Words that mean almost the same thing
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Writer
a robotics coach. Audience: a college admissions committee. Purpose: a warm but honest recommendation.
When Esme joined the robotics team, the other students were already building. Within a month, Esme had become its most (A) ____ member. Each time a robot failed, Esme stayed late, changed one wire at a time, and wrote down every result. Esme's feedback to teammates is (B) ____ without being unkind: a mistake is named and a fix is offered in the same breath. The team now copies that habit. I recommend Esme to your program without reservation.
Kira reads a coach's recommendation. Which word best fits blank (A)?
- fussy
- plodding
- methodical
- regimented
Milo changes one word in the passage: copies becomes mimics. How does that change what the reader thinks of the team?
- The team now does something different from Esme, so the facts of the passage change.
- Mimics suggests the team imitates Esme without understanding the habit, which softens the praise for the team.
- Nothing changes, because copies and mimics both mean the team does what Esme does, and Esme's habit is still praised.
- Mimics makes the team sound more devoted to Esme, so the praise grows.
Writer
a student reporter. Audience: the school community. Purpose: a fair review that praises what works.
Opening night of the spring play had a few rough moments, but it was an evening to be proud of. The lead, Luz, gave a (A) ____ performance in which every line landed. The painted harbor on stage was (B) ____ enough that the front row reached out to touch it. A late entrance in act two drew a small laugh, but the cast recovered quickly. The show runs through Saturday, and I plan to see it twice.
Pia checks four near-synonyms for blank (B). Which choice names the word that is wrong here and gives the right reason? Words: convincing, realistic, lifelike, deceptive.
- convincing: it is too vague to praise a painted set in a school review, since it does not say why
- deceptive: it is too informal a word for a school newspaper review of a spring play
- deceptive: it suggests a trick meant to fool people, which clashes with praise for the set
- lifelike: it suggests something motionless and flat, which clashes with a lively play
Ren changes one word in the passage: recovered becomes scrambled. How does that change what the reader thinks of the cast?
- Nothing changes, because recovered and scrambled both mean the cast kept the show going after the late entrance.
- Scrambled makes the cast sound calmer and more skilled than recovered does.
- The late entrance now happens in a different act, so the facts of the passage change.
- Scrambled suggests the cast was flustered and rushed, which softens the praise for the late entrance.
Writer
a park ranger. Audience: hikers. Purpose: a firm safety notice that does not alarm.
The upper trail becomes (A) ____ after heavy rain. The stones are slick, and the creek crossing rises quickly. Hikers are (B) ____ to use the lower loop on those days, which stays well above the water. A ranger posts a notice at the gate whenever the upper trail is closed. Thank you for helping keep this park safe and open for everyone.
Tala reads a ranger's notice. Which word best fits blank (A)?
- unpleasant
- tricky
- deadly
- hazardous
Zee checks four near-synonyms for blank (B). Which choice names the word that is wrong here and gives the right reason? Words: advised, encouraged, requested, ordered.
- ordered: it sounds like a command, which is harsher than a notice that asks for cooperation
- ordered: it is too long a word for a short notice at a park gate, where words need to be brief
- advised: it suggests a threat, so it would alarm hikers reading the notice
- requested: it is too weak to show that the upper trail is unsafe
Ari changes one word in the passage: rises becomes surges. How does that change what the reader thinks of the creek crossing?
- The creek now crosses a different part of the trail, so the facts of the passage change.
- Nothing changes, because rises and surges both mean the water gets higher at the creek crossing, so the danger is the same.
- Surges makes the creek sound slower and calmer than rises does.
- Surges makes the creek sound forceful and sudden, which raises the sense of danger though the facts stay the same.
Writer
a school librarian. Audience: parents. Purpose: a respectful request that does not blame the children.
The library's afternoon hour has grown (A) ____. Younger students arrive eager, and their excitement fills the room with talk. We would like every reader to find a calm place to think, so we ask families to remind children to speak in (B) ____ voices. The shelves and the reading tables are open to all, and we are glad to see so many readers.
Bo reads a librarian's letter. Which word best fits blank (A)?
- lively
- rowdy
- disruptive
- unruly
Esme checks four near-synonyms for blank (B). Which choice names the word that is wrong here and gives the right reason? Words: quiet, hushed, subdued, muffled.
- hushed: it suggests fear, which clashes with a friendly request
- quiet: it is too plain to show the librarian's gentle tone
- muffled: it means sound blocked by a cover, not a voice kept low on purpose
- muffled: it is too informal a word for a letter that a school librarian sends to parents
Jun changes one word in the passage: ask becomes warn. How does that change the way the reader sees the letter?
- Nothing changes, because ask and warn both mean the librarian speaks to families.
- Warn makes the letter sound friendlier and more welcoming than ask does, as if it were an invitation.
- The librarian now speaks to teachers instead of families, so the facts change.
- Warn suggests a threat of consequences, which turns a friendly request into a caution.