Vary sentences and keep the tone

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Does Salt Change How Ice Melts? (lab report draft)

   [1] Our class tested whether salt changes how fast ice melts, because road crews spread salt on icy streets in winter and we wanted to understand why it works. [2] The class placed carefully measured, equal amounts of ice in each of three identical paper cups. [3] The class set the cups on a window ledge. [4] The class left the cups there for thirty minutes. [5] The data looked super weird to us. [6] At the end of the thirty minutes, the salted cup held the most liquid water, and the difference was large enough to see without measuring. [7] The sugar cup changed very little. [8] Its ice melted just slightly faster than the ice in the plain cup. [9] We think salt lowers the temperature at which water freezes, so the ice melts even when the room is cool. [10] A second trial would show whether these results repeat. [11] Because the room temperature was not recorded during the investigation, the class cannot yet say whether the same results would appear on a colder or warmer afternoon in the classroom.

2. 1.

   Pia is checking the lab report. Which sentence does not match the formal tone a science report needs?

   • [8] Its ice melted just slightly faster than the ice in the plain cup.
   • [10] A second trial would show whether these results repeat.
   • [5] The data looked super weird to us.
   • [9] We think salt lowers the temperature at which water freezes, so the ice melts even when the room is cool.
3. 2.

   Kira joins sentences [7] and [8] so the second one explains the first. Which version keeps both facts?

   • The sugar cup changed very little because its ice melted slightly faster.
   • Because the sugar cup changed very little, its ice melted just slightly faster than the ice in the plain cup.
   • The sugar cup changed very little, since its ice melted just slightly faster than the ice in the plain cup.
   • The sugar cup changed very little, its ice melted just slightly faster than the ice in the plain cup.
4. 3.

   Milo sees that [2], [3] and [4] all open with The class. Which new [3] opens differently and keeps the meaning?

   • The students set the cups on a window ledge.
   • On a window ledge, the class set the cups.
   • On a ledge, the class set the cups.
   • In a shady corner, the class set the cups.

5. A Crosswalk for Maple Street (letter to the town council)

   [1] Dear Council Members, I am writing on behalf of my sixth-grade class to ask for a new crosswalk and a flashing warning sign at the corner of Maple Street and Fifth Avenue. [2] Many students cross there on their way to Lincoln Middle School. [3] Many drivers do not slow down near the corner. [4] Many parents worry about the traffic in the morning. [5] Honestly, lots of drivers just zoom through there like they own the road. [6] Last month, a delivery truck stopped within a few feet of a sixth grader. [7] The driver had not seen the child between two parked cars. [8] A painted crosswalk and a flashing sign would warn drivers long before they reach the corner. [9] Thank you for taking the time to consider this request, and our class would be glad to present the results of its traffic count at your next meeting. [10] A safer crossing would also reassure the many families who currently walk their children to school instead of allowing them to ride the bus.

6. 4.

   Bo is checking a letter to the town council. Which sentence is too casual for the reader?

   • [6] Last month, a delivery truck stopped within a few feet of a sixth grader.
   • [8] A painted crosswalk and a flashing sign would warn drivers long before they reach the corner.
   • [4] Many parents worry about the traffic in the morning.
   • [5] Honestly, lots of drivers just zoom through there like they own the road.
7. 5.

   Ren sees that [2], [3] and [4] all begin with Many. Which new [3] opens differently and keeps the meaning?

   • Near the corner, many drivers do not slow down.
   • Near the school gate, many drivers do not slow down.
   • Near the corner, drivers do not slow down.
   • Several drivers do not slow down near the corner.

8. Tomatoes Behind the Gym (school newsletter article)

   [1] The Garden Club planted forty tomato seedlings behind the gym on Saturday. [2] Volunteers dug the rows. [3] Volunteers watered the seedlings. [4] Volunteers spread mulch around the stems. [5] The undersigned committee hereby declares the planting a resounding success. [6] The seedlings are small right now. [7] They should be ready to pick by August. [8] Club members will water the plants each Monday and Thursday, and anyone in the school may join them. [9] Because tomato plants need about six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day, the club chose the sunniest strip of ground along the fence, where nothing blocks the afternoon light. [10] Families who would like to taste the first ripe tomatoes can sign up at the main office, where the club keeps a list of every gardener and volunteer.

9. 6.

   Zee joins [6] and [7] so the second idea contrasts with the first. Which version keeps both facts?

   • The seedlings are small right now, they should be ready to pick by August.
   • Although the seedlings are small right now, they should be ready to pick.
   • Although the seedlings are small right now, they should be ready to pick by August.
   • Because the seedlings are small right now, they should be ready to pick by August.
10. 7.

    Esme sees that [2], [3] and [4] all begin with Volunteers. Which new [3] opens differently and keeps the meaning?

    • Once the rows were ready, volunteers worked.
    • Once the rows were ready, volunteers watered the seedlings.
    • Volunteers soaked the seedlings.
    • Once the sun set, volunteers watered the seedlings.

11. The Clay Water Jar (museum label)

    [1] This clay jar was made in the village of Santa Rosa about nine hundred years ago by potters who gathered the clay from a nearby riverbank. [2] Potters shaped the jar by hand. [3] Potters smoothed the surface with a wet stone. [4] Potters painted the black lines with a dye made from plants. [5] The designs on the jar are pretty cool. [6] The jar held water for the family. [7] It was kept in a cool corner of the house. [8] The water stayed fresh for several days. [9] Visitors can see a similar jar in the case beside this one. [10] Clay vessels like this one were valuable to families in the region because they were inexpensive to make, simple to repair and cool enough to keep water drinkable through the long dry season. [11] Archaeologists study the shape and decoration of such jars to learn how neighboring villages traded goods, shared ideas and adapted their craft to the local clay.

12. 8.

    Noah checks the museum label. Which sentence does not match the formal tone visitors expect?

    • [9] Visitors can see a similar jar in the case beside this one.
    • [3] Potters smoothed the surface with a wet stone.
    • [7] It was kept in a cool corner of the house.
    • [5] The designs on the jar are pretty cool.
13. 9.

    Jun joins [7] and [8] so the label shows the reason the water stayed fresh. Which version keeps both facts?

    • Because the jar was kept in a cool corner of the house, the water stayed fresh for several days.
    • The jar was kept in a cool corner of the house the water stayed fresh for several days.
    • Because the jar was kept in a cool corner of the house, the water stayed fresh.
    • Because the water stayed fresh for several days, the jar was kept in a cool corner of the house.
14. 10.

    Ari sees that [2], [3] and [4] all open with Potters. Which new [4] opens differently and keeps the meaning?

    • Using a dye made from plants, potters painted the black lines.
    • Craftspeople painted the black lines with a dye made from plants.
    • Using a dye made from minerals, potters painted the black lines.
    • Using a dye made from plants, potters painted.