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Type: Multiple-Choice
Category: Character Study
Level: Grade 5
Standards: CCRA.R.3, RL.5.3
Tags: ELA-Literacy.RL.5.3
Author: szeiger
Last Modified: 8 years ago

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Bait
by J. Robbins

"I'll feed the puffer fish if you'll feed the piranhas," promised Belleflor as she and Arsène grabbed the buckets of fish food and headed into the darkened aquarium. They had been volunteering with the Future Marine Biologists program for six months, and they had settled into a comfortable routine. Belleflor seemed to be fearless, and Arsène was grateful to have her as a partner. He was a naturally cautious person, and his nervous temperament kicked into overdrive when he entered the aquarium at night.
"Sure thing," Arsène agreed. His voice sounded loud in the empty building, and he couldn't help shivering slightly as they walked past the shark tanks. The aquarium was his favorite place in the world, but late at night it could be as creepy as an empty graveyard.
"That's odd," said Belleflor as she approached the puffer fish tank. "I don't see either of the puffers. What is going on?" Arsène heard a strange sound behind him and grabbed Belleflor's arm.
"I think I hear something over by the piranhas," he told her anxiously. "We'd better go check it out." The footsteps of the two volunteers echoed eerily in the darkness. Arsène felt his heart racing with anxiety as he tried to identify the strange gurgling sound. As he and Belleflor turned the corner, they both gasped in dismay.
"It can't be!" exclaimed Arsène. "Someone put the puffer fish into the piranha tank. Who would do something that cruel?" The two of them stood transfixed by the horrible sight of the bright red piranha tank. Belleflor clutched Arsène's arm and tried not to be sick. Suddenly, a hand reached out of the darkness and tapped both of their shoulders.
"Gah!" screamed Belleflor and Arsène in unison.
"You should see the looks on your faces right now," laughed Percy, another aquarium volunteer. "I knew you two would be the perfect marks for a practical joke. You're so gullible!"
"You mean . . . those aren't the puffer fish in the piranha tank?" Belleflor asked hopefully.
"Of course not!" said Percy. "I'm only mean to humans, never fish. I just snuck in before you got here and put the puffer fish in an empty tank. Then, I fed the piranhas their regular food and added some red food coloring to their tank water. Boy, you guys looked like you had seen a ghost."
"Only you would come up with a trick that devious," Arsène growled. Now that his fear had passed, he felt angry for having been duped. He promised himself that he would never volunteer for another night shift at the aquarium.

Grade 5 Character Study CCSS: CCRA.R.3, RL.5.3

Which statement best shows Percy's character?
  1. "I knew you two would be the perfect marks for a practical joke. You're so gullible!"
  2. ""Only you would come up with a trick that devious," Arsene growled.
  3. "I'm only mean to humans, never fish."
  4. "Someone put the puffer fish into the piranha tank. Who would do something that cruel?"