How a word changes with its ending, and what its root means

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Sentence

   The photographs showed incontrovertibly that the dam had been built before the flood. Strip: in (not) | contra (against) | vert (turn) | ible (able to be) | ly (in a way)

2. 1.

   Ari builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?

   • in a way that can be argued against
   • in a way that cannot be written down
   • not able to be argued against
   • in a way that cannot be argued against
3. 2.

   The detective conducted an investigation of the missing records. After: The detective ___ the missing records. Luz tightens a sentence for a science magazine. Which word fills the blank and keeps the meaning?

   • investigation
   • investigated
   • investigator
   • investigative
4. 3.

   Tala checks a sentence for a civics poster that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?

   • The committee's judicious review followed the court's rules, and its judicial delay of the vote showed good sense.
   • The committee's judicial review followed the court's rules, and its judicial delay of the vote showed good sense.
   • The committee's judicious review followed the court's rules, and its judicious delay of the vote showed good sense.
   • The committee's judicial review followed the court's rules, and its judicious delay of the vote showed good sense.

5. Sentence

   The lake level fell imperceptibly over the dry summer, a hair's width each day. Strip: im (not) | per (through) | cept (take, seize) | ible (able to be) | ly (in a way)

6. 4.

   Jun builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?

   • not able to be noticed
   • in a way that can be noticed
   • in a way too slight to be noticed
   • in a way that cannot be heard

7. Before

   The two clubs negotiated for hours before the league stepped in. After: The ___ between the two clubs lasted hours before the league stepped in.

8. 5.

   Pia tightens a sentence for a science magazine. Which word fills the blank and keeps the meaning?

   • negotiator
   • negotiation
   • negotiable
   • negotiated

9. Sentence

   The coach stated unequivocally that no player would be cut from the team. Strip: un (not) | equi (equal) | voc (voice) | al (relating to) | ly (in a way)

10. 6.

    Milo builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?

    • in a way that is not equal for each player
    • in a way that leaves no doubt about the meaning
    • in a way that is open to doubt, with two possible meanings
    • not open to more than one meaning

11. Before

    The students observed the weather closely, and the log showed three clear patterns. After: The students' close ___ of the weather produced a log with three clear patterns.

12. 7.

    Zee tightens a sentence for a science magazine. Which word fills the blank and keeps the meaning?

    • observation
    • observer
    • observant
    • observed
13. 8.

    Kira checks a sentence for a science-fair program that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?

    • The inventor's ingenious solution surprised the judges, and her ingenious delight in explaining it charmed them.
    • The inventor's ingenuous solution surprised the judges, and her ingenious delight in explaining it charmed them.
    • The inventor's ingenious solution surprised the judges, and her ingenuous delight in explaining it charmed them.
    • The inventor's ingenuous solution surprised the judges, and her ingenuous delight in explaining it charmed them.

14. Sentence

    The volunteers worked indefatigably through the night to sort the donated coats. Strip: in (not) | de (down) | fatig (tire) | able (able to be) | ly (in a way)

15. 9.

    Ren builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?

    • not able to be worn out
    • in a way that cannot be defeated
    • in a way that can be worn out
    • in a way that cannot be worn out
16. 10.

    Noah checks a sentence for a hiking guide that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?

    • The trail followed a tortuous path up the ridge, and the tortuous heat made each switchback feel longer.
    • The trail followed a tortuous path up the ridge, and the torturous heat made each switchback feel longer.
    • The trail followed a torturous path up the ridge, and the torturous heat made each switchback feel longer.
    • The trail followed a torturous path up the ridge, and the tortuous heat made each switchback feel longer.