How words relate: analogies

Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   ““curious : nosy :: assertive : ____”” Ari wrote confident in the blank. Which statement explains why confident is wrong?

   • Confident is wrong because curious and nosy are about asking questions, so the blank must be about asking questions too.
   • Confident is wrong because curious and nosy are opposites, so the blank needs the opposite of assertive.
   • Curious turns into nosy when praise becomes blame, but confident keeps the praise, so the blank needs a blaming word such as domineering.
   • Confident is right, because assertive and confident are near-synonyms, just as curious and nosy are near-synonyms, so the two pairs match.
2. 2.

   Luz reads four pairs. Three share one link. Which pair is the odd one out?

   • stubborn : obstinate
   • ambitious : ruthless
   • cautious : timid
   • persistent : stubborn
3. 3.

   The mayor called the new parking rules firm. The editorial called the same rules harsh. Tala reads two reports. Which pair relates its two words the way firm relates to harsh?

   • persuasive : manipulative
   • pleasant : delightful
   • manipulative : persuasive
   • rules : council
4. 4.

   ““irritated : enraged :: uneasy : ____”” Jun wrote nervous in the blank. Which statement explains why nervous is wrong?

   • Nervous is wrong because enraged is aimed at a person, and nervous is a feeling that is not aimed at anyone.
   • Nervous is right, because uneasy and nervous are near-synonyms, just as irritated and enraged are near-synonyms, so the pairs match.
   • Enraged is irritated pushed to the extreme, and nervous is no stronger than uneasy, so the blank needs an extreme fear word such as terrified.
   • Nervous is wrong because irritated and enraged are both about anger, so the blank must be about anger too.
5. 5.

   The first report said the river rose overnight. The second report said the river surged overnight. Bo reads two reports. Which pair relates its two words the way rose relates to surged?

   • demanded : asked
   • rose : climbed
   • river : flood
   • asked : demanded
6. 6.

   ““filter : purifying :: lens : ____”” Milo wrote camera in the blank. Which statement explains why camera is wrong?

   • Purifying is what a filter does, so the blank needs what a lens does, focusing; a camera is the whole the lens belongs to.
   • Camera is wrong because a filter is about cleaning, so the blank must be about cleaning too.
   • Camera is wrong because a filter is a part of a purifier, but a lens is not a part of anything.
   • Camera is right, because a lens belongs in a camera, just as a filter belongs in a purifier, so each second word names the whole.
7. 7.

   Zee reads four pairs. Three share one link. Which pair is the odd one out?

   • pleased : ecstatic
   • peeved : irate
   • tired : exhausted
   • exhausted : drowsy
8. 8.

   They showed that something upstream was failing. Kira reads the principal's remark. Which pair relates its words the way the long lines relate to the failure upstream?

   • infection : fever
   • fever : infection
   • lines : cafeteria
   • medicine : infection
9. 9.

   Esme reads four pairs. Three share one link. Which pair is the odd one out?

   • candid : evasive
   • diligent : negligent
   • lucid : muddled
   • muddled : confused
10. 10.

    Our coach says each drill is only a rehearsal for the game, and never the game itself. Noah reads the coach's remark. Which pair relates its words the way a drill relates to a game?

    • coach : team
    • paint : mural
    • sketch : mural
    • mural : sketch