Spotting slant and loaded words

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   News article about a library schedule change in Marlow

   [1] The Marlow Town Council voted six to three on Tuesday to streamline the public library's schedule beginning in January. [2] Under the plan, the library will close on Sundays and open two hours later on weekday mornings. [3] The change will save about $42,000 a year, according to the town budget office. [4] Council member Dana Reyes called the plan "a sensible adjustment."

   [5] "We are simply matching our hours to when people really use the building," Reyes said. [6] A count taken by library staff last spring found that 38 people visited on an average Sunday, compared with 214 on an average Saturday. [7] A small group of patrons, mostly retirees and students, protested at the meeting. [8] They said Sunday is the only day many working parents can bring children to the library.

   [9] Library director Hal Ostrow said he would not comment until staff had reviewed the plan. [10] The council will review attendance after six months and may change the schedule again. [11] The library will keep its Saturday hours and its online catalog open every day.

2. 1.

   Ari marks the loaded word in sentence [1]. Which word presents a cut as an improvement?

   • The word Tuesday here.
   • The word schedule here.
   • The word voted here.
   • The word streamline.
3. 2.

   Bo writes a headline for the article. Which headline reports the facts without slant?

   • Council cuts library hours after Sunday visits fall by half last spring.
   • Council streamlines library hours to save taxpayers $42,000 a year.
   • Council votes 6-3 to close library Sundays and open later weekdays.
   • Council slashes library hours despite protests from working families.
4. 3.

   Esme reads for slant. Which sentence shows the writer's opinion in how it describes people, instead of just reporting a fact?

   • [3] The change will save about $42,000 a year, according to the town budget office.
   • [7] A small group of patrons, mostly retirees and students, protested at the meeting.
   • [5] "We are simply matching our hours to when people really use the building," Reyes said.
   • [6] A count taken by library staff last spring found that 38 people visited on an average Sunday, compared with 214 on an average Saturday.

5. News article about a skate park plan in Lakeport

   [1] A plan to build a skate park beside Lake Street Elementary drew a crowd to Thursday's city meeting. [2] Planners are pushing the project, which would sit on a vacant lot and be paid mostly by a state recreation grant. [3] The $310,000 park would cover about 8,000 square feet and sit on a corner lot two blocks from the nearest house, across from the school's back fence. [4] Parent Wes Tran told the council that he worries about noise and injuries.

   [5] "I can already picture the ambulances," Tran said. [6] Twenty middle school students came to speak for the park, and each was given two minutes. [7] Several admitted that they currently skate in parking lots. [8] Police Chief Lang reported 19 complaints last year about skateboarding on sidewalks and in parking lots.

   [9] The school principal, Ms. Boyd, said she had no objection as long as the park closes at dusk and has a fence along the street. [10] Council members said they would decide after a safety study that is expected to take until March. [11] Tran said he hopes the council will not rush.

6. 4.

   Jun marks a loaded word in sentence [7]. Which word makes the students sound as if they confessed to wrongdoing?

   • The words parking lots.
   • The word skate.
   • The word currently.
   • The word admitted.
7. 5.

   Luz reads for slant. Which sentence shows the writer's opinion in how it is worded, instead of just reporting a fact?

   • [5] "I can already picture the ambulances," Tran said.
   • [8] Police Chief Lang reported 19 complaints last year about skateboarding on sidewalks and in parking lots.
   • [3] The $310,000 park would cover about 8,000 square feet and sit on a corner lot two blocks from the nearest house, across from the school's back fence.
   • [2] Planners are pushing the project, which would sit on a vacant lot and be paid mostly by a state recreation grant.

8. News article about a later school start in Pinecrest

   [1] The Pinecrest school board will hold a long-overdue vote next week on moving the high school's first bell from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. [2] Sleep researchers recommend that teenagers start school no earlier than 8:30, according to a statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. [3] A survey of 412 Pinecrest students found that 71 percent get fewer than seven hours of sleep on school nights.

   [4] Board member Kay Ito, who proposed the change, said later starts have improved attendance in other districts. [5] Bus drivers say the plan would force them to rearrange routes, and the district's transportation director warned of added costs of about $180,000 a year for more drivers and routes. [6] Coach Rob Tully worried that after-school practices would run into the evening and cut into homework time. [7] A few parents complained that they would struggle to get to work.

   [8] The board has not said how it will pay for the buses. [9] Most districts that switched kept their new times after the first year. [10] Board members will take public comment on Monday at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

9. 6.

   Milo marks the loaded word in sentence [1]. Which word judges the vote before it happens?

   • The time 7:15 a.m. here.
   • The words next week here.
   • The word long-overdue.
   • The word hold here.
10. 7.

    Noah writes a headline for the article. Which headline reports the facts without slant?

    • Board risks $180,000 bus bill to push school start later.
    • Pinecrest board to vote on moving high school start time to 8:30.
    • Later start will raise grades at Pinecrest, researchers say.
    • Board finally moves to give sleepy teens the later start they need.
11. 8.

    Pia reads for slant. Which sentence shows the writer's opinion in how it describes people, instead of just reporting a fact?

    • [9] Most districts that switched kept their new times after the first year.
    • [3] A survey of 412 Pinecrest students found that 71 percent get fewer than seven hours of sleep on school nights.
    • [7] A few parents complained that they would struggle to get to work.
    • [5] Bus drivers say the plan would force them to rearrange routes, and the district's transportation director warned of added costs of about $180,000 a year for more drivers and routes.

12. News article about a food truck rule in Eastport

    [1] The Eastport city council is considering a rule that would keep food trucks at least 200 feet from restaurants. [2] Restaurant owners say the rule is needed to protect businesses that pay property taxes and employ year-round staff. [3] Food truck owners say the rule would push them out of the busiest blocks. [4] According to the city clerk, 14 licensed trucks now operate in Eastport, and nine of them park within 200 feet of a restaurant at least once a week.

    [5] Restaurant owner Gina Marsh called the trucks "free riders who take our customers and leave no trace." [6] Truck owner Omar Haddad said that most of his customers are office workers who would not otherwise go out to lunch. [7] A downtown business group, which represents 60 restaurants, supports the rule. [8] The group's president, Carl Voss, reminded the council that restaurants pay the costs of rent, taxes, and inspections.

    [9] The Eastport Mobile Vendors Association, which has 11 members, opposes the rule. [10] Many residents are tired of seeing trucks block the sidewalk, and the council appears ready to act. [11] The council will vote next month. [12] Residents may email their opinions to the clerk.

13. 9.

    Ren marks the loaded word in sentence [8]. Which word suggests the council had forgotten something?

    • The word taxes here.
    • The word pay here.
    • The word costs here.
    • The word reminded.
14. 10.

    Tala writes a headline for the article. Which headline reports the facts without slant?

    • Restaurants press for fair rules as food trucks crowd the busiest blocks downtown.
    • Council weighs ban that would push food trucks off the busiest streets in town.
    • Food trucks take customers from restaurants, city clerk finds.
    • Eastport council weighs 200-foot limit for food trucks near restaurants.