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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

6th Grade Reading Comprehension Quiz: Ready to Test Your Skills?

Think you can ace this 6th grade reading quiz? Dive into these reading comprehension questions grade 6 now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art books, pencil, question icons on dark blue background promoting free 6th grade reading comprehension quiz

Hey future book champions! Are you ready to take on a free 6th grade reading comprehension test designed just for you? This 6th grade reading quiz features thought-provoking reading comprehension questions grade 6 that sharpen your skills and spark your curiosity. You'll also find guided 6th grade reading practice and printable 6th grade reading worksheets to reinforce new strategies and boost confidence. For extra warm-up, explore our 5th grade reading comprehension passages , then dive into more challenging questions for sixth graders to ramp up your readiness. Let's get started - click below and showcase your reading prowess!

Easy
In the sentence 'Marisol sprinted across the field to catch the stray ball,' what does the word 'sprinted' most likely mean?
Jumped high
Walked slowly
Ran quickly
Stood still
Context clues in the sentence show Marisol moves fast to catch the ball. The word 'sprinted' means to run at full speed. This is a common vocabulary term for quick motion. For more, see Merriam-Webster.
What is the main idea of the sentence 'Families usually enjoy picnics in the park on sunny days'?
Sunny days are the best days for reading.
Parks are only for picnics.
Picnics are common in the countryside.
Families like to have picnics when the weather is nice.
The main idea is the central thought: enjoying picnics during good weather. The sentence highlights families and pleasant weather for picnics. It's not about reading or countryside only. Learn more at Reading Rockets.
Which of the following is a fact rather than an opinion?
"Mount Everest is over 29,000 feet tall."
"Chocolate ice cream is the best dessert."
"Summer is the happiest season."
"Science class is the most interesting."
A fact can be proven true or false; the exact height of Mount Everest is a measurable fact. Opinions express personal beliefs or feelings. For more on distinguishing fact and opinion, see Reading Rockets.
In the sentence 'The small village was nestled at the foot of the mountain,' what does 'nestled' mean?
Settled comfortably
Destroyed swiftly
Moved quickly
Ignored completely
The word 'nestled' suggests being placed or settling in a cozy or protected position. It shows comfort and closeness to the mountain. See the dictionary entry at Merriam-Webster.
Read the sentence: 'Because the ground was wet, the soccer match was postponed.' What is the cause in this sentence?
The match was exciting.
The players got wet.
The ground was wet.
The soccer match was postponed.
The cause explains why something happens: the wet ground led to postponement. The effect is the match being postponed. For more on cause and effect, visit Time4Learning.
Which sentence shows an opinion?
"Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit."
"Dogs are more loyal than cats."
"The Earth has one moon."
"Ice cream melts in the sun."
Opinions express personal judgments or feelings. Saying dogs are more loyal than cats is subjective. Facts about water boiling or the moon are verifiable. See more at Reading Rockets.
What is the setting in this sentence: 'That evening, Maria sat by the fireplace reading her favorite novel.'?
A school classroom in the morning
Maria's house in the evening
A hospital at midnight
A park at noon
Setting includes time and place. 'That evening' gives the time, and 'by the fireplace' suggests a cozy interior setting, likely Maria's home. For more, see Reading Rockets.
In the word 'unhappy,' what is the prefix and what does it mean?
hap- meaning luck
un- meaning not
hy- meaning high
py- meaning joyful
The prefix 'un-' means 'not,' so 'unhappy' means 'not happy.' Prefixes change word meaning by adding a short element at the start. See Merriam-Webster for more.
Medium
Which detail from this passage best supports the idea that Leo is brave? "Leo stood on the edge of the cliff, heart pounding, but stepped forward to rescue the lost kitten."
The cliff was high
His heart was pounding
He looked nervous
He stepped forward to rescue the lost kitten
The action of stepping forward despite fear shows bravery. His pounding heart shows fear, but the rescue action supports courage. For supporting details, see Reading Rockets.
What is the author's purpose in this sentence: 'Remember to charge your flashlight before the camping trip'?
To instruct
To persuade
To entertain
To describe
The sentence gives a directive, so it instructs the reader. It doesn't just entertain, persuade or describe. For more on author's purpose, visit Litcharts.
Read the following sentence: 'The old book smelled of dust and adventure.' What literary device is used with 'smelled of adventure'?
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Simile
Metaphor
A metaphor directly compares two unlike things without 'like' or 'as'; here, an abstract concept ('adventure') is given a scent. It isn't a simile, hyperbole, or alliteration. See Litcharts.
Which word best describes the tone of this sentence: 'She eagerly tore open the letter, her eyes shining with excitement'?
Calm
Excited
Anxious
Indifferent
The words 'eagerly' and 'shining with excitement' show an excited tone. They do not indicate calm, anxious, or indifferent feelings. For tone definitions, see Merriam-Webster.
What can you infer about Maya in the sentence: 'Maya tucked her jacket into her backpack as the rain began to pour'?
Maya prepared for rain
Maya disliked backpacks
Maya was going to a beach
Maya wanted to go swimming
By packing her jacket, Maya is getting ready to protect it from rain, showing foresight. Inferring means reading between the lines based on clues. For inference strategies, see Reading Rockets.
Which sentence from the paragraph best shows a sensory detail? "The bakery's windows were fogged. Rich smells of cinnamon and fresh bread drifted into the street. Customers lined up outside."
Rich smells of cinnamon and fresh bread drifted into the street.
They waited patiently.
The bakery's windows were fogged.
Customers lined up outside.
Sensory details appeal to the senses; here smell is described vividly. Other sentences describe actions or visuals without sensory emphasis. Learn more at Reading Rockets.
Which sentence summarizes the paragraph: 'Ants work together to build tunnels. Each ant has a role in the colony. They cooperate to find food and protect the queen.'?
Ants cooperate to build colonies and support the queen.
Ants live alone in the wild.
Ants fly during summer.
Ants are insects.
A summary condenses the main idea: teamwork of ants to build and protect their colony. Other options are irrelevant or incorrect details. For summary tips, see Reading Rockets.
In the sentence 'Jamal's stubborn refusal to admit he was wrong frustrated everyone,' what does 'stubborn' mean?
Willing to change
Refusing to change
Quick-tempered
Easily convinced
Stubborn describes someone who won't change their mind or behavior. It doesn't mean quick-tempered or easily convinced. For more definitions, visit Merriam-Webster.
Hard
Read the paragraph: 'The river roared with fury after the storm. Fallen branches and trash jutted out of the water like jagged teeth. Boats bobbed helplessly against the current.' What mood does the author create?
Peaceful
Joyful
Ominous
Indifferent
Words like 'roared,' 'fury,' and 'jagged teeth' create a threatening, ominous mood. The imagery suggests danger rather than peace or joy. See more on mood at Litcharts.
What is ironic about this situation: 'The fire station burned down while the firefighters were out on a call'?
Firefighters love fire.
Stations are made of wood.
Firefighters always stop fires.
The firefighters couldn't put out a fire at their own station.
Situational irony occurs when the opposite of what's expected happens: the fire station itself caught fire. This is surprising because firefighters normally extinguish fires. Learn more at Litcharts.
Which sentence best explains how the author uses foreshadowing in this excerpt: 'As Emily walked through the door, she noticed the shattered mirror and felt a chill crawl down her spine'?
The chill suggests something bad will happen.
The mirror was expensive.
Emily likes mirrors.
The door was old.
Foreshadowing gives hints of future events; the chill and broken mirror imply danger ahead. Other options don't address future implications. For more, see Litcharts.
Which of the following best describes the central idea of this paragraph: 'Pollution from plastic waste harms marine life. Many sea creatures ingest tiny plastic particles, mistaking them for food. Over time, this can lead to starvation and illness.'?
Plastic pollution negatively impacts sea creatures.
Illness comes from water.
Starvation is a serious problem on land.
Marine life needs more food.
The main point is that plastic waste pollutes oceans and harms animals. The details about ingestion and illness support that idea. For central idea strategies, visit Reading Rockets.
In the following sentence, what is the function of the dash: 'Tara's answer - though incorrect - revealed her creativity'?
To introduce a list
To replace a comma
To set off an explanatory phrase
To show possession
Dashes here enclose extra information explaining the nature of Tara's answer. They serve as parentheses would. For punctuation usage, see Grammarly.
Which pronoun refers to 'the committee' in this sentence: 'The committee announced its decision yesterday'?
it
their
its
they
A committee is a singular collective noun and takes a singular pronoun. 'Its' correctly refers back to 'the committee.' For pronoun rules, see Grammar Monster.
What does the idiom 'break the ice' mean in this sentence: 'To break the ice, the teacher told a funny story'?
End a relationship
Start conversation
Build a sculpture
Smash ice physically
To 'break the ice' is a common idiom meaning to ease tension and start a friendly interaction. It isn't literal ice. For more, see Dictionary.com.
Expert
How does the author's tone shift in the following excerpt: 'At first, the journey seemed endless and weary. Suddenly, a ray of sunlight pierced the clouds, filling the travelers with hope'?
From excited to sad
From fearful to angry
From hopeless to hopeful
From hopeful to despairing
The tone changes from a sense of exhaustion and despair to one of optimism. The imagery of sunlight piercing clouds creates hope. For more on tone shifts, see UNC Writing Center.
Which of the following statements best evaluates the effectiveness of the author's use of rhetorical questions: 'Why do we hesitate when action is needed? Why do we wait for permission that never comes?'?
They encourage readers to reflect and engage
They make the text less engaging
They confuse the main idea
They provide statistical evidence
Rhetorical questions prompt readers to think deeply about the issue, increasing engagement. They do not present data but provoke reflection. For more on rhetorical questions, visit UNC Writing Center.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Main Ideas -

    Identify and articulate the central themes and main ideas within grade-level passages to enhance comprehension skills.

  2. Analyze Supporting Details -

    Examine text for key details and evidence that reinforce the main ideas and improve critical reading abilities.

  3. Interpret Vocabulary in Context -

    Use contextual clues within passages to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words and expand vocabulary.

  4. Make Inferences -

    Draw logical conclusions about characters, events, and themes by connecting explicit information with implied ideas.

  5. Summarize Passages -

    Condense reading content into concise summaries, highlighting only the most important points and events.

  6. Evaluate Author's Purpose -

    Assess the author's intent, tone, and perspective to understand why a passage was written and how it impacts readers.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Main Idea and Key Details -

    Understanding the main idea helps you answer 6th grade reading comprehension test questions more quickly, as noted by Common Core Standards. Start by identifying the topic sentence and then look for supporting details in each paragraph. For example, underline the sentence that sums up the author's point and highlight three facts that back it up.

  2. Context Clues for Vocabulary -

    Tackle unfamiliar words on a 6th grade reading quiz by using context clues: look at synonyms, antonyms, examples, and definitions within the text, a strategy endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of English. Try the CUPS mnemonic - Check usage, Underline clues, Part of speech, Surrounding words - to decode word meanings. Practicing this on 6th grade reading worksheets builds your ability to define words without a dictionary.

  3. Making Inferences -

    Reading comprehension questions grade 6 often require you to "read between the lines," so practice inferring by asking "why" the author included certain details, a technique supported by research from the International Literacy Association. Look for hints in dialogue or descriptions and connect them to what you already know. For instance, if a character's hands shake, infer they might be nervous even if the text doesn't say so directly.

  4. Analyzing Text Structure -

    Recognizing patterns like cause and effect or compare and contrast helps you navigate complex passages on a 6th grade reading practice test, aligning with guidance from Reading Rockets. Create a graphic organizer - like a T-chart for comparison - to map out ideas. This visual tool will speed up answers on 6th grade reading comprehension test sections that ask about how information is organized.

  5. Summarizing and Paraphrasing -

    Summaries condense passages into your own words, a skill highlighted by university writing centers like Purdue OWL. After reading, jot down a one-sentence summary of each paragraph, then combine them into a concise overview for your 6th grade reading practice. This habit makes answering main idea and detail questions on reading comprehension quizzes much easier.

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