Cut the extra words, fix the muddled comparison

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Draft

   The team conducted an analysis of the soil samples, and it made the determination that nitrogen levels were low in all three beds.

2. 1.

   Ari edits a sentence from a lab report. Which revision turns the wordy noun phrase into a verb and keeps every fact?

   • The team did an analysis of the soil samples and came to the determination that nitrogen levels were low in all three beds.
   • The team analyzed the soil samples and determined that nitrogen levels were low in all three beds.
   • The team analyzed the soil samples and determined that nitrogen levels were low.
   • The team studied the soil samples and suspected that nitrogen levels were low in all three beds.

3. Draft

   The council gave consideration to the bike lane plan, but it is in opposition to the removal of parking on Mill Street.

4. 2.

   Bo edits a sentence from a city newsletter. Which revision uses the hidden verbs and keeps every fact?

   • The council approved the bike lane plan but opposes the removal of parking on Mill Street.
   • The council took the bike lane plan into consideration but is opposed to the removal of parking on Mill Street.
   • The council considered the bike lane plan but opposes the removal of parking on Mill Street.
   • The council considered the bike lane plan but opposes the removal of parking.

5. Draft

   Heavy rain was the cause of the flooding, which led to the destruction of two footbridges and resulted in the closure of the trail.

6. 3.

   Jun edits a sentence from a science magazine. Which revision uses the hidden verbs and keeps the cause?

   • Heavy rain caused the flooding, which destroyed footbridges and closed the trail.
   • Heavy rain caused the flooding, which destroyed two footbridges and closed the trail.
   • Heavy rain caused the flooding, which damaged two footbridges and closed the trail.
   • Heavy rain was responsible for the flooding, which led to the destruction of two footbridges and the closure of the trail.
7. 4.

   The club's goals this year are to raise funds, recruiting new members, and the planning of two field trips. Kira edits a sentence from a club handout. Which revision makes the list parallel and keeps every goal?

   • The club's goals this year are to raise funds, recruiting new members, and to plan two field trips.
   • The club's goals this year are to raise funds, to recruit new members, and to visit two field trips.
   • The club's goals this year are fundraising, recruiting new members, and the planning of two field trips.
   • The club's goals this year are to raise funds, to recruit new members, and to plan two field trips.
8. 5.

   Walking to school is healthier for teenagers than to take the bus, and it also costs the family less. Luz edits a sentence from an op-ed. Which revision makes the comparison parallel and keeps the claim?

   • Walking to school is healthier for teenagers than taking the bus, and it also costs the family the same.
   • Walking to school is healthier for teenagers than the bus, and it also costs the family less.
   • Walking to school is healthier for teenagers than taking the bus, and it also costs the family less.
   • Walking to school is healthier for teenagers than to take the bus, and it also costs the family less.

9. Draft

   The students measured the mass of each sample, recorded the temperature twice, and then each sample was weighed again after drying.

10. 6.

    Milo edits a sentence from a lab write-up. Which revision makes the series parallel and keeps every step?

    • The students measured the mass of each sample, recorded the temperature twice, and then each sample was weighed again after drying.
    • The students measured the mass of each sample, recorded the temperature, and then weighed each sample after drying.
    • The students measured the mass of each sample, recorded the temperature twice, and then dried each sample again.
    • The students measured the mass of each sample, recorded the temperature twice, and then weighed each sample again after drying.
11. 7.

    The fine for littering in Brandt County is higher than Marlow County. Noah edits a sentence from a policy brief. Which revision compares like with like and keeps the claim?

    • The fine for littering in Brandt County is higher than Marlow County's county.
    • The fine for littering in Brandt County is higher than those in Marlow County.
    • The fine for littering in Brandt County is higher than that in Marlow County.
    • The fine for littering in Brandt County is higher than the fine for any other offense in Marlow County.
12. 8.

    Pia reads four sentences from a student paper. Only one is muddled, so only one needs a revision. Which?

    • The new branch holds more books than any other branch in the county, though it has fewer seats than the main library.
    • Most volunteers, if they finish the training by May, will lead a reading group in the fall.
    • Walking home from the library, the rain began to fall in heavy sheets, and the streets flooded.
    • The librarian, who has worked at the Oak Street branch since 1998, started the tutoring program that now serves over two hundred students.
13. 9.

    Tala reads four sentences from a student paper. Only one is muddled, so only one needs a revision. Which?

    • If the vote is delayed, the council could, at the earliest, approve the plan next spring.
    • The report, which the council received in March and discussed at two public meetings, recommends that the plan be studied for a year.
    • The plan costs less than the old proposal but more than the pilot program, which the council funded last year.
    • At the ceremony, the mayor thanked the volunteers who painted the fence in her speech.
14. 10.

    Zee reads four sentences from a student paper. Only one is muddled, so only one needs a revision. Which?

    • The proposal, drafted by two juniors and reviewed by a teacher, asks the committee to extend library hours until six o'clock.
    • Unless the budget changes, the library can, at most, stay open one extra hour.
    • Running out of time, the proposal was approved by the committee without discussion.
    • The later hours would help more students than the current schedule does, since most clubs meet after four.