English Language Arts 6 (Grade 6) Midterm — Full-Course Review

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. In a story's plot, the climax is
   1. A. the introduction of the characters and setting
   2. B. the events that happen after the problem is solved
   3. C. the turning point, when tension is highest
   4. D. the background information at the beginning
2. Read the passage: "Leo slammed the door, threw his backpack on the floor, and stomped up the stairs without saying hello." What can you infer about Leo?
   1. A. He is happy to be home
   2. B. He is excited to share good news
   3. C. He is upset about something
   4. D. He is calm and relaxed
3. Read the passage: "Before he left, Grandpa said, 'Keep an eye on that old bridge. One good storm and it won't hold.'" This line is most likely an example of
   1. A. resolution
   2. B. foreshadowing
   3. C. flashback
   4. D. a simile
4. The resolution of a story is the part where
   1. A. tension builds toward the turning point
   2. B. the conflict is settled and the story wraps up
   3. C. the problem first begins
   4. D. the main character is first introduced
5. Read the sentence: "I never thought I'd be the one to find the lost puppy, but there it was, shivering under my porch." What point of view is used?
   1. A. Second person
   2. B. First person
   3. C. Third person limited
   4. D. Third person omniscient
6. What does a good summary of an informational article include?
   1. A. Every detail from the article in the same order
   2. B. Only the title and the author's name
   3. C. The reader's opinion about the topic
   4. D. The main idea and key details, without personal opinions
7. An article claims that recycling paper saves natural resources. Which detail best supports this claim?
   1. A. Recycling paper means fewer trees need to be cut down.
   2. B. Some people forget to recycle.
   3. C. Recycling bins come in many colors.
   4. D. Paper was invented a long time ago.
8. The words "however" and "on the other hand" usually signal
   1. A. a sequence of steps
   2. B. a cause
   3. C. an example
   4. D. a contrast
9. What is the main purpose of headings in an informational text?
   1. A. To list the sources the author used
   2. B. To tell the reader what each section is about
   3. C. To show the author's opinion
   4. D. To define difficult words
10. Which sentence states an opinion?
    1. A. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. B. Many schools close for part of the summer.
    3. C. Summer begins in late June in the United States.
    4. D. Summer is the best season of the year.
11. Which word is a synonym for "enormous"?
    1. A. Ancient
    2. B. Huge
    3. C. Quiet
    4. D. Tiny
12. Read the sentence: "The trail was so steep and narrow that the hike was arduous; we were exhausted by the time we reached the top." What does "arduous" mean?
    1. A. Short and easy
    2. B. Dangerous and illegal
    3. C. Beautiful and peaceful
    4. D. Very difficult and tiring
13. In the word "rewrite," what does the prefix "re-" mean?
    1. A. Again
    2. B. Under
    3. C. After
    4. D. Not
14. The words "autograph" and "paragraph" share the root "graph." What does "graph" mean?
    1. A. Life
    2. B. Write
    3. C. Light
    4. D. Sound
15. The words "transport" and "portable" share the root "port." What does "port" mean?
    1. A. Write
    2. B. See
    3. C. Hear
    4. D. Carry
16. Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?
    1. A. We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona last July.
    2. B. we visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona Last July.
    3. C. We visited the grand canyon in Arizona last July.
    4. D. We visited the Grand Canyon in arizona last july.
17. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
    1. A. We, packed sandwiches, apples and water.
    2. B. We packed, sandwiches apples, and water.
    3. C. We packed sandwiches, apples, and water.
    4. D. We packed sandwiches apples, and, water.
18. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The dog wagged ___ tail."
    1. A. its
    2. B. it's
    3. C. its'
    4. D. it is
19. Read the sentence: "When Jake talked to Carlos, he was nervous." What is the problem with this sentence?
    1. A. It is missing a verb.
    2. B. It uses the wrong end punctuation.
    3. C. It has a misspelled word.
    4. D. It is unclear who "he" refers to.
20. Which sentence uses an intensive pronoun?
    1. A. They gave her an award.
    2. B. She handed out the awards to them.
    3. C. Hers was the best project.
    4. D. The principal herself handed out the awards.
21. What should a strong conclusion do?
    1. A. Introduce a brand-new topic
    2. B. List every detail from the essay again
    3. C. Ask the reader to skip to the beginning
    4. D. Restate the main idea and leave the reader with a final thought
22. What happens during the prewriting stage?
    1. A. The writer shares the final piece with readers
    2. B. The writer fixes spelling and punctuation
    3. C. The writer adds a title page
    4. D. The writer gathers and organizes ideas before drafting
23. What does it mean to paraphrase a source?
    1. A. To disagree with its main idea
    2. B. To list only its title
    3. C. To restate its ideas in your own words and give credit
    4. D. To copy its exact words without quotation marks
24. What is the job of a topic sentence?
    1. A. To end the essay with a final thought
    2. B. To state the main idea of a paragraph
    3. C. To show a character's dialogue
    4. D. To give credit to a source
25. Which change would most improve a personal narrative?
    1. A. Adding dialogue and sensory details that show the experience
    2. B. Adding a bibliography of sources
    3. C. Adding a list of statistics
    4. D. Removing all descriptions of feelings
26. What is free verse poetry?
    1. A. Poetry that must have exactly fourteen lines
    2. B. Poetry in which every line rhymes
    3. C. Poetry written only about nature
    4. D. Poetry without a regular rhyme or rhythm pattern
27. Which word is an example of onomatopoeia?
    1. A. Quickly
    2. B. Golden
    3. C. Gentle
    4. D. Sizzle
28. What does the idiom "It's raining cats and dogs" mean?
    1. A. Pets do not like the rain
    2. B. Animals are falling from the sky
    3. C. It is about to stop raining
    4. D. It is raining very hard
29. In a poem, what is a stanza?
    1. A. A group of lines, like a paragraph
    2. B. A single word that rhymes
    3. C. The title of the poem
    4. D. The poet's name
30. Read the poem: "The morning sun climbs slow and bright, / It chases off the last of night. / The robins start their cheerful tune, / And sing until the summer noon." What is the rhyme scheme?
    1. A. ABBA
    2. B. ABCD
    3. C. ABAB
    4. D. AABB

Part 2: Written Response

31. Choose three words from this unit that use prefixes, suffixes, or roots. For each, break the word into parts, explain what each part means, and use the word in an original sentence.
32. Write a short poem of at least eight lines about a season. Use a simile, a metaphor, and personification. Then explain what each one helps the reader picture.