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Reading — Grade 6

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What the Waggle Means

Honeybees cannot talk, but a forager that finds a good patch of flowers can still tell the hive where it is. Back at the hive, she climbs onto the comb and performs a figure-eight pattern called the waggle dance. In the straight middle part of the dance, she shakes her body from side to side while moving forward.

  1. 1. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. What is the dance performed by the forager called?
    1. A. the waggle dance ← Answer
    2. B. the comb march
    3. C. the foraging circle
    4. D. the sun spin
  2. 2. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. What does the length of the waggle tell the other bees?
    1. A. how far away the flowers are ← Answer
    2. B. which hive the forager came from
    3. C. how sweet the nectar is
    4. D. how many flowers there are
  3. 3. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. Where does the forager perform the dance?
    1. A. in the air above the hive
    2. B. on the comb inside the hive ← Answer
    3. C. at the entrance of the hive
  4. 4. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. If a forager runs straight up the comb, where are the flowers?
    1. A. in the direction of the sun ← Answer
    2. B. directly away from the sun
    3. C. 40 degrees to the right of the sun
  5. 5. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. Which sentence from the text states what the dance provides?
    1. A. It gives them directions. ← Answer
    2. B. Back at the hive, she climbs onto the comb.
    3. C. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers.
    4. D. Honeybees cannot talk.
  6. 6. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. Which sentence best supports the claim that a long waggle means far-away flowers?
    1. A. Researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes.
    2. B. In the straight middle part of the dance, she shakes her body from side to side.
    3. C. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. ← Answer
  7. 7. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. What can the reader infer about why honeybees use the dance?
    1. A. Foragers cannot describe a location in words, so the dance does that job. ← Answer
    2. B. The dance is a way to warn the hive about danger.
    3. C. Bees dance because they cannot find the flowers themselves.
    4. D. Foragers dance only to exercise before the next trip.
  8. 8. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. A forager runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up. Which way should the other bees fly?
    1. A. 40 degrees to the right of the sun ← Answer
    2. B. straight toward the sun
    3. C. 40 degrees to the left of the sun
    4. D. 40 degrees to the right of straight up on the comb
  9. 9. The angle of that straight run tells the other bees which way to fly. If she runs straight up the comb, the flowers lie in the direction of the sun. If she runs 40 degrees to the right of straight up, the bees should fly 40 degrees to the right of the sun. The length of the waggle tells them how far to go. A short waggle means the flowers are close, and a long one means they are far away. Watching bees leave the hive after a dance, researchers have found that most of them reach the right patch within minutes. The dance does not let the bees see or smell the flowers. It gives them directions. Which detail from the text shows that the dance works?
    1. A. Honeybees live together in a hive.
    2. B. Most bees that watch a dance reach the right patch within minutes. ← Answer
    3. C. The forager performs a figure-eight pattern on the comb inside the hive.

New Hours at the Branch Library

The Eastfield Branch Library will open on Sunday afternoons beginning in March. For the past ten years, the branch has been closed on Sundays, and library staff say that was the day families asked about most often. A survey of 400 patrons found that 62 percent wanted Sunday hours, more than any other change on the list. The next most popular request, a quiet study room, was chosen by 21 percent.

  1. 10. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. When will the branch begin its Sunday hours?
    1. A. next January
    2. B. after one year
    3. C. in the fall
    4. D. in March ← Answer
  2. 11. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. What percent of patrons surveyed wanted Sunday hours?
    1. A. 62 percent ← Answer
    2. B. 40 percent
    3. C. 38 percent
  3. 12. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. How many patrons were surveyed?
    1. A. 30
    2. B. 100
    3. C. 400 ← Answer
  4. 13. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. What was the second most popular request?
    1. A. longer weekday hours
    2. B. a quiet study room ← Answer
    3. C. more computers
    4. D. a larger book collection
  5. 14. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. For how long has the branch been closed on Sundays?
    1. A. ten years ← Answer
    2. B. thirty years
    3. C. one year
    4. D. two years
  6. 15. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. Besides the survey, what detail shows staff had reason to add Sunday hours?
    1. A. Monday mornings were already the busiest time for the branch.
    2. B. Sunday was the only day the branch had no staff.
    3. C. The board had received a gift for new hours.
    4. D. Families asked about Sundays more often than any other day. ← Answer
  7. 16. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. How will the library pay for the new hours?
    1. A. by closing the branch on Saturday afternoons to save staff hours
    2. B. by charging patrons a fee for Sunday visits
    3. C. by raising local taxes by a small amount
    4. D. by moving two part-time shifts from Monday morning to Sunday ← Answer
  8. 17. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. What can the reader infer about Monday mornings at the branch?
    1. A. They will become a time for study rooms.
    2. B. They are quiet compared with other times. ← Answer
    3. C. They are already closed to the public.
    4. D. They are the most popular time for families.
  9. 18. To pay for the new hours, the library board will move two part-time shifts from Monday morning, when the branch averages only nine visitors per hour, to Sunday. The board does not expect to raise any taxes. Branch manager Lucille Oyelaran says the schedule will be reviewed after one year. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. Which sentence best supports the idea that the schedule is not permanent?
    1. A. The Eastfield Branch Library will open on Sunday afternoons.
    2. B. The board does not expect to raise any taxes.
    3. C. The next most popular request was a quiet study room.
    4. D. If fewer than 30 people visit on an average Sunday, the board may change the hours again. ← Answer

How Sound Travels

Sound is a vibration, and a vibration needs something to move through. When a drum is struck, its surface moves back and forth and pushes on the air next to it. That air pushes on the air beyond it, and the push passes along from particle to particle until it reaches your ear.

  1. 19. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. What is sound, according to the text?
    1. A. a kind of light
    2. B. a type of particle
    3. C. a form of heat
    4. D. a vibration ← Answer
  2. 20. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. About how fast does sound move in air at room temperature?
    1. A. 343 meters each minute
    2. B. 343 meters each second ← Answer
    3. C. 1,500 meters each second
  3. 21. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. What does a struck drum push on first?
    1. A. the air next to its surface ← Answer
    2. B. the ear of the listener
    3. C. the water beyond the drum's surface
    4. D. a steel rail
  4. 22. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. In which material does the text say sound travels faster than in air?
    1. A. empty space
    2. B. water ← Answer
    3. C. a vacuum
  5. 23. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. Why can sound not travel across outer space?
    1. A. The stars are too far away for a vibration to reach us.
    2. B. Light blocks the vibration.
    3. C. There is almost nothing there to carry a vibration. ← Answer
  6. 24. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. Which sentence explains why sound moves faster in water than in air?
    1. A. The particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. ← Answer
    2. B. Sound moves about 343 meters each second.
    3. C. The drum pushes on the air next to it.
    4. D. Light behaves differently.
  7. 25. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. Which detail best supports the claim that sound needs a material to travel?
    1. A. Sound moves at 343 meters each second.
    2. B. Sound cannot travel across outer space, where almost nothing is present. ← Answer
    3. C. A drum has a surface that moves.
    4. D. Light needs no material at all, so it crosses the empty space between stars.
  8. 26. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. Which list puts materials in order from slowest to fastest for sound?
    1. A. air, water, steel ← Answer
    2. B. steel, water, air
    3. C. air, steel, water
    4. D. water, air, steel
  9. 27. Because sound depends on particles, it travels differently through different materials. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters each second. In water, it moves more than four times as fast, because the particles are packed more closely and pass the push along more quickly. In a steel rail, it is faster still. In outer space, there is almost nothing to carry a vibration, so sound cannot travel across it. Light behaves differently. It needs no material at all, which is why we can see distant stars but cannot hear them. Why does the author mention distant stars?
    1. A. to contrast light, which needs no material, with sound ← Answer
    2. B. to explain why space looks dark when seen from far away
    3. C. to show that stars make loud sounds
    4. D. to describe how far sound can travel

The Bridge at Pell River

For most of the 1800s, the only way across the Pell River was a ferry that ran from dawn to dusk. In spring, when the river rose, the ferry often stopped for days, and farmers on the east bank could not reach the market in Dunmore. In 1891, the county decided to build a bridge.

  1. 28. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. How did people cross the Pell River before the bridge?
    1. A. by a stone path
    2. B. by ferry ← Answer
    3. C. by a wooden bridge
    4. D. by wading in August
  2. 29. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. In what year did the bridge open?
    1. A. 1800
    2. B. 1891
    3. C. 1893 ← Answer
    4. D. 1894
  3. 30. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Why could farmers not reach the market in spring?
    1. A. The farmers were busy planting.
    2. B. The ferry often stopped when the river rose. ← Answer
    3. C. The market closed for the season after the harvest ended.
  4. 31. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Which material did the builders choose for the bridge spans?
    1. A. brick
    2. B. stone
    3. C. iron ← Answer
  5. 32. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. When did workers set the stone piers into the riverbed?
    1. A. in the fall of 1893
    2. B. in the spring, when the river was rising
    3. C. in August and September ← Answer
  6. 33. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Why did the builders choose iron instead of wood?
    1. A. Floods had washed away two wooden bridges farther down the river. ← Answer
    2. B. Wood could not be found near the river.
    3. C. The ferry company asked for iron.
    4. D. Iron was cheaper than wood, and the county had limited funds that year.
  7. 34. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Which detail shows the bridge helped the Dunmore market?
    1. A. The county decided to build in 1891.
    2. B. The bridge still stands today and is used mostly by walkers now.
    3. C. Deliveries from the east bank had tripled within a year. ← Answer
  8. 35. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Why did workers build the piers in August and September?
    1. A. The market was closed in those months.
    2. B. The water in the river was lowest then. ← Answer
    3. C. The ferry was closed during those two months of the year.
  9. 36. The builders chose iron over wood because floods had washed away two wooden bridges built farther down the river. Workers set stone piers into the riverbed during August and September, when the water was lowest. The iron spans were then lifted into place, and the bridge opened in the fall of 1893. Within a year, the market in Dunmore reported that deliveries from the east bank had tripled. The bridge, which still stands, is now used mostly by walkers and cyclists. Which pair of dates lets the reader work out how long construction took?
    1. A. the ferry service and the flood that destroyed the wooden bridges
    2. B. the decision in 1891 and the opening in 1893 ← Answer
    3. C. August and September
    4. D. the first year and the tripled deliveries

Sleep and Memory

Many students believe that staying up late to study is the best way to prepare for a test. Research on sleep suggests otherwise. During the day, the brain takes in a great deal of new information, but much of it is stored only loosely. During deep sleep, the brain replays recent experiences and strengthens the connections that matter.

  1. 37. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. How long did the sleeping group sleep?
    1. A. twenty hours
    2. B. eight hours ← Answer
    3. C. four hours
  2. 38. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. How much more did the sleeping group recall?
    1. A. about 8 percent more pairs
    2. B. about 2 percent more
    3. C. about twice as much
    4. D. about 20 percent more ← Answer
  3. 39. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. What does the brain do during deep sleep?
    1. A. It forgets what was learned.
    2. B. It replays recent experiences and strengthens connections. ← Answer
    3. C. It stops storing information and waits until the next morning.
  4. 40. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. What did both groups of volunteers learn in the evening?
    1. A. a short story
    2. B. a set of facts from math class
    3. C. a list of word pairs ← Answer
  5. 41. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. What belief does the author challenge at the start?
    1. A. that staying up late to study is best ← Answer
    2. B. that sleep is not important at all
    3. C. that students should study in the morning
  6. 42. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. Which sentence shows that sleep alone is not enough to learn something?
    1. A. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs.
    2. B. Many students believe staying up late is best.
    3. C. During deep sleep, the brain replays recent experiences.
    4. D. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. ← Answer
  7. 43. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. Which detail supports the claim that sleep helps memory?
    1. A. The group that slept recalled more word pairs than the group that stayed awake. ← Answer
    2. B. Both groups learned in the evening.
    3. C. The brain takes in much new information during the day, but stores much of it loosely.
  8. 44. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. Why did the researchers have both groups learn the same list?
    1. A. so the only difference between the groups was sleep ← Answer
    2. B. so the test would be easy
    3. C. so the list could be shortened
    4. D. so the volunteers could study together in the evening hours
  9. 45. In one study, two groups of volunteers learned the same list of word pairs in the evening. One group slept eight hours, and the other stayed awake all night. Two days later, after normal sleep, both groups were tested. The group that slept recalled about 20 percent more of the pairs. Sleep does not replace studying. A person who never learned the material will not remember it just because they slept. What sleep does is help the brain keep what has already been learned. What does "stored only loosely" suggest about new information?
    1. A. It is lost within an hour.
    2. B. It is stored in a different part of the body.
    3. C. It is stronger than older memories.
    4. D. It is not yet firmly held in memory. ← Answer

Building Roads in Layers

Roman engineers built roads in layers. First, workers dug a trench and filled it with large stones. Over the stones they laid gravel, and on top they set flat paving stones fitted tightly together. The road was slightly higher in the middle so that rain ran off into ditches along the sides. Water was the greatest enemy of any road, and this design kept it from soaking into the foundation.

  1. 46. Roads were built as straight as the land allowed, and every mile was marked with a stone column. Armies used the roads to move quickly, but merchants and ordinary travelers used them too. Some stretches of these roads can still be seen today, nearly two thousand years later. What did workers fill the trench with first?
    1. A. large stones ← Answer
    2. B. flat paving stones
    3. C. sand
    4. D. gravel
  2. 47. Roads were built as straight as the land allowed, and every mile was marked with a stone column. Armies used the roads to move quickly, but merchants and ordinary travelers used them too. Some stretches of these roads can still be seen today, nearly two thousand years later. Why was the road slightly higher in the middle?
    1. A. so the road looked grand
    2. B. so armies could march in the center
    3. C. so rain ran off into ditches ← Answer
    4. D. so wagons would stay on the road
  3. 48. Roads were built as straight as the land allowed, and every mile was marked with a stone column. Armies used the roads to move quickly, but merchants and ordinary travelers used them too. Some stretches of these roads can still be seen today, nearly two thousand years later. What marked every mile of the roads?
    1. A. a ditch
    2. B. a stone column ← Answer
    3. C. a wooden sign
    4. D. a painted line
  4. 49. Roads were built as straight as the land allowed, and every mile was marked with a stone column. Armies used the roads to move quickly, but merchants and ordinary travelers used them too. Some stretches of these roads can still be seen today, nearly two thousand years later. Besides armies, who used the roads?
    1. A. sailors
    2. B. only messengers
    3. C. only soldiers, tax collectors and messengers
    4. D. merchants and ordinary travelers ← Answer
  5. 50. Roads were built as straight as the land allowed, and every mile was marked with a stone column. Armies used the roads to move quickly, but merchants and ordinary travelers used them too. Some stretches of these roads can still be seen today, nearly two thousand years later. What was laid on top of the gravel?
    1. A. large stones from the trench
    2. B. flat paving stones ← Answer
    3. C. a layer of sand
    4. D. iron plates
UpOnly Learning · uponlylearning.com · free to print and photocopy for your own studentsReading — Grade 6
UpOnly Learning · uponlylearning.com · Reading Grade 6
From the workbook

A real page of Reading · Grade 6

Proof From the Page

The student will cite specific text evidence to support both what an informational text says directly and what can be inferred from it. · 40 min

Warm-up — say this

“In nonfiction, a statement is only as strong as the evidence behind it. Today we practice finding that evidence.”

Worked example

Which sentence states explicitly what the dance gives the bees?

Answer: "It gives them directions." The last sentence says it directly, so it is explicit evidence.

A mistake students make

Any detail from the passage counts as evidence for any claim.

How the book fixes it

Evidence must connect to the claim. Ask the student to explain how the detail proves the specific idea, not just that it appears in the text.

Note to the parent

When your student makes a claim about something they read, ask, "Where does it say that?" Pointing to the line becomes a habit.

That is one topic of many. The free questions above check a skill; this is the part that teaches it.

Practice checks. Our reading workbooks teach.

These questions check a skill. The workbook teaches it.

  • TeachesA 40-minute lesson per topic that tells you what to say.
  • ExplainsWorked examples and the common mistakes, with fixes.
  • ReviewsAnswers with short explanations, and fresh questions.
  • PlansEvery topic in teaching order, matched to the standards.

Other grades

Grade 6, other subjects

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What do the paid workbooks add?

These questions check a skill. The workbook teaches it: a forty-minute lesson that tells you what to say, two worked examples, the two mistakes students actually make on that skill and how to correct each one, and an explanation beside every answer rather than a bare key.