When two texts disagree

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Two Reports on the Cobb Island Ferry

   Text A, the Cobb Island Courier: [1] The new ferry schedule for Cobb Island takes effect on Monday, March 3, after months of complaints from commuters who work on the mainland. [2] The first boat will now leave the island dock at 6:15 each weekday morning, which gives nurses and dock workers enough time to reach their early shifts. [3] A one-way ticket will cost four dollars, and a monthly pass will cost eighty.

   [4] According to the county transportation office, the ferry carries one hundred twenty passengers and twelve cars on each crossing. [5] Tickets can be bought at the island dock or through a mobile app that the county released last week. [6] Island residents have asked for evening sailings after eight o'clock for years. [7] The county has promised to study that request before the autumn schedule is set.

   Text B, the Mainland Ledger: [8] Starting Monday, March 3, the Cobb Island ferry will follow a revised weekday schedule that the county designed for early commuters. [9] The transportation office has set the first departure from the island at 6:45 a.m., which is thirty minutes later than many riders had requested. [10] Tickets will cost four dollars one way, and a monthly pass will be available for eighty dollars.

   [11] County officials said that each crossing can hold 120 passengers and a dozen cars. [12] Riders may purchase tickets at the island dock or on the mobile app that went online last week. [13] Several business owners on the island argue that the later start still leaves their workers too little time. [14] Officials have said they will review evening service before the autumn schedule begins. Matrix. One row for each fact, one column for each text, and a last column that says whether the two texts agree or differ.

2. 1.

   Ari fills in the Text B column of the matrix. What first departure time does Text B give?

   • 6:45 a.m., from sentence [9].
   • 7:15 a.m., from sentence [9].
   • 6:15 a.m., from sentence [2].
   • Eight o'clock, from sentence [6].
3. 2.

   Bo fills in the 'agree?' column for the row 'capacity of each crossing'. Which entry is right?

   • Text A: one hundred twenty passengers, twelve cars. Text B: 120 passengers, twenty cars. They differ.
   • Text A: four dollars one way. Text B: four dollars one way. They agree.
   • Text A: one hundred twenty passengers, twelve cars. Text B: 120 passengers, a dozen cars. They agree.
   • Text A: one hundred twenty passengers, twelve cars. Text B: 120 passengers, a dozen cars. They differ.
4. 3.

   Esme looks for the row where the texts give different facts about the same thing. Which two sentences show it?

   • Sentences [6] and [13].
   • Sentences [3] and [10].
   • Sentences [2] and [9].
   • Sentences [2] and [3].

5. Two Reports on the Maple Grove Pool

   Text A, the Maple Grove Gazette: [1] The Maple Grove community pool reopened on Saturday, June 14, after an eleven-month renovation that replaced its cracked concrete basin. [2] The new pool has eight lanes, a shallow area for young swimmers, and a ramp that lets wheelchair users enter the water. [3] According to the parks department, the project cost $1.8 million, most of it from a state recreation grant.

   [4] Supporters called the upgrade long overdue for a town that has not had a working pool since 2019. [5] A committee of residents advised the parks department on the design during two public meetings. [6] Swim lessons for children begin on June 23. [7] A free open swim will be held on opening day from noon until four.

   Text B, the Valley Sentinel: [8] After eleven months of construction, the Maple Grove community pool welcomed swimmers again on Saturday, June 14. [9] The redesigned pool includes eight lanes, a wading area, and a gently sloped ramp for swimmers who use wheelchairs. [10] Town finance records show that the renovation cost $2.1 million, including $300,000 for a new filtration system.

   [11] Some taxpayers argue that the town should have repaired the old basin instead of building a new one. [12] Residents who served on an advisory committee helped shape the plans during two public meetings, officials said. [13] Children's lessons start on June 23, and the pool will offer free swimming on opening day. [14] Lifeguards say the building still needs a new roof. Matrix. One row for each fact, one column for each text, and a last column that says whether the two texts agree or differ.

6. 4.

   Jun fills in the Text A column of the matrix. How much does Text A say the renovation cost?

   • $1.8 million, from sentence [3].
   • $1.9 million, from sentence [3].
   • Eleven months, from sentence [1].
   • $2.1 million, from sentence [10].
7. 5.

   Luz looks for the row where the texts give different facts about the same thing. Which two sentences show it?

   • Sentences [6] and [13].
   • Sentences [5] and [14].
   • Sentences [3] and [2].
   • Sentences [3] and [10].

8. Two Reports on the Fenwick Recycling Program

   Text A, the Fenwick Post: [1] Fenwick's new curbside recycling program began on January 6, replacing the drop-off bins that residents had used for twenty years. [2] Every household received a blue cart at no charge, and glass is collected on the first Monday of each month. [3] City officials reported that the share of household waste that was recycled rose from 18 percent to 41 percent by the end of March.

   [4] Public works director Dana Whitfield said the program saves the city about $90,000 a year in landfill fees. [5] Residents who miss a pickup can call the public works office to schedule a second visit. [6] Some residents have complained that the carts are too large for narrow driveways. [7] Collection crews will visit each street on a rotating schedule.

   Text B, the Harbor Daily: [8] Since January 6, Fenwick households have placed their recyclables in blue carts that the city delivered free of charge. [9] According to the public works department, recycling climbed from 18 percent of household waste to 34 percent in the first three months. [10] Glass is picked up separately on the first Monday of each month, officials said.

   [11] The director of public works estimates that the change saves about $90,000 a year in landfill fees. [12] Households that miss a pickup may call the public works office to request another visit. [13] Several residents say the large carts are hard to store beside narrow driveways. [14] The city plans to survey households about the new schedule in June. Matrix. One row for each fact, one column for each text, and a last column that says whether the two texts agree or differ.

9. 6.

   Milo fills in the Text B column of the matrix. What recycling rate does Text B give for the first three months?

   • 18 percent, from sentence [9].
   • 41 percent, from sentence [3].
   • 37 percent, from sentence [9].
   • 34 percent, from sentence [9].
10. 7.

    Pia looks for the row where the texts give different facts about the same thing. Which two sentences show it?

    • Sentences [3] and [9].
    • Sentences [4] and [11].
    • Sentences [3] and [2].
    • Sentences [7] and [14].

11. Two Reports on the Tidewater Dinosaur Exhibit

    Text A, the Tidewater Times: [1] The Tidewater Museum opened its dinosaur exhibit on Saturday, October 5, with a mounted fossil that stretches forty-two feet from nose to tail. [2] The exhibit will remain open through January 5, and admission is nine dollars for adults and free for children under six. [3] Curator Marisol Teague said the fossils were uncovered in a quarry about two hundred miles from the museum.

    [4] Families who arrived early waited in line for nearly an hour, and the gift shop sold out of its stuffed toy dinosaurs by noon. [5] A touch table lets visitors handle casts of teeth and claws. [6] Teachers can book guided tours for classes on weekday mornings. [7] The museum hopes to add a second exhibit about ancient oceans next year.

    Text B, the County Dispatch: [8] A towering mounted fossil, forty-two feet long, greeted visitors when the Tidewater Museum's dinosaur exhibit opened on Saturday, October 12. [9] Admission costs $9 for adults, and children under six enter free, the museum said. [10] The exhibit runs until January 5, and school groups can arrange tours on weekday mornings.

    [11] Curator Marisol Teague explained that the bones came from a quarry roughly two hundred miles away. [12] Casts of teeth and claws can be handled at a touch table in the final gallery. [13] Some visitors said the crowded rooms made it hard to read the signs. [14] The museum is considering an exhibit on ancient oceans for next year. Matrix. One row for each fact, one column for each text, and a last column that says whether the two texts agree or differ.

12. 8.

    Ren fills in the Text B column of the matrix. On what date does Text B say the exhibit opened?

    • January 5, from sentence [10].
    • Saturday, October 19, from sentence [8].
    • Saturday, October 5, from sentence [1].
    • Saturday, October 12, from sentence [8].
13. 9.

    Tala fills in the 'agree?' column for the row 'distance from the museum to the quarry'. Which entry is right?

    • Text A: about two hundred miles. Text B: roughly twenty miles. They differ.
    • Text A: about two hundred miles. Text B: roughly two hundred miles. They differ.
    • Text A: about two hundred miles. Text B: roughly two hundred miles. They agree.
    • Text A: October 5. Text B: October 12. They differ.
14. 10.

    Zee looks for the row where the texts give different facts about the same thing. Which two sentences show it?

    • Sentences [3] and [11].
    • Sentences [1] and [8].
    • Sentences [1] and [2].
    • Sentences [7] and [13].