Choose the right look-alike word and spell the hard ones

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   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?

   • mitigate
   • mobilize
   • militate
   • mediate
2. 2.

   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?

   • tenuous
   • treacherous
   • torturous
   • tortuous
3. 3.

   The crowd waited with ______ breath as the judges read the final score. Esme edits a news story. Which word completes the sentence correctly?

   • held
   • bated
   • batted
   • baited

4. 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.

5. 4.

   Kira proofreads a school paper. Which choice names the one misspelled word and its correct spelling?

   • (2) “surveillance” should be “surveilance”, with a single l
   • (1) “bureaucracy” should be “buraucracy”, since the first e is not heard
   • (4) “camaraderie” should be “camarederie”, since the vowel is an e
   • (3) “liason” should be “liaison”, with an i before the second a

6. Sentence

   At the awards night, the (1) unanimous vote of the judges, the host’s clear (2) pronounciation of each name, the (3) indispensable help of the volunteers and the (4) sergeant’s (5) address to the crowd earned applause.

7. 5.

   Luz proofreads an awards-night program. Which choice names the one misspelled word and its correct spelling?

   • (5) “address” should be “adress”, with one d
   • (1) “unanimous” should be “unanamous”, since the second vowel is an a
   • (3) “indispensable” should be “indispensible”, since the ending is -ible
   • (2) “pronounciation” should be “pronunciation”, with no o after the n

8. 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.

9. 6.

   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
   • (4) “miniature” should be “minature”, since the second i is not heard
   • (2) “library” should be “libary”, since the first r is not heard
   • (1) “calender” should be “calendar”, with an a in the last syllable
10. 7.

    Pia proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?

    • The coach controled the clock and benefited 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 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 persistence.
11. 8.

    Ren proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?

    • The plan was permissible, and the club exceled despite a small debt.
    • The plan was permissable, and the club excelled despite a small debt.
    • The plan was permissible, and the club excelled despite a small debt.
    • The plan was permissible, and the club excelled despite a small det.
12. 9.

    Tala proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?

    • Both tests show strong resistance, so we recomend a retest by tomorrow.
    • Both tests show strong resistance, so we recommend a retest by tomorrow.
    • Both tests show strong resistance, so we recommend a retest by tommorrow.
    • Both tests show strong resistence, so we recommend a retest by tomorrow.
13. 10.

    Zee proofreads a paragraph. Which version spells every word correctly?

    • 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.
    • 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.