Work out a word, then check it
Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Ari reads: “The ephemeral blossoms, flowers that last only a single day, covered the path in pink.” What does ephemeral mean here?
- lasting for many years
- pink and pretty to look at
- lasting a very short time
- flowers that grow on the branches of trees
Bo reads: “The benevolent mayor, a kind leader who gave freely to the town, was thanked by many families.” What does benevolent mean here?
- thanked by many families
- a person chosen to lead a town
- kind and generous
- cruel and selfish
Esme reads: “The tenacious climber, one who refused to give up after three falls, finally reached the summit.” What does tenacious mean here?
- dropping suddenly from a steep place
- standing at the top of a mountain
- ready to quit at the first problem
- determined and slow to quit
Jun reads: “The turbulent water, rough and full of swirling currents, tossed the small boat around.” What does turbulent mean here?
- a steady flow of water in one direction
- smooth and calm
- carrying a small boat
- rough and stirred up
Kira reads: “Unlike the shy twin who stayed in a corner, the gregarious twin spent the party moving from group to group.” What does gregarious mean here?
- friendly and fond of company
- going to a party
- one of two children born together
- quiet and uneasy around others
Milo reads: “The teacher's lucid explanation was easy to follow, not confusing like the first one.” What does lucid mean here?
- confusing and hard to follow
- coming before the others
- clear and easy to understand
- given by a teacher at the front
Noah reads: “Instead of the plain lunch they usually had, the school held a lavish banquet with piles of food.” What does lavish mean here?
- simple and small
- given or spent in great amounts
- held at the school
- a meal eaten around noon
Pia reads: “Deciduous trees, such as maples and oaks, drop their leaves each autumn.” What does deciduous mean here?
- losing leaves once a year
- the season when leaves change color
- staying green through the whole winter
- trees that include maples and oaks
Ren reads: “Nomadic families, such as herders who follow their animals from pasture to pasture, live in tents they carry with them.” What does nomadic mean here?
- raising animals for a living
- settled in one house
- moving from place to place
- a field of grass where animals feed
Zee reads: “Volatile liquids, such as gasoline and nail polish remover, quickly turn into vapor in open air.” What does volatile mean here?
- staying liquid for a long time
- a substance that flows and fits its container
- a group that includes gasoline
- quick to turn into a gas