Formal and objective: matching the writing to the reader

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Which Paper Towel Absorbs the Most Water? (student draft: lab report for a science teacher)

   [1] The purpose of this experiment was to determine which of three paper towel brands absorbs the most water. [2] We labeled the brands A, B and C, and we cut one sheet of each brand to the same size. [3] Our hypothesis was that Brand C, the most expensive of the three, would hold the most water. [4] For each trial, we poured 100 milliliters of water onto a flat tray, laid a sheet on the water for ten seconds and measured the water that remained.

   [5] We repeated the procedure five times for each brand to reduce the effect of any single error. [6] Brand A absorbed an average of 62 milliliters, Brand B absorbed 71 milliliters, and Brand C absorbed 58 milliliters. [7] Brand C, which cost the most, finished last, and that result is hard to excuse. [8] Brand B's sheets were pretty thick, about a millimeter, but they held up fine after soaking.

   [9] Basically, the thicker sheets in Brand B had more tiny air pockets, so they could suck up water way faster. [10] Brand A, which cost the least, beat Brand C, which makes the company behind Brand C look foolish. [11] These results contradicted our hypothesis, since price did not predict absorbency. [12] In a future experiment, we would test additional brands and measure absorbency over a longer time.

2. 1.

   Ari labels the register of sentence [7] in the lab report. Which label and reason fit it?

   • Casual but loaded: "hard to excuse" sounds chatty, and it judges the result instead of reporting it.
   • Formal and objective: the sentence reports which brand finished last and gives its price.
   • Formal but loaded: the sentence is built formally, but "hard to excuse" judges the result instead of reporting it.
   • Casual and objective: the sentence tells the reader which brand finished last in a casual voice.
3. 2.

   In sentence [10], Bo finds a phrase that judges the manufacturer. Which revision states the result in neutral words?

   • Brand A, the bargain brand, humbled Brand C, which cost the most.
   • Brand A, which cost the least, absorbed less water than Brand C, which cost the most.
   • Brand A, which cost the least, totally beat Brand C, which cost the most.
   • Brand A, which cost the least, absorbed more water than Brand C, which cost the most.
4. 3.

   Esme rereads sentence [9], which slips into chat. Which revision fits a lab report and keeps the fact?

   • The thicker sheets in Brand B contained more small air pockets, so they absorbed water more quickly.
   • Basically, the thicker sheets in Brand B contained more small air pockets, so they absorbed water faster.
   • Owing to the circumstance that the thicker sheets of Brand B possessed a greater quantity of small air pockets, absorption of water proceeded at an accelerated rate.
   • The thinner sheets in Brand B contained more small air pockets, so they absorbed water more quickly.
5. 4.

   Jun labels the register of sentence [8] in the lab report. Which label and reason fit it?

   • Formal but objective: the sentence gives a measurement of about a millimeter, which is formal.
   • Casual but objective: "pretty" and "held up fine" are chatty, but the sentence reports a measurement.
   • Casual and loaded: "pretty" and "held up fine" are chatty, and they praise the brand.
   • Formal and loaded: the sentence is precisely built, and "held up fine" praises the brand.

6. A Longer Lunch Period (student draft: letter to the principal)

   [1] Dear Principal Haddad: I am writing on behalf of the eighth-grade student council to request a longer lunch period. [2] At present, lunch lasts 25 minutes, and the line for hot meals often takes ten of those minutes. [3] Last month, the council timed the line on six different days and found that the wait averaged nine and a half minutes. [4] Students who buy a hot lunch therefore have fewer than 16 minutes left to eat.

   [5] The cafeteria's slow, unresponsive service is plainly the fault of lazy management. [6] Several teachers have told the council that students return to class hungry and unable to concentrate, though no formal study has examined the question. [7] We believe a 35-minute period would cost the schedule two minutes per class. [8] Honestly, nobody can eat a real meal in 15 minutes, so the current schedule is kind of ridiculous.

   [9] The council also surveyed 120 eighth graders, and 94 of them said they felt rushed at lunch. [10] We recognize that a longer lunch would shorten some class periods, and we have drawn up a schedule that spreads the pain of the change evenly. [11] The attached schedule would let us start the change in January with no added cost. [12] We would be grateful for an opportunity to present this plan at the next staff meeting.

7. 5.

   Luz spots a loaded phrase in sentence [5] of the letter. Which revision keeps the complaint in neutral words?

   • The cafeteria's service is kind of slow, and the council figures management is to blame.
   • The cafeteria's service is slow, and the council holds the management responsible.
   • The cafeteria's service is slow, and the council blames its useless management.
   • The cafeteria's service is slow, and the council holds the school board responsible.
8. 6.

   Milo wants sentence [8] to fit a letter to the principal. Which revision is formal and keeps the point?

   • Fifteen minutes is too short for most students to finish a meal, so the schedule needs to change.
   • It is incontrovertible that the allotted quarter hour is insufficient for the consumption of a complete meal by the student population, wherefore the schedule requires amendment.
   • Fifteen minutes is too short for most students to finish a meal, so the lunch line needs to move faster.
   • Honestly, 15 minutes is too short for most students to finish a meal, so the schedule should change.
9. 7.

   In sentence [10], Noah finds words that make the change sound painful. Which revision states the plan in neutral words?

   • We have drawn up a schedule that spreads the suffering of the change evenly.
   • We have drawn up a schedule that splits the lost time kind of evenly among classes.
   • We have drawn up a schedule that shares the shortened time evenly among classes.
   • We have drawn up a schedule that takes the lost time from the last class alone.

10. Maple Street Library to Close for Renovation (student draft: article for the school newsletter)

    [1] The Maple Street branch library will close for renovation on March 3 and reopen in August, according to the city's library director, Ms. Odell. [2] The project will replace the roof, add a reading room and widen the entrance for wheelchairs and strollers. [3] Ms. Odell announced that the $2.4 million cost would be paid from a bond that voters approved in 2021. [4] Council member Reyes complained that the city had failed to consult neighbors about the timing.

    [5] The director admitted that a public meeting was not held, but said that notices were posted at the branch for three weeks. [6] Residents who use the library every day will find the closing a hassle, and many are fuming about it. [7] During the closure, books can be requested online and picked up at the Oak Avenue branch, which is open six days a week. [8] Honestly, the Oak Avenue branch is a trek for people without cars, so the city really ought to run a shuttle.

    [9] A spokesperson said the city is looking into a shuttle, but did not give a date. [10] The reading room will include twelve computers and a small stage for story hours. [11] Ms. Odell insisted that the new building will be the best library in the county. [12] The branch will host a farewell open house on March 2 from noon to four, so come on by and say goodbye!

11. 8.

    Pia labels the register of sentence [6] in the article. Which label and reason fit it?

    • Casual and objective: "hassle" and "fuming" are chatty, but the sentence merely reports what residents do.
    • Casual and loaded: "hassle" and "fuming" are chatty, and they claim to know how residents feel.
    • Formal and loaded: the sentence is neatly built, and "fuming" claims to know how residents feel.
    • Formal and objective: the sentence reports who uses the library and what will happen.
12. 9.

    Ren finds a loaded verb in sentence [5] of the article. Which revision reports the statement in neutral words?

    • The director said that a public meeting was not held and that notices were posted at the branch for three weeks.
    • The director conceded that a public meeting was not held, but claimed that notices were posted at the branch for three weeks.
    • The director said they did not hold a public meeting, but notices were up at the branch for like three weeks.
    • The director said that a public meeting was not held and that notices were posted at the branch for three days.
13. 10.

    Zee rereads sentence [12], which ends with a friendly shout. Which revision fits a news article and keeps the information?

    • Residents are invited to a farewell open house on March 3 from noon to four.
    • Residents are cordially invited to attend a farewell open house, scheduled for the second of March between the hours of twelve noon and four in the afternoon.
    • Residents are invited to come on by for the farewell open house on March 2 from noon to four.
    • Residents are invited to a farewell open house on March 2 from noon to four.