Central Idea grade 6

Of course you always have to balance yourself when you are on a bike. That's easy when you are pedaling but harder when you are stopped. When you are pedaling, the wheels are spinning. That makes your bike a gyroscope. A wheel spinning in an upright position tends to keep that position. That same idea also works for other things. You may have noticed that a spinning top falls over when it stops spinning.

Which best describes the central idea of the passage?

• A. why tops fall over when they stop spinning

• B. why some children fall off their bicycles

• C. the reason people enjoy riding bicycles

• D. the science behind balancing on a bicycle

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

Cactuses can live in dry places because of their parts. Most cactuses have waxy skin and thick, fleshy stems. The stems hold water, and the skin keeps the water from escaping. The stem can grow fat to hold more and more water. Cactuses also have long roots. The roots grow very close to the top of the ground. They spread wide around the plant. When it rains, the roots can also collect a lot of water.

Which statement best describes the central idea of the passage?

• A. When it rains, the roots can also collect a lot of water.

• B. Cactuses can live in dry places because of their parts.

• C. The stem can grow fat to hold more and more water.

• D. The roots grow very close to the top of the ground.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

(1) For centuries, little was known about Antarctica. It was thought of as a distant, dangerous, frozen wasteland. It was the last continent to be discovered. No one sighted it until the early 1800s. Before that time, many explorers had sailed south in an attempt to visit the ice-covered land. In those days, their trips were as famous as those of the first astronauts.

(2) Even before the land was discovered, stories were told about it. The ancient Greeks thought there was a land at the bottom of the world. Over the years, some of the world's greatest sailors tried to find it. In 1772, the famous Captain James Cook made the trip.

(3) Captain Cook was the first sailor to make it all the way to the ice cap. The ice surrounds Antarctica in the winter. Cook sailed all the way around the continent but was blocked from getting too close by the ice. Captain Cook went farther south than anyone had ever gone. His record stood for 50 years.

(4) In the 1820s, a different type of sailor was setting sail toward Antarctica. Seal hunters and whale hunters made the journey. A young American named Nathaniel Palmer was probably the first person to see Antarctica. He and other adventurers were sailing through uncharted ocean in search of seals. In doing so, they became explorers as well as hunters.

What is the central idea of the article?

• A. Antarctica was the last continent to be discovered.

• B. Nathaniel Palmer was the first person to see

• C. The ancient Greeks knew about Antarctica for centuries.

• D. Antarctica has fascinated people for many centuries

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

New high-definition (HD), big-screen TVs are great to look at. But not all sound as good as they look. Even the best TVs don't offer the sound quality of DVD movies and HDTV programs. To get that, many people install expensive surround-sound systems. That means hooking up speakers and a receiver. It usually includes running wires all over the place.

Now there's an easier answer - sound bar speakers. These are small speakers in one little, rectangular box. It sits above or below the screen. Most sound bars have all the audio and video connections you need. That means no receiver and no wires.

What is this passage mostly about?

• A. sound bars with small speakers

• B. the expense of big-screen TVs

• C. receivers with too many wires

• D. the sound on big-screen TVs

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

Do you know where to find Italy on a map? Italy juts out from the European continent. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. Other important islands to its west are Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba. To the north are France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Some countries lie to the east. They are across the Adriatic Sea. Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina are found across the water.

Which sentence from the passage supports the idea that Italy is surrounded by water?

• A. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot.

• B. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily.

• C. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.

• D. Do you know where to find Italy on a map?

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.8

In the 1400s, the Portuguese set out to find ways around the Muslim trade routes. In the process, they made a large trading empire. The Portuguese hoped to make more money and teach others about their religion. They wanted to grow wealthy from trade. They also wanted to spread Christianity to other lands.

What is this paragraph mainly about?

• A. the history of Christianity

• B. making money from travel

• C. teaching religion to others

• D. the Portuguese trade empire

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

After "Revenge of the Sith," George Lucas will be done with Star Wars. Star Wars has been around for 30 years. There are six major films, TV specials, toys, books, and many other products. Lucas has no plans to continue the series after the sixth film is released.

Six movies make up Star Wars. They are split into 2 trilogies, which means three films as a set. The first Star Wars movie was released in the 1970s. It won much fanfare and praise.

Lucas has been reported saying many different things about the Star Wars movies. He said that it was supposed to be 9 parts long, and he wrote all the parts a long time ago. Other quotes from him say that the first trilogy was all that there was, but he wanted to do the second trilogy as a back story. The real truth is unknown. The only certain thing now is that "Revenge of the Sith" will be the last Star Wars movie.

Which of the following best tells what the article is about?

• A. The Star Wars series is divided up into 6 movies which are split into 2 trilogies.

• B. George Lucas is finished with the Star Wars series after "Revenge of the Sith."

• C. George Lucas wrote all of the Star Wars movies including 3 parts that haven't been released.

• D. The first Star Wars film was released in the 1970s, and many people loved it.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

Scientists recently found dinosaur tracks. They provide proof that big, meat-eating dinosaurs could run. These large animals usually moved slowly. However, the tracks showed that Tyrannosaurus rex could move quickly when necessary. The tracks also helped scientist Julie Day and her team find out how fast these dinosaurs ran. They spread their toes and put one foot in front of the other. They could run up to 19 miles per hour like this.

The tracks showed how these animals ran. Which sentence from the paragraph best supports this idea?

• A. "They spread their toes and put one foot in front of the other."

• B. "They could run up to 19 miles per hour like this."

• C. "They provide proof that big, meat-eating dinosaurs could run."

• D. "These large animals usually moved slowly."

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

Have you ever heard of a zonkey? It is a cross between a zebra and a donkey. Other names for this type of mix are zedonk, zenkey, and zebronkey. Not all animals can mix, though. The zebra and donkey can be crossed, or combined, because they are in the horse family. However, you would not be able to mix a pig and a bird because they are in different animal families. What other animal mixes have you heard of?

This passage is mostly about

• A. combining different animals.

• B. animals in different families.

• C. zebras being like horses.

• D. liking all kinds of animals.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

Alaska is a great place to visit. There are many things to see there. It is one of our most beautiful states. The state has many different kinds of animals. Alaska has beautiful mountains. It has the highest point in North America. It has volcanoes and glaciers.

Which sentence from the passage best describes the central idea?

• A. It is one of our most beautiful states.

• B. Alaska is a great place to visit.

• C. Alaska has beautiful mountains.

• D. It has volcanoes and glaciers.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2