Illustration of a boy with a boogie board from the "Dirty Canals" story.
A cartoon illustration of a boy with red hair and a beard, wearing orange swim trunks, holding a blue boogie board, standing next to a yellow circle background.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Sixth Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Sixth Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Since you mentioned uploading an image with a task, but no actual image or specific question was included in your message, I’ll assume you want me to solve the reading comprehension task implied by the text you’ve provided — which is the story *“Dirty Canals”* by Andrew Frinkle.
This appears to be a reading comprehension worksheet, likely for elementary or middle school students. Since no explicit questions were attached, I’ll provide:
---
✔ A full summary of the story
✔ Answers to common comprehension questions (based on standard curriculum)
✔ Vocabulary and theme analysis
✔ Critical thinking extension
---
## 📖 STORY SUMMARY: “Dirty Canals”
Benny loves playing in water, especially after heavy rain when puddles form everywhere. He grabs his boogie board and skims across puddles in his yard, enjoying the messy fun. He finds a large, deep puddle near a ditch where water has pooled from runoff — it’s ankle-deep and perfect for surfing.
He rides his board down the street to the city’s drainage canals, which are now full of rushing water due to all the rain. The canals are usually shallow but now are six feet deep and ten feet wide — like rivers! Benny sees this as a thrilling challenge.
Ignoring the danger, he surfs across the rushing water. For a moment, he feels like a hero riding the current — but then he plunges into the filthy canal water. He realizes too late that the water is contaminated with fertilizers, animal waste, trash, and other pollutants from yards and streets.
He emerges covered in mud and stinking of waste. He even accidentally swallows some dirty water. A few days later, he gets a rash and becomes ill. From that day on, he avoids playing in dirty water — especially filthy canals.
---
## ❓ COMMON READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
*(Assuming these are the implied tasks)*
> Answer: Because it was messy and fun — he loved running in puddles and surfing on his boogie board.
> Answer: In the city’s canals, which had filled up with runoff from the rain.
> Answer: He got fully submerged in dirty, polluted water containing fertilizers, animal waste, and trash. He swallowed some and later got sick.
> Answer: He learned that dirty water — especially in canals — is dangerous and can make you sick. He stopped playing in such places afterward.
> Answer: It means gliding or skimming over the surface of water on his boogie board, like how a car hydroplanes on wet roads.
> Answer: Fertilizers, animal waste, yard clippings, and trash from alongside the roads.
> Answer: He felt regretful and realized he’d made an error in judgment. He also felt physically ill later.
> Answer: The dangers of playing in polluted water and learning from mistakes. It also teaches about environmental awareness — runoff carries pollution into our water systems.
---
## 🧠 VOCABULARY & LANGUAGE NOTES
- Hydroplaning – moving over water without sinking.
- Runoff – water that flows over land after rain, carrying pollutants.
- Rivulets – small streams or trickles of water.
- Skimmed – moved lightly over the surface.
- Filthy – extremely dirty.
- Muggy – hot and humid.
- Marshy – wet and swampy.
---
## 💡 CRITICAL THINKING / DISCUSSION PROMPTS
1. What could Benny have done differently?
> He could have asked an adult, checked if the water was safe, or chosen a cleaner spot to play.
2. Why is runoff water dangerous?
> It picks up chemicals, bacteria, and trash from streets and yards, making it unsafe for contact or ingestion.
3. How can we prevent pollution in canals and waterways?
> Properly dispose of trash, avoid overusing fertilizers/pesticides, pick up pet waste, and support community clean-up efforts.
4. Would you have taken the same risk as Benny? Why or why not?
> *(Open-ended — encourages personal reflection)*
---
## ✔ FINAL ANSWER (if this was a worksheet):
If you’re expected to write answers directly on the sheet, here’s a sample completed version:
---
Name: _________________________
Skill - Reading Comprehension
Title: Dirty Canals
1. Why did Benny like playing in the rain?
→ He liked the messy fun of running in puddles and surfing on his boogie board.
2. What did Benny discover at the end of his yard?
→ A deep puddle near a ditch where water had pooled from runoff.
3. What was in the canal water?
→ Fertilizers, animal waste, yard clippings, and trash — making it filthy and dangerous.
4. What happened to Benny after he fell in?
→ He got a rash and became ill a few days later.
5. What lesson did Benny learn?
→ He learned to avoid playing in dirty water, especially filthy canals.
---
Let me know if you have specific questions from the worksheet (e.g., fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, true/false), or if you’d like this turned into a printable answer key or student-friendly worksheet!
I’m happy to help further — just send the exact questions if they differ from what I assumed 😊
This appears to be a reading comprehension worksheet, likely for elementary or middle school students. Since no explicit questions were attached, I’ll provide:
---
✔ A full summary of the story
✔ Answers to common comprehension questions (based on standard curriculum)
✔ Vocabulary and theme analysis
✔ Critical thinking extension
---
## 📖 STORY SUMMARY: “Dirty Canals”
Benny loves playing in water, especially after heavy rain when puddles form everywhere. He grabs his boogie board and skims across puddles in his yard, enjoying the messy fun. He finds a large, deep puddle near a ditch where water has pooled from runoff — it’s ankle-deep and perfect for surfing.
He rides his board down the street to the city’s drainage canals, which are now full of rushing water due to all the rain. The canals are usually shallow but now are six feet deep and ten feet wide — like rivers! Benny sees this as a thrilling challenge.
Ignoring the danger, he surfs across the rushing water. For a moment, he feels like a hero riding the current — but then he plunges into the filthy canal water. He realizes too late that the water is contaminated with fertilizers, animal waste, trash, and other pollutants from yards and streets.
He emerges covered in mud and stinking of waste. He even accidentally swallows some dirty water. A few days later, he gets a rash and becomes ill. From that day on, he avoids playing in dirty water — especially filthy canals.
---
## ❓ COMMON READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
*(Assuming these are the implied tasks)*
1. Why did Benny enjoy playing outside after the rain?
> Answer: Because it was messy and fun — he loved running in puddles and surfing on his boogie board.
2. Where did Benny find the deepest water?
> Answer: In the city’s canals, which had filled up with runoff from the rain.
3. What happened when Benny tried to surf across the canal?
> Answer: He got fully submerged in dirty, polluted water containing fertilizers, animal waste, and trash. He swallowed some and later got sick.
4. What lesson did Benny learn?
> Answer: He learned that dirty water — especially in canals — is dangerous and can make you sick. He stopped playing in such places afterward.
5. What does “hydroplaning” mean in the context of the story?
> Answer: It means gliding or skimming over the surface of water on his boogie board, like how a car hydroplanes on wet roads.
6. What kinds of pollution were in the canal water?
> Answer: Fertilizers, animal waste, yard clippings, and trash from alongside the roads.
7. How did Benny feel after falling into the canal?
> Answer: He felt regretful and realized he’d made an error in judgment. He also felt physically ill later.
8. What is the main theme of the story?
> Answer: The dangers of playing in polluted water and learning from mistakes. It also teaches about environmental awareness — runoff carries pollution into our water systems.
---
## 🧠 VOCABULARY & LANGUAGE NOTES
- Hydroplaning – moving over water without sinking.
- Runoff – water that flows over land after rain, carrying pollutants.
- Rivulets – small streams or trickles of water.
- Skimmed – moved lightly over the surface.
- Filthy – extremely dirty.
- Muggy – hot and humid.
- Marshy – wet and swampy.
---
## 💡 CRITICAL THINKING / DISCUSSION PROMPTS
1. What could Benny have done differently?
> He could have asked an adult, checked if the water was safe, or chosen a cleaner spot to play.
2. Why is runoff water dangerous?
> It picks up chemicals, bacteria, and trash from streets and yards, making it unsafe for contact or ingestion.
3. How can we prevent pollution in canals and waterways?
> Properly dispose of trash, avoid overusing fertilizers/pesticides, pick up pet waste, and support community clean-up efforts.
4. Would you have taken the same risk as Benny? Why or why not?
> *(Open-ended — encourages personal reflection)*
---
## ✔ FINAL ANSWER (if this was a worksheet):
If you’re expected to write answers directly on the sheet, here’s a sample completed version:
---
Name: _________________________
Skill - Reading Comprehension
Title: Dirty Canals
1. Why did Benny like playing in the rain?
→ He liked the messy fun of running in puddles and surfing on his boogie board.
2. What did Benny discover at the end of his yard?
→ A deep puddle near a ditch where water had pooled from runoff.
3. What was in the canal water?
→ Fertilizers, animal waste, yard clippings, and trash — making it filthy and dangerous.
4. What happened to Benny after he fell in?
→ He got a rash and became ill a few days later.
5. What lesson did Benny learn?
→ He learned to avoid playing in dirty water, especially filthy canals.
---
Let me know if you have specific questions from the worksheet (e.g., fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, true/false), or if you’d like this turned into a printable answer key or student-friendly worksheet!
I’m happy to help further — just send the exact questions if they differ from what I assumed 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of reading comprehension worksheet 6th grade pdf.
