Unlock Your Potential 6th
Grade MAP Test Practice
Reading
The reading test presents you with informational
texts and literary passages, and it assesses
comprehension of main ideas and details,
analysis of craft and purpose, and knowledge of
word meanings.
1. Literary Text
Read the passage.
The sweet potato is a root vegetable. Its young leaves are
sometimes eaten as greens. It is only distantly related to the potato.
The root is long and narrow. Its skin ranges in color: it can be yellow,
orange, red, purple, brown, or beige. Its flesh color also varies, and
can be beige, white, red, pink, yellow, orange, or purple. Sweet
potatoes with white or pale yellow flesh are less sweet and moist
than those with red, pink, or orange flesh.
Why did the author write this passage?
A. to persuade
B. to inform
C. to entertain
D. to explain
The correct answer is (B).
A text that is meant to inform includes many facts about a certain
subject. This passage includes many facts about the sweet potato.
Answer (A) is incorrect because a text that is meant to persuade usually expresses
opinions or uses exaggerations and strong words. The passage does not contain these
things.
Answer (C) is incorrect because a text that is meant to entertain tries to appeal to the
reader's senses and imagination through rich descriptions and language. Since this
passage contains facts, it is not meant to entertain.
Answer (D) is incorrect because a text that is meant to explain tells the reader how to
do something or how or why something happened or is true. The passage does not
explain how or why anything.
2. Informational Text
Read the passage.
Louisa and Aidan were sprawled on chairs in the attic, their hands behind
their heads and their feet dangling, when all of a sudden, a storm started.
Heavy rain pounded on the roof, and they heard the strong wind whistling
outside.
The only lamp in the room went out, and the children could barely see
anything around them. Lightning after lightning struck the sky outside, and
the children held each other's hands as a sharp roar of thunder shook the
house.
It sounded as though the storm was right in their own backyard. However, a
few minutes later, the storm stopped suddenly. Everything around was
deafeningly silent as Louisa and Aidan got up quietly and attempted to find
the door in the dark. Fortunately, the lights came back on before they had
gotten to the door, and they both breathed out in relief and smiled.
What is the phrase "deafeningly silent"
used for in the paragraph?
A. to emphasize that silence is the solution to the problem
B. to create a dramatic effect
C. to explain that the storm was loud
D. to emphasize how confusing the situation was
The correct answer is (B).
The phrase "deafeningly silent" is an oxymoron.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory words are used.
Silence cannot be deafening; "deafening" can be said about a loud noise, not
about silence.
Therefore, this use is not literal and is used to serve a purpose.
In this paragraph, a big storm occurs, and then suddenly stops.
This is a dramatic occurrence magnified by the silence that follows, and the
phrase shows the contrast between the storm and the silence that follows in a
very dramatic way.
Therefore, the correct answer is (B).
Examples of Oxymoron
Bittersweet – something that is both happy and sad.
Deafening silence – silence so intense it feels loud.
Living dead – creatures like zombies that are both
alive and dead.
Only choice – a choice that really isn’t a choice.
Pretty ugly – combining beauty and ugliness.
Seriously funny – something very funny, but said
seriously.
Virtual reality – something “real” but not real.
Act naturally – being natural, but on command.
Awfully good – something that’s surprisingly very
good.
Recall examples of Oxymoron and
use them in a sentence of your own
