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Grade 7 English Language Arts — Reading between the lines

Work out what a passage implies but does not state outright.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Read: "The dog's bowl was still full and its leash still hung by the door, though it was past six." What does this suggest?

    • a) The dog has not been fed or walked.
    • b) The dog has run away.
    • c) The dog has been fed and walked.
    • d) The dog belongs to a neighbor.

  2. 2.Read: "Meera pulled her scarf tighter and hurried past the closed shops. Not a single light burned in any window." What can you infer?

    • a) It is a hot afternoon in a busy market.
    • b) It is a cold night and the street is deserted.
    • c) The shops have just opened.
    • d) Meera is shopping for a scarf.

  3. 3.Read: "Nobody answered the bell, and three days of newspapers lay on the step." What is the most likely explanation?

    • a) The newspapers arrived this morning.
    • b) Somebody is at home but asleep.
    • c) Nobody has been home for days.
    • d) The bell is broken.

  4. 4.Read: "She wiped her eyes quickly and turned to the window before anyone could see." Write one word for what she was hiding.

  5. 5.Passage: "Ravi arrived with mud to his knees and a broken bat." Which of these is an inference rather than a stated fact?

    • a) Ravi had been playing cricket on a wet field.
    • b) There was mud on Ravi's legs.
    • c) Ravi arrived.
    • d) Ravi's bat was broken.

  6. 6.Read: "Every wall of the small room was covered with certificates and medals." What can you infer about the person who lives there?

    • a) They collect stamps.
    • b) They dislike sport.
    • c) They have just moved in.
    • d) They have won many awards.

  7. 7.Match each detail to what it suggests.

    • Her uniform was still crisp at four o'clock.
    • He counted his coins twice before entering the shop.
    • The kitchen was full of smoke and the toaster was still down.
    • She kept the umbrella open indoors.
    • Somebody had forgotten the toast.
    • She wanted it to dry.
    • He was worried he did not have enough.
    • She had not played outside all day.

  8. 8.Read: "The coach did not look at Sameer once during the team announcement." What does this most likely suggest?

    • a) Sameer has been made captain.
    • b) Sameer has not been selected.
    • c) The coach cannot see well.
    • d) Sameer was not present.

Answer key — Grade 7 English Language Arts — Reading between the lines

  1. 1. a) The dog has not been fed or walked.
  2. 2. b) It is a cold night and the street is deserted.
  3. 3. c) Nobody has been home for days.
  4. 4.
    • tears
    • crying
    • sadness
  5. 5. a) Ravi had been playing cricket on a wet field.
  6. 6. d) They have won many awards.
  7. 7. Her uniform was still crisp at four o'clock. → She had not played outside all day.; He counted his coins twice before entering the shop. → He was worried he did not have enough.; The kitchen was full of smoke and the toaster was still down. → Somebody had forgotten the toast.; She kept the umbrella open indoors. → She wanted it to dry.
  8. 8. b) Sameer has not been selected.