Year 6 English Reading poetry and non-fiction, and comparing texts: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Name the device, then explain what it makes the reader picture or feel.

1. Find the words. The poem says: every stalk bends low to listen.
   every stalk bends low to listen
2. Explain the effect. The stalks are given a human action, so the reader sees them as alert.
   personification
3. Write the answer.
   personification

Check. The effect is explained. ✓

Watch out. Name the device first, such as simile, metaphor, personification or alliteration.

Method. Count the groups of lines.

1. Count. The poem has three groups of lines.
   three groups
2. Write the answer.
   three

Check. The poem has three stanzas. ✓

Method. Find the main idea of each paragraph, then combine them in fewer words.

1. Find the main idea. Each paragraph has one key idea.
   paragraph ideas
2. Combine the ideas. Write one sentence that covers the key ideas in fewer words.
   Bees spread the nectar and fan it until it is thick enough.
3. Write the answer.
   Bees spread the nectar and fan it until it is thick enough.

Check. The summary keeps the key ideas. ✓

Watch out. A summary is shorter than the text, and it uses your own words where you can.

Method. Find the words in the text that answer the question.

1. Find the words. The text says: six-sided wax cells.
   six-sided wax cells
2. Copy the answer. The text describes the cells.
   six-sided
3. Write the answer.
   six-sided

Check. The fact is stated in the text. ✓

Watch out. Copy only the words that answer the question.

Method. Ask whether the sentence can be proved true, or whether it shows a feeling or a view.

1. Test the sentence. A fact can be checked; an opinion shows a view or a feeling.
   Bees pollinate many crops.
2. Decide. Pollinating crops is a statement that can be checked.
   fact
3. Write the answer.
   fact

Check. The sentence is a fact. ✓

Watch out. Words such as should, best, important and in my view often show an opinion.

Method. Ask whether the sentence can be proved true, or whether it shows a feeling or a view.

1. Test the sentence. A fact can be checked; an opinion shows a view or a feeling.
   Every school should plant flowers.
2. Decide. Should shows what ought to happen, so it is an opinion.
   opinion
3. Write the answer.
   opinion

Check. The sentence is a opinion. ✓

Watch out. Words such as should, best, important and in my view often show an opinion.

Method. Name the device, then explain what it makes the reader picture or feel.

1. Find the words. The poem says: a quiet sea of ripened wheat.
   a quiet sea of ripened wheat
2. Explain the effect. The field is called a sea, with no like or as.
   metaphor
3. Write the answer.
   metaphor

Check. The effect is explained. ✓

Watch out. Name the device first, such as simile, metaphor, personification or alliteration.

Method. Look at the purpose of each text.

1. Look at the purpose. The text informs the reader about how honey is made.
   informs
2. Write the answer.
   How Honey Is Made

Check. How Honey Is Made is an information text. ✓

Method. Link a reason to an image.

1. Find the image. A quiet sea of ripened wheat.
   quiet sea
2. Give the reason. It creates a calm feeling.
   calm feeling
3. Write the answer.
   The images, such as a quiet sea of ripened wheat, create a calm feeling.

Check. The reason is supported by an image. ✓

Method. Think about whether a statement can be checked.

1. Think about the fact. A fact can be checked.
   checked
2. Think about the opinion. An opinion shows a view.
   view
3. Write the answer.
   A fact can be checked, but an opinion shows a view or a feeling.

Check. Fact and opinion differ. ✓

Method. Look for a human action given to a thing.

1. Find the action. Stalks cannot listen, but the poem says they do.
   listen
2. Name the device. Giving a plant a human action is personification.
   personification
3. Write the answer.
   personification

Check. The stalks are given a human action. ✓

Method. Name the device, then explain its effect.

1. Name the device. A comparison without like or as is a metaphor.
   metaphor
2. Explain the effect. The reader pictures the wheat as wide and calm.
   wide and calm
3. Write the answer.
   The metaphor makes the wheat seem wide and calm, like the sea.

Check. The effect is explained. ✓

Method. Look for the same sound at the start of words close together.

1. Find the repeated sound. Slow and patient repeat the s sound.
   slow, sound
2. Name the device. Repeating the same sound at the start of words is alliteration.
   alliteration
3. Write the answer.
   alliteration

Check. The repeated sound is alliteration. ✓

Method. Count the groups of lines.

1. Count the groups. Each group of four lines is a stanza.
   four lines each
2. Count them. There are three stanzas.
   three
3. Write the answer.
   three

Check. The poem has three stanzas. ✓

Method. Find the main idea of the paragraph, and write it briefly.

1. Find the main idea. Bees collect nectar and carry it back.
   collect nectar
2. Write the summary. Bees collect nectar from flowers and take it back to the hive.
   take it back to the hive
3. Write the answer.
   Bees collect nectar from flowers and take it back to the hive.

Check. The summary keeps the key idea. ✓

Method. Find the description of the cells.

1. Find the cells. The text describes wax cells.
   wax cells
2. Find the word. The word is six-sided.
   six-sided
3. Write the answer.
   six-sided

Check. six-sided describes the cells. ✓

Method. Ask whether it can be checked, or whether it shows a view.

1. Test the sentence. Most important is a judgement, not something that can be checked.
   most important
2. Decide. A judgement is an opinion.
   opinion
3. Write the answer.
   opinion

Check. The sentence is an opinion. ✓

Method. Give a reason, and point to the evidence.

1. Give the reason. The text explains each step clearly.
   each step
2. Give the evidence. The bees fan their wings to dry the honey.
   fan their wings
3. Write the answer.
   It explains each step clearly, such as the bees fanning their wings to dry the honey.

Check. The view is justified with evidence. ✓

Method. Name the purpose of each text.

1. Look at the poem. The poem creates a mood.
   a mood
2. Look at the information text. The information text informs the reader.
   informs
3. Write the answer.
   The poem creates a calm mood, while the information text informs the reader about honey.

Check. The purposes differ. ✓

Method. Use a word that shows a view.

1. Choose the view. Every school should plant flowers is a view.
   should plant flowers
2. Check the label. Should shows that this is an opinion.
   should
3. Write the answer.
   Every school should plant flowers for bees.

Check. The sentence is an opinion. ✓