How words relate

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Candid Critic (story)

   [1] The school paper's art critic, Ari, was known for candid reviews. [2] Ari's reviews always said what worked and what did not, and gave reasons for both, while a classmate's note to the cast once said only, "That was awful. Don't bother trying again." [3] When the drama club asked for feedback on the spring play, Ari wrote that the costumes were beautiful but the second act dragged. [4] Some students called the review harsh. [5] Others called it fair, because it praised the costumes and explained the problem with the pacing.

   [6] The drama teacher said she preferred candid feedback to flattery, and she tossed aside a note that called every actor "perfect" without naming a single thing the actor had done. [7] Ari thought about that word and decided to avoid it in future reviews. [8] The next review described a band concert honestly, and it even mentioned a missed cue as a small flaw in an otherwise excellent night. [9] Readers noticed that Ari's honesty never seemed cruel.

2. 1.

   Bo wants the most precise word for Ari's reviews in [8] and [9]: honest, but never cruel. Which word fits best?

   • candid
   • flattering
   • gentle
   • blunt
3. 2.

   Luz compares four word pairs. Three pairs have the same relationship. Which pair is different?

   • candid : forthright
   • brusque : tactless
   • praise : criticism
   • fair : evenhanded
4. 3.

   Milo completes the analogy. candid : blunt :: confident : ?

   • convinced
   • hesitant
   • arrogant
   • reviewer

5. The Ice Sculpture (story)

   [1] Every winter, the town built a large ice sculpture in the park square, where families gathered to watch the sculptor work. [2] The sculptures were ephemeral, and by the first warm week each one had melted into a puddle. [3] The bronze statue by the library, however, had stood in the square for a hundred years. [4] Esme asked the sculptor why anyone would work for a month on something that would vanish so quickly. [5] The sculptor smiled and replied that families paused to admire the ice longer than they paused at anything else in the square.

   [6] "A thing that lasts forever is easy to ignore," the sculptor said, "but a thing that is leaving makes you look." [7] Esme took a photograph of the sculpture each morning to record exactly how it changed. [8] By March, the pictures showed a swan shrinking into a smooth, small stone of ice. [9] Esme decided that the photographs were permanent in one way: they kept what the ice could not.

6. 4.

   Noah wants a word for the sculptures' short lives that also suggests passing beauty. Which word fits best?

   • ephemeral
   • temporary
   • everlasting
   • fragile
7. 5.

   Pia asks why the sculptor says “a thing that is leaving” instead of “a thing that will end.” What does the phrase add?

   • It means the same as “will end” and adds no feeling to the sculptor's words.
   • It makes the ending feel like a gentle departure that draws attention.
   • It shows the sculptor wants to leave the town after the winter ends.
   • It makes the ending sound sudden, which weakens the idea of attention.
8. 6.

   Ren compares four word pairs. Three pairs have the same relationship. Which pair is different?

   • durable : fragile
   • permanent : fleeting
   • transient : temporary
   • lasting : short-lived
9. 7.

   Tala completes the analogy. ephemeral : permanent :: scarce : ?

   • ice
   • ephemeral
   • plentiful
   • rare

10. The Climb to Eagle Point (story)

    [1] The hike to Eagle Point was arduous, and the guide warned the group that it was not a stroll through the park. [2] On the first mile, the slope was steady and the hikers chatted easily as they stepped over a few roots. [3] On the second mile, the trail climbed through loose rocks that slid underfoot, and the talking stopped as everyone watched their feet. [4] On the last half mile, the hikers stopped every few minutes and bent over to catch their breath. [5] Zee, who had expected an easy walk, was exhausted by the time the group reached the top.

    [6] At the lookout, the effort felt worthwhile, because the valley below looked like a green quilt. [7] Tala said that the hardest climbs make the best views, and Bo agreed. [8] On the way down, the trail seemed effortless, even though the knees ached. [9] Zee noticed that the word "arduous" no longer sounded exaggerated.

11. 8.

    Esme wants the word that best fits the last half mile in [4], when the hikers stop every few minutes to breathe. Which word fits best?

    • effortless
    • demanding
    • scenic
    • grueling
12. 9.

    Jun asks why Zee thinks “arduous” no longer sounds exaggerated in [9]. Which explanation is best?

    • Zee now agrees with the guide about the weather on the trail.
    • After the climb, Zee sees that the word matches how hard the trail was.
    • The climb is over, so the word no longer matters much to Zee or the others.
    • The view was so lovely that the climb seemed easy, so the word seems too strong.
13. 10.

    Pia completes the analogy. demanding : grueling :: cool : ?

    • sweltering
    • chilly
    • snowstorm
    • frigid