Two big ideas in one article

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

Read this first
Bamboo
Fast and Strong (article): [1] Bamboo is a giant grass, and some kinds grow more than half a meter in a single day. [2] That speed comes from stalks that stretch at many joints at once, so a new shoot can reach full height within one growing season. [3] Few trees can match that pace, which makes bamboo a popular crop in warm regions.
[4] Cutting a stalk does not kill the plant, because the roots and underground stems stay alive in the soil. [5] New shoots rise from those underground stems, so farmers can harvest the same patch again after a few years. [6] Most trees grown for lumber need decades to be replaced, while a bamboo patch keeps renewing itself.
[7] The hollow stalk is also remarkably strong for its weight. [8] Its walls are made of tough fibers, and the joints, called nodes, work like rings that keep the tube from bending sharply. [9] Engineers who test bamboo find that it can carry heavy loads without snapping.
[10] In many cities, workers lash bamboo poles together into scaffolds beside tall buildings. [11] Bamboo is also split and pressed into flat boards for floors and furniture. [12] Thin strips of it are woven into baskets and mats as well. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: bamboo grows very fast | P2: cut stalks regrow from underground stems Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: hollow stalks are strong for their weight | P4: people build with bamboo
1.
Ari reads the article and its two paragraph ladders. Which choice states the article's two central ideas?
- Bamboo grows fast in a single season, and it sends up new shoots after its stalks are cut.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and its joints, called nodes, keep each stalk from bending sharply.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and it has replaced steel as the main building material in warm regions.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and its stalks are strong enough to build with.
2.
Bo has named the first central idea: that bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Bamboo's stalks are stronger than steel, so cities now build their tallest towers from them.
- Bamboo's joints, called nodes, work like rings that keep each tube from bending sharply.
- Bamboo's hollow, jointed stalks are strong for their weight, so people build with them.
- Bamboo's underground stems send up new shoots, so the same patch can be harvested again.
3.
Esme is collecting evidence for the second central idea, that bamboo is strong for its weight and is used in building. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- New shoots rise from underground stems, so a harvested patch can be cut again.
- Bamboo scaffolds are now stronger than steel ones, so cities are replacing steel with them.
- Thin strips of bamboo are woven into baskets and mats.
- Engineers who test bamboo find that it can carry heavy loads without snapping.
How a Gecko Sticks and Lets Go (article)
[1] Geckos are small lizards found in warm parts of the world, and many can walk up a glass window or hang upside down from a ceiling. [2] They do this without glue, suction cups or any sticky liquid. [3] The secret lies in their toes, which are covered with flat, ridged pads.
[4] Under a microscope, each pad looks like a tiny forest of hairs, and one gecko has millions of them. [5] The hairs split into even smaller tips, so a great many tips touch the surface at once. [6] Each tip pulls on the surface through a weak attraction between molecules, and millions of such pulls add up to a strong hold.
[7] Sticking is only half of the job, because a gecko must also let go with every step. [8] It peels its toes away from the surface at an angle, much as a person peels off a bandage. [9] Changing the angle breaks the hold at once, so the gecko can run without getting stuck.
[10] Because the hold comes from tiny pulls and not from glue, nothing sticky is left behind. [11] Dirt on the pads can fall away as the gecko walks, which keeps its feet working. [12] Engineers study these toes to design tapes and gripping pads that stick strongly, release cleanly and can be used again. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: geckos climb without glue | P2: millions of tiny hair tips pull on the surface Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: a gecko lets go by peeling its toes | P4: the hold leaves nothing behind, and engineers copy it
4.
Jun has named the first central idea: that a gecko grips without glue using millions of tiny hair tips. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- A gecko climbs without glue because millions of tiny hair tips pull on the surface.
- A gecko peels its toes away at an angle, much as a person peels off a bandage.
- A gecko leaves nothing behind, so engineers have already replaced glue with gecko-style tape in factories.
- A gecko lets go of a surface easily and leaves nothing behind, a design that engineers want to copy.
5.
Kira is collecting evidence for the first central idea, that a gecko grips without glue using millions of tiny hair tips. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- Geckos are small lizards found in warm parts of the world.
- Dirt on the pads can fall away as the gecko walks, which keeps its feet working.
- Tiny suction cups on each toe press out the air and hold the gecko to the glass.
- Each tip pulls on the surface through a weak attraction between molecules, and millions of the pulls add up.
What Makes a Rainbow (article)
[1] A rainbow begins when sunlight enters a raindrop and slows down, which bends the light. [2] Each color bends by a slightly different amount, so white sunlight spreads into a band of colors. [3] The light then bounces off the back of the drop and bends again as it leaves.
[4] Red light leaves at a slightly larger angle than violet light, so red appears on the outer edge of the main rainbow. [5] Millions of drops each send one color toward your eyes, and together they form the bands. [6] Rainbows often appear as a rain shower ends and the Sun breaks through the clouds.
[7] The curved shape of a rainbow also depends on where you stand. [8] Only drops at one fixed angle from the point directly opposite the Sun send a given color to you, and those drops form an arc. [9] That is why the Sun must be behind you, and fairly low in the sky, for you to see the bow.
[10] Because every viewer stands in a different spot, each person sees light from a different set of drops. [11] From an airplane, where the ground does not block the view, a rainbow can appear as a full circle. [12] A fainter second rainbow can appear outside the first, with its colors in reverse order. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: raindrops bend and split sunlight | P2: each color leaves at its own angle Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: the arc depends on where the viewer stands | P4: each viewer sees a personal rainbow
6.
Milo is collecting evidence for the second central idea, that each viewer sees a rainbow made by their own set of drops. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- From an airplane, a rainbow can appear as a full circle, because the ground no longer blocks the view.
- Red light leaves a raindrop at a slightly larger angle than violet light does.
- A fainter second rainbow can appear outside the first, with its colors in reverse order.
- Viewers who stand farther from the rain see a larger rainbow than viewers who stand close.
7.
Pia has named the first central idea: that raindrops split sunlight into colors. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Each drop bends sunlight and sends one color toward the viewer's eyes, so drops sort the colors.
- Seen from an airplane, a rainbow can appear as a full circle instead of an arc.
- Each viewer sees a different arc, so a rainbow is a trick of the eyes and not real light.
- Each viewer sees an arc made by drops at one fixed angle, so every person gets a personal rainbow.
Why Bread Rises (article)
[1] Bread dough rises because of yeast, a microscopic fungus that feeds on the sugars in flour. [2] As yeast cells digest those sugars, they release carbon dioxide gas as a waste product. [3] The gas forms thousands of tiny bubbles throughout the dough, which makes the whole mass swell.
[4] Warmth accelerates this process, which is why bakers allow dough to rest in a warm spot. [5] In a cold kitchen the yeast works slowly, and the dough may take several hours to double in size. [6] People have relied on yeast for baking and brewing for thousands of years.
[7] Gas alone would escape from the dough if nothing held it in place. [8] Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands called gluten. [9] The strands link together into a flexible network, which traps the gas in countless small pockets.
[10] When the loaf goes into a hot oven, the trapped gas expands, and the dough rises a little further before it sets. [11] Heat then firms the gluten and the starches, so the pockets keep their shape as the bread bakes. [12] That is why a slice of bread is full of small holes. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: yeast feeds on sugar and makes gas | P2: warmth speeds up the yeast Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: gluten forms a web that traps the gas | P4: baking sets the web so the holes stay
8.
Ren is collecting evidence for the first central idea, that yeast fills dough with gas bubbles. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- In a cold kitchen the yeast works slowly, so dough may need hours to double in size.
- People have used yeast for baking and brewing for thousands of years.
- Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands called gluten.
- Dough rises fastest when it is kept as hot as possible, because heat makes yeast work harder.
9.
Tala reads the article and its two paragraph ladders. Which choice states the article's two central ideas?
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and gluten alone makes a loaf rise without any yeast.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and warmth makes the yeast work faster.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and gluten traps the gas so the loaf keeps its holes.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and kneading stretches flour proteins into elastic strands.
10.
Zee has named the first central idea: that yeast fills dough with gas bubbles. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Yeast feeds on sugars and releases gas, so the dough fills with thousands of bubbles.
- Gluten gives bread its flavor, so a loaf made without it would taste bland.
- Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands.
- Gluten forms a stretchy web that traps the gas, so the baked loaf keeps its small holes.

Two big ideas in one article

Answer Key - Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

Read this first
Bamboo
Fast and Strong (article): [1] Bamboo is a giant grass, and some kinds grow more than half a meter in a single day. [2] That speed comes from stalks that stretch at many joints at once, so a new shoot can reach full height within one growing season. [3] Few trees can match that pace, which makes bamboo a popular crop in warm regions.
[4] Cutting a stalk does not kill the plant, because the roots and underground stems stay alive in the soil. [5] New shoots rise from those underground stems, so farmers can harvest the same patch again after a few years. [6] Most trees grown for lumber need decades to be replaced, while a bamboo patch keeps renewing itself.
[7] The hollow stalk is also remarkably strong for its weight. [8] Its walls are made of tough fibers, and the joints, called nodes, work like rings that keep the tube from bending sharply. [9] Engineers who test bamboo find that it can carry heavy loads without snapping.
[10] In many cities, workers lash bamboo poles together into scaffolds beside tall buildings. [11] Bamboo is also split and pressed into flat boards for floors and furniture. [12] Thin strips of it are woven into baskets and mats as well. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: bamboo grows very fast | P2: cut stalks regrow from underground stems Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: hollow stalks are strong for their weight | P4: people build with bamboo
1.
Ari reads the article and its two paragraph ladders. Which choice states the article's two central ideas?
- Bamboo grows fast in a single season, and it sends up new shoots after its stalks are cut.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and its joints, called nodes, keep each stalk from bending sharply.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and it has replaced steel as the main building material in warm regions.
- Bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting, and its stalks are strong enough to build with.
2.
Bo has named the first central idea: that bamboo grows fast and renews itself after cutting. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Bamboo's stalks are stronger than steel, so cities now build their tallest towers from them.
- Bamboo's joints, called nodes, work like rings that keep each tube from bending sharply.
- Bamboo's hollow, jointed stalks are strong for their weight, so people build with them.
- Bamboo's underground stems send up new shoots, so the same patch can be harvested again.
3.
Esme is collecting evidence for the second central idea, that bamboo is strong for its weight and is used in building. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- New shoots rise from underground stems, so a harvested patch can be cut again.
- Bamboo scaffolds are now stronger than steel ones, so cities are replacing steel with them.
- Thin strips of bamboo are woven into baskets and mats.
- Engineers who test bamboo find that it can carry heavy loads without snapping.
How a Gecko Sticks and Lets Go (article)
[1] Geckos are small lizards found in warm parts of the world, and many can walk up a glass window or hang upside down from a ceiling. [2] They do this without glue, suction cups or any sticky liquid. [3] The secret lies in their toes, which are covered with flat, ridged pads.
[4] Under a microscope, each pad looks like a tiny forest of hairs, and one gecko has millions of them. [5] The hairs split into even smaller tips, so a great many tips touch the surface at once. [6] Each tip pulls on the surface through a weak attraction between molecules, and millions of such pulls add up to a strong hold.
[7] Sticking is only half of the job, because a gecko must also let go with every step. [8] It peels its toes away from the surface at an angle, much as a person peels off a bandage. [9] Changing the angle breaks the hold at once, so the gecko can run without getting stuck.
[10] Because the hold comes from tiny pulls and not from glue, nothing sticky is left behind. [11] Dirt on the pads can fall away as the gecko walks, which keeps its feet working. [12] Engineers study these toes to design tapes and gripping pads that stick strongly, release cleanly and can be used again. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: geckos climb without glue | P2: millions of tiny hair tips pull on the surface Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: a gecko lets go by peeling its toes | P4: the hold leaves nothing behind, and engineers copy it
4.
Jun has named the first central idea: that a gecko grips without glue using millions of tiny hair tips. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- A gecko climbs without glue because millions of tiny hair tips pull on the surface.
- A gecko peels its toes away at an angle, much as a person peels off a bandage.
- A gecko leaves nothing behind, so engineers have already replaced glue with gecko-style tape in factories.
- A gecko lets go of a surface easily and leaves nothing behind, a design that engineers want to copy.
5.
Kira is collecting evidence for the first central idea, that a gecko grips without glue using millions of tiny hair tips. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- Geckos are small lizards found in warm parts of the world.
- Dirt on the pads can fall away as the gecko walks, which keeps its feet working.
- Tiny suction cups on each toe press out the air and hold the gecko to the glass.
- Each tip pulls on the surface through a weak attraction between molecules, and millions of the pulls add up.
What Makes a Rainbow (article)
[1] A rainbow begins when sunlight enters a raindrop and slows down, which bends the light. [2] Each color bends by a slightly different amount, so white sunlight spreads into a band of colors. [3] The light then bounces off the back of the drop and bends again as it leaves.
[4] Red light leaves at a slightly larger angle than violet light, so red appears on the outer edge of the main rainbow. [5] Millions of drops each send one color toward your eyes, and together they form the bands. [6] Rainbows often appear as a rain shower ends and the Sun breaks through the clouds.
[7] The curved shape of a rainbow also depends on where you stand. [8] Only drops at one fixed angle from the point directly opposite the Sun send a given color to you, and those drops form an arc. [9] That is why the Sun must be behind you, and fairly low in the sky, for you to see the bow.
[10] Because every viewer stands in a different spot, each person sees light from a different set of drops. [11] From an airplane, where the ground does not block the view, a rainbow can appear as a full circle. [12] A fainter second rainbow can appear outside the first, with its colors in reverse order. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: raindrops bend and split sunlight | P2: each color leaves at its own angle Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: the arc depends on where the viewer stands | P4: each viewer sees a personal rainbow
6.
Milo is collecting evidence for the second central idea, that each viewer sees a rainbow made by their own set of drops. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- From an airplane, a rainbow can appear as a full circle, because the ground no longer blocks the view.
- Red light leaves a raindrop at a slightly larger angle than violet light does.
- A fainter second rainbow can appear outside the first, with its colors in reverse order.
- Viewers who stand farther from the rain see a larger rainbow than viewers who stand close.
7.
Pia has named the first central idea: that raindrops split sunlight into colors. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Each drop bends sunlight and sends one color toward the viewer's eyes, so drops sort the colors.
- Seen from an airplane, a rainbow can appear as a full circle instead of an arc.
- Each viewer sees a different arc, so a rainbow is a trick of the eyes and not real light.
- Each viewer sees an arc made by drops at one fixed angle, so every person gets a personal rainbow.
Why Bread Rises (article)
[1] Bread dough rises because of yeast, a microscopic fungus that feeds on the sugars in flour. [2] As yeast cells digest those sugars, they release carbon dioxide gas as a waste product. [3] The gas forms thousands of tiny bubbles throughout the dough, which makes the whole mass swell.
[4] Warmth accelerates this process, which is why bakers allow dough to rest in a warm spot. [5] In a cold kitchen the yeast works slowly, and the dough may take several hours to double in size. [6] People have relied on yeast for baking and brewing for thousands of years.
[7] Gas alone would escape from the dough if nothing held it in place. [8] Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands called gluten. [9] The strands link together into a flexible network, which traps the gas in countless small pockets.
[10] When the loaf goes into a hot oven, the trapped gas expands, and the dough rises a little further before it sets. [11] Heat then firms the gluten and the starches, so the pockets keep their shape as the bread bakes. [12] That is why a slice of bread is full of small holes. Ladder A (paragraphs 1 and 2): P1: yeast feeds on sugar and makes gas | P2: warmth speeds up the yeast Ladder B (paragraphs 3 and 4): P3: gluten forms a web that traps the gas | P4: baking sets the web so the holes stay
8.
Ren is collecting evidence for the first central idea, that yeast fills dough with gas bubbles. Which detail from the article develops that idea?
- In a cold kitchen the yeast works slowly, so dough may need hours to double in size.
- People have used yeast for baking and brewing for thousands of years.
- Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands called gluten.
- Dough rises fastest when it is kept as hot as possible, because heat makes yeast work harder.
9.
Tala reads the article and its two paragraph ladders. Which choice states the article's two central ideas?
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and gluten alone makes a loaf rise without any yeast.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and warmth makes the yeast work faster.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and gluten traps the gas so the loaf keeps its holes.
- Yeast fills dough with gas bubbles, and kneading stretches flour proteins into elastic strands.
10.
Zee has named the first central idea: that yeast fills dough with gas bubbles. Which choice states the second central idea, the one that Ladder B supports?
- Yeast feeds on sugars and releases gas, so the dough fills with thousands of bubbles.
- Gluten gives bread its flavor, so a loaf made without it would taste bland.
- Kneading stretches proteins in the flour into long, elastic strands.
- Gluten forms a stretchy web that traps the gas, so the baked loaf keeps its small holes.

Bamboo

How a Gecko Sticks and Lets Go (article)

What Makes a Rainbow (article)

Why Bread Rises (article)

Bamboo

How a Gecko Sticks and Lets Go (article)

What Makes a Rainbow (article)

Why Bread Rises (article)