Words with the same meaning but a different feel

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Mild admiration, with no hint of bragging. Sentence: The student's ____ manner put the visiting speakers at ease. Pia needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • assured
   • commanding
   • smug
   • arrogant
2. 2.

   Gentle concern, not alarm. Sentence: Since the move, the new student has seemed ____ in class. Zee needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • resentful
   • withdrawn
   • reserved
   • tranquil
3. 3.

   Strong, happy excitement. Sentence: When the final whistle blew, the fans were ____. Bo needs a word that matches both the degree and the judgment. Which word fits the goal?

   • ecstatic
   • frantic
   • restless
   • keen
4. 4.

   The mayor said the budget was balanced. Revision: The mayor claimed the budget was balanced. Ari compares the draft and the revision. What changes when claimed replaces said?

   • The revision reports a different event, because the mayor must have said something new about the budget at the meeting.
   • Claimed is a more formal word, so the revision sounds more official but judges nothing about the budget.
   • Nothing changes, because said and claimed both report that the mayor spoke about the budget in public.
   • The revision suggests doubt: claimed leaves open whether the budget really was balanced, while said just reports it.

5. Read this first

   Draft

   Ms. Ortega said the permit had been lost in her office. Revision: Ms. Ortega admitted the permit had been lost in her office.

6. 5.

   Noah compares the draft and the revision. What changes when admitted replaces said?

   • Admitted is a legal term, so the revision says that Ms. Ortega broke a law by losing the permit.
   • Nothing changes, because said and admitted both report that the permit had been lost in her office.
   • The revision adds a new fact: that the permit was later found, so the office was not at fault in the end.
   • The revision suggests Ms. Ortega accepts a fault she would rather not own; said simply reports it.
7. 6.

   The spokesperson explained the delay. Revision: The spokesperson justified the delay. Esme compares the draft and the revision. What changes when justified replaces explained?

   • Justified is a legal term, so the revision says the delay broke a rule that the spokesperson cited.
   • Justified suggests the delay needed defending as reasonable; explained simply tells how it happened.
   • Nothing changes, because explained and justified both say the spokesperson spoke about the delay.
   • The revision says the delay was longer than the draft says, since justified is a bigger word.

8. Text

   The county's report calls the old pump house abandoned. The last inspection was in 2009, and neighbors say the door has been padlocked for years.

9. 7.

   Ren asks what abandoned implies that vacant would not. Which implication fits the text?

   • That someone still uses the building each week for storage.
   • That the owner left it behind without caring for it or planning to return.
   • That the neighbors are at fault for the poor condition of the building.
   • That the building was torn down after the last inspection.

10. Text

    The principal called the student's essay derivative. It used the same three examples as the textbook, in the same order, with a few words changed.

11. 8.

    Milo asks what derivative implies that new would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the essay is hard to follow because it jumps between topics.
    • That the ideas came from another source instead of being the writer's own.
    • That the student copied dishonestly and should be punished.
    • That the essay is original and unlike anything else the textbook says.

12. Text

    The report described the stream as trickling after the dry summer. In July it was ankle-deep; by September a person could cross on three stones.

13. 9.

    Jun asks what trickling implies that flowing would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the stream had dried up completely and held no water.
    • That the town wasted its water and caused the shortage.
    • That the stream was small and thin but still moving.
    • That the stream had become wide and fast after the summer.

14. Text

    The coach praised the freshman's play as scrappy. The freshman was small for the team but chased every loose ball and won most of them.

15. 10.

    Kira asks what scrappy implies that skilled would not. Which implication fits the text?

    • That the player is careless and sloppy with the ball in close games.
    • That the player is naturally gifted and rarely has to try very hard.
    • That the player is undersized or outmatched but fights hard to compete.
    • That the player starts fights and breaks the rules of the game.