Work out a word, then check it

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   “The council had little money and a leaking roof. Its choice was pragmatic. It patched the leak with plain tools and finished in one afternoon.”

2. 1.

   Luz reads the three sentences. What does pragmatic mean here?

   • dreamy and not realistic
   • careful about saving money
   • practical and focused on what works
   • quick to finish a job
3. 2.

   “The old bridge had cracks that widened every year. The repair fund was empty. Its collapse was inevitable.” Noah reads the three sentences. What does inevitable mean here?

   • slow and gradual
   • caused by missing money
   • certain to happen
   • unlikely to happen
4. 3.

   “The two cousins exchanged one card each year. They had not spoken in a decade. Their bond was tenuous.” Pia reads the three sentences. What does tenuous mean here?

   • strong and close
   • very thin and weak
   • broken for good
   • warm and friendly

5. Use this

   “A long line of travelers waited at the dock. They may board the ferry when the crew opens the gate.” Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo): board: 1. (noun) a flat piece of wood; 2. (noun) a group of people who manage a company or a school; 3. (verb) to get on a ship, a train or a plane; 4. (noun) meals provided for a fee, as in room and board.

6. 4.

   Tala guessed that board means a flat piece of wood. Using both sentences and the entry, which sense does the text use?

   • a group of people who manage a school
   • to get on a ship, a train or a plane
   • meals provided for a fee
   • a flat piece of wood

7. Use this

   “After the hot hike, the scouts rested in the shade of a tree. Then they fan out across the meadow to search for the lost trail marker.” Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo): fan: 1. (noun) a machine or hand-held object that moves air to cool a person; 2. (noun) a person who strongly admires a sport, a team or a performer; 3. (verb) to spread out in the shape of an open fan; 4. (verb) to blow air on a flame to make it burn more.

8. 5.

   Zee guessed that fan means a machine that moves air to cool a person. Using both sentences and the entry, which sense does the text use?

   • to blow air on a flame to make it burn more
   • a person who strongly admires a team
   • a machine that moves air to cool a person
   • to spread out in a wide arc

9. Use this

   “The violinist stepped to the front of the stage. Slowly, the violinist drew the bow across the strings.” Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo): bow: 1. (noun) the front part of a ship; 2. (noun) a knot of ribbon with two loops; 3. (verb) to bend forward at the waist to greet an audience; 4. (noun) a long, thin rod strung with hairs, drawn across the strings to play a violin or a cello.

10. 6.

    Ari guessed that bow means to bend forward at the waist. Using both sentences and the entry, which sense does the text use?

    • a knot of ribbon with two loops
    • the front part of a ship
    • to bend forward to greet an audience
    • a rod with hairs drawn across the strings

11. Sentence 1

    The coach gave the team a stern warning before the final game. Sentence 2: Water crashed over the stern of the boat.

12. 7.

    Bo reads both sentences. Which pair of meanings fits stern in sentence 1, then in sentence 2?

    • strict and serious; the back end of a boat
    • kind and gentle; the back end of a boat
    • strict and serious; the front end of a boat
    • the back end of a boat; strict and serious

13. Sentence 1

    The villagers planted beans in a small plot beside the barn. Sentence 2: The friends uncovered a plot to surprise the mayor with a party.

14. 8.

    Kira reads both sentences. Which pair of meanings fits plot in sentence 1, then in sentence 2?

    • a secret plan; a small piece of ground
    • a small piece of ground; the events of a story
    • a graph that shows data; a secret plan
    • a small piece of ground; a secret plan
15. 9.

    The firm handshake showed the visitor's confidence. Sentence 2: The firm hired three new designers this month. Jun reads both sentences. Which pair of meanings fits firm in sentence 1, then in sentence 2?

    • steady and strong; solid and hard to bend
    • hard and solid like stone; a business
    • steady and strong; a business
    • a business; steady and strong

16. Sentence 1

    Please lean the ladder against the wall before climbing. Sentence 2: After the lean winter, the farm had little food left.

17. 10.

    Milo reads both sentences. Which pair of meanings fits lean in sentence 1, then in sentence 2?

    • to rest at a slant; short of supplies
    • short of supplies; to rest at a slant
    • to rest at a slant; thin, with little fat
    • to bend the body forward; short of supplies