Context Clues
Prefix/Suffix
Dictionary Entries
Root Words
Greek/Latin
100
Mrs. Bailey’s class had been hearing an annoying scratching noise in the closet behind Mrs. Bailey’s desk for months. They were quite astonished when all the sudden, a mouse darted out of the closet and ran across the room. In this paragraph, the word darted means that the mouse-
A. waited alone C. looked closely
B. grew bigger D. moved quickly
D. moved quickly
100
I was sure that the directions said to put the left wing on first when I was building my model airplane. However, I must have misread the directions because I obviously needed to put the right wing on first.
The information in the box helps the reader understand that the word, misread in the paragraph above means.
A. what was read was not understood correctly
B. what was read was forgotten
C. what was read was understood
D. what was read was written incorrectly
A. what was read was not understood correctly
100
The coal miners were trying to find a passage through the mountain.
Which is the best definition of the word passage as it is used in the sentence?
A. Definition 1 C. Definition 3
B. Definition 2 D. Definition 4
B. Definition 2
100
Her tire was flat, she pulled over to the side of the road and fortunately an auto service was there within a half hour with a portable air compressor to fill her tire.
The meaning of the root “port” helps the reader know that the word portable in this paragraph means
A. able to be carried B. able to speak on C. able to be shared D. able to hear through
A. able to be carried
100
One of the apartment’s in Jessica’s apartment building had a major fire. The firemen had to extract Jessica’s neighbor, Mrs. Hayes, out of the window.
The information in the box helps the reader understand that the word, extract in the paragraph above means
A. to copy B. to separate or obtain C. to get or pull something D. to deduce an answer to a question
C. to get or pull something
200
Kelly invited Josh to go to the new restaurant in town with a large Mexican food buffet. They each went back for second’s and third’s. Josh felt uncomfortably full as he was not accustomed to eating so much.
What is the meaning of accustomed in this paragraph?
A. managed by C. changed by
B. different from D. in the habit of
D. in the habit of
200
Roy’s uncle warned him to add antifreeze to his car’s engine before the winter weather storm blew in.
The information in the box helps the reader understand that the word, antifreeze in the paragraph above means
A. a substance that will freeze the engine
B. a substance that will fight the freezing effects of winter
C. a substance that is frozen
D. a substance made of ice that starts an engine
B. A substance that will fight the freeing effects of winter.
200
The department store told her they would hold her new dress for three days if she couldn’t pick it up right away.
Which is the best definition of the word hold as it is used in the sentence above?
A. Definition 1 C. Definition 3 B. Definition 2 D. Definition 4
B. Definition 2
200
The mayor of New York City was proud of the new Manet art display at the Metropolitan Art Museum as he hoped it would increase tourism in the city. He enjoyed the realism art movement of art; however, he also heard the criticism from some of the public that the prism display of jewel prisms was not part of the realism art period.
Which of the following words from this paragraph uses the suffix ism-, meaning “belief or practice” with a root word?
A. tourism B. prism C. criticism D. realism
C. criticism
200
He wanted to thank all the people who helped him research the material, so he wrote a foreword to the book thanking all of them.
The information in the box helps the reader understand that the word, foreword in the paragraph above means
A. a second book as a follow-up to a book
B. a part of a book at the beginning of the book
C. an additional chapter in a book
D. a sequel in a book
B. A part of a book at the beginning of the book
300
I was supposed to meet my brother to look for rocks for the pond that our father was building in the backyard. I spotted a few rocks about five feet down. Without waiting for my brother, I began to climb down the steep side of the ravine to grab a few rocks that I knew my father would like.
Which word is a synonym for ravine as it is used in the paragraph above?
A. bird C. ditch
B. boulder D. meadow
C. ditch
300
As much as she wanted to help at the animal shelter, she was quite scared that she would be careless and make a mistake while tending to the animals.
The suffix- less in the words helpless and careless in the paragraph above means--
A. most B. tiny C. some D. without
D. without
300
Evidently, they were busy, and the officer needed to return to his post at the station.
Which is the best definition of the word post as it is used in this paragraph?
A. Definition 1 B. Definition 2 C. Definition 3 D. Definition 4
C. Definition 3
300
She was getting ready for the state track meet and she was trying to perfect every detail of her jump, from her depth and how deep her jump should be, to when she should start jumping so she could decrease her time. She really wanted to beat last year’s state champion, Ginger Jacobs.
Which of the following words from the selection uses the prefix de-, meaning “reduce down,” with a root word?
A. detail B. depth C. deep D. decrease
D. decrease
300
He held up pictures of several famous paintings by great artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh and more. He wanted the students to see the tone and beautiful multicolor landscape that each artist used.
The information in the box, helps the reader understand that the word, multicolor in the paragraph above means
A. simple and plain B. very bland C. lacking color D. full of different colors
D. full of different colors
400
As soon as Gina opened the gift certificate, she was speechless and sputtered out a “thankyou” and a “I can’t believe it” when her aunt called.
In this sentence, the word sputtered means
A. spoke in a confused way
B. acted out in an amusing way
C. made a polite suggestion
D. moved at a slow pace
A. spoke in a confused way
400
She sewed silken pajamas for her daughters and woolen flannel pajamas for her husband. She was delighted that the pajamas fit each one of them perfectly.
The suffix - en in the words silken and woolen in the paragraph above means--
A. small B. without
C. close to D. made of
D. made of
400
Even though she had to cut through the wooded area, it didn’t bother her because she could see the track all the kids had made and just followed it.
Which is the best definition of the word track as it is used in this paragraph?
A. Definition 1 B. Definition 2 C. Definition 3 D. Definition 4
D. Definition 4
400
The word intercepted as used in the sentence above, contains the Latin root inter, meaning
A. to divide B. to catch
C. between D. in front of
B. to catch
400
She wanted the remote that would turn the television on in the morning all by itself and would turn the television off at night all by itself as well. However, when she priced the automatic remote at the department store, she realized it was too expensive.
The information in the box, helps the reader understand that the word, automatic in the paragraph above means
A. having the capability of starting or moving all on its own
B. occurring every so often
C. doing something without thinking about it
D. unable to operate
A. having the capability of starting or moving all on its own
500
She loved wearing matching aprons with her grandmother and making peach cobbler for her grandfather. But most of all, she loved going through the old photos that she cherished of her mother when she was a little girl.
In the paragraph above, which of the following words could be used in place of the word cherished?
A. wondered B. dreamed
C. adored D. supported
C. Adored
500
But to many visitors, riding the cable cars makes them feel like they are in a story book or even a fable. It is arguable that even Alcatraz is a top visitor attraction in San Francisco, even ahead of the beautiful hills or cable cars. But when you see a visitor and their adorable puppy hop on a historic cable car as if it was decades ago, you’ll see why cable cars are simply the best.
Which of the following words in the paragraph above have a Latin suffix able-, that means “enjoyable or likable”?
A. arguable B. cable
C. adorable D. fable
C. adorable
500
Jasmine was positive that she was right about how many miles it was to Colorado; but she decided she could bend a little and for once, let her brother be right.
Which is the best definition of the word bend as it is used in the sentence?
A. Definition 1 B. Definition 2 C. Definition 3 D. Definition 4
D. Definition 4
500
The fifth graders at West Middle School were going to take a retreat to a camp in the woods. The students had been having a difficult time since their town had been destroyed by a tornado. Their counselor was afraid they hadn’t released their emotions yet and she was afraid it would affect their relationships with each other. The camp allowed them to regain their trust in one another and feel that they will be safe.
Which of the following words from the selection uses the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with a root word?
A. relationship B. released C. retreat D. regain
D. regain
500
Based on the clues provided in the sentence, a reader would infer that the origin of the word private, the Latin word privus, means
A. single, alone B. tiny, enclosed C. clean, tidy D. fancy, elegant
A. single, alone