Character traits and motivation · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What characters do and why

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these is a character trait?

    • kind
    • tired
    • ran

  2. A character's motivation is the reason behind their choice.

    Circle one:   True   False

  3. Which kind of evidence best supports a claim about a character's trait?

    • Relevant words or actions, explained in context
    • The weather alone, without the character's response
    • Your liking for the story, without any text details

  4. A small boy sat crying by the school fence. Rosa sat down next to him. She talked softly to him and stayed there until his mum came. Which word best describes Rosa?

    • bossy
    • greedy
    • gentle

  5. A wasp lands on Ada's ball. Marcus says, 'Stand back from the ball,' and calls an adult for help. What is his most likely reason?

    • He wants to stop Ada from playing with anyone again
    • He wants to help Ada avoid getting close to the wasp
    • He wants to take Ada's ball and keep it for himself

  6. Ollie dropped his tray once at lunch. That one moment is enough to prove Ollie is clumsy.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Ruth planned to give her brother a model boat for his birthday. It was Saturday night, and his birthday was the next morning. She stayed up to finish it. Which detail explains the hurry?

    • She wanted to give her brother a finished model boat
    • His birthday was the next morning, leaving little time
    • She worked on finishing the boat during Saturday night

  8. Mina opened the old cupboard just to see what was inside. At the museum she asked the guide four questions about the fossil. On the bus home she read the leaflet twice. Which trait do Mina's actions show?

    • shy
    • generous
    • curious

  9. Ivy says, 'I am the bravest in class.' She waits outside a dark storeroom and asks someone else to fetch a box. No reason is given. What can you conclude?

    • Waiting outside establishes that Ivy never acts bravely
    • This action does not establish Ivy's claim about bravery
    • Her claim establishes bravery whatever else she does

  10. Sam checks his homework bag before leaving each day. At art club he offers spare markers to a child with none. Which pair names two traits and matches each to its evidence?

    • Tidy: checks his bag; impatient: shares his markers
    • Careful: checks his bag; generous: shares his markers
    • Hungry: checks his bag; curious: shares his markers
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What characters do and why W1-mt_KmPZ5diLEP-s1

  1. kind · Kind names a trait. Tired describes a temporary state, and ran names an action.
  2. True · Motivation means the reason a character acts the way they do.
  3. Relevant words or actions, explained in context · Use relevant details and explain how they fit. Weather or your reaction alone does not show a character's trait.
  4. gentle · Rosa sits with a crying boy and stays until his mum comes. Those actions show she is gentle.
  5. He wants to help Ada avoid getting close to the wasp · His warning and request for adult help support wanting Ada to stay away from the wasp.
  6. False · Dropping a tray once does not establish clumsiness. The passage gives no pattern or other supporting detail.
  7. His birthday was the next morning, leaving little time · The approaching birthday explains why Ruth finishes that night rather than later.
  8. curious · Opening the cupboard, asking questions and rereading the leaflet all show Mina wants to find things out. That is curious.
  9. This action does not establish Ivy's claim about bravery · Waiting outside does not establish her claim. We also lack her reason and cannot judge everything she does.
  10. Careful: checks his bag; generous: shares his markers · Checking before leaving supports careful. Offering his spare materials supports generous.
Worksheet · LightMySky