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 solution was stirred by the students for ten minutes.
   • The students were stirred by the solution for ten minutes.
   • The students stirred the solution 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.
   • Someone repaired the main on Tuesday.
   • The Public Works crew 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?

   • The fence was damaged during the move.
   • Our movers damaged the fence during the move.
   • Something damaged the fence during the move.
   • The fence was damaged by our movers during the move.
7. 4.

   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 winners were announced by the judging panel during lunch on Saturday.
   • The judging panel announced the winners during lunch on Saturday.
   • The judging panel announced the winners on Saturday.
8. 5.

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

9. Draft

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

10. 6.

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

11. Draft

    A prize will be awarded to the team with the highest score, and the results will be posted online. Notes: doer of both = the committee.

12. 7.

    Luz edits a contest page. The notes name the doer of both verbs. Which revision uses the active voice and keeps the tense and every detail?

    • A prize will be awarded by the committee to the team with the highest score, and the results will be posted online.
    • The committee will award a prize to the team with the highest score.
    • The committee will award a prize to the team with the highest score and will post the results online.
    • The committee awards a prize to the team with the highest score and posts the results online.
13. 8.

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

    • The committee has chosen a design, and the banner will be sewn by volunteers.
    • A design has been chosen by the committee, and the banner will be sewn by volunteers.
    • The committee has chosen a design, and volunteers will sew the banner.
    • The committee has chosen a design, and the banner will be colorful and large.
14. 9.

    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 ship was ready for sea.
    • 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 harbor police inspected the ship.
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 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.
    • 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.