Released Reading Selections and Assessment Questions,2017
Junior Division
Grade 6
Language
Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics
Education Quality and Accountability Office, 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1200, Toronto Ontario, M5B 2M9. Telephone: 1-888-327-7377. Web site: © 2017 Queen’s Printer for Ontario.
FOR USE WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPUTER RESPONSES
Answering Multiple-Choice Questions
- Choose only one answer for each question.
Answering Open-Response Questions
- Guidelines for the length of your typed responses are provided.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITTEN RESPONSES IN BOOKLET
Answering Multiple-Choice Questions
Like this:Not like this:
- Use a pencil only.
- Fill only one circle for each question.
- Fill the circle completely.
- Cleanly erase any answer you wish to change.
Answering Open-Response Questions
- Write on the lined space provided in this booklet.
Although the layout of the printed booklets may differ from the layout of the electronic version, the content is the same.
You are now ready to start.
Section C1 Reading
The Potter and the Washer-man
1Once there was a potter who made his living creating beautiful pottery from fine porcelain. Not far from the potter lived a washer-man who earned his living making dirty laundry as bright and clean as new.
2The potter and the washer-man did well in their trades. However, the potter became jealous because he worried that the washer-man was more successful than he was. He decided on a secret plan to ruin him.
3The potter travelled to the royal palace and was granted an audience with the king. “What do you wish, potter?” asked the king.
4“I have a simple request, Your Majesty,” replied the potter. “My neighbour, the washer-man, is very good at what he does. I would like to help my neighbour improve his business and become more successful.”
5The king stroked his long beard. “Why should the washer-man’s success be of any concern to you?” he asked.
6The potter cleared his throat nervously and said, “Well, he is my neighbour, so naturally I desire what is best for him.”
7The king looked intently at the potter. “What did you have in mind, potter?”
8“A challenge, Your Highness. I propose that my neighbour wash one of Your Majesty’s esteemed elephants until it is spotlessly clean. To complete a challenge like that successfully would increase his business a hundredfold, I am certain.”
9Having revealed his clever plan, the potter’s heart hammered so loudly he thought all would hear it. He hoped no one would guess the secret part of his plan: that the washer-man would fail to complete this impossible challenge, which would cause him to lose business.
10“I will consider your suggestion,” said the king.
11A few days later the potter was summoned before the king.
12“I have just spoken with the washer-man,” the king said, “and he was quite surprised by your concern for his well-being. He was also troubled by one difficulty with your idea, but knowing you are an accomplished potter, he thought you would be able to help him.”
13Help the washer-man ruin himself? This was better than the potter had anticipated. “I am flattered by the washer-man’s request, Your Majesty.”
14“As you know,” continued the king, “in order to clean the soiled article, the washer-man puts it into a large porcelain basin with water and soap. The concern of the washer-man was finding a porcelain basin large enough to wash an elephant. But then he remembered your exceptional talents as a potter, and he suggested that you create such a container.”
15This was terrible. Create a porcelain basin large enough for an elephant? Impossible. And yet, to re-fuse could destroy his own reputation. With trembling knees, the potter agreed.
16After many weeks of work, the elephant-sized porcelain bowl was finally ready. On the day of the challenge, the king’s largest elephant was brought to the courtyard. The basin was carefully unloaded from the potter’s wagon and filled with warm water and soap.
17The washer-man stood ready with his best scrub brushes. The elephant was led up the ramp. Trumpeting, it stepped slowly into the delicate basin.
18Would the basin hold the elephant?
19It certainly would not!
20With a crack, the porcelain basin shattered into a thousand pieces, sending a foamy river from the palace courtyard into the town below.
21Staring at the king, all the people in the courtyard held their breath.
22The king smiled gently at the potter. “My elephant is waiting to be bathed, and the washer-man waits to prove his ability to wash him spotlessly clean. Would you care to go home and create another large basin so the washer-man can do this?”
23The potter gave great thought to his options, turned and quickly left the palace courtyard.
24As for the washer-man, his wisdom so impressed the king that he became one of the most trusted advisers in the royal court
Section C1 Reading: Multiple-Choice
1:What reason does the potter give the king for wanting to help the washer-man?
The washer-man is very poor.
The washer-man has asked the potter for help.
The potter wants the washer-man to get more customers.
The potter wants to improve his relationship with the washer-man.
2:What does, “trades” , mean as used in paragraph 2?
jobs
plans
hobbies
exchanges
3:In paragraph 6, what is suggested by the clearing of the potter’s throat?
The potter wants to distract the king.
The potter is going to lie to the king.
The potter wants to get the king’s attention.
The potter is not used to speaking to the king.
4:In paragraph 9, the phrase, “the potter’s heart hammered so loudly” , suggests that the potter is
ill.
tired.
angry.
nervous.
5:What changes between paragraphs 10 and 11?
the time
the mood
the problem
the characters
6:Why does the king summon the potter (paragraph 11)?
to listen to the potter’s idea
to reply to the potter’s request
to caution the potter about his plan
to obtain more details about the potter’s plan
7:What does, “accomplished” , mean in paragraph 12?
skilled
generous
completed
respectable
8:The potter’s attitude changes between paragraphs 13, and 15, because
he fears he has been caught in a lie.
his ability is questioned by the king.
he is faced with a difficult challenge.
he decides not to work with the washer-man.
9:In paragraph 21, why do the people hold their breath?
The porcelain basin has shattered.
They are concerned for the elephant.
They wonder how the king will react.
The foamy water is coming toward them.
10:At the end of the text, why is the king so impressed by the washer-man?
The washer-man has shown skill at his job.
The washer-man has outsmarted the potter.
The washer-man has increased his own business.
The washer-man has cleaned the king’s elephant.
Section C1 Reading: Open-Response
11:Explain why the potter’s plan is unsuccessful. Use specific details from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)
12:How does the dialogue reveal the king’s character? Use specific details from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)
Section C2: Writing
13:Do you think using information technology in the classroom is a good thing?
Write a detailed paragraph explaining your opinion.
Ideas for My Paragraph
Write your answer on the next page.
This page will not be scored.
Write your paragraph here. Remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. (10 typed lines)
Section C3 Writing: Multiple-Choice
14:Choose the sentence that does not belong in the following paragraph.
(1) The days that astronauts spend in orbit are carefully planned. (2) The 12-hour shift begins with a wake-up call. (3) Space stations are like large, complicated houses. (4) The crew members then have breakfast and review their jobs for the day. (5) Much of their time will be spent preparing and carrying out scientific experiments.
sentence 2
sentence 3
sentence 4
sentence 5
15:Choose the best words to complete the following sentences.
Walking has benefits versus driving in a car. Driving usually gets you to your destination more quickly,, Blank space., ,walking gives you a chance to experience the sights. Driving is comfortable,, Blank space., ,walking provides exercise for those able to use their legs.
still, unless
and, because
but, whereas
while, therefore
16:Choose the best way to combine the following sentences.
Josslyn was 10 minutes late.
She ran to class.
Her presentation was today.
She ran to class, so Josslyn was 10 minutes late because her presentation was today.
Josslyn was 10 minutes late, so her presentation was today because she ran to class.
Josslyn was 10 minutes late, so she ran to class because her presentation was today.
Her presentation was today, so Josslyn was 10 minutes late because she ran to class.
17:Choose the correct words to complete the following sentence.
, Blank space., ,the performance ended, the audience remained clapping, Blank space., ,all the actors had left the stage.
After, so
After, until
Because, so
Before, since
Section D1: Reading
Making Waves
The Science Behind Sound
/ Have you ever wondered how sound reaches your ear? Here’s a hint: sound waves. But that’s not all there is to it. Different parts of your ear perform amazing feats, too. Tune in and read all about the symphony of sound.The pinna, the external part of the ear, is a sound collector.
Fast Fact: If you place your hands behind your ears and gently push them out, these two sound collectors take in more air molecules, which causes sounds to seem louder. /
Up to Your Ears
A sound is made when something moves or vibrates. This movement causes surrounding air molecules to vibrate as well. The vibrations move outwards and create sound waves. The sound waves travel through the air and eventually reach your ear. Once there, the vibrating molecules continue to travel through your earcanal, which ends at your eardrum.
How Sound Waves Work
Step 1: Air molecules travel through the earcanal and bump into your eardrum.
Step 2: The eardrum starts to vibrate.
Step 3: The vibration causes fluid resting in your cochlea (koa-klee-uh), a spiral-shaped tube in your inner ear, to start moving in waves.
Step 4: These waves cause tiny sensory cells to send electrical signals to nerves.
Step 5: The nerves pass along the signals to your brain. Your brain, acting like a computer, decodes the signals and figures out what you’ve heard.
Malleus, Incus and Stapes
These three very tiny bones sit between your eardrum and cochlea. These bones have a special job. They move when your eardrum vibrates. This action helps get fluid moving in your cochlea.
They are the three smallest bones in your entire body!
/ Fast Fact: When you have an ear infection, it is hard to hear because fluid builds up between your eardrum and cochlea, making it hard for the tiny bones to move. Therefore, sound becomes muffled.Section D1 Reading: Multiple-Choice
1:What causes the eardrum to vibrate?
electrical signals
the auditory nerve
fluid in the ear canal
moving air molecules
2:Which part of the ear gathers sound?
the pinna
the cochlea
the malleus
the eardrum
3:What does, “decodes” , above the number 5 mean?
finds
hears
collects
interprets
4:Which text feature best shows the movement of air molecules?
a label
a number
a close-up
a text box
Section D1 Reading: Open-Response
5:How does the section, “How Sound Waves Work” , help you to understand, “Up to Your Ears”? Explain using specific examples from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)
6:Explain why hearing is complex. Use specific examples from the text to support your answer. (3 typed lines)
Section D2: Writing
7:Write a report for your school’s newsletter that fits this title:
“New Creature Discovered by Students”
Ideas for My Report
Write your answer on the next page.
This page will not be scored.
Write your report here. Remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. (20 typed lines)
Stop.
Permissions and Credits
Section C1: Reading:
Adapted from “The Potter and the Washer-man” by Pam Hopper, published in the international edition of Highlights for Children magazine, volume 53, number 6, issue 560, pages 22 to 23. © 1998 Highlights for Children, Incorporated, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
Section D1 Reading:
Adapted from Owl Magazine, “Making Waves, The Science Behind Sound”, Owl Magazine, June 2013. Used with permission of Bayard Presse Canada Incorporated.