Pick trustworthy sources and credit them

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   “Crunch-Oats: Fuel for Faster Mornings” (web page)
   Author: Priya Voss, a nutrition writer employed by Goldfield Mills. Publisher: Goldfield Mills. Date: 4 May 2016. Found at: goldfieldmills.example/energy.
   [1] Oats have been a breakfast food for centuries, and good reasons explain why. [2] Whole oats contain fiber and slow-burning carbohydrates, so they release energy steadily throughout the morning. [3] Our Crunch-Oats cereal keeps the whole grain and adds a pinch of honey.

   [4] Does it help active people? [5] In our own four-week test, eighteen runners ate a bowl of Crunch-Oats before each practice, and sixteen of them finished a timed mile faster by the end. [6] No group of runners skipped the cereal, so the test had nothing to be compared with. [7] Goldfield Mills paid for the test, and our nutrition team ran it.

   [8] A serving of Crunch-Oats has only 6 grams of sugar, which is less than most cereals on the shelf. [9] It is made at our mill in the Teller Valley, using oats from nearby family farms. [10] You can find Crunch-Oats at grocery stores in the region, and you can order a family-size box from our shop page.

   [11] Try a bowl tomorrow and discover what you can do.

2. 1.

   Tala is writing about breakfast and active kids. The Crunch-Oats page says its own test showed the cereal helps runners. How should Tala treat that claim?

   • Reject the whole page, because a company wrote it to sell cereal and companies want sales.
   • Use it as fact, because the page gives real numbers: eighteen runners and sixteen faster miles.
   • Trust the claim, because a nutrition writer with training wrote the page and knows how foods work for athletes.
   • Treat it as a lead to check, because the maker paid for and ran the test and had no comparison group.

3. Use this

   “Crunch-Oats: Fuel for Faster Mornings” (web page)
   Author: Priya Voss, a nutrition writer employed by Goldfield Mills. Publisher: Goldfield Mills. Date: 4 May 2016. Found at: goldfieldmills.example/energy.
   [1] Oats have been a breakfast food for centuries, and good reasons explain why. [2] Whole oats contain fiber and slow-burning carbohydrates, so they release energy steadily throughout the morning. [3] Our Crunch-Oats cereal keeps the whole grain and adds a pinch of honey.

   [4] Does it help active people? [5] In our own four-week test, eighteen runners ate a bowl of Crunch-Oats before each practice, and sixteen of them finished a timed mile faster by the end. [6] No group of runners skipped the cereal, so the test had nothing to be compared with. [7] Goldfield Mills paid for the test, and our nutrition team ran it.

   [8] A serving of Crunch-Oats has only 6 grams of sugar, which is less than most cereals on the shelf. [9] It is made at our mill in the Teller Valley, using oats from nearby family farms. [10] You can find Crunch-Oats at grocery stores in the region, and you can order a family-size box from our shop page.

   [11] Try a bowl tomorrow and discover what you can do.
   Newer source: a notice on the Goldfield Mills site, dated 9 January 2022, says Crunch-Oats now uses a new recipe with extra honey.

4. 2.

   Noah reads a newer company notice saying Crunch-Oats has a new recipe. Which statement in this 2016 page does the notice show may be out of date?

   • The name of the writer, Priya Voss, since writers change jobs over the years.
   • The claim that oats have been a breakfast food for centuries, since foods go in and out of fashion.
   • The description of the four-week test with eighteen runners, since tests change over time.
   • The claim that a serving has 6 grams of sugar, since the recipe changed after the page was posted.

5. Use this

   “Is Fenwick Pond Shrinking?” (report)
   Author: Gideon Marsh, a water engineer who volunteers for the Fenwick Pond Association. Publisher: Fenwick Pond Association. Date: 12 June 2009. Found at: p. 2.
   [1] Fenwick Pond has been the center of our town for over a century. [2] In 1999 the water at the deepest point measured 3.1 meters, and in May 2009 it measured 2.4 meters. [3] I took both readings with the same weighted line, and the dates are listed in the table on page 4.

   [4] Why has the pond lost depth? [5] Silt from the creek has settled on the bottom year after year. [6] Dry springs have also lowered the water, although the weather has not changed in any steady pattern over the decades. [7] Dredging would remove the silt and could restore much of the lost depth.

   [8] The Association is asking neighbors to give toward a dredging fund. [9] If we do not act, the pond we love may become a muddy field within a generation. [10] A gift of any size helps, and every donor will be thanked in our spring newsletter.

   [11] Water engineers agree that pond depth changes slowly, and a single reading should be repeated before any large project begins. [12] We plan to measure again this fall and report the result to every member.

6. 3.

   Luz reads the pond report. The Association wants gifts. How should Luz treat its depth readings and its warning that the pond may become a muddy field?

   • Trust the dated depth readings, which can be checked, but treat the muddy-field warning as an appeal for gifts.
   • Trust both parts, because a water engineer wrote the report and engineers measure carefully.
   • Reject both parts, because the Association will gain money if readers feel alarmed about the pond and cannot be believed on anything.
   • Trust both parts, because the report lists its dates and says what tool took the readings.

7. Use this

   “Is Fenwick Pond Shrinking?” (report)
   Author: Gideon Marsh, a water engineer who volunteers for the Fenwick Pond Association. Publisher: Fenwick Pond Association. Date: 12 June 2009. Found at: p. 2.
   [1] Fenwick Pond has been the center of our town for over a century. [2] In 1999 the water at the deepest point measured 3.1 meters, and in May 2009 it measured 2.4 meters. [3] I took both readings with the same weighted line, and the dates are listed in the table on page 4.

   [4] Why has the pond lost depth? [5] Silt from the creek has settled on the bottom year after year. [6] Dry springs have also lowered the water, although the weather has not changed in any steady pattern over the decades. [7] Dredging would remove the silt and could restore much of the lost depth.

   [8] The Association is asking neighbors to give toward a dredging fund. [9] If we do not act, the pond we love may become a muddy field within a generation. [10] A gift of any size helps, and every donor will be thanked in our spring newsletter.

   [11] Water engineers agree that pond depth changes slowly, and a single reading should be repeated before any large project begins. [12] We plan to measure again this fall and report the result to every member.
   Newer source: a county water survey, dated 15 September 2023, measured the deepest point of Fenwick Pond at 3.4 meters after several wet years.

8. 4.

   Ren reads a newer county survey saying Fenwick Pond now measures 3.4 meters at its deepest point. Which statement in this 2009 report does the survey show may be out of date?

   • The reading that the pond measured 2.4 meters in May 2009, since the depth has changed.
   • The description of how both readings were taken with the same weighted line.
   • The statement that Fenwick Pond has been the center of the town for over a century.
   • The name of the author, Gideon Marsh, since volunteers often leave a group.

9. Use this

   “Is Fenwick Pond Shrinking?” (report)
   Author: Gideon Marsh, a water engineer who volunteers for the Fenwick Pond Association. Publisher: Fenwick Pond Association. Date: 12 June 2009. Found at: p. 2.
   [1] Fenwick Pond has been the center of our town for over a century. [2] In 1999 the water at the deepest point measured 3.1 meters, and in May 2009 it measured 2.4 meters. [3] I took both readings with the same weighted line, and the dates are listed in the table on page 4.

   [4] Why has the pond lost depth? [5] Silt from the creek has settled on the bottom year after year. [6] Dry springs have also lowered the water, although the weather has not changed in any steady pattern over the decades. [7] Dredging would remove the silt and could restore much of the lost depth.

   [8] The Association is asking neighbors to give toward a dredging fund. [9] If we do not act, the pond we love may become a muddy field within a generation. [10] A gift of any size helps, and every donor will be thanked in our spring newsletter.

   [11] Water engineers agree that pond depth changes slowly, and a single reading should be repeated before any large project begins. [12] We plan to measure again this fall and report the result to every member.
   Draft note card:
   Quote: Gideon Marsh writes that in 1999 the water at the deepest point measured 3.1 meters, and in May 2009 it measured 2.4 meters.
   Credibility: Who: Gideon Marsh, a water engineer who volunteers for the Fenwick Pond Association. When: 12 June 2009. Why: the readings list their dates.
   Citation: Marsh, Gideon. “Is Fenwick Pond Shrinking?” Fenwick Pond Association, 12 June 2009, p. 2.

10. 5.

    Jun reviews this draft note card. One line has a problem. Which repair fixes it without breaking anything else?

    • Move the date in the Citation ahead of the publisher, so the whole citation is in a better order.
    • Remove Gideon Marsh's name from the Quote line, since the Citation line already names the author.
    • Put quotation marks around the words that follow “writes that,” since they are copied from sentence [2].
    • Put quotation marks around just “the water at the deepest point,” since those words matter most.

11. Use this

    “Students Want a Later Start” (report)
    Author: Naomi Linde, the adult adviser to the Harlow Youth Council. Publisher: Harlow Youth Council. Date: 2 October 2018. Found at: harlowyouth.example/survey.
    [1] The Harlow Youth Council believes that Harlow Middle School should start the school day later in the morning. [2] School now begins at 7:40 each morning. [3] To learn what students think, council members surveyed twelve students at one lunch table during the first week of September.

    [4] Nine of the twelve said they feel tired during first period. [5] Seven said they would like the day to start at 8:30. [6] One student wrote, "My brain does not turn on until nine." [7] These answers match research that the council read about teenagers and sleep.

    [8] Our survey was small, and we did not choose the students by chance, which means the results may not represent everyone. [9] We asked the students nearest to us because that was the quickest way to collect answers. [10] A larger and more carefully chosen survey would give a clearer picture of the whole school.

    [11] We hope that the school board will read this report before its next meeting in November. [12] The council also invites every student to share an opinion at our open meeting in the library.

12. 6.

    Esme is writing about school start times. The council report says students want a later start. How should Esme treat the survey result?

    • As reliable, since the council was honest about the size of its survey and about how it picked students.
    • As one group's opinion from a small, hand-picked sample: a useful clue, but not proof for the whole school.
    • As proof about the whole school, since nine of twelve students said they feel tired in first period.
    • As worthless, since a youth council wrote the report and its members are not trained researchers.

13. Use this

    “Students Want a Later Start” (report)
    Author: Naomi Linde, the adult adviser to the Harlow Youth Council. Publisher: Harlow Youth Council. Date: 2 October 2018. Found at: harlowyouth.example/survey.
    [1] The Harlow Youth Council believes that Harlow Middle School should start the school day later in the morning. [2] School now begins at 7:40 each morning. [3] To learn what students think, council members surveyed twelve students at one lunch table during the first week of September.

    [4] Nine of the twelve said they feel tired during first period. [5] Seven said they would like the day to start at 8:30. [6] One student wrote, "My brain does not turn on until nine." [7] These answers match research that the council read about teenagers and sleep.

    [8] Our survey was small, and we did not choose the students by chance, which means the results may not represent everyone. [9] We asked the students nearest to us because that was the quickest way to collect answers. [10] A larger and more carefully chosen survey would give a clearer picture of the whole school.

    [11] We hope that the school board will read this report before its next meeting in November. [12] The council also invites every student to share an opinion at our open meeting in the library.
    Newer source: a school board notice, dated 14 August 2021, says Harlow Middle School now starts at 8:30 each morning.

14. 7.

    Kira reads a school board notice dated 2021 about Harlow Middle School. Which statement in this 2018 report does the notice show may be out of date?

    • The statement that council members surveyed twelve students at one lunch table in September.
    • The statement that school begins at 7:40 each morning, since the start time has changed.
    • The name of the group, the Harlow Youth Council, since councils often change names.
    • The statement that nine of the twelve students said they feel tired during first period.

15. Use this

    “Students Want a Later Start” (report)
    Author: Naomi Linde, the adult adviser to the Harlow Youth Council. Publisher: Harlow Youth Council. Date: 2 October 2018. Found at: harlowyouth.example/survey.
    [1] The Harlow Youth Council believes that Harlow Middle School should start the school day later in the morning. [2] School now begins at 7:40 each morning. [3] To learn what students think, council members surveyed twelve students at one lunch table during the first week of September.

    [4] Nine of the twelve said they feel tired during first period. [5] Seven said they would like the day to start at 8:30. [6] One student wrote, "My brain does not turn on until nine." [7] These answers match research that the council read about teenagers and sleep.

    [8] Our survey was small, and we did not choose the students by chance, which means the results may not represent everyone. [9] We asked the students nearest to us because that was the quickest way to collect answers. [10] A larger and more carefully chosen survey would give a clearer picture of the whole school.

    [11] We hope that the school board will read this report before its next meeting in November. [12] The council also invites every student to share an opinion at our open meeting in the library.
    Draft note card:
    Credibility: Who: Naomi Linde, the adult adviser to the Harlow Youth Council. Why: the council admits its survey was small.
    Citation: Linde, Naomi. “Students Want a Later Start.” Harlow Youth Council, 2 October 2018, harlowyouth.example/survey.

16. 8.

    Milo reviews this draft note card. One line has a problem. Which repair fixes it without breaking anything else?

    • Add “When: 2 October 2018” and delete the Why piece, since the date already shows the report is recent.
    • Add “When: September 2018,” the month the students were surveyed, between the Who and Why pieces.
    • Add “When: 2 October 2018,” the date the report was published, between the Who and Why pieces.
    • Change Who to the Harlow Youth Council, since a group is more credible than one adviser.

17. Use this

    “A Hiker's Review of Tern Falls Trail” (blog post)
    Author: Corinne Abel, a weekend hiker who has walked the region's trails for ten years. Publisher: Trail Notes by Corinne. Date: 21 July 2015. Found at: trailnotes.example/ternfalls.
    [1] Tern Falls Trail is a two-mile loop that I have walked at least a dozen times over the past ten years. [2] It begins at the small gravel lot beside Millrace Road, where parking is free, and a wooden sign marks the entrance. [3] The first half mile is smooth and shady, so it works well for families with young children.

    [4] After the second footbridge, the path climbs a staircase of stone steps to the upper pool, which is the most photographed spot on the trail. [5] The steps were slippery when I visited last week, so I recommend wearing shoes with good grip. [6] Bicycles are not allowed on the trail, and signs at the lot clearly say so.

    [7] I rate the trail four stars out of five because the scenery is excellent and the walk is manageable. [8] The falls are lovely, but the steps are steep, and the parking lot fills early on weekends. [9] I arrived at eight in the morning, well before the crowds, and found a parking space easily.

    [10] A note about my links: I earn a small payment whenever readers buy equipment through the links on this page. [11] I recommend only items that I have tested myself. [12] Happy trails, and thanks for reading.

18. 9.

    Ari is planning a hike and reads this review. The writer earns a payment when readers buy gear through the page's links. How should Ari treat the gear advice?

    • Follow the gear advice, since the writer has hiked these trails for ten years and rates the trail fairly.
    • Ignore the whole review, since the writer earns money from the links and may want readers to buy.
    • Use the trail details from the writer's visits, and compare the gear advice with a source that sells nothing.
    • Follow the gear advice, since the writer says the linked items were tested and the writer has hiked a lot.

19. Use this

    “A Hiker's Review of Tern Falls Trail” (blog post)
    Author: Corinne Abel, a weekend hiker who has walked the region's trails for ten years. Publisher: Trail Notes by Corinne. Date: 21 July 2015. Found at: trailnotes.example/ternfalls.
    [1] Tern Falls Trail is a two-mile loop that I have walked at least a dozen times over the past ten years. [2] It begins at the small gravel lot beside Millrace Road, where parking is free, and a wooden sign marks the entrance. [3] The first half mile is smooth and shady, so it works well for families with young children.

    [4] After the second footbridge, the path climbs a staircase of stone steps to the upper pool, which is the most photographed spot on the trail. [5] The steps were slippery when I visited last week, so I recommend wearing shoes with good grip. [6] Bicycles are not allowed on the trail, and signs at the lot clearly say so.

    [7] I rate the trail four stars out of five because the scenery is excellent and the walk is manageable. [8] The falls are lovely, but the steps are steep, and the parking lot fills early on weekends. [9] I arrived at eight in the morning, well before the crowds, and found a parking space easily.

    [10] A note about my links: I earn a small payment whenever readers buy equipment through the links on this page. [11] I recommend only items that I have tested myself. [12] Happy trails, and thanks for reading.
    Draft note card:
    Credibility: Who: Corinne Abel, a weekend hiker who has walked the region's trails for ten years. When: 21 July 2015. Why: the writer describes the trail from many visits.
    Citation: Abel, Corinne. “A Hiker's Review of Tern Falls Trail.” 21 July 2015, trailnotes.example/ternfalls.

20. 10.

    Bo reviews this draft note card. One line has a problem. Which repair fixes it without breaking anything else?

    • Replace the date with “last week,” which is when the writer says the steps were slippery.
    • Add the publisher, Trail Notes by Corinne, after the title and before the date.
    • Move Abel, Corinne to the end of the line, since the title matters more than the author.
    • Add the publisher, Trail Notes by Corinne, at the very end, after the web address.