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Georgia Milestones Grade 3 ELA study materials
Georgia Milestones Grade 3 ELA study resources

Georgia Milestones Grade 3 ELA practice questions

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Question 1English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The puppy chased its tail around the yard.' Which word in the sentence is the simple subject?

  1. puppy Correct answer.
  2. yard
  3. tail
  4. chased

Explanation

The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action. Here 'puppy' does the chasing, so it is the simple subject, while 'chased' is the verb and 'tail' and 'yard' are objects or objects of a preposition.

Question 2English language arts

A third-grade writer wants a sentence that states an opinion about a school lunch. Which sentence states an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. The cafeteria serves lunch at 11:30 each day.
  2. Pizza is the tastiest meal on the cafeteria menu. Correct answer.
  3. Students may choose milk or juice with lunch.
  4. The cafeteria has twelve round tables.

Explanation

An opinion tells what someone thinks or feels and can be argued, while a fact can be checked and proven. The word 'tastiest' shows a personal judgment, so that sentence is an opinion; the others give details that could be verified.

Question 3English language arts

Which word is a plural noun that names more than one person, place, or thing?

  1. child
  2. childish
  3. children Correct answer.
  4. childhood

Explanation

A plural noun names more than one person, place, or thing. 'Children' is the irregular plural of 'child' and names more than one, while the other choices are singular or are not nouns naming people.

Question 4English language arts

Read this sentence: 'Maya packed a sandwich, an apple, and a water bottle for the field trip.' What is the purpose of the commas in this sentence?

  1. They join two complete sentences.
  2. They separate items in a series. Correct answer.
  3. They set off a direct quotation.
  4. They mark the date in a sentence.

Explanation

Commas placed between three or more listed items separate the items in a series. Here the commas divide the sandwich, apple, and water bottle, so readers can tell where one item ends and the next begins.

Question 5English language arts

Read this short passage: 'Ben fed his fish every morning. One day he forgot. By evening the water looked cloudy.' What is this passage mostly about?

  1. A boy who buys a new fish tank.
  2. A boy who cleans his room every morning.
  3. A boy who forgets to feed his fish and notices a change. Correct answer.
  4. A boy who teaches his friend to fish.

Explanation

The main idea is what the whole passage is mostly about. All three sentences connect Ben's forgotten feeding with cloudy water, so the passage is about a boy who forgets and notices a change.

Question 6English language arts

Which word in this sentence is an adjective? 'The fluffy kitten slept on a warm blanket.'

  1. blanket
  2. slept
  3. fluffy Correct answer.
  4. kitten

Explanation

An adjective describes a noun. 'Fluffy' describes the kitten and 'warm' describes the blanket, so 'fluffy' is an adjective, while 'slept' is a verb and 'kitten' and 'blanket' are nouns.

Question 7English language arts

A student is writing a story and needs a word that means the opposite of 'enormous.' Which word best fits?

  1. heavy
  2. tiny Correct answer.
  3. wide
  4. huge

Explanation

An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. 'Enormous' means very large, so its opposite is 'tiny,' which means very small, while 'huge' means the same thing as enormous.

Question 8English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The students were excited because the science fair was tomorrow.' Which word shows the cause of the students' excitement?

  1. excited
  2. tomorrow
  3. because Correct answer.
  4. students

Explanation

A cause-and-effect relationship can be signaled by a clue word. 'Because' introduces the reason the students were excited, so it marks the cause in this sentence.

Question 9English language arts

Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb to complete it? 'Last week, the class ____ a butterfly garden behind the school.'

  1. plant
  2. planted Correct answer.
  3. planting
  4. plants

Explanation

The time clue 'last week' shows the action already happened, so the past-tense verb 'planted' is needed. The other forms are present tense or a participle that cannot stand alone as the main verb here.

Question 10English language arts

Read this sentence: 'After the rain stopped, the children ran outside to look for puddles.' Which part is a dependent clause?

  1. to look for puddles
  2. After the rain stopped Correct answer.
  3. the children ran outside
  4. outside

Explanation

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but begins with a word such as 'after' that makes it unable to stand alone. 'After the rain stopped' has its own subject and verb but depends on the rest of the sentence.

Question 11English language arts

A writer wants to combine these two sentences: 'The bus was late. We still reached school on time.' Which combined sentence keeps the meaning and uses the best connecting word?

  1. The bus was late, so we still reached school on time.
  2. The bus was late because we still reached school on time.
  3. The bus was late, or we still reached school on time.
  4. Although the bus was late, we still reached school on time. Correct answer.

Explanation

The two ideas contrast: a late bus would usually cause lateness, but the students arrived on time anyway. 'Although' correctly signals that contrast, while the other connecting words show a result, a cause, or a choice that the sentences do not mean.

Question 12English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'Sam opened his lunchbox and sighed. He had packed a sandwich, but he had wanted pizza. He traded half his sandwich for a slice from his friend.' Which sentence best states the main idea?

  1. Sam always packs a sandwich for lunch.
  2. Sam's friend does not like pizza.
  3. Sam solved his lunch problem by trading food with a friend. Correct answer.
  4. Sam forgot his lunchbox at home.

Explanation

The main idea must cover the whole paragraph, not just one detail. The events move from Sam's disappointment to his trade, so the best summary is that he solved his lunch problem by trading.

Question 13English language arts

Which sentence uses a pronoun correctly to replace 'my brother and I'?

  1. Us walked to the park together.
  2. We walked to the park together. Correct answer.
  3. Them walked to the park together.
  4. Him and me walked to the park together.

Explanation

A subject pronoun is needed because the pronoun performs the action of walking. 'We' is the correct subject pronoun to replace 'my brother and I,' while the other choices use object pronouns that cannot act as the subject.

Question 14English language arts

Read these sentences: 'The wind howled through the trees. Branches scratched the window like fingers.' Which phrase is a simile?

  1. branches scratched
  2. like fingers Correct answer.
  3. the wind howled
  4. through the trees

Explanation

A simile compares two things using the words 'like' or 'as.' The phrase 'like fingers' compares scratching branches to fingers, so it is the simile in these sentences.

Question 15English language arts

A student is writing a report about how bees help plants. Which sentence would best begin a paragraph that gives facts on this topic?

  1. Bees carry pollen from one flower to another as they collect nectar. Correct answer.
  2. Bees are scary and should stay far away from people.
  3. Once, a bee landed right on my sandwich!
  4. I think bees are the most interesting insects in the world.

Explanation

An informative paragraph should open with a factual statement that names the topic. The sentence about carrying pollen gives a verifiable fact about how bees help plants, while the others are opinions or personal stories.

Question 16English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The chef tasted the soup, and she added a pinch of salt.' What kind of sentence is this?

  1. sentence fragment
  2. complex sentence
  3. compound sentence Correct answer.
  4. simple sentence

Explanation

A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as 'and.' Both 'The chef tasted the soup' and 'she added a pinch of salt' can stand alone, so the sentence is compound.

Question 17English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The teacher asked, "Who finished the reading log?"' Which detail shows that the sentence is written correctly?

  1. The quotation marks are placed around the whole sentence.
  2. The comma comes after the quotation marks.
  3. The sentence has no end punctuation.
  4. The question mark is inside the quotation marks. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a quotation is a question, the question mark belongs inside the closing quotation marks. The comma correctly separates the speaker from the quotation, and the sentence does have end punctuation.

Question 18English language arts

Read this passage: 'Nia practiced her flute every day after school. At first her notes squeaked. By the recital, she played the song smoothly.' What does the passage show about Nia?

  1. Practice helped her improve. Correct answer.
  2. She dislikes playing the flute.
  3. She wanted to quit the recital.
  4. She learned the song in one day.

Explanation

A reader can infer a lesson from the events in a passage. Nia's playing changes from squeaky to smooth after daily practice, which shows that practice helped her improve.

Question 19English language arts

Which sentence correctly uses 'their,' 'there,' or 'they're'?

  1. The students put their books on the shelf. Correct answer.
  2. The students put there books on the shelf.
  3. The students put their going to the shelf.
  4. The students put they're books on the shelf.

Explanation

'Their' is the possessive form that shows something belongs to them, so it fits before 'books.' 'There' names a place, and 'they're' is a contraction of 'they are,' which do not fit this sentence.

Question 20English language arts

A writer wants to revise this sentence to show, not just tell: 'The dog was angry.' Which revision best shows the dog's anger?

  1. The dog felt angry about something.
  2. The dog was very angry at the mail carrier.
  3. The dog was an angry animal that day.
  4. The dog growled and bared its teeth at the mail carrier. Correct answer.

Explanation

Showing rather than telling means using specific actions and details so readers can picture the feeling. Growling and baring teeth let readers infer anger instead of naming it directly.

Question 21English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The old bridge, which was built in 1920, still carries traffic today.' Which part of the sentence is set off by commas?

  1. a list of three or more items
  2. a direct quotation from a speaker
  3. a nonrestrictive clause that adds extra information Correct answer.
  4. an introductory phrase that tells when

Explanation

Commas can set off a clause that adds extra information about a noun without changing which noun is meant. 'Which was built in 1920' simply adds detail about the bridge, so it is nonrestrictive and set off by commas.

Question 22English language arts

A student is writing a story and wants to build suspense before a surprise. Which sentence best creates suspense?

  1. Mia opened the door and went inside the room.
  2. The door was made of wood and had a handle.
  3. Mia had opened many doors before in her life.
  4. Mia slowly turned the handle, and the door creaked open. Correct answer.

Explanation

Suspense comes from slowing the action and adding details that make readers wonder what will happen. 'Slowly turned' and 'creaked open' stretch out the moment and hint that something is about to be revealed.

Question 23English language arts

Read these sentences: 'The museum was quiet. Eli's footsteps echoed on the marble floor. He stopped when he heard a low hum from the closed room.' Which detail best suggests that something is about to happen?

  1. the marble floor
  2. Eli's footsteps echoing
  3. a low hum from the closed room Correct answer.
  4. the quiet museum

Explanation

A detail that hints at coming action often introduces something unexplained or unusual. The mysterious hum from a closed room makes readers expect a reveal, while the other details only describe the setting.

Question 24English language arts

Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate an introductory phrase from the rest of the sentence?

  1. After the long game, the team shared a snack. Correct answer.
  2. After, the long game the team shared a snack.
  3. After the long game the team shared, a snack.
  4. After the long game the team, shared a snack.

Explanation

An introductory phrase that comes before the main clause should be followed by a comma. In the correct sentence, the comma comes right after 'After the long game' and before the main clause begins.

Question 25English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'Many people think sharks are dangerous. However, most sharks avoid people. In fact, more people are hurt by falling coconuts each year.' What is the author's main point?

  1. People should never swim in the ocean.
  2. Coconuts are the most dangerous thing in the ocean.
  3. Sharks hunt people on purpose.
  4. Sharks are less dangerous to people than many believe. Correct answer.

Explanation

The author uses the word 'However' to signal a contrast with the common belief. The details about sharks avoiding people and the coconut comparison support the point that sharks are less dangerous than people think.

Question 26English language arts

A student is writing a story about a character who is very shy. Which word best describes how the character acts at a party?

  1. noisy
  2. careless
  3. bold
  4. timid Correct answer.

Explanation

A shy character would act timid, meaning fearful or hesitant around others. The other choices describe someone who is outgoing, loud, or not careful, which does not match shyness.

Question 27English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The puppy chewed the slipper until it was soggy.' What does the word soggy mean as it is used here?

  1. clean and new
  2. hard and dry
  3. wet and soft Correct answer.
  4. warm and cozy

Explanation

Chewing a slipper until it is soggy suggests it became wet and soft from the puppy's mouth. Context clues about chewing help the reader figure out the meaning.

Question 28English language arts

Which reference source would a third grader use to find the meaning of the word 'habitat'?

  1. an atlas
  2. a phone book
  3. a thesaurus
  4. a dictionary Correct answer.

Explanation

A dictionary lists words in alphabetical order and gives their meanings, so it is the right source for word definitions. The other sources give maps, phone numbers, or synonyms.

Question 29English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The tall giraffe stretched its long neck to reach the highest leaves.' How many adjectives describe the giraffe?

  1. four
  2. one
  3. three
  4. two Correct answer.

Explanation

The adjectives that describe the giraffe are 'tall' and 'long,' so there are two. 'Highest' describes the leaves, not the giraffe.

Question 30English language arts

Which sentence uses the word 'quiet' correctly as an adjective?

  1. The class quiet walked down the hall.
  2. The teacher quiet the room.
  3. The library was quiet during reading time. Correct answer.
  4. The students quiet their voices.

Explanation

An adjective describes a noun, so 'quiet' should describe the library. In the other sentences, 'quiet' is used where a verb or adverb belongs.

Question 31English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The baby giggled when her sister made a funny face.' Which word tells why the baby giggled?

  1. funny
  2. baby
  3. giggled
  4. when Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'when' introduces the reason or time for the giggle, linking the action to what caused it. The other words name the person, the action, or describe the face.

Question 32English language arts

A student wants to find another word for 'happy' to use in a poem. Which reference source is best?

  1. an encyclopedia
  2. an almanac
  3. a dictionary
  4. a thesaurus Correct answer.

Explanation

A thesaurus lists words with similar meanings, called synonyms, so it is the best source for finding another word for 'happy.' A dictionary gives meanings, an encyclopedia gives facts, and an almanac gives yearly data.

Question 33English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The rain poured down, so the soccer game was canceled.' Which word signals the effect?

  1. rain
  2. canceled
  3. poured
  4. so Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'so' signals that what follows is the effect of the rain. The rain is the cause, and the canceled game is the effect.

Question 34English language arts

A student is writing a story and wants to show that a character is nervous. Which sentence best shows nervousness without telling?

  1. Maya felt very nervous.
  2. Maya was a nervous person.
  3. Maya is sometimes nervous.
  4. Maya tapped her foot and bit her lip. Correct answer.

Explanation

Showing a character's actions, like tapping a foot and biting a lip, lets readers infer nervousness. The other sentences simply tell the reader the character is nervous.

Question 35English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'The class planted seeds in small cups. Each day they added water and set the cups on the sunny windowsill. Soon tiny green shoots pushed through the soil.' What is the paragraph mostly about?

  1. why windowsills are sunny
  2. how to water a garden
  3. how seeds grow into plants Correct answer.
  4. how to make a cup

Explanation

The paragraph describes planting, watering, and watching shoots appear, so it is mostly about how seeds grow. The other choices focus on small details rather than the main idea.

Question 36English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The cat, which had been sleeping all afternoon, suddenly jumped up.' Which words form the dependent clause?

  1. had been sleeping
  2. suddenly jumped up
  3. which had been sleeping all afternoon Correct answer.
  4. The cat

Explanation

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone. 'Which had been sleeping all afternoon' begins with 'which' and cannot be a sentence by itself.

Question 37English language arts

A student wants to combine these sentences: 'The library was closed. We went to the park instead.' Which combined sentence keeps the meaning?

  1. The library was closed, or we went to the park instead.
  2. The library was closed, for we went to the park instead.
  3. The library was closed, but we went to the park instead.
  4. The library was closed, so we went to the park instead. Correct answer.

Explanation

The second sentence shows a result of the first, so the conjunction 'so' correctly links them. 'But' suggests contrast, 'or' suggests a choice, and 'for' suggests a reason.

Question 38English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The teacher told us to bring our pencils, paper, and erasers to the test.' Why is a comma used after 'pencils' and 'paper'?

  1. to join two complete sentences
  2. to set off an introductory phrase
  3. to separate items in a series Correct answer.
  4. to show that someone is speaking

Explanation

Commas separate three or more items in a series, as in 'pencils, paper, and erasers.' They are not marking speech, joining sentences, or setting off an introduction here.

Question 39English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'Jada read the instructions twice. She gathered her materials and laid them out in order. Then she began to build the model.' What does the paragraph show about Jada?

  1. She is organized. Correct answer.
  2. She is impatient.
  3. She is careless.
  4. She is forgetful.

Explanation

Reading instructions twice and laying materials out in order show that Jada is organized. The details describe careful preparation, not carelessness or impatience.

Question 40English language arts

Read this sentence: 'The wind was so strong that it bent the trees, and it blew the leaves across the yard.' Which word is a conjunction joining two ideas?

  1. and Correct answer.
  2. bent
  3. across
  4. strong

Explanation

A conjunction joins words, phrases, or clauses. The word 'and' connects the two parts of the sentence about the wind.

Question 41English language arts

A student is writing a report about how butterflies grow. Which sentence would best begin a paragraph that explains the stages of growth?

  1. I saw a butterfly yesterday.
  2. Butterflies are pretty.
  3. Some people are afraid of butterflies.
  4. A butterfly's life has four main stages. Correct answer.

Explanation

A topic sentence should tell what the paragraph will explain. 'A butterfly's life has four main stages' clearly introduces a paragraph about growth stages.

Question 42English language arts

Read these sentences: 'The hallway was silent. Then the fire alarm screamed through the building.' Which word best describes the sound of the alarm?

  1. loud Correct answer.
  2. quiet
  3. slow
  4. gentle

Explanation

The verb 'screamed' suggests a sharp, loud sound that breaks the silence. The contrast with the silent hallway makes the alarm seem very loud.

Question 43English language arts

Read this sentence: 'My brother and me built a treehouse in the backyard.' Which change fixes the pronoun error?

  1. My brother and myself built a treehouse in the backyard.
  2. My brother and us built a treehouse in the backyard.
  3. Me and my brother built a treehouse in the backyard.
  4. My brother and I built a treehouse in the backyard. Correct answer.

Explanation

A subject pronoun is needed because the people are doing the action. 'I' is the subject pronoun, so 'My brother and I' is correct.

Question 44English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'Most people think bats are birds. However, bats are mammals. They have fur and feed their babies milk.' What is the author's point of view about bats?

  1. Bats are often misunderstood. Correct answer.
  2. Bats should be kept as pets.
  3. Bats are a kind of bird.
  4. Bats are dangerous animals.

Explanation

The paragraph corrects a common belief about bats by explaining they are mammals. This shows the author thinks bats are often misunderstood.

Question 45English language arts

Read these sentences: 'The old clock in the hall stopped at midnight. No one noticed until morning.' Which sentence best explains why the author included the detail about midnight?

  1. to explain how clocks work
  2. to show the clock was new
  3. to tell the reader the time of day
  4. to create a slightly mysterious mood Correct answer.

Explanation

A clock stopping at midnight and going unnoticed adds a strange, slightly eerie feeling to the story. The detail does more than give the time; it sets a mood.

Question 46English language arts

A student wrote: 'The museum was quiet. Eli's footsteps echoed. He stopped when he heard a low hum.' Which sentence best describes how the author builds tension?

  1. by using short sentences and a mysterious sound Correct answer.
  2. by listing the museum's rules
  3. by explaining why Eli visited
  4. by describing the museum's history

Explanation

Short sentences create a clipped, careful pace, and the unexplained hum adds mystery. Together they build tension. The other choices describe information that is not in the passage.

Question 47English language arts

Read this sentence: 'Although the trail was steep, the hikers reached the top before noon.' Which part of the sentence is the dependent clause?

  1. Although the trail was steep Correct answer.
  2. before noon
  3. the trail was steep
  4. the hikers reached the top

Explanation

A dependent clause begins with a subordinating word such as 'although' and cannot stand alone. 'Although the trail was steep' needs the rest of the sentence to make sense.

Question 48English language arts

Read this paragraph: 'Many people think sharks are dangerous. However, most sharks avoid people. In fact, more people are hurt by falling coconuts than by sharks.' What is the author's main purpose?

  1. to persuade readers that sharks are less dangerous than people think Correct answer.
  2. to entertain readers with a shark story
  3. to describe what sharks eat
  4. to explain how coconuts fall

Explanation

The author uses facts to change a common belief about sharks, which is a persuasive purpose. The coconut comparison supports the point that sharks are less dangerous than people think.

Question 49English language arts

A student is revising this sentence: 'The dog was angry.' Which revision best shows the dog's anger through actions?

  1. The dog was very angry.
  2. The dog growled and bared its teeth. Correct answer.
  3. The dog felt angry inside.
  4. The dog is an angry animal.

Explanation

Showing a character's actions, such as growling and baring teeth, lets readers infer anger. The other revisions repeat the feeling instead of showing it.

Question 50English language arts

A student is writing a story about a boy who is excited about a class field trip. Which word in this sentence is an adjective? 'The eager boy packed his bag quickly.'

  1. quickly
  2. bag
  3. eager Correct answer.
  4. packed

Explanation

An adjective describes a noun, and 'eager' describes the boy, telling what kind of boy he is. 'Packed' is a verb, 'quickly' is an adverb telling how he packed, and 'bag' is a noun.