Dictionary, glossary and thesaurus skills

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   “The two teams alternate turns at the whiteboard.”

   alternate (AWL-tur-nayt) verb to take turns, one after the other. alternate (AWL-tur-nit) adjective happening every second time. alternate (AWL-tur-nit) noun a person who takes another's place. Key: a as in cat, ah as in father, ay as in cake, e as in bed, ee as in see, ih as in sit, y as in my, oh as in go, oo as in moon, uh as in but, ur as in turn, aw as in saw. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable.

2. 1.

   Ari reads the sentence above. Which respelling shows how to say alternate here?

   • AL-tur-nayt
   • AWL-tur-nit
   • AWL-tur-nayt
   • awl-TUR-nayt

3. General dictionary

   Mean adjective unkind or unfair to others. mean noun a middle point between two extremes. Statistics glossary: mean (statistics) noun the sum of a set of values divided by how many values there are. symbol x-bar. See also median.

4. 2.

   Bo reads the field entry above. Which part gives the meaning of mean in statistics?

   • The line “symbol x-bar,” which shows how the quantity is written
   • The line “See also median,” which points to another entry
   • “the sum of a set of values divided by how many values there are”
   • The label “(statistics),” which names the subject area

5. Use this

   “Good ___ comes from experience.”

   judgment noun (also judgement, chiefly British) the ability to decide well; an opinion formed after thought; a ruling by a court.

6. 3.

   Esme writes a school paper for a United States audience. Which spelling does the entry make the main form for the blank?

   • jugdment
   • judgment
   • judging
   • judgement

7. Use this

   “The jury will deliberate until it reaches a verdict.”

   deliberate (dih-LIB-uh-rayt) verb to think about something carefully, often by talking it over, before deciding. deliberate (dih-LIB-ur-it) adjective done on purpose; slow and careful. Key: a as in cat, ah as in father, ay as in cake, e as in bed, ee as in see, ih as in sit, y as in my, oh as in go, oo as in moon, uh as in but, ur as in turn, aw as in saw. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable.

8. 4.

   Jun reads the sentence above. Which respelling shows how to say deliberate here?

   • dih-LIB-ur-it
   • dih-LYB-uh-rayt
   • dih-LIB-uh-rayt
   • dih-LIB-uh-rit

9. Use this

   tort (law) noun a wrongful act, other than breaking a contract, that harms another person and for which the injured person may sue for money. plural torts. See also negligence.

10. 5.

    Kira reads the legal glossary entry above. Which part tells the reader where to look for a related term?

    • “See also negligence”
    • The label “(law),” which names the subject area
    • The definition, “a wrongful act, other than breaking a contract”
    • The form “plural torts,” which shows how to write more than one

11. Use this

    “The author seems to intimate that the plan is not finished.”

    intimate (IN-tuh-mayt) verb to hint at something without saying it outright. intimate (IN-tuh-mit) adjective very close or private; known in detail. Key: a as in cat, ah as in father, ay as in cake, e as in bed, ee as in see, ih as in sit, y as in my, oh as in go, oo as in moon, uh as in but, ur as in turn, aw as in saw. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable.

12. 6.

    Milo reads the sentence above. Which respelling shows how to say intimate here?

    • IN-tuh-mayt
    • EEN-tuh-mayt
    • in-TUH-mayt
    • IN-tuh-mit

13. Use this

    “The report ends with an ___ of the volunteers.”

    acknowledgment noun (also acknowledgement) a statement that admits something is true or gives thanks; a note saying that something was received.

14. 7.

    Pia fills the blank in a United States school report. Which spelling does the entry list first, as its main form?

    • acknowledgment
    • acknowledge
    • acknowlegment
    • acknowledgement

15. Use this

    “The referee ruled the goal invalid because the whistle had already blown.”

    invalid (in-VAL-id) adjective not correct or not allowed; having no force under the rules. invalid (IN-vuh-lid) noun a person made weak by illness or injury. Key: a as in cat, ah as in father, ay as in cake, e as in bed, ee as in see, ih as in sit, y as in my, oh as in go, oo as in moon, uh as in but, ur as in turn, aw as in saw. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable.

16. 8.

    Ren reads the sentence above. Which respelling shows how to say invalid here?

    • in-VAL-id
    • in-vuh-LID
    • IN-vuh-lid
    • in-VAY-lid

17. Use this

    moment (physics) noun the turning effect of a force about a point, equal to the force times its distance from the point. plural moments. symbol M. unit newton-meter (N·m).

18. 9.

    Tala reads the physics glossary entry above. Which part tells what to write after the number in an answer?

    • The form “plural moments,” which shows how to write more than one
    • “symbol M,” which shows how the quantity is written in equations
    • The label “(physics),” which names the subject area
    • “unit newton-meter (N·m)”

19. Use this

    “The club meets in the school ___ on Fridays.”

    theater noun (also theatre, chiefly British, and kept in some American names) a building for plays or films; the art of the stage; a place where events take place.

20. 10.

    Zee writes about the drama club for a United States newspaper. Which spelling does the entry make the main form?

    • theatrical
    • theatre
    • theatr
    • theater