WorksheetsUnit 3 Benchmark 7th Grade
Total questions: 32
Worksheet time: 34mins
What is the main idea of a selection?
the last paragraph of the selection
the first sentence of the selection
the details of the selection
the central message of the selection
Which of these strategies would best help a reader find the main idea?
reading footnotes
reading the final sentence in every
paragraph
skimming the entire selection
reading a paragraph from the middle of
the selection
What is the most effective way to figure out an unstated main idea?
Make connections between key points
and supporting details.
Figure out which of the details are supporting
details.
Read closely and reread if necessary to
locate the main idea.
Skim (look over the text quickly) or
scan (run your eyes over the text).
For which of the following purposes is the strategy of close reading most effective?
identifying unknown words
finding out if an article will be interesting to read
getting an overview of all the ideas in an essay
understanding how a main idea is supported by an example in a specific paragraph
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
(1) The most catastrophic natural disaster in the United States was a Category 4, or extreme, hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. (2) A 15-foot storm surge killed more than 8,000 people on the low-lying island. (3) In an effort to prevent a similar disaster in the future, the island’s elevation was raised farther above sea level. (4) Workers also constructed a sea wall to try to protect the city.
Which sentence most closely supports the main idea with important details?
sentence 1
sentence 2
sentence 3
sentence 4
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
(1) The most catastrophic natural disaster in the United States was a Category 4, or extreme, hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900. (2) A 15-foot storm surge killed more than 8,000 people on the low-lying island. (3) In an effort to prevent a similar disaster in the future, the island’s elevation was raised farther above sea level. (4) Workers also constructed a sea wall to try to protect the city.
Which sentence gives the main idea of the selection?
sentence 1
sentence 2
sentence 3
sentence 4
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
A silent killer is spreading poison across the earth. Rain, polluted by the gases given off by factories and motor vehicles, is becoming highly acidic. This “acid rain” is slowly destroying our environment. Acid rain has already damaged millions of acres of forests. It runs off into waterways, polluting drinking water and killing plant and animal life. Acid rain also has a harmful effect on the human body, causing lung disease and other health problems. Even our structures are affected, because acid rain eats away at buildings and monuments.
Acid rain has proved to be difficult to control, so government officials have hesitated to do anything about it. This cannot go on. We must urge our representatives to pass stronger antipollution laws with stiff punishment if they are not obeyed. We must act now before it is too late.
Which is a statement of the author’s main point of view?
Millions of acres of forests have been damaged by acid rain.
Acid rain has a harmful effect on the human body.
The government has done little about acid rain because it is difficult to control.
Acid rain is a danger to the environment and must be stopped.
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
A silent killer is spreading poison across the earth. Rain, polluted by the gases given off by factories and motor vehicles, is becoming highly acidic. This “acid rain” is slowly destroying our environment. Acid rain has already damaged millions of acres of forests. It runs off into waterways, polluting drinking water and killing plant and animal life. Acid rain also has a harmful effect on the human body, causing lung disease and other health problems. Even our structures are affected, because acid rain eats away at buildings and monuments.
Acid rain has proved to be difficult to control, so government officials have hesitated to do anything about it. This cannot go on. We must urge our representatives to pass stronger antipollution laws with stiff punishment if they are not obeyed. We must act now before it is too late.
Which of the following actions would the author find most effective?
Doctors meet to discuss treatments for lung diseases caused by acid rain.
The government sets aside money to repair buildings damaged by acid rain.
New trees are planted to replace the damaged ones.
Laws are passed to strictly control exhaust fumes from vehicles.
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
A silent killer is spreading poison across the earth. Rain, polluted by the gases given off by factories and motor vehicles, is becoming highly acidic. This “acid rain” is slowly destroying our environment. Acid rain has already damaged millions of acres of forests. It runs off into waterways, polluting drinking water and killing plant and animal life. Acid rain also has a harmful effect on the human body, causing lung disease and other health problems. Even our structures are affected, because acid rain eats away at buildings and monuments.
Acid rain has proved to be difficult to control, so government officials have hesitated to do anything about it. This cannot go on. We must urge our representatives to pass stronger antipollution laws with stiff punishment if they are not obeyed. We must act now before it is too late.
What is the primary purpose of this selection?
to inform lawmakers about acid rain
to persuade readers to take action against acid rain
to explain where acid rain comes from
to describe the effects of acid rain on the human body
Which of the following answer choices is the best definition of a reflective essay?
an essay in which the author tells a narrative, or story
an essay in which the author explains, defines, or interprets ideas, events, or processes
an essay in which the author tells about a person’s life
an essay in which the author presents his or her feelings or thoughts
What is an expository essay?
an essay in which the author describes something
an essay in which the author explains, defines, or interprets ideas, events, or processes
an essay in which the author tells the story of someone’s life
an essay in which the author presents his or her feelings or thoughts
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution were twin explosions in thinking that made the 17th and 18th centuries one of the most exciting and dynamic eras in European history. People came to believe in the power of human reason apart from the guidance of religion. Astronomers concluded that the sun rather than the Earth was the center of the universe, philosophers questioned kings’ divine right to rule, and explorers brought back new ideas from the Middle and Far East. Modern thought stems
from the Enlightenment, and contemporary science is a result of the Scientific Revolution.
What change in thinking occurred during the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution?
People looked to the Bible for answers to all questions.
People believed in their rulers' divine right to rule.
People accepted what their teachers taught them.
People recognized the importance of reasoning in the discovery of new truths.
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution were twin explosions in thinking that made the 17th and 18th centuries one of the most exciting and dynamic eras in European history. People came to believe in the power of human reason apart from the guidance of religion. Astronomers concluded that the sun rather than the Earth was the center of the universe, philosophers questioned kings’ divine right to rule, and explorers brought back new ideas from the Middle and Far East. Modern thought stems
from the Enlightenment, and contemporary science is a result of the Scientific Revolution.
What kind of essay is the selection?
persuasive
reflective
expository
descriptive
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution were twin explosions in thinking that made the 17th and 18th centuries one of the most exciting and dynamic eras in European history. People came to believe in the power of human reason apart from the guidance of religion. Astronomers concluded that the sun rather than the Earth was the center of the universe, philosophers questioned kings’ divine right to rule, and explorers brought back new ideas from the Middle and Far East. Modern thought stems
from the Enlightenment, and contemporary science is a result of the Scientific Revolution.
What is the main purpose of the selection?
to persuade
to present feelings and thoughts
to describe
to explain
What is the most significant difference between biography and autobiography?
Biography tells what someone does, and autobiography tells what someone thinks.
Biography describes someone else’s life, and autobiography describes the writer’s life.
Biography is accurate, and autobiography is inventive.
Biography tells about someone’s entire life, and autobiography tells about incidents in someone’s life.
The following excerpt most likely came from which type of writing?
When I was five, I got the first scare of my young life when my father put me in a pen with a bunch of pigs. They were so large, they nearly knocked me off my feet.
persuasive essay
expository essay
biography
autobiography
In what way are biography and autobiography alike?
They are both fiction.
They both focus on the future.
They both tell someone’s life story.
They both tell about the writer’s life.
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
My closest friend’s name is Miss Ruth—at least that is what I call her. She is seventy years old. My unexpected friendship with Miss Ruth began when I was thirteen. wanted to earn money by doing yard work. My friends would never have approached the grand old lady of Elm Street, but I just marched up the steps and knocked on her front door. Miss Ruth, who took pride in her good judgment of people, looked me up and down, and then gave me a job.
What is a likely secondary purpose?
to persuade kids to get an after-school job
to explain the importance of friendship
to describe an unusual friendship
to explain how to do yard work
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
My closest friend’s name is Miss Ruth—at least that is what I call her. She is seventy years old. My unexpected friendship with Miss Ruth began when I was thirteen. wanted to earn money by doing yard work. My friends would never have approached the grand old lady of Elm Street, but I just marched up the steps and knocked on her front door. Miss Ruth, who took pride in her good judgment of people, looked me up and down, and then gave me a job.
What kind of essay is the selection?
persuasive
reflective
expository
descriptive
Read the selection. Then, answer the questions that follow.
My closest friend’s name is Miss Ruth—at least that is what I call her. She is seventy years old. My unexpected friendship with Miss Ruth began when I was thirteen. wanted to earn money by doing yard work. My friends would never have approached the grand old lady of Elm Street, but I just marched up the steps and knocked on her front door. Miss Ruth, who took pride in her good judgment of people, looked me up and down, and then gave me a job.
What is the main purpose of the selection?
to present feelings or thoughts
to describe
to explain
to persuade
The suffix -ness means "the quality of being." Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the word awkwardness in the following sentence.
We noticed his awkwardness on the dance floor, but his partner did not seem to mind.
act causing embarrassment
characterized by being difficult to manage
condition of being clumsy
relating to a lack of skill
What does the suffix -able mean in the words noticeable and disposable?
capable of being
lacking in
tending
full of
Which word in the following sentence is a conjunction?
Slowly but surely Dan’s dog learned to respond to hand signals.
but
dog
respond
to
How are coordinating conjunctions normally used?
to connect subordinating to main clauses
to connect three items in a series
to connect the same type of sentence elements
to connect sentences
The root -rupt- means "break" or "burst." Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the word interrupt in the following sentence.
“I hate to interrupt your conversation, but I really need to talk to you now,” John said to his mother and father.
add to
break into
take apart
subtract from
The root -just- means "fair or right." Using this knowledge, choose the answer that best defines the word justifies in the following sentence.
The actor’s award justifies the director’s decision to cast him in the role.
calls into question
goes against
shows to be right
does not explain
Which conjunction would best combine the following sentences?
You could borrow my car. You could borrow my truck.
for
yet
or
so
Which conjunction would best combine the following sentences?
I love to write. I am less enthusiastic about editing.
and
but
because
when
Which of the following sentences contains a coordinating conjunction?
These days, Keegan is either crabby or melancholy.
I was late for school because I ignored
the alarm.
Pack your lunch before you forget.
Harvey would be a great cat if he didn’t
shed so much.
Which word in the following sentence is a preposition?
Hannah sat down and wrote a long e-mail to her father.
and
a
to
her
With what type of word does a prepositional phrase end?
a preposition
a verb or adverb
an article or adjective
a noun or pronoun
What is the function of a preposition in a sentence?
to express action
to show the subject of the sentence
to tell more about the subject
to connect a noun or pronoun to another word
