Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises

Standard: Reading
Read the selection and mark the best answer for each question
Selection I
On January 17, 1994, the people around Northridge, California, were awakened early in the
morning by a large earthquake. he quake !tru"k at 4#$1 a.m. and had a magnitude of %.7,
a""ording to the &.'. (eologi"al 'ur)ey. he fault re!pon!ible for the earthquake ran
underneath the 'an *ernando +alley and had been unknown before the Northridge
,arthquake.
he quake wa! felt for -,... !quare mile! in /o! 0ngele!, Orange and +entura "ountie!.
here were nearly 11,... after!ho"k! following the main earthquake. he earthquake killed
17 people and in2ured nearly 1-,... people. he damage wa! e3ten!i)e, damaging about
1..,... hou!e! and bu!ine!!e!. 4arking garage! "ollap!ed and !ome apartment building! were
redu"ed to rubble. he earthquake "au!ed more than 54. billion in damage.
he area wa! de"lared a federal di!a!ter by 4re!ident Clinton and hundred! of worker! from
*,60 were deployed to 'outhern California to help the "ommunitie! there re"o)er. 6ore
than %..,... indi)idual! applied for !tate and federal di!a!ter a!!i!tan"e, and *,60 !pent
million! of federal money helping the area re"o)er.
he Northridge ,arthquake wa! the large!t earthquake to hit a 'outhern Californian "ity !in"e
1971. 7t wa! the 11th large!t earthquake to be re"orded in California !in"e 17%9.

1. hi! !ele"tion i! about
a. he Northridge ,arthquake in California
b. 7nformation on ,arthquake!
". *ederal a!!i!tan"e to %..,... people
d. 'an *ran"i!"o +alley
-. he ,arthquake damaged 888888888888888888hou!e! and bu!ine!!e!.
a. -,...
b. 1..,...
". 11,...
d. 1-,...
$. 7t wa! the harde!t earthquake to hit 'outh California !in"e 8888888888888888888.
a. 17%9
b. 1971
". 1994
d. 0ll of the abo)e
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
4. he ,arthquake began under
the88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888.
a. Northridge City
b. 'an *ran"i!"o +alley
". /o! 0ngele!
d. +entura County
1. 0fter!ho"k! are tremor! felt8888888888888888.
a. during an earthquake
b. right before an earthquake
". during and after and earthquake
d. after the fir!t earthquake
%. he word deployed in paragraph three refer! to9
a. a"ti)ated
b. !ent to
". !et out
d. all of the abo)e
7. 'ele"t the !enten"e that i! not true.
a. 'ome parking garage! "ollap!ed.
b. 0partment building! were redu"ed to rubble.
". *ifty !e)en people were in2ured in the earthquake.
d. *ederal *und! were u!ed to help re"o)er from damage!.
Selection II
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
'te)en wa! alone at home wat"hing "artoon! when an eartnquake o""urred. :e felt a !udden
gentle !haking of the ground. :e noti"ed the hanging "eiling lamp! !waying and ob2e"t!
wobbling on the kit"hen !hel)e!. here wa! a low rumbling noi!e and then he felt a !harp
2erk. :e felt a !en!ation !imilar to riding a bi"y"le down a long flight of !tair!.
7t la!ted only !e"ond!. :e immediately turned on the radio. he inten!ity of the ,arthquake
wa! mea!ured $... on the ;i"hter !"ale. ,arthquake! below 4.. u!ually do not "au!e damage.
he phone rang, it wa! hi! parent! "alling to !ee if all wa! fine. hey were on their way home.
hey had felt the !ei!mi" too.
'te)en lo!t "onne"tion with hi! parent!, he felt more tremor!. :e knew that the mo!t
important thing to remember during an earthquake i! to drop, "o)er and hold. 0 !tronger
!hake wa! felt9 he dropped to the floor, and took "o)er under the dinning room table. :e held
onto it! leg!. 'ome gla!!e! and food "an! had fallen. 'te)en !tayed "almed. 7n 'an *ran"i!"o
California there are many earthquake!, but it i! alway! important to be prepared. ,arthquake!
are not predi"table and "an "au!e a lot of damage.
he !ei!mi" a"ti)ity la!ted le!! then a minute. 'te)en remembered the 1994 Northridge
earthquake in 'outhern California. :e wa! getting ner)ou!. Ju!t then the door opened. :i!
parent! had arri)ed making him feel !afer.
hey "he"ked for damage! after the !haking !topped. Only a "ouple of gla!!e! had !hattered.
:e wa! glad he had remembered what to do.
1. Earth quakes are________________________.
a. announced in advance
b. can not be predicted
c. ver predictab!e
d. both a and c are correct
2. "n Earthquakes ou must_________________.
a. drop to the #!oor
b. take cover under something strong
c. ho!d onto something to keep #rom #a!!ing
d. a!! o# the above.
$. %he action that is #e!t during an Earthquake is____________.
$
Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
a. shaking o# the ground
b. !amps !ighted
c. doors open
d. &indo&s shattering
'. %he se!ection is about_______________.
a. the San (rancisco earthquake
b. &atching te!evision during an earthquake
c. Steven)s earthquake experience
d. in#ormation on Earthquakes
*. +hat &as Steven doing be#ore the earthquake occurred,
a. -iding under a tab!e.
b. Ca!!ing his parents.
c. .istening to the radio.
d. +atching te!evision.
/. "n Ca!i#ornia there is ___________________ seismic activit.
a. a !ot o#
b. ver #e&
c. some
d. both b and c are correct
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
Read the following story. Afterwards read the questions and mark the correct answer.

Selection III
6y name i! <ryan and 7 ha)e two brother!, :arold and Jim. hey are really different from
one another, although they are identi"al twin!. 4eople belie)e they !hould think and a"t the
!ame, but no, they do not. 7 will begin high !"hool !oon and 7 am trying to de"ide whi"h big
brother 7 would like to be like. 7 lo)e them both, !o it i! hard to make a de"i!ion.

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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
:arold wa! a )ery good !tudent in high !"hool and he i! going to "ollege thi! year. :e ha!
been !tudying hard and working to get there. :e doe!n=t !eem to ha)e any fun, but he appear!
to be )ery !ati!fied. 7 like it when he talk! to me and tell! me of hi! plan! to be a tea"her !ome
day.
Jim, my other brother quit high !"hool. :e ha! had lot! of 2ob! that !eem e3"iting at fir!t
but he alway! get! tired and look! for another one. :e buy! "lothe! and ha! an old "ar. :e
e)en buy! me thing! !ometime!. :e appear! to be happy and independent. 7 want to make up
my mind but it i! not ea!y.
here i! !omething el!e. :arold i! alway! trying to get Jim to go ba"k to !"hool, but Jim
ne)er trie! to get :arold to drop out and do what he i! doing. 7 wonder why.
One day while trying to make a de"i!ion my brother Jim "ame home from work early. :e
had quit hi! 2ob again and needed to talk to me. :e !aid ><ryan you are my little brother and 7
want the be!t for you. /i!ten "arefully. 7 like to ha)e money and be independent. 7 left !"hool
in order to work. 7 ha)e not been thinking about my future. :arold i! preparing to fa"e the
world !ome day he will ha)e a good 2ob. :e will ha)e a !e"ure one and he will really be"ome
independent? Jim !eemed !ad and worried while he !poke.
7 had made my de"i!ion. 7 would be like :arold and go to "ollege. 6y brother Jim al!o
made the de"i!ion of going ba"k to !"hool. 0fter he fini!he! he plan! to go to "ollege and be a
me"hani"al engineer. @ell me, 7 will go to "ollege too. 7 want to !tudy !omething that ha! to
do with te"hnology but 7 ha)enAt made up my mind 2u!t yet.
Read the questions and mark the correct ans&er.
1. %he se!ection is about____________________.
a. "dentica! t&in brothers
b. going to co!!ege
c. &orking to be independent
d. making the right decision
2. 0ran is going to _______________________ this ear.
a. co!!ege
b. high schoo!
/
Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
c. &ork
d. ta!k to 1im
$. _____________ &i!! go to co!!ege.
a. -aro!d
b. 1im
c. 0ran
d. 2!! o# the above
'. %he phrase3 face the world re#ers to: ______________________.
a. -ave a meeting &ith peop!e #rom other parts o# the &or!d
b. %rave!ing around the &or!d someda
c. Get a good 4ob and become independent
d. %ake photos &hen #!ing around the &or!d
*. +hich sentence is not true,
a. -aro!d has di##erent tpes o# 4obs.
b. 1im has quit man 4obs.
c. 0ran has to make a decision.
d. -aro!d tries to get 1im to return to schoo!.
/. 0ran is_______________.
a. -aro!d)s brother
b. 1im)s brother
c. 4ust a !itt!e bo
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
d. one o# the t&ins
5. 1im and -aro!d are__________________.
a. !ook a!ike t&ins
b. in co!!ege
c. around eighteen or nineteen
d. both a and c are correct

Selection IV
"t &as a beauti#u! morning. %he sun &as shining. %he sand !ooked !ike go!d and the
sea seem to have various shades o# bright b!ue green co!ors. (rom the beach ou
cou!d see a sai!boat &ith #our #ishermen. %he #our #ishermen &ere standing in the
boat thro&ing out their #ishing !ines. 2t the time it seemed !ike it &as going to be a
per#ect da.
6uring mid a#ternoon3 sudden! the da darkened. Rain began to #a!!. %he !eaves
&ere #!ing in the air. %he &aves o# the sea became higher. %he boat &as getting
#!ooded. %hings &ere rocking #rom one side o# the boat to the other. %he #ishermen
entered the boat)s cabin. %he cou!dn)t get the sma!! &indo& opened. %he sea &ater
continued to rush in.
%he sea and the sk turned a dark gra. %he storm &orsened and rain poured do&n.
%he #ishermen &ere in danger. -uge &aves crashed against the boat. %he &ind
ho&!ed and roared. %he boat overturned. Each man he!d strong to the side o# the
boat.
+hat seemed end!ess !asted about an hour or mabe a bit more. %he storm &as
gone and the sea became ca!m again. %he boat &as gone3 but the #our #ishermen
&ere sa#e. .ucki! the had not been too #ar deep into the sea and &ere ab!e to s&im
to shore. 2s the !ooked back at the sea3 the &ere thank#u! that the had survived.
1. "t &as a per#ect da re#ers to___________________.
a. sunn da
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
b. c!oud da
c. storm da
d. both b and c
2. %his se!ection is about_______________.
a. the per#ect storm
b. #ishermen at sea
c. a beauti#u! da
d. an unexpected storm
$. %he storm began_______________.
a. in the a#ternoon
b. "n the morning
c. at t&e!ve noon
d. around three o)c!ock
'. %he #irst thing that happened &as_____________.
a. the rain began to #a!!
b. the &ind &as b!o&ing
c. the da became dark and c!oud
d. the &aves rocked the boat
*. +hat do ou think #ina!! happened to the boat,
a. "t staed rocking &ith the &aves.
b. "t continued to sai! upon the sea.
c. %he &ind b!e& it a&a.
d. "t &as comp!ete! destroed.
/. +hat sentence te!!s ou that the men &ere saved,
a. %he he!d onto the side o# the boat
b. %he entered the cabin.
c. %he s&am to shore.
d. %he storm &as over.
5. +hat do ou think happened in the stor,
a. 2 terrib!e earthquake.
b. 2n unexpected cc!one.
c. 2 tornado or t&ister.
d. 2 summer tropica! storm.
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Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
Selection V
%he sixth grade students &ere going to see a movie that evening. Rose one o#
the students had been sick during the &eek3 but had attended schoo! everda. She
&as #ee!ing &eak and rea!! tired3 but she &anted to go to the movies an&a. She
ca!!ed her #riend Rita to pick her up at six. Everone had decided to see a comed
and p!a video games a#ter the movie. Rita and her o!der brother picked Rose up.
9nce everone &as there3 the bought the tickets and prepared to see the
#i!m. %he !ights &ere turned o##. 2s the movie started3 Rose)s ees s!o&! c!osed. -er
!ong dark hair &as hanging over the back o# her seat. She &as #amous #or a!&as
&earing a braid. +hen Samm one o# her c!assmates noticed her s!eeping3 he
decided to p!a a prank on her. -e quiet! !e#t the room &ent to the car and came
back &ith a pair o# scissors. -e !eaned to&ard the seat &here Rose &as sitting3 he!d
the scissors c!ose to her ear3 and opened and c!osed them severa! times to make her
think that he &as cutting her braid.
Rose &oke up #rightened. She touched her hair sure that her braid &as gone.
Everone !aughed even Rose &hen she sa& it &as 4ust a 4oke. %he movie usher
asked everone to p!ease be quiet but the &ere !aughing so hard the had to !eave
the room. Rose &as &ide a&ake b no&. She didn)t #ee! !ike s!eeping anmore3 so
the a!! decided to p!a games at the video shop.
1. +hat da do ou think it &as,
a. :onda
b. (rida
c. Saturda
d. Sunda
2. +hat do ou think the &riter)s purpose is,
1;
Sixth Grade Comprehension Exercises
Standard: Reading
a. %o give in#ormation.
b. %o narrate a historica! event.
c. %o provide en4oment.
d. %o give suggestions.
$. %he stor is about_________.
a. a oung gir! that #a!!s as!eep in c!ass.
b. students that !ike to p!a 4okes on others
c. braids3 a ne& st!e #or hair
d. an un#orgettab!e moment
'. %he &ord prank in paragraph t&o re#ers to _________.
a. practica! 4oke
b. a tremendous e##ort
c. un #orgettab!e event
d. a #rightening moment
*. +h &as Rosa tired,
a. She had a heav dinner.
b. "t &as ver !ate.
c. She &asn)t #ee!ing &e!!.
d. %he movie &as boring.
/. +h did Samm open and c!ose the scissors. %o __________________.
a. make the sound o# cutting hair.
b. &ake her up #rom her dream.
c. have some #un.
d. cut Rosa)s braid.
5. +h do ou think the !e#t the room,
a. %he #i!m &as a!most over.
b. %he #i!m &as boring.
c. %he &ere making too much noise.
d. %he &anted to p!a video games.
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