Released Reading Selections and Assessment Questions, 2017

Junior DivisionGrade 6 Language Assessment of Reading, Writing and MathematicsEducation Quality and Accountability Office, 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1200, Toronto Ontario, M5B 2M9 . Telephone: 1-888-327-7377 . Web site: www.eqao.com © 2017 Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

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Section C1 Reading

The Potter and the Washer-man

1 Once 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.

2 The 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.

3 The 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.”

5 The king stroked his long beard. “Why should the washer -man’s success be of any concern to you?” he asked.

6 The potter cleared his throat nervously and said, “Well, he is my neighbour, so naturally I desire what is best for him.”

7 The 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.”

9 Having 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.

11 A 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.”

13 Help 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.”

15 This 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.

16 After 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.

17 The washer-man stood ready with his best scrub brushes. The elephant was led up the ramp. Trumpeting, it stepped slowly into the delicate basin.

18 Would the basin hold the elephant?

19 It certainly would not!

20 With a crack, the porcelain basin shattered into a thousand pieces, sending a foamy river from the palace courtyard into the town below.

21 Staring at the king, all the people in the courtyard held their breath.

22 The 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?”

23 The potter gave great thought to his options, turned and quickly left the palace courtyard.

24 As 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

A)

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

B)

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.

C)

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.

D)

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)

E)

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

F)

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 ear canal, which ends at your eardrum.

How Sound Waves Work

Step 1: Air molecules travel through the ear canal 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

G)

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.

H)

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.