Maya's Race: Understanding Motivation and Language

What is the genre of the passage?

• Historical Fiction

• Realistic Fiction

• Biography

• Informational

How many paragraphs are in the story?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

What is Maya’s main motivation in the story?

• To win the race

• To finish without stopping

• To beat Carlos

• To impress her mom

In paragraph 3, what helps Maya continue running?

• Her mom’s words

• Carlos cheering

• The finish line

• Her new sneakers

What lesson does Maya learn by the end of the story?

• That practice makes perfect

• That support from friends matters

• That believing in yourself is important

• That winning is everything

What does the phrase “Her legs felt like jelly” mean?

• Her legs were soft and sweet

• Her legs were moving quickly

• Her legs were tired and shaky

• Her legs were sticky

What type of figurative language is the sentence “The sun shimmered like gold dust”?

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Metaphor

• Personification

Which sentence from the passage is an example of personification?

• Maya bolted around the corner

• The sun shimmered like gold dust

• Her strength came from her heart

• Her sneakers slapped the sidewalk

Maya’s mom said, “Your strength doesn’t just come from your muscles—it comes from your heart.” What does she mean?

• Maya needs a stronger heart

• Maya should exercise more

• Strength comes from determination

• Strength is only physical

In the sentence “Her breath came in quick gasps,” what does gasps most likely mean?

• Sighs of relief

• Fast, shallow breaths

• Shouts of excitement

• Deep sleeping sounds