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
   • in a thrifty way; -ly makes it an adverb, telling how the council chose
   • 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

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

   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?

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

5. Sentence

   The judge's face was inscrutable, so the lawyers could not guess what she thought. Strip: in (not) | scrut (examine) | able (able to be)

6. 4.

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

   • serious and stern, as a judge's face would be during a trial
   • not able to be examined or understood; impossible to read
   • able to be examined closely and understood; easy to read
   • a person who examines faces closely and tries to understand them
7. 5.

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

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

8. Sentence

   The principal made a unilateral decision, and no one else was asked. Strip: uni (one) | later (side) | al (relating to)

9. 6.

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

   • done by one side alone, without the others
   • a person who stands on one side
   • made by a school leader after careful thought
   • side, as in the side of a building
10. 7.

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

    • 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's deceptive wording persuaded buyers that the fabric was waterproof.
    • The ad was worded deceptive so buyers would think the fabric waterproof.
11. 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
    • showing proper regard for others, as in respectful
    • a feeling of admiration and regard for someone
    • in each case separately; the adverb respectively matches the pairs

12. 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)

13. 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
    • not able to be erased or removed
    • dark and ugly against the old paper
14. 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.
    • Every spring brings competitive for the regional trophy.
    • The two schools played competitive for the regional trophy every spring.
    • The two schools competition for the regional trophy every spring.