What does the first ant leave on the ground?
Read an Informational Passage · ELPAC Grade 1 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A longer factual text, with questions about the main idea, supporting details and vocabulary.
Read the passage. Then answer the questions. On the real test a grade 1 student reads this kind of text on their own, so let your child read it first and help only with a word they are stuck on. The pictures are described after the passage.
How Ants Find Food
Ants live together in a nest. One ant goes out to look for food. When it finds food, it walks straight back to the nest. As it walks, it leaves a smell on the ground. The other ants smell the trail and follow it. That is why ants walk in a long line. Together they carry the food home.
Read panel descriptions
Picture one: a small hill of dirt with a hole in the top. Ants go in and out of the hole.
Picture two: one ant stands on a sidewalk next to a big crumb of bread.
Picture three: a long line of ants walks one behind the other. Each ant carries a piece of the crumb toward the hill of dirt.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does the first ant leave on the ground?
- A piece of food
- A small hole
- A line of dirt
- A smellCorrect answer
Why “A smell” is correct
Pulling one fact out of an informational text is harder than remembering a story, because there is no plot to hang it on. The fact is in a single sentence, so reread it and pause just before the last word to let your child finish it. A smell that stays behind is an odd idea at six, so it helps to compare it to something they know, like following the smell of dinner to the kitchen.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A piece of food — The ant carries food back rather than leaving it behind. Food is in almost every sentence, which is why this choice is tempting.
- A small hole — The hole is the way into the nest and appears in the first picture, but the ant does not make one while it walks.
- A line of dirt — There is a line in this text, but it is the line of ants, not a line of dirt. Ask your child what is lined up.
Practice more of this
More reading practice for Grade 1, or see the ELPAC practice test for grade 1. For other grades, see free ELPAC practice tests by grade.
This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the California Department of Education or the official ELPAC program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published task formats.