6th Grade ELA Treasure Island

What is a central idea of the passage?

• Jim Hawkins believes that Ben Gunn might be crazy.

• Ben Gunn has been all alone on the island for a long time.

• Jim Hawkins unexpectedly discovers a possible source of help.

• Both Ben Gunn and Jim Hawkins have had trouble with pirates.

Which sentence would be best to include in a short summary of the passage?

• Ben is a very strange sight, with clothing made of old sail cloth and bits of hardware.

• Jim meets a mysterious man who was marooned on the island years earlier.

• Jim remembers that he has a weapon he can use to defend himself.

• D Ben and Jim begin to plot together how they might overcome the pirates.

Choose a phrase for each blank to complete the sentence. The italicized paragraph at the start of the passage is included to

• provide background information for the reader

• explain the characters’ motives

• summarize what has happened in the story so far

• describe the characters’ personalities

Choose a phrase for each blank to complete the sentence. The italicized paragraph at the start of the passage is included to

• describe Ben Gunn

• tell where the exotic island is

• hint that Jim is in danger

• Explain why Jim had to escape

The author develops the narrator’s point of view mainly by

• using Ben’s questions to reveal Jim’s thinking.

• contrasting Jim’s reactions with those of Ben.

• stating Jim’s thoughts and feelings directly.

• having Jim explain his reasoning.

Read the sentence from paragraph 3. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs, but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran. What does the phrase flitted like a deer mean?

• glided smoothly and gracefully

• moved in short, quick bounds

• blended into the background

• dashed away in alarm

Select two details from the passage that support the idea that Jim had decided to take his chances with the pirates rather than the unidentified creature in the woods.

• “I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind me the pirates, before me this lurking nondescript.” (paragraph 2)

• “And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not.” (paragraph 2)

• “. . . I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me over my shoulder, began to retrace my steps in the direction of the boats.” (paragraph 2)

• “. . . I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary.” (paragraph 3)

• “Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that.” (paragraph 3)

Read the excerpt from paragraph 9. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old seacloth, and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. What inference is supported by this excerpt?

• Ben has improvised what he needs for survival on the island.

• The pirates took Ben’s clothing before they left him behind.

• Ben has not changed his clothes since he was marooned.

• Ben’s overall appearance is disgusting to look at.

Part A Read the excerpt from paragraph 9. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old seacloth, and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement. What inference is supported by this excerpt?

A Ben has improvised what he needs for survival on the island.

B The pirates took Ben’s clothing before they left him behind. C Ben has not changed his clothes since he was marooned. D Ben’s overall appearance is disgusting to look at.

Which sentence from the passage provides additional support for the inference in Part A?

• “His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black, and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face.” (paragraph 9)

• “‘Marooned three years ago,’ he continued, ‘and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters.’” (paragraph 13)

• “‘Well, many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese—toasted, mostly—and woke up again, and here I were.’” (paragraph 13)

• D “All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my jacket, smoothing my hands, looking at my boots, and generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow creature.” (paragraph 15)

Read the excerpt from paragraphs 5–8. . . . as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me. Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again, and at last, to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication. At that I once more stopped. “Who are you?” I asked. “Ben Gunn,” he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock. “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am; and I haven’t spoke with a soul these three years.” Which two phrases from these paragraphs help you understand the meaning of in supplication ?

• “took a step to meet me”

• “hesitated, drew back, came forward again”

• “threw himself on his knees”

• “held out his clasped hands”