Characters, Setting, and Plot

Grade 3 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the answer.

1. Read this first

   Bao's Torn Drum

   The spring concert at Maple Creek School was one hour away. Bao waited in the music room with his class. He played the big drum, and he had practiced every day for a month.

   Bao lifted the drum from its stand. His heart sank. The top of the drum had a long tear in it! When he tapped it, it made a flat buzzing sound.

   Bao did not give up. He ran to find Mr. Ortiz, the music teacher. Mr. Ortiz looked at the drum and rubbed his chin. "We have an old drum in the storage closet," he said. "It might be dusty, but it should work."

   Bao and his friend Elsie dug through the closet. Behind a pile of music stands, they found the old drum. Elsie wiped it clean with a cloth. Bao tightened the screws on the sides until the top was firm.

   That evening, Bao stood on the stage under the bright lights. He played every beat right on time. When the song ended, the crowd clapped loudly. Bao smiled at Elsie from across the stage.

2. 1.

   Who is the main character in this story?

   • Elsie
   • Bao
   • Mr. Ortiz
3. 2.

   Where is Bao when the story begins?

   • in the music room at school
   • in a storage closet at home
   • on the stage under the lights
4. 3.

   What is Bao's problem?

   • He forgot the concert song.
   • He cannot find the music room.
   • His drum has a long tear.
5. 4.

   How does Bao feel when he sees the tear? Which clue shows it?

   • calm, because he rubbed his chin
   • upset, because his heart sank
   • proud, because he smiled at Elsie
6. 5.

   Who helps Bao search the storage closet?

   • Mr. Ortiz
   • his whole class
   • his friend Elsie
7. 6.

   How is Bao's problem solved?

   • He uses an old drum from the closet.
   • Mr. Ortiz buys him a new drum.
   • Elsie plays the drum for him.
8. 7.

   Which word best describes Bao?

   • determined
   • shy
   • careless
9. 8.

   When and where does the last part of the story happen?

   • one month later, in the closet
   • that evening, on the stage
   • the next morning, in class
10. 9.

    Bao tightened the screws until the top was firm. What does firm mean?

    • hard and not loose
    • soft and floppy
    • shiny and clean
11. 10.

    What happens at the end of the story?

    • Bao plays every beat on time.
    • Bao finds the tear in the drum.
    • Elsie wipes the old drum clean.