Match your writing to your reader

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Letter to the Editor

   Letter to the editor of the Riverton Gazette, written by Pia for adult readers in town. Its purpose is to persuade them to support a bike lane.

   [1] I am writing to ask the town council to add a protected bike lane along Mill Street. [2] Every school day, more than sixty students ride this road to reach Lincoln Middle School. [3] Cars pass within an arm's length of them, and the street has no shoulder. [4] Last spring, a delivery truck clipped a student's handlebar, and only luck kept that crash from becoming a tragedy. [5] Some residents worry that a bike lane would remove parking spaces. [6] That is a fair concern, but a count by our class found that most of the spaces on Mill Street sit empty during school hours. [7] Plus, the lane is, like, a super cheap fix. [8] Painted barriers and plastic posts would cost far less than a new sidewalk, and crews could finish the work in a single week. [9] Readers who share our concern about safety can contact the council before its vote on March 4. [10] A safer street would serve students, drivers, and neighbors alike.

2. 1.

   Pia proofreads the letter to the town newspaper. Which sentence uses words too casual for these adult readers, and why?

   • [4], because “tragedy” is too dramatic a word for a newspaper
   • [3], because “an arm's length” is a figure of speech, not a measurement
   • [7], because it is shorter than the sentences around it
   • [7], because “like” and “super” are filler and slang from everyday talk
3. 2.

   Pia revises [7], “Plus, the lane is, like, a super cheap fix.” Which revision fits the readers and keeps the point?

   • In addition, the lane is an inexpensive solution.
   • In addition, the lane is a good fix, and it is safer than a sidewalk.
   • Plus, the lane is a seriously cheap fix, honestly.
   • Furthermore, the aforementioned lane constitutes a highly economical remedy.
4. 3.

   Pia wants the letter to stay formal. Which sentence should stay exactly as written, and why?

   • [4], because a sentence about a crash should be cut from a letter
   • [7], because slang like “like” helps readers feel friendly
   • [2], because exact numbers sound too casual in a letter written for adults
   • [6], because it answers a worry in calm, plain wording

5. Thank-You Note

   Thank-you note from Milo to Dr. Okoro, an engineer who visited the class. Its purpose is to thank the guest and show what Milo learned.

   Dear Dr. Okoro,

   [1] Thank you for visiting our seventh-grade class on Thursday to talk about how bridges carry weight. [2] Your demonstration with the paper bridge and the stack of coins helped me see why a flat sheet bends but a folded sheet holds. [3] Your talk was kind of awesome, and the coins were my favorite part. [4] Before you came, I assumed an arch was only a decoration. [5] Now I understand that the curve pushes the load outward into the supports. [6] After school I folded my own paper into pleats and tested it with a stack of pennies. [7] It held forty-one pennies, while the flat sheet collapsed under six. [8] I would like to learn more about how engineers decide which design to use for a long bridge. [9] If you ever have a free hour, I would be glad to hear your advice. [10] Thank you again for your time and your patience with our questions.

   Sincerely,
   Milo

6. 4.

   Milo proofreads the thank-you note to a guest speaker. Which sentence is too casual for a polite note to an adult expert?

   • [3], because “kind of awesome” is everyday praise, not polite wording
   • [6], because it describes something Milo did at home, not in class
   • [7], because exact numbers like forty-one do not really belong in a thank-you note
   • [9], because asking an expert for advice sounds too bold
7. 5.

   Milo revises [3], “Your talk was kind of awesome, and the coins were my favorite part.” Which revision fits Dr. Okoro?

   • Your talk was pretty great, and the coins were my favorite part.
   • Your lecture was of considerable merit, and the numismatic demonstration exceeded expectations.
   • Your talk was memorable, and the paper bridge was the most confusing part.
   • Your talk was memorable, and the coin demonstration was especially helpful.
8. 6.

   Milo asks how [8] and [9] fit this note. Which reason best matches the reader and the purpose?

   • They show what Milo learned and wants to learn, which suits a thank-you to an expert
   • They are too casual for an expert reader, so Milo should cut them from the note
   • They make the note longer, and a longer note shows that Milo worked hard on it
   • They turn the note into a request, because asking for help is the real purpose

9. Team Chat Message

   Group chat message from Kira to the soccer team, written for teammates who are also friends. Its purpose is to tell them that practice has moved.

   [1] Hey, team! [2] Practice is moving to Thursday at 4:30 because the field is getting new grass on Tuesday, and the crew needs the whole week to finish. [3] Bring a water bottle and your shin guards, since we'll be running drills on the hard court behind the gym. [4] All team members are hereby required to arrive no later than 4:15 so as to facilitate an on-time commencement of activities. [5] Coach Bell said we can stretch together before we start, so come a little early if you want to. [6] If you can't make it, just tell me by Wednesday night, and I'll let the coach know. [7] Tala is bringing orange slices for after practice, and Ren has the cones. [8] Also, don't forget that the jersey order forms are due on Friday! [9] See you all Thursday, and let's play hard.

10. 7.

    Kira proofreads the chat to teammates. Which sentence is too stiff for friends, and why?

    • [4], because “hereby required” and “commencement” sound like a legal notice
    • [8], because the exclamation mark makes the sentence too excited
    • [2], because giving a reason for the move is too formal for a chat
    • [3], because “we'll” is a contraction, and contractions are too casual for a chat
11. 8.

    Kira revises [4], the stiff sentence about arriving by 4:15. Which revision fits teammates and keeps the time?

    • Please try to be here by 4:15 so we can start on time.
    • Be here by 4:15 or you might get benched, so don't be late.
    • Team members are asked to arrive punctually at 4:15 to ensure timely commencement.
    • Please try to be here by 4:45 so we can start on time.
12. 9.

    Kira wonders about [1], “Hey, team!” Which statement is true for a chat among teammates?

    • It should change, because a message to a team needs a formal greeting
    • It can stay, because a friendly greeting fits teammates in a chat
    • It can stay, because the chat is meant to be funny first
    • It should change, because exclamation marks are not allowed in messages
13. 10.

    Kira changes [4] to “Please try to be here by 4:15 so we can start on time.” Why does this fit the chat better?

    • It removes the arrival time so that the message sounds less bossy to the teammates
    • It keeps the time and the request but uses everyday words teammates would say
    • It is shorter, and a shorter message is easier to read in a busy chat
    • It adds slang so teammates know Kira is a friend and not the team's coach