Comprehension Questions for
Progress Monitoring
AIMSWEB Reading Passages
Grade 1
E
F
I
MI
SEQ
V
C/E
Evaluation
Fact
Inference
Main Idea
Sequential
Vocabulary
Cause/Effect
Prepared by: CAIU
January, 2008
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 4
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who secretly brings his dog to school)
___ (F)
2. Who is Tom waiting for?
(the bus)
___ (I)
3. Why does he think the bus forgot him?
(no one else is there but him)
___ (F)
4. What does Tom do when he hears the bus?
(he puts Spot in his backpack)
___ (V)
5. What does yelp mean?
(bark shortly, etc.)
___ (I)
6. Why did Spot yelp?
(he wanted to get out of the bookbag the boy sat on him)
___ (I)
7. Why do you think Tom made Jack promise not to tell
anyone?
(so it would be a surprise, so he wouldn’t get in trouble)
___ (F)
8. What did Tom decide to do?
(tell the teacher he has something for show and tell)
___ (I)
9. Why was Tom’s mom mad?
(she had to come get the dog, Tom shouldn’t have
brought the dog to school, etc.)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Tom will take his dog to school again? Why
or why not?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 5
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a sheep who liked jelly beans)
___ (F)
2. Who is Anne?
(a sheep)
___ (F)
3. What things does Anne like?
(to be petted, roll over, jump a hay hale-any 2)
___ (V)
4. What does treat mean?
(a reward)
___ (V)
5. What is a hay bale?
(hay/straw/grass tied together)
___ (I)
6. Why do the kids give Anne a jellybean when she does a
trick?
(to reward her, let her know they like her tricks, etc.)
___ (I)
7. Why does Anne get excited when she sees the kids have
bag of jellybeans?
(she is going to get a treat, get petted, have fun)
___ (F)
8. What happened when Anne got to the barn?
(her wool was cut off)
___ (F)
9. Who cut the wool off of Anne?
(the farmer)
___ (I)
10. How do you think Anne felt? Why?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 6
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(boys who make kites)
___ (V)
2. What is a playground?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
3. Have any of the boys ever had a kite before?
(yes)
How do you know?
(one said he had a kite, one had a kite get caught in a
tree before)
___ (C/E) 4. Since the children did not have kites, what did they decide to
do?
(make them)
___ (F)
5. Who helped the boys make kites?
(Bill’s mom)
___ (F)
6. How did the boys add color to their kites?
(paint, markers)
___ (F)
7. Name a design one of the boys put on their kites.
(dragon, frog, dinosaur-any 1)
___ (V)
8. What does support mean?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
9. What do they use to make the tails of the kites?
(strips pf newspaper)
___ (E)
10. How did the boys feel about their kites?
(proud, happy, etc.)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 7
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy visiting his grandfather, a boy who wants to learn
chess, etc.)
___ (I)
2. What time of year is it?
(winter)
___ (F)
3. What day of the week is it?
(Tuesday, art day)
___ (I)
4. Why would it take extra time for the man to answer the
door?
(he’s old)
___ (I)
5. How did Billy know someone was about to answer the door?
(he heard footsteps, someone walking inside)
___ (V)
6. What is another word for gruff?
(rough, tough, etc.)
___ (I)
7. How did Mr. Black tease Billy?
(he said Billy was late because he talked with his
girlfriends)
___ (F)
8. Who is Mr. Black?
(Billy’s grandfather)
___ (F)
9. How old is Billy?
(seven)
___ (F)
10. What will Billy and Grandpa do while they’re playing
chess?
(eat cookies)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 8
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a cat who wanted to do something nice for the birds)
___ (F)
2. What did cat like to do?
(watch birds)
___ (F)
3. What will cat plant?
(sunflowers, seeds)
___ (I)
4. Why did dog ask if cat was sure he planted something?
(nothing came up, he couldn’t see the plants, any
reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. How long did it take for the seeds to grow a few leaves?
(10 days)
___ (V)
6. What does the word cared mean in this sentence?
“Cat cared for the sunflowers”
(he watered them, pulled weeds, took care of the
sunflowers)
___ (F)
7. How tall did the plants get?
(taller than cat)
___ (V)
8. What is a stalk?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
9. What color were the petals?
(yellow)
___ (E)
10. Why was cat happy?
(he helped the birds, he did something nice, etc.)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 9
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who runs away from home)
___ (I)
2. What season is it?
(winter)
___ (F)
3. Where is Jack going?
(he’s running away, for a walk in the woods)
___ (F)
4. What will Jack have for lunch?
(chicken noodle soup)
___ (F)
5. Why does Jack’s mom tell him to stay off the pond?
(the ice is not thick enough to walk on)
___ (V)
6. What does squinted mean?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
7. Why might Jack want to run away?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
8. What does Jack see in the snow?
(different animal tracks)
___ (F)
9. Does Jack really run away?
(no)
How do you know?
(he comes home for lunch)
___ (F)
10. How old is Jack?
(six)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 10
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a child tells about their brother and sister)
___ (F)
2. How does the child in telling this story feel about their
brother?
(sometimes the child likes him, and sometimes he
doesn’t)
___ (F)
3. What does the brother do that the child likes?
(he can be fun, he looks cool on a skateboard, he reads
funny books, he lets the child win at checkers, he takes
the child for rides on his bike - any 2)
___ (F)
4. What does the brother do that the child doesn’t like?
(bugs him, teases him, doesn’t let the child play with his
remote cars, hogs the computer, scares the child - any 2)
___ (V)
5. What does the word bugs mean in this sentence?
“My brother bugs me.”
(bothers, annoys, teases, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
6. How does the child telling the story feel about his sister?
(sometimes the child likes her, sometimes not)
___ (F)
7. What does the sister do that the child likes?
(she can be fun, looks cool on rollerblades, sings and
dances with the child, helps with his homework, takes the
child swimming, pretends to be Minnie Mouse - any 2)
___ (V)
8. What does pretend mean?
(make believe, play act, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
9. What does the sister do that the child doesn’t like?
(she can be a pain, she won’t share her lipstick/makeup,
she’s always talking/whispering to her friends, she
unplugs the vacuum - any 2)
___ (I)
10. Is the child telling the story to a boy or a girl?
(girl)
How do you know?
(only a girl uses makeup)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 11
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a girl who doesn’t think girls and boys can play together)
___ (I)
2. What kind of day is it?
(sunny, nice)
___ (F)
3. Who offers to play with Sally?
(Billy, the boy next door)
___ (F)
4. Does Sally want to play with him? Why or why not?
(no; he’s a boy, he’s rough, he won’t play the kinds of
games she wants to play, etc.)
___ (V)
5. What is the opposite of rough? ‘He is a rough boy.’
(nice, not mean, etc.)
___ (F)
6. What kinds of things does Sally think boys like to do?
(play dumb games, look for frogs, they are not nice to
each other – any 2)
___ (F)
7. Does Billy want to do any of those things with Sally?
(no)
___ (F)
8. What does Billy suggest he and Sally do?
(play ball, play together, etc.)
___ (I)
9. How does Sally feel about the game?
(she wants to play, happy, etc.)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Sally will play with Billy again? Why or why
not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 12
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a hardworking bee, a party for bee, etc.)
___ (I)
2. What is Mr. Bee?
(a bumblebee)
___ (F)
3. What was Mr. Bee’s job?
(collecting honey)
___ (F)
4. How did Mr. Bee feel about his job?
(he loved it)
___ (F)
5. What did the other bees do for Mr. Bee?
(they had a party)
Why?
(he worked hard)
___ (F)
6. What did the bees do for Mr. Bee at the party?
(tied balloons to his flowers, gave him honey cakes, gave
him new honey pots, sang songs, danced – any 2)
___ (I)
7. Why was Mr. Bee tired the next day?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
8. What does surprise mean?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
9. Could this story really happen?
(no)
How do you know?
(bees don’t talk, have parties, etc.)
___ (E)
10. Would you like to have a surprise party? Why or why not?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 13
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a family getting a new car)
___ (F)
2. What was the matter with the car?
(it made strange noises, the brakes were loud and
squeaky, the didn’t work, the air conditioning didn’t work,
it looked old – any two)
___ (V)
3. What is a car lot?
(a place where cars are sold, any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
4. How many doors did the new car have?
(four)
___ (F)
5. What color was the new car?
(black)
___ (I)
6. Why did they buy the car?
(it didn’t make strange sounds, etc., any reasonable
answer)
___ (F)
7. Why was Chad quiet on the ride home?
(he missed the old car)
___ (V)
___ (I)
___ (E)
8. What do window wipers do?
(they keep the front window clean, they keep rain off, etc.)
9. Why will the new car be just like the old one in a couple of
years?
(it will get old too)
10. Do you think Chad cheered up later? Why or why not?
(any reasonable answer with support)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage14
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(having fun in the snow, making a snowman)
___ (I)
2. What season is it?
(winter)
___ (F)
3. What do Jeff and his friends do in the snow?
(make a snowman)
___ (SEQ) 4. How do they make the snowman?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
5. Why did it take only one kid to roll the head, but many to lift
it?
(it wasn’t too big to roll but it was too big for one person to
lift)
___ (F)
6. How many parts usually make up a snowman?
(three)
___ (F)
7. What items did they use to dress the snowman?
(hat, mittens, boots, scarf – any two)
___ (F)
8. What do the boys do at Jeff’s house?
(drink hot cocoa)
___ (F)
9. What did the kids do later?
(went back outside, went sledding, played in the snow)
___ (E) 10. Do you like to play in the snow? Why or why not?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 15
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a walk in the woods, a dog getting sprayed by a skunk,
etc.)
___ (F)
2. What season is it?
(fall)
___ (I)
3.How do you know?
(the leaves were brown, they were falling from the trees,
the birds were flying South)
___ (F)
4. What is John’s dog’s name?
(Puppy)
___ (V)
5. What does the word call mean in this sentence: “You must
come when I call.” ?
(yell for, say Puppy’s name, tell Puppy to come, etc.)
___ (F)
6. Why did John tell Puppy he was a good boy?
(because Puppy came when he called, he followed
directions, etc.)
___ (F)
7. What did Puppy see on the trail?
(a skunk)
___ (F)
8. What did the skunk do to Puppy?
(spray him, make him smelly, etc.)
___ (I)
9. Why does Puppy always come to John when he calls him
now?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (C/E) 10. What do you think John did after Puppy got sprayed?
(washed, him, cleaned him up, etc.)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 16
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a family that moves)
___ (I)
2. How many vehicles does the family take to move?
(two)
___ (F)
3. Why drives the truck?
(Dad)
___ (I)
4. Is the new house close or far away?
(far away)
How do you know?
(it’s in another town, they drive and drive, the child fell
asleep, etc.)
___ (F)
5. What did they have for lunch?
(tacos)
___ (F)
6. Why did the child get a kids meal?
(he wanted the toy)
___ (V)
7. What is a ‘refill’?
(get more soda, fill up his soda again)
___ (F)
8. What did the child see along the road?
(cars from other states, deer, cows – any one)
___ (F)
9. Why will the child soon see lots of animals every day?
(they’re moving to a farm)
___ (I)
10. Does the child like horses?
(yes)
How do you know?
(he hoped the neighbors had horses)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 17
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who wants to go to a friends house, a boy who
saves his family from a fire)
___ (F)
2. Who does the child want to go see?
(his friend, Jen)
___ (F)
3. How far away does he live?
(six houses down)
___ (F)
4. What did the boy do to try and show he was a ‘big kid’?
(put on his dad’s boots, ate four pieces of pizza for lunch
– any one)
___ (F)
5. What did Mom put in the oven?
(cookies)
___ (I)
6. How did the child know they were burning?
(smoke coming from oven)
___ (F)
7. What did the child take out of the house?
(the baby and the phone)
___ (I)
8. Why did the mother open the windows when she took the
cookies out?
(to let out the smoke)
___ (I)
9. Do you think the child will be allowed to bike to his friend’s
house?
(yes)
Why/ why not?
(his mom said he did a ‘big kid’ thing)
___ (E)
10. What would you do if there was a fire at your house?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 18
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a lost dog, a boy who wants his dog to come home)
___ (I)
2. Why does Pete put up pictures of his dog?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (V)
3. What is a curb?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
4. Why does Pete’s mom give him a hug?
(to make him feel better, any reasonable answer)
___ (I)
5. Why did Pete stay outside?
(to look for his dog)
___ (I)
6. Why wasn’t Pete very hungry?
(he was worried, upset)
___ (F)
7. What color is Dot’s dish?
(red)
___ (I)
8. What did Pete have for dinner that night?
(chicken)
___ (I)
9. What do you think Pete heard out his window?
(his dog, a bark, etc.)
___ (F)
10. What is Pete’s dog’s name?
(Dot)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 19
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a boy who gets a dog)
___ (F)
2. What does Sam need to do to take care of his dog?
(feed it, take it for walks – 1)
___ (F)
3. What color dog did Sam pick?
(black)
___ (F)
4. How does Spot explore Sam’s room?
(he sniffs at everything)
___ (V)
5. What is the opposite of soft?
(hard, rough)
___ (F)
6. What kind of toys did Spot like?
(squeaky toys, toys that make noise)
___ (V)
7. What is a leash?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
8. What did Sam name his dog?
(Spot)
___ (F)
9. What did Spot do outside?
(played in the yard, jumped, barked, chased after sticks,
rolled in the grass [any2])
___ (F)
10. Where did Sam take Spot for a walk?
(to the park)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 20
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a trip to the zoo, hiding animals)
___ (I)
2. How do you know Sam was excited about going to the zoo?
(he wore his whale shirt, sea lion socks, the trip seemed
long, he couldn’t wait to get to the zoo, etc.)
___ (F)
3. What did Sam want to see at the zoo?
(the apes, the birds, the whales, the lions)
___ (V)
4. What is the opposite of closed?
(open)
___ (I)
5. Were the animals trying to hide from Sam? What were they
doing?
(no; sleeping, doing what they always do)
___ (F)
6. What did Sam do on the ride home?
(ate his lunch, played with his cookies)
___ (F)
7. How did Sam use his animal cookies?
(he made his own zoo with them)
___ (F)
8. Who was the zookeeper in this zoo?
(Sam)
___ (F)
9. Did Sam like his trip home?
(yes)
___ (E)
10. Do you think Sam will visit the zoo again? Why or why
not?
(any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 21
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a bird feeder)
___ (F)
2. What was in the bird feeder?
(seeds and corn – 1)
___ (F)
3. What season do birds really need food? Why?
(winter; it is hard for birds to find food)
___ (I)
4. Why does putting food in a feeder make it easier for the
birds?
(any reasonable answer)
___ (F)
5. How do birds make other birds know about the food?
(they chirp)
___ (V)
6. How do the birds fly to the feeder?
(fast, they zip, they zoom, etc)
___ (F)
7. What do the birds do most of the day?
(eat, sit at the feeder, etc)
___ (F)
8. What kind of bird chases the other birds away?
(blue jay)
___ (F)
9. What does the blue jay do when he’s full?
(flies away)
___ (F)
10. What other animals eat the seeds and corn?
(squirrels)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 22
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(a dream, a special star)
___ (I)
2. Where is the boy?
(in his bedroom, in his bed, etc.)
___ (V)
3. What is another way to say wonder?
(think about, is curious about, wants to know, any
reasonable answer)
___ (F)
4. What can the boy do in his dream?
(fly, talk to stars)
___ (F)
5. Where does the boy fly to?
(the star)
___ (F)
6. What does the boy name the star?
(Joy)
___ (I)
7. Why do you think he names the star that?
(because the star makes him happy)
___ (F)
8. Why does the star twinkle?
(because the boy watches her)
___ (I)
9. When does the boy wake up?
(during the night)
How do you know?
(he can still see the star)
___ (E)
10. What do you think the boy does next?
(goes back to sleep, any reasonable answer)
Comprehension Questions - Aimsweb
Grade 1, Passage 23
___ (MI)
1. What is this story about?
(noisy mice, a boy who can’t sleep, etc.)
___ (F)
2. Where do the mice live?
(in the walls of Tim’s house)
___ (F)
3. What are the mice’s names?
(Bill and Ray)
___ (F)
4. Why did Tim have a hard time falling asleep?
(because the mice were noisy, running around, dancing)
___ (V)
5. What does “making a racket” mean?
(being noisy)
___ (I)
6. Why was it important for Tim to get a good night’s sleep
(he had a test the next day)
___ (F)
7. Why were the mice noisy every night?
(they were cold, they wanted pillows and blankets)
___ (F)
8. What does Tim give the mice?
(socks and cotton balls)
___ (F)
9. How did they use the socks and cotton balls?
(they used the socks for blankets and the cotton balls for
pillows)
___ (I)
10. Could this story really happen? Why or why not?
(no; mice can’t talk)