Choose the right look-alike word and spell the hard ones
Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.
Several factors, including the price of the land and the neighbors’ objections, ______ against building the stadium downtown. Ari edits a news story. Which word completes the sentence correctly?
- militate
- mobilize
- mitigate
- mediate
The ______ mountain road doubled back on itself eleven times before it reached the pass. Bo edits a travel story. Which word completes the sentence correctly?
- torturous
- tortuous
- treacherous
- tenuous
The crowd waited with ______ breath as the judges read the final score. Esme edits a news story. Which word completes the sentence correctly?
- baited
- bated
- batted
- held
A ______ student toured the campus with a guide, asking about the debate team. Jun edits a school newsletter. Which word completes the sentence correctly?
- perspective
- prospective
- respective
- retrospective
Read this first
Sentence
The school’s (1) bureaucracy required a (2) surveillance report, but the district’s (3) liason said the staff’s (4) camaraderie made it unnecessary.
Kira proofreads a school paper. Which choice names the one misspelled word and its correct spelling?
- (3) “liason” should be “liaison”, with an i before the second a
- (4) “camaraderie” should be “camarederie”, since the vowel is an e
- (1) “bureaucracy” should be “buraucracy”, since the first e is not heard
- (2) “surveillance” should be “surveilance”, with a single l
Sentence
The (1) lieutenant praised the (2) entrepeneur who opened the (3) bakery, whose (4) fluorescent sign and (5) exhilarating smell drew the crowd.
Milo proofreads a town bulletin. Which choice names the one misspelled word and its correct spelling?
- (5) “exhilarating” should be “exhillarating”, with two l’s in the middle
- (1) “lieutenant” should be “leutenant”, since the vowel pair is eu
- (2) “entrepeneur” should be “entrepreneur”, with an r before the second e
- (4) “fluorescent” should be “florescent”, since the u is not heard in the word
Sentence
The (1) calender by the (2) library desk shows the (3) schedule for the (4) miniature train show, which starts at the (5) threshold of the hall.
Noah proofreads a library notice. Which choice names the one misspelled word and its correct spelling?
- (5) “threshold” should be “thresh-hold”, with two h’s
- (1) “calender” should be “calendar”, with an a in the last syllable
- (2) “library” should be “libary”, since the first r is not heard
- (4) “miniature” should be “minature”, since the second i is not heard
Pia proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?
- The coach controlled the clock and benefited from a pause, a result of her persistence.
- The coach controlled the clock and benefitted from a pause, a result of her persistence.
- The coach controlled the clock and benefited from a pause, a result of her persistance.
- The coach controled the clock and benefited from a pause, a result of her persistence.
Tala proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?
- Both tests show strong resistence, so we recommend a retest by tomorrow.
- Both tests show strong resistance, so we recommend a retest by tommorrow.
- Both tests show strong resistance, so we recommend a retest by tomorrow.
- Both tests show strong resistance, so we recomend a retest by tomorrow.
Zee proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?
- The island’s two analyses showed that the new plan was a sucess.
- The iland’s two analyses showed that the new plan was a success.
- The island’s two analyses showed that the new plan was a success.
- The island’s two analysises showed that the new plan was a success.

