TAKS April 2006 Grade 6 Reading Online Test

DIRECTIONS
Read the next two selections. Then answer the questions that follow them.

1What is this selection mainly about?

AHow Wegman switched from painting to photography

BHow dogs have helped shape Wegman’s career

CHow Wegman got his first and second dogs

DHow different Wegman’s dogs are from one another

3Look at the outline of information from the selection.

What information belongs on the blank line?

AGrew up in Massachusetts

BRemained dogless for three years

CWon praise for his work with Man Ray

DBecame interested in videos and photography

4Which sentence from the interview shows that a lot of thought goes into Wegman’s work?

FMost people who have seen my photographs think it’s easy.

GHe never makes fun of us while we work.

HThe lighting, the angles of my poses, the costumes—all the elements have to be just right for him.

JWhen I’m in the studio with Wegman, he gives me a lot of attention and praise.

5Fay Ray has no plans to retire because she —

Athinks it would hurt Wegman’s feelings

Bwants Wegman to replace her first

Cstill finds modeling to be rewarding

Dfeels she must watch over her children

7Paragraph 2 is mainly about —

Awhat a photo shoot with Wegman is like

Bhow Wegman gets ideas for his photos

Cwhy Wegman’s Cinderella series is so popular

Dhow Fay Ray feels about Wegman’s other dog models

8Both the selection and the interview were written to —

Fpersuade readers to buy Wegman’s work

Gtell readers why Fay Ray is such a popular dog model

Hexplain Wegman’s work to the reader

Jprovide readers with examples of animals in art

9From information in both the selection and the interview, the reader can conclude that Chundo, Chip, and Batty —

Aappear in the Cinderella series of photographs

Bare Fay Ray’s puppies

Chave all appeared on Sesame Street

Dare more popular than Fay Ray

10One similarity between the selection and the interview is that both —

Fshow the love between Wegman and the dogs

Gmention different techniques artists use

Hprovide the dogs’ point of view

Jexplain how Wegman became famous

11The author probably wrote this selection to —

Ademonstrate how baseball has changed over the years

Bconvince girls to learn to play a sport

Cprovide a history of an African American professional baseball league

Ddescribe the hardships that an African American female athlete faced

13According to paragraph 5, Bannecker Field was a place where —

AMamie was held back from having an exciting career

BMamie was pushed to the limits of her ability

CMamie felt comfortable and accepted

DMamie wanted to stay forever

14Which of these is an idea that is present throughout the selection?

FOvercoming the judgment of others

GAccepting the consequences of one’s behavior

HListening to the advice of friends

JLearning to adjust to change

16Why is paragraph 9 important to the selection?

FIt creates suspense about what will happen.

GIt describes Mamie’s pitching style.

HIt introduces Mamie’s inner conflict.

JIt describes fans’ reactions as they watch.

18Based on the information at the end of the selection, the reader can conclude that Mamie —

Fgained wealth as a professional baseball player

Gnever played another game at Bannecker Field

Hhelped Rita get a place on a professional baseball team

Jdid well at her tryout for the Indianapolis Clowns

19Mamie first thought that the man in the suit may have been a scout when —

Ahe introduced himself after the game

BRita said that he had attended several of their games

Cshe noticed that he was watching her from the audience

DRita yelled words of encouragement to her

20Which sentence from the selection shows that Mamie refused to let obstacles stand in her way?

FAnd today this man from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was telling her that she didn’t belong, without even letting her try out for the team!

GAlthough Mamie wasn’t given a chance to try out for the girl’s professional baseball league, she didn’t stop playing the game she loved.

HShe knew that he was just as determined to win the game as she was.

JWith her head held high, Mamie walked off the field and headed for the bus stop.

22The author uses a point of view that helps the reader understand —

FRita’s enthusiasm for the game

Gthe coach’s admiration of Mamie

HMamie’s determination to win

Jthe scout’s interest in the team

25Why does the narrator have to be careful of the lechuguillas when walking along the path?

AThe plants will die if stepped on.

BRoadrunners sometimes hide in the plants’ leaves.

CThe plants’ sharp-tipped spines could injure a hiker.

DPoisonous thorns cover the plants.

26Paragraphs 7 and 8 are mainly about —

Fhow quickly time passes in Big Bend

Gthe desert and forest areas of Big Bend

Hthe types of trees found in Big Bend

Jhow hot the desert is in Big Bend

27What makes the narrator uncomfortable while hiking in the forest?

AThe narrator wants to see more lechuguillas.

BIt is too cool in the forest.

CIt is too dark in the forest.

DThe narrator doesn’t like tarantulas.

29An idea present throughout this selection is the —

Aneed for the park to be preserved

Bextreme temperatures in the park

Cvariety of natural wonders in the park

Dchallenges of being a guide in the park

30The reader can predict that the narrator will probably —

Fgo through Big Bend alone the next time he visits

Gchoose not to rock climb again

Hbe excited about exploring the park a second time

Jprefer to visit only the Chisos Mountains next time

31How do the narrator’s activities in Big Bend National Park influence how he feels as his trip ends?

AAfter spending time in several areas of the park, he appreciates its uniqueness.

BAfter participating in challenging activities, he thinks the park is dangerous.

CAfter observing some of the animals in the park, he wants to protect its wildlife.

DAfter hiking across the park, he feels it is too big.

34Why is paragraph 10 important to this story?

FIt describes what Hudson Middle School looks like.

GIt explains that Center Park is the oldest school in Joel’s town.

HIt describes the businesses and traffic in the middle of the city.

JIt explains why Joel suspects the Center Park students.

35Joel wants to find out who is leaving the trash because he wants —

Ato keep using the courtyard after school

Bthe school to reward him

Cto keep Center Park students away from his school

Dto solve cases like his father does

37Which is the best summary of this story?

ASomeone is leaving trash in the courtyard of a new school. No one knows who is doing it, but a boy named Joel is angry that students may lose the use of the area. Joel and his father keep watch at night. They find out who is scattering the trash.

BJoel hears an announcement by the principal of his school. He and his friend Aidan feel the principal is being unfair. Joel’s father is a policeman, so Joel asks him to help with the situation.

CTrash is being left in the courtyard of a new school. The principal tells the students that the courtyard will be closed. A boy named Joel is upset by this. He decides to do something about it.

DThe principal of a school announces that some of the students are leaving trash in the courtyard. Later she realizes the students at her school are not responsible, but she still doesn’t know who is making the mess. She asks the students for information about the situation.

38Look at the action map and then answer the question that follows.

Which of these would go in the triangle labeled “Turning Point”?

FJoel learns that trash has been left in the courtyard again.

GJoel tells Aidan who he thinks might be responsible.

HJoel falls asleep in the car while watching the courtyard.

JJoel decides that something must be done to stop the littering.

40The author organizes paragraphs 19 through 21 by —

Fdescribing the steps Joel and his father take to solve the mystery

Gcomparing Joel’s actions to those of his father

Hlisting Joel’s ideas about who might be responsible for the problem

Jexplaining the relationship Joel has with his father

41Which idea from the story best shows that Joel’s father is good at his job?

AHe remembers that he liked to be outside.

BHe says that he deals with a different kind of criminal.

CHe is willing to let his son stay up late.

DHe watches the courtyard for hours without falling asleep.

42At the end of the story, Joel plans to —

Fcall his friend Aidan to tell him about his discovery

Gwatch for a few more nights to be sure he is right about what he has seen

Hmove the trash cans inside the school building

Jfigure out how to put a stop to the activity that he sees

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