English Language Arts 6 (Grade 6) Midterm — Units 1–2

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. 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
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. 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
5. 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
6. Read the passage: "Maya stared at the blank page for an hour. Every time she picked up her pencil, she remembered the other kids laughing at her drawing last year. Finally, she took a deep breath and drew a single bold line." What is Maya's main conflict?
   1. A. She does not know how to hold a pencil
   2. B. She cannot find any paper to draw on
   3. C. She is afraid of being laughed at again
   4. D. She is arguing with her art teacher
7. A narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of every character is using which point of view?
   1. A. First person
   2. B. Third person omniscient
   3. C. Second person
   4. D. Third person limited
8. What is the theme of a story?
   1. A. The order of events in the plot
   2. B. The central message or lesson about life
   3. C. The person who tells the story
   4. D. The time and place where the story happens
9. Read the sentence: "The wind howled across the frozen lake as the last light faded behind the pine trees." What is the setting?
   1. A. A school classroom at lunch
   2. B. A sunny beach at noon
   3. C. A busy city street in the morning
   4. D. A frozen lake in the evening
10. Read the passage: "Even though she was late for practice, Priya stopped to help an elderly man pick up the oranges that had spilled from his bag." Which trait does Priya show?
    1. A. Carelessness
    2. B. Kindness
    3. C. Laziness
    4. D. Boastfulness
11. Where in a nonfiction book would you find a list of important terms and their meanings?
    1. A. The glossary
    2. B. The index
    3. C. The title page
    4. D. The table of contents
12. Read the passage: "Because the town built a new bike path, more students now ride their bikes to school, and traffic near the school has gone down." What text structure is used?
    1. A. Question and answer
    2. B. Compare and contrast
    3. C. Cause and effect
    4. D. Sequence
13. 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
14. 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.
15. 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
16. Read the passage: "Honeybees are important to farmers. As bees move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry pollen that helps plants make fruit and seeds. Without bees, crops such as apples and blueberries would produce much less food." What is the main idea?
    1. A. Honeybees make honey from nectar
    2. B. Farmers grow many kinds of crops
    3. C. Honeybees help crops produce food by spreading pollen
    4. D. Apples and blueberries are popular fruits
17. 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
18. 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.
19. Read the passage: "First, rinse the beans. Next, soak them in water overnight. Finally, cook them for two hours." What text structure is used?
    1. A. Sequence
    2. B. Problem and solution
    3. C. Description
    4. D. Compare and contrast
20. Read the passage: "Every student should volunteer at least once a year. Volunteering builds skills, helps our neighbors, and makes our town stronger." What is the author's purpose?
    1. A. To persuade
    2. B. To entertain
    3. C. To explain how to do something
    4. D. To describe a place

Part 2: Written Response

21. Choose an informational article you have read. Write an objective summary that states the central idea and three key supporting details.