Life Lesson #614: Know Who You Are-Reading Comprehension

Understand your history, identity, family, and worth.

6th Grade Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read each passage carefully. Choose the vocabulary word that best completes the blank. Circle A, B, C, or D. Each vocabulary word is used once. The passages include humor and situations that encourage students to understand their identity, appreciate their family history, and recognize their worth.

1. Ryan's Family History Project

Ryan interviewed his grandfather for a school project about family history. His grandfather told fascinating stories, and Ryan discovered that several relatives had been teachers, musicians, and community leaders. Although Ryan had always thought his family was ordinary, he felt proud when he learned about their accomplishments. Ryan decided to ______ the stories to his scrapbook, and he included photographs of relatives who had inspired him. When his classmates saw the scrapbook, they asked Ryan to share more stories, and he realized that understanding his roots helped him understand himself.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. abstain

B. append

C. extort

D. glum

2. Samar's Unbelievable Excuse

Samar arrived at school wearing two different shoes, a superhero cape, and a cooking pot as a helmet. When her teacher asked why she looked like a confused kitchen superhero, Samar explained that a family of squirrels had stolen her regular clothes. Her story sounded so ______ that even Ryan stopped chewing his sandwich to listen. Although Samar insisted that every word was true, she eventually admitted that she had dressed in the dark because she had overslept. When her classmates laughed, she laughed too, and she learned that being comfortable with herself was better than inventing excuses to impress people.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. responsive

B. replica

C. far-fetched

D. allegiance

3. Vihan's Identity Museum

Vihan created a miniature museum displaying objects that represented his family, background, and interests. His exhibit included a photograph of his grandparents, a soccer medal, and a recipe for his grandmother's famous spicy noodles. Although some classmates displayed expensive objects, Vihan explained that meaningful memories were more valuable than costly possessions. He wanted to ______ the importance of family traditions, and he described how each object connected him to his history. When the class visited the museum, students shared their own stories, and Vihan discovered that everyone had something special worth celebrating.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. exalt

B. extort

C. tally

D. submissive

4. Braxton's Terrible Leadership Plan

Braxton decided to become the class leader, but his first rule required everyone to carry his backpack and compliment his hairstyle every ten minutes. He acted like a strict ______, and he assigned so much work that even the classroom hamster seemed exhausted. Although Braxton believed that giving orders made him important, his classmates explained that real leadership involved fairness and responsibility. When he listened to their concerns, he changed his approach, and he discovered that people respected him more when he treated them as equals.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. sanctuary

B. taskmaster

C. replica

D. commemorate

5. Brycen's Family Celebration

Brycen's family organized a reunion to honor his great-grandmother, who had helped several generations of relatives succeed in school. Everyone brought a favorite dish, and his uncle arrived with a cake shaped like a giant history textbook. The family wanted to ______ her contributions because she had encouraged children to value education and remember their roots. Although Brycen initially thought the speeches would be boring, he enjoyed hearing funny stories about his relatives' childhoods. When the celebration ended, Brycen felt closer to his family, and he understood why remembering important people helped preserve their legacy.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. commemorate

B. amalgamate

C. abstain

D. glum

6. Braelynn Finds Her Voice

Braelynn was naturally quiet, and she often agreed with others even when she had a different opinion. During a group project, her classmates wanted to choose a topic she disliked, but she felt nervous about speaking up. Her teacher explained that being respectful did not mean becoming ______ or allowing others to make every decision for her. Although Braelynn worried that her friends might disagree, she shared her ideas, and the group eventually selected a topic that everyone enjoyed. When the project earned an excellent grade, Braelynn felt proud, and she learned that her voice mattered just as much as anyone else's.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. self-seeking

B. submissive

C. responsive

D. far-fetched

7. Ryan's Identity Crisis at Lunch

Ryan announced that he was changing his identity because his favorite basketball team had lost three games in a row. He declared that he would become a professional ballet dancer, a mountain climber, and a famous chef before Friday. His friends laughed, but Ryan soon realized that he was confusing temporary disappointment with his actual interests and abilities. Although he enjoyed trying new activities, he did not need to abandon everything he loved just because his team lost. When Ryan explored his interests honestly, he discovered that he still loved basketball, and he decided to ______ his free time by trying a dance class simply because it sounded fun.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. transform

B. upheaval

C. allegiance

D. tally

8. Samar's Secret Talent

Samar discovered that she could imitate the sounds of household appliances with amazing accuracy. She could sound like a microwave finishing its cycle, and she could imitate a blender struggling with a frozen banana. Although she was embarrassed to perform in front of the class, she practiced until she felt confident. Her talent helped ______ the school's talent show, and the principal laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her program. When Samar received applause, she realized that accepting her unique abilities could help her connect with others, and she began exploring more ways to express herself.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. abstain

B. enumerate

C. accommodate

D. extort

9. Vihan's Family Recipe Book

Vihan wanted to create a recipe book that celebrated the different foods his relatives enjoyed. His mother contributed a traditional soup recipe, and his grandfather shared instructions for making pancakes shaped like dinosaurs. Vihan decided to ______ short stories about his relatives to the recipes so that future generations could learn about the people who taught him to cook. Although some recipes required unusual ingredients, he enjoyed learning why certain foods were important to his family's traditions. When his cousins tried the finished recipes, they laughed at the dinosaur pancakes, and Vihan realized that family history could be preserved through both stories and food.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. append

B. extort

C. glum

D. responsive

10. The Great Classroom Merger

Braxton and Brycen each created a club at school: one celebrated science experiments, and the other celebrated inventions made from recycled materials. The clubs had similar goals, but both boys wanted to be in charge of everything. Their teacher suggested that they ______ the clubs into one organization so they could combine their ideas and resources. Although the boys initially argued over whose name should appear first, they agreed to share leadership, and their first project became a robot made from cardboard boxes. When the robot fell apart during its presentation, both clubs laughed, and they learned that teamwork was more valuable than competing for attention.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. amalgamate

B. exalt

C. submissive

D. sanctuary

11. The Trouble with Copycat Ryan

Ryan built a model of a famous landmark for social studies, but his project looked so much like a store-bought model that his teacher asked whether he had made it himself. Ryan explained that he had used a photograph as a guide, and he showed the cardboard, glue, and paint he had used. His model was a ______ of the original landmark, but he had created it by hand rather than buying an exact copy. Although he felt nervous about the teacher's questions, he explained his process honestly, and his teacher praised his effort. Ryan learned that he did not have to pretend to be someone else to create something impressive.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. replica

B. allegiance

C. taskmaster

D. upheaval

12. Braelynn's Safe Place

Braelynn felt overwhelmed when several classmates teased her for enjoying books about animals instead of video games. She found comfort in the school library, where she could read quietly and explore her interests. The librarian helped make the library a ______ for students who needed a peaceful place to learn and feel accepted. Although Braelynn still enjoyed spending time with her friends, she understood that she did not have to like everything they liked. When she joined the animal science club, she met students who shared her interests, and she learned that the right community could help her feel comfortable being herself.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. sanctuary

B. tally

C. extort

D. glum

13. The Unfair Snack Deal

Brycen brought a giant bag of pretzels to school, and his classmate demanded that he hand over half of them. The classmate threatened to spread embarrassing rumors unless Brycen gave him the snacks. Brycen recognized that the threat was an attempt to ______ something from him through fear. Although he felt nervous, he refused to give in and told a trusted teacher what had happened. Because the teacher addressed the situation, Brycen felt safer, and he learned that his belongings and dignity deserved respect.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. extort

B. commemorate

C. accommodate

D. enumerate

14. Samar's Moodiest Monday

Samar woke up feeling ______ because her favorite television show had ended on a cliffhanger. She walked into the kitchen with drooping shoulders, and she announced that life had no meaning without another episode. Although her brother reminded her that she had a science project to finish, she stared sadly at her cereal as if it had personally disappointed her. When Samar started working on her project, she became more interested in her experiment, and she realized that one disappointment did not have to ruin her entire day.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. glum

B. responsive

C. self-seeking

D. allegiance

15. Ryan's Team Loyalty

Ryan supported his school's basketball team even when it lost several games in a row. He wore the team colors, and he encouraged his teammates to keep practicing. Although some students stopped supporting the team after its losing streak, Ryan remained loyal because he valued teamwork and friendship. His ______ to the team showed that his support was based on more than winning, and his positive attitude encouraged other students to return to the games. When the team finally won a close match, Ryan celebrated with everyone, and he learned that loyalty was most meaningful when things became difficult.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. allegiance

B. abstain

C. replica

D. taskmaster

16. Braxton's Big Change

Braxton used to believe that asking questions made him look foolish, so he pretended to understand lessons he had not learned. His grades suffered, and he became frustrated whenever homework seemed impossible. When his teacher encouraged him to speak up, Braxton decided to ______ his approach to learning by asking questions and seeking help. Although he felt embarrassed at first, he soon understood the lessons better, and his classmates began asking questions too. Because he stopped pretending to know everything, Braxton grew more confident, and he discovered that personal growth often begins with admitting what you do not know.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. transform

B. commemorate

C. extort

D. submissive

17. Vihan's Unexpected School Changes

Vihan arrived at school one morning to discover that his classroom had been rearranged, his teacher had changed the seating chart, and the cafeteria had introduced a new lunch menu featuring broccoli-shaped cookies. The sudden ______ confused many students, and several of them wondered whether they had accidentally walked into a different school. Although Vihan disliked some of the changes, he asked questions and learned that the school was making improvements. When he adjusted to the new routines, he discovered that some changes were helpful, and he realized that understanding his values could help him remain himself during uncertain times.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. upheaval

B. append

C. exalt

D. replica

18. Braelynn's Helpful Classmates

Braelynn noticed that her classmate was struggling to participate in a group discussion because the room was too noisy. She suggested moving the group to a quieter corner, and she encouraged everyone to take turns speaking. Her classmates were ______ to the student's needs, and they adjusted their plans without complaining. Although the project took longer than expected, the group worked together respectfully, and everyone contributed useful ideas. When they finished the assignment, Braelynn felt proud, and she learned that understanding other people's needs could help build a community where everyone belonged.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. responsive

B. far-fetched

C. self-seeking

D. tally

19. The Selfish Student Council Candidate

Ryan ran for student council because he wanted to improve the school, but he also secretly hoped that everyone would admire him. He promised students extra recess, unlimited pizza, and homework that completed itself. His campaign became an example of ______ behavior when classmates realized that he cared more about popularity than helping others. Although Ryan felt disappointed when he lost the election, he listened to the winning candidate's plans and recognized that leadership required genuine concern for the community. When he volunteered to help organize a school cleanup, Ryan discovered that he could make a difference without receiving applause every five seconds.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. self-seeking

B. sanctuary

C. allegiance

D. commemorate

20. The Great Pretzel Count

Vihan organized a class party and needed to know how many pretzels, cookies, and juice boxes to buy. He decided to ______ the supplies on a chart, and he assigned each classmate a different item to count. Although Braxton accidentally counted one cookie fourteen times, the group checked the numbers carefully and corrected the mistake. When they finished, Vihan added the totals together, and he learned that careful counting and honest teamwork were more reliable than guessing. The party was a success, and even Braxton agreed that mathematics was useful, especially when nobody wanted to run out of cookies.

Which word best completes the passage?

A. enumerate

B. amalgamate

C. abstain

D. exalt