★Why Characters Act
Grade 4 Reading Worksheet
Read the text. Circle the reason for what the character does.
Read this first
Sami Misses the Big Game
Sami had been waiting all week for Saturday's soccer game. His team, the Comets, was playing the Hornets, the only team that had beaten them all season. Sami was the goalkeeper, and he had a plan for stopping their fastest player.
On Friday night, he found his little sister, Noor, at the kitchen table. She was surrounded by cardboard, glue, and a pile of crumpled paper. Her volcano model for the third-grade science fair was due Monday morning. It was leaning sideways like a melting candle.
"It keeps falling over," Noor said. Her voice was tiny. "Mom and Dad have to work all weekend. Everyone else's parents are helping them."
Sami looked at the crooked volcano. He remembered his own third-grade science fair. He had built a bridge out of craft sticks by himself because his parents were busy then, too. The night before the fair, it collapsed. He had stood next to a pile of sticks while other kids showed off their projects. He had never told anyone how embarrassed he felt.
Sami picked up his phone and texted his coach. "Sorry, I can't make the game tomorrow. Family thing." Then he pulled out a chair.
"First," he said, "we need a stronger base." He showed Noor how to build a cone out of rolled newspaper and tape. On Saturday morning, they covered it with strips of paper dipped in paste. While it dried, Sami checked the score of his game on his phone. The Comets had lost by one goal. He winced, but he didn't say anything.
On Sunday, Noor painted the volcano brown and orange. She wrote her own labels for each layer. When Sami offered to write them, she shook her head. "I want to do this part myself," she said. Sami nodded and stepped back.
On Monday afternoon, Noor ran off the bus waving a ribbon. "Third place!" she shouted. "And my volcano didn't fall over once!"
Sami grinned. There would be other soccer games.
Why does Sami miss his soccer game?
- His parents asked him to stay home.
- His coach told him he could not play.
- He was afraid of losing to the Hornets.
- He wants to help Noor finish her project.
Which memory helps explain Sami's choice?
- He once lost a big game to the Hornets.
- He won a ribbon in the third grade.
- His own science fair bridge fell apart.
- His parents helped him build a bridge.
Why does Sami step back when Noor wants to write the labels?
- He is tired of working on the volcano.
- He wants to check the soccer score again.
- He does not know the names of the layers.
- He respects that she wants to do her own work.
Why does Sami grin when Noor shouts that she won third place?
- He is proud that he built the whole volcano himself.
- He is relieved he does not have to help anymore.
- He is glad that Noor's project turned out well.
- He is happy that the Comets finally won.
