Active and passive voice

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Lab report, Method

   The flasks were rinsed with distilled water. The solution was heated to 80 degrees. Facts for the next line: who: the students; did: stirred; what: the solution; how long: ten minutes.

2. 1.

   Kira writes the next line of a lab report. Readers care about the procedure, not who did it. Which sentence fits?

   • The students stirred the solution for ten minutes.
   • The students were stirred by the solution for ten minutes.
   • The solution was stirred by the students for ten minutes.
   • The solution was stirred for ten minutes.

3. News brief

   A water main broke on Elm Street on Monday. Facts for the next line: who: the Public Works crew; did: repaired; what: the main; when: Tuesday.

4. 2.

   Bo writes a news brief. The editor wants readers to see who is responsible for the repair. Which sentence does that best?

   • The main was repaired by the Public Works crew on Tuesday.
   • The main was repaired on Tuesday.
   • The Public Works crew repaired the main on Tuesday.
   • Someone repaired the main on Tuesday.

5. Note to a customer

   Your move was completed on Saturday. Facts for the next line: who: our movers; did: damaged; what: the fence; when: during the move.

6. 3.

   Esme edits a note from a moving company. Which sentence avoids saying who was responsible for the damage?

   • Our movers damaged the fence during the move.
   • Something damaged the fence during the move.
   • The fence was damaged during the move.
   • The fence was damaged by our movers during the move.

7. History report

   A treaty ended the war in 1783. Facts for the next line: who: delegates from both nations; did: signed; what: the treaty; where: Paris.

8. 4.

   Ari writes a history report. The writer wants the treaty to be the focus and still wants to name who signed it. Which sentence does both?

   • The treaty was signed in Paris by delegates from both nations.
   • The treaty was signed in Paris.
   • Delegates from both nations signed the treaty in Paris.
   • The delegates were signed by the treaty in Paris.
9. 5.

   The winners were announced during lunch on Saturday. Notes: doer = the judging panel. Pia edits a school notice. The notes name the doer. Which revision uses the active voice, keeps the tense and keeps every detail?

   • The judging panel announces the winners during lunch on Saturday.
   • The judging panel announced the winners during lunch on Saturday.
   • The winners were announced by the judging panel during lunch on Saturday.
   • The judging panel announced the winners on Saturday.
10. 6.

    The deadline for club sign-ups has been moved to March 3. Notes: doer = the activities office. Kira edits a club announcement. The notes name the doer. Which revision uses the active voice, keeps the tense and keeps every detail?

    • The activities office has moved the deadline to March 3.
    • The activities office has moved the deadline for club sign-ups to March 3.
    • The activities office moved the deadline for club sign-ups to March 3.
    • The deadline for club sign-ups has been moved by the activities office to March 3.

11. Draft

    The trail was closed after a landslide had been reported. Notes: closed by = park rangers; reported by = a hiker.

12. 7.

    Tala edits a park alert. The notes name two doers. Which revision fixes both verbs, keeps the tenses and keeps every detail?

    • Park rangers closed the trail after a hiker reported a landslide.
    • Park rangers closed the trail after a landslide.
    • Park rangers closed the trail after a hiker had reported a landslide.
    • The trail was closed by park rangers after a hiker had reported a landslide.
13. 8.

    Four sentences from a harbor log. Zee checks the voices in two-part sentences. Which sentence has one active verb and one passive verb?

    • The crew had loaded the cargo before the harbor police inspected the ship.
    • The crew had loaded the cargo before the ship was inspected.
    • The cargo had been loaded before the ship was inspected by the harbor police.
    • The crew had loaded the cargo before the ship was ready for sea.
14. 9.

    Four sentences from a league report. Milo checks the voices in two-part sentences. Which sentence has one active verb and one passive verb?

    • Rain had flooded the field, so the league postponed the game.
    • Rain had flooded the field, so the game was postponed by the league.
    • The field had been flooded by rain, so the game was postponed by the league.
    • Rain had flooded the field, so the game was impossible for either team.
15. 10.

    Four sentences from a band newsletter. Noah checks the voices in two-part sentences. Which sentence has one active verb and one passive verb?

    • The music is rehearsed daily by the band, and the concert will be recorded by the school radio.
    • The band rehearses daily, and the school radio will record the concert.
    • The band rehearses daily, and the concert will be recorded by the school radio.
    • The band rehearses daily, and the concert will be loud and joyful.