How words relate: analogies
Grade 9 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
““levee : flood”” Ari reads the word pair. Which choice names the link, in the right order?
- same topic: both words are about rivers
- prevention: a flood is built to hold back a levee
- prevention: a levee is built to hold back a flood
- cause and effect: a levee makes a flood happen
““chapter : novel :: movement : ____”” Luz needs one word for the blank. Which word gives the second pair the same link as the first?
- symphony
- orchestra
- concert
- measure
““gloomy : cheerful :: sullen : jovial”” Tala does not know the word jovial. The two pairs share one link. What does jovial most likely mean?
- quiet and withdrawn
- bad-tempered and unfriendly
- dark and sad
- cheerful and full of good humor
““scalpel : incision”” Jun reads the word pair. Which choice names the link, in the right order?
- part and whole: a scalpel is one part of an incision
- tool and result: an incision is used to make a scalpel
- same topic: both words belong in a hospital
- tool and result: a scalpel is used to make an incision
““murky : clear :: confusing : lucid”” Bo does not know the word lucid. The two pairs share one link. What does lucid most likely mean?
- hard to follow and unclear
- puzzling, like a riddle
- clear and easy to understand
- cloudy, like muddy water
““insomnia : sleep”” Milo reads the word pair. Which choice names the link, in the right order?
- lack: insomnia is the lasting lack of sleep
- same topic: both words are about nighttime
- lack: sleep is the lasting lack of insomnia
- opposite: insomnia is the opposite of sleep
““meager : scanty :: abundant : ____”” Zee needs one word for the blank. Which word gives the second pair the same link as the first?
- harvest
- excessive
- plentiful
- sparse
““tired : exhausted :: hungry : ravenous”” Kira does not know the word ravenous. The two pairs share one link. What does ravenous most likely mean?
- somewhat hungry but not sure
- very hungry, with a huge appetite
- worn out after hard work
- not hungry and unwilling to eat
““lenient : strict :: hasty : ____”” Esme needs one word for the blank. Which word gives the second pair the same link as the first?
- deliberate
- speedy
- rushed
- prompt
““dreamer : idealistic :: realist : pragmatic”” Noah does not know the word pragmatic. The two pairs share one link. What does pragmatic most likely mean?
- focused on what works in practice
- a person who faces real problems
- impractical and ignoring what works
- guided by big ideals and dreams