Work out a word, then check it

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Bo reads: “The experiment failed for the third time, and the engineer slumped in a chair, dejected, staring at the floor.” What does dejected mean here?

   • sitting in a chair
   • sad and discouraged
   • full of hope and excitement
   • looking hard for a long time
2. 2.

   Kira reads: “The inspector ran a finger along every shelf and opened every drawer, then found nothing to criticize in the impeccable kitchen.” What does impeccable mean here?

   • full of dirt and trouble
   • a piece of furniture for keeping things
   • checked by an inspector
   • perfect, with no flaws
3. 3.

   Luz reads: “The pilot began to bank the plane to the left to line up with the runway.” Which meaning of bank fits?

   • the sloping ground beside a river
   • a long strip of ground where planes land
   • to tilt to one side while turning
   • a place that keeps people's money
4. 4.

   Milo reads: “The wagon crossed the plain for hours, and the grass stretched flat in every direction without a single hill.” Which meaning of plain fits?

   • easy to see or understand
   • a four-wheeled cart pulled by horses
   • a large, flat area of land
   • simple, with no decoration
5. 5.

   Noah reads: “The clerk checked the figure in the last column and found it was too large, so the numbers were added again.” Which meaning of figure fits?

   • the shape of a person seen from far away
   • to work something out in the mind
   • a number
   • the last column on a page
6. 6.

   Pia reads: “A fair held each autumn draws crowds with rides, games and contests.” Which meaning of fair fits?

   • light in color
   • happening each autumn
   • an outdoor event with rides, games and shows
   • treating each person the same way

7. Read this first

   Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)

   Bolt (noun): 1. a metal pin with a screw thread, used with a nut; 2. a sudden dash or run; 3. a flash of lightning.

8. 7.

   Ren reads: “At the sound of the whistle, the sprinter made a bolt for the finish line.” Which sense of bolt in the entry fits?

   • a metal pin used with a nut
   • a sudden dash toward a place
   • a flash of lightning in a storm
   • the signal that starts a race

9. Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)

   Stage (noun): 1. a raised platform where performers appear; 2. one step or period in a process; 3. a horse-drawn coach that carried passengers on a regular route (old use).

10. 8.

    Tala reads: “The seedling had reached the third stage of growth, with its first true leaves unfolding.” Which sense of stage in the entry fits?

    • a young plant with new leaves
    • one step in a process of change
    • a horse-drawn coach for passengers
    • a raised platform for performers

11. Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)

    Crane: 1. (noun) a tall machine with a long arm for lifting heavy loads; 2. (noun) a large bird with long legs and a long neck; 3. (verb) to stretch the neck to see better.

12. 9.

    Zee reads: “The crowd began to crane their necks to see the parade over the heads in front.” Which sense of crane in the entry fits?

    • a large bird with a long neck
    • to stretch the neck to see better
    • a tall machine that lifts heavy loads
    • people crowding along a street

13. Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)

    Scale (noun): 1. a set of marks used for measuring, as on a ruler; 2. one of the thin, hard plates that cover the skin of a fish or snake; 3. the ratio between measurements on a map or model and the real thing.

14. 10.

    Ari reads: “The trout's silvery scale flashed in the shallow water as the fish turned.” Which sense of scale in the entry fits?

    • the ratio between a model and the real thing
    • a set of marks used for measuring
    • the flash of light off the water
    • a thin, hard plate on a fish's skin