Let’s go through the worksheet step by step.
The task is:
“Circle the correct meaning for each of the underlined words in the passage.”
We are given 6 vocabulary words (numbered 1–6) and two answer choices per word (a or b). We need to pick the correct definition based on how the word is used in the text.
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Let’s look at each word one by one, using context from the passage.
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1. geologists
In the passage:
> “In 1908, the Grand Canyon was declared a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1919, it became a national park. The park is managed by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Geologists have studied the canyon for many years.”
Also earlier:
> “The canyon was formed over millions of years as the Colorado River cut through layers of rock.
Geologists say that the canyon is about 6 million years old.”
→ So geologists are people who study rocks and how the earth changes — that’s
b. scientists who study rocks and minerals
✔ Correct answer:
b
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2. arid
In the passage:
> “The climate in the Grand Canyon is mostly
arid, with little rainfall.”
→ “Arid” means dry — not much rain. That matches
a. dry
✔ Correct answer:
a
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3. erosion
In the passage:
> “The canyon was formed by
erosion from the Colorado River.”
Also:
> “Wind and water cause
erosion, which wears away rock over time.”
→ Erosion is when wind or water wears down land. That’s
a. the act of wearing away or wearing down
✔ Correct answer:
a
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4. impassable
In the passage:
> “The inner canyon is very steep and
impassable without special equipment.”
→ If something is impassable, you can’t go through it easily — so
a. unable to be crossed
✔ Correct answer:
a
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5. distinct
In the passage:
> “Each layer of rock has a
distinct color and texture.”
→ Distinct means clearly different or separate — so
b. different from others
✔ Correct answer:
b
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6. terrain
In the passage:
> “The
terrain of the Grand Canyon includes steep cliffs, deep gorges, and flat plateaus.”
→ Terrain means the physical features of the land — so
b. the physical features of an area of land
✔ Correct answer:
b
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Now let’s double-check all answers:
1. geologists →
b
2. arid →
a
3. erosion →
a
4. impassable →
a
5. distinct →
b
6. terrain →
b
All make sense with the context in the passage.
Final Answer:
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. b
6. b
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of reading comprehension 7th grade worksheet.
