Grade 6 Reading practice

Step 1: Harder context clues

Clues can be definitions, examples, or contrasts signalled by words like but and despite.

Example: What does "alleviated" mean? The medicine alleviated his headache, and soon he felt well enough to play.

Tip: Watch for but, unlike and despite. They signal the opposite.

Step 2: Word analogies

An analogy compares two pairs of words that are related in the same way.

Example: Hot is to cold as up is to ___

Tip: Say the relationship in a sentence: a nest is a bird’s home.

Step 3: Narrator’s point of view

First person uses I. Third person limited knows one character’s thoughts. Omniscient knows everyone’s.

Example: What point of view is this? Carlos grinned as he crossed the finish line. He knew all those early practices had paid off.

Tip: Count how many characters’ thoughts the narrator shares.

Step 4: Plot structure

Plots usually move from exposition to rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

Example: What is the resolution?

Tip: The climax is the turning point with the most tension.

Step 5: Tone and mood

Tone is the author’s attitude. Mood is the feeling the reader gets.

Example: What is the tone? The fluffy puppies tumbled over each other, yipping happily as they chased a bouncing ball.

Tip: Look at the descriptive words. What feeling do they create?

Step 6: Symbols

A symbol is an object that stands for a bigger idea, like a dove for peace.

Example: What does the oak tree most likely symbolize? When the two families made peace, they planted an oak tree together.

Tip: Ask: when does this object appear, and what big idea does it connect to?

Step 7: Find the claim

In an argument, the claim is the author’s main position. Reasons and evidence support it.

Example: What is the author’s claim? Every town needs more bike lanes. They make cycling safer, reduce traffic and help people stay active.

Tip: Ask: what does the author want me to believe or do?

Step 8: Theme, evidence and opinion

A theme is the big lesson a story teaches. Facts can be proven; opinions tell what someone thinks.

Tip: Words like "should", "best" and "I think" often signal an opinion.