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- quiet and withdrawn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