How words relate

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Careful Mapmaker (story)

   [1] Ms. Ortega, the town's mapmaker, was meticulous about every detail on her drawings. [2] She never guessed at the length of a creek or the name of a street; she measured twice and checked each name against the records. [3] A careless mapmaker, she liked to say, can send a hiker to a river that is not there.

   [4] Last week, Ren visited the office and studied an old map from the 1950s. [5] The map was obsolete, because it showed a bridge that had been replaced and a road that no longer existed. [6] Still, Ms. Ortega kept it on the wall as a reminder of how the town had changed. [7] Ren asked whether the new map would stay accurate for long. [8] "Nothing on a map is permanent," Ms. Ortega answered, "so I update mine every spring." [9] Ren left with a copy of the newest map and a fresh respect for careful work.

2. 1.

   Ari reads the story. Sentence [3] sets “careless” against Ms. Ortega's habits. What does “meticulous” mean?

   • not caring about small details
   • skilled at drawing maps quickly
   • proud of the town's long history
   • very careful about small details
3. 2.

   Bo wants the closest meaning for “obsolete” in [5]. Which word is closest?

   • on display
   • outdated
   • worn out
   • up to date
4. 3.

   Jun completes the analogy. obsolete : outdated :: meticulous : ?

   • cartographer
   • accomplished
   • painstaking
   • inattentive

5. Zee's Savings Jar (story)

   [1] Zee was frugal, saving most of the allowance from each week in a glass jar on the bookshelf above the desk and counting the coins every Sunday night. [2] Bo, by contrast, was lavish with money and bought a new snack from the school store every day. [3] By March, Zee's jar held enough for a used drum set, while Bo's pockets were empty again.

   [4] Bo called Zee's habits cheap, but Zee only shrugged and kept counting. [5] "Being careful is not the same as being stingy," Zee said calmly. [6] To prove it, Zee spent twenty dollars on a birthday gift for Bo, wrapped in newspaper comics. [7] Bo laughed, surprised that a person so careful with money could be so generous with it. [8] The next week, Bo started a jar of Bo's own, labeled "Drum Set, Part Two," and put the first dollar inside.

6. 4.

   Kira reads the story. Sentence [2] says “by contrast” about Bo. What does “frugal” mean?

   • saving up for one big purchase
   • short of money after buying snacks
   • eager to spend money freely
   • careful not to waste money
7. 5.

   Luz wants the closest meaning for “lavish” in [2]. Which word is closest?

   • extravagant
   • charitable
   • economical
   • enthusiastic
8. 6.

   Milo studies “cheap” in [4] and “stingy” in [5]. What is the relationship between the two words?

   • One is a part of the other word.
   • One of them causes the other one.
   • They are opposites in meaning.
   • They mean nearly the same thing.
9. 7.

   Noah completes the analogy. frugal : thrifty :: lavish : ?

   • tightfisted
   • extravagant
   • prosperous
   • charitable

10. The New Student (story)

    [1] When Kira joined the class in October, Kira was reticent and spoke only when a teacher asked a direct question. [2] The other students were talkative by comparison, and they chatted about their weekends before the bell rang each morning. [3] Pia saw that Kira's reticence did not mean boredom, because Kira watched everything in the room with wide eyes. [4] At lunch, Pia sat nearby and talked about the clubs, and Kira answered with short, careful phrases.

    [5] Gradually, the answers grew longer, and a smile showed up now and then. [6] By November, Kira described a favorite book in so much detail that the whole table fell silent to listen. [7] Pia was astonished to hear the quiet student tell a story so smoothly and clearly; Kira had become an eloquent storyteller. [8] The change was gradual, and Pia understood that patience, week after week, had made it possible.

11. 8.

    Ren reads the story. Sentence [2] calls the other students “talkative by comparison.” What does “reticent” mean?

    • new to the whole town
    • eager to chat with others
    • unwilling to say much
    • afraid of the teachers
12. 9.

    Zee studies “eloquent” and “astonished” in [7]. What is the relationship between the two ideas?

    • “Eloquent” and “astonished” both mean “surprised.”
    • “Astonished” is one part of what “eloquent” means.
    • Being eloquent causes the astonishment.
    • “Eloquent” has the opposite meaning of “astonished.”
13. 10.

    Ari completes the analogy. reticent : talkative :: gradual : ?

    • slow
    • reticent
    • eloquent
    • sudden