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?

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

   Kira asks what “flattery” adds in [6] that “praise” would not. Which explanation is best?

   • It suggests the praise is insincere, which explains why the teacher prefers candid feedback.
   • It shows the teacher dislikes the drama club's costumes and the way the club asked for feedback.
   • It adds nothing, because flattery and praise mean the same thing in any sentence about feedback.
   • It makes the praise sound warmer, so the teacher values it more than honest feedback.
4. 3.

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

   • praise : criticism
   • brusque : tactless
   • candid : forthright
   • fair : evenhanded

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?

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

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

   • ice
   • rare
   • ephemeral
   • plentiful

9. 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.

10. 7.

    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?

    • scenic
    • grueling
    • demanding
    • effortless
11. 8.

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

    • 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.
    • Zee now agrees with the guide about the weather on the trail.
12. 9.

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

    • weary : exhausted
    • arduous : effortless
    • warm : sweltering
    • cool : frigid
13. 10.

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

    • sweltering
    • snowstorm
    • frigid
    • chilly