How did Ana feel at the end?
Read-Along Story with Scaffolding · ELPAC Kindergarten reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
The student follows along while the examiner reads a short story aloud, with pictures for support.
Sit with your child. Read the story aloud while your child follows along with your finger. Look at the three pictures together and talk about them. Then read each question and its three answers aloud.
Ana and the Red Ball
Ana had a red ball. She played with it at the park. The ball rolled under a bench. Ana could not reach it. A dog ran to the bench. The dog got the ball. The dog gave the ball to Ana. Ana was happy.
Read panel descriptions
Picture one: Ana stands on the grass at a park. She holds a big red ball.
Picture two: the red ball sits under a long wooden bench. Ana is on her knees, reaching for it.
Picture three: a brown dog drops the ball into Ana's hands. Ana is smiling.
The question
Read the question and the three answers aloud to your child.
How did Ana feel at the end?
- sad
- scared
- happyCorrect answer
Why “happy” is correct
The feeling is stated in the story, so the reading work is in the words "at the end" — your child has to connect the question to the last sentence rather than to the whole story. If they answer "sad", say "that was the middle of the story; what about the very end?" and reread the final two sentences. Sorting out beginning, middle and end is a real kindergarten goal in itself, so it is worth a minute even when the answer comes easily.
Why the other answers are wrong
- sad — Ana could not reach the ball in the middle of the story, and a child who answers "sad" is usually telling you about that part.
- scared — Nothing in the story frightens Ana. The dog runs toward her, which some children read as scary until you look at the third picture together.
Practice more of this
More reading practice for Kindergarten, or see the ELPAC practice test for kindergarten. 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.