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Free 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Fiction and nonfiction passages of about 200 words for third graders, each with a question page and an answer key. 12 passages, sorted by skill.

Main Idea

4 free passages. Start with the main idea and details chart. 16 more in the Main Idea pack ($7)

How Dolphins Talk reading passageHow Dolphins Talk comprehension questions

How Dolphins Talk

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 222 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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The Statue of Liberty reading passageThe Statue of Liberty comprehension questions

The Statue of Liberty

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 239 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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How Chocolate Is Made reading passageHow Chocolate Is Made comprehension questions

How Chocolate Is Made

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 221 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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The Great Barrier Reef reading passageThe Great Barrier Reef comprehension questions

The Great Barrier Reef

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 218 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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Context Clues

4 free passages. Start with the context clues chart. 16 more in the Context Clues pack ($7)

The Science Fair reading passageThe Science Fair comprehension questions

The Science Fair

Fiction

A story of 203 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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Cheetahs reading passageCheetahs comprehension questions

Cheetahs

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 182 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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The Treehouse reading passageThe Treehouse comprehension questions

The Treehouse

Fiction

A story of 187 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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Inside a Pyramid reading passageInside a Pyramid comprehension questions

Inside a Pyramid

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 193 words with 6 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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Cause and Effect

4 free passages. Start with the cause and effect chart. 16 more in the Cause and Effect pack ($7)

Earthquakes reading passageEarthquakes comprehension questions

Earthquakes

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 192 words with 5 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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The Bike Ride reading passageThe Bike Ride comprehension questions

The Bike Ride

Fiction

A story of 196 words with 5 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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Why We Have Seasons reading passageWhy We Have Seasons comprehension questions

Why We Have Seasons

Nonfiction

A nonfiction passage of 205 words with 5 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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The Surprise Party reading passageThe Surprise Party comprehension questions

The Surprise Party

Fiction

A story of 199 words with 5 questions. Answer key on page 3.

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3rd Grade Main Idea Reading Passages Pack cover3rd Grade Context Clues Reading Passages Pack cover3rd Grade Cause and Effect Reading Passages Pack cover
Complete pack

Get the Complete 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension Pack

All 3 skill packs together: the 12 free passages on this site, plus 48 more that are only in the packs.

Get all 3 packs for $15

Or one skill for $7: Main Idea · Context Clues · Cause and Effect

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Reading comprehension in 3rd grade

By third grade, children are reading to learn. These passages are about 200 words in four or five numbered paragraphs, with more facts, longer sentences and richer vocabulary than the 2nd grade set.

Each passage practices one skill: finding the main idea and the details that support it, working out a new word from context clues, or following a chain of causes and effects. The nonfiction covers animals, science, history and how things are made.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are the 3rd grade passages?
About 180 to 240 words, in four numbered paragraphs with one picture. Most children read one in a few minutes.
What comes with each passage?
A question page and an answer key. Each PDF is three pages: the passage, four to six questions, and a key that shows the answer and where to find it in the text.
What are the crayons next to the questions for?
They ask for proof. The child underlines the sentence in the passage that shows the answer, using the crayon color printed beside the question.