Three ways to persuade: trust, feeling, reason
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Bring the Bookmobile Back (persuasive text)
[1] The county should restart the bookmobile route to the Cedar Flats neighborhood, which lost its service two years ago. [2] I was the county librarian for twenty-two years and personally ran the bookmobile for the last six. [3] Last year, 1,460 books were checked out on the route, and the county's own records show that 310 different families used it.
[4] Research tells us that children who read more do better in school. [5] Picture a child waiting at the corner on a hot afternoon, listening for the rumble of the truck and the hiss of its doors. [6] I surveyed my two neighbors, and both said they would use it.
[7] A famous cooking-show chef told me she loves books and cheers for this plan. [8] The county has 4,000 miles of roads, so it clearly has the money for one more route. [9] I ask the county commissioners to put this request on the agenda for their next meeting.
Ari compares four logic lines in the speech. Which line is the strongest appeal to logic?
- [4] Research tells us that children who read more do better in school.
- [8] The county has 4,000 miles of roads, so it clearly has the money for one more route.
- [6] I surveyed my two neighbors, and both said they would use it.
- [3] Last year, 1,460 books were checked out on the route, and the county's own records show that 310 different families used it.
Bo checks four appeals. Which sentence weakens the speech because its appeal does not fit the claim?
- [2] I was the county librarian for twenty-two years and personally ran the bookmobile for the last six.
- [5] Picture a child waiting at the corner on a hot afternoon, listening for the rumble of the truck and the hiss of its doors.
- [3] Last year, 1,460 books were checked out on the route, and the county's own records show that 310 different families used it.
- [7] A famous cooking-show chef told me she loves books and cheers for this plan.
Esme wants to repair sentence [7] without changing its appeal. Which rewrite makes the credibility appeal stronger?
- A children's-literacy researcher at the state university has reviewed the route data and supports restarting it.
- Seven hundred thousand people follow the chef online, and most of them read weekly.
- Imagine how happy a famous chef would be to see children reading on a summer day.
- The most famous cooking-show chef in the country, who has won three awards, loves this plan and says the route should come back.
Trees for Elm Street (persuasive text)
[1] The city should plant twelve young trees along Elm Street this fall, between the library and the bus stop. [2] I am a certified arborist who has planted, pruned, and cared for city trees for fifteen years. [3] In the shaded part of Elm Street, the sidewalk measured 11 degrees cooler than the sidewalk in the sunny part of the same street last July.
[4] People often tell me that I really know my trees. [5] Imagine walking home on a hot summer afternoon under a green roof of leaves, with the air cool and fresh on your face. [6] I once won first prize in a pie contest at the county fair, and I still have the ribbon.
[7] Twelve trees would cost about $4,800, and a state grant would pay for half of that amount. [8] My uncle has a big garden, so I have seen how well plants grow when they are cared for. [9] Please support this plan at the next city council meeting, which is open to everyone.
Jun compares four credibility lines in the speech. Which line is the strongest appeal to credibility?
- [2] I am a certified arborist who has planted, pruned, and cared for city trees for fifteen years.
- [4] People often tell me that I really know my trees.
- [6] I once won first prize in a pie contest at the county fair, and I still have the ribbon.
- [8] My uncle has a big garden, so I have seen how well plants grow when they are cared for.
Kira checks four appeals. Which sentence weakens the speech because its appeal does not fit the claim?
- [3] In the shaded part of Elm Street, the sidewalk measured 11 degrees cooler than the sidewalk in the sunny part of the same street last July.
- [6] I once won first prize in a pie contest at the county fair, and I still have the ribbon.
- [5] Imagine walking home on a hot summer afternoon under a green roof of leaves, with the air cool and fresh on your face.
- [2] I am a certified arborist who has planted, pruned, and cared for city trees for fifteen years.
Luz wants to repair sentence [4] without changing its appeal. Which rewrite makes the credibility appeal stronger?
- I am also very good at baking, and my neighbors say so.
- Ninety-four percent of the trees I planted over ten years are still alive today.
- The state forestry office has reviewed my planting plans and approved them for ten years in a row.
- It breaks my heart whenever a healthy tree comes down on our street, and I want to protect each one.
A Salad Bar for the Cafeteria (persuasive text)
[1] The school should add a salad bar to the cafeteria this year, starting with a trial in the spring. [2] As the school nurse for nine years, I have reviewed the lunch choices of hundreds of students and talked with their families about nutrition. [3] In a three-week trial, 63 percent of the 300 students who tried the salad bar took a second helping of vegetables.
[4] Experts agree that vegetables are good for you and for growing students. [5] Imagine a lunch tray piled with crisp green, bright orange, and deep red colors, and the pride a student feels when choosing it. [6] Three of my friends tried the salad bar last week, and they loved it.
[7] The cafeteria cook, who has won two awards for baking cakes at the county fair, supports the plan. [8] Many schools in our region have salad bars, so ours should have one too. [9] I hope the principal will approve a start date for the trial before the end of the month.
Noah checks four appeals. Which sentence weakens the speech because its appeal does not fit the claim?
- [7] The cafeteria cook, who has won two awards for baking cakes at the county fair, supports the plan.
- [5] Imagine a lunch tray piled with crisp green, bright orange, and deep red colors, and the pride a student feels when choosing it.
- [2] As the school nurse for nine years, I have reviewed the lunch choices of hundreds of students and talked with their families about nutrition.
- [3] In a three-week trial, 63 percent of the 300 students who tried the salad bar took a second helping of vegetables.
Pia wants to repair sentence [4] without changing its appeal. Which rewrite makes the logic appeal stronger?
- A state health survey of 2,000 students found that those with salad bars at school ate about one more serving of vegetables a day.
- Picture the pride a student feels after choosing a crisp, colorful salad.
- As the school nurse, I can say that vegetables are good for students.
- Many people believe vegetables help students feel their healthiest, and plenty of families say a salad bar sounds like a good idea for lunch.
Save the Youth Orchestra (persuasive text)
[1] The town should keep funding the Riverbend Youth Orchestra for another year, so that its concerts and lessons can continue. [2] I have conducted the orchestra for eleven years, and three former members now play in college ensembles. [3] Picture a young violinist stepping into the spotlight for her first solo, hands shaking and heart racing, and the whole hall holding its breath.
[4] Losing the orchestra would be the saddest and most terrible thing that has ever happened to anyone in this town. [5] Rehearsals cost $9,200 per year, and 64 children take part, so each child's place costs the town about $144. [6] Think about how sweet a fluffy kitten looks curled up in a basket.
[7] If you vote no, you will be sorry for the rest of your life. [8] Our spring concert last year was attended by 410 people. [9] Thank you for listening to this request, and I hope to see many of you at our spring concert.
Ren compares four emotional lines in the speech. Which line is the strongest appeal to emotion?
- [6] Think about how sweet a fluffy kitten looks curled up in a basket.
- [7] If you vote no, you will be sorry for the rest of your life.
- [3] Picture a young violinist stepping into the spotlight for her first solo, hands shaking and heart racing, and the whole hall holding its breath.
- [4] Losing the orchestra would be the saddest and most terrible thing that has ever happened to anyone in this town.
Tala checks four appeals. Which sentence weakens the speech because its appeal does not fit the claim?
- [6] Think about how sweet a fluffy kitten looks curled up in a basket.
- [2] I have conducted the orchestra for eleven years, and three former members now play in college ensembles.
- [5] Rehearsals cost $9,200 per year, and 64 children take part, so each child's place costs the town about $144.
- [3] Picture a young violinist stepping into the spotlight for her first solo, hands shaking and heart racing, and the whole hall holding its breath.
