Characters, Setting, and Plot
Grade 3 Reading Worksheet
Circle the answer.
Read this first
The Rooftop Garden Hose
Malia lived on the sixth floor of a tall apartment building in the city. On the roof, the neighbors shared a garden. Each family had one wooden box to plant.
Malia's box was next to Mr. Adebayo's. He was older and walked with a cane. Still, he grew the greenest tomato plants on the roof. Malia had planted sunflowers. She checked on them every morning before school.
One hot week in July, Malia noticed a problem. Mr. Adebayo's tomato leaves were drooping and turning brown. The hose was in the far corner and did not reach his box. He had been carrying water in a heavy pot. Now his knee hurt too much to carry anything.
Malia did not want to embarrass him by making a fuss. Instead, she made a plan. She asked the building manager for a longer hose. The manager said there was no money for one. So Malia knocked on doors on every floor. She asked each neighbor for one dollar. By Friday, she had twenty-two dollars.
On Saturday, Malia and her dad bought a long green hose at the hardware store. It reached every box on the roof, even the one in the far corner.
The next morning, Mr. Adebayo found Malia watering his tomatoes. At first he did not say a word. Then he picked the biggest tomato and placed it in her hands. "For the girl who helps without being asked," he said.
Where does most of the story take place?
- in a garden on an apartment roof
- in Mr. Adebayo's kitchen
- inside a hardware store in the city
- in a garden behind Malia's school
Who is the main character in this story?
- the building manager
- Malia's dad
- Mr. Adebayo
- Malia
When does the problem happen?
- on a rainy spring Saturday
- on the first day of school
- on a cold winter morning
- during a hot week in July
What problem does Malia notice?
- The water faucet on the roof is broken.
- The building manager has closed the garden.
- Malia's sunflowers have stopped growing.
- Mr. Adebayo's tomato plants are drying out.
Why can't Mr. Adebayo water his plants?
- The manager told him to stop.
- He cannot find where the hose is.
- He is away on a trip in July.
- His knee hurts too much to carry water.
How does Malia get the money for the hose?
- She asks each neighbor for a dollar.
- She sells sunflowers to neighbors.
- Her dad gives her twenty dollars.
- The building manager pays for it.
Which detail shows that Malia cares about Mr. Adebayo's feelings?
- She planted sunflowers in her box.
- She bought the hose at a store.
- She lived on the sixth floor.
- She did not want to embarrass him.
Which word best describes Malia?
- bossy
- thoughtful
- impatient
- forgetful
How does Mr. Adebayo feel at the end? Which clue shows it?
- angry, because he says nothing at first
- worried, because his leaves turn brown
- thankful, because he gives her a tomato
- proud, because his plants are green
Malia did not want to make a fuss. What does make a fuss mean?
- make a mess in the garden
- make a new friend on the roof
- make a loud noise with tools
- make a big deal about something