Words that mean almost the same thing

Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Teacher's note

   “In every lesson, Ari asks how things work and what would happen if one part were changed. Ari is an ____ student.”

2. 1.

   Bo reads a teacher's note about Ari. Which word best praises the way Ari asks questions?

   • intrusive
   • inquisitive
   • extraordinary
   • nosy
3. 2.

   “Soft cotton knit. This sweater is ____ enough to wear all day without feeling weighed down.” Bo reads a shop tag. The shop wants shoppers to feel good about the sweater. Which word fits best?

   • skimpy
   • flimsy
   • light
   • thin
4. 3.

   “When I asked where my package was, the driver was ____ and walked away before I finished my question.” Jun reads a customer's fair complaint about a delivery driver. Which word fits best?

   • crabby
   • preoccupied
   • accommodating
   • dismissive
5. 4.

   Pleased, proud, boastful, arrogant. Luz puts four words in order from the most admiring to the most critical. Which list is right?

   • pleased, proud, arrogant, boastful
   • pleased, boastful, proud, arrogant
   • arrogant, boastful, proud, pleased
   • pleased, proud, boastful, arrogant
6. 5.

   Polite, formal, stiff, cold. Milo puts four words in order from the most admiring to the most critical. Which list is right?

   • polite, formal, stiff, cold
   • polite, formal, cold, stiff
   • polite, stiff, formal, cold
   • cold, stiff, formal, polite
7. 6.

   Slender, thin, bony, gaunt. Noah puts four words in order from the most admiring to the most critical. Which list is right?

   • slender, bony, thin, gaunt
   • gaunt, bony, thin, slender
   • slender, thin, gaunt, bony
   • slender, thin, bony, gaunt
8. 7.

   “The coach urged the team to finish the drill.” Changed: “The coach pressured the team to finish the drill.” Pia changes the word urged to pressured. What changes for the reader?

   • The team now does a different drill, so the facts of the sentence change from the first version.
   • Nothing changes, because urged and pressured both mean the coach asked the team to finish.
   • Pressured makes the coach sound gentler and more supportive of the team, as if the coach were helping them.
   • Pressured suggests unwelcome force, so the coach sounds demanding, though the same drill is asked for.
9. 8.

   “The librarian reminded students to return their books.” Changed: “The librarian nagged students to return their books.” Ren changes the word reminded to nagged. What changes for the reader?

   • The librarian now asks about a different set of books, so the facts of the sentence change in the second version.
   • Nothing changes, because reminded and nagged both mean the librarian asked about the books.
   • Nagged makes the librarian sound patient and kind to the students, as if the librarian were being gentle.
   • Nagged suggests the librarian keeps repeating the request in an annoying way, though the request is the same.

10. Original

    “Noah's room was cozy, with just enough space for a bed and a desk.” Changed: “Noah's room was cramped, with just enough space for a bed and a desk.”

11. 9.

    Tala changes the word cozy to cramped. What changes for the reader?

    • Cramped makes the room sound more comfortable and welcoming than cozy does.
    • The room is now a different size, so the facts of the sentence change.
    • Cramped makes the small size feel like a problem, though cozy and cramped both describe the same small room.
    • Nothing changes, because cozy and cramped both mean the room is small, and the size is what the sentence reports to the reader.
12. 10.

    “After the song, the crowd drifted toward the stage.” Changed: “After the song, the crowd swarmed toward the stage.” Zee changes the word drifted to swarmed. What changes for the reader?

    • Swarmed makes the crowd sound calm and unhurried, more than drifted does.
    • A different crowd is now moving toward a different stage, so the facts of the sentence change in the second version.
    • Nothing changes, because drifted and swarmed both mean the crowd moved to the stage.
    • Swarmed makes the crowd sound pushy and overwhelming, though the same people still move to the stage.