Grade 6

Practice Assessment

Term 3 Final Exam

Comprehension Grammar Literature

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Comprehension:

Helping in a Hurricane

Brianne was busy working on a crossword puzzle when the lights went off. As

she went to fill in number 9 down—one that she had been stuck on for ages—

she could no longer see the tip of her pencil. Outside, the light rain had turned

into a tremendous downpour, and the few people that she noticed running home

an hour ago were long gone. Her block was covered with a violent stream of

rainwater, with bits of garbage and misplaced items floating along in it.

“Brianne, grab your backpack, we have to head out now,” her mom said.

Brianne’s younger brother, Ian, tagged behind, his bright yellow rain boots

squealing with each step. An hour earlier, the six o’clock news had flashed a map

of New York City marked with different colors. Anyone who lived in the red zone

was encouraged to evacuate to a safer area. Brianne’s family lived in downtown

Manhattan, a neighborhood covered completely in red. But she had ignored the

broadcast, returning in concentration to her puzzle. Now, she was being

interrupted by the storm yet again.

“Come on, Brianne, move a little faster please!” her mom pleaded. Within ten

minutes, the family was out the door and in their car, which thankfully had been

in the parking garage attached to their apartment building. The windshield wipers

ferociously swiped left and right in a futile attempt to keep the road visible while

Brianne’s dad drove very slowly uptown. They were on their way to Brianne’s

uncle’s home, which was located in the green zone. There, they would wait out

the storm and hopefully return to their home the next day.

But once they arrived, the TV delivered more bad news. The storm had been

dubbed Hurricane Sandy, and the weather forecaster said that the majority of

Manhattan would remain without electricity for at least a few days. Help centers

would be set up around the city where anyone could rest, eat, and recharge

phones. Brianne finally paid attention to the severity of the situation, and she

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watched the news in shock as it narrated the destruction of places she loved.

***

A week later, Brianne and her family returned home. Luckily, nothing had been

damaged other than all the food in their fridge. Ian yelled out when he opened

the refrigerator door, horrified by the smell of the rotting food. But others had not

been so lucky. Each day, the newspaper revealed more neighborhoods that had

been completely wiped out by the hurricane. Brianne’s father suggested that they

drive out to some of them to see the wreckage and find out how they could help.

The two drove down to Far Rockaway, Queens—one of the worst affected areas

—and Brianne took pictures along the way. Through her lens, she saw homes

torn apart as if they were made of paper; she climbed across beams of wood that

had been ripped from walls; she talked to families who were standing in shock

near the bay. Her father helped gather anything that could be saved for those

who lost their homes, and they distributed sandwiches and drinks to the children

who were playing in the wreckage.

On their way back to Manhattan, Brianne combed through her camera’s memory

to view the pictures she took. “How about we do a fundraiser for these families?”

she asked her dad. “Then they can start rebuilding their lives.”

Her dad looked at her. “How do you want to do it?” he asked.“I think we can do

something with these pictures,” she replied with a determined smile.

***

A month later, Brianne walked through the door of a local bookstore near her

home to be greeted by her photographs hanging on the walls. In the center of the

room, someone had set up a table with snacks for guests. A large banner hung

above the cash register that read “Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser.” After much

planning, the bookstore had agreed to host Brianne’s efforts, and turned the

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space into a gallery that would charge five dollars for admission. All the proceeds

would go to the victims of the hurricane to help with the cost of rebuilding their

homes.

Although the event had a slow start, by the end of the night the bookstore was

full. Friends and family members had flooded the makeshift gallery, attracting

curious passersby. Brianne tried to keep count of the number of guests who

walked through the doors, but she soon lost count. Counting the money wouldn’t

help, since some visitors paid more than the entrance fee, knowing that the

proceeds were being donated to a good cause.

At the end of the night, Brianne and her family were exhausted. But they still had

to clean up. Brianne walked around the room, taking down each picture with

care. She looked back on her memories of Far Rockaway. Eventually, she got to

the last one. In the picture, a young girl clutched a pink stuffed animal, her small

fingers white from her tight grip. Brianne thought the stuffed animal might be the

last thing of the girl’s that remained after the hurricane. As she examined the

image, she thought about how she couldn’t wait to return to the neighborhood,

and she hoped that she could find this girl again.

1. What is the name of the storm in the story?

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2. Where is the setting of the story?

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3. Why do Brianne’s family have to leave their home? Use evidence from the text

to support your answer.

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4. Who is telling this story?

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5. What is the author’s purpose?

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6. What two character traits would you use to describe Brianne? Use evidence

from the text to support your answer.

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7. How does Brianne feel when she sees the wreckage in Far Rockaway?

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8. What is a word the author uses to describe looking through a camera? (Par 7)

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9. What effect does the hurricane have on some neighbourhoods?

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10. What did the main character (Brianne) learn?

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11. Number the following events in order:

______ Brianne and her family returned home a week after the hurricane.

______ Brianne hoped she would find the little girl whose picture she had taken

after the hurricane.

______ Brianne decided to hold a fundraiser for the families whose homes had

been destroyed.

______ Brianne was busy working on a crossword puzzle when her mother told

her they had to leave quickly.

______ Brianne and her father drove to one of the worst affected areas to see

the damage and how they could help.

12. What is the main idea or theme of the story. Refer to the text to support your

answer.

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13. But once they arrived, the TV delivered more bad news. The storm had been

dubbed Hurricane Sandy, and the weather forecaster said that the majority of

Manhattan would remain without electricity for at least a few days. Help centers

would be set up around the city where anyone could rest, eat, and recharge

phones. Brianne finally paid attention to the severity of the situation, and she

watched the news in shock as it narrated the destruction of places she loved.

What does the word “severity” mean as used in the text?

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Grammar in Use:

1. Identify an example of each of the following sentences:

Declarative:

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Imperative:

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Exclamatory:

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Interrogative:

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2. Change the following sentence to present perfect continuous tense.

a. She watched the news in shock.

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Grammar Exercises:

Pronouns:

1. Personal pronouns (Subject and Object)

I am Sally and this is my brother Ron. ______ live near Newcastle.

My aunt is coming next week to stay. I hope _________ brings me a

present.

Would _______ like anything for desert, Madam?

John has quit his job. ______ is thinking of starting a new business.

Listen, here is my number. Call _______ if you need any help.

We’re going for something to eat. Do you want to come with ________?

2. Possessive pronouns

This is your room and that is _________.

Shall we watch the match at their house or ________?

That is George’s car and this is _________.

Her birthday is on the 12th and ________ is on the 13th.

Is the party at our place or _________?

My desert was the ice-cream and ________ was the mousse.

3. Reflexive pronouns

Mary, you shouldn’t blame _________ for the accident.

Don’t worry about us. We can amuse ________ for an hour or two.

I thought it was a bit rude. She never introduced _________.

It is a very clever machine. It turns ________ off.

He cut __________ shaving.

Ladies and gentleman, there are masses of food, so please help

____________.

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The conditionals:

1. Zero conditional:

If I __________ (wake up) late, I ________ (be) late for work.

If my brother ___________ (cook), he ___________ (burn) the food.

If Julie __________ (not/wear) a hat, she ________ (get) sunstroke.

You _________ (get) shocked if you __________ (mix) water and

electricity.

2. First conditional:

If I _________ (go) out tonight, I ________ (go) to the cinema.

If we ________ (wait) here, we _________ (be) late.

We _________ (not/have) a picnic if the weather ___________ (not/

improve)

She _________ (stay) in London if she __________ (get) a job.

If I __________ (have) enough money, I ____________ (buy) a new

dress.

3. Second conditional:

If we _____________ (not/be) friends, I __________ (be) angry with you.

If I ____________ (have) enough money, I _____________ (buy) a big

house.

I ___________ (have) a good job if I _____________ (speak) perfect

English.

If she _________ (pass) the exam, she ___________ (be) able to enter

university.

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Literature.I. Answer the following questions.

1. D’Artagnan ignores his father’s advice by selling the yellow pony. What

pieces of his father’s advice did he follow? How does the elder

D’Artagnan’s advice at the beginning of the novel influence the rest of

the novel?

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2. Give a detailed description of Milady. Your answer should include at

least five key points. Some options to consider would be her personality,

appearance, friendships and her most important actions throughout the

story.

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3. Why do you think Athos was so secretive about his past? Does Milady

have to do with his secretiveness over the past? Explain.

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4. The book concludes with Constance Bonacieux’s death, Milady’s

execution, d’Artagnan’s promotion to lieutenant, and the breakup of the

four musketeers. Is this an appropriate ending to the story? Why or why

not.

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5. Discuss the significant occurrences (events, happenings, adventures,

coincidences) which allow d'Artagnan, a simple young eighteen-year-old boy,

to become a man of position and power.

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6. How does Cardinal Richelieu affect d'Artagnan's rise to fame .Explain

your answer with reference to the text.

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7. What is a villain? Using examples from the book and describe who is the

villain of the story and why.

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8. What is the importance of "All for one and one for all" to the characters in

the story? What does that statement mean? Support your answer with

examples from the book.

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9. How does d'Artagnan establish an alibi with M. de Treville for the time he

is supposed to be fighting the cardinal's men in M. Bonancieux's

apartment?

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10.Who are enemies to the queen, and why are they her enemies? What

role do the enemies have in the story? Cite examples from the story to

support your answer.

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11.How do Felton's high moral standards contribute to his trusting Lady de

Winter, even though he knows he should not?

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12.  Explain the themes of friendship, revenge and loyalty with reference to

the text.

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II.Circle the correct answer.

1.Milady was once married to

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a) Aramis

b) Athos

c) Prothos

d) Duke of Buckingham

2. Lord de Wintere is Milady’sa) Brother

b) brother in law

c) friend

d) uncle

3. D’Artagnan rescues Constance from____________ men.a) Cardinal’s

b) Duke of Buckingham’s

c) King’s

d) Milady’s

4. What is the crime that d'Artagnan and Athos are accused of at the inn where d'Artagnan leaves Athos? 

a) Theft.

b) Passing forged money.

c) Forging money.

d) Horse theft.

5. The man who helped Milady escape wasa) Lord de Winter

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b) Feltonc) Count de Wardesd) D'artagnan

6. The man from Meung's real name was a) Count de la Fereb) Aramisc) Count la Rochelled) Count de Rochefort

III.Write the names to complete the sentences.

D’Artagnan Porthos De Tréville Cardinal Richelieu Aramis Milady

Athos

a. ……………… is young, about twenty-three, with dark eyes and a kind face.

He speaks very little.

b ……………… is the Captain of the King’s Musketeers.

c ……………… is between twenty and twenty-two. She has large blue eyes, long

hair and a beautiful face.

d ……………… is the most important man in France.

e ……………… is tall and has a fine sword. He talks loudly.

f ……………… is a fine man, but he was wounded by the Cardinal’s guards.

g ……………… wants to become a musketeer.

IV. Are these sentences True or False

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a D’Artagnan was in love with the Queen.

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b Milady went to England to take the diamond from the Duke of Buckingham.

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c Constance Bonacieux worked for the Cardinal.

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d. D’Artagnan found someone in Dover who could speak French.

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e. Nobody knew where the Duke of Buckingham lived.

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V. Put the following events in the correct order. A) D'Artagnan arranged duels with each of the musketeers.

B) The Duke of Buckingham was murdered.

C) Everybody laughed at D'artagnan and his yellow horse.

E) D'Artagnan went to meet Milady but she thought he was Count de Wardes.

F) Milady was executed on a boat.

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