Find two sentences that prove your answer
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Blue Canoe (story)
[1] Zee and Jun carried the blue canoe to the edge of Pine Lake before the sun was fully above the hills. [2] A thin mist floated over the water, and the air smelled like wet leaves and cold stone.
[3] Zee checked the life jackets twice and tightened each strap before stepping carefully into the canoe. [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark. [5] They paddled together, and the canoe slid quietly past a floating log where two turtles were resting in the sunshine.
[6] Halfway across the lake, a sudden gust of wind pushed the canoe sideways. [7] Zee called out the beat, and Jun matched each stroke until the bow pointed toward the island again. [8] On the beach, Jun spread out the map and traced the route back along the shore. [9] A few minutes later, the first drops of rain pattered on the sand and the nearby rocks. [10] Zee pulled the canoe under a cedar tree, and the two friends ate crackers and talked about the trip while the sky slowly cleared.
Ari reads the passage. Which two sentences together prove this answer: “Zee and Jun each took a step to keep the canoe safe on the lake”?
- [3] Zee checked the life jackets twice and tightened each strap before stepping carefully into the canoe. [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark.
- [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark. [9] A few minutes later, the first drops of rain pattered on the sand and the nearby rocks.
- [1] Zee and Jun carried the blue canoe to the edge of Pine Lake before the sun was fully above the hills. [6] Halfway across the lake, a sudden gust of wind pushed the canoe sideways.
- [2] A thin mist floated over the water, and the air smelled like wet leaves and cold stone. [5] They paddled together, and the canoe slid quietly past a floating log where two turtles were resting in the sunshine.
Bo wants proof for both parts of this answer: “Jun planned the route with the weather in mind, and Zee helped keep the canoe on course”. Which two sentences give one part each?
- [7] Zee called out the beat, and Jun matched each stroke until the bow pointed toward the island again. [9] A few minutes later, the first drops of rain pattered on the sand and the nearby rocks.
- [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark. [7] Zee called out the beat, and Jun matched each stroke until the bow pointed toward the island again.
- [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark. [8] On the beach, Jun spread out the map and traced the route back along the shore.
- [5] They paddled together, and the canoe slid quietly past a floating log where two turtles were resting in the sunshine. [10] Zee pulled the canoe under a cedar tree, and the two friends ate crackers and talked about the trip while the sky slowly cleared.
Esme asks why: “Zee pulled the canoe under a cedar tree because rain began to fall”. Which two sentences show the reason and what happened because of it?
- [6] Halfway across the lake, a sudden gust of wind pushed the canoe sideways. [7] Zee called out the beat, and Jun matched each stroke until the bow pointed toward the island again.
- [3] Zee checked the life jackets twice and tightened each strap before stepping carefully into the canoe. [6] Halfway across the lake, a sudden gust of wind pushed the canoe sideways.
- [9] A few minutes later, the first drops of rain pattered on the sand and the nearby rocks. [10] Zee pulled the canoe under a cedar tree, and the two friends ate crackers and talked about the trip while the sky slowly cleared.
- [4] Jun studied the map and chose the shorter route to the island because the clouds in the west looked heavy and dark. [10] Zee pulled the canoe under a cedar tree, and the two friends ate crackers and talked about the trip while the sky slowly cleared.
What Tree Rings Tell Us (article)
[1] Many trees add rings of new wood to their trunks, and the rings are easiest to see in a trunk that has been cut across. [2] In places with strong seasons, a tree grows quickly in spring and slowly in late summer, so each year leaves a pale band and a dark band. [3] Counting the dark bands tells a scientist about how old the tree is.
[4] Wide rings usually mean a year with plenty of water and warm weather. [5] Narrow rings often mean a dry year or a very cold one, when the tree grew very little. [6] Because many trees in one forest feel the same weather, their ring patterns often match.
[7] Scientists do not have to cut down a tree to study it. [8] They use a thin hollow drill to remove a pencil-sized core of wood, and the tree keeps growing afterward. [9] By matching the patterns in a core to the patterns in old wooden beams, researchers can sometimes work out when a building was made.
Kira reads the passage. Which two sentences together prove this answer: “A tree ring's width shows what the weather was like that year”?
- [7] Scientists do not have to cut down a tree to study it. [8] They use a thin hollow drill to remove a pencil-sized core of wood, and the tree keeps growing afterward.
- [2] In places with strong seasons, a tree grows quickly in spring and slowly in late summer, so each year leaves a pale band and a dark band. [3] Counting the dark bands tells a scientist about how old the tree is.
- [1] Many trees add rings of new wood to their trunks, and the rings are easiest to see in a trunk that has been cut across. [5] Narrow rings often mean a dry year or a very cold one, when the tree grew very little.
- [4] Wide rings usually mean a year with plenty of water and warm weather. [5] Narrow rings often mean a dry year or a very cold one, when the tree grew very little.
Luz wants proof for both parts of this answer: “Rings form on a yearly schedule, and researchers can use ring patterns to date old wooden beams”. Which two sentences give one part each?
- [2] In places with strong seasons, a tree grows quickly in spring and slowly in late summer, so each year leaves a pale band and a dark band. [9] By matching the patterns in a core to the patterns in old wooden beams, researchers can sometimes work out when a building was made.
- [1] Many trees add rings of new wood to their trunks, and the rings are easiest to see in a trunk that has been cut across. [2] In places with strong seasons, a tree grows quickly in spring and slowly in late summer, so each year leaves a pale band and a dark band.
- [7] Scientists do not have to cut down a tree to study it. [9] By matching the patterns in a core to the patterns in old wooden beams, researchers can sometimes work out when a building was made.
- [5] Narrow rings often mean a dry year or a very cold one, when the tree grew very little. [6] Because many trees in one forest feel the same weather, their ring patterns often match.
Moving Day on Larch Street (story)
[1] A rental truck stopped in front of the yellow house on Larch Street, and Luz hurried across the lawn to meet the new neighbors. [2] The family had come from far away, and the youngest child, Kira, held a box labeled FRAGILE as if it were a sleeping bird.
[3] Luz carried the lamps, because the lamps were light and awkward, and left the heavy bookcases to the grown-ups. [4] Kira's brother asked where to put the kitchen boxes, so Luz taped a paper sign to the kitchen door. [5] Soon each box in the hall had a sign above it, and the movers stopped asking questions.
[6] By noon the truck was empty, but the living room was crowded with chairs. [7] Luz noticed that the couch blocked the door to the porch, and Kira's father agreed it should move. [8] Together they slid it against the wall, and sunlight spilled across the rug.
[9] When the work was done, Kira's mother offered cold juice on the porch. [10] Luz stayed to listen while Kira explained which toys belonged on which shelf.
Noah reads the passage. Which two sentences together prove this answer: “Luz used signs to show where the boxes belonged”?
- [2] The family had come from far away, and the youngest child, Kira, held a box labeled FRAGILE as if it were a sleeping bird. [10] Luz stayed to listen while Kira explained which toys belonged on which shelf.
- [3] Luz carried the lamps, because the lamps were light and awkward, and left the heavy bookcases to the grown-ups. [5] Soon each box in the hall had a sign above it, and the movers stopped asking questions.
- [4] Kira's brother asked where to put the kitchen boxes, so Luz taped a paper sign to the kitchen door. [5] Soon each box in the hall had a sign above it, and the movers stopped asking questions.
- [7] Luz noticed that the couch blocked the door to the porch, and Kira's father agreed it should move. [8] Together they slid it against the wall, and sunlight spilled across the rug.
Ren asks why: “Luz and Kira's father slid the couch against the wall because it blocked the porch door”. Which two sentences show the reason and what happened because of it?
- [1] A rental truck stopped in front of the yellow house on Larch Street, and Luz hurried across the lawn to meet the new neighbors. [8] Together they slid it against the wall, and sunlight spilled across the rug.
- [4] Kira's brother asked where to put the kitchen boxes, so Luz taped a paper sign to the kitchen door. [9] When the work was done, Kira's mother offered cold juice on the porch.
- [2] The family had come from far away, and the youngest child, Kira, held a box labeled FRAGILE as if it were a sleeping bird. [10] Luz stayed to listen while Kira explained which toys belonged on which shelf.
- [7] Luz noticed that the couch blocked the door to the porch, and Kira's father agreed it should move. [8] Together they slid it against the wall, and sunlight spilled across the rug.
Big Ears in the Desert (article)
[1] The fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa, and it is the smallest kind of fox in the world. [2] Its ears are enormous compared with the rest of its small body, which makes the animal easy to recognize.
[3] Many tiny vessels run close to the skin of the ears, and body heat escapes into the surrounding air whenever the fox becomes too hot. [4] Because large ears provide more surface for that heat to leave, the fox stays cooler under the desert sun.
[5] Pale, sandy fur reflects sunlight, while thick fur keeps the fox warm when the desert temperature drops at night. [6] Furry soles protect the fox's feet from the burning sand.
[7] During the hottest hours of the day, fennec foxes rest in burrows that they dig in the sand. [8] The burrows stay noticeably cooler than the air outside, even in the middle of the afternoon. [9] After dark, when the desert air cools, the foxes become active and begin to explore. [10] Their large ears also help them hear faint sounds from a great distance, even through the quiet of the night. [11] Each of these traits helps a small animal survive in an extremely difficult environment.
Tala reads the passage. Which two sentences together prove this answer: “The fox's large ears help it stay cool”?
- [1] The fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa, and it is the smallest kind of fox in the world. [4] Because large ears provide more surface for that heat to leave, the fox stays cooler under the desert sun.
- [3] Many tiny vessels run close to the skin of the ears, and body heat escapes into the surrounding air whenever the fox becomes too hot. [4] Because large ears provide more surface for that heat to leave, the fox stays cooler under the desert sun.
- [2] Its ears are enormous compared with the rest of its small body, which makes the animal easy to recognize. [8] The burrows stay noticeably cooler than the air outside, even in the middle of the afternoon.
- [5] Pale, sandy fur reflects sunlight, while thick fur keeps the fox warm when the desert temperature drops at night. [6] Furry soles protect the fox's feet from the burning sand.
Zee wants proof for both parts of this answer: “Fennec foxes rest in burrows by day, and their large ears help them hear faint sounds”. Which two sentences give one part each?
- [6] Furry soles protect the fox's feet from the burning sand. [10] Their large ears also help them hear faint sounds from a great distance, even through the quiet of the night.
- [1] The fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa, and it is the smallest kind of fox in the world. [5] Pale, sandy fur reflects sunlight, while thick fur keeps the fox warm when the desert temperature drops at night.
- [7] During the hottest hours of the day, fennec foxes rest in burrows that they dig in the sand. [8] The burrows stay noticeably cooler than the air outside, even in the middle of the afternoon.
- [7] During the hottest hours of the day, fennec foxes rest in burrows that they dig in the sand. [10] Their large ears also help them hear faint sounds from a great distance, even through the quiet of the night.
Ari asks why: “Fennec foxes rest in burrows during the hottest hours because the burrows are cooler than the air outside”. Which two sentences show the reason and what happened because of it?
- [9] After dark, when the desert air cools, the foxes become active and begin to explore. [10] Their large ears also help them hear faint sounds from a great distance, even through the quiet of the night.
- [3] Many tiny vessels run close to the skin of the ears, and body heat escapes into the surrounding air whenever the fox becomes too hot. [4] Because large ears provide more surface for that heat to leave, the fox stays cooler under the desert sun.
- [1] The fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa, and it is the smallest kind of fox in the world. [8] The burrows stay noticeably cooler than the air outside, even in the middle of the afternoon.
- [7] During the hottest hours of the day, fennec foxes rest in burrows that they dig in the sand. [8] The burrows stay noticeably cooler than the air outside, even in the middle of the afternoon.