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Comprehension Exercise9th GradeLevel 2 · Standard

Free 9th Grade Persuasive Speech Reading Comprehension: Lights Out for Migrating Birds

An original persuasive speech in which a high school student asks a Texas city council to turn off unneeded lights at night during the spring and fall bird migrations. Students identify the speaker's claim and reasons, analyze appeals to logic, emotion and credibility, evaluate how the speaker handles a counterargument, examine rhetorical devices and write a rhetorical analysis paragraph.

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Grade
9th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
40 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
15
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • identifying a claim and supporting reasons
  • analyzing ethos, pathos and logos
  • evaluating how a counterargument is addressed
  • analyzing rhetorical devices and their effect
  • writing a rhetorical analysis paragraph

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Persuasive Speech Reading Comprehension: Lights Out for Migrating Birds

  1. 1Whooping Cranes Feature Article — Reading Comprehension
  2. 2Sentence Variety and Cohesion
  3. 3Active and Passive Voice for Effect
  4. 4Parallel Structure and Balanced Sentences

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

9th Grade students (typically ages 14–15) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 40 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Whooping Cranes Feature Article — Reading Comprehension.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets9th Grade · English · Reading Comprehension

Persuasive Speech Reading Comprehension: Lights Out for Migrating Birds

Name

Date

Score /

Read the speech first. Then answer the questions in order.

Part A: Literal comprehension

1.Who is the audience for this speech, and where is it delivered?[1 mark] (answer space)
2.According to the speaker, how does bright artificial light harm night-migrating birds?[1 mark] (answer space)
3.List the three specific actions Dana asks the council to take.[2 marks] (answer space)
4.What evidence does Dana collect herself?[1 mark]
  1. Aa survey of council members
  2. Ba count of more than forty birds found near three downtown buildings in six weeks
  3. Ca report on the city's power bills
  4. Dphotographs of the night sky

Part B: Analyze the argument

5.In the second paragraph, Dana introduces herself and her club. Why is this an effective way to begin? Refer to ethos (credibility).[2 marks] (answer space)
6.Explain how the story of the Wilson's warbler appeals to the audience's emotions (pathos). Quote at least one phrase.[2 marks] (answer space)
7.Find two pieces of logical reasoning (logos) in the speech.[2 marks] (answer space)
8.How does Dana respond to the counterargument about safety? Why does this make her argument stronger?[2 marks] (answer space)
9.Why does Dana say the problem is “one of the easiest environmental problems we will ever have the chance to solve”?[1 mark]
  1. Ato make the council feel guilty
  2. Bto make her request seem simple and achievable, so the council is more willing to act
  3. Cto show that she is not worried about birds
  4. Dto change the subject
10.Explain the effect of the speech's ending, in which Dana describes her grandmother saying, “Listen. They're back.”[2 marks] (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

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