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Comprehension Exercise6th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 6th Grade Bessie Coleman Biography — Reading Comprehension

A biography of Bessie Coleman, who was born in Texas in 1892 and became the first African American woman to earn a pilot's license, after learning French and traveling to France because no American flight school would accept her. Students locate key events, sequence her life, analyze how she overcame obstacles, work out vocabulary from context and write about the trait that best explains her success.

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Grade
6th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
30 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
16
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • identifying key events in a biography
  • sequencing events in chronological order
  • analyzing how a person responds to obstacles
  • using context clues to work out word meanings
  • writing a paragraph supported by evidence

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Bessie Coleman Biography — Reading Comprehension

  1. 16th Grade Grammar Quiz
  2. 2Clauses and Sentence Editing
  3. 3Modal Verbs

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

6th Grade students (typically ages 11–12) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes for 16 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try 6th Grade Grammar Quiz.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets6th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

Bessie Coleman Biography — Reading Comprehension

Name

Date

Score /

Read the biography first. Then answer the questions.

Part A: Find the facts

1.In which Texas town was Bessie Coleman born, and in which town did she grow up?[1 mark] (answer space)
2.Why did Bessie sometimes miss school as a child?[1 mark] (answer space)
3.Why did flight schools in the United States turn Bessie down?[1 mark]
  1. AShe was too young.
  2. BShe could not afford the lessons.
  3. CShe was a woman and she was Black.
  4. DShe had never been to school.
4.Name two things Bessie did to prepare for training in France.[1 mark] (answer space)
5.Bessie earned her pilot's license in 1921. ☐ True   ☐ False
6.Bessie opened her own flight school before she died. ☐ True   ☐ False

Part B: Think about it

7.Number these events in the order they happened: (a) Bessie becomes a stunt pilot; (b) Bessie moves to Chicago; (c) Bessie picks cotton in Waxahachie; (d) Bessie trains in France.[1 mark] (answer space)
8.Her brother said she would never fly. Explain how Bessie's reaction to his teasing shows something about her character.[2 marks] (answer space)
9.The writer says flying was dangerous and “accidents were common,” but Bessie “kept going.” What does this tell the reader about her?[1 mark] (answer space)
10.Why do you think Bessie insisted on one entrance for everyone at the Waxahachie air show?[2 marks] (answer space)
11.Which sentence best states the main idea of the biography?[1 mark]
  1. AFlying airplanes was dangerous in the 1920s.
  2. BBessie Coleman overcame unfair barriers through determination and became a pioneering pilot who inspired others.
  3. CFrance had better flight schools than the United States.
  4. DBessie Coleman was good at math as a child.
12.The writer uses headings for each section. How does the order of the headings help the reader?[1 mark] (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

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