Link ideas with the right transition word
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
A Room for the Robotics Club (argument)
[1] The robotics club has grown from six members to twenty-four this year, and it still meets in a corner of the cafeteria. [2] For example, last week two teams tried to test their robots at the same time, and one robot rolled into a lunch table. [3] The noise is also a problem, since the cafeteria staff must prepare for the next lunch period. [4] In fact, the staff asked the club to stop meeting there twice in October.
[5] Admittedly, rooms are scarce at Fairview Middle School, and every classroom is in use during the school day. [6] Even so, the art room sits empty after 3:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the club's meeting days. [7] Consequently, the principal could grant the club that room without taking space from any class. [8] Similarly, the chess club moved into the library last spring, and both groups now meet without complaints. [9] A room of its own would let the robotics club keep growing, and it would keep the cafeteria calm.
Bo covers the opening word of [7]: “____, the principal could grant the club that room.” Which word fits?
- For example,
- Consequently,
- Nevertheless,
- In the meantime,
Esme covers the opening word of paragraph two. Which word best links it to paragraph one?
- In contrast,
- For instance,
- Admittedly,
- As a result,
Kira wants a different opening for [8]. Which replacement for “Similarly” does NOT keep its meaning?
- Likewise,
- In contrast,
- In the same way,
- Equally,
How a Rain Barrel Works (explanation)
[1] A rain barrel collects water from a roof so that the water can be used later in a garden, especially during dry weeks. [2] First, a downspout carries rainwater from the gutter into the barrel through a screen that blocks leaves and twigs. [3] Next, the water settles in the barrel, and the heavier dirt sinks to the bottom while the lighter water stays above it. [4] As a result, the water near the spout is clear enough for watering plants.
[5] However, rain barrels have one important limit. [6] The water is not safe to drink, because the roof may carry bird droppings or dust. [7] For that reason, gardeners use it only on flowers and vegetables that will be washed. [8] In contrast, water from a kitchen faucet is treated and tested before it reaches a home. [9] Overall, a rain barrel saves water for the garden, but it cannot replace the tap.
Luz studies the opening words “As a result” in sentence [4]. What do they do?
- They mark the next step in the order of the whole process.
- They add another fact about what the barrel collects.
- They show a difference from the step before it.
- They show an effect of the settling described just before.
Milo covers the opening words of [7]: “____, gardeners use it only on flowers and vegetables that will be washed.” Which fit?
- For that reason,
- What is more,
- To illustrate,
- On the contrary,
Noah covers the opening word of paragraph two. Which word best links it to paragraph one?
- Next,
- However,
- For example,
- As a result,
Pia wants a different opening for [8]. Which replacement for “In contrast” does NOT keep its meaning?
- Conversely,
- On the other hand,
- By contrast,
- Similarly,
Esme Trains for the Mile (narrative)
[1] In September, Esme could not run a single mile without stopping to catch a breath on the sidewalk. [2] At first, Esme ran for one minute and then walked for two, repeating the pattern around the block until the timer beeped. [3] After two weeks, the running stretches grew to three minutes, and the walking breaks shrank to one. [4] Meanwhile, Esme's cousin trained by running a longer route each afternoon, finishing at the same park bench every time.
[5] Eventually, Esme could run the whole mile, although it took eleven minutes and ended with sore legs. [6] Likewise, the cousin improved, cutting the mile from ten minutes to nine over the same stretch of weeks. [7] Despite the difference in speed, both runners followed the same pattern: steady practice led to steady gains, even on rainy days. [8] Therefore, Esme plans to keep a training log this winter, recording the distance and the time of every run. [9] Beyond that, Esme hopes to run the spring race with the cousin and to finish in under ten minutes.
Ren studies the word “Likewise” in sentence [6]. What does it do?
- It shows the cousin improved in the same way Esme did.
- It shows the cousin improved because of what Esme had done.
- It shows the cousin differed from Esme in how much work was done.
- It shows the cousin improved after Esme had already finished.
Zee covers the opening word of paragraph two. Which word best links it to paragraph one?
- Eventually,
- For example,
- In contrast,
- Meanwhile,
Jun wants a different opening for [9]. Which replacement for “Beyond that” does NOT keep its meaning?
- Instead,
- In addition,
- Besides,
- Also,