PSSA English Language Arts — Grade 3

Read the story below and answer the question. The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup Sammy the squirrel gathered acorns every autumn in Pine Tree Park. One crisp October morning, Sammy found a golden acorn cup hidden under a big oak leaf. His friend Maya the chipmunk looked at the shiny cup with wide eyes. "That is the prettiest cup in the forest!" Maya said. Sammy wanted to keep it all to himself in his hollow log. But when he saw Maya shivering in the chilly wind, he filled the cup with warm berry tea and handed it to her. Maya smiled brightly and shared her toasted seeds with Sammy. From that day on, Sammy realized that sharing made his treasure even more special. What is the central message or lesson of the story?

• AGathering acorns is hard work in the autumn.
• BSharing with others brings true happiness and makes treasures more meaningful.
• CTeas made from wild berries are the best drink in the forest.
• DHollow logs make the best homes for small animals.

Read the story below and answer the question. The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup Sammy the squirrel gathered acorns every autumn in Pine Tree Park. One crisp October morning, Sammy found a golden acorn cup hidden under a big oak leaf. His friend Maya the chipmunk looked at the shiny cup with wide eyes. "That is the prettiest cup in the forest!" Maya said. Sammy wanted to keep it all to himself in his hollow log. But when he saw Maya shivering in the chilly wind, he filled the cup with warm berry tea and handed it to her. Maya smiled brightly and shared her toasted seeds with Sammy. From that day on, Sammy realized that sharing made his treasure even more special. Which character trait BEST describes Sammy when he sees Maya shivering in the cold?

• AGreedy
• BCaring
• CClumsy
• DFearful

Read the sentence from the story. "Sammy wanted to keep it all to himself in his hollow log." Which word has a meaning MOST SIMILAR to 'keep' as it is used in the sentence?

• AThrow
• BHold
• CLose
• DForget

Read the story 'The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup.' Where did Sammy find the golden acorn cup?

• AInside a hollow pine tree
• BUnder a big oak leaf
• CNear a quiet woodland stream
• DInside Maya's cozy burrow

In 'The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup,' how does Maya react after Sammy gives her the warm tea?

• AShe runs home without saying a word.
• BShe smiles brightly and shares her toasted seeds.
• CShe asks Sammy for a bigger cup.
• DShe hides the golden cup under a pile of pine needles.

Who is telling the story 'The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup'?

• ASammy the squirrel telling his own story
• BMaya the chipmunk writing in her journal
• CA narrator who is outside the story looking in
• DA visitor walking through Pine Tree Park

Read the story below and answer the question. Leo's Wooden Kite Leo wanted to build a kite for the annual Spring Wind Festival in Lancaster. Instead of paper, Leo decided to make his kite out of light balsa wood strips and thin red silk. "Wood is too heavy, Leo," his older sister Nora warned. "It will never catch the breeze." Leo spent three afternoons carving the wood and glueing the frame together. On the day of the festival, a strong gust swept across the open meadow. Leo ran down the grassy hill, holding the line tight. His red kite dipped once, caught the wind, and soared high above the treetops like a bright red cardinal! Nora cheered louder than anyone in the crowd. What is the main problem Leo faces in the story?

• AHe loses his favorite red silk fabric.
• BPeople doubt that a wooden kite will be able to fly.
• CThe Spring Wind Festival is canceled because of rain.
• DNora refuses to help him carry the kite to the hill.

In 'Leo's Wooden Kite,' why does Leo spend three afternoons carving and glueing wood?

• AHe is trying to make a wooden toy boat.
• BHe wants to build a unique kite for the Spring Wind Festival.
• CHis teacher assigned a science project about trees.
• DHe is repairing a broken picture frame for Nora.

Read the sentence from 'Leo's Wooden Kite.' "His red kite dipped once, caught the wind, and soared high above the treetops like a bright red cardinal!" What does the simile 'soared high above the treetops like a bright red cardinal' help the reader understand?

• AThat the kite made loud chirping bird sounds
• BHow gracefully and high the bright red kite flew in the sky
• CThat a real bird landed on Leo's kite line
• DThat the kite fell quickly down to the ground

Read the sentence from 'Leo's Wooden Kite.' "On the day of the festival, a strong gust swept across the open meadow." What is the meaning of the word 'gust' in this sentence?

• AA sudden, strong rush of wind
• BA heavy shower of rain
• CA dark cloud in the sky
• DA loud noise from the crowd

How do Nora's feelings change from the beginning of 'Leo's Wooden Kite' to the end?

• AShe starts out excited and ends up angry at Leo.
• BShe starts out doubtful about the wooden kite and ends up cheering happily when it flies.
• CShe starts out proud of Leo and ends up bored by the festival.
• DShe starts out scared of the wind and ends up flying her own kite.

Which theme is BEST supported by the story 'Leo's Wooden Kite'?

• ABuilding kites out of paper is always better than using wood.
• BBelieving in your ideas and practicing perseverance can lead to success.
• CSisters always know more than their younger brothers.
• DSpring festivals are the only time to fly kites.

Read the poem below and answer the question. The Whispering Garden When sunbeams dance upon the lawn, And shadow patterns fade at dawn, I walk along the garden track, With yellow sun upon my back. The tulips nod their shiny heads, Above the velvet flower beds. The tall green ferns begin to sway, To welcome in another day. I listen close and seem to hear, A quiet whisper soft and clear: "Grow kind and bright," the blossoms sing, "And welcome all the joy of spring." What is the setting of this poem?

• AA busy city street at night
• BA garden at dawn and morning time
• CA dark forest during a thunderstorm
• DA snowy playground in winter

In the poem 'The Whispering Garden,' which pair of words from the first stanza forms a rhyme?

• Alawn / dawn
• Btrack / lawn
• Csunbeams / shadows
• Dwalk / back

Read these lines from 'The Whispering Garden.' "The tulips nod their shiny heads, Above the velvet flower beds." Which human action are the tulips given in these lines (personification)?

• ASinging a song loudly
• BNodding their heads
• CRunning down the garden track
• DSleeping under blankets

In 'The Whispering Garden,' which sensory detail appeals MOST to the reader's sense of hearing?

• A"yellow sun upon my back"
• B"shiny heads"
• C"A quiet whisper soft and clear"
• D"tall green ferns"

What is the meaning of line 11 in the poem: '"Grow kind and bright," the blossoms sing'?

• AFlowers need extra fertilizer to grow taller.
• BThe speaker is encouraged to live with kindness and positive cheer.
• CBlossoms can talk to people in real life.
• DThe garden is full of bright yellow weeds.

What overall mood does the author create in 'The Whispering Garden'?

• AFrightening and dark
• BPeaceful and cheerful
• CSilly and wild
• DLonely and sad

Read the story below and answer the question. Oliver and the Lost Puppy While walking home from school in Erie, Oliver noticed a small brown puppy shivering under a porch bench. The puppy had no collar, but its fur was clean. Oliver felt a wave of concern. He remembered his teacher saying that lost pets often wander near the neighborhood park. Oliver gently wrapped his warm scarf around the puppy and carried it to the park office. Mrs. Gable, the park ranger, scanned the puppy for a microchip. A few minutes later, a frantic neighbor named Mr. Henderson ran into the office. When he saw his puppy, Buster, he cried with relief and thanked Oliver for his quick thinking and kindness. Why does Oliver take the puppy to the park office?

• AHe wants to sell the puppy to the park ranger.
• BHe believes the park office can help locate the puppy's owner.
• CHe is afraid to take the puppy home on the bus.
• DThe puppy was playing near the park slides.

Put the events from 'Oliver and the Lost Puppy' in the order they happened. 1. Mr. Henderson arrives at the park office and thanks Oliver. 2. Oliver finds a brown puppy shivering under a porch bench. 3. Mrs. Gable scans the puppy for a microchip. 4. Oliver wraps his scarf around the puppy and carries it to the park office. Which sequence shows the correct order?

• A2, 4, 3, 1
• B4, 2, 1, 3
• C2, 3, 4, 1
• D1, 2, 4, 3

Read the sentence from 'Oliver and the Lost Puppy.' "A few minutes later, a frantic neighbor named Mr. Henderson ran into the office." What does the word 'frantic' tell the reader about Mr. Henderson?

• AHe was feeling calm and relaxed.
• BHe was very worried and upset while searching for his lost dog.
• CHe was sleepy and moving slowly.
• DHe was angry at the park ranger.

Which detail from 'Oliver and the Lost Puppy' shows that Oliver cared about the puppy's comfort?

• AOliver walked home from school in Erie.
• BOliver gently wrapped his warm scarf around the shivering puppy.
• CThe puppy did not have a leather collar.
• DMrs. Gable scanned the microchip in the office.

How did Mr. Henderson feel when he found Buster at the park office?

• ARelieved and thankful
• BConfused and annoyed
• CDisappointed and quiet
• DScared and suspicious

Which lesson does the reader learn from Oliver's actions in the story?

• AAlways keep lost animals at your house without telling anyone.
• BTaking responsible and thoughtful action can help reunite lost pets with their owners.
• CPark rangers only work on weekend mornings.
• DPuppies should never wear scarves.

Read the fable below and answer the question. The Proud Lantern Fly High in a green maple tree, a bright lantern fly named Pip boasted to the ants. "Look at my glowing spots! Pip is the grandest insect in the entire forest!" Pip refused to help the ants store seeds for the upcoming winter. "This insect is far too magnificent for ordinary labor," Pip declared proudly. When late November brought frosty nights, Pip shivered on a bare branch with no food or shelter. The ants, warm inside their deep underground nest, saw Pip and invited him in to share their seed soup. Ashamed of his boastful words, Pip thanked the humble ants and promised never to brag again. What is the moral of 'The Proud Lantern Fly'?

• AMaple trees lose their leaves every November.
• BHumility and hard work are more valuable than bragging about appearance.
• CAnts prefer seed soup over berries.
• DInsects should always sleep on high branches.

In 'The Proud Lantern Fly,' how are Pip and the ants DIFFERENT at the beginning of the story?

• APip is humble, while the ants are boastful.
• BPip boasts about his looks and avoids work, while the ants work hard preparing for winter.
• CPip lives underground, while the ants live high in maple trees.
• DPip collects seeds, while the ants play all day.

Read the sentence from 'The Proud Lantern Fly.' "This insect is far too magnificent for ordinary labor," Pip declared proudly. Which word is an ANTONYM (opposite) of 'magnificent'?

• AGlorious
• BOrdinary
• CSplendid
• DBright

In 'The Proud Lantern Fly,' what causes Pip to change his behavior at the end of the fable?

• AThe ants make fun of his glowing spots.
• BHe experiences cold hunger and receives unexpected kindness from the ants.
• CA bird chases him away from the maple tree.
• DThe sun shines brightly all winter long.

Which detail from 'The Proud Lantern Fly' foreshadows (gives a clue) that Pip will have trouble in winter?

• APip lives in a high maple tree.
• BPip refuses to store seeds and work like the ants.
• CThe ants eat warm seed soup.
• DPip has bright glowing spots.

Compare 'The Squirrel and the Acorn Cup' and 'The Proud Lantern Fly.' How are the lessons in BOTH stories SIMILAR?

• ABoth stories show that winter is the best season for flying kites.
• BBoth stories teach that unselfishness and kindness toward others create happiness.
• CBoth stories prove that insects and squirrels are natural enemies.
• DBoth stories advise readers to keep golden treasures in hollow logs.

Read the informational article below and answer the question. Honeybees: Nature's Busy Helpers Honeybees are incredible insects that play a huge role in growing our food. Inside a beehive, thousands of honeybees live together in a organized colony. Every bee has a special job. The queen bee lays eggs to hatch new bees. Worker bees, which are all female, fly out to collect nectar and pollen from flowers. Drone bees are male bees that help protect the queen. While gathering sweet nectar, worker bees rub against pollen dusting flower petals. As they travel from blossom to blossom, pollen sticks to their fuzzy legs and drops off onto other flowers. This process is called pollination. Without pollination, plants could not produce delicious fruits like apples, strawberries, and blueberries. Honeybees also make sweet honey from nectar to feed the hive during long winter months. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

• AQueen bees lay thousands of eggs inside the hive.
• BHoneybees pollinate flowers while gathering nectar, helping plants produce fruit.
• CDrone bees protect the hive from hungry bears.
• DBlueberries are the sweetest fruit in Pennsylvania.

According to 'Honeybees: Nature's Busy Helpers,' what are the primary jobs of worker bees?

• ALaying eggs and leading the hive
• BFlying out to collect nectar and pollen from flowers
• CSleeping all winter long in tree trunks
• DBuilding hives out of mud and twigs

Based on the article 'Honeybees: Nature's Busy Helpers,' why is pollination essential for humans?

• AIt keeps flowers from blooming in spring.
• BIt allows plants to produce fruits like apples and strawberries that humans eat.
• CIt helps bees turn into butterflies.
• DIt makes the weather warmer in summer.

Read the sentence from the article. "Inside a beehive, thousands of honeybees live together in an organized colony." What does the word 'colony' mean in this sentence?

• AA single bee sleeping alone
• BA group of insects living and working together
• CA garden full of colorful flowers
• DA wooden box stored in a barn

Why do honeybees make honey from nectar?

• ATo attract bear cubs to the hive
• BTo feed the colony during the long winter months when flowers are gone
• CTo paint the outside of the honeycomb
• DTo help flowers grow faster

What was the author's MAIN purpose in writing 'Honeybees: Nature's Busy Helpers'?

• ATo tell a funny story about a cartoon bee
• BTo inform readers about how honeybees live, work, and help produce food
• CTo persuade readers to buy honey at the grocery store
• DTo explain how to build a wooden birdhouse

Read the informational article below and answer the question. The Story of Pennsylvania Coal Long ago, deep beneath the hills of Pennsylvania, ancient plants died and were buried under layers of mud and sand over millions of years. Heat and heavy pressure changed these dead plants into a hard black rock called coal. In the 1800s, miners in towns like Scranton and Pottsville dug deep underground to mine coal. Coal was burned to power steam trains, heat homes, and run steel factories across North America. Today, clean energy sources like solar and wind power are used alongside coal. However, historical coal mining remains an important part of Pennsylvania's heritage. Old railway tracks once built for coal trains now serve as scenic walking trails for families to explore. How is coal formed according to the article?

• AVolcanoes erupting liquid lava onto green grass
• BAncient plants buried under mud and sand being transformed by heat and pressure over mill…
• CFreezing ice sheets melting in rivers during spring
• DLightning striking deep underground caves

Based on 'The Story of Pennsylvania Coal,' what were three uses of coal in the 1800s?

• AMaking plastic toys, fueling airplanes, and powering cell phones
• BPowering steam trains, heating homes, and running steel factories
• CPaving roads, making clear glass, and building boats
• DFiltering water, making soap, and planting gardens

Read the sentence from 'The Story of Pennsylvania Coal.' "Heat and heavy pressure changed these dead plants into a hard black rock called coal." Which word in the sentence tells how coal feels to touch?

• Aancient
• Bblack
• Chard
• Dheavy

Which statement from 'The Story of Pennsylvania Coal' is a FACT that can be proven?

• AWalking on old railway trails is the most fun weekend activity.
• BCoal was burned in the 1800s to power steam trains and heat homes.
• CScranton is the prettiest town in North America.
• DBlack rock looks better than grey rock.

How have old coal railway tracks been reused today according to the article?

• AThey were converted into underground coal mines.
• BThey have become scenic walking trails for families.
• CThey were turned into modern airplane runways.
• DThey were flooded to form fishing lakes.

Which heading would be MOST appropriate for Paragraph 1 of 'The Story of Pennsylvania Coal'?

• AHow Coal Formed and Was Used in History
• BModern Solar Panels and Wind Turbines
• CHow to Build a Walking Trail
• DThe History of Air Travel

Read the informational article below and answer the question. How Beavers Change the Forest Beavers are often called 'nature's engineers' because they actively shape their surroundings. Using their strong front teeth, beavers gnaw down trees and branches to build wooden dams across flowing woodland streams. These dams slow down water currents, creating calm ponds called beaver ponds. Beaver ponds create brand-new habitats for many forest creatures. Ducks, herons, and turtles move in to live around the quiet water. Fish swim in the deep pond, while frogs lay eggs along the muddy banks. However, flooding from a beaver dam can sometimes cover nearby trees with water, causing those trees to die. Even dead trees benefit nature by providing nesting holes for woodpeckers and owls. As a result, a single beaver family can transform an entire forest ecosystem. Why are beavers called 'nature's engineers' in the article?

• ABecause they drive tiny bulldozers through the woods
• BBecause they actively build dams and alter their environment
• CBecause they build houses out of red bricks
• DBecause they teach other animals how to swim

Which organizational structure does the author use in Paragraph 2 of 'How Beavers Change the Forest'?

• AProblem and Solution
• BCause and Effect
• CQuestion and Answer
• DAlphabetical Order

Read the sentence from 'How Beavers Change the Forest.' "Using their strong front teeth, beavers gnaw down trees and branches..." What does the word 'gnaw' mean in this sentence?

• ATo bite or chew on persistently
• BTo paint with bright colors
• CTo climb up quickly
• DTo plant new seeds

According to the article, how do dead trees flooded by beaver dams help other animals?

• AThey fall into the water to block fish.
• BThey provide nesting holes for woodpeckers and owls.
• CThey produce extra apples for bears.
• DThey keep ducks from swimming in the pond.

Which animal group is NOT mentioned in the article as living in or near a beaver pond?

• ADucks and herons
• BFish and frogs
• CWoodpeckers and owls
• DPenguins and polar bears

What is the central idea of the entire article 'How Beavers Change the Forest'?

• ABeavers have sharp teeth that never stop growing.
• BBeaver dams create ponds that significantly alter and benefit the forest ecosystem.
• CWoodpeckers build the best nests in Pennsylvania.
• DStreams flow too fast for fish to survive.