How a word changes with its ending, and what its root means
Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
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)
Ari builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?
- not able to be argued against
- in a way that can be argued against
- in a way that cannot be written down
- in a way that cannot be argued against
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?
- investigative
- investigation
- investigated
- investigator
Tala checks a sentence for a civics poster that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?
- The committee's judicial review followed the court's rules, and its judicious 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 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.
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)
Jun builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?
- in a way that cannot be heard
- not able to be noticed
- in a way that can be noticed
- in a way too slight to be noticed
Bo checks a sentence for a park newsletter that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?
- After an exhaustive climb, the rangers wrote an exhaustive report on every trail.
- After an exhausting climb, the rangers wrote an exhausting report on every trail.
- After an exhausting climb, the rangers wrote an exhaustive report on every trail.
- After an exhaustive climb, the rangers wrote an exhausting report on every trail.
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)
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
- not open to more than one meaning
- in a way that is open to doubt, with two possible meanings
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.
Zee tightens a sentence for a science magazine. Which word fills the blank and keeps the meaning?
- observed
- observer
- observation
- observant
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 ingenuous delight in explaining it charmed them.
- 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 ingenuous solution surprised the judges, and her ingenuous delight in explaining it charmed them.
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)
Ren builds a five-part strip for a word in a news report. What does the whole word mean here?
- in a way that cannot be defeated
- in a way that cannot be worn out
- in a way that can be worn out
- not able to be worn out
Noah checks a sentence for a hiking guide that uses two words from one root. Which version uses both correctly?
- The trail followed a torturous path up the ridge, and the tortuous heat made each switchback feel longer.
- The trail followed a tortuous path up the ridge, and the tortuous 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 tortuous path up the ridge, and the torturous heat made each switchback feel longer.