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

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   The council chose the economical heating plan because it used less fuel and cost less each winter. Ari reads a sentence in a school paper. Which meaning fits the word, and what does the ending change?

   • thrifty and not wasteful; -ical describes how the plan saves
   • having to do with the town's economy; -ic describes money and trade
   • the system of money, work and trade in a place, as in a town's economy
   • in a thrifty way; -ly makes it an adverb, telling how the council chose

2. Read this first

   Sentence

   The council's vote was irrevocable, so the road could not be reopened later. Strip: ir (not) | re (back) | voc (call) | able (able to be)

3. 2.

   Luz builds a strip for a word in a history-club report. What does the whole word mean here?

   • able to be called back and undone
   • a call or a voice
   • a person who cannot call a vote back
   • not able to be called back or undone
4. 3.

   Tala checks four sentences for a school newspaper. Which sentence uses the right form of the word?

   • Her persistence in rewriting the grant letter finally convinced the board.
   • She rewrote the grant letter persistent until the board finally agreed.
   • In spite of the cold, the volunteers persistence until the fence was done.
   • Her persistent in rewriting the grant letter finally convinced the board.
5. 4.

   The faucet's continual drip kept the library staff awake, though it stopped for a minute now and then. Jun reads a sentence in a school paper. Which meaning fits the word, and what does the ending change?

   • to keep going or start again
   • happening again and again, with pauses between
   • again and again; the adverb continually
   • going on without any break
6. 5.

   Bo checks four sentences for a school newspaper. Which sentence uses the right form of the word?

   • The treaty's third article moved the border significant.
   • The treaty's third article significance that the border would move.
   • The treaty's third article was significant because it moved the border.
   • The treaty's third article was significance because it moved the border.
7. 6.

   The mayor called the signing of the treaty a historic moment, one that would be taught in classrooms for decades. Milo reads a sentence in a school paper. Which meaning fits the word, and what does the ending change?

   • belonging to the past, as in the historical records kept in the town archive
   • important enough to be remembered in history; -ic makes history an adjective
   • in a way tied to history; the adverb historically tells how it was signed
   • the record of past events, which classes study in school
8. 7.

   Kira checks four sentences for a school newspaper. Which sentence uses the right form of the word?

   • The ad's deceptive wording persuaded buyers that the fabric was waterproof.
   • The ad relied on deceptive to persuade buyers that the fabric was waterproof.
   • The ad's deception wording persuaded buyers that the fabric was waterproof.
   • The ad was worded deceptive so buyers would think the fabric waterproof.
9. 8.

   After the match, the two captains returned to their respective teams to hear the coaches' notes. Ren reads a sentence in a school paper. Which meaning fits the word, and what does the ending change?

   • belonging to each one separately, captain by captain
   • a feeling of admiration and regard for someone
   • showing proper regard for others, as in respectful
   • in each case separately; the adverb respectively matches the pairs

10. Sentence

    The marker left an indelible stain on the old map, and no cleaner could lift it. Strip: in (not) | del (erase) | ible (able to be)

11. 9.

    Esme builds a strip for a word in a history-club report. What does the whole word mean here?

    • to erase or wipe out
    • able to be erased easily
    • dark and ugly against the old paper
    • not able to be erased or removed
12. 10.

    Noah checks four sentences for a school newspaper. Which sentence uses the right form of the word?

    • The two schools compete for the regional trophy every spring.
    • The two schools competition for the regional trophy every spring.
    • Every spring brings competitive for the regional trophy.
    • The two schools played competitive for the regional trophy every spring.