Iowa practice, Grade 6

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Scholar Tests · Set 3

Iowa practice test, Grade 6

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Reading

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 14 minutes.

  1. Two Texts About Bats

    Text 1: Seeing with Sound

    Many bats hunt insects at night, when it is too dark to see well. To find their food, these bats use echolocation. A bat makes high-pitched calls, usually too high for people to hear. The sound bounces off objects and returns to the bat as echoes. By listening to the echoes, the bat can tell where an insect is, how big it is, and which way it is flying. Some bats can even find insects as thin as a human hair.

    Text 2: Bats on the Farm

    Farmers have good reasons to welcome bats. One bat can eat hundreds of insects in a single night, including many that damage crops. That means farmers may not need to spray as many chemicals on their fields. Some bats also help plants grow. Bats that sip nectar carry pollen from flower to flower, and bats that eat fruit spread seeds as they fly.

    1.

    What is the main idea of Text 2?

    1. AFarmers spray chemicals to keep bats away.
    2. BBats damage many crops each night.
    3. CBats help farmers and plants in several ways.
    4. DBats eat only fruit and nectar.
  2. 2.

    How is Text 2 different from Text 1?

    1. AText 1 explains how bats sleep, while Text 2 explains how they fly.
    2. BText 1 gives an opinion, while Text 2 gives only facts.
    3. CText 1 is about farms, while Text 2 is about caves.
    4. DText 1 explains how bats find food, while Text 2 explains how bats are helpful.

  3. The Lost-and-Found Table

    CHARACTERS: JAVIER and NADIA, fifth graders who run the lost-and-found table; PRINCIPAL GRANT

    (A table in the school lobby, piled with jackets, water bottles, and one rubber boot. NADIA holds a clipboard.)

    NADIA: Forty-two items, and nobody has come by all morning.

    JAVIER: Maybe we need a sign. Something exciting, like "Your Stuff Misses You!"

    (PRINCIPAL GRANT hurries in, patting his pockets.)

    PRINCIPAL GRANT: Good morning. Has anyone turned in a silver whistle? I need it for the fire drill in five minutes.

    NADIA: (searching through a box) Two mittens, a recorder, a lunch box... no whistle.

    JAVIER: (staring at the principal) Um, Principal Grant?

    PRINCIPAL GRANT: I've looked everywhere. My office, the gym, the cafeteria...

    JAVIER: (pointing) Is it the one hanging around your neck?

    (PRINCIPAL GRANT looks down. A silver whistle hangs from a red string.)

    PRINCIPAL GRANT: (laughing) Well. I suppose I should fill out a form.

    NADIA: (handing him the clipboard) Item forty-three: one whistle, found on its owner.

    3.

    Why does Javier stare at Principal Grant?

    1. AHe wants the principal to read his sign.
    2. BHe thinks the principal took a water bottle.
    3. CHe is waiting for the fire drill to start.
    4. DHe has noticed the whistle hanging around the principal's neck.
  4. 4.

    What happens right after Javier asks about the whistle around the principal's neck?

    1. APrincipal Grant looks down and sees the whistle.
    2. BJavier suggests making a sign.
    3. CNadia counts forty-two items.
    4. DPrincipal Grant asks whether anyone turned in a whistle.

  5. The Radiator in 4B

    Every winter morning, before the sun, the radiator under our window clears its iron throat. It knocks once, twice, three times, like an old man rapping his cane on the floor to tell the whole building he is awake. Then it hisses, long and low, grumbling about the cold the way Grandpa grumbles about the weather report, complaining and complaining but never once leaving its post. All day it works without a word of thanks. It dries the mittens we drape across its ribs. It lets the cat sleep along its warm shoulders. It wrestles the drafts that sneak under the door and pins them to the floor. Outside, the wind shakes the fire escape, and snow buries the parked cars to their mirrors. Inside, the radiator stands its ground. At night, when the building goes quiet, I hear it ticking as it cools, muttering to itself in the dark like someone humming a song whose words they have forgotten. Mom says it was already here before she was born, that it knocked and hissed and kept her warm while she did homework at this same table. People who visit call it noisy. I call it loyal. Not everything that grumbles is unkind. Some things complain all winter long and keep you warm anyway.

    5.

    The poem says the radiator "clears its iron throat." What does this personification help the reader understand?

    1. AThe radiator is too cold to give off any heat.
    2. BThe radiator makes noises as it starts, like a person about to speak.
    3. CThe radiator is shaped like a person's neck.
    4. DThe radiator sings loudly whenever it is happy.
  6. 6.

    Which theme does the poem develop?

    1. AOld things should be replaced with new ones.
    2. BNoise in a home is always a sign of trouble.
    3. CWinter is the loneliest season in the city.
    4. DSomeone who complains can still be caring and dependable.
  7. 7.

    How does the speaker's view of the radiator differ from the view of visitors?

    1. AVisitors admire its age, but the speaker wishes it were newer.
    2. BVisitors find it loyal, but the speaker finds it annoying.
    3. CVisitors notice only its noise, but the speaker values how dependable it is.
    4. DVisitors enjoy hearing it at night, but the speaker cannot sleep.

  8. Make a Water Filter from a Bottle

    How do towns clean the water that comes out of a faucet? One important step is filtering, which means passing water through layers that trap dirt. You can build a simple model of a water filter and watch muddy water come out much clearer.

    Materials
    an empty, clean plastic bottle (a large one works best)
    scissors, used by an adult
    a coffee filter or a few cotton balls
    activated charcoal, sold for aquarium filters
    clean sand
    small gravel or pebbles
    a cup of muddy water
    a clear glass or jar

    Steps

    1. Have an adult cut the bottle in half. Keep the top half to use as a funnel.

    2. Rinse the charcoal, sand, and gravel in a strainer until the water runs clear, so their dust does not cloud your results.

    3. Push the coffee filter or cotton balls into the neck of the bottle. Turn the top half upside down and set it in the glass or jar.

    4. Add the layers in this order: about an inch of charcoal first, then about two inches of sand, then about two inches of gravel on top.

    5. Slowly pour the muddy water over the gravel. Watch it trickle through the layers and drip into the glass.

    6. Compare the filtered water with the muddy water you started with.

    How It Works
    Each layer traps something different. The gravel catches large bits, such as leaves and twigs. The sand catches smaller grains of dirt. The charcoal is full of tiny holes that hold on to some of the chemicals that give water a bad color or smell.

    Safety Note
    Your filtered water may look clean, but it is not safe to drink. Germs and some chemicals are far too small for sand and charcoal to catch, and real water treatment plants use other steps to kill germs. Pour your filtered water on a plant instead.

    8.

    What should you do right before you pour the muddy water?

    1. APour the filtered water on a plant.
    2. BRinse the sand in a strainer until it runs clear.
    3. CHave an adult cut the bottle in half.
    4. DAdd the charcoal, sand, and gravel in layers.
  9. 9.

    Why does the author include the Safety Note?

    1. ATo warn that clear-looking water can still carry germs
    2. BTo list the materials needed for the filter
    3. CTo explain which layer catches the largest bits
    4. DTo describe how charcoal removes bad smells
  10. 10.

    Where should a reader look to find out what the sand in the filter catches?

    1. AThe first paragraph
    2. BThe Materials list
    3. CStep 4
    4. DHow It Works

Written Expression

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 9 minutes.

  1. 1.

    Which sentence is a compound sentence?

    1. AGrandma peeled the apples and baked a pie.
    2. BThunder and lightning scared the puppy.
    3. CGrandpa told a story while we roasted marshmallows.
    4. DThe bus was late, so we walked to school.
  2. 2.

    Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?

    1. AThe bakery on Elm Street sells Italian Bread.
    2. BThe bakery on Elm Street sells Italian bread.
    3. CThe bakery on Elm street sells Italian bread.
    4. Dthe bakery on Elm Street sells Italian bread.
  3. 3.

    Which group of words is a complete sentence?

    1. AAfter practicing for months, the robotics team won second place at the state competition.
    2. BCollected more than two hundred cans of food for the shelter before Thanksgiving break.
    3. CWaiting in the long line for tickets to the county fair with my little cousins.
    4. DUnless the student council can raise enough money for the new scoreboard by spring.
  4. 4.

    For the regional robotics contest, Zoe's team spent weeks building a robot that could sort blocks by color. They began by sketching designs and choosing the strongest one. Next, they built the robot's frame and attached its motors and sensors. During testing, the robot kept dropping blocks, so the team redesigned its gripper. On contest day, the robot sorted every block perfectly, and the team took home second place.

    What is the writer's main purpose in this paragraph?

    1. Ato tell a story about something that happened
    2. Bto share an opinion and give reasons for it
    3. Cto explain how to do something, step by step
    4. Dto give facts about a topic
  5. 5.

    The lake and the river behind our house ______ frozen solid by January.

    Which word or words best complete the sentence?

    1. Awas
    2. Bhas been
    3. Cis
    4. Dwere
  6. 6.

    Priya is writing a report about how the Dust Bowl affected farm families.

    Which source would be the most useful for this report?

    1. Aa collection of letters and interviews from Oklahoma farm families in the 1930s
    2. Ba weather scientist's article about how dust storms form
    3. Ca textbook chapter that covers the whole history of farming in America in two pages
    4. Da guide to growing vegetables in containers
  7. 7.

    In which sentence should the words in bold NOT be set off with commas?

    1. AGeorge Washington Carver who was a scientist and teacher found hundreds of uses for peanuts.
    2. BLake Superior the largest of the Great Lakes holds more water than the other four lakes combined.
    3. CSally Ride the first American woman in space later taught physics at a university in California.
    4. DThe bus that takes us to the museum leaves from the front of the school.
  8. 8.

    Which sentence uses commas correctly?

    1. AOur class took a short, easy quiz on the first day of school.
    2. BOur class took a short easy quiz on the first day of school.
    3. COur class took a short, easy quiz on, the first day of school.
    4. DOur class took a short easy quiz on, the first day of school.
  9. 9.

    Every middle school should offer a basic cooking class that teaches students how to make healthy meals. A poll of families in our district found that most seventh graders could not cook a simple dinner on their own. Learning to cook gives students a skill they will use every day for the rest of their lives. Critics point out that cooking classes need kitchens and supplies that cost a lot of money. ______, a few hot plates and simple tools would be enough to teach the basics in an ordinary classroom. A cooking class would be a small investment that gives students healthy habits for life.

    Which word or phrase best fills the blank?

    1. ALikewise
    2. BFor instance
    3. CHowever
    4. DFor example
  10. 10.

    Ms. Park assigned a ten-page report and moved the due date up a week. That worried the whole class.

    The writer means that moving the due date up was what worried the class. Which revision says this clearly?

    1. AMs. Park assigned a ten-page report and moved the due date up a week. The length of the report worried the whole class.
    2. BMs. Park assigned a ten-page report and moved the due date up a week. The earlier due date worried the whole class.
    3. CMs. Park assigned a ten-page report and moved the due date up a week. This worried the whole class.
    4. DMs. Park assigned a ten-page report and moved the due date up a week. That really worried the whole class.

Mathematics

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 9 minutes.

  1. 1.

    Which expression means "add 7 and 4, then multiply by 6"?

    1. A7 + (4 + 6)
    2. B7 + 4 × 6
    3. C(7 + 4) × 6
    4. D7 × 4 + 6
  2. 2.

    Every rhombus has 4 sides the same length. Every square is a rhombus. What must be true about every square?

    1. AIt has no parallel sides.
    2. BIt has exactly 3 sides the same length.
    3. CIt has 4 sides the same length.
    4. DIt has exactly 1 pair of parallel sides.
  3. 3.

    What is 1/2 ÷ 4?

    1. A8
    2. B1/2
    3. C2
    4. D1/8
  4. 4.

    The line plot shows the length of each of 7 walks a hiking club took. What is the total amount for all 7 walks?

    1. A7 miles
    2. B9 miles
    3. C8 3/4 miles
    4. D6 miles
  5. 5.

    What is the least common multiple of 9 and 10?

    1. A90
    2. B180
    3. C19
    4. D10
  6. 6.

    20 students each said how many pets they have at home. The table shows the results. How many students have at least 1 pet?

    1. A7
    2. B8
    3. C13
    4. D5
  7. 7.

    What is the volume of the right rectangular prism?

    1. A14 cubic centimeters
    2. B88 cubic centimeters
    3. C56 cubic centimeters
    4. D11 1/2 cubic centimeters
  8. 8.

    The formula d = rt gives distance d from rate r and time t. A car travels 54 miles at 36 miles per hour. How many hours does the trip take?

    1. A2/3
    2. B2.5
    3. C1.5
    4. D18
  9. 9.

    What is the least whole number that makes x + 6 ≥ 27 true?

    1. A27
    2. B28
    3. C20
    4. D21
  10. 10.

    At 6 a.m. the temperature was −2°F. By noon it had fallen 30 degrees. What was the temperature at noon?

    1. A32°F
    2. B−32°F
    3. C28°F
    4. D−28°F

Vocabulary

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 5 minutes.

  1. 1.

    Nadia tightened the strings on her tennis racket.

    Which meaning of racket is used in this sentence?

    1. Aa loud, unpleasant noise
    2. Ba kind of soup
    3. Ca light bat with strings, used in tennis
    4. Da tall ladder
  2. 2.

    What does the word supersonic mean?

    1. Awithout sound
    2. Bslower than sound
    3. Cfaster than the speed of sound
    4. Dthe speed of sound
  3. 3.

    The puppy would defy every command and run straight for the mud.

    What does the word defy mean in this sentence?

    1. Aquietly ask for help
    2. Bboldly refuse to follow a rule or a person in charge
    3. Chappily do as you are told
    4. Dcarefully copy something down
  4. 4.

    Which word means the same as temporary?

    1. Aordinary
    2. Bshort-term
    3. Ctempting
    4. Dpermanent
  5. 5.

    The giraffe, like every herbivore, gets its food from leaves and grass.

    This sentence is from a science book. What does herbivore mean?

    1. Aan animal that lives in water
    2. Ban animal that eats only plants
    3. Can animal that sleeps all winter
    4. Dan animal that eats only meat
  6. 6.

    key
    1. n. a small metal tool that opens a lock
    2. n. a list that explains the symbols on a map or chart
    3. n. one of the buttons on a keyboard or piano
    4. adj. most important

    Turn the key in the lock to open the front door.

    Which meaning of key is used in the sentence?

    1. AMeaning 1
    2. BMeaning 2
    3. CMeaning 3
    4. DMeaning 4
  7. 7.

    A prosperous merchant built the grand house on the hill.

    What does the word prosperous mean in this sentence?

    1. Ahaving success and plenty of money
    2. Bpoor and struggling
    3. Cold and empty
    4. Dsmall and quiet
  8. 8.

    Which word means "two or more atoms joined together"?

    1. Amolecule
    2. Bmantle
    3. Cdensity
    4. Dempire
  9. 9.

    Which word names the thinnest part of a tree?

    1. Acut
    2. Bbranch
    3. Ctrunk
    4. Dtwig
  10. 10.

    The class had to stack two hundred chairs after the assembly. Everyone grabbed a few, and the job was done in five minutes.

    Which saying best fits this story?

    1. AMany hands make light work
    2. BStrike while the iron is hot
    3. CEvery cloud has a silver lining
    4. DLook before you leap

Computation

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 7 minutes.

  1. 1.

    What is 1/5 ÷ 1/10?

    1. A50
    2. B2
    3. C1/50
    4. D1/2
  2. 2.

    Maya's account balance is −$11. How many dollars does she owe?

    1. A11
    2. B0
    3. C−11
    4. D12
  3. 3.

    Grace works as a cleaner and earns $15.80 for every hour. This week Grace worked for 3.5 hours. How much did Grace earn?

    1. A$47.40
    2. B$63.20
    3. C$55.30
    4. D$5.53
  4. 4.

    32 − 8 ÷ 2 =

    1. A12
    2. B38
    3. C28
    4. D29
  5. 5.

    A bus travels at a steady 23.1 km every hour. How far does it travel in 4.5 hours?

    1. A103.95 km
    2. B1,039.5 km
    3. C27.6 km
    4. D115.5 km
  6. 6.

    Mia has $295.00. 4% of it is spent on a book. How much is spent on the book?

    1. A$11.80
    2. B$118.00
    3. C$1.18
    4. D$7,375.00
  7. 7.

    4,320 ÷ 36 =

    1. A110
    2. B130
    3. C119
    4. D120
  8. 8.

    (50 + 6) × 3 =

    1. A167
    2. B178
    3. C168
    4. D169
  9. 9.

    A rectangle has an area of 5/12 square yard and a length of 1 2/3 yards. What is its width, in yards?

    1. A4
    2. B1/4
    3. C25/36
    4. D1 11/25
  10. 10.

    6,534 ÷ 27 =

    1. A242
    2. B252
    3. C241
    4. D243

Written by Scholar Tests in the style of the published Iowa question types. Not a real Iowa test, and a practice score is not a real score.