Grade 6 Nonfiction Passage and Test

Read the sentence from the passage:

“After 20 years of growing side-by-side with their Earth-bound equivalent as controls, no one could tell the difference.” (paragraph 8)

What does the word “equivalent” suggest about the two groups of trees?

A They were mixed together.

• A. They were mixed together

• B. They had similar characteristics

• C. They were both experimented on

• D. They came from the same collection of seeds.

Answer explanation

Option B: This answer is correct. The “Moon Trees” grew next to the same type of trees; however, the Earth-bound trees had not been to space. The word “equivalent” suggests the trees are similar in all other ways.

Select the sentence that supports the inference that Stuart Roosa had a positive experience with the U.S. Forest Service. ​

• A It all began after Roosa was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 command module.

• B As a former smoke jumper with the U.S. Forest Service, he was contacted by then chief of the Forest Service, Ed Cliff, and asked if he would be willing to take tree seeds into space.

• C As his way of paying tribute to the Forest Service, Roosa agreed and packed hundreds of seeds from redwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, Douglas fir and sweet gum trees into his personal travel kit.

• D Roosa and his seeds orbited the moon 34 times while stationed in the command module “Kitty Hawk.”​ ​

Answer explanation

Part A

How does the passage introduce the importance of the “Moon Trees”? B by listing the types of seeds that were chosen for this experiment

by presenting how rare experiments in space were at the time

• A by discussing the challenges faced by the scientists after returning

• B by listing the types of seeds that were chosen for this experiment

• C by presenting how rare experiments in space were at the time

• D by describing the process of getting the seeds into space

Answer explanation

Part A

Option C: This answer is correct. The passage illustrates the importance of the “Moon Trees” by describing how unusual space experiments were and by showing how people in the US and around the world responded to their introduction.

Part B: Part B

Which paragraph from the passage supports the answer to Part A?

• A. Paragraph 4

• B. Paragraph 5

• C. Paragraph 6

• D. Paragraph 7

Answer explanation

Part B

Option B: This answer is correct. This paragraph mentions how rare experiments in space were at the time and supports the answer in Part A.

Part A: Part A

What is the author’s purpose for writing the passage?

A to argue that scientists should make more journeys into space B to explain that the effect of seed contamination is still uncertain

• A To argue that scientists should make more journeys into space

• B. To explain that the effect of seed contamination to still uncertain

• C. to describe an interesting experiment involving seeds in space

• D to share information about why people should protect Moon Trees

Answer explanation

Part A

Option C: This answer is correct. The author opens the passage by declaring that all things related to the moon are mysterious, and then goes on to describe one interesting experiment which led to the Moon Trees.

Part B

Which detail from the passage supports the purpose in Part A?

• A “It all began after Roosa was selected to pilot the Apollo 14 command module (paragraph 3)

• B “Scientists were curious to know if the seeds, after their journey into the microgravity of space, would sprout and look the same as Earth-grown trees.” (paragraph 5)

• C “Unfortunately, after returning to Earth the seed canister burst open during the decontamination process and all the different species of seeds, not only were mixed together, but thought to be no longer useful and able to germinate.” (paragraph 6)

• D “A moon sycamore graces Roosa’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.” (paragraph 13)

Answer explanation

Part B

Option B: This answer is correct. This explains why the experiment was interesting and what scientists hoped to learn from it.

Read the following sentence from the passage.

“Are there actually trees on the moon?” (paragraph 2)

How does this sentence help develop the author’s explanation of “Moon Trees”?

• A. It introduces the definition of the trees.

• B It shows where the trees originally grew.

• C It describes the experiments that were done with trees.

• D It gives an example of trees that were included in experiments.

Answer explanation

Option A: This answer is correct. This rhetorical question leads into the author's definition of “Moon Trees” in the following sentence.

Which two sentences from the passage support the claim that “Moon Trees” are part of what makes the moon mysterious?

• A “Roosa and his seeds orbited the moon 34 times while stationed in the command module ‘Kitty Hawk.’” (paragraph 4)

• B Scientists were curious to know if the seeds, after their journey into the microgravity of space, would sprout and look the same as Earth-grown trees.” (paragraph 5)

• C “In the early 70s there were very few experiments done in space.” (paragraph 5)

• D “After being shipped to the Forest Service labs, it was found that most of the seeds did survive and ultimately were planted.” (paragraph 7)

• E. “Many were planted as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 and grow at national landmarks, such as the White House, Independence Square in Philadelphia, state capitols and university campuses.” (paragraph 9)

Answer explanation

Which idea from the passage does the graphic emphasize?

• A how Moon Trees grew best in warm places

• B how popular the Moon Trees became with Americans

• C how Moon Trees were only planted in the United States

• D how many different places the Moon Trees were planted

Answer explanation

Option A: This answer is correct. The image shows that the Moon Trees currently grow throughout the United States.

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Select three details that should be included in a summary of the passage.

• A The seeds were shipped to labs at the U.S. Forest Service.

• B Stuart Roosa was a smoke jumper for the U.S. Forest Service

• C “Moon Trees” were planted all over the United States and the world.

• D The vehicle that the seeds orbited the moon in was called “Kitty Hawk.”

• E. Scientists wanted to see how the seeds might be affected by the gravity in space.

Answer explanation

Option C: This answer is correct. This describes the legacy of the Moon Trees and should be included in a summary.

Option E: This answer is correct. The story of the seeds’ journey is the centerpiece of the passage.

Option F: This answer is correct. This detail provides the crucial rationale for why the seeds traveled into space in the first place.

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