Words with the same meaning but a different feel

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Version 1

   The bakery on Elm Street is famous across the county. Version 2: The bakery on Elm Street is notorious across the county.

2. 1.

   Ari compares the two versions. What separates famous from notorious here?

   • What it suggests: notorious means widely known for something admired, and famous means widely known for something bad.
   • Formality: notorious is a stiff word for a report, and famous is a casual word for everyday talk.
   • What it suggests: famous means widely known, usually for something admired, and notorious means widely known for something bad.
   • Nothing: both say many people know the bakery, so the two versions mean exactly the same thing.
3. 2.

   The inventor's delight in every new gadget was childlike. Version 2: The inventor's delight in every new gadget was childish. Bo compares the two versions. What separates childlike from childish here?

   • Strength: childish is the stronger word, because it describes a bigger delight than childlike does.
   • What it suggests: childish praises a fresh, innocent wonder, and childlike criticizes behavior that is silly or immature.
   • What it suggests: childlike praises a fresh, innocent wonder, and childish criticizes behavior that is silly or immature.
   • Nothing: both describe the inventor's delight as like a child's, so the versions mean the same.
4. 3.

   The new manager was assertive in meetings. Version 2: The new manager was aggressive in meetings. Esme compares the two versions. What separates assertive from aggressive here?

   • Setting: assertive belongs to business meetings, and aggressive to any kind of conversation.
   • Nothing: both say the manager spoke up firmly in meetings, so the two versions mean the same.
   • What it suggests: aggressive means firm and confident in stating a view, and assertive means pushy or hostile in forcing it.
   • What it suggests: assertive means firm and confident in stating a view, and aggressive means pushy or hostile in forcing it.
5. 4.

   The hikers strolled up the last hill. Version 2: The hikers trudged up the last hill. Jun compares the two versions. What separates strolled from trudged here?

   • Nothing: both say the hikers walked up the last hill, so the two versions mean exactly the same.
   • Distance: strolled means walking a short way, and trudged means walking a long way.
   • What it suggests: strolled suggests an easy, relaxed pace, and trudged suggests slow, heavy, tiring effort.
   • What it suggests: trudged suggests an easy, relaxed pace, and strolled suggests slow, heavy, tiring effort.

6. Details

   The new tenant never complained out loud, but every Saturday he stood at his window and watched the neighbors' leaf blower with a tight jaw.

7. 5.

   Kira reads the details. Which word completes the sentence: The tenant ____ the leaf blower?

   • detested
   • resented
   • tolerated
   • ignored

8. Details

   The clerk's shoes clicked quickly across the lobby, but she paused to hold the elevator for a stranger and never glanced at her watch.

9. 6.

   Milo reads the details. Which word best describes the clerk's pace?

   • frantic
   • brisk
   • jittery
   • leisurely

10. Details

    After the flood, the library's lowest shelf was damp, but every book was dry within a day and the carpet needed only a good vacuuming.

11. 7.

    Noah reads the details. Which word best describes the flood damage?

    • serious
    • negligible
    • minor
    • unusual

12. Sentence

    The council wanted the new fountain to look elegant without looking showy, so it chose a ____ design of plain white stone.

13. 8.

    Pia fills the blank. Which word matches the council's goal?

    • drab
    • austere
    • ordinary
    • understated

14. Sentence

    The audience laughed at the joke, but only politely, the way people laugh to be kind. It was a ____ chuckle.

15. 9.

    Ren fills the blank. Which word matches how the audience reacted?

    • nervous
    • tepid
    • scornful
    • cheerful
16. 10.

    The museum's budget covered repairs and nothing else, with just enough and not a dollar spare. The budget was ____. Tala fills the blank. Which word matches the museum's situation?

    • comfortable
    • tight
    • skimpy
    • desperate