Where a word came from; foreign phrases in English
Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Sentence
The vendor's hand-lettered sign read caveat emptor, so Ren understood that complaints about a cracked vase would not be welcome once the money changed hands.
Ari reads a sentence in a market-stall guide. What does “caveat emptor” mean here?
- beware of the seller
- the buyer must check goods before paying
- the vase is fragile and must not be touched
- something given in return for something else
Entry (written by PencilGo, after standard references)
Tycoon (noun), 1857. From Japanese taikun, “great lord,” which came from Chinese words meaning “great” and “ruler.” Today: a rich and powerful business leader.
Bo reads the entry. Which statement does the entry support?
- In English today the word still means “great lord”
- English took the word straight from Chinese
- English took the word from Japanese, which took it from Chinese
- English took the word from Japanese, where it meant “great merchant”
Nobody had ever voted on the rule, but everyone followed it, so it was the ____ policy of the club. Esme reads a sentence from a club report. Which borrowed phrase fits the blank?
- de jure
- ex post facto
- ad hoc
- de facto
Sentence
After three losing seasons, the band's esprit de corps stayed high; members still stayed late to practice and covered for one another at every show.
Jun reads a sentence from a school-paper sports page. What does “esprit de corps” mean here?
- stubbornness in the face of losing
- shared pride and loyalty in a group
- the spirit inside a person's body
- a joy in simply being alive
The principal's laissez-faire approach to the science fair meant that teams chose their own topics and set their own deadlines. Milo reads a sentence in a student-government bulletin. What does “laissez-faire” mean here?
- a command that the work be done now, without delay
- a hands-off approach that leaves people free to act
- made for one purpose, then set aside
- a careless way of avoiding work whenever possible
Mosquito (noun), 1580s. From Spanish mosquito, “little fly,” from mosca, “fly,” + the small ending -ito. Today: a biting insect. Noah reads the entry. Which statement does the entry support?
- English took the word from Spanish, where it meant “biting fly”
- English took the word from Spanish, where it meant “little fly”
- In English today the word still means any little fly
- English took the word from Latin, where it meant “little fly”
The firm's lawyers worked ____ for the nonprofit, so the free clinic paid no fee at all. Pia reads a sentence from a volunteer-center page. Which borrowed phrase fits the blank?
- ad hoc
- pro bono
- pro rata
- quid pro quo
After the storm had flattened half the field, one last gust delivered the coup de grâce to the old tent. Ren reads a sentence from a weather-club log. What does “coup de grâce” mean here?
- a kind act of mercy toward a person in need
- a final blow that finishes something off
- a lucky escape from the heaviest damage
- a sudden and forceful takeover of power
Jungle (noun), 1700s. From Hindi jangal, from Sanskrit jangala, “dry, barren land.” Today: a thick tropical forest. Tala reads the entry. Which statement does the entry support?
- In English today the word still means dry, barren land
- English took the word from Hindi, which took it from Sanskrit
- English took the word straight from Sanskrit
- English took the word from Hindi, where it meant “thick forest”
Sentence
The council formed an ____ committee to plan the flood response; it would meet only until the work was done and then disband.
Zee reads a sentence from a town-meeting recap. Which borrowed phrase fits the blank?
- ad infinitum
- pro bono
- ad hoc
- ad nauseam