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Grade 6 English Language Arts practice sheet

Alberta Curriculum · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________

  1. Question 1

    Why does Amir keep his sketchbook closed at first?

    Lines on Paper

    During his first week at the new school, Amir ate lunch at the end of the long table and kept his sketchbook closed on his lap. At his old school, everyone had known him as “the map kid.” Here, nobody knew him at all.

    On Thursday, the sketchbook slid off his knees and fell open. Zoe picked it up before he could reach it. Inside was a hand-drawn map of an island, with mountain ridges shaded in pencil and tiny labels in careful capital letters.

    “You made this?” Zoe asked. Amir shrugged and held out his hand for the book, staring at the floor.

    “Our group needs someone to draw the setting for our class story,” she said. “We've been arguing about it for days.” She slid onto the bench beside him. For the first time all week, Amir opened the sketchbook on purpose.

    • He is upset with Zoe.
    • He has lost his pencil.
    • The sketchbook is empty.
    • He feels unsure about how his new classmates will see him.
    Show answer

    He feels unsure about how his new classmates will see him.

    Hint: He's new, and “nobody knew him at all.” How might that make someone act?

  2. Question 2

    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
    Show answer

    to let readers experience events through one character's own voice and thoughts

    Hint: First person puts you inside the narrator's head.

  3. Question 3

    What kind of figurative language is used here?

    The stars glittered like tiny jewels on a dark blanket.

    • Simile
    • Idiom
    • Metaphor
    • Personification
    Show answer

    Simile

    Hint: A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as.”

  4. Question 4

    Sort each word: positive or negative connotation?

    Sort into: 😊 Positive · 😒 Negative

    • 🔤lazy
    • 🔤shack
    • 🔤stench
    • 🔤cozy
    • 🔤determined
    • 🔤assertive
    Show answer

    😊 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?

  5. Question 5

    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
    Show answer

    chronological order

    Hint: Time words like first, then and finally show chronological order.

  6. Question 6

    Sort each statement: fact or opinion?

    Sort into: 🔎 Fact · 💭 Opinion

    • 📝Bees make honey from nectar.
    • 📝Our class has 27 students.
    • 📝Math is more fun than art.
    • 📝Cats make better pets than dogs.
    • 📝Soccer is the most exciting sport.
    • 📝A week has seven days.
    Show answer

    🔎 Fact: Bees make honey from nectar., Our class has 27 students., A week has seven days. · 💭 Opinion: Math is more fun than art., Cats make better pets than dogs., Soccer is the most exciting sport.

    Hint: Ask: could I prove this by measuring, counting or checking a reliable source? If yes, it's a fact.

  7. Question 7

    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.
    Show answer

    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.

  8. Question 8

    Which verb correctly completes the sentence?

    Each of the players _____ a water bottle.

    • has
    • have
    • having
    • are having
    Show answer

    has

    Hint: “Each” is singular. Ignore “of the players.”

  9. Question 9

    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.
    Show answer

    ✅ 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.

  10. Question 10

    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
    Show answer

    If it snows tomorrow

    Hint: Which part starts with a subordinating word and leaves you waiting for more?

Answer key

  1. 1. He feels unsure about how his new classmates will see him. (Close Reading)
  2. 2. to let readers experience events through one character's own voice and thoughts (Point of View)
  3. 3. Simile (Figurative Language)
  4. 4. 😊 Positive: cozy, determined, assertive · 😒 Negative: lazy, shack, stench (Connotation & Tone)
  5. 5. chronological order (Text Forms & Features)
  6. 6. 🔎 Fact: Bees make honey from nectar., Our class has 27 students., A week has seven days. · 💭 Opinion: Math is more fun than art., Cats make better pets than dogs., Soccer is the most exciting sport. (Sources & Bias)
  7. 7. 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)
  8. 8. has (Agreement)
  9. 9. ✅ 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)
  10. 10. If it snows tomorrow (Commas & Clauses)

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