WEEK 7

DAY

Name:________________________________ Date:___________________
1
Directions Read the text and then answer the questions.

SCORE
What would it be like if library books weren’t put into any kind of order? You probably
wouldn’t be able to find the book you wanted. That is why library books are organized.
1. Y N
Most public libraries separate books for children and teens from books for adults. That way,
children, teens, and adults can find the books they want more easily. Most libraries also
separate fiction books from nonfiction books. Fiction books are alphabetized by the author’s
last name. So if you are looking for a children’s fiction book, begin by going to the children’s 2. Y N
section. Next, look for the fiction books in that section. Finally, search alphabetically for the
last name of the author, and you will likely find the book.

3. Y N

1. What is this text mostly about? 4. Which of these sentences is an

imperative sentence?
A how books are made 4. Y N

B why libraries were invented

A Then, look for the fiction books in
that section.
C how to find a library near you B Fiction books are in alphabetical 5. Y N
D how library books are organized order by the author’s last name.
C Most public libraries separate books
for children and teens from books
2. How are fiction books organized?
for adults.
___ / 5
A by number of pages D What would it be like if library books
weren’t put into any kind of order? Total
B by title, in alphabetical order
C by author’s last name, in
alphabetical order 5. Which word is a synonym for
separate?
D by the number of chapters
A unite
3. Which prefix could be added B divide
to the word organized to make C search
its antonym?
D begin
A dis–
B bi–
C pro–
D con–

© Shell Education #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade 51

 WEEK 7
DAY

2 Name:________________________________ Date:___________________

Directions Read the text and then answer the questions.

SCORE
One of the best ways to find what you are looking for in a library is to use the library’s
catalogue (KAT-uh-log). Libraries used to have card catalogues, which are groups of
1. Y N
drawers that hold sets of cards. Each card has the title and author of a book. It also tells
you the book’s topic and where it is located. You can search for a book by the title, by the
author’s name, or by the topic. Most libraries now have their catalogues on computers. The
process of looking for a book on the computer is a lot like using a card catalogue. You can
2. Y N
search for a book by author, by title, or by subject. Then, you can go to the section of the
library that has that book and get what you need.

3. Y N

1. Which of these is not a way to 4. Which noun is the location where

search for a book? people can find a library’s list
4. Y N of books?
A by author
B by title
A catalogue

5. Y N C by date
B subject

D by subject
C author
D section

___ / 5 2. What does this text tell readers?

5. What is the phrase looking for
Total A how to get to a local library a book on the computer is a lot
like using a card catalogue an
B how to use a library's catalogue example of?
C what the best books are
D A alliteration
how many libraries there are
B a metaphor

3. Which word is a synonym

C personification
for process? D a comparison

A catalogue
B book
C method
D library

52 #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade © Shell Education

 WEEK 7
DAY

Name:________________________________ Date:___________________
3
Directions Read the text and then answer the questions.

SCORE
Once you find a book in the catalogue, how do you find it in the library? Many libraries
use the Dewey Decimal System, or DDS. The DDS divides books into ten topics. Each topic
1. Y N
has its own number. You can find each book’s number when you look that book up in the
catalogue. For example, art has the Dewey number of 700, so if you search for a book about
art, you will find that art books have numbers that start with 7. Each topic has topics within
it. Suppose you are interested in drawing. Drawing is a kind of art, and the Dewey number 2. Y N
for books about art is 700, so start at the section of your library labeled “700.” Books about
drawing have the Dewey number of 730. Go to that section of the art books. You will
probably find what you want.
3. Y N

1. What is this text mostly about? 4. What does the pronoun it refer to in
the sentence: Once you find a book 4. Y N
A the Dewey Decimal System in the catalogue, how do you find it
in the library?
B art books
C the history of libraries A the library 5. Y N

D how to write a book B the catalogue

C a book
2. Which statement is not true about D you ___ / 5
the DDS?
Total
A It is a way of organizing books. 5. Which of these is an
interrogative sentence?
B It separates books into ten topics.
C Each topic has its own number. A Many libraries use the Dewey
Decimal System, or DDS.
D The DDS has fifteen topics.
B Once you find a book in the
catalogue, how do you find it in
3. Which means look up? the library?

A C You will probably find what you want.

admire
B D Go to that section of the art books.
talk about
C draw
D search for

© Shell Education #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade 53

 WEEK 7
DAYS

4–5 Name:________________________________ Date:___________________

Melvil Dewey
Today, it is easy to find what you want when you go to the library. For that, you can thank
Melvil Dewey. Melvil was born in Adams Center, New York, in 1851. His parents, Joel and Eliza,
owned a general store. He was always interested in books and words. That interest continued
when he went to Amherst College. In 1872, he began working at the college library.

Melvil thought that it was important for people to be educated. He also thought that libraries
could play a big role in teaching people, so he wanted them to be easy to use. At the time, it
was hard for people to use libraries. Books were not organized. So, books on the same subject
might be in several parts of a library. It was hard to find books on one subject because there
was no good way to know which books in a library were about which topics. So Melvil invented
a new system of organizing books. That system is called the Dewey Decimal System (DDS). It
was so successful that many libraries still use it today. It is an easy way to keep track of books
and an easy way to find books.

Melvil did more than invent the DDS. He

wanted libraries and librarians to work together,
so he helped to found the American Library
Association in 1876. He also founded the
Library Journal. Melvil did a lot for librarians.
At the time, there was no place for a person
to learn to be a librarian. So librarians had
to learn on the job as best they could. Melvil
opened the world’s first school for librarians in
1887. He also set up the first traveling library.
Today’s bookmobiles are based on that library.
Melvil Dewey died in 1931, but his work still
helps people use libraries today.

Melvil Dewey

54 #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade © Shell Education

 WEEK 7
DAY

Name:________________________________ Date:___________________
4
Directions Read “Melvil Dewey” and then answer the questions.

SCORE
1. Knowing about which topic will help 5. Which purpose for reading makes
readers better understand this text? the most sense for this topic?
1. Y N
A libraries A to learn about the DDS
B colleges B to learn about the accomplishments
C of Melvil Dewey 2. Y N
stores
D boats
C to learn about bookmobiles
D all of the above
3. Y N
2. What did Melvil do before he
invented the DDS? 6. Which of these is a good word to
describe Melvil?
A He started the first school 4. Y N
for librarians. A organized
B He founded the Library Journal. B athletic
C He founded the American C sloppy 5. Y N
Library Association. D lazy
D He went to Amherst College.
6. Y N
7. Which statement is not an important
3. How did Melvil help solve the idea from the text?
problem of training people to
be librarians? A Organizing books in a library helps 7. Y N
us use the library more effectively.
A He went to Amherst College. B Education was not important to
B He organized library books. Melvil Dewey. 8. Y N
C He became a librarian. C Librarians have benefitted from Melvil
D Dewey’s work.
He started the first school
for librarians. D Successful ideas can help people.
___ / 8
4. Which did Melvil not use to 8. Which of these is a problem that Total
organize libraries? Melvil solved?

A numbers A There were no libraries.

B computers B Libraries had no books.
C labels C Library books were not organized.
D titles D Many people could not read.

© Shell Education #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade 55

 WEEK 7
DAY

5 Name:________________________________ Date:___________________
Reread “Melvil Dewey.” Then, read the prompt and respond on the
Directions lines below.

SCORE
___ / 4
How do you find a library book when you are looking for one? Give an example. Write
about how to find a book in a library.

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56 #50927—180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade © Shell Education