some planted beans, and some planted tomatoes. Every week, the class watered the plants and pulled weeds together. At the end of summer, they shared the vegetables with neighbors. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AA class works together to grow and share vegetables.
• BMr. Lopez teaches the class how to cook vegetables.
• CCarrots are the easiest vegetable to grow in a garden.
• DThe class sells vegetables at the farmers market.

Mara wanted to learn to ride her new bike without training wheels. The first day, she wobbled and fell into the grass. The second day, she pedaled a few feet before stopping. The third day, she kept trying even when her arms felt tired. On the fourth day, Mara rode all the way to the end of the street. What is the central message of this story?

• AKeep practicing and you can learn new things.
• BBikes with training wheels are safer than bikes without.
• CRiding bikes is the best way to spend a summer.
• DFalling off a bike means you should stop trying.

Dante sat at his desk with a paintbrush. He had tried to paint his dog, Biscuit, but the brown paint looked too dark. He added a little white, and the color looked just like Biscuit's fur. Dante grinned and showed the painting to his mom. How does Dante feel at the end of the story?

• AProud of his painting
• BSad about his dog
• CAngry at the paint
• DBored with painting

On a cold day, Rina lost her red mitten in the snow. She looked by the swing set, but it was not there. She checked the bus stop, but it was not there either. Then she remembered she had taken it off at lunch. Rina hurried to the cafeteria and found her mitten under the table. Which retells the story best?

• ARina loses a mitten, searches for it, and finds it in the cafeteria.
• BRina buys a new pair of mittens at the store.
• CRina's friend lends her a mitten for the day.
• DRina leaves her mitten outside and never finds it.

In the tall maple tree, a robin built a nest from twigs and mud. She lined the inside with soft grass and feathers. Each morning, she sat on her three blue eggs to keep them warm. One spring day, the eggs cracked open and three tiny chicks cheeped for food. What does the robin do each morning in the passage?

• ASits on her eggs to keep them warm
• BSings a loud song for the chicks
• CFlies south for the winter
• DBuilds a new nest in a different tree

Read this part of a story: 'Tomas tipped his hat and waved to the crowd. He had practiced his trick for weeks. Now the circus tent was quiet, waiting for him to begin.' Who is telling this story?

• AA narrator outside the story
• BTomas himself
• CA person in the crowd
• DTomas's trainer

Devon found a wallet on the playground. He opened it and saw it belonged to a boy named Chris in his class. Devon really wanted to keep the five dollar bill inside. But he thought about how sad Chris would be. At recess, Devon walked over and handed the wallet back. Chris thanked him and they played together all week. What is the central message of this story?

• ABeing honest is the right choice even when it is hard.
• BMoney found on the playground should always be kept.
• CFive dollars is too much money for a kid to have.
• DWallets should have stronger zippers so they do not fall out.

Priya wanted to win the school spelling bee. She studied her word list every single night. She asked her brother to quiz her at breakfast. She even practiced spelling words in her head on the bus. On the day of the bee, Priya spelled every word right and won the shiny trophy. Why does Priya study her word list every night?

• ABecause she wants to do her best at the spelling bee
• BBecause her brother makes her study at breakfast
• CBecause she wants to give the trophy to a friend
• DBecause she has homework due the next day

Read this short poem: 'The moon is a silver coin / dropped in the dark sky pond, / fish of light swim below.' What is the moon being compared to in the poem?

• AA silver coin
• BA round balloon
• CA white plate
• DA shiny star

A long time ago, a small village sat next to a wide river. Every spring, the river rose and flooded the fields. The villagers worked together to build a tall dirt wall. When the next spring came, the wall held back the water and the fields stayed dry. The villagers had a big feast to celebrate. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AThe villagers solve a problem by working together to build a wall.
• BRivers are dangerous and people should not live near them.
• CSpring is the best season for planting crops.
• DThe villagers move to a new home far from the river.

Read this part of a story: 'Maria peeked around the corner. She was sure the surprise would be a new puppy. But when she saw the kitchen, there was no puppy, just a big cake with seven candles. Maria hugged her mom and blew out the candles.' Whose point of view do we get in this part of the story?

• AMaria's point of view
• BThe puppy's point of view
• CThe mom's point of view
• DA neighbor's point of view

First, the class painted pictures of animals. Next, they hung the paintings on the wall. Then, the teacher invited the parents to come see the art. After that, the children stood by their paintings and explained them. Finally, everyone ate snacks and talked about their favorite art. Which retells the story best?

• AThe class paints pictures, hangs them up, and shares them with visitors.
• BThe class paints pictures and then takes them home right away.
• CThe class visits an art museum to look at famous paintings.
• DThe class has a snack party without any paintings.

Polar bears live in the cold Arctic. They have thick white fur that keeps them warm. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can swim for many miles. Their favorite food is seals, which they hunt on the ice. What is the main idea of this passage?

• APolar bears have special features that help them live in the cold Arctic.
• BPolar bears are the largest animals in the world.
• CPolar bears make good pets for people who live in cold places.
• DPolar bears only eat fish and berries.

Fire trucks help firefighters do their jobs. The trucks carry long hoses that spray water on fires. They have tall ladders to reach high windows. Loud sirens warn cars to move out of the way. Some trucks even carry tools to rescue people from cars. According to the passage, what do the ladders on a fire truck do?

• AThey help firefighters reach high windows.
• BThey help firefighters cook meals at the station.
• CThey hold up the truck's big red flag.
• DThey keep the truck from tipping over.

Read this part of a book about bugs: 'Ants' — Ants live in large groups called colonies. Each ant has a job, such as finding food or protecting the nest. Ants can lift things that are much heavier than their own bodies.' What does the heading 'Ants' tell the reader?

• AWhat the part of the book is about
• BHow many ants live in one colony
• CThe name of the person who wrote the book
• DWhat page the reader should turn to next

The sun is a giant star at the center of our solar system. It gives off light and heat that warm the Earth. Without the sun, plants could not grow and the Earth would be too cold for life. The sun looks small only because it is so far away. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AThe sun is important because it gives light and heat to Earth.
• BThe sun is the smallest star in the solar system.
• CThe sun is dangerous and people should not look at it.
• DThe sun moves around the Earth every day.

Apples grow on trees in orchards. In the spring, apple trees grow pink and white flowers. Bees visit the flowers and spread pollen, which helps the apples form. By fall, the apples are ripe and ready to pick. According to the passage, what helps the apples form?

• ABees visit the flowers and spread pollen.
• BRain falls on the leaves every night.
• CThe apples grow best in the cold winter.
• DFarmers paint the apples to make them red.

A book about whales shows a big picture of a blue whale. Under the picture, the words say, 'A blue whale can grow as long as three school buses.' What is the purpose of the words under the picture?

• ATo give more information about the picture
• BTo tell the reader what page to read next
• CTo show the name of the book's author
• DTo list all the chapters in the book

Deserts are very dry places that get very little rain. During the day, the sun makes the sand very hot. At night, the desert can get cold because there are no clouds to hold the heat. Many desert animals sleep during the day and come out at night to stay cool. What is the main idea of this passage?

• ADeserts are dry places with hot days and cold nights.
• BDeserts are covered in snow most of the year.
• CDeserts get more rain than any other place on Earth.
• DDesert animals all sleep through the winter.

A post office is a place where people send and receive mail. You can buy stamps at the post office to put on letters. Workers called mail carriers deliver the mail to homes and businesses. Some post offices also have machines that weigh packages. According to the passage, what do mail carriers do?

• AThey deliver mail to homes and businesses.
• BThey sell stamps at the front desk.
• CThey sort packages at the airport.
• DThey write letters for people who cannot write.

A diagram in a book shows the parts of a flower. The diagram has lines pointing to the stem, the leaf, and the petals. Each line has a word that names the part it points to. What is the purpose of the words on the lines in the diagram?

• ATo label the parts of the flower
• BTo tell a story about a flower
• CTo show how much the flower costs
• DTo list all the books in the library

Recycling helps protect the Earth. When you recycle paper, old paper is made into new paper instead of being thrown away. Recycling paper saves trees because fewer trees need to be cut down. You can also recycle plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans. What is the main idea of this passage?

• ARecycling helps protect the Earth by turning old things into new ones.
• BRecycling is only for paper and nothing else.
• CRecycling costs a lot of money and takes too much time.
• DRecycling makes everything we use at home.

Benjamin Franklin was a famous American long ago. He started one of the first libraries in America. He also invented a new kind of stove that helped people heat their homes safely. Franklin helped write important papers for the new country. According to the passage, what did Franklin invent?

• AA new kind of stove
• BThe first computer
• CA flying airplane
• DThe first television

A book about trees has a glossary at the back. One entry says: 'roots — the part of a tree that grows under the ground and takes in water.' What is the purpose of this glossary entry?

• ATo tell what the word roots means
• BTo list all the chapters in the book
• CTo show a picture of a forest
• DTo tell who wrote the book

The water cycle shows how water moves around the Earth. The sun heats water in lakes and oceans, and some of it turns into an invisible gas called water vapor. This is called evaporation. High in the sky, the water vapor cools and forms clouds. When the clouds get heavy, water falls back down as rain or snow. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AThe water cycle shows how water moves around the Earth.
• BRain only falls from clouds during the summer.
• CWater in lakes and oceans never changes.
• DClouds are made of solid ice.

Beavers are animals that live near rivers and ponds. They build dams out of sticks and mud to make ponds where they can live. Beavers have strong teeth that never stop growing, so they chew on trees to keep their teeth short. Their flat tails help them swim fast in the water. According to the passage, why do beavers chew on trees?

• ATo keep their teeth from growing too long
• BTo find food for their babies
• CTo mark the path back to their dam
• DTo scare away other animals

A book about animals has a table of contents at the front. It lists: 'Cats .... 4, Dogs .... 9, Birds .... 14, Fish .... 20.' What does the table of contents help the reader do?

• AFind the page where each chapter begins
• BSee a picture of every animal in the book
• CLearn the meaning of hard words
• DFind out who drew the pictures

Earth has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The seasons happen because the Earth tilts as it moves around the sun. When your part of the Earth tilts toward the sun, it is summer and the days are warm. When your part tilts away from the sun, it is winter and the days are cold. What is the main idea of this passage?

• AEarth's seasons happen because of how the Earth tilts as it moves around the sun.
• BSummer is the longest season of the year.
• CEvery place on Earth has the same season at the same time.
• DThe sun gets bigger in the summer and smaller in the winter.

An octopus is a sea animal with eight long arms. It lives in oceans all over the world. An octopus can change its color to hide from other animals. If an octopus gets scared, it can squirt a dark cloud of ink and swim away fast. According to the passage, what can an octopus do to hide?

• AChange its color
• BGrow new arms every day
• CBury itself in the sand for months
• DFloat in the air like a balloon

At the back of a book about space, there is an index. One line says: 'moon, 12, 18, 25.' What does this line in the index help the reader do?

• AFind every page where the moon is talked about
• BSee a photo of the moon on the cover
• CLearn the meaning of the word moon
• DFind out who wrote the book