6th Grade Reading Benchmark
Which lines from the poem suggest that the tree deserves respect?
A. And she changes her clothes each season: A dress of pink blossoms in the spring, B. She has scarred wood, With intricate designs carved into her face. C. Her face looks out to the world, A grandmother to us all. D. Smelled the dew on summer dawns, And felt the moist soil at her feet.
Which word best describes the speaker's attitude toward the tree?
A. Appreciative. B. Cheerful. C. Sorrowful. D. Envious.
Which idea from the article does the photograph of the Burj Khalifa emphasize?
A. Building a skyscraper is a simple task for engineers. B. Skyscrapers have created city skylines with distinctive looks. C. Laws designate the areas where skyscrapers are allowed to be built. D. Modern construction techniques have allowed for more usable space in the bottom floors of skyscrapers.
Which idea is developed throughout the section "A Growing Need for Height"?
A. Cities provide better living environments than rural areas. B. Changing conditions can create unexpected demands. C. Opportunities to demonstrate skill are rare. D. Laws help maintain the beauty of an environment.
Read the dictionary entry below. bear \'ber\ v 1. to make a product 2. to give a statement as a witness 3. to tolerate a burden 4. to possess a certain characteristic Which definition best matches the meaning of BEAR as it is used in paragraph 19?
A. Definition 1. B. Definition 2. C. Definition 3. D. Definition 4.
Which sentence from the selection best shows that people recognize Fotheringham's accomplishments?
A. He has also been interviewed on CNN and earned a spot on the ABC news segment "Person of the Week." B. He likes to show these young people that a wheelchair can be a toy as well as a tool. C. He also performs on extreme-sports tours, racing down huge ramps and flying into the air to entertain crowds. D. Today Fotheringham competes in extreme-sports contests, where he's almost always the only athlete in a wheelchair.
What does the poet suggest about the tree in lines 24 through 30?
A. It is nearing the end of its life. B. It was in danger one year during a particularly rainy season. C. It has many descriptions of events carved into its wood. D. It has witnessed many events through the years.
Which of the following best supports the idea that finishing the Ironman Triathlon was a remarkable feat for Mr. Evolta?
A. It normally takes less than 13 hours for a human to complete the competition. B. Mr. Evolta is only about one-tenth the height of the average human. C. Each race in the event was held in Hawaii. D. Mr. Evolta needed more time to finish the competition than a human would.
What is paragraph 1 mainly about?
A. People watching birds in flight. B. The ancient Greeks telling about people who try to fly like birds. C. Leonardo da Vinci inventing a pair of mechanical wings in the 1400s. D. People being interested in flying like birds.
What does the word MANEUVER mean in paragraph 3?
A. Skillfully change a path or position. B. Be guided by a remote control. C. Cause to move rapidly. D. Contain electronic equipment.
Based on the information in paragraph 4, which generalization can be made?
A. Skyscrapers are the best attractions to see in a city. B. The usefulness of a building is more important than its size. C. It is sometimes difficult to define something that is easily recognized. D. Ordinary people usually know as much as experts do.
Which of the following is a major difference between SmartBird in "Looking to the Sky" and Mr. Evolta in "The Ironman Robot"?
A. SmartBird uses energy in a resourceful way, while Mr. Evolta uses more energy than is necessary. B. SmartBird does not rely on batteries to function, while Mr. Evolta relies solely on batteries to function. C. SmartBird was invented to find more efficient ways of using energy in the future, while Mr. Evolta was invented to demonstrate the efficiency of a current energy source. D. SmartBird was invented by one person, while Mr. Evolta was developed by a small team of company employees.
Which idea is supported by information in the article?
A. Technology is often too inefficient to be practical. B. Nature can inspire human innovation. C. The best machines have been designed to work by remote control. D. Innovations are usually based on the ideas of inventors who lived long ago.
What is the meaning of the word WITHSTAND in paragraph 3?
A. To endure. B. To control. C. To imagine. D. To create.
Why are the first and third lines of the poem echoed in the last stanza?
A. To show how large the tree has grown. B. To highlight that the age of the tree makes it special. C. To remind the reader of the importance of the environment. D. To explain what the speaker enjoys most about the tree's appearance.
The information in paragraphs 2 and 6 supports the idea that —
A. athletic competitions are challenging for any participant. B. Mr. Evolta was a difficult robot for Takahashi to design. C. people can be extremely inventive. D. Mr. Evolta is capable of amazing accomplishments.
The reader can conclude that Fotheringham believes it is important for all young people to have the opportunity to —
A. become famous on the Internet or television. B. compete in events that demonstrate their talents. C. participate in activities they enjoy. D. meet a famous person.
The author includes the information in paragraph 1 most likely to —
A. cause the reader to reflect upon personal accomplishments. B. build the reader's interest by presenting an improbable situation. C. present the most important information about the topic first. D. explain various reasons for writing about the topic.
The conversation between Uncle Roy and the narrator leads to the story's resolution because it —
A. causes the narrator to understand that what she did was wrong. B. makes the narrator decide to take responsibility for her actions. C. prompts the narrator to ask about the right time to confess. D. reveals to the narrator that her grandmother is aware of the narrator's deceit.
Read these sentences from the story. SEE TEST. Based on these two sentences, the reader can conclude that the narrator —
A. could not return home using the same path she had taken to the store. B. realizes her grandmother is in a hurry to get the yeast. C. feels satisfied with completing the errand for her grandmother. D. is less eager to return home than she was to get to the store.
One way "Looking to the Sky" and "The Ironman Robot" are similar is that they both —
A. discuss ideas that have been explored throughout history. B. imply that robots will continue to be improved upon in the future. C. describe inventors who came up with an idea to help their company. D. stress that electronics are common in modern life.
The end of the story reveals that Grandma —
A. does not believe it is wrong to spend someone else's money. B. wants the narrator to stop making mistakes. C. enjoys telling stories about her youth. D. is more understanding than the narrator anticipated.
Based on the photographs in the selection, the reader can conclude that Fotheringham —
A. enjoys winning extreme-sports events. B. competes in extreme-sports events with his brother. C. has performed at skate parks around the world. D. performs difficult tricks while competing.
In paragraph 5, the word IMPEDIMENTS refers to —
A. environments. B. events. C. obstacles. D. robots.
Based on the information included in the selection, the reader can infer that the author believes Panasonic —
A. found a creative way to promote its batteries. B. is the most successful company in Japan. C. focuses most of its efforts on creating robots. D. is primarily concerned with setting world records.
The photographs of Mr. Evolta support the information in the selection by —
A. illustrating how difficult each race was to complete. B. proving that the robot successfully finished all the races. C. helping the reader understand the length of each race in the triathlon. D. showing the reader the equipment used by the robot during the races.
In line 16, the word HUES means —
A. injuries. B. plants. C. expressions. D. colors.
The author's use of the first-person point of view in this story enables the reader to —
A. observe the actions of only the narrator. B. understand the internal struggle of the narrator. C. determine the reason why the narrator's grandmother forgives the narrator. D. focus on the relationship between the narrator and the other characters.
In paragraph 2, the word STEADFAST means —
A. patient. B. understanding. C. determined. D. calm.
Read lines 5 through 10 from the poem. SEE TEST. The poet uses personification in these lines most likely to show that the tree —
A. protects the other trees. B. provides a warning about approaching danger. C. has become stronger as it has matured. D. prevents smaller plants from having room to grow.
The information presented in "Looking to the Sky" and "The Ironman Robot" supports the idea that —
A. success in competition can result in receiving praise. B. robots can complete only tasks that can also be accomplished by humans. C. companies that use robots are more successful than those that rely only on humans. D. advances in technology stretch the limits of what is possible.
Paragraph 3 is important to the selection because it shows —
A. that Fotheringham grew up watching people compete in extreme sports. B. how long it took Fotheringham to develop enough tricks to perform in competitions. C. how Fotheringham became interested in extreme sports. D. which safety precautions Fotheringham took while he practiced.
The organization of paragraph 2 focuses on the limitations of buildings in the early nineteenth century to show that —
A. the available technology prevented skyscrapers from being built. B. people preferred to have buildings with many windows. C. the cost of materials prevented people from building skyscrapers. D. people were not interested in improving tall buildings.
The author included the section "How High Can We Go?" most likely to emphasize that —
A. the designs commonly used in today's tall buildings are complex. B. the ability to construct tall buildings has increased greatly over time. C. the need for tall buildings has remained constant over time. D. new technology and materials have lowered the cost of building tall buildings.
One difference between "Looking to the Sky" and "The Ironman Robot" is that only "The Ironman Robot" provides information about —
A. the tests the robot endured. B. the actions the robot was designed to perform. C. the size of the robot. D. the purpose of using the robot.
The reader can infer that future skyscrapers may surpass 3,000 feet because —
A. there were few tall buildings at the beginning of the 1900s. B. engineering and technological advances have improved the design of skyscrapers. C. the Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest building. D. skyscrapers have become a common feature of city skylines around the world.
The main theme of this selection is that —
A. trying new activities can result in joyful experiences. B. difficulties can be overcome with continued effort. C. new inventions can solve problems that have existed for a long time. D. fame can offer a unique opportunity to help others.
The author organizes information from the article into a bar graph most likely to make it easier for the reader to —
A. understand how skyscrapers affect a city's appearance. B. know where the tallest skyscrapers are. C. find out which building materials are lightest. D. compare the heights of buildings.
The author includes the phrase "let our dreams soar" in paragraph 7 to suggest that people —
A. will always wish for things they cannot have. B. should pursue their interests despite obstacles. C. can easily become distracted from their goals. D. should constantly think of ways to improve their skills.
Which sentence from the story shows that the narrator takes advantage of her situation at the store? A. While Grandma took the hot rolls from the oven, I told her about the candy.
B. I would have a nickel and two pennies back. C. The longer I gazed at the candy display, the more certain I became that I needed two pennies' worth as a reward for coming to the store alone. D. I found Grandma's purse and put the quarter in my pocket.
Read this summary of paragraph 3 written by a student. SEE TEST Which sentence in the student's summary is unnecessary? A. In the late 1800s three developments made building skyscrapers possible.
B. New Yorkers were very pleased with these advances. C. The use of steel in construction and the adoption of new construction designs made buildings stronger. D. In addition, the invention of the elevator allowed people to go up and down tall buildings more easily.
Which event contributes most to the narrator's inner conflict in the story? A. She is slow to return home when her grandmother is waiting on her.
B. She does not immediately confess to spending money that does not belong to her. C. She is sent to the store by herself and is not used to going there alone. D. She takes a path to the store that is different from her usual route.
Which sentence best supports the idea that the use of skyscrapers was a practical solution to a problem? A. The need for special equipment and designs meant that building up was costly.
B. Some skyscrapers echoed art trends of the past, linking cities to their history. C. Since most cities had limited amounts of land, sites for new houses and offices were scarce and expensive. D. These exciting new buildings gave architects and engineers a chance to demonstrate their skills.
The organizational pattern of the article develops the author's viewpoint by — A. presenting facts about how SmartBird works and explaining why it is a useful invention.
B. comparing SmartBird with other inventions and showing how technology has advanced. C. describing the reason Festo invented SmartBird and the effects the invention has had on the company. D. relating the sequence of events that occurred to create SmartBird.
Based on Uncle Roy's advice to the narrator, the reader can infer that Uncle Roy — A. is concerned the narrator will be punished by her grandmother for her actions.
B. has had a similar experience with the narrator's grandmother in the past. C. thinks the way the narrator's grandmother has been tricked is amusing. D. is sure someone else will tell the narrator's grandmother before the narrator has a chance to.
What is the best summary of the selection? A. Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham was born with a condition that prevents him from using his legs. By performing stunts in his wheelchair, he has become an extreme-sports celebrity who continually works to perfect new tricks. He has used his fame to help encourage others. B. Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham uses a wheelchair to compete in extreme-sports contests. He has won several of the contests and keeps learning new tricks. He is also learning to build wheelchairs that can be used in extreme sports.
C. Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham was born with spina bifida, a condition that makes him unable to use his legs. As a child he wanted to keep up with his siblings, so he learned to do tricks in his wheelchair. He can now do many stunts, which he demonstrates during extreme-sports contests. D. Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham regularly competes in and wins BMX freestyle contests while in a wheelchair. He is an Internet celebrity and has appeared on television. He now develops wheelchairs that can be used for extreme sports.
Which of the following is the best summary of the article? A. Though people have always shown an interest in constructing tall buildings, the height of such structures was relatively limited for many years. The use of steel and elevators helped make taller buildings possible. B. Throughout history people have always tried to construct tall buildings. People were eventually able to build skyscrapers as a result of several inventions. There is some debate about which building is the first example of a skyscraper.
C. Tall buildings have always interested people but have not always been easy to construct. Throughout the years new developments have allowed people to build skyscrapers. Today tall buildings are common in cities around the world. D. People have always tried to construct the tallest buildings possible. Modern skyscrapers are usually constructed with steel and glass and have elevators. Today the tallest building in the world is many times higher than the first skyscraper.
What is the best summary of the story? A. A girl is asked to go to the store to buy yeast for her grandmother. She takes the quickest path possible to get to the store. After buying the yeast, she uses some of the change to buy two pieces of candy. At first she does not tell her grandmother about what she has done. While the girl is sitting on the porch, her uncle suggests she tell her grandmother what is bothering her. B. A grandmother is baking rolls at home and notices that she does not have enough yeast. She asks her granddaughter to take a quarter to the store to buy some yeast. When the girl is at the store, she buys the yeast and also some candy. The girl arrives back at the house and tells her grandmother that she put the change in her grandmother's purse.
C. While a girl is at a store buying yeast for her grandmother, she decides to use some of the change to buy candy and returns only a nickel to her grandmother. Later, she becomes upset about what she has done, and her uncle suggests that she tell her grandmother what she did. When the girl finally confesses, her grandmother forgives her and tells her a story about when she was young. D. A grandmother sends her granddaughter to the store with a quarter to buy yeast for rolls. The girl hurries to the store, where she buys the yeast. She then decides to purchase two pieces of candy instead of getting all the change back. When she returns from the store, she takes the long way home. She eventually tells her grandmother what she did at the store.
