Idioms and old sayings

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Sentence with an adage and an idiom.

2. 1.

   Esme reads: "Two heads are better than one, so Luz and Jun teamed up and the puzzle was a piece of cake." Which reading fits both phrases?

   • Working together helped, and the puzzle was a treat to eat
   • Working together was slow, and the puzzle was hard
   • Working alone helped, and the puzzle was easy
   • Working together helped, and the puzzle was easy
3. 2.

   Jun reads: "Better late than never, Ari said, and finally hit the books on Sunday." Which reading fits both phrases?

   • Being late is good, so Ari hit a stack of books with a hand
   • Studying late is still worth it, so Ari studied
   • Ari rushed and had to redo the work
   • Studying late is a waste, so Ari rested
4. 3.

   Kira reads: "Look before you leap, said the guide, so we stayed on the fence about the steep trail." Which reading fits both phrases?

   • We sat on a fence beside the trail
   • We thought it over and had not decided yet
   • We decided many hands would carry us
   • We jumped right in and chose the trail
5. 4.

   Luz reads: "The test was so hard it was a piece of cake." Which change fixes the idiom?

   • The test was so hard, and practice makes perfect.
   • The test was so hard it was a piece of pie.
   • The test was so hard it was on the fence.
   • The test was so easy it was a piece of cake.
6. 5.

   Milo reads: "Bo was in hot water, so the coach gave Bo an award." Which change fixes the idiom?

   • Bo was in hot water, so practice makes perfect.
   • Bo was in hot water, so the coach gave Bo a warning.
   • Bo was on the fence, so the coach gave Bo an award.
   • Bo was in hot water, so the coach gave Bo a towel.
7. 6.

   Why might a writer use "bit off more than she could chew" instead of "took on too much"? Pick the best reason, Pia.

   • The picture of too big a bite makes the idea vivid
   • The idiom tells the reader the person was eating a big meal
   • The idiom makes the problem sound smaller
   • The idiom gives advice for the rest of life
8. 7.

   Why might a speaker end a team talk with "Many hands make light work"? Pick the best reason, Ren.

   • The saying tells each person on the team to do the work alone
   • The saying tells the team to lift the light boxes
   • The old saying makes the advice to help out easy to remember
   • The saying warns the team to slow down
9. 8.

   Why might a story say a nervous character "got cold feet" instead of "got scared"? Pick the best reason, Tala.

   • It shows the character felt brave and ready
   • It gives advice to think before acting
   • It tells the reader the character's feet were cold
   • It gives a lively picture of freezing up before acting
10. 9.

    Which sentence uses "break the ice" correctly, Ari?

    • The skater fell and helped break the ice at the pond.
    • The rude joke helped break the ice and ended the talk.
    • The coach helped break the ice by telling a secret.
    • A funny question helped break the ice at the new club.
11. 10.

    Which sentence uses "Haste makes waste" correctly, Bo?

    • Jun rushed the model and broke it, so haste makes waste.
    • Jun threw the waste away fast, so haste makes waste.
    • Jun asked a friend for help, so haste makes waste.
    • Jun took time on the model and won, so haste makes waste.