Write an argument that answers the other side

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   A Rack for the Library (argument draft)

   [1] Every afternoon, a crowd of students rides bikes to the Elm Street Library to read, study, and borrow books. [2] Our town should install a bike rack outside the library's front doors. [3] On a typical Saturday, a dozen bikes lean against the railing, the fence, and the nearby tree, and more arrive during each hour. [4] Those parked bikes crowd the steps, which makes it hard for visitors with strollers or walkers to reach the door.

   [5] A rack would just be so much nicer for everybody. [6] When the nearest rack is that far away, riders leave their bikes wherever is closest to the door. [7] Last month, library staff had to move fallen bikes away from the entrance on seven different days. [8] Bikes were moved on many days. [9] For these reasons, the library needs a bike rack by its front doors, where riders can lock up safely and visitors can walk in freely.

2. 1.

   Ari sees that sentence [5] is only an opinion. Which sentence should replace it with evidence that fits sentence [6]?

   • The Elm Street Library has thousands of books on its shelves for readers.
   • The nearest bike rack is two blocks away, beside the park on Cedar Street.
   • Locking a bike to a rack is simply the smartest and neatest way to park it near a door.
   • A bike rack would be a good addition to the front of the library for riders.
3. 2.

   Esme wants a sentence after [8], before the closing sentence, that names what someone on the other side would say. Which sentence fits?

   • Some people may say that the library should spend its money on new books instead.
   • The library offers free homework help on Tuesday afternoons for students.
   • Putting a bike rack at the front doors is a smart use of the town's money.
   • Others would add that riders feel safer locking their bikes where staff can see them.

4. Shade at the Bus Stop (argument draft)

   [1] On school mornings, about thirty students wait at the Maple Road bus stop for the first bus of the day, and the line often reaches the corner. [2] The school district should plant shade trees beside the Maple Road bus stop. [3] The stop is only a bare strip of sidewalk with a single bench, and it has no roof, no awning, and no trees. [4] Without shade, students must squint into the bright sun and stand on warm pavement while they wait for the bus to arrive.

   [5] Trees would make the whole street look wonderful. [6] That heat is the reason students crowd onto the single bench, hoping to find any cooler spot. [7] The trees that the district planted at the Oak Road stop five years ago now shade the whole sidewalk. [8] Oak Road has trees. [9] Planting trees at Maple Road would give waiting students a cooler place to stand each morning, which would make the wait easier for everyone.

5. 3.

   Jun reads the bus-stop draft and sees that sentence [5] is just an opinion. Which sentence should replace it with a fact that sentence [6] builds on?

   • Nothing feels better than standing in cool shade on a sunny morning before school starts.
   • The first bus on the Maple Road route arrives at ten past seven on school mornings.
   • A thermometer check last week found the sidewalk ten degrees warmer than the grass.
   • Shade trees should be planted next to the bus stop for the students who wait there.
6. 4.

   Sentence [8] only repeats [7]. Kira wants a replacement that links the Oak Road trees to the claim about Maple Road. Which sentence works?

   • That stop shows trees work in this town, so Maple Road would also get lasting shade as they grow.
   • Many kinds of trees drop their leaves in the fall and grow them back in the spring.
   • The district should also buy a small roof for the bench at the stop and add a trash can.
   • The trees at the Oak Road stop were planted by the district five years ago and now shade the sidewalk there.
7. 5.

   Luz plans one sentence after [8], before the close, that names what the other side would say. Which sentence fits the bus-stop draft?

   • Trees beside the stop would be the right choice for the district to make.
   • The Maple Road bus line carries students to four different schools.
   • Others would add that shade also keeps the bench from getting too hot to sit on.
   • Some people may say that planting trees costs too much for a small bus stop.

8. A Sign for Pine Street (argument draft)

   [1] Every morning, more than forty students walk across Pine Street to reach Westfield Middle School, and many of them cross together. [2] The town should add a flashing crosswalk sign at the corner of Pine Street and Fifth Avenue. [3] Last Tuesday, the crossing guard counted twelve cars that rolled through the crosswalk without slowing down. [4] Because the crosswalk is only painted lines, many drivers do not notice walkers until the last second.

   [5] A flashing sign would be an amazing improvement for our town. [6] A bright flashing light would give drivers an early warning before they reach that bend. [7] At the crosswalk on Third Avenue, a flashing sign went up last spring, and the guard there now counts far fewer cars that fail to slow down. [8] Third Avenue has a sign now. [9] A flashing sign at Fifth Avenue would help the many students who cross Pine Street each morning.

9. 6.

   Milo knows sentence [5] is only a feeling about the sign. Which sentence should replace it with a fact that explains the bend named in sentence [6]?

   • Westfield Middle School was built about forty years ago on a hill at the edge of town.
   • Drivers should be much more careful whenever they pass near a school or a busy corner.
   • Pine Street has a bend just before the crosswalk, so drivers cannot see the corner from afar.
   • A flashing sign belongs at the corner of Pine Street and Fifth Avenue, in front of the school.
10. 7.

    Sentence [8] only repeats the evidence in [7]. Noah needs a replacement that connects Third Avenue to the Pine Street claim. Which sentence works?

    • That change suggests a flashing sign would help Pine Street too, where drivers have the same trouble.
    • The Third Avenue crosswalk has had a flashing sign since last spring, and drivers see it.
    • The town should also lower the speed limit on the full length of Pine Street and add speed bumps.
    • The crossing guard on Third Avenue wears a bright yellow vest, a cap, and white gloves.

11. A Dry Place to Wait (argument draft)

    [1] When it rains, students who arrive early at Cedar Creek Middle School have to wait outside the doors until the first bell rings. [2] The school should open the gym on rainy mornings so early arrivals can wait inside. [3] On the last rainy Monday, about fifty students stood under the small entrance roof, which only fits twenty. [4] Students at the edge of the crowd got soaked, and wet backpacks left their books and papers damp.

    [5] Staying dry is a really excellent thing. [6] With the doors already unlocked, the only thing missing is a teacher to supervise the room. [7] At Brook Hill Middle School, early arrivals wait in the gym on rainy days, and the principal reports that the plan runs smoothly. [8] Brook Hill does this. [9] Opening the gym on rainy mornings would keep students dry and ready to learn, and it would cost the school very little.

12. 8.

    Ren sees that sentence [5] gives only a feeling about staying dry. Which sentence should replace it with a fact that sentence [6] builds on?

    • Waiting indoors is a far nicer way to start a school day than shivering outside.
    • Early arrivals should be allowed to wait in the gym on rainy mornings before the bell.
    • The gym floor has a painted lion at center court and a blue stripe along each wall.
    • The gym is already unlocked at seven o'clock every morning for the custodians.
13. 9.

    Sentence [8] only repeats [7]. Tala wants a replacement that links Brook Hill's plan to the claim for Cedar Creek. Which sentence works?

    • Cedar Creek should also start a breakfast club in the gym before the first bell rings.
    • If Brook Hill can supervise a gym each rainy morning, Cedar Creek could do the same.
    • The gym at Brook Hill has a new scoreboard above the court and fresh paint on the walls.
    • Brook Hill students wait in the gym when it rains outside, and the plan runs smoothly.
14. 10.

    Zee would like a sentence after [8], before the close, that names what the other side would say. Which sentence fits the rainy-morning draft?

    • The gym floor was refinished over the summer vacation by a crew from the district.
    • The gym doors should be opened to early arrivals on rainy mornings so they can wait indoors.
    • Some people may say that a teacher cannot be spared to watch the gym every morning.
    • Others would add that a dry gym helps students stay warm before class begins.