Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
CTB/McGraw-Hill
Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question
Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Test Directions
General Offline Instructions:
Today you will take the Acuity test. Read each question carefully and decide which answer
is correct. Using your scan sheet, fill in the bubble that contains the letter for the answer
you choose.
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
1.
Test ID: 758410
Use the dictionary entry to answer the question.
maintain [mān-tān´] verb 1. to keep in existence 2. to keep in appropriate condition 3. to
declare 4. to support in a speech or argument
Which definition of the word maintain is used in this sentence?
My mother maintains that she can get more done in a few hours than most people
accomplish in an entire day.
A B C D Definition 1
Definition 2
Definition 3
Definition 4
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 2 - 9
Here is a passage about the arrival of immigrants in America. Read the passage. Then
answer the questions.
I Behold America
by Edward Corsi
In this excerpt from the author's account of his arrival in America, he and his family first set
sight on New York from the deck of the ship.
Giuseppe and I held tightly to stepfather's hands, while Liberta and Helvetia clung to
mother. Passengers all about us were crowding against the rail. Jabbered conversation, sharp
cries, laughs and cheers—a steadily rising din* filled the air. Mothers and fathers lifted up
the babies so that they too could see, off to the left, the Statue of Liberty.
I looked at that statue with a sense of bewilderment, half doubting its reality. Looming
shadowy through the mist, it brought silence to the decks of the Florida. This symbol of
America—this enormous expression of what we had all been taught was the inner meaning
of this new country we were coming to—inspired awe in the hopeful immigrants. Many
older persons among us, burdened with a thousand memories of what they were leaving
behind, had been openly weeping ever since we entered the narrower waters on our final
approach toward the unknown. Now somehow steadied, I suppose, by the concreteness of
the symbol of America's freedom, they dried their tears.
Directly in front of the Florida, half visible in the faintly-colored haze, rose a second
and even greater challenge to the imagination.
"Mountains!" I cried to Giuseppe. "Look at them!"
"They're strange," he said, "why don't they have snow on them?" He was craning his
neck and standing on tiptoe to stare at the New York skyline.
Stepfather looked toward the skyscrapers, and, smiling, assured us that they were not
mountains but buildings—"the highest buildings in the world."
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
On every side the harbor offered its marvels: tugs, barges, sloops, lighters, sluggish
freighters and giant ocean liners—all moving in different directions, managing, by what
seemed to us a miracle, to dart in and out and up and down without colliding with one
another. They spoke to us through the varied sounds of their whistles, and the Florida
replied with a deep echoing voice. Bells clanged through our ship, precipitating** a new
flurry among our fellow-passengers. Many of these people had come from provinces far
distant from ours, and were shouting to one another in dialects*** strange to me. Everything
combined to increase our excitement, and we rushed from deck to deck, fearful lest we miss
the smallest detail of the spectacle.
*din: a loud, unpleasant, and constant noise
**precipitating: causing to happen unexpectedly
***dialects: languages specific to regions
2. Read the sentence from the second paragraph about the appearance of the Statue of Liberty.
Looming shadowy through the mist, it brought silence to the decks of the Florida.
Which key idea in the passage does this sentence mostly support?
A B C D The passengers are upset by the appearance of the statue.
The passengers are amazed by the appearance of the statue.
The passengers are satisfied by the appearance of the statue.
The passengers are frightened by the appearance of the statue.
3. Read this sentence from the passage.
Many older persons among us, burdened with a thousand memories of what they
were leaving behind, had been openly weeping ever since we entered the narrower
waters on our final approach toward the unknown.
Which of the following statements best explains the meaning of the phrase "burdened with a
thousand memories"?
A B C D The older people fear to leave the ship after the long voyage.
The older people are having trouble remembering their native land.
The older people feel mixed emotions about the lives they had to give up.
The older people are unable to forget the bad thoughts of their former homes.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
4. Read the sentences from the passage.
Giuseppe and I held tightly to stepfather's hands, while Liberta and Helvetia clung
to mother. Passengers all about us were crowding against the rail.
What can the reader most likely conclude about the people on the ship?
A B C D They are frightened about what awaits them.
They want to show their love for their new country.
They are excited to have reached their destination.
They know it is safest to stand close to one another.
5. After reading this passage, a student wants to learn more about statues such as the Statue of
Liberty. Which of these phrases would best help narrow the results when using an Internet
search engine?
A B C D famous Americans
American immigrants
symbols of freedom in America
historical monuments in America
6. Which of these statements best explains how the illustration adds to the reader's
understanding of the narrator's experience?
A B C D It shows why tourists come to America to see the statue.
It shows why the statue is a symbol of American freedom.
It shows what the statue looks like to the passengers on the ship.
It shows what the statue is holding for people who have never seen it.
7. Which of these research questions would most likely yield the best information about the
experiences of immigrants traveling to America?
A B C D How much did it cost the average immigrant to travel to America?
How many people immigrated to America during the last century?
Why did people choose to immigrate to America from other places?
What were conditions like for immigrants on a ship bound for America?
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
8. Read this sentence from the passage.
Jabbered conversation, sharp cries, laughs and cheers—a steadily rising din filled
the air.
Which of these best describes the meaning of the phrase "a steadily rising din filled the air"?
A The various ships are raising their sails as they navigate the harbor.
B The Florida is entering the harbor just as a boat race is getting underway.
C The authorities are using a flag to communicate with the crew members on board the
ships.
D The passengers are reacting with noisy excitement as they realize the Florida has
almost arrived.
9. Read this sentence from the passage.
I looked at the statue with a sense of bewilderment, half doubting its reality.
Which of these best explains why the author most likely included the sentence in the
passage?
A B C D It shows how unfamiliar the experience is for the narrator.
It shows how amused the narrator is by what is happening.
It shows that the narrator is not certain if he is awake or dreaming.
It shows that the narrator is surprised at how unclear the statue is.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
10. In which sentence is the meaning most clear?
A Serena asked her mother whether she would have enough time before the party to go
shopping.
B Serena asked her mother whether she would have enough time to go shopping before the
party.
C Serena wanted to go shopping before the party, so she asked her mother whether she
would have enough time.
D Serena wanted to know whether she would have enough time to go shopping before the
party, so she asked her mother.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 11 - 14
Here is an article on the debate about gray wolves. Read the article. Then answer the
questions.
Wolf Wars
Gray wolves are making a comeback—and some people are howling mad.
Should gray wolves be protected or hunted? That question is at the heart of a debate on
what to do about these prowling animals.
The return of the gray wolf is a success story. Gray wolves once roamed across most of
North America. But by the 1970s, hunting and habitat loss had nearly wiped them out in the
lower 48 states. They were put on the endangered-species list in 1974.
Species on the endangered list can't be harmed, and their habitat must be protected.
Being on the endangered list helped the gray wolf make a big comeback. Today, about
6,000 gray wolves live in the contiguous* United States.
Their recovery was so strong that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed gray
wolves from the endangered-species list in Idaho and Montana in 2009. To control their
populations, both states allowed public wolf hunts.
That was good news for ranchers who had lost livestock to hungry wolves. They aren't
the only people worried about wolves. Some members of Congress say wolves put people at
risk and should be removed from the endangered-species list altogether.
But wildlife protection groups argue that the wolves' survival will again be threatened if
they aren't protected. In August 2010, a federal judge ruled that wolves in Idaho and
Montana must be put back on the endangered list. Wolves are now protected in the lower 48
states, but the debate is sure to continue.
* contiguous (kuhn-tig-yoo-uhs) adjective. Connected or touching; Alaska and Hawaii are not part of the
contiguous United States.
"Wolf Wars" from Scholastic News, January 24, 2011, copyright © 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
11. Which statement best supports the idea that putting wolves on the endangered-species list is
an effective way to manage their population?
A B C D Gray wolves once roamed across most of North America.
Today, about 6,000 gray wolves live in the contiguous United States.
That question is at the heart of a debate on what to do about these prowling animals.
But by the 1970s, hunting and habitat loss had nearly wiped them out in the lower 48
states.
12. How does the author develop the debate about whether wolves should be protected or
hunted?
A B C D by relating the history of the issue and tracing the arguments on both sides
by presenting opposing arguments and eventually agreeing with one group
by suggesting that some people want the animal taken off the endangered list
by using dates to show how attitudes about the animal have changed over time
13. Read this sentence from the article.
Gray wolves are making a comeback—and some people are howling mad.
What is the purpose of including this sentence at the beginning of the article?
A B C D to encourage readers to get involved
to express which side the author is taking
to suggest that force is used to defend a position
to emphasize that the subject is charged with emotion
14. Read this sentence from the article.
Wolves are now protected in the lower 48 states, but the debate is sure to continue.
Why does the author most likely include this sentence in the article?
A B C D to suggest that neither side is willing to give up
to show that ranchers are fighting a losing battle
to predict the successful comeback of the species
to applaud the efforts of wildlife protection groups
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 15 - 17
Here is an excerpt from a passage about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during
the Great Depression of the 1930s and a short poem. In the excerpt, Moss Trawnley, the
protagonist, and some other CCC trainees are working to get a barracks finished at
Fort Missoula, Montana, before the rest of the new CCC unit arrives. Read the excerpt
and poem. Then answer the questions that follow.
Hitch
"What are you doing?" Sam asked from the doorway.
Romeo jumped about a mile, and then looked from one to the other of us sheepishly.
"Everybody's so let down over the camp not getting done like we'd hoped, and here I've been
messing in the kitchen instead of helping build. So I was just going to see if I couldn't figure
out something I could do to move things along."
I was at a loss for words, and for once, Sam seemed to be, too. Briefly. Then he said,
"That's a good thought, Romeo, but maybe it's one best acted on tomorrow morning."
"You think?" Romeo asked.
"Yes, I do," Sam answered.
We'd almost gotten back to our tent when I halted. "You two go on," I told them.
"Where are you going?" Romeo asked.
"Over to the barracks."
"I'll roust the others," he said happily. "Just our tent, I mean."
"Nate and Apple aren't going to like it," I said. ''Apple especially."
___________________________________________________________________________
They came over, Apple still rubbing his eyes when he got a hammer and headed for the
coatrack he'd been working on earlier. "I must be crazy to let myself get talked out of a good
night's sleep," he told me.
"I didn't talk you out of anything," I said.
''And likely as not, whatever I do is going to need redoing, because I'm not downright
sure I understand just how this is supposed to go."
"The blueprints ought to show it," I said.
"Yeah, if you can read blueprints."
I went over to the makeshift table where plans were out, and shuffled through them till I
came to one that showed the details of the rack. "This doesn't look too hard. If you just take
that long piece ..."
The door opened, and Riley Maxwell and Hal Linchfeld came in. "Someone having a
party?" Riley asked.
"You want to give me a job?" Hal said. "Get in line behind me," Apple told him. "Moss
can only boss one person at a time."
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
I was showing Hal where a window frame needed finishing when his and Riley's tent
mates arrived, and then, by ones and twos, the fellows from the remaining tents showed up.
Pretty soon everybody but me was working hard—even Romeo, who was sanding down a
railing. But every time I picked up a hammer or screwdriver, I got stopped by someone
asking, "Trawnley, what should I do next?"
"Look!" I finally told them all. "I'm not the boss of this job."
"Someone's got to be," Riley said. ''And it wasn't my idea to come back to work."
"I didn't?"
"Trawnley!" he said. "Just tell us what to do and let us do it, and then we can all go to
bed!" But he said it joking-like, and I realized that none of the guys actually expected to get
any sleep.
I couldn't think what to answer, so I studied the blueprints some more. "Okay, then," I
said. "Sam and Nate, why don't you ..."
___________________________________________________________________________
Along about 0100 or so, everybody was working so well that I even got to turn my hand
to installing a rack that needed putting up. And then, without warning, Major Garrett and
Pops showed up at the door, hard-to-read expressions on their faces.
As one after another of the guys spotted them, hammering and sawing left off till the
room was dead quiet.
"We didn't think we'd wake you, Major," I ventured. "You either, Pops. We tried to keep
it down."
The major started to say something and then stopped, and then Pops began to say
something and then held it back, also.
And then the next thing, the two of them were taking off their coats and the major was
saying, "It looks like you boys might need some help. You want to give us our orders?"
Everybody looked at me. And then, because I was about to lose my grip on the rack I'd
been struggling to screw in place, I said, "Maybe if one of you wouldn't mind holding this?"
And then I added, ''And Nate could use a hand running that cable."
They pitched in like I'd suggested, and when Pops finished helping Nate, he didn't head
for the blueprints but instead waited for me to give him a new task. And the major rolled up
his sleeves higher and waited, too, for me to tell him what to do next.
Romeo left long enough to make a big pot of coffee, which he brought over along with
biscuits and sliced ham.
Riley lugged over a radio, and plugged it in."You're not going to find anything this time
of night," Nate said.
But Riley fiddled with the tuner until he picked up a station playing dance music. Must be
good cloud cover, I thought, bouncing signals. I leaned back for a moment, enjoying it and
thinking what a satisfying night this was.
And then Nate called, "Hey, Trawnley, just 'cause you're bossing this job doesn't give you
leave to stop working!"
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Two Choices
Going it alone
What does that mean?
Taking two steps back
For every one taken forward?
Hindrance, obstruction…
Is that the answer?
Working together
A systematic coordinated effort
up an unknown road towards growth
Together, one step at a time
Focused on the goal
The choice is up to you
15. How do the passage and the poem compare in the way they portray someone working alone?
A Both the passage and the poem suggest that working alone can be very efficient.
B The passage shows working alone as a noble effort, while the poem shows it as a
foolish option.
C Both the passage and the poem describe working alone and working together as
being of equal worth.
D The passage describes working alone as a useless attempt, while the poem describes
it as an important development.
16. Read these lines from the poem.
Taking two steps back
For every one taken forward?
What do the lines from the poem describe?
A B C D lack of focus
poor planning
poor teamwork
lack of progress
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
17. Read this sentence from the passage.
But he said it joking-like, and I realized that none of the guys actually expected to
get any sleep.
Which line from the poem does the sentence best illustrate?
A B C D Taking two steps back
Hindrance, obstruction . . .
up an unknown road towards growth
Focused on the goal
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 18 - 22
Here is a passage about the race to the moon. Read the passage. Then answer the
questions.
The Eagle Has Landed
"Hey, Neil," I called across the airplane hangar to the man climbing the ladder into the
cockpit of the X-15 rocket plane, "did you hear? Yuri Gagarin, the Russian cosmonaut, just
orbited Earth. The Soviet Union beat us into space."
He paused in mid-step and gave a small nod of his head. I was surprised that Neil
seemed so calm. The news of the Soviet flight was all we could talk about, especially here at
Edwards Air Force Base in California. For almost a decade, the United States and the Soviet
Union had been in a race to be the first country to send a person into space. I had thought
Gagarin's success would have ended the race, but from the talk I overheard around the base,
it seemed to have only transformed it. Now it was a race to get a man on the moon. And the
pressure was on.
As a test pilot for experimental, high-speed aircraft, and as my good friend, Neil had
often talked to me about the ongoing space race. He wasn't interested in going into space
himself, but he admitted that the idea of space travel was fascinating. Personally, I believed
that mankind should be content just where we are—on the ground. If we were meant to fly,
we would have been born with wings. But no one asked my opinion; I was just the guy who
took care of building maintenance.
So imagine my surprise when I found out that Neil had not only been selected by
NASA, along with eight other men, for astronaut training but that he had accepted the
transfer. Sure, he was a great test pilot and an engineer, but why would he want to take these
needless risks? Nonetheless, he moved to Houston, Texas, to begin training for the Apollo
lunar landing program. It wasn't until four years later, after I had left California and taken a
job with NASA in Florida, that I saw him again.
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Neil was in Florida for final preparations for his flight aboard Apollo 11 as commander.
The spacecraft was to orbit the moon, while Neil was to fly a separate craft, called the lunar
module, down to the moon. There, he was to leave the lunar module and explore the moon's
surface, thereby ending the lunar space race. At first, I was simply stunned at the risk Neil
was taking. Slowly, that feeling turned to excitement that my friend was the commander of
this mission and then to fear for the possible danger of his journey.
Neil calmly told me about everything he and his fellow astronauts were doing to prepare
for the Apollo 11 mission. To simulate expected conditions on the moon, they visited craters
and canyons in Arizona. They even trained in a giant sandbox for twelve hours a day,
wearing space suits and heavy packs on their back as they would on the moon. There were
numerous preparatory missions, sometimes with failed, even fatal, consequences. "All this,"
I would say to Neil, "for what? There are so many things that could go wrong. Space and
the moon represent so many unknowns. What is wrong with just leaving things the way they
are?"
Neil smiled and admitted that, yes, he was a little scared. His fellow crewmate, Buzz
Aldrin, pointed out that the purpose of all the training was to eliminate as many of the
unknowns as possible. But Neil said that it was these mysterious unknowns that drew him to
the moon and made the risk worth it. Neil shared his personal belief, "Mystery creates
wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand."
Finally, the day came when Apollo 11 was ready to launch. The United States was going
to attempt to land a man, my friend, on the moon and safely bring him back to Earth.
In a rumbling, billowing, vibrant blast of fire and smoke, Apollo 11 rocketed into space.
From this moment on, I and millions of Americans everywhere were caught up in the status
of the spacecraft and the mission. When it came time for Neil and Buzz to take the lunar
module, named Eagle, down to the moon, I managed to obtain entrance into the flight
control center in Houston so that I could hear the radio transmission with the astronauts
firsthand.
While trying to land, Neil found that the original landing spot was too rocky. He had to
maneuver the module to a better landing spot. Only seconds of fuel remained before the
thrusters would cut out, and the module would plummet to the surface of the moon.
Suddenly, there was the sweet sound of Neil saying, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The
Eagle has landed." The entire command center erupted into cheers.
For the next two and a half hours, Neil and Buzz worked on the moon's surface, 240,000
miles away, conducting experiments and collecting samples to bring back to Earth. They
gave a running description of all they were seeing and doing, and I was mesmerized by their
words. I couldn't wait to see the pictures Neil was taking. What an experience he and Buzz
were having—one that could never be reproduced. They were the first. Listening there in
the control center, I felt the fear slowly vanishing. In its place, I now felt only gratitude for
my friend's courage and his willingness to brave the unknown for his country.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
18. Read this excerpt from the passage.
He had to maneuver the module to a better landing spot. Only seconds of fuel
remained before the thrusters would cut out, and the module would plummet to the
surface of the moon. Suddenly, there was the sweet sound of Neil saying, "Houston,
Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Which statement best explains how the excerpt represents the passage's central theme?
A The safe module landing contributes to the theme that luck is an important part of
success.
B The unexpected need to change landing sites demonstrates the theme that life is
unpredictable.
C Neil communicates clearly, illustrating the theme that being precise is important in
stressful situations.
D Neil remains calm under pressure, demonstrating the theme that courage leads to
great accomplishments.
19. As the story progresses, the narrator becomes more concerned about
A B C D the quality of training for the astronauts
why countries want to risk exploring space
what might happen to his friend during the flight
the separation from his friend for a long period of time
20. Read this excerpt from the passage.
To simulate expected conditions on the moon, they visited craters and canyons in
Arizona. They even trained in a giant sandbox for twelve hours a day, wearing space
suits and heavy packs on their back as they would on the moon.
The phrase "trained in a giant sandbox" helps the reader understand that the word simulate
means
A B C D to play
to follow
to imitate
to pretend
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
21. Read this excerpt from the passage.
But no one asked my opinion; I was just the guy who took care of building
maintenance.
What effect does the phrase "just the guy" have on the reader's understanding of the
narrator?
A B C D The phrase identifies the narrator's job responsibilities.
The phrase reveals that the narrator is a modest person.
The phrase shows that the narrator has a sense of humor.
The phrase illustrates the narrator's thoughtfulness of others.
22. Which event from the beginning of the passage most affects how the story unfolds?
A The narrator reveals the pressure on the United States to be first in the race to the
moon.
B The narrator expresses surprise that Neil has reacted so calmly to the news about
Yuri Gagarin.
C The narrator emphasizes that Neil is a good friend and skilled test pilot for American
experimental aircraft.
D The narrator states that everyone at Edwards Air Force Base has been talking about
the Soviet space flight.
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
23. Take a small piece of square paper. Fold the paper in half, turn it sideways, and fold it in half
again. ____________.
Here is part of a set of instructions for making origami. For the first part of the instructions,
choose the answer that best fills the blank in the paragraph.
A B C D Also, fold the four corners of the square into the center.
Next, fold the four corners of the square into the center.
However, fold the four corners of the square into the center.
Otherwise, fold the four corners of the square into the center.
24. The fly buzzed around the window all night.
Which answer uses the word fly in the same way as the sentence to the left?
A B C D We tied a fly over our tent.
Matthew swatted the fly with the swatter.
Tomorrow, Samantha is going to fly to Miami.
Our time will fly by as we travel through Canada.
25.
To pledge is to ____________.
Choose the answer that means the same, or about the same, as the underlined word.
A B C D measure
repair
promise
create
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
26. the accurate answer
Choose the answer that means about the same as the underlined word.
A B C D vague
hidden
quick
correct
27.
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Which word best fits in the sentence?
Do not ____________ to stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch on fire.
A B C D hesitate
hover
hasty
hustle
28. The volcano in Hawaii has been dorment for an exceptionally long time.
A
B
C
No mistake
D
Choose the underlined word that is misspelled. If none of the words are misspelled, choose
No mistake.
A B C D volcano
dorment
exceptionally
No mistake
29. The manufacturing company needed to higher eighteen new employees.
A
B
C
No mistake
D
Choose the underlined word that is misspelled. If none of the words are misspelled, choose
No mistake.
A B C D manufacturing
higher
employees
No mistake
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
30. My grandmother was elated to hear the news of the new baby, as she loved spending time with
her grandchildren.
Elated means ____________.
A B C D refreshed
surprised
delighted
saddened
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 31 - 33
Here is a passage about thunderstorms. Read the passage. Then answer the questions.
The Grumbling Sky
Thunderstorms are one of the most common weather features on Earth. This very second
there are probably more than a thousand thunderstorms going on around the globe. Indeed,
lightning flashes on Earth about 100 times every second, and with it comes thunder.
What Is Thunder?
Many people fear thunder. Thunder, however, is harmless; it only sounds menacing.
Thunder is caused by lightning, so that if you hear thunder of any sort, you can be sure that
lightning preceded it, even if you can see no flash.
Lightning is extremely hot. When it strikes, it can heat the air around it to more than
50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That can be five times hotter than the surface of the sun. That
superheated air suddenly moves away from the lightning bolt. Cool air moves faster than the
speed of sound to fill the gap that is created. This rapid movement of air creates shock
waves in the sky that act much like waves in the ocean. The waves build until
"CRRRAAAAACK," there is release. When that happens with water in the ocean, you hear
the waves break, and when it happens with air in the sky, you hear thunder.
How Far Is It?
You can hear thunder from as far as ten miles off. Did you know you can actually
estimate how far away the storm is?
Light travels at more than 186,000 miles per second. Sound travels more slowly at about
1,100 feet per second, or approximately one mile every five seconds. That means that if you
are a mile away, the light seems to take no time to reach you, but it will be almost five
seconds before you hear the sound of the thunder. Therefore, once you see the lightning
flash, begin counting seconds. When you hear the thunder, stop counting. Take that number
of seconds and divide it by five, and that's about how many miles away the storm is.
Keep in mind that it is important to take cover when thunderstorms are nearby. For
while thunder is itself harmless, lightning is another story.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
31. Which of these sentences best summarizes what happens in the third paragraph of the
passage?
A B C D The author explains how thunder is harmless.
The author describes how lightning causes thunder.
The author describes how lightning creates superheated air.
The author explains how to estimate the distance from a thunderstorm.
32. The author of this passage would probably agree that
A B C D thunder causes extensive damage
thunderstorms are exciting to watch
it is unwise to be outside in a thunderstorm
lightning creates beautiful patterns in the sky
33. The author most likely wrote this passage to
A B C D explain how fast light and sound travel
describe the effects of thunder and lightning
give information about thunder and lightning
compare and contrast different types of weather
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Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 34 - 37
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Here is a passage about a girl and her dream. Read the passage. Then answer the
questions.
Running Toward a Dream
Ana often walked the block from her family's city apartment to the neighborhood
community center. She felt comfortable at the center and appreciated its many activities. It
energized her to watch other young people play basketball and run around the track. Ana
yearned to run on the seventh-grade track team. She knew she'd be dynamite. She had the
initiative and the discipline. The only thing she didn't have was a serious pair of running
shoes.
She talked it over one night with her older brother, Nick.
"You already have sneakers," Nick said, as he constructed a Web page on the computer.
He planned to start his own Web design business someday. He intended to go to school to
learn how. Nick was a very practical person.
"But I want real running shoes. They're made with gel cushioning and high-impact
support," she said. "A runner really needs that on the asphalt and concrete."
The problem was that they cost over $90.
"Be sensible, Ana," Nick said. "Running shoes are extravagant."
But Ana dreamed of becoming the best runner she could. Real athletic shoes were
indispensable to that goal. There had to be a way she could raise the money.
Then, an ingenious solution came to her.
"Nick, you always talk about starting a business," Ana said. "Let's start one. I've got an
idea."
He raised a cautious eyebrow. "I'll hear this out, as long as it's practical."
"It's better than practical. It's fantastic," Ana said. "We can sell energy drinks to runners
and basketball players at the community center."
Now, Nick raised both eyebrows. "That's actually a reasonable idea."
They had a serious discussion to plan their strategy.
Ana got permission from the community center to set up a stand. Nick researched online
to learn how to make the beverage. Finally, they pooled their saved money to buy
ingredients and cups. Their mix was comprised of sugar, salt, orange juice, lemon juice, and
water. In addition, they calculated how much they needed to charge per drink, to make a
profit. At last, they made a sign. It said: "Quench your thirst while you work out! Enjoy a
delicious energy boost!"
Sales boomed. They earned back their initial seed money in just three days.
Two weeks later, Ana ran like the wind in her dynamic new shoes.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
34. Which of these best summarizes the events in the passage?
A Ana and her brother thoroughly plan their energy drink business. They completely
research the ingredients they'll need and calculate how much they'll need to charge
per drink to be successful.
B Ana needs money for a pair of running shoes. She sets up an energy drink stand at
her neighborhood center. The business is so successful that she can buy her shoes
just two weeks later.
C Ana joins the seventh-grade track team after the energy drink business that she and
her brother start at the community center helps her to earn enough money for an
expensive pair of running shoes.
D Ana wants a pair of expensive running shoes and, with her brother's help, creates a
business to sell energy drinks to the athletes at the community center. Together, they
build a successful business and Ana is able to buy the shoes she wants.
35. The main idea of this passage is
A B C D how Ana couldn't afford a pair of $90 running shoes
that Ana set her sights on a goal and worked hard to reach it
that the neighborhood community center was a large part of Ana's life
that Ana got the idea of starting her own business from her practical brother
36. Read this sentence from the passage.
Two weeks later, Ana ran like the wind in her dynamic new shoes.
Which of these best explains what the author means by saying Ana "ran like the wind"?
A B C D Ana ran very fast.
Ana ran in her new shoes.
Ana ran so fast she made the air move.
Ana made whistling noises in her new shoes.
37. Which of these best describes how the nearby community center affects Nick's feelings
about Ana's idea for a business?
A B C D He agrees that the community center is an ideal location for the business.
He appreciates how many different activities the community center offers.
It gives him an opportunity to test the practicality of a web-based business.
It offers him classes in designing Web sites so that he can begin his own business.
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Page 27 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 38 - 43
Here is a story from Hawaii. Read the story. Then answer the questions.
Maui and the Mud Hens
In the gray light before dawn, Maui and his three brothers left the village of Kaupo to go
fishing. Now, in those days, the people had fruit and roots, shellfish from the reefs and fish
from deep waters, but everything they ate was raw. They wanted to cook their food, but they
could not make a fire to cook it with. They had just reached their deepwater fishing grounds
when they saw smoke rising back on shore. It was fire!
"Let us fetch some fire so our mother can cook fish," said Maui.
The brothers rowed back to the village, their canoe surging like a porpoise. Maui rushed
alone up the mountain toward the smoke, but he was too late. The black mud hen, Alae,
scratched out a last glowing ember with her yellow feet, and ran away on her long legs.
When Maui returned, his family asked him, "Where is the fire?"
"The curly-tailed mud hens are hiding its secret," said Maui. "They are stealing our
bananas and roasting them. But I will be watching when they make fire again."
Maui instructed his brothers to go fishing while he stayed behind. The wily mud hens
watching from the mountain counted only three figures in the boat, and didn't make fire.
Maui took a large calabash gourd. He wrapped the dried gourd in a blanket of kapa cloth
made from tree bark, so that it looked like a man, and set it in the canoe. The next day when
the boat headed to sea, the mud hens counted four brothers fishing in the boat.
"Now we can make fire again," said Alae, and she began to collect a pile of sticks. Other
birds brought bananas to roast.
Maui was hiding nearby. He knew the fat hen's wings were too short to fly away. He
edged closer and closer until suddenly he jumped up and grabbed Alae. She shrieked and
pecked, but Maui held on tight, saying, "For too long you have hoarded fire's secrets. Tell
me its ways."
The mud hen said, "Rub together the broad leaves of the giant taro plant. Now let me
go."
But Maui carefully guarded the bird while he rubbed the bitter leaves together. There
was no fire. Again, he demanded fire's secret.
The mud hen squirmed in his hand. Then she said, "The fire hides in bananas. Rub two
bananas together. Now let me go."
Maui guarded Alae while he rubbed the bananas together, but still there was no fire.
Finally, he declared, "I will never release you unless I have fire for my mother."
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Page 28 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
Then Alae, exhausted, told him the true secret. "Rub together dry wood from the banyan
tree."
This time smoke came, then flames. Maui released the mud hen. But now her head was
rubbed bald after Maui's search for fire. Whenever people see the mud hen's red top, they
remember how Maui brought them fire to cook fish and roast bananas over burning coals.
38. What probably happened after Maui released the mud hen and returned to the village?
A B C D The villagers gathered around the fire to stay warm.
The villagers lectured Maui about tricking the mud hens.
The villagers feasted on cooked fish and roasted bananas.
The villagers went to the mud hens to learn the secret of fire.
39. "Maui and the Mud Hens" is mostly about
A B C D how Maui captured the secret of fire for his people
how Maui and his brothers used to fish every morning
how Maui made a model of a man to deceive the mud hens
how Maui guarded the mud hen while rubbing bananas together
40. The author of this story would most likely agree that
A B C D Maui could be rather frightening
Maui was more clever than the mud hens
Maui had known the secret of fire all along
Maui needed his brothers to figure out the secret of fire
41.
Read the paragraph below.
Maui tricked the mud hens into thinking that he had gone fishing with his brothers.
____________. He did not release Alae until she told him the true secret of fire. Then
Maui's village had fire for cooking.
Which of these sentences best completes this summary of the story?
A Maui and his brothers were very good at hunting in the forest.
B This gave Maui the chance to capture the black mud hen, Alae.
C The mud hen's red top reminds people of how Maui brought them fire.
D Maui and his brothers quickly rowed back to the village when they saw the smoke.
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Page 29 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
42. How does living by the reefs affect the people of Kaupo?
A B C D The villagers want fire.
The villagers eat shellfish.
The villagers collect taro leaves.
The villagers have to eat all their food raw.
43. Read this sentence from the story.
The brothers rowed back to the village, their canoe surging like a porpoise.
The author compares the canoe with a porpoise to show that
A B C D the brothers in the canoe were very playful
the brothers made the canoe do jumps and tricks
the canoe was moving quickly through the ocean waves
the canoe sometimes went underneath the water's surface
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Page 30 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
The following content will be used for items 44 - 49
Here is a student's report that needs some revision. Read the report. Then answer the
questions.
Fascinating Facts About American Presidents and Vice
Presidents
America has had a long list of presidents and vice presidents. History includes many big
things about them. However, some less important facts are still interesting.
Barack Obama is called the 44th president, yet he is actually the 43rd person to be
president. This is because Grover Cleveland was elected twice, but not consecutively.
Cleveland is counted as both the 22nd and 24th president.
Three presidents died on the Fourth of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James
Monroe. Only one president, Calvin Coolidge was born on that day.
Before 1804, whoever placed second in the election automatically became vice
president. The president had no choice in the matter. I bet some of these guys really didn't
like each other at all. Now, the presidential candidates choose their own vice presidents.
American presidents and vice presidents are elected officials—except for two of them.
America has had a president and a vice president who were not chosen by the people. When
Richard Nixon's vice president resigned, he named Gerald Ford to take his place. Then,
when Nixon resigned the presidency, Ford became president, and he named Nelson
Rockefeller vice president. The two of them led the country until the next election.
American history is alive with less important yet interesting facts. What fascinating fact
can you discover?
44. Read this sentence from the report.
When Richard Nixon's vice president resigned, he named Gerald Ford to take his
place.
Which revision of the sentence makes the pronoun references clear?
A After naming Gerald Ford to take his place as vice president, Richard Nixon's vice
president resigned.
B After resigning as Richard Nixon's vice president, the vice president named Gerald
Ford to take his place.
C When Richard Nixon's vice president resigned, Gerald Ford named him to take the
vice president's place.
D When Richard Nixon's vice president resigned, Nixon named Gerald Ford to take the
vice president's place.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
45. Which sentence from the report should be rewritten to maintain a consistent style and tone?
A B C D The two of them led the country until the next election.
I bet some of these guys really didn't like each other at all.
America has had a long list of presidents and vice presidents.
American history is alive with less important yet interesting facts.
46. Read these sentences from the report.
America has had a long list of presidents and vice presidents. History includes
many big things about them.
Which of these best shows how to rewrite the second sentence to make the language more
precise and the meaning clear?
A History offers important stuff to read about the nation's presidents and vice presidents
from the past.
B History tends to focus on the most important information about America's presidents
and vice presidents.
C History contains so much information about America's presidents and vice presidents
that it is hard to remember it all.
D History reveals a lot of facts about the activities of the nation's presidents and vice
presidents throughout their time in office.
47. Read this sentence from the report.
Only one president, Calvin Coolidge was born on that day.
Which version of the sentence is written with correct punctuation?
A B C D Only one president Calvin Coolidge was born on that day.
Only one president Calvin Coolidge, was born on that day.
Only one president, Calvin Coolidge, was born on that day.
Only one president, Calvin, Coolidge, was born on that day.
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Page 32 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
48. After reading the report, Becka decides to research the question, "In American history, how
many presidents came from the Democratic Party and how many came from the Republican
Party—the two main political parties in America today?" However, she soon discovers that
several early presidents were elected as members of the Democratic-Republican party.
Based on this discovery, which question should Becka ask next to refocus her research?
A Why did the combined political party divide into the two principal political parties in
the United States?
B How many presidents have come from each political party throughout the history of
the United States?
C How many political parties have successfully nominated a candidate for president in
American history?
D Why did political parties become so involved in the selection of a president
throughout American history?
49. Read these sentences from the report.
This is because Grover Cleveland was elected twice, but not consecutively.
Cleveland is counted as both the 22nd and 24th president.
Which is the best meaning of the term "not consecutively," based on the information in the
sentences?
A B C D not a certain number
not numbered evenly
not occurring in order
not happening together
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Page 33 of 35
Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
50.
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Copyright © 2014 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Test Name: Quarter 4 ELA Grade 6 Question Bank 2013-2014
Test ID: 758410
How do you spell the name of an unfriendly person?
A B C D hostyile
hostle
hostyle
hostile
This is the end of the test.
Page 35 of 35
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