Work out a word from its sentence
Grade 6 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Night Shift (story)
[1] While most of the town sleeps, Marguerite's bakery is already humming. [2] She unlocks the door at three in the morning, when the streets are deserted and the only sound is the key turning in the lock. [3] The dough has rested in the cooler overnight, and it must be shaped before the sun rises. [4] Marguerite works at a brisk pace, because the first customers will expect warm loaves by six.
[5] Her apprentice, Dov, is still learning the trade, and several of his rolls come out lopsided, leaning to one side like tiny tents. [6] Marguerite never scolds him. [7] She shows him the motion again, using a light touch that barely presses the dough. [8] “Bread is patient with beginners,” she tells him, “but not with someone who hurries.”
[9] By sunrise, the racks are crowded with golden loaves. [10] The smell drifts out the door and down the street like an invitation to anyone who passes.
Ari reads sentence 2. What does deserted most likely mean in that sentence?
- abandoned and left to fall apart for good
- dark, with not a single light turned on
- empty, with almost no people around
- busy, with early walkers on the corners
Bo reads sentence 4. What does brisk most likely mean in that sentence?
- slow and relaxed, with no worry
- quick and full of energy
- rushed and careless with the dough
- chilly and fresh, like morning air
Esme reads sentence 7. Which meaning of light fits “a light touch”?
- gentle, using very little pressure
- bright, giving off a lot of glow
- to set fire to something, as a match does
- not heavy, easy to pick up and carry
Jun reads sentence 3. Which meaning of rested fits “the dough has rested”?
- stayed behind as the part that was left over
- leaned against something for support
- sat untouched for a while so it could settle
- stopped working to get back some energy
The Canyon Trail (story)
[1] Tavi's group started up the canyon trail just after sunrise, hoping to reach the top before the afternoon heat. [2] The path was faint in places, so the guide, Ms. Okafor, stopped often to check the small piles of stones that marked the way. [3] Water was scarce on the route, and each hiker carried three full bottles instead of one.
[4] “Drink slowly,” Ms. Okafor advised, “because the next place to refill is a spring near the summit.” [5] The hikers wore sturdy boots, which gripped the loose rock and did not tear on the sharp edges. [6] Near noon the trail crossed a dry creek bed where the bank was crumbling, and everyone moved single file along the edge.
[7] Remy, Tavi's partner, slipped once but caught a root and kept moving. [8] By two o'clock, the group reached the spring, a cold stream bubbling out of the rock. [9] They rested in the shade and refilled every bottle before starting down.
Luz reads sentence 2. What does faint most likely mean in that sentence?
- hard to see because it is not clear
- completely gone, with no sign of it
- ready to fall over, as if dizzy
- wide and marked with bright paint
Milo reads sentence 3. What does scarce most likely mean in that sentence?
- completely missing from the canyon
- easy to find along the whole route
- hard to find and in short supply
- cold and fresh from the mountain
Pia reads sentence 6. Which meaning of bank fits “where the bank was crumbling”?
- a long row of lights or switches on a panel
- the sloping ground along the edge of a creek
- a business that keeps people's money safe and lends it
- to tilt to one side while turning a corner
The Fossil Room (article)
[1] The fossil room at the city museum is quiet, and visitors are asked to speak softly. [2] One glass case holds a fragile fish fossil, so thin that a strong breeze could break it. [3] Workers move around the room in a cautious way, setting each foot down slowly and lifting every tray with both hands.
[4] Dr. Leung explains that the staff must mount each new bone on a metal stand before visitors can see it. [5] The stand holds the bone upright without touching its delicate edges. [6] Once a bone is in place, a label gives its name and the age of the rock where it was found.
[7] Some visitors complain that the room is too dim, but the low light protects the fossils from fading. [8] A school group arrived on Tuesday, and the guide asked each student to look closely without touching anything. [9] Before leaving, the students voted for the exhibit they liked best, and the fish fossil won easily.
Tala reads sentence 2. What does fragile most likely mean in that sentence?
- very old and worth a great deal of money
- already broken into many small pieces
- easily broken because it is so thin
- strong enough to survive rough handling
Zee reads sentence 3. What does cautious most likely mean in that sentence?
- frightened and unable to move
- quiet and silent, making no sound as they work
- careful to avoid mistakes or damage
- careless and in a hurry to finish
Bo wants to know what dim means in sentence 7. Which words give the strongest clue?
- Some visitors complain that the room is too dim
- the students voted for the exhibit they liked most
- the low light protects the fossils from fading
- the guide asked each student to look closely without touching anything