Grade 7 Reading & writing diagnostic

15 questions on reading comprehension, writing and grammar & vocabulary, plus 3 from Grade 6. Answer what you can, then check your answers to see which topics are secure and what to practise next.

15 questions3 topicsAbout 15 minutesSet 2 of 5

Skip a question if you do not know the answer. It is better than guessing, because it shows what to practise.

1Reading comprehensionWhich theme best fits the passage?

A. Surviving records may not represent all past activity equally.B. Official records answer everything.C. Advertisements have no possible historical value.D. Every empty folder proves an event never occurred.

2Reading comprehensionWhich pair forms a rhyme in common English pronunciation?

A. glow and goadB. glow and snowC. glow and gloveD. snow and now

3Reading comprehensionWhat was wrong with the original sign?

A. The exhibition had no name.B. The letters were all missing.C. Both arrows were invisible.D. The same arrow direction misdirected readers approaching from opposite sides.

4Reading comprehensionWhat feature appears in the recent photograph?

Your answer

5WritingWhich is a claim rather than raw data?

A. The library closes at 4 pm.B. Twenty visitors arrived after 3 pm.C. The school should extend library hours.D. The survey had 60 responses.

6WritingWhich transition introduces a contrast?

A. for exampleB. similarlyC. howeverD. first

7WritingWriting and argument: which term fits this description? The explanation linking evidence to a claim.

A. AudienceB. CitationC. ThesisD. Reasoning

8WritingWhich practice is a weak paraphrase?

A. Rebuilding the sentence and checking its meaning.B. Identifying the source of the idea.C. Replacing a few words while retaining nearly all original structure.

9Grammar & vocabularyEnglish grammar essentials: which term fits this description? A word that can stand in for a noun phrase.

A. SynonymB. Independent clauseC. PronounD. Dependent clause

10Grammar & vocabularyAdd un- to fair. Write the new word.

Your answer

11Grammar & vocabularyChoose the opposite of “before”.

A. afterB. alwaysC. nearD. under

12Grammar & vocabularyWhich sentence uses a colon to introduce a list after a complete clause?

A. Bring these items: a ruler, paper and glue.B. The: ruler is short.C. Bring: a ruler.D. Bring a: ruler and glue.

From Grade 6

These questions check skills from the grade below, so gaps can be spotted early.

13Reading comprehension (Grade 6)Which conclusion best expresses the ending?

A. A preferred answer still needs reliable checking.B. Running is the only solution.C. The earliest clock is always correct.D. All station clocks are unreliable.

14Grammar & vocabulary (Grade 6)Write the contraction of we are.

Your answer

15Reading comprehension (Grade 6)Which claim goes beyond the evidence?

A. Twelve were seen on Tuesday.B. Friday's watch was shorter.C. Seven were seen on Friday.D. Exactly five frogs left the pond.