What an object in a story stands for
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Gap in the Fence (story)
[1] The fence between Jun's yard and Kira's yard had been missing one board since the previous winter, and neither family had fixed it. [2] Jun's father said the gap was Kira's family's job to repair, since the broken board faced their side. [3] Kira's mother answered that the fence line belonged to the first family to complain. [4] The adults spoke politely whenever they met at the mailboxes, and stopped talking about the fence.
[5] Meanwhile, Jun and Kira slipped through the gap each afternoon to practice batting with a tennis ball. [6] When a ball bounced into the tomato plants, Jun's father picked it up and tossed it back through the gap without a word. [7] One Saturday in June, Kira's mother arrived with a new board and a hammer. [8] Kira's mother held the board against the gap, then set it down on the grass and asked whether anyone wanted a cold drink. [9] An hour later, the four adults sat on the porch with lemonade while the hammer lay on the step. [10] The next weekend, the two families built a small wooden gate in the gap, with a latch on neither side.
Ren argues that the gap stands for a connection between the families. Which sentence is the weakest support for that reading?
- Jun and Kira slipped through the gap each afternoon to practice batting with a tennis ball on the grass.
- The fence had been missing one board since the previous winter, and neither family had fixed it.
- Jun's father picked up the ball and tossed it back through the gap without a word.
- The next weekend, the two families built a small gate in the gap, with a latch on neither side.
Esme needs two sentences that best show the gap staying open as a link between the families. Which pair does?
- [5] Jun and Kira slip through the gap each afternoon; [3] Kira's mother says the fence line belongs to the first family to complain.
- [5] Jun and Kira slip through the gap each afternoon; [10] the families build a gate with no latch.
- [1] The fence has been missing a board since winter; [2] Jun's father says repair is Kira's family's job.
- [3] Kira's mother says the fence line belongs to the first family to complain; [4] the adults speak politely and stop talking about the fence.
Pia wants a reading of the gap that fits both the beginning and the ending. Which reading does?
- An opening the families neglect at first, then choose to keep as a passage they share.
- A doorway that the families planned together as a welcome from the very beginning of the story.
- A flaw that shows two families who refuse to care for the things they share and use.
- A hiding place that Jun and Kira use to keep secrets from the adults.
The Metronome (story)
[1] Each afternoon at four, Bo set the black metronome on top of the piano and started the same slow piece. [2] The metronome ticked like a small wooden clock, and Bo's fingers followed it carefully. [3] Esme, a jazz band player, said that the metronome made Bo sound like a machine. [4] Bo shrugged and kept practicing. [5] When the recital was announced, Bo's piano teacher said the ticking was the part of practice that told the truth.
[6] On the night of the recital, the stage felt hotter than any practice room, and Bo's hands trembled as the first notes began. [7] The notes rushed, and for four measures the melody ran ahead of itself. [8] Then Bo remembered the ticking and slowed down, counting silently, until the rhythm settled. [9] The audience clapped, and Esme, in the third row, clapped the loudest. [10] Afterward, Bo packed the metronome into the piano bench instead of the music bag and left it there for the next student.
Zee argues that the metronome stands for steady discipline that Bo can rely on. Which sentence is the weakest support for that reading?
- Then Bo remembered the ticking and slowed down, counting silently, until the rhythm settled.
- Esme, a jazz band player, said that the metronome made Bo sound like a machine.
- The notes rushed, and for four measures the melody ran ahead of itself.
- Bo's piano teacher said the ticking was the part of practice that told the truth.
Ren needs two sentences that best show what the metronome gives Bo. Which pair does?
- [7] The notes rush for four measures; [8] Bo remembers the ticking and counts until the rhythm settles.
- [3] Esme says the metronome makes Bo sound like a machine; [4] Bo shrugs and keeps practicing.
- [8] Bo remembers the ticking and counts until the rhythm settles; [9] Esme claps the loudest from the third row.
- [1] Bo sets the metronome on the piano each afternoon at four; [2] the metronome ticks like a small wooden clock.
Tala asks how the metronome helps the story build its message about practice. Which explanation is best?
- Machines are more reliable than people, so musicians should depend on them when performing.
- Careful practice prepares a person to perform well even when that person is very nervous before a crowd.
- A black metronome sits on top of a piano and ticks while Bo plays a slow piece each afternoon at four.
- Bo practices with the ticking until the steadiness is Bo's own, so it holds up under stage fright.
The Pencil Stub (story)
[1] When Esme started fifth grade, the teacher, Mr. Alvarez, gave every student a new pencil and said it should be used up by June. [2] Esme's pencil was a plain yellow one with a chewed eraser, and it never looked special. [3] By spring it had shrunk to a stub too short to hold, so Esme wedged it into a plastic holder and kept writing. [4] Other students tossed their pencils into the bin, but Esme's stub stayed on the desk until the last day of school.
[5] Two years later, Mr. Alvarez announced that he was retiring, and the seventh graders were asked to write him a card. [6] Esme opened a drawer at home, found the stub among old erasers, and used it to write a single sentence. [7] Kira, who was sitting nearby, asked why Esme didn't use the new gel pens that everyone had. [8] Esme said that gel pens smudge, and slid the card into an envelope. [9] On the last day, Mr. Alvarez opened the card, read it twice, and tucked it into his shirt pocket instead of the bin. [10] Then Mr. Alvarez asked Esme how long the stub had lasted, and Esme answered, "Two years."
Milo argues that the pencil stub stands for effort that is remembered. Which sentence is the weakest support for that reading?
- On the last day, Mr. Alvarez opened the card, read it twice, and tucked it into his shirt pocket instead of the bin.
- Kira, who was sitting nearby, asked why Esme didn't use the new gel pens that everyone had.
- By spring it had shrunk to a stub too short to hold, so Esme wedged it into a plastic holder and kept writing.
- Other students tossed their pencils into the bin, but Esme's stub stayed on the desk until the last day of school.
Noah needs two sentences that best show what the stub stands for. Which pair does?
- [3] Esme wedges the stub into a holder and keeps writing; [6] Esme finds the stub and uses it for the card.
- [1] Mr. Alvarez gives out new pencils and says to use them by June; [2] Esme's pencil is plain yellow with a chewed eraser.
- [3] Esme wedges the stub into a holder and keeps writing; [7] Kira asks why Esme does not use the new gel pens.
- [5] Mr. Alvarez announces that he is retiring; [9] on the last day he reads the card twice.
Ari asks how the pencil stub helps the story build its message about gratitude. Which explanation is best?
- Gratitude is shown through effort that lasts for a long time and is not wasted on small tasks or on supplies.
- The stub shows effort used up on purpose, so writing the card with it thanks the teacher with that same effort.
- Old things are better than new things, so gel pens should be thrown away at school and replaced by pencils.
- A yellow pencil gets shorter through the year until it is too small to hold in a hand, so Esme wedges it into a holder.
Luz wants a reading of the stub that fits the beginning and the ending. Which reading does?
- A sign that Esme cannot let go of the past and is afraid of change.
- Effort and care that last, which Esme returns to Mr. Alvarez as thanks.
- A keepsake that the teacher hands back to remember a favorite old student.
- A classroom rule about using up supplies before the school year ends.