Homophones, Synonyms, & Antonyms
Word Meanings
References for Meaning
Writing
Improving Writing
100
Which word is a synonym for the word "rounded"?
A) curved
B) collected
C) poked
D) simple
A) curved
100
Which sentence should be revised because it uses the LEAST precise language?
A) They have tiny hairs on their legs and feet that help them taste nectar and water.
B) When they are in the caterpillar stage, they eat a lot and gain a lot of weight.
C) During the 3,000-mile migration, they can travel up to 100 miles each day.
D) When they come out of the pupa, they have black, orange, and white wings.
B) When they are in the caterpillar stage, they eat a lot and gain a lot of weight.
100
Which word below would be on the same page as the guide words "love" and "luxate"?
A) lyric
B) lost
C) lower
D) vowel
C) lower
100
Which pair of sentences does NOT use a transitional word or phrase effectively?
A) People should recycle and try to reduce waste in order to save the environment. Similarly, people should carpool to reduce emissions that hurt the atmosphere.
B) People should recycle and try to reduce waste in order to save the environment. Furthermore, people should carpool to reduce emissions that hurt the atmosphere.
C) People should recycle and try to reduce waste in order to save the environment. In addition, people should carpool to reduce emissions that hurt the atmosphere.
D) People should recycle and try to reduce waste in order to save the environment. On the other hand, people should carpool to reduce emissions that hurt the atmosphere.
D) People should recycle and try to reduce waste in order to save the environment. On the other hand, people should carpool to reduce emissions that hurt the atmosphere.
100
Which of these is written correctly?
A) My neighbors have a brown German large shepherd.
B) My neighbors have a large brown German shepherd.
C) My neighbors have a large German brown shepherd.
D) My neighbors have a German large brown shepherd.
B) My neighbors have a large brown German shepherd.
200
Campfire
The campfire my dad built was quite impressive. It was able to illuminate the campsite so we could see the area around us.
What is an antonym for the word illuminate?
A) brighten
B) freeze
C) darken
D) warm
C) darken
200
Read this sentence.
Don’t try to win your audience over with comedy.
What is the meaning of the phrase "win your audience over"?
A) to win a prize for the best speech
B) to win a prize for being funny
C) to appear confident to your viewers
D) to connect with your viewers
D) to connect with your viewers
200
Read the dictionary entry below.
perfect (pur-fikt)
adj. [Latin]
1. lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2. being without defect or blemish: a perfect specimen.
3. thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
4. completely suited for a particular purpose or situation
Read the following sentence.
The chef will spend hours at the market to make sure all the vegetables look perfect on the outside.
Which definition best fits the underlined word?
A) definition 2
B) definition 1
C) definition 3
D) definition 4
A) definition 2
200
"To get to Atlanta, we had to drive south for ten hours through thick traffic on I-75. ______, we got off at our exit, only to find that there had been an accident and we had to be rerouted. ______, we arrived at my grandparents' house, only to find that they had left to go to dinner."
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate transitions.
A) First; Second
B) Then; Finally
C) Second; Best of all
D) More impressively; At last
B) Then; Finally
200
Hudson loves the game of baseball. He is excited about writing a biography about his favorite baseball legend, Babe Ruth. Which choice would be MOST helpful for Hudson to use to help him write the biography?
A) creating a timeline of events
B) interviewing his baseball coach
C) brainstorming a list of baseball legends
D) researching information about the game of baseball
A) creating a timeline of events
300
Read the sentence below the picture.
Due to Mr. Gonzalez speaking Spanish, I needed a friend to translate what he was telling me.
What is a synonym for the word translate?
A) interpret
B) repeat
C) deliver
D) read
A) interpret
300
Read the following sentence.
And we did improve it, too, though after all our work, it had a lumpy and billowy look about it, like a little piece of a stormy sea.
In the sentence below, what is the meaning of the phrase “lumpy and billowy”?
A) full of bumps or uneven
B) hard and uncomfortable
C) smooth and velvety
D) full of jolts or sharp movements
A) full of bumps or uneven
300
Analyze the following dictionary entry.
devour v. [Middle English]
1. to swallow or eat up hungrily
2. to consume destructively
3. to eagerly enjoy
Read the following sentence.
The fire devoured the building within minutes.
Which definition fits how the word the devoured is used in the sentence?
A) definition 2
B) definition 3
C) definition 1
A) definition 2
300
A student wrote the following sentence.
Representatives from several southern states met after the election of Abraham Lincoln __________ declare independence from the United States and form the Confederate States of America.
Which underlined linking phrase BEST connects the information in this sentence?
A) after all
B) in order to
C) in other words
D) on the other hand
B) in order to
300
Bella's writing assignment is to write about her favorite vacation. This is a hard task for Bella because she has visited so many places. Which choice would be MOST helpful for Bella to use to decide on her topic?
A) ask her friends about their vacations
B) research some new vacation destinations
C) brainstorm a list of past vacation destinations
D) make a list of things she would take on a vacation
C) brainstorm a list of past vacation destinations
400
We drank ______ at the party. It was delicious.
The boxer threw a ________ with his fist at the swinging heavy bag.
Choose the word that correctly completes BOTH sentences.
A) beat
B) everyone
C) gallons
D) punch
D) punch
400
New Years Goals
People make new promises to themselves at the beginning of a new year. This tradition is a practice in many countries and cultures. These resolutions are often for an achievement or an improvement. Christine Carter, an author, says that children as young as seven can make their own resolutions.
Based on the clues, what does “resolutions” mean?
A) Ideas that are easy
B) Things people do as a family
C) Decisions or promises
D) New ideas for children
C) Decisions or promises
400
power /pou-er/
[Middle English]
noun
1. ability, competence
synonyms: aptitude, capability, skill, talent
antonyms: inability, inaptitude,
2. physical might, muscular strength
synonyms: beefiness, clout, might, muscle, vigor
antonyms: weakness, feebleness
3. a source of energy
synonyms: electricity, nuclear energy, solar heat, steam energy, hydropower
antonyms: inactivity, idleness
How many synonyms are listed for the word power when it is referring to physical strength?
A) five
B) four
C) three
D) six
A) five
400
Which sentence correctly connects both of the given ideas with the correct underlined linking word?
A) Baby grizzly bears are fed by their mother and they cannot hunt for food on their own.
B) Most grizzly bears weigh over 300 pounds also he eats a combination of meat and berries.
C) The claws on a grizzly bear's paw are sharp because it needs to dig in the ground to find roots to eat.
D) Most grizzly bears live in Alaska but their environment has been slowly destroyed and altered by human activity.
C) The claws on a grizzly bear's paw are sharp because it needs to dig in the ground to find roots to eat.
400
Oliver is writing a paragraph about Batman (a fictional superhero) and Joker (Batman's enemy). What is the BEST way for him to organize his paragraph?
A) cause and effect
B) sequence of events
C) problem and solution
D) compare and contrast
D) compare and contrast
500
How are the following pairs of words related?
PEACEFUL and ANGRY
UPSET and CALM
STILL and ACTIVE
A) They are all antonyms.
B) They are all synonyms.
C) They are all homonyms.
D) They are all homographs.
A) They are all antonyms.
500
What word would be more precise than the word big in the following sentence?
Pollution is a big problem in New York.
A) bigger
B) disappointing
C) large
D) significant
D) significant
500
cattle /‘ka.tel/
[Middle English]
noun
1. bovine animals, especially domesticated members of the genus Bos;
2. large farm animals kept for their milk or meat;
3. Animals of a group related to domestic cattle, including yak, bison, and buffaloes.
4. Archaic - farm animals collectively; livestock
Based on the pronunciation guide, which syllable is accented in the word cattle?
A) the first syllable
B) the second syllable
C) the third syllable
D) no syllable is accented
A) the first syllable
500
Evaluate the statements and select the one that BEST supports the opinion that year round school is in the best interest of students.
A) Parents and students do not like the idea of year round school because it does not give them enough vacation time.
B) Students who attend year round school do better overall in school because they do not suffer from summer brain drain.
C) Studies have shown that the consistency of year round school allows students to receive the support they need to master their studies.
D) Year round school provides repetitive homework and classwork that makes students do the same task repeatedly until they know the material.
C) Studies have shown that the consistency of year round school allows students to receive the support they need to master their studies.
500
Organization is important when writing, as it allows readers to better understand content. Anthony is writing a how-to guide on building a simple tree house.
For Anthony's purpose, which organizational strategy would be best for this text?
A) Tell readers about the history of tree houses and how to choose their designs.
B) Provide a list of materials needed and describe detailed steps in chronological order.
C) Introduce the topic with reasons for building a tree house and provide a list of materials.
D) Provide a detailed list of the materials needed and describe different types of tree houses.
B) Provide a list of materials needed and describe detailed steps in chronological order.