Response Skills: Responding with Appropriate Register, Vocabulary, Tone, and Voice (TEKS.ELA.7.6.H)
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Texas 7th Grade ELA › Response Skills: Responding with Appropriate Register, Vocabulary, Tone, and Voice (TEKS.ELA.7.6.H)
Dear Principal Ramirez,
I'm writing because the outdoor lunch area is blazing hot, and many of us can't focus after sitting in the sun. We race to find patches of shade, which doesn't feel safe or comfortable. If we had shade sails or extra umbrellas, more students could enjoy lunch and stay cool. I know budgets are tight, but maybe PTA funds or a community partnership could help. I'd be happy to gather student feedback and send it to you. Thank you for considering this request; I appreciate the work you do to keep our school running strong each day.
Which revision best improves the tone and vocabulary to match a formal letter to school administration?
Begin the letter with "Hey Principal R., it's super crazy hot out there!" and add an exclamation point to show urgency.
Revise "the outdoor lunch area is blazing hot" to "the outdoor lunch area becomes extremely hot due to direct sun exposure" and replace "We race to find patches of shade" with "Students must search for limited shade," to maintain a professional tone.
Insert this sentence: "Implementing thermal-mitigation interventions via albedo optimization would rectify the microclimate."
Add "Y'all know how Texas summers are!" after the first paragraph to make it sound friendly.
Explanation
Option B replaces informal phrasing with precise, professional wording appropriate for addressing school leadership. The other options are either too casual or use overly technical jargon that does not suit this context.
Subject: Invitation to Attend Weekend Activity
Hi Maya,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to inquire whether you would be interested in accompanying me to the movies on Saturday. The new adventure film appears engaging, and I believe the experience would be enjoyable. If you are available, we could coordinate transportation and determine a schedule that accommodates both of us. Please advise me of your availability at your earliest convenience. I look forward to your response and to planning an outing together.
Sincerely,
Diego
Tickets are discounted this week. We could grab snacks afterward nearby too.
Which revision best adjusts the tone and register for an informal message to a friend?
Replace "Hi Maya" with "Greetings," and keep "Please advise me of your availability at your earliest convenience."
Add "Respectfully submitted," before the signature to emphasize politeness.
Insert "I shall await your correspondence" after the third sentence.
Change "I am writing to inquire whether you would be interested in accompanying me..." to "Wanna catch a movie Saturday?" and replace "Please advise me..." with "Text me if you're free!"
Explanation
Option D shifts the overly formal language to casual, friendly phrasing that fits a message to a friend. The other options make the message even more formal, which does not match the audience or purpose.
In many Texas communities, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, water can get super scarce during droughts. When lawns get crispy and reservoirs drop, people freak out and just try to get by day to day. But that short-term thinking doesn't help. Cities that plan ahead—fixing leaky pipes, reusing treated water, and encouraging drought-tough landscaping—tend to ride out dry years better. One town I read about even paid residents to swap grass for native plants, which was pretty awesome. If we want reliable water in the future, we've got to be smart now and use what we have more wisely.
Which revision best improves the academic tone and objectivity for this essay paragraph?
Replace "super scarce" with "severely limited," "people freak out" with "residents often adopt short-term responses," and "pretty awesome" with "highly effective," to maintain an objective, academic tone.
Add emojis after key points to make the paragraph more engaging.
Change "drought-tough landscaping" to "yard glow-up vibes" to sound modern.
Begin the paragraph with "Hey guys," to build rapport with readers.
Explanation
Option A replaces casual expressions with precise, objective vocabulary appropriate for academic writing. The other options introduce informal language or elements that are not suitable for an academic audience.
For our class blog, I intend to describe my experience auditioning for the school play. Prior to the audition, I reviewed the script repeatedly and practiced articulating lines in a measured voice. Upon entering the auditorium, my hands trembled, but I proceeded according to my plan. After I finished, the director nodded and requested a second reading. The experience was beneficial, as it improved my confidence and public speaking. I will continue to prepare diligently for callbacks. Overall, the event was satisfactory, and I recommend participation to anyone seeking to cultivate performance skills in a structured, supportive environment for peers.
Which revision best adjusts the tone and voice for a personal class blog aimed at classmates?
Replace "my hands trembled" with "physiological response ensued," and "satisfactory" with "adequate."
Begin with "To whom it may concern," and add a concluding "Sincerely."
Change the opening to "Okay, real talk: I was nervous walking into the auditorium, but I took a deep breath and went for it," and replace "satisfactory" with "pretty great."
Add multiple exclamation marks after each sentence to show excitement.
Explanation
Option C introduces a friendly, personal voice and accessible vocabulary that suits a peer audience on a class blog. The other options are either overly formal or rely on inappropriate punctuation.
Dear Principal Ramos, I'm writing about how hot it gets during Friday night football games. Last week, my grandmother had to leave the stands early because the sun was blasting us. I know money doesn't grow on trees, but shade would save people from baking. Maybe we could put up a few canopies or something? I don't have all the details, but it seems doable and would make our school look pro. Adding shade would help students, families, and visiting teams stay safe and comfortable. If you want, I can help ask the booster club. Thanks for reading and please think about it.
Which revision of the sentence 'Maybe we could put up a few canopies or something?' best matches the formal audience and purpose of a letter to the principal?
Therefore, I respectfully request that the school consider installing permanent shade structures over the home bleachers to improve safety and comfort.
Yo, could we toss up a couple canopies so folks don't bake out there?
I propose we implement thermoregulatory infrastructure to mitigate solar exposure vis-à-vis spectators.
Can we just throw some pop-ups over the seats? It'd look super pro.
Explanation
Choice A uses respectful, precise language appropriate for a formal request to a principal; B and D are too casual, and C uses inappropriate, overly technical vocabulary.
Hey Maya, Our science project on Texas native plants is due next week, and I really want us to get a strong start. I drafted some notes, but they're kind of messy. I propose that we convene at my residence on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. to begin drafting the slideshow. It is imperative that you arrive punctually so we can maximize productivity. Also, please bring the field guide from the library. If that time doesn't work, inform me of an alternative. Sorry if this sounds super formal—I just want us to finish on time. Let me know what you think.
Which revision of the sentence 'I propose that we convene at my residence on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.' best fits an informal email to a friend?
I propose that we convene at my residence on Saturday at ten o'clock to commence the drafting phase.
It is imperative that you arrive punctually to ensure maximal productivity.
Want to meet at my place Saturday around 10 to start drafting?
We must adhere to the predetermined temporal parameters for optimal outcomes.
Explanation
Choice C is friendly and clear for an informal message to a friend; A, B, and D are overly formal and stiff for this context.
Texas faces recurring droughts, especially in the Hill Country, so using water wisely matters. People sometimes leave sprinklers on too long or water at the hottest time of day. This stuff matters big time because we don't want to run out of water. Cities like San Antonio have programs that pay people to switch to native plants, which is cool. Also, farmers and ranchers need reliable water for crops and cattle. To protect rivers and aquifers, everyone should do small things like fix leaks and turn off taps. If we act together, we can make a real difference for Texas.
Which revision of the sentence 'This stuff matters big time because we don't want to run out of water.' best fits an academic essay for class?
We seriously gotta save water or we'll be in trouble, y'all.
This issue is significant because conserving water helps ensure long-term availability for communities and ecosystems across the state.
Water conservation is the coolest and everyone should just do it.
The aforementioned aqueous resource scarcity paradigm necessitates immediate citizen compliance.
Explanation
Choice B uses precise, objective academic language; A and C are too casual, and D uses inappropriate, needlessly complex vocabulary.
Dear Nutrition Services Team, I'm writing because our breakfast menu feels a little limited. Lots of students rush in before first period, and something warm and filling would help. In Texas, breakfast tacos are a classic—egg and potato, bean and cheese, or egg and spinach. It would be awesome if y'all could hook us up with breakfast tacos once a week. They'd be totally epic and show that our school represents local tastes. I don't know prices, but maybe you could try it for a month and see. Thank you for considering ideas from students who eat here every day.
Which revision of the sentence 'It would be awesome if y'all could hook us up with breakfast tacos.' best matches a respectful request to school nutrition services?
Breakfast tacos totally slap, so please hook us up!
I humbly beseech the culinary department to facilitate the acquisition of tortilla-based morning comestibles.
Can you just add tacos already? Everyone wants them.
I respectfully request that the cafeteria pilot a weekly breakfast-taco option, such as egg-and-potato, to reflect student interest and local tastes.
Explanation
Choice D is polite, specific, and professional for a formal request; A and C are too casual, while B is awkwardly formal with inappropriate vocabulary.