Words with special meanings in articles

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Tracking School Recycling (article)

   [1] A school newspaper article calls verified data the backbone of its recycling report. [2] One thread connects the sections on bins, paper, and monthly totals. [3] A clear lens helps readers notice which grade collected the most paper.

2. 1.

   Ari reads the article. What does backbone mean here?

   • main support
   • a report section on recycling bins
   • a spine
   • courage during a hard task
3. 2.

   Bo reads the article. What does lens mean here?

   • a viewpoint
   • a monthly total for recycling
   • curved glass for an eye
   • a camera part for focus
4. 3.

   Esme reads the article. What does thread mean here?

   • a linking idea
   • a total from one month
   • a line in an online discussion
   • sewing yarn

5. Helping Families Connect (article)

   [1] A community article says the translation team became a bridge by explaining forms in several languages and carrying questions back to the school office. [2] The weekly schedule was an anchor that kept volunteers steady during busy afternoons. [3] The team left a smaller footprint by sending fewer paper notices.

6. 4.

   Jun reads the article. What does bridge mean here?

   • a group connection
   • a card game for four players
   • a school office for families
   • a river crossing
7. 5.

   Luz reads the article. What does anchor mean here?

   • a news reader
   • a heavy object holding a boat
   • busy afternoons for volunteers
   • a steady central support

8. Saving Water in a Garden (article)

   [1] A garden article explains that a morning pulse of water reaches newly planted seedlings through narrow drip tubes. [2] The root of one leak was a loose connector at a drip tube. [3] After weeks of talks, volunteers called the group's list of ideas a harvest.

9. 6.

   Noah reads a garden repair note. What does root mean here?

   • a problem cause
   • a plant part under soil
   • a square root
   • a drip tube for water
10. 7.

    Pia reads the article. What does harvest mean here?

    • crops gathered from a field
    • water flowing in tubes
    • a result of effort
    • a season of farm work

11. A Lunch-Waste Plan (article)

    [1] A cleanup article says student questions became fuel for reducing lunch waste. [2] One question was the spark for the team's plan to count unopened food and sort containers. [3] The first poster caused a ripple of new ideas in other classrooms.

12. 8.

    Ren reads the article. What does fuel mean here?

    • unopened food for the count
    • an action driver
    • material burned for energy
    • food stored by the body
13. 9.

    Tala reads the article. What does ripple mean here?

    • a wrinkle in cloth
    • a count of unopened food
    • a spreading effect
    • a small wave on water
14. 10.

    Zee reads the article. What does spark mean here?

    • an idea starter
    • a tiny flash from fire
    • a lively person full of energy
    • the first poster