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].
   • 6:15 a.m., from sentence [2].
   • 7:15 a.m., from sentence [9].
   • 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: one hundred twenty passengers, twelve cars. Text B: 120 passengers, a dozen 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.
4. 3.

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

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

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

   Kira fills in the 'agree?' column for the row 'length of the renovation'. Which entry is right?

   • Text A: $1.8 million. Text B: $2.1 million. They differ.
   • Text A: an eleven-month renovation. Text B: eleven months of construction. They differ.
   • Text A: an eleven-month renovation. Text B: eleven months of construction. They agree.
   • Text A: an eleven-month renovation. Text B: nine months of construction. They differ.

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?

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

    Noah fills in the 'agree?' column for the row 'when glass is collected'. Which entry is right?

    • Text A: collected on the first Monday of each month. Text B: picked up on the first Monday of each month. They agree.
    • Text A: collected on the first Monday of each month. Text B: picked up on the first Monday of each month. They differ.
    • Text A: collected on the first Monday of each month. Text B: picked up on the first Tuesday of each month. They differ.
    • Text A: 41 percent. Text B: 34 percent. They differ.
11. 8.

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

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

12. 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.

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 two hundred miles. They differ.
    • Text A: October 5. Text B: October 12. They differ.
    • Text A: about two hundred miles. Text B: roughly two hundred miles. They agree.
    • Text A: about two hundred miles. Text B: roughly twenty miles. 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 [7] and [13].
    • Sentences [1] and [8].
    • Sentences [1] and [2].
    • Sentences [3] and [11].