Words that mean almost the same

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Coach Reyes wrote the letter of recommendation for Zee. "Zee trained at 6 a.m. every day for a year, and after the team left, Zee still asked for extra drills. Zee is a ____ athlete."

2. 1.

   Ari reads a coach's letter. Which word best praises Zee's persistence?

   • stubborn
   • obstinate
   • bullheaded
   • tenacious

3. Use this

   A reviewer said the textbook chapter was far too long. "The chapter is ____, repeating each point three times before it moves on."

4. 2.

   Bo reads a book review. Which word best criticizes the chapter's length?

   • succinct
   • detailed
   • verbose
   • thorough

5. Use this

   A secondhand shop hung a tag on a coat from the 1960s. "This ____ coat is still in excellent condition and has a wool lining."

6. 3.

   Esme reads a shop tag. Which word best sells this old coat?

   • vintage
   • obsolete
   • outdated
   • old-timey
7. 4.

   A team captain wrote in the school paper. "After the final point, the players felt content, delighted, ecstatic, or resigned." Luz ranks four words about a win. Which word shows the strongest happiness?

   • ecstatic
   • delighted
   • content
   • resigned
8. 5.

   A camper wrote about the counselor. "The counselor was firm, harsh, cruel, or fair, depending on the day." Milo ranks four words about a camp rule. Which word carries the strongest criticism?

   • harsh
   • fair
   • firm
   • cruel

9. Use this

   A student wrote about the dress code. "Some students dislike it, others resent it, a few despise it, and many tolerate it."

10. 6.

    Noah ranks four words about a rule. Which word shows the strongest dislike?

    • dislike
    • tolerate
    • despise
    • resent

11. Use this

    A writer described a cousin who saves money. Version A: "My cousin is thrifty with money." Version B: "My cousin is stingy with money."

12. 7.

    Pia swaps thrifty for stingy. What changes in the sentence?

    • The facts stay the same, but the word now criticizes instead of admiring.
    • The word now praises the cousin even more.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean careful with money.
    • The cousin now spends more money than before.

13. Use this

    A manager wrote about a trainee. Version A: "The trainee is assertive in meetings." Version B: "The trainee is pushy in meetings."

14. 8.

    Ren swaps assertive for pushy. What changes in the sentence?

    • The behavior stays the same, but pushy turns the praise into a complaint.
    • Pushy sounds more admiring than assertive.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean speaking up.
    • The trainee now speaks less in meetings.

15. Use this

    A neighbor was described. Version A: "The neighbor is curious about everyone's garden." Version B: "The neighbor is nosy about everyone's garden."

16. 9.

    Tala swaps curious for nosy. What changes in the sentence?

    • The neighbor now ignores the gardens.
    • The interest stays the same, but nosy suggests it is unwelcome.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean interested.
    • Nosy makes the neighbor sound more polite.

17. Use this

    A writer described a runner. Version A: "The runner is determined to break the record." Version B: "The runner is obsessed with breaking the record."

18. 10.

    Zee swaps determined for obsessed. What changes in the sentence?

    • The goal stays the same, but obsessed suggests it has gone too far.
    • The runner now has a different goal.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean wanting the record.
    • Obsessed sounds like a milder, more relaxed word.