Close words with a different edge

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Set

   Aged, venerable, decrepit (all mean very old). Sentence: The ___ oak at the center of the quad has shaded every graduating class since 1871, and the trustees voted to build the new library around it.

2. 1.

   Ari covers the blank and tries each word. Which word keeps the judgment the sentence shows?

   • aged
   • decrepit
   • venerable
   • cherished

3. Set

   Determined, steadfast, pigheaded (all mean refusing to change course). Sentence: The committee spent a month trying to reason with the ___ owner, who rejected every offer without reading it.

4. 2.

   Bo covers the blank and tries each word. Which word keeps the judgment the sentence shows?

   • determined
   • greedy
   • steadfast
   • pigheaded

5. Set

   Slender, thin, gaunt (all mean having little flesh). Sentence: After the long illness, the ___ man at the window barely looked up when the choir came to sing.

6. 3.

   Esme covers the blank and tries each word. Which word keeps the judgment the sentence shows?

   • weary
   • gaunt
   • thin
   • slender

7. Set

   Assertive, forceful, domineering (all mean pushing to have one's own way). Sentence: Ms. Varga's ___ manner meant that each plan had to be hers, and two committee members quietly resigned.

8. 4.

   Jun covers the blank and tries each word. Which word keeps the judgment the sentence shows?

   • domineering
   • forceful
   • assertive
   • short-tempered
9. 5.

   Ms. Ibarra's frugal handling of the camp budget left enough money for a new canoe. Word to swap: frugal. Kira swaps a word in the sentence. Which swap keeps both the meaning and the judgment?

   • wasteful
   • inventive
   • thrifty
   • stingy
10. 6.

    Mr. Pell's garrulous toast ran twenty minutes and wandered through every holiday since 1998. Word to swap: garrulous. Noah swaps a word in the sentence. Which swap keeps both the meaning and the judgment?

    • long-winded
    • chatty
    • overbearing
    • terse
11. 7.

    The neighbor is curious about our plans. Sentence B: The neighbor is nosy about our plans. Pia compares curious and nosy in the two sentences. Which note is right?

    • Both mean eager to find out; nosy adds disapproval, suggesting the interest is unwelcome.
    • Both mean eager to find out; curious adds disapproval, suggesting the interest is unwelcome.
    • Both mean eager to find out, and neither word adds praise or blame in these sentences.
    • Both mean unwilling to talk; nosy adds disapproval, suggesting the interest is unwelcome.
12. 8.

    Mr. Osei is thrifty with the club's money. Sentence B: Mr. Osei is cheap with the club's money. Ren compares thrifty and cheap in the two sentences. Which note is right?

    • Both mean careful about spending; thrifty adds disapproval, suggesting unfair stinginess.
    • Both mean careful about spending, and neither word adds praise or blame in these sentences.
    • Both mean careful about spending; cheap adds disapproval, suggesting unfair stinginess.
    • Both mean unable to pay; cheap adds disapproval, suggesting unfair stinginess.
13. 9.

    The mayor was determined to finish the bridge. Sentence B: The mayor was stubborn about finishing the bridge. Tala compares determined and stubborn in the two sentences. Which note is right?

    • Both mean unwilling to give up the goal; stubborn adds disapproval, suggesting a refusal to listen.
    • Both mean unwilling to give up the goal, and neither word adds praise or blame in these sentences.
    • Both mean unable to finish the goal; stubborn adds disapproval, suggesting a refusal to listen.
    • Both mean unwilling to give up the goal; determined adds disapproval, suggesting a refusal to listen.
14. 10.

    The rookie felt confident before the game. Sentence B: The rookie felt cocky before the game. Zee compares confident and cocky in the two sentences. Which note is right?

    • Both mean sure of one's ability, and neither word adds praise or blame in these sentences.
    • Both mean sure of one's ability; cocky adds disapproval, suggesting too much pride.
    • Both mean sure of one's ability; confident adds disapproval, suggesting too much pride.
    • Both mean afraid of the game; cocky adds disapproval, suggesting too much pride.