World Cup Reading Packet
Grade 1 Nonfiction Reading
World Cup Wonders
Name:
Date: Score:
Reading Level: 1.0
The Big Soccer Games
Read about the biggest soccer games on Earth!
Big Games
Soccer is a fun game. Eleven players are on a team. They run and kick the ball. Fans cheer loud! They are watching the FIFA World Cup.
What Is the World Cup?
The World Cup is a big soccer tournament. A tournament is a contest with many games. It happens every 4 years. Teams come from many lands. The first games were in Uruguay in 1930.
How Teams Get In
Many teams want to play. Teams must win games to get in. This is called to qualify. Only the top teams get to play in the big games.
The Gold Cup
The best team wins! They get a shiny gold cup. Players get gold medals too. A gold star goes on their team shirt. Brazil has won five times. That is the most!
Fans Cheer Together
People love soccer. Fans sit in big seats to watch. A fan who watches is a spectator. Many people watch on TV at home. Soccer makes people happy!
Words to Know
- • Tournament: A contest with many games.
- • Qualify: To win games to get in.
- • Spectator: A person who watches a game.
Fast Facts
- • Happens every 4 years.
- • The big cup is made of real gold.
- • Many fans watch at home on TV!
Page 1 of 3 • Reading Passage
Part 1
Questions 1–6
Name:
Directions: Fill in the circle next to the best answer, or write your answer on the lines.
1. [Main Idea] What is this story mostly about?
A. How to kick a ball B. A big soccer contest that fans love C. How to wash a team shirt
2. [Important Detail] How often is the World Cup?
A. Every year B. Every 4 years C. Every 10 years
3. [Important Detail] Where were the first games in 1930?
A. Brazil B. Uruguay C. France
4. [Vocabulary] What is a tournament?
A. A soccer shoe to wear B. A contest with many games C. A ticket to sit down
5. [Important Detail] Write two things the winning team gets.
6. [Inferential] Why do teams have to win games before the World Cup?
A. To show they are the best teams to get in B. Because the soccer ball gets lost C. To go to bed early
Page 2 of 3 • Questions 1–6
Part 2
Questions 7–12
Name:
7. [Vocabulary] What does the word qualify mean?
A. To buy new soccer socks B. To win games to get in C. To take a nap
8. [Inferential] What does a gold star on a team shirt mean?
A. The team has one player. B. The team won a World Cup! C. The team lost the game.
9. [Important Detail] Which country has won the most times?
A. Uruguay B. Brazil C. France
10. [Vocabulary] What is a spectator?
A. A person who watches a game B. A dog in the yard C. A soccer net
11. [Inferential] Why do fans cheer and smile together at a game?
12. [Open-Ended Writing]
If you go to a soccer game, what do you want to see? Write 1 or 2 sentences.
Page 3 of 3 • Questions 7–12
World Cup Answer Key
Teacher Resource
World Cup Wonders: Answer Key & Guide
Target Grade: 1.0 (Lexile: ~180L)
Standards: CCSS RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.1.4
Quick Answer Reference (Questions 1–12)
Q1B
Q2B
Q3B
Q4B
Q5Short
Q6A
Q7B
Q8B
Q9B
Q10A
Q11Short
Q12Rubric
Part 1 Item Explanations & Standards
1. Main Idea • Correct: B Standard: CCSS.RI.1.2
Rationale: Option B states the main idea: a big soccer contest that fans love. Options A and C are off-topic or isolated actions.
2. Important Detail • Correct: B (Every 4 years) Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Text Evidence: "It happens every 4 years." (Section 1 & Fast Facts).
3. Important Detail • Correct: B (Uruguay) Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Text Evidence: "The first games were in Uruguay in 1930."
4. Vocabulary (tournament) • Correct: B Standard: CCSS.RI.1.4
Rationale: The text and Words to Know define a tournament as a contest with many games.
5. Important Detail (Short Answer) Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Acceptable Answers: Any two: (1) A gold cup / trophy, (2) Gold medals, (3) A gold star on their shirt.
Scoring: 2 points (1 point per correct item named from Section 3).
6. Inferential • Correct: A Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Rationale: Many teams want to join, so teams must win games to prove they are the best teams to play in the big games.
Page 1 of 2 • Teacher Answer Key (Part 1)
Part 2 Guide
Questions 7–12 & Early Writing Rubric
World Cup Reading Packet (Grade 1.0)
7. Vocabulary (qualify) • Correct: B Standard: CCSS.RI.1.4
Rationale: In Section 2 and Words to Know, to qualify means to win games to get in.
8. Inferential • Correct: B Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Rationale: Section 3 states that a gold star goes on the team shirt when they win, and Brazil has won five times.
9. Important Detail • Correct: B (Brazil) Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1
Text Evidence: "Brazil has won five times. That is the most!"
10. Vocabulary (spectator) • Correct: A Standard: CCSS.RI.1.4
Rationale: Section 4 and Words to Know state: "A fan who watches is a spectator."
11. Inferential (Short Answer) Standard: CCSS.RI.1.1 / RI.1.2
Sample 1st Grade Answer: "Because they love soccer and cheer when players kick the ball."
Question 12: Grade 1.0 Writing Rubric (4 Points)
| Score |
Ideas & Soccer Details |
Grade 1 Conventions |
| 4 pts |
Names a clear thing to see at the game (kicking the ball, gold cup, fans cheering). |
Writes 1–2 complete sentences with a capital letter and ending mark. High phonetic spelling. |
| 3 pts |
Tells an idea about soccer or fans. Directly related to the prompt. |
Writes 1 complete sentence. Minor errors in capitalization or punctuation. |
| 2 pts |
Simple idea with very few words (e.g., "see ball"). |
Incomplete sentence or phrase without punctuation. |
| 1 pt |
Off-topic drawing or random letters. |
No sentence structure evident. |
Model Grade 1.0 Student Response:
"I want to see players kick the ball. I want to see the shiny gold cup!"
Page 2 of 2 • Teacher Answer Key (Part 2 & Rubric)
