6th grade English Language Arts practice sheet
California Content Standards · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Why might an author choose to write in first person?
- to make sure the story has no narrator
- to show every character's secret thoughts
- to let readers experience events through one character's own voice and thoughts
- to give the reader step-by-step instructions
to let readers experience events through one character's own voice and thoughts
Hint: First person puts you inside the narrator's head.
Question 2
Sort each word: positive or negative connotation?
Sort into: 😊 Positive · 😒 Negative
- 🔤lazy
- 🔤shack
- 🔤stench
- 🔤cozy
- 🔤determined
- 🔤assertive
😊 Positive: cozy, determined, assertive · 😒 Negative: lazy, shack, stench
Hint: Ask yourself: would you feel pleased or upset if someone used this word to describe you?
Question 3
Put this persuasive paragraph in a logical order.
- First, caring for a pet teaches responsibility.
- Second, watching an animal can help people feel calm.
- Every classroom should have a class pet.
- For these reasons, a class pet would be a great addition to any classroom.
- For instance, students can take turns feeding the pet and cleaning its home.
Every classroom should have a class pet. → First, caring for a pet teaches responsibility. → For instance, students can take turns feeding the pet and cleaning its home. → Second, watching an animal can help people feel calm. → For these reasons, a class pet would be a great addition to any classroom.
Hint: Start with the claim, give each reason followed by its example, and finish with the conclusion. Signal words like “First,” “For example” and “In conclusion” help.
Question 4
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
Each of the players _____ a water bottle.
- has
- have
- having
- are having
has
Hint: “Each” is singular. Ignore “of the players.”
Question 5
Sort each one: complete sentence, fragment or run-on?
Sort into: ✅ Complete · 🧩 Fragment · 🚂 Run-on
- 📝The bell rang everyone rushed outside.
- 📝I love pancakes my brother prefers waffles.
- 📝The hikers reached the top before noon.
- 📝Because the bus was late.
- 📝Running down the hallway with a backpack.
- 📝My little brother loves dinosaurs.
✅ Complete: The hikers reached the top before noon., My little brother loves dinosaurs. · 🧩 Fragment: Because the bus was late., Running down the hallway with a backpack. · 🚂 Run-on: The bell rang everyone rushed outside., I love pancakes my brother prefers waffles.
Hint: A complete sentence has a subject, a verb and a complete thought. A run-on jams two sentences together with no punctuation.
Question 6
Which part is the dependent (subordinate) clause?
If it snows tomorrow, the field trip will be postponed.
- tomorrow
- If it snows tomorrow
- the field trip
- the field trip will be postponed
If it snows tomorrow
Hint: Which part starts with a subordinating word and leaves you waiting for more?
Question 7
Use the roots: what is a “spectator”?
- a person who speaks at an event
- a person who builds stadiums
- a person who watches an event
- a person who carries equipment
a person who watches an event
Hint: spect = look, and -or means “a person who.”
Question 8
Which transitional word shows a contrast?
- Therefore
- Furthermore
- However
However
Hint: However shows that the next idea is different.
Question 9
A text lists events in the order they happened, using first, then and finally. What pattern is it?
- compare and contrast
- problem and solution
- chronological order
chronological order
Hint: Time words like first, then and finally show chronological order.
Question 10
What does “accurate” mean when judging information?
- exciting to read
- short
- popular
- correct and true to the facts
correct and true to the facts
Hint: Accuracy is about being correct.
Answer key
- 1. to let readers experience events through one character's own voice and thoughts (Point of View)
- 2. 😊 Positive: cozy, determined, assertive · 😒 Negative: lazy, shack, stench (Connotation & Tone)
- 3. Every classroom should have a class pet. → First, caring for a pet teaches responsibility. → For instance, students can take turns feeding the pet and cleaning its home. → Second, watching an animal can help people feel calm. → For these reasons, a class pet would be a great addition to any classroom. (Make Your Case)
- 4. has (Agreement)
- 5. ✅ Complete: The hikers reached the top before noon., My little brother loves dinosaurs. · 🧩 Fragment: Because the bus was late., Running down the hallway with a backpack. · 🚂 Run-on: The bell rang everyone rushed outside., I love pancakes my brother prefers waffles. (Sentence Repair)
- 6. If it snows tomorrow (Commas & Clauses)
- 7. a person who watches an event (Roots & Analogies)
- 8. However (Punctuation Power)
- 9. chronological order (Text Forms & Features)
- 10. correct and true to the facts (Check the Source)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all English language arts units.