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Vocabulary & Spelling, Level II
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ISBN 978-0-82194-418-9
© 2009 by EMC Publishing, LLC
875 Montreal Way
St. Paul, MN 55102
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.emcp.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be adapted, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written
permission from the publisher. Teachers using Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature, Level II may
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Printed in the United States of America
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CONTENTS
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Unit 1: Word Study Skills and Word Parts
Lesson 1: Word Study Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Lesson 2: Word Study Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Lesson 3: PAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Lesson 4: Morphemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Lesson 5: Morphemes and Meaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Time Out for Test Practice: Recognizing Word Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Unit 2: Studying Syllables
Lesson 6: Syllabication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Lesson 7: Spelling by Syllables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Lesson 8: Accented Syllables and Pronunciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Lesson 9: Mispronunciations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Time Out for Test Practice: Syllables Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Unit 3: Spelling
Lesson 10: Spelling Patterns I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Lesson 11: Spelling Patterns II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Lesson 12: Spelling Patterns III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Lesson 13: Spelling Patterns IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Lesson 14: Commonly Misspelled Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Time Out for Test Practice: Spelling Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Unit 4: Context Clues; Denotation and Connotation
Lesson 15: Context Clues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Lesson 16: Using Context Clues I: Comparison and Contrast . . . . . . . . .37
Lesson 17: Using Context Clues II: Restatement and Apposition . . . . . .39
Lesson 18: Using Context Clues III: Examples and Cause and Effect . . .41
Lesson 19: Denotation and Connotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Time Out for Test Practice: Context Clues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Unit 5: Prefixes, Roots, Suffixes, and Root Origins
Lesson 20: Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Lesson 21: Prefixes and Similar Word Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Lesson 22: Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Lesson 23: Roots and Base Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Lesson 24: Greek and Latin Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Time Out for Test Practice: Spelling Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
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Unit 6: Homographs, Homophones, and Homonyms
Lesson 25: Homographs, Homophones, and Homonyms . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Lesson 26: More about Homographs, Homophones,
and Homonyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Time Out for Test Practice: Homophones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Unit 7: Reference Material; Synonyms and Antonyms
Lesson 27: Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Lesson 28: Choosing the Right Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Lesson 29: Synonyms and Antonyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Time Out for Test Practice: Connotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Unit 8: Collecting and Choosing Your Words
Lesson 30: Figurative Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Lesson 31: Slang and Colloquialisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Lesson 32: Words for Your Word Study Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Time Out for Test Practice: Reading Comprehension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Answer Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
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Introduction
The Exceeding the Standards resource books provide in-depth language arts instruction to enrich
students’ skills development beyond the level of meeting the standards. Exceeding the Standards:
Vocabulary & Spelling offers meaningful ways to incorporate word study into the language arts
classroom.
Vocabulary & Spelling presents thirty-two lessons, designed to be used weekly, that cover a broad
range of topics from etymology to context clues to spelling patterns. These lessons are aligned with
the units of the Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature program and may be used alone or as
supplements to the Vocabulary & Spelling workshops in the Student Edition. Each lesson incorporates
words from selections in the corresponding unit of the textbook. By using these lessons in
conjunction with the literature program, you will help your students become better readers, writers,
speakers, and spellers.
Each lesson in Vocabulary & Spelling includes the following components:
• A Word of the Week, selected from the corresponding textbook unit, highlights a word that
students may find particularly meaningful or interesting.
• Grammar instruction on one or more topics is followed by a Try It Yourself section that allows
students to practice what they are learning.
• Just For Fun activities encourage students to play with words, reminding them that language can be
fun and interesting.
• Tip boxes in the margin throughout the lesson clarify definitions, offer additional information, and
give helpful suggestions.
• A Time Out for Test Practice at the end of each unit provides students with the opportunity to
assess what they have learned and to practice test-taking skills by answering sample standardized
test questions in a multiple-choice format.
It is essential that vocabulary instruction include a variety of strategies to develop students’
word-study skills. Lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling provide many different ways of exploring and
studying words, word parts, semantic families, and spelling patterns and rules. Activating students’
prior knowledge of words and of essential concepts related to words helps students make associations
between new terms and words they already know.
The activities in Vocabulary & Spelling will help you actively engage students in working with
words. As their curiosity about word exploration grows, your students will become increasingly
confident in their ability to attack, learn, and experiment with new words.
Related Program Resources
For more vocabulary and spelling instruction, including charts of common prefixes, suffixes, and
word roots, refer to the Mirrors & Windows Student Edition Language Arts Handbook, Section 2:
Vocabulary & Spelling. Additional vocabulary development activities integrated with the literature
selections are included in the Meeting the Standards unit resource books and in Differentiated
Instruction for English Language Learners.
Teaching Tips
Word study encompasses not only vocabulary and spelling, but also the strategies language users
employ to unlock meanings and internalize spellings. Effective instruction in word study gives students
tools for learning new vocabulary and spelling independently in the long term. The following teaching
tips can help you ensure that your students get the most from the lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling.
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Teach Word Attack Strategies
There are a number of strategies good readers employ when they are confronted with an unfamiliar
word. These strategies include:
• using the context as a clue
• gleaning hints from pictures, charts, graphs, and other text support
• examining word parts: prefixes, suffixes, and roots
• combing through memories for associations with the word
• consulting dictionaries and other reference materials
• asking an authority, such as a teacher or other expert in the field
For many of us, these strategies have become second nature, and we are hardly conscious of using
them. To students, however, they are not so obvious; strategic word decoding takes place mostly
internally and silently, word attack strategies are largely invisible, and uninitiated students may never
witness them in action. Research suggests that students need explicit instruction in these strategies to
become proficient readers and effective writers. The lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling provide such
explicit instruction.
Create a Word-Rich Environment
The essential backdrop to an effective word study program is a classroom where words are clearly
valued. The following are some ideas for creating such a classroom.
• Word Wall Post a variety of vocabulary words and/or words of the week in your classroom to
provide students with repetition and recycling of the terms you want them to internalize. Use it
as the basis of word games such as bingo, Jeopardy, and twenty questions, as well as collaborative
storytelling.
• Class Dictionary Have students keep a class dictionary by taking turns entering words studied in
class, providing definitions, illustrating terms, writing contextual sentences, and searching for realworld uses of the words.
• Classroom Library Provide a broad range of reading materials, giving students time for sustained
silent reading, and modeling avid reading yourself, to build students’ vocabularies.
• Word Processing Language Tools Encourage students to make use of language features built into
word processing programs, such as dictionaries and thesauruses.
• Online Word Games Schedule time for your students to learn new vocabulary with online word
games and other technology tools.
• Language Mentor Share your own interest in words by drawing students’ attention to interesting
words in the news or in pop culture and by modeling how you approach words that are new to you.
Foster Curiosity
The key to incorporating meaningful word study into your language arts classroom is to encourage
dialogue with your students about how words create meaning. Your own curiosity about language
is infectious and will encourage your students to become inquisitive “word detectives” motivated to
solve the mystery of word meanings.
About Spelling “Rules”
Some students benefit from memorizing what are sometimes called spelling rules; others are
frustrated by the number of exceptions to each rule. To reflect the prevalence of exceptions, the term
spelling pattern has been used instead of spelling rule in this resource. In addition to introducing
students to spelling patterns, you can help them become stronger spellers by following the same
teaching tips mentioned above: modeling the use of strategies, creating a word-rich classroom, and
fostering curiosity.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 1
Word Study Notebook
Understand the Concept
No matter what type of material you are reading, you probably run into
unfamiliar words from time to time. Keeping track of these words and
their meanings and uses can help you become a better reader and can
enrich your vocabulary. As you learn more and more words, you will
also become a better speaker and a better writer, able to express yourself
more easily and vividly.
A good way to collect new words is to keep a word study
notebook. In it, you can record each new word with its definition and
pronunciation, along with an example sentence or drawing to help you
remember it. Here is a sample page from a word study notebook.
Word of the Week
ravenous (>ra v@ n@s) adj., very
hungry
Adam hadn’t eaten much all day,
so as soon as he caught sight of
the dinner buffet he realized he
had a ravenous appetite.
Some synonyms for ravenous
include starving, famished, and
voracious. Try substituting them in
the above sentence to see if they
fit. This is a helpful tactic when
learning new vocabulary words.
Word: obstinate
Pronunciation: 5b> st@ n@t
Definition: sticking to a purpose, opinion, or course in
spite of reason or arguments
Contextual sentence: The obstinate child refused to
eat his vegetables, no matter what his parents did to
persuade him.
A word study notebook
is a great way to actively
increase the number of words you
use in your own daily language.
Knowing more words will help
you speak and write your thoughts
more clearly, precisely, and vividly.
Tip
Tip
Tip
p
A phonetic description
is a way to spell a word
as it sounds instead of as it is
supposed to be spelled. In the
sample at left, the phonetic
description of the word obstinate
is given as \5b> st@ n@t\. Reading
the phonetic spelling will help you
to remember how to pronounce
the word.
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Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Fill in this sample page of a word study notebook.
Word: mesmerize
Just For Fun
You can use your word study
notebook to record interesting,
strange, or unusual words as well.
On your own paper or in your
word study notebook, complete
word study entries for the
following words.
•
•
•
•
•
swindle
habitual
cylinder
qualm
incalculable
Pronunciation:
Definition:
Contextual sentence:
Drawing:
EXERCISE B
Browse through a magazine or newspaper until you find a word that is
unfamiliar to you. Use the space below to create your own word study
notebook entry for the unfamiliar word. To find the correct definition
and pronunciation, consult a dictionary or ask your teacher. If you find
more than one definition for the word, choose the one that best fits how
the word was used in the sentence. If you wish, list the other definitions
as well.
Word:
Pronunciation:
Definition:
You can find new words
in many unexpected
places: the grocery store, recipes,
shopping malls, airports, buses,
restaurants, billboards, road signs,
instruction manuals, television,
radio, song lyrics, phone books,
greeting cards.
Tip
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Contextual sentence:
Drawing:
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 2
Word Study Skills
Understand the Concept
When you are reading a novel, a short story, or even a poem, you
may run across words you don’t know. That shouldn’t keep you from
understanding the selection, however. Several different skills can help
you read literature that contains unfamiliar words: using context clues,
using text support, defining word parts, using a dictionary, and getting
help from someone.
Context Clues
The passage that contains the unfamiliar word or words may also
contain clues revealing the meaning of the word or words. Consider the
following passage.
Word of the Week
intricate (in> tri k@t) adj.,
complex; having many parts
The intricate story was difficult
to follow because it had many
characters and sub-plots.
Something that is intricate is
difficult to figure out, or will take
a big effort to understand. Things
that can be intricate include
puzzles, people, machines, and
the directions for assembling a
new bicycle.
His schoolmates were racing about, playing exuberantly,
shouting and laughing with full voices. Their joyous sounds went
ringing through the quiet street.
Exuberantly might be a word you don’t know. But what clues does the
passage offer? The schoolmates were playing, shouting and laughing.
They were joyous. That tells you that exuberantly could mean with joy
and laughter. In fact, exuberantly means “with joy and enthusiasm.” By
using the passage surrounding the unfamiliar word, you can decipher
what that word means.
Try It Yourself
Just For Fun
Attack a new word by:
•
•
•
•
•
using context clues
using text support
defining word parts
checking a dictionary
getting help from someone
EXERCISE A
Look at the following passage. Try to use the context clues to figure out
the meaning of the word meager. Write your answers in your notebook.
Daily he went down to the St. Louis Union Station and shined
shoes to help supplement his meager twenty-four-dollar-amonth Pullman retirement check.
From “The 11:59,” by Patricia McKissack
1. What is the word meager modifying in this sentence?
2. What do you think meager means?
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60º
45º
30º
15º
equator
This picture of the earth shows the
parallels of latitude, or distance
from the earth’s equator. The
equator, or middle line, is at 0
degrees latitude. Each line above
the equator equals 15 degrees in
latitude.
Text Support
In addition to the surrounding text, other items on the page may
contain clues to help you decipher an unfamiliar word. Look at
pictures, diagrams, charts, captions, section headings, sidebars, and
other things outside of the main text for additional information about
what is being discussed in the main text. You may find clues about the
word or words that you don’t understand. Consider the passage below
about Greenland. You might not know what latitude means, but the
diagram at right explains it. Many written materials contain items like
this that offer more information about a particular concept in the text.
Greenland is an island in the northeastern part of the Atlantic
Ocean. Almost completely north of the 60-degree line of
latitude, Greenland experiences relatively cool weather. Summer
temperatures rarely exceed 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter
temperatures frequently dip to 70 degrees or more below zero.
Word Parts
A prefix is a letter or a
group of letters added to
the beginning of a word to change
its meaning.
Tip
preview
A suffix is a letter or group of
letters added to the end of a word
to change its meaning.
secondary
A word root is a word part that is
not a prefix nor a suffix.
intersection
An adjective is a word
that modifies a noun by
telling a specific detail about it.
Tip
warm bread
calm breeze
Some unfamiliar words may contain parts that you have seen in other
words. These parts, or morphemes, may be prefixes, which come at the
beginning of the word, suffixes, which appear at the end of the word,
or roots, which make up the core part of words. Imagine coming across
the following sentence:
That was the most invigorating shower I ever had!
You may be stumped by the word invigorating. Even if you don’t know
what the word means, you may be able to come close to its meaning by
looking at the word parts. You might, for example, pull out vigor, which
you remember means “energy.” Because you know that invigorating
is an adjective describing the shower, you can reasonably deduce that
invigorating means something like “energizing.” Indeed, the dictionary
definition for invigorate is “give life and energy to (something).” You
may want to review your word part charts of common prefixes, suffixes,
roots, and their meanings.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Use your knowledge about word parts to try to decipher the meanings
of the following words. Use your notebook if you need more space.
1. introspection
2. transmitter
3. quadruped
4. irreversible
5. circumnavigate
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Dictionary
Some words appear in the
dictionary as main entries
more than once. Many times,
the entries represent different
word forms, such as with report,
the noun meaning “account or
statement” and report, the verb
meaning “give an account of
or make a statement.” Other
times, the words are completely
unrelated, as with cape, a noun
meaning “point or extension of
land into the water” and cape, a
noun meaning “sleeveless outer
garment.”
Tip
Sometimes, consulting a dictionary is the best way to figure out the
meaning of an unfamiliar word. But even when you use a dictionary,
you should consider the other methods of attacking the word, especially
if the dictionary entry contains more than one definition. Consider the
following sentence:
After a thorough inspection, city workers decided to condemn
the crumbling building.
The dictionary offers several possible definitions for the word condemn.
They are:
• declare to be wrong or evil
• pronounce guilty; sentence or doom
• judge unfit for use
Because there are three possibilities, you must decide which best fits in
this particular context. The third definition is the one that works here.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
Just For Fun
For each of the underlined words in the following sentences, determine
which dictionary definition best fits, and write it in your notebook.
1. Many forms of aquatic life thrive in the brackish water of
ocean inlets.
2. The cheerleaders chant, scream, and leap into the air until they
manage to rouse the crowd to a frenzy.
3. My rescuers understood my plight and promised not to tell my
enemies of my whereabouts.
Make up three new words and
write them down.
Now use each new word in a
contextual sentence. Exchange
your sentences with a partner.
Try to define the new words your
partner used by looking at the
context.
4. The omnibus bill contained numerous small items—some regarding
transportation issues and some regarding unrelated matters.
5. After hours of being completely absorbed in the book she was
reading, Joan had the sudden impulse to go out for ice cream.
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LESSON 3
Word of the Week
primeval (pr8> m7 v@l) adj.,
primitive
As the exploring party ventured
further into the jungle, the trees
grew larger, the shrubbery
more dense, and the noises
from the insects got louder; the
adventurers had a feeling they
were entering a primeval world.
Primeval suggests something
old and unspoiled by modern
humans. It conjures up a notion
of what the earth was like shortly
after it formed, or what a forest
was like before people ever set
foot in it.
Incorporating new words
into your own daily
language will make your writing
and speech more colorful and
interesting.
PAVE
Understand the Concept
A good way to help yourself remember the meaning of a new word is
using PAVE. PAVE stands for Predict, Associate, Verify, and Evaluate.
Predict
When you encounter an unfamiliar word, first try to
predict the meaning of the word based on the context and
on your prior knowledge of the word or its parts.
Associate Then, write a new sentence using the word with its
predicted meaning.
Verify
Next, verify the meaning of the word by using a dictionary
or glossary or by asking your teacher. A dictionary may
offer multiple meanings for the same word. If you use a
dictionary, select and write down the most appropriate
definition.
Evaluate
Evaluate the sentence you wrote using the word. If
necessary, rewrite the sentence to reflect the meaning
you found. If you wish, draw an image that will help you
remember the meaning of the word.
Tip
Try It Yourself
Use PAVE to learn the underlined words in the sentences below.
You may want to use the
PAVE method to record
new words in your word study
notebook. Then you can look
them up later to review. You can
also page through your word study
notebook to find words to use
in your own speech and writing.
Including a descriptive picture
with your word might help you to
remember it later.
Tip
1. The scathing report about the company’s illegal business deals
angered investors and consumers alike.
Predict
Associate
Verify
Evaluate
2. The ability to type fairly well is a prerequisite to training in
computer programming.
Predict
Associate
Verify
Evaluate
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3. The floriferous shrub had so many buds that Nancy cut some for
an indoor bouquet.
Just For Fun
Make up new words of your own
to fit in the following sentences.
Then, using your own paper, do
PAVE for each invented word.
Predict
Associate
Verify
Evaluate
4. The temperature on the outdoor thermometer will fluctuate
greatly on a blustery, rain-and-shine day.
1. My older sister is such a
_______; all her free time is
spent talking on the phone,
sending e-mail messages, and
gossiping with friends.
2. The brown, murky soup
burbled and ________ on the
hot stove.
Predict
Associate
Verify
Evaluate
5. Even though her younger sisters caught only half as much candy
as Eleanor did at the parade, she tried to hoard hers in her closet,
unwilling to share.
3. Spot, the puppy, wore a
_________ expression on
his face when I caught him
chewing up my new pair of
boots.
Predict
Associate
Verify
Evaluate
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 4
Word of the Week
verify (ver>@ f8) v., to make sure
something is correct
Before handing out the pizza
coupons to the volunteers,
Principal Anderson asked the
students’ teacher, Mr. Globulin,
to verify that all ten of them had
actually worked at the school
carnival.
Verify implies checking the
accuracy of something. When was
the last time you had to verify
something?
Morphemes
Understand the Concept
One way to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word is to look at
its parts. The parts of a word are called morphemes. Morphemes can
either be free or bound. A free morpheme can stand alone as a word, or
it can be part of another word. For example, in the word workshop, both
word parts, work and shop, are free morphemes, because they can stand
on their own as words.
A bound morpheme must be attached to another morpheme or
morphemes to make a word—it cannot stand on its own. In the word
worker, the word part work is a free morpheme, because it can stand
alone as a word. But the word part -er is a bound morpheme because
alone, it is not a word.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Divide each of the following words into its morphemes, or word parts.
Draw a slash between the different parts of the word. An example has
been done for you.
A morpheme is a word
part.
Tip
A free morpheme can stand on
its own. A free morpheme is a
base word (root word).
A bound morpheme must be
combined with other morphemes
to form a word. A bound
morpheme is a prefix, suffix, or
word root.
example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
disqualify
dis / qual / ify
imperfection
prescription
subconsciously
uncleanly
reservation
Prefixes, suffixes, and word roots are bound morphemes.
Combinations of prefixes, suffixes, and word roots make up many
words in English.
examples
Tip Compound words are
words made up of two
free morphemes. The following
are all compound words.
•
•
•
•
•
workbook
crowbar
woodpecker
software
headache
8
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incredible
transmission
prefix: inprefix: trans-
word root: cred
word root: mis/mit
suffix: -ible
suffix: -sion
Many times when you encounter an unfamiliar word, you can come
closer to the word’s meaning if you break the word apart and examine
the different morphemes. Examine the prefixes, suffixes and word roots
in the Word Parts Charts provided by your teacher. If you familiarize
yourself with these word parts, you will be able to recognize them
within larger words.
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:31 PM
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Examine each word below. Divide the word into parts, and write each
morpheme in the correct box in the chart. An example has been done
for you.
example
1. outrageous
Because organ can stand
alone, it is classified as a
base word and not as a word root.
Tip
reorganize
re / organ / ize
Word Part
Type
re-
prefix
organ
base word
-ize
suffix
Word Part
A prefix is a word part
that attaches to the
beginning of a word.
Tip
A suffix is a word part that
attaches to the end of a word.
Type
A word root is a central word part
that cannot stand alone.
Just For Fun
2. indigestion
Word Part
Type
3. regression
Word Part
Type
Using prefixes, word roots, and
suffixes from your word parts
charts, create five new words
of your own. Don’t worry about
whether your combinations create
“real” words or not. Include a short
definition of each word.
1.
2.
3.
4. unlikely
Word Part
Type
4.
5.
5. disrupting
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 9
Word Part
Type
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, UNIT 1
9
3/25/09 3:52:31 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 5
Word of the Week
egotism (7> g@ ti zem) n., an
excessive sense of self-importance
Jennifer was always boasting
about her designer clothing and
expensive jewelry, which was
typical of her egotism.
Egotism is displayed by people
who talk about themselves a lot
or who feel that they are better
than other people. It is similar to
the word egocentric, which refers
to a person who feels that he or
she is the center of the world (that
is, they feel the world revolves
around them).
A compound word is
a word formed from the
combination of two or more other
words.
Tip
Compounds do not have
to be written as one word.
They can be written as separate
words or they can be joined by
hyphens.
Tip
notwithstanding
puddle jumper (a small plane)
nose ring
lily-livered (cowardly)
jack-in-the-box
Usually, compounds start out as
two or more separate words. Over
time they become hyphenated,
and then they are joined together
as one word. For example, people
used to go to bed at night time.
Later the word was joined with a
hyphen (night-time) and today is
spelled as one word (nighttime).
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LEVEL II, UNIT 1
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Morphemes and Meaning
Understand the Concept
Morphemes are the parts of words.
Knowing how to recognize morphemes is an important skill that
can help you decode unfamiliar words. Each morpheme has a meaning
that can offer clues about the meaning of the whole word. This is easy
to see when you look at compound words. A compound word is a word
formed from the combination of two or more other words.
When you encounter an unfamilar word, first look for a word root
or a base word. For example, in unattainable, the morpheme attain is a
base word that can stand alone. Attain means “get, achieve, or obtain.”
In the word prediction, dict is a word root, not able to stand alone, that
means “say.” In both cases, determining the meaning of the central part
of the word can help you in determining the meaning of the whole word.
Prefixes and suffixes modify the meaning of the base word or word
root and affect the meaning of the word as a whole. In unattainable, unmeans “not.” The suffix -able adds the meaning “given to being or able
to be.” By assembling the meanings of the different parts of the word,
you can come close to defining the word (unattainable means not able
to be gotten, achieved, or obtained).
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Look at the compound words below. Copy them into your notebook
and divide them into the two words that make the compound. Write a
definition of each word based on its two parts.
example
awestruck
awe / struck
awe = emotion combining dread and wonder
struck = affected by
awestruck = affected by dread and wonder
1. borderland
2. houseguest
3. gateway
4. stonewashed
5. boomtown
When you encounter an unfamilar word, first look for a word root or a
base word. For example, in unattainable, the morpheme attain is a base
word that can stand alone. Attain means “get, achieve, or obtain.” In the
word prediction, dict is a word root, not able to stand alone, that means
“say.” In both cases, determining the meaning of the central part of the
word can help you in determining the meaning of the whole word.
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:31 PM
Prefixes and suffixes modify the meaning of the base word or word
root and affect the meaning of the word as a whole. In unattainable, unmeans “not.” The suffix -able adds the meaning “given to being or able
to be.” By assembling the meanings of the different parts of the word,
you can come close to defining the word (unattainable means not able
to be gotten, achieved, or obtained).
A suffix is a word part that
attaches to the end of a word.
A word root is a central word part
that cannot stand on its own.
EXERCISE B
Break each of the following words into its morphemes. Tell whether
each morpheme is a prefix, suffix, word root, or base word. Also, give
the meaning of each morpheme as found. Use your Word Parts Charts
for help as needed. Finally, using the dictionary and your knowledge of
word parts, write a definition of the word.
example
A prefix is a word part
that attaches to the
beginning of a word.
Tip
projector
Morpheme
pro
ject
or
pro / ject / or
Type
prefix
word root
suffix
A base word can stand on its
own.
To use morphemes to
find meaning in a word,
first look for either a base word or
a word root.
Tip
Meaning
forward
throw
one that does [something]
Definition: A projector is a machine that throws light forward onto a
screen.
After you know the meaning of
the base word or word root, look
for prefixes and suffixes.
1. transcontinental
Morpheme
Type
Meaning
Definition:
2. unprofitable
Morpheme
Type
Meaning
Fill in the missing prefix, word
root or base word, and/or suffix
to form a complete word. There
is more than one possible
answer. Write as many words as
you can create by filling in the
blank. Add up all the words, and
compare your answers with your
classmates’ responses.
____pulsive
im(impulsive)
com- (compulsive)
re(repulsive)
Definition:
1. ____pressive
3. resounding
Morpheme
Just For Fun
Type
Meaning
2. ____portation
3. gener____
4. mal____
5. ____port____
Definition:
© EMC Publishing, LLC
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, UNIT 1
11
3/25/09 3:52:32 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Recognizing Word Parts
Use your knowledge of word parts when answering the following questions.
For each question, choose the best definition for the word shown and write
the corresponding letter on the blank.
_____ 1. vigorous
A. evil; highly objectionable
B. run fast
C. full of strength and energy
D. gymnastics apparatus
_____ 6. indestructible
A. long banquet table
B. unable to grow
C. upscale construction project
D. not possible to destroy
_____ 2. reactivate
A. make active again
B. overreact
C. changing from liquid to solid
D. lively; energetic
_____ 7. audible
A. type of radio
B. send a message
C. able to be heard
D. pound or hit as with a hammer
_____ 3. immobile
A. release or let go
B. type of hanging sculpture
C. type of portable home
D. unable to move
_____ 8. quadruped
A. type of bicycle
B. race or compete
C. animal that walks on four feet
D. fooled easily
_____ 4. retrospective
A. popular spectator sport
B. having to do with looking inward
C. having to do with looking back in
time
D. special
_____ 9. inflexible
A. rigid; not capable of being moved
or changed
B. bend back
C. muscle in the arm
D. kick or hit with the foot
_____ 5. transformation
A. act or process of changing form
B. rocky outcrop
C. go or leave
D. package sent across the country
_____ 10. hydrology
A. monster in Greek mythology
B. study of water
C. create energy from water power
D. study of hairless mammals
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:32 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 6
Word of the Week
Syllabication
consternation (k5n st@r n6>
sh@n) n., a feeling of concern or
dismay
Understand the Concept
A syllable is a word part that contains a single vowel sound. It is a
“chunk” of sound. All words contain at least one syllable. Breaking a
word into its syllables can help you to read and spell new words more
easily. It can also help you correctly pronounce vowel sounds.
Breaking a word into its syllables is called syllabication. One way
to divide a word into its syllables is to look for consonant and vowel
patterns in the word. These patterns should signal where the syllable
breaks are. For example, words with the pattern VCCV—that is, with
two consonants in the middle, surrounded by two vowels—tend to
break between the consonants.
yel / low
vc cv
Study the following chart. V stands for vowel; C stands for consonant.
How to
divide it
Pattern
Examples
Notes
When Ellen heard that word
of her embarrassing behavior
at Saturday night’s party had
spread around school, she felt
great consternation and wanted
desperately to run home so she
could avoid the inevitable teasing
of her classmates.
When you hear disturbing or
troublesome news, especially that
which affects you personally, that
information causes a sense of
consternation.
VCCV
VC / CV
V/CCV
VCC/V
hap • pen
ba • sket
tick • et
Divide between consonants, unless the consonants create a digraph (two letters
pronounced as one, such as ch, sh, th, ck). Divide before or after digraphs (wash • er).
VCV
V/CV or VC/V
re • ject
lev • er
Divide before the consonant (V / CV) unless the vowel is accented and short. In that
case, break after the consonant (VC / V). Think “That vowel is too short to end a
syllable.”
VCCCV
VCCCCV
VC / CCV
VC / CCCV
wran • gler Most words with three or four consonants together in the middle are divided after
an • swer the first consonant. Do not separate digraphs or blends. (See next page.)
ob • struct
VV
V/V
li • ar
sci • ence
If a word has two vowels together that are sounded separately, divide between the
vowels. Do not split vowel teams that work together to make one vowel sound.
V_silent e
Keep in same
syllable
be • rate
When you see a vowel followed by a consonant or consonants and silent e, these
must stay together in one syllable. The silent e causes the vowel to have its long
sound.
Cle
Keep in same
syllable
ti • tle
chu • ckle
When -le appears at the end of a word, it grabs the consonant or consonant digraph
before it to create a syllable (ble, cle, ckle, dle, tle, etc.).
Ced
Only separate wad • ded
chan • ted
following d
or t
dabbed
choked
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 13
The suffix -ed forms a separate syllable only when it follows d or t. Otherwise, it
sticks to the last syllable of the word.
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, UNIT 2
13
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Remember—the vowels
are a, e, i, o, u, sometimes
y and sometimes w. Y is a vowel
when it sounds like long i or an e
(sly, pretty); when it sounds like
a short i (as in gym); or when
it combines with another vowel
such as a or e to make a vowel
sound (as in play and obey). W
is a vowel when it combines with
another vowel such as a, e, or o to
make a vowel sound (as in paw,
sew, and now).
Tip
As you mark syllable and vowel patterns, keep an eye out for vowel and
consonant teams. Digraphs are teams of two consonants or vowels that
work together to form one sound (such as ai, oa, ow, oo, ch, sh, gh, and th).
Diphthongs are teams of two vowels whose sounds blend together (such
as oi, oy, ou, and ow). Digraphs and diphthongs should not be divided.
They must appear in the same syllable because they work together.
Also keep an eye out for consonant blends, groups of consonants
whose sounds blend together. Do not divide consonants if they act as a
blend in the word.
examples
mon / strous (not monst / rous)
an / gry (not ang / ry)
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Just For Fun
Follow the instructions to decode
the secret message.
Write down the....
first syllable of acorn: ________
second syllable of
aquiesce: ________
last syllable of facet: ________
second syllable of
acutely: ________
third syllable of
saturated: ________
first syllable of
issue: ________
last two syllables of
nuclear: ________
last syllable of diligently: ________
first syllable of
theology: ________
first syllable of icy: ________
second syllable of
ordeal: ________
first syllable of petulant: ________
Each of the following words has a pattern of VCCV, VCCCV, or
VCCCCV. In your notebook, label the vowels (except the silent e at the
end of a word), and then connect them by labeling the consonants in
between. Divide the words into syllables, being careful not to separate
digraphs or blends.
example
1. muddy
2. perfect
3. roughest
victim
vccv
vic / tim
vc / cv
4. immense
5. forbidden
6. hackney
7. hawthorn
8. instruct
EXERCISE B
The following words have a VCV pattern. In your notebook, label the
vowels and consonants. Then listen for the sound of the first vowel. If it
is accented and short, divide the word after the middle consonant. In all
other cases, divide before the middle consonant (V / CV).
1. ruler
2. climate
3. shiver
4. music
5. proper
EXERCISE C
Now try dividing the following words into syllables. In your notebook,
mark the vowels, then the consonants in between, and follow the other
guidelines from the chart before dividing.
1. riot
2. recoil
3. hustle
4. reluctant
5. insecure
6. metaphor
7. anticipate
8. cleverly
Message:
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:33 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 7
Spelling by Syllables
Understand the Concept
All words contain at least one syllable. A syllable is a part of a word that
contains a single vowel sound. Words vary in the number of syllables
they have, just as they vary in the number of morphemes they contain.
Understanding syllables can help you to read and spell new words.
You can break words into syllables and think about each syllable
separately. This can help you to sound out and spell the word.
examples
calculator
actually
printer
vacation
cal / cu / la / tor
ac / tu / al / ly
prin / ter
va / ca / tion
Two important things to consider are the number of syllables in a word
and the stressed syllable of a word. If you are aware of these things, you
will be better able to sound out and spell the word.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Break the following words into syllables. Draw a slash between each
syllable.
1. understand
2. practical
3. nonfiction
4. silliness
5. disgusting
Word of the Week
archaeological (5r k7 @ l5> ji
k7l) adj., relating to archaeology
(the study of ancient human
artifacts)
Unlike the grab-and-run actions
portrayed by the fictional
archaeologist Indiana Jones,
Matthew, a well-trained scientist,
was extremely careful when
removing the ancient Greek
weapons from the archaeological
excavation site just north of
modern Athens.
With 14 letters and 6 syllables,
archaeological is certainly a long
word. However, some words are
much longer. The longest word in
the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary, eleventh edition, is
electroencephalographically,
which has twenty-seven letters
and eleven syllables. An
electroencephalograph is medical
instrument that detects and
records electrical signals given off
by the brain.
EXERCISE B
For each of the following word pairs, identify the number of syllables in
each word and mark the stressed syllable with a (>) mark.
example
ex press> __2__
ex pre> ssion __3__
1. stupid _____
stupidity _____
2. myth _____
mythical _____
3. occupy _____
preoccupation _____
4. imagine _____
imagination _____
5. happy _____
unhappiness _____
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 15
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
A morpheme is a word
part that adds meaning to
the word.
Tip
A syllable is a word part that
contains a single vowel sound. It is
a chunk of sound.
LEVEL II, UNIT 2
15
3/25/09 3:52:33 PM
A dictionary entry breaks
the word into parts divided
Tip
by dots.
com • pound
The dot shows where the word
can be hyphenated if the word is
at the end of a line of type and
doesn’t fit.
Within the pronunciation part of
the word entry, hyphens indicate
breaks between syllables. These
hyphens sometimes correspond
with the end-of-line division dots,
and sometimes they do not.
Just For Fun
A limerick is a short, humorous rhyming poem of five lines. Limericks
have a sing-song rhythm achieved by following a format. The first,
second, and fifth lines rhyme and have either eight or nine syllables.
The second and third lines rhyme and have either five or six syllables.
Edward Lear perfected the limerick in A Book of Nonsense,
published in 1861. Here are a few limericks from the book.
# of syllables
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, ‘It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!’
8
8
5
5
8
There was an Old Lady whose folly,
Induced her to sit on a holly;
Whereon by a thorn,
Her dress being torn,
She quickly became melancholy.
9
9
5
5
9
There was an Old Man of Kilkenny,
Who never had more than a penny;
He spent all that money,
In onions and honey,
That wayward Old Man of Kilkenny.
9
9
6
6
9
Write your own limerick on the lines below. Count the syllables as you
create your limerick so that you end up with either 8 or 9 syllables in
lines 1, 2, and 5. Lines 3 and 4 should have either 5 or 6 syllables. Also
make sure that lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme and that lines 3 and 4 rhyme.
Use the space at the bottom of the page to draw an illustration that goes
with your limerick.
16
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:33 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 8
Accented Syllables and Pronunciation
Understand the Concept
Every word has one or two syllables that are stressed more strongly
than the others. The accented syllable is the one you say most forcefully.
Knowing a word’s correct pronunciation will help you recognize, spell,
and say the word properly.
Many english words stress the first syllable. But if a word has a
prefix, the second syllable is usually stressed instead.
example
decorate
dec> or ate
redecorate
re dec> or ate
Try It Yourself
Draw slash marks to separate the syllables in the words below. Then use
an accent mark to indicate which syllable is stressed.
example
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
dis/as>/ter
intolerable
tolerate
understanding
standpoint
cursor
Vowel sounds often change depending on whether they are in a stressed
or unstressed syllable. If a stressed syllable contains one vowel and ends
in a consonant, the vowel says its short sound.
examples
il lu> mi nate
com po> sure
ex cla ma> tion
In unstressed syllables, the vowel often makes an indistinct sound, one
that is not a clear vowel sound. This is called the schwa sound. It is
represented by the symbol /@/.
example
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 17
desecrate (de> si kr6t) v., to
treat disrespectfully
Their plans to desecrate the
cemetery included breaking some
old tombstones and pouring paint
over other ones.
Some synonyms for desecrate are
damage, vandalize, defile, violate,
and insult. Desecrate is commonly
used when something sacred,
such as a church, national historic
site, or burial ground, is damaged.
It usually implies a purposeful act
by a person or group.
vowel sounds:
short a: cat, gas, pal
short e: pen, bell, let
short i: tip, bit, rim
short o: box, rot, odd
short u: cup, mutt, luck
Tip
long a: hay, ate, sale
long e: eel, be, feet
long i: kite, ice, mine
long o: ode, coat, roll
long u: glue, cruel, new
sed> i ment
viv> id
tem> po ra ry
If a stressed syllable ends in a single vowel, the vowel says its long sound
(its name).
examples
Word of the Week
con si> d@r
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
Just For Fun
Write the names of five of your
friends, classmates, or family
members, using slash marks to
divide the names into syllables.
Finally, add accent marks to help
with correct pronunciation.
Tab´ / i / tha
LEVEL II, UNIT 2
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3/25/09 3:52:34 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 9
Word of the Week
resolute (re> z@ l2t) adj.,
unyielding in the face of
opposition
After a series of failures
to confront General Lee’s
Confederate Army of Northern
Virginia, a resolute President
Lincoln fired the popular leader of
the Union Army of the Potomac,
General George McClellan.
Resolute implies making a
decision or a stand on issues that
may not be popular and following
through despite objections. For
example, if your friends want you
to do something, but you decide
differently, you are being resolute
if you keep to your decision.
Mispronunciations
Understand the Concept
Many words are misspelled because they are mispronounced. People often
mispronounce words by dropping syllables or sounds from the word:
accidentally (ac ci dent ly instead of ac ci den tal ly)
boundary (bound ry instead of boun da ry)
camera (cam ra instead of cam er a)
candidate (can i date instead of can di date)
library (li ba ry instead of li bra ry)
picture (pitch er instead of pic ture)
temperature (tem pra ture instead of tem pe ra ture)
Sometimes the mispronunciation happens because omitting a sound or
a syllable makes it faster and easier to pronounce the word. Over time,
the mispronunciation may become acceptable. This is the case with the
words in the following activity.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Which syllables or sounds are dropped in the following
pronunciations?
1. arctic (ar tic)
2. jewelry (jool ry)
3. laboratory (lab ra to ry)
4. probably (prob ly)
Tip The pronunciations
given at left (such as ar
tic) are all perfectly acceptable.
You will find them as alternate
pronunciations in your dictionary.
5. sophomore (soph more)
Other mispronunciations result from transposing, or switching the
order of, two syllables or sounds:
animal (am in al instead of an im al)
hundred (hun derd instead of hun dred)
preserve (per serve instead of pre serve)
Sometimes, people replace syllables or sounds with incorrect ones:
nuclear (nuke you ler instead of nuc le ar)
imagine (a mag ine instead of im ag ine)
supposedly (sup pos ab ly instead of sup pos ed ly)
realtor (re la tor instead of reel tor)
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Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
In the pronunciations in parentheses, underline the false syllable or
sound that has been added.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
burglar (burg a ler)
mischievous (mis cheev e ous)
narrator (nar ar a tor)
disastrous (dis as te rous)
remembrance (re mem ber ance)
Just For Fun
Use the space below to make a short comic strip. In the dialogue
bubbles, write the words as your characters would say them,
mispronunciations and all.
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Syllables Review
Use your knowledge of syllables to choose the best response for each of the
following questions. Write the correct letter on the blank.
_____ 1. How many vowel sounds can a
syllable have?
A. none
B. one
C. two
D. There is no limit.
_____ 2. For English words that do not have
a prefix, which syllable is most
commonly stressed?
A. first syllable
B. second syllable
C. third syllable
D. No syllable is stressed.
_____ 3. For English words that do have
a prefix, which syllable is most
commonly stressed?
A. first syllable
B. second syllable
C. third syllable
D. No syllable is stressed.
_____ 4. Which of the following words
contains a long sound?
A. barrage
B. flake
C. predator
D. wary
_____ 5. Which of the following words
contains letters that make a schwa
sound?
A. vile
B. pang
C. domain
D. tether
For each of the following words, indicate how many syllables are present by
selecting the corresponding answer choice and writing it on the blank.
_____ 6. coincidence
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 9. pesticide
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 12. inert
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 7. enamel
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 10. stupendous
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 13. absentmindedly
A. one
B. three
C. four
D. five
_____ 8. ferocity
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 11. eke
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
_____ 14. obscure
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 10
Spelling Patterns I
Understand the Concept
A number of general patterns in spelling English words can help you
become a more consistent speller. These patterns apply to the vast
majority of words that you will encounter.
Using ie and ei
When the letters i and e are used in combination, i comes before
e except after c. Although this pattern generally holds true, some
common words do not follow it. You may want to keep a list of these
pattern-breaking words in your word study notebook. For each
group of examples below, write the sound that is made by the ei or ie
combination.
weird, leisure, either, seize
eight, veil, heir, freight, rein, neighbor, beige, sleigh
height, sleight
foreign, forfeit
science, society
ancient, efficient, conscience
Word of the Week
maneuver (m@ n2> v@r) n., a
repositioning of troops; a change
in direction
To get through the crowded
hallway without knocking into
someone, Erika had to constantly
change her direction and speed in
a series of maneuvers that would
have made the football coach
proud.
Because the eu in maneuver is
pronounced like the oo in boom,
maneuver is often misspelled. In
addition to being used as a noun,
maneuver is also commonly used
as a verb, as in the sentence “It
took two men to maneuver the
large, heavy couch up the narrow,
winding stairway.”
Tip
This rhyme may help
you remember the ie-ei
pattern:
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Based on the patterns and exceptions above, circle the correct spelling
of each word.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Put i before e
Except after c
Or when sounded like a,
As in neighbor and weigh.
beleive \ believe
niether \ neither
vien \ vein
sufficient \ sufficeint
achieve \ acheive
reciept \ receipt
fronteir \ frontier
wiegh \ weigh
Silent Letters
Tip
Some spelling problems result from letters that are written but not
heard when a word is spoken. Becoming familiar with the patterns in
letter combinations containing silent letters will help you identify other
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
Look for patterns in words
containing silent letters.
LEVEL II, UNIT 3
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It can be difficult to spell
a word correctly if it has
a silent letter. Becoming familiar
with common spelling patterns
that contain silent letters can help
you identify the words that contain
these patterns. For example, silent
h also appears in a few other
words, such as rhythm and ghost.
Silent w occurs with s in a few
words, such as sword and answer.
Tip
Some types of letter
combinations may give
you more trouble than others. For
example, you may have difficulty
remembering which words are
spelled with tch and which are
spelled with just ch. Keep a list of
the words that trip you up in your
word study notebook.
Tip
words that fit the patterns. You may want to keep track of these types of
words in your word study notebook.
Pattern
Silent b usually occurs with m.
Silent c often appears with s.
Silent g often appears with n.
Silent gh often appears at the end of a
word, either alone or in combination
with t (-ght).
Silent h appears at the beginning of
some words.
Silent k occurs with n.
Silent n occurs with m at the end of
some words.
Silent p occurs with s at the beginnings
of some words.
Silent s occurs with l in a few words.
Silent t occurs with s in a few words.
Silent w occurs at the beginnings of
some words.
Examples
bomb, climb, dumb, limb, debt and
doubt.
scene, scent, science, scissors
gnaw, gnat, assign, design
although, through, caught, height
heir, honest, honor, hour
knock, knack, knife, know
autumn, column, condemn
psychology, psychic, pseudo
island, isle, aisle
listen, hasten, whistle
wrong, write, wrap, whose, whole
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
A mnemonic (n@
m5> n@k) device is
a catchy phrase or other trick
for remembering information.
For example, the rhyme about
i and e in the tip on page 21 is
a mnemonic device. Another
mnemonic device is H.O.M.E.S. for
remembering the names of the
five Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario,
Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
Pick any of the spelling rules you
learned in this lesson, or a word
you commonly misspell, and
create a mnemonic device to help
you remember it correctly.
Tip
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Circle the letters in the following words that are not pronounced.
Review the patterns described above to see if any of these words follow
them.
1.
2.
3.
4.
ghoul
wreck
cosign
straight
5.
6.
7.
8.
psalm
knuckle
succumb
sci-fi
Letter Combinations
Pattern
The letters ph produce the f sound.
The letters gh produce the f sound
when they fall at the end of a word.
(Otherwise, the h is usually silent.)
Examples
philosophy, phony, alphabet
cough, laugh, tough
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Pattern
The letter combinations tch and ch
sound the same, making it difficult to
remember when to use which ending.
You may want to write words with these
letter combinations in your word study
notebook to keep track of which words
use which combinations.
The letter combinations el, al, and le
sound the same, making it difficult to
remember when to use which ending.
You may want to write words with these
letter combinations in your word study
notebook to keep track of which words
use which combinations.
Examples
catcher, match, switch, hatched, much,
bunches, touched, porch
tunnel, nickel, towel, natural, arrival,
denial, bubble, trouble, middle
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
Complete each word by adding the correct ending. Then write the full
words on the lines provided to help you remember the correct spelling.
ph or gh or f
1. enou
2. mor
3. dwar
4. gra
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tch or ch
5. dispa
6. por
7. cou
8. crou
el or al or le
9. partic
10. occasion
11. chann
12. subt
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 11
Word of the Week
prerogative (pri r5> g@ tiv) n.,
special right, power, or privilege.
As the head of the household,
Mother has the prerogative to
decide who will be doing which
chores this week.
Prerogative is one of the most
commonly mispronounced
words in English, being frequently
pronounced per räg´ e tiv.
Spelling Patterns II
Understand the Concept
A number of general patterns in spelling English words can help you
become a better speller. These patterns apply to the vast majority of
words that you will encounter.
Forming Plurals
A noun can be singular or plural. Singular means one. Plural means
more than one. When forming plurals, you commonly add an -s to the
word.
examples
job
banana
jobs
bananas
Some plurals are formed by adding -es to the singular noun. Words that
end in s, ss, ch, sh, and x usually take -es to form the plural.
examples
bonus
kiss
box
bonuses
kisses
boxes
With nouns that end in y preceded by a consonant, you need to change
the y to i and then add -es to form the plural.
examples
company
baby
companies
babies
Nouns that end in f or fe must be modified, changing the f or fe to v,
before adding -es to the plural form.
examples
hoof
calf
hooves
calves
Many nouns that end in o are treated with special care when making
them plural. Some of them are made plural by adding -s, and others by
adding -es. For some of these nouns, either ending is acceptable.
examples
piano
potato
domino
pianos
potatoes
dominoes or dominos
Some nouns have plural forms that are completely different from those
described above. In other words, they don’t really follow the rules. You
will probably learn these best by keeping a list of them in your word
study notebook and reviewing the list from time to time.
examples
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child
mouse
children
mice
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Try It Yourself
Tip
EXERCISE A
In your notebook, turn the following singular nouns into plural nouns
by following the patterns described above.
1. dictionary
2. life
3. tomato
Plural means more
than one.
4. finger
5. bunch
6. paragraph
The possessive form of
it is its. No apostrophe
is used, to prevent it from being
confused with it’s, a contraction
meaning it is.
Tip
Possessives
Apostrophes are added to words to show possession. Depending on the
word, you might add an apostrophe and -s or just an apostrophe.
If the word is singular, add an apostrophe (>) and -s. There is one
exception to this: the word it. The possessive of it is its. An apostrophe is
not used.
examples
Singular means one.
Jesse’s car
my boss’s office
If the word is plural and ends in -s, add just the apostrophe.
examples
the jesters’ costumes
the wolves’ den
If the plural word does not end in -s, add an apostrophe and -s.
examples
the children’s toys
the women’s restroom
Try It Yourself
Do not confuse its and
it’s. Its is a possessive
adjective. It’s is a contraction
meaning it is.
Tip
EXERCISE B
In your notebook, change each of the following phrases to make
possessives that use apostrophes.
1. the bridle of your horse
2. the grades of the students
3. the nest of the mice
4. the books of Chris
5. the father of the children
6. the lawnmower of Mr. Briggs
The fox found its den.
It’s a beautiful day.
Contractions
When you combine two words to make one, you have formed a
contraction. A contraction uses an apostrophe to signal where letters
have been omitted. Most contractions are combinations of a verb and
the word not or combinations of a pronoun and a verb.
examples
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verb + not
have + not = haven’t
would + not = wouldn’t
do + not = don’t
will + not = won’t
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Note: the contraction won’t is irregular.
examples
pronoun + verb
you + will = you’ll
she + is = she’s
we + are = we’re
I + would = I’d
they + have = they’ve
it + is = it’s
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
Fill in the blank boxes in the charts below.
verb
could
has
did
should
pronoun
I
you
he
it
we
they
she
they
+ not
+ verb
have
will
would
is
are
will
has
are
contraction
Just For Fun
Use each of the following contractions in a sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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here’s (or there’s)
’tis
’em
let’s go
o’clock
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:36 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 12
Spelling Patterns III
Understanding the Concept
A number of general patterns in spelling English words can help you
become a more consistent speller. These patterns apply to the vast
majority of words that you will encounter. There are several patterns
that concern adding suffixes to words.
Doubling the Final Consonant
Double the final consonant in a word when adding suffixes that
begin with a vowel (such as -ed, -en, -er, -ing, -ence, -ance, or -y) if the
consonant is preceded by a single vowel and if the word is either a
single syllable or ends in a stressed syllable.
examples
stop
submit
sad
begin
stopped
submitted
sadden
beginner
Dropping the Final e
When you are adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (such as -able, -ed,
-est, -ing, -ive or -ous), you usually drop the final silent e if there is one.
examples
believe + -able = believable
delete + -ed = deleted
create + -ive = creative
There is an exception to this common pattern. Two consonants, c and g,
have both hard and soft sounds. Hard c sounds like k, and soft c sounds
like s. Hard g is the g sound in get, and soft g sounds like j. To keep the
soft c and g sounds in words like noticeable and courageous, the final e
must remain.
Therefore, you do not need to drop the silent e in words ending in
ce or ge when adding a suffix that begins with a or o.
examples
Word of the Week
delineate (di li> n7 6t) v., to
indicate with a line; to describe
something in detail
The police detective knew he
had to delineate the sequence of
events that occurred on the day of
the crime if he had any chance of
identifying the murderer.
To use the progressive or past
tenses of delineate, the final e
must be dropped before adding
-ing or -ed (to make delineating or
delineated). Such spelling patterns
are discussed in this lesson.
A final silent e on a word
ensures that the first
vowel sound is a long one.
Tip
fin
pan
fine
pane
When you add a suffix to a word
with a final silent e, it is usually
dropped.
bore + -ed = bored
late + -est = latest
peace + -able = peaceable
outrage + -ous = outrageous
With some words, the e becomes an i when you add the suffix.
examples
space + -ous = spacious
grace + -ous = gracious
Changing y to i
When you add a suffix to a word that ends in a y preceded by a
consonant, you usually change the y to an i.
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Note that changing y to
i will sometimes lead to
ie combinations after c. In these
cases, it is correct for ie to follow c.
Tip
fancy + -er = fancier
juicy + -er = juicier
examples
funny + -er = funnier
glory + -ous = glorious
accompany + -ed = accompanied
trophy + -s = trophies
There is an exception to this pattern. If the suffix you are adding begins
with an i (such as -ing or -ize), you do not change the final y to an i.
example
apply + -ing = applying
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Rewrite each word in your notebook, adding to it one of the following
suffixes. Determine whether to double the final consonant based on the
patterns described above.
-ed
-en
-er
-ing
1. quit
2. haste
3. prefer
Just For Fun
Brainstorm a list of words that fit
the spelling patterns you studied in
this lesson. Use your list of words
to create a word search. Start
by getting out a piece of graph
paper or drawing vertical lines
down a piece of lined notebook
paper to create a grid. Write the
words from your list forward,
backward, horizontally, vertically,
and diagonally in the grid, with one
letter per square. If you want to
try to fool your classmates, throw
in some misspelled versions of
the words. Fill in any extra spaces
with random letters. Finally,
list the correctly spelled search
words alongside the puzzle, and
exchange word searches with a
classmate.
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0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 28
-ence
-ance
-y
4. wit
5. disappear
EXERCISE B
Add one of these suffixes to each of the following words. Write the
word with its suffix in your notebook. Determine whether to drop the
silent e based on the patterns described above.
-able
-ed
-est
-ing
1. late
2. retrieve
3. courage
-ive
-ous
-y
4. communicate
5. bubble
EXERCISE C
Add one of these suffixes to each of the following words in your
notebook. Determine whether to change the y to an i based on the
patterns described above.
-able
-ed
1. envy
2. slippery
3. dreary
-er
-est
-ing
4. candy
5. cry
6. smoky
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:36 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 13
Spelling Patterns IV
Word of the Week
Understand the Concept
dominant (d5> m@ n@nt) n.,
that which commands or prevails
over others
A number of general patterns in spelling English words can help you
become a better speller. These patterns apply to the vast majority
of words that you will encounter. Many suffixes are very similar in
meaning and spelling, and learning when to use one instead of another
can be helpful.
His achievements as a
businessman, his connections
with the governor, and the force
of his personality made Mr. Jones
a dominant player in local politics.
Choosing -cede, -ceed, or -sede
Confusion often arises over these three suffixes, but the pattern for
choosing the correct one is easy, if you can remember it. It is a good one
to record in your word study notebook.
The only word that ends in -sede is supersede.
The only words that end in -ceed are exceed, proceed, and succeed.
All other words that end with this sound use -cede.
examples
recede, concede, precede
Choosing -able or -ible
If the main word is a base word and can stand on its own, generally, you
will add -able. If the main word is a word root that cannot stand on its
own, you will usually add -ible.
examples
suitable, returnable, dependable, comfortable
edible, possible, visible, incredible
If the base word ends in an e, you usually will need to drop the final e
before adding -able.
examples
value + -able = valuable
love + -able = lovable
advise + -able = advisable
If the base word ends in y, you will need to change the y to an i.
examples
verify + -able = verifiable
rely + -able = reliable
There are a few exceptions to this pattern. You will have to memorize
these or record them in your word study notebook.
examples
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flexible
digestible
responsible
inevitable
irritable
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
The noun dominant is commonly
confused with the verb dominate.
While your position can be
dominant, your actions dominate
others. In the above sentence, for
example, Mr. Jones is said to be a
dominant person. However, if you
wanted to express his relationship
to others in the town, you might
say something like Mr. Jones
dominates the other politicians in
town.
Of all the words that end
with the sound \sed \, all
but four are spelled with –cede.
The four exceptions: supersede,
exceed, proceed, and succeed.
Tip
There is an exception to
this common pattern.
Do not drop the silent e in words
ending in ce or ge when you add
-able, because that will change
the pronunciation.
Tip
noticeable (not noticable)
courageous (not couragous)
Some other words, such as likable
and posable, can also keep the
silent e (likeable and poseable).
Either spelling is acceptable.
LEVEL II, UNIT 3
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When you are trying to
decide whether to add
–able or –ible to the end of a
word, remember the following
pattern. Most words that can stand
on their own will need –able.
Words that cannot stand alone will
take –ible.
Tip
fixable
impossible
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Choose the correct -able or -ible ending for each of the following roots
and bases. Write the word with its suffix on the line. Make sure to
change the word endings as needed before adding the suffix.
1. compat
2. like
3. response
4. rely
5. teach
6. read
Choosing -sion or -tion
When you are trying to
decide how to spell a
word that ends with the sound
\shun\, you may not remember
if the ending is spelled –sion or
–tion. Try saying the beginning of
the word with other endings. If any
of the words you create have an s
or a t in position before the suffix,
use that letter to make the \shun\
ending as well.
Tip
addition or addision?
other word: additive
Addition is the correct choice.
The suffix -ion often appears after s or t, causing misspellings because of
similar pronunciation.
examples
decision, revision, division, television, extension
repetition, addition, question, attention, edition
Knowing something about word roots can help you figure out which
of these spellings is correct. Imagine that you are writing and you want
to use the word extension, but you can’t remember whether it is spelled
extension or extention. You know that the word root comes from
the word extend. What other words are derived from extend? One is
extensive, and the root ends in s. Therefore, you determine that the root
for extension is extens, so the word you want to write is indeed extension
(not extention).
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Choose the correct spelling for each of the following words. Circle the
correct one in each pair.
Just For Fun
Write a short paragraph about a
friend, using five words that end in
-tion or -sion.
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0001-0078_Gr7_vocab&spelling-L1-32.indd 30
1. competition / competision
2. recognision / recognition
3. occasion / occation
4. location / locasion
5. ambision / ambition
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:52:37 PM
Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 14
Commonly Misspelled Words
Understand the Concept
Following are some commonly misspelled words. Copy these words
into your word study notebook. Try to think of ways to remember how
to spell each word. For example, you may create a picture or phrase to
associate with the word.
accept
again
although
answer
athletics
beautiful
because
believe
bicycle
clothes
college
cough
delicious
different
embarrass
enough
everything
excellent
favorite
finally
forty
library
lightning
minute
necessary
neighbor
niece
occasion
people
privilege
probably
really
receive
restaurant
scissors
separate
through
until
usually
weird
Word of the Week
emulate (em> y@ l6t) v., to
imitate; to try to equal someone in
some way
As an actress on Broadway during
the 1920s, a movie star in the
1930s, and a pioneering female
member of Congress in the
1940s, Helen Gahagan Douglas
was a person that many women
of the post-World War II era
wanted to emulate.
The words emulate and simulate
are fairly similar. If you try to be
like someone else, then you
are attempting to emulate that
person. In contrast, if you build
a model of a volcano for your
science project, you are trying
to simulate the actions of a real
volcano.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Choose five of the words from the list above that you find particularly
troublesome. Write a sentence using each one, being sure to spell the
word correctly.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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EXERCISE B
Circle the misspelled words in the following sentences. Then, rewrite
the sentences to correct the errors.
1. Our nieghbor bakes the most delicous meals.
2. You realy should not run with scisors.
3. When washing clotes, it’s neccesary to separate the darks from the
lights.
4. How many peple get acepted to the collage of their choice?
5. There is an exellent restaurant near the libary.
Whenever you encounter a word that is difficult for you to spell, write it
in your word study notebook. Keep track of these words and find ways
to remember their spellings.
Just For Fun
See if you can find eleven commonly misspelled words in this word
find. The words may be found by reading forward, backward,
diagonally, or vertically.
P
B
F
S
G
Z
B
N
O
K
U
L
V
W
Q
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M
N
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A
B
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C
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L
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F
M
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X
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A
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Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
absence
committee
descend
excellence
foreign
niece
omitted
separate
success
villain
weird
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Spelling Review
Read each of the following sentences. Decide which spelling of the words in
parentheses is correct and write the letter of the correct answer on the blank.
_____ 1. Elythia pulled on her (breeches /
breechs) and ran outside for her
riding lesson.
A. breeches
B. breechs
_____ 2. Jaime’s favorite foods are hamburgers
and (tacos / tacoes).
A. tacos
B. tacoes
_____ 3. It is a myth that cats have nine (lifes /
lives).
A. lifes
B. lives
_____ 4. The ducks and (geese / gooses) flew
overhead on their way south for the
winter.
A. geese
B. gooses
_____ 5. The squirrel was hiding (its / it’s)
acorns in a hole in the tree.
A. its
B. it’s
_____ 6. Be careful with my grandmother’s
vase; it is very (valueable / valuable).
A. valueable
B. valuable
_____ 7. Getting a cold from time to time is
one of those (inevitible / inevitable)
parts of life.
A. inevitible
B. inevitable
_____ 8. Our neighborhood is very (peacable /
peaceable); there is almost no crime.
A. peacable
B. peaceable
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_____ 9. For many people, milk is not easily
(digestible / digestable).
A. digestible
B. digestable
_____ 10. Algebra is really just an (extention
/ extension) of sixth grade
mathematics.
A. extention
B. extension
_____ 11. Brenda is an advanced swimmer,
but her sister is still a (beginer /
beginner).
A. beginer
B. beginner
_____ 12. Greg placed all his (trophies /
trophys) on the new bookcase in his
room.
A. trophies
B. trophys
_____ 13. We woke before dawn, went out
to the shore, and saw a (glorious /
gloryous) sunrise.
A. glorious
B. gloryous
_____ 14. The governor made an (appearance /
appearence) at our school.
A. appearance
B. appearence
_____ 15. The principal said we could (procede
/ proceed) with plans for the dance.
A. procede
B. proceed
_____ 16. At the neighborhood party, there was
a pie-eating contest, a sack race, and a
dancing (competition / competision).
A. competition
B. competision
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_____ 17. The thief glanced with (recognition /
recognision) at the undercover officer
before running down the alley.
A. recognition
B. recognision
_____ 18. My mother polished the silverware
for special (occations / occasions).
A. occations
B. occasions
In the following problems, write the letter of the word that correctly completes
the sentence on the blank.
_____ 19. Their father could not find the
______ mittens.
A. childrens
B. children’s
C. childrens’
D. childrenses
_____ 23. The naturalists discovered the
______ den.
A. wolfs’
B. wolves’
C. wolves
D. wolfs’s
_____ 20. Henry put the contract in his
______ office.
A. bosses
B. boss’
C. boss
D. boss’s
_____ 24. The one word that ends in -sede
is ______.
A. presede
B. consede
C. supersede
D. subsede
_____ 21. Tania went to see where the
______ went.
A. twin’s
B. twins’
C. twin’s
D. twins
_____ 25. The words that end in -ceed are
exceed, proceed, and ______.
A. proceed
B. receed
C. interceed
D. succeed
_____ 22. Have you seen the ______
restroom?
A. women’s
B. womans
C. women
D. womens’
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 15
Context Clues
Understand the Concept
When reading novels, instruction booklets, magazines, or the Mirrors &
Windows textbook, you will likely encounter words that are unfamiliar
to you. Sometimes you will need to look up the meaning of those words,
but often you will be able to understand their meaning from clues given
by the context in which they are used.
Using Context Clues
In the following excerpts from former vice president Al Gore’s essay
“Ships in the Desert,” there are probably some words whose meaning
you do not know. As you read the excerpts, try to use clues from the
context to determine the meaning of the underlined words.
French scientists recently concluded that the explanation for
the growing number of dead dolphins washing up along the
Riviera was accumulated environmental stress, which, over time,
rendered the animals too weak to fight off a virus.
The word rendered may be new to you. Your first step in determining
its meaning is to look at the word itself. Since it ends with –ed, there is a
good chance it is a verb. When you read the sentence again, you can see
that the first part of the sentence describes something that is affecting
animals and the second part explains why they are being affected. The
word rendered links the what and the why of the animals getting sick
and dying, so you can replace rendered with other verbs such as made
and caused. Indeed, one meaning of rendered is “caused.”
Word of the Week
obscure (5b sky1r>) v., to
shroud or hide in darkness
In the Civil War Battle of the
Wilderness, the dense Virginia
woods and thick fog served to
obscure the position of General
Stonewall Jackson’s attacking
Confederate troops.
Obscure has several meanings in
addition to hiding something from
vision. It can also be used as an
adjective to refer to something
that is not well known, such as an
obscure author, an obscure band,
or an obscure politician.
Look for words that restate
the meaning of the word
you do not know.
Tip
…we were crashing through that ice, surfacing, then I was
standing in an eerily beautiful snowscape, windswept and
sparkling white, with the horizon defined by little hummocks, or
“pressure ridges” of ice that are pushed up like tiny mountain
ranges when separate sheets collide.
In this excerpt, you may not be familiar with the word hummocks. If you
look at the context, you see that the author explains what hummocks are
by referring to them as “tiny mountain ranges.” In fact, hummocks are
mounds or small hills.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Read the following passages from “Ships in the Desert.” As you read,
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use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined words.
Circle the most accurate response.
1. We were anchored in what used to be the most productive fishing
site of all of central Asia, but as I looked out over the bow the
prospects of a good catch looked bleak. Where there should have
been gentle blue-green waves lapping against the side of the ship,
there was nothing but hot dry sand…
Bleak means
A. sandy and rocky.
B. positive and exciting.
C. unlikely or doubtful.
D. wet and liquid.
2. But the most significant change thus far in the earth’s atmosphere
is the one that began with the industrial revolution early in the
last century and has picked up speed ever since…Fewer than a
hundred yards from the South Pole…scientists monitor the air
several times a day to chart the course of that inexorable change.
Inexorable means
A. very large.
B. very small.
C. unbelievable.
D. unstoppable.
EXERCISE B
In the following sentences, use context clues to determine the meaning
of the underlined word. Write the definition, or several similar words,
on the lines given.
1. Once he moved away from the edge of the cliff, his sense of vertigo
passed and he no longer felt dizzy and lightheaded.
2. The miniscule dog was small enough to fit into his lunch box.
3. The stentorian voice of the politician was so loud that he didn’t
require a microphone in order to be heard by everyone.
4. He wasn’t in the mood to run or even walk quickly; he wanted to
saunter.
5. Because she liked both blue and green, teal was the perfect color
for her room.
6. Unlike his brother, who crumbled when the going got tough,
Benjamin proved to be resilient in the face of adversity.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 16
Using Context Clues I:
Comparison and Contrast
Understand the Concept
When you come across an unfamiliar word in your reading, you can
often figure out its meaning by using context clues. Context clues
frequently include words and phrases in the text near the unfamiliar
word that can help you to understand that word.
Comparison Words
Words and phrases including such as, like, also, similarly, just as, and in
the same way signal comparisons and might suggest that the unfamiliar
word is like something else that is familiar.
example
This plant produces biennial flowers, just as raspberry
bushes bear fruit every two years.
Word of the Week
benign (bi n8n>) adj., harmless,
wholesome, gentle
Unlike the deadly skin cancer that
Uncle Thomas had ultimately
died from, the dark growth on her
brother’s ankle turned out to be
benign.
If you want to use comparison
words to explain benign, words
such as kind, caring, or healthy
can be used. If you want to use
contrast words, then words such
as cancerous, toxic, unwholesome,
and objectionable are appropriate.
In the example above, the phrase just as signals the reader that the
writer may be comparing biennial with something else. In fact, biennial
means “every two years.”
example
The blithe voices of the children raise my spirits in the
same way that the chirping of the robins does.
comparison words:
such as, like, also,
similarly, just as, in the same way
Tip
In this example, in the same way signals that the blithe voices raise the
speaker’s spirits just as the spring robins do. Like the birds chirping, the
children’s voices are carefree and joyous.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Look for words and phrases that signal comparison in the sentences
below. Use them to determine the meaning of each underlined word.
Write your definition of the word on the lines given.
example
The news station’s scathing in-depth reports often
reveal unfair business practices in our community, and
last night’s report was particularly severe.
scathing: severe
1. Jenny’s accuracy at darts is amazing—she hits her targets with
remarkable precision.
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2. The remarkable edifice was about the same age as the other older
buildings on the block.
3. Like a child in a candy store, Brent was ecstatic to be spending time
at the archaeological dig.
4. Freya is a competent writer, just as she is a capable scientist.
5. The changes made to last year’s school rules were minor. Similarly,
this year’s amendments were unimportant.
Contrast words include
however, but, not, except,
although, on the other hand.
Tip
Contrast Words
Words and phrases such as however, but, not, except, although, and on
the other hand, and while signal contrasts.
example
Simon is indifferent about moving to a small town, but
I have strong feelings on the subject.
The word but in the example above signals that the speaker’s opinion
is unlike Simon’s opinion. If the speaker has strong feelings, Simon’s
being indifferent means that he doesn’t have strong feelings about the
idea.
example
Unlike Tony’s sloppy efforts, Melanie’s work is
meticulous.
Tony’s work is sloppy, but Melanie’s work is unlike Tony’s. Therefore,
Melanie’s meticulous work is precise and careful.
Signal words are words
that can alert you to a
comparison, contrast, or other
context clue.
Tip
Look for words and phrases like
just as, like, such as, while, but,
and although.
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Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Look for words and phrases that signal contrast in the sentences below.
Use them to determine the meaning of each underlined word. Write
your definition of the word on the lines given.
1. The teacher didn’t know whom to blame for the accident. Violet
had been careless, but on the other hand, Sharla’s actions were not
prudent, either.
2. Ned is usually calm and relaxed—except when he has to speak in
front of a group, and he is overcome by anxiety.
3. Storms rarely damage the sheltered bay; however, last week’s
hurricane was catastrophic.
4. Although he claims to be a pacifist, Marvin is always picking fights
with other students.
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 17
Using Context Clues II:
Restatement and Apposition
Understand the Concept
When you come across an unfamiliar word in your reading, you can
often figure out its meaning by using context clues. Context clues
commonly include words and phrases in the text near the unfamiliar
word that can help you to understand that word.
Restatement
In restatement, the author may tell you the meaning of the word by
using different words to express the same idea in another phrase or
sentence.
example
The forklift driver was negligent. He was not paying
attention to what he was doing.
In the above example, the meaning of negligent is explained in the
sentence that follows.
Apposition
An apposition renames something in different words. The word or
often signals apposition.
example
The children love to watch the rabbit masticate, or
chew, its food.
Word of the Week
void (v0id) n., An empty space
or empty feeling
The seven-year-old boy used his
tongue to feel the void where his
tooth had fallen out.
Void may refer to an actual empty
space like in the sentence above,
or the emptiness of outer space,
or when a person is missing from
a sports team or marching band.
Void can also refer to emotions,
such as the empty feeling you get
when someone you love is no
longer around.
Apposition and
restatement are
sometimes accompanied by the
phrases that is, in other words,
and in short.
Tip
Tip
The word or often signals
apposition.
Even when the word or is not used, commas often set off the phrase that
renames the unfamiliar word.
example
The rejuvenation of the wetlands, its period of
recovery from damage, took decades.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Look for restatement or apposition in the sentences below. Use these
context clues to determine the meaning of each underlined word. Then
write your definition of the word on the lines given.
1. The tickets were complimentary; they didn’t cost a penny!
2. The professor reiterated, or repeated, the important idea to the
class.
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3. Sasha feigned illness today. She faked having flu-like symptoms so
she could avoid going to school.
4. The experiment ended in debacle. It was a disastrous failure.
5. The young tomcat was feral, or wild.
Restatement and
apposition are ways of
renaming something. An author
may introduce a new term and
then rename it using more familiar
language.
Tip
EXERCISE B
Create a sentence with each of the following words, using apposition or
restatement to make the meaning clear.
1. fatal
2. blab
3. modify
4. oppose
5. retrieve
Just For Fun
Imagine that an exchange student from another country is staying with
your family. Her formal English is good, but she has asked you to help
her learn American slang, the informal language used by teenagers
here. Make a list of the five most popular slang terms in your school and
include their definitions. Next, write a paragraph using the slang terms.
Use apposition or restatement to make the meanings of the terms clear.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 18
Using Context Clues III:
Examples and Cause and Effect
Understand the Concept
When you come across an unfamiliar word in your reading, you can
often figure out its meaning by using context clues. Context clues
frequently include words and phrases in the text near the unfamiliar
word that can help you to understand that word.
Examples
Examples given in a sentence or in a nearby sentence can also be used
as context clues. Signal words for examples include for example, for
instance, such as, including, and especially.
example
Crustaceans, including crabs, crayfish, lobsters, and
shrimp, have jaws for crushing their food.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect statements tell you something that happened as a
result of something else. They often use signal words such as if/then or
when/then. Other signal words in cause and effect statements include
thus, therefore, so, because, and consequently. By looking at the cause
and effect relationship explained in the statement, you may be able to
determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word, either by telling what it
causes or what it is a result of.
example
A large post obscured Thelma’s view of the football
field, so she missed the most exciting play of the game.
Try It Yourself
Look for words and phrases that signal example or cause and effect in
the sentences below. Use these context clues to determine the meaning
of each underlined word. Write your definition of the word on the line
given.
1. At the school running track, I always label my water bottle with my
name so that I can differentiate it from everyone else’s.
Word of the Week
phenomenon (fi n5> m@ n5n)
n., an observable fact or event
A scientific phenomenon, such as
the bending of light by a prism,
can be duplicated in laboratory
experiments and explained by
using mathematics.
While the singular form is
phenomenon, the plural form of
this word is phenomena. Several
similar words of Greek origin also
follow this pattern: gymnasium/
gymnasia, symposium/symposia,
datum/data, and criterion/criteria.
However, the traditional English
plural form of some of these
words has become acceptable.
For example, the plural of
symposium (a formal meeting
of a professional group) is now
commonly written as symposiums.
Examples and cause
and effect context clues
offer you information about an
unfamiliar word. Example context
clues usually are a list of things
that fit into the category labeled
by the unfamiliar word. Cause
and effect statements tell you
something about the word by
revealing a relationship between
two things.
Tip
2. Legumes, such as peas and beans, grow well in this soil.
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3. The electrician rewired the old house so that the electrical system
would comply with government regulations.
4. Jerry decided to try to augment his income by taking a part-time
job on weekends.
5. The amusement park employees received various types of
compensation—weekly paychecks, free passes, and discounts on
food.
6. John’s explanation was plausible, so I believed him.
7. Because Sally is usually so punctual, her mother was really worried
when she did not come home on time.
8. The newspaper in Bigsville reported several significant scandals,
including bribes, stealing, and lies involving government officials
and well-known businesspeople.
When you are reading,
look for cause and effect
statements and examples in
captions that accompany photos
or diagrams.
Tip
When you are reading
magazines, look for
unfamiliar words in the articles.
Then look to see if any context
clues appear on the page.
Tip
Just For Fun
Form a small group and sit in a circle. Choose one person in the group
to be the leader. The leader will pick one of the sentence structures
listed below and then call on a person to begin the game. Each player
must create a sentence using the chosen sentence structure within
20 seconds. Play moves clockwise around the circle. A player who
successfully creates and recites a sentence gets one point. A player who
does not gets no points. Each game begins with a new leader, who can
choose a different sentence structure.
If __________________ , then ________________________ .
Examples of _____________ include _______________ ,
_______________ , and __________ .
_____________________ , so _________________________ .
_____________________ , therefore ____________________ .
___________________ , including ______________ , __________ and
_____________ .
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 19
Denotation and Connotation
Understand the Concept
A denotation of a word is its dictionary definition. A connotation of a
word is all the associations it has in addition to its literal meaning. For
example, the words cheap and economical both denote “inexpensive,”
but cheap connotes “shoddy and inferior” while economical connotes “a
good value for the money.”
The words scrawny, gaunt, slender, lanky, lean, skinny, and bony
essentially all mean “thin.” All those words have the same denotation.
The words have different connotations, however. Which of the words
have a negative connotation? Which have a positive connotation?
Which seem neutral?
Writers and speakers should be aware of the connotations as well
of the denotations of the words they use. Likewise, readers should be
aware of the possible connotations of words they read. Keep in mind
that authors make deliberate choices to use certain words. Think about
why an author makes these choices.
Word of the Week
perpetual (p@r pe> ch@ w@l)
adj., continuing forever, everlasting
The perpetual noise of the
highway traffic made it difficult to
hear the radio.
Many inventors throughout history
have tried to invent a perpetual
motion machine; that is, one that
continues to move forever, even
without input of energy. However,
one of the basic laws of science
indicates that such a machine is
impossible. What would you do
with a machine that could work
perpetually?
Try It Yourself
The words in each word pair below are synonyms or near synonyms.
They have the same denotation but different connotations. Use each
word in a different sentence so that the sentences show the connotation
of each word.
example
lean / scrawny
The runners on the Bellville track team were lean, strong, and ready
to win.
The scrawny old woman slowly stood to shake her fist at Sam as he
pedaled his bike across the corner of her lawn.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
A word’s dictionary definition is its denotation.
A word’s connotation is all the
associations it has in addition to its
literal meaning.
Tip
save / hoard
cut / gash
confident / conceited
cage / enclosure
juvenile / youthful
smile / smirk
fib / lie
overweight / fat
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Just For Fun
Get together with a partner. Each of you should find a synonym or near
synonym for each underlined word in the following paragraph. Write
your new words on the blank lines provided in the second paragraph
below. Next, you and partner should take turns reading your paragraph
to each other. How do the different connotations of the words change
the meaning of the paragraph?
A synonym is a word that
has the same dictionary
definition as another word. The
two synonyms may have different
connotations, however.
Tip
As Bert (1) walked into the lunchroom, he (2) looked around
(3)
warily. Then his heart leapt as he (4) saw Ginger. It was hard
to miss her, as she was wearing a neon pink (5) hat with a
pair of polka-dot (6) pants. Rather (7) gaudy, but at the same
time, somehow (8) beautiful. Bert was in love. There was an (9)
aromatic scent of mystery meat in the air. The sound of the
other students (10) talking faded away as Bert walked toward her,
(11)
holding his lunch bag tightly.
“Hey, that’s a (12) great hat,” he (13) said. She smiled
and walked past him. As he sat down to (14) eat his lunch
with his friends, Bert strongly believed he would (15) die of
embarrassment.
As Bert (1) ____________________ into the lunchroom, he (2)
____________________ around (3) ____________________. Then his
heart leapt as he (4) ____________________ Ginger. It was hard to
miss her, as she was wearing a neon pink (5) ____________________
with a pair of polka-dot (6) ____________________. Rather (7)
____________________, but at the same time, somehow (8)
____________________. Bert was in love. There was an (9)
____________________ scent of mystery meat in the air. The sound
of the other students (10) ____________________ faded away as Bert
walked toward her, (11) ____________________ his lunch bag tightly.
“Hey, that’s a (12) ____________________ hat,” he (13)
____________________. She smiled and walked past him. As he sat
down to (14) ____________________ his lunch with his friends, Bert
strongly believed he would (15) ____________________ of
embarrassment.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Context Clues
Read each passage and then answer the questions that follow.
When Maya Lin submitted her design proposal for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
the responses were mixed. Some people loved it. Others wanted something more
traditional. Opponents questioned her abilities and voiced concern about her identity
as a young Asian-American woman. Amid all the controversy, Lin held her ground
and defended her vision and design.
_____ 1. Which of these is the best definition
for amid?
A. against
B. on top of
C. after
D. surrounded by
_____ 3. Which is the best synonym for vision
as it is used in the passage?
A. eyeglasses
B. idea
C. seeing
D. status
_____ 2. Which of these is the best definition
for controversy?
A. discussion marked by opposing
viewpoints
B. harrowing challenge
C. difficult work
D. concern
For more than one hundred years, archaeologists have been digging out and studying
fossils from the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California. Over thousands of years, the
sticky tar sucked in many animals who came to the pits for water, not knowing that
under the water a deadly trap lay waiting. The pits have provided many clues about
ancient animals. Many of the larger animals entombed in the pits are now extinct. As the
climate changed over the centuries, these animals, such as the saber-toothed cat, could
not adapt and died off. However, many of the smaller animals and plants discovered in
the pits still exist in the region. They were able to adapt to climate change. From time to
time, the pits still do trap animals, such as lizards, rodents, and an occasional dog.
_____ 4. Which is the best definition for
archaeologist?
A. person who digs out and studies
fossils
B. person who works at the La Brea
Tar Pits
C. person who studies dinosaurs
D. person who studies saber-toothed
cats
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_____ 5. Which is the best synonym for
entombed?
A. ancient
B. stuck
C. buried
D. extinct
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_____ 6. Which is the best synonym for adapt?
A. fix
B. adjust
C. eat
D. exist
For more than one thousand years, people have reported seeing large, unidentifiable
creatures in the Scottish lake known as Loch Ness. The so-called Loch Ness Monster
has been described as being about thirty feet long, with flippers, a humped back, and a
long neck. There is no real proof that the monster exists, but many people over the years
have claimed to have seen it. Several studies have taken place at Loch Ness. None of
these studies has produced conclusive evidence to prove or disprove the existence of
the Loch Ness Monster. In the meantime, many tourists flock to the lake each year to try
to catch a glimpse of the legendary creature said to live in the lake’s depths.
_____ 7. What does unidentifiable mean?
A. without identity
B. unable to be identified
C. one-toothed
D. many-toothed
_____ 8. Which is the best definition for
conclusive?
A. causing suspicion
B. questionable
C. putting an end to debate through
proof
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D. controversial
_____ 9. Which is the best synonym for
legendary?
A. water-dwelling
B. mythical
C. wonderful
D. enormous
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 20
Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Understand the Concept
Many words consist of a central part, called either a root or a base word,
and a prefix or a suffix (or both a prefix and a suffix). If you are familiar
with common roots and common prefixes and suffixes, you can often
figure out the meaning of words that are new to you.
The root or base word is a group of letters to which a prefix or suffix
is attached. A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of
a base word, and a suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a
base word. Adding a prefix or suffix almost always changes the meaning of
the word. Roots and base words are discussed in more detail in Lesson 23.
Common Prefixes
Word of the Week
uncommonly (@n k5> m@n l7)
adv., infrequently, rarely
The teacher uncommonly
dismissed class before the bell; he
was concerned that the students
would come to expect early
dismissal on a regular basis.
Uncommonly is made up of the
base word common, the prefix
un, and the suffix ly. The lessons
in this unit of the workbook
cover various aspects of prefixes,
suffixes, and word roots.
Here are some common prefixes:
Prefix
bidismidinterunsemi-
Meaning
two
not, opposite
middle
together
not
half
For example, semifinal means “half-finals” (or in a tournament, the
round just before the finals), disappear means the opposite of appear,
and unattractive means “not attractive.” Can you think of any other
common prefixes?
Many words consist of a
root and a prefix or suffix
(or a prefix and a suffix).
Tip
Knowing common roots,
prefixes, and suffixes can
help you figure out the meaning
of words you don’t know.
Tip
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Try to figures out the meaning of the following words based on their
roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Write your answers on the lines given.
1. semicircular
2. disapprove
3. biweekly
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4. international
5. midline
6. unproductive
Common Suffixes
Here are some common suffixes:
Suffix
-er, -or
-ful
-hood
-ly
-ness
-ship
Meaning
one who
full of
condition or quality of
having the characteristics of
state or quality of
state of
For example, a banker is someone who works for a bank, neighborhood
refers to what the buildings and people in a certain area are like, happily
is when an action is carried out in a happy manner, and ownership is the
state of owning something. Can you think of any other common suffixes?
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Try to figure out the meaning of the following words based on their
roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Write your answers on the lines given.
1. sisterhood
2. employer
3. dealership
4. awkwardness
5. randomly
6. delightful
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 21
Prefixes and Similar Word Parts
Understand the Concept
Prefixes are morphemes that appear at the beginning of a word. They
are bound morphemes because they can never stand alone. A prefix can
change the meaning of the word, making it the opposite of what the
base word means. Or it can add extra meaning to the base by indicating
something about quality or number. When you add a prefix to a word
or word root, you do not omit any letters.
example
ir- + rational = irrational
Prefixes meaning not
The prefixes in the chart below can change a word to mean the
opposite. The complete words sometimes will have different meanings.
For example, think about the words disinterested and uninterested.
The most widely accepted meaning of disinterested is “unbiased; free
from selfish motive or interest.” The word uninterested means “not
interested.”
examples
When my sister and I have an argument we can’t solve,
we ask Mother, a disinterested and unbiased outsider,
for help in the matter.
Word of the Week
immortal (i m0r> t?l) adj.,
something that will live forever
The dream of being immortal has
been around since ancient times.
Immortal is formed by combining
the prefix im with the base
word mortal. Mortal refers to
humans who will eventually die,
as opposed to the mythological
gods whom the ancient Greeks
and Romans believed would live
forever. Thus immortal refers to
someone who is not mortal; or
someone who will not die
Tip
Prefixes and suffixes are
affixes.
I agreed to play with my little sister, even though I was
completely uninterested in any of her childish games.
Prefix
non-
Meaning
simply means not
un-
commonly means not
with a verb, indicates a reversal
of action
means not or against; spelling
changes
depending on the root or base
word
in- is most common
in-/im-/ir-/il-
dis-
before p or b or m, use imbefore r, use irbefore l, use ilusually means not
with verbs, indicates a reversal
of action
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Examples
nonsense, nonverbal,
nondescript
unclear, uncommon, uncover
undo, unlock, unravel, untie
inconceivable, incomplete,
inedible
impossible, imbalance, immature
irrational, irresponsible, irregular
illogical, illiterate, illegal
dishonest, discomfort, disbelief
disarm, disband, disable,
discover
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Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Some prefixes reveal
“how much” or “how
many” about a word. These
prefixes include multi- and poly(meaning “many”) as in the words
multicolored or multivitamin.
Others include hyper-, super-,
and semi- as in hypersensitive,
superstar, and semifinals. See
page 837 of your student textbook
for other common prefixes.
Tip
Complete each word in the left-hand column by adding one of the
prefixes from the table on page 49. The meaning of the completed word
is shown in the right-hand column.
1. _________agree
fail to agree
2. _________stable
not secure
3. _________stop
done without stopping
4. _________probable
not likely
5. _________freeze
cause to thaw
Prefixes meaning with or together
The prefix com-, as well as any of its spelling variations (co-, col-, con-,
cor-), means “with; together; jointly.”
comcolcocorcon-
use before b, p, or m
use before l
use before o
use before r
use before most consonants
combine, compile, committee
collect, collaborate, collateral
cooperation, coordinate
correspond, correlation, corrupt
concede, connect, conserve, confess
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
In your notebook, add the correct prefix to each of the following word
roots and base words, based on the rules above. Use each new word in a
sentence.
1. _________lection
2. _________bination
3. _________promise
4. _________figure
5. _________rection
Just For Fun
Use a dictionary to look for words that begin with any of the prefixes on
the previous page. Find a word that has one of the prefixes, and use the
space below to draw a picture that symbolizes the word’s meaning.
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LESSON 22
Word of the Week
Suffixes
sage (s6j) adj., wise
Understand the Concept
A suffix is a word part that attaches to the end of a word. In English, a
few suffixes are used much more often than any others.
Suffix
Meaning
forms past tense of verb
forms present participle of verb
forms plural
commonly forms adverb
forms comparative adjective
forms superlative adjective
-ed
-ing
-s/-es
-ly
-er
-est
Examples
walked, smiled, created
going, making, eating
ferrets, computers, wishes
softly, slowly, skillfully
bigger, smarter, sillier
smallest, brightest, goofiest
After years of making difficult
decisions, the sage judge was
trusted by all the people in town.
Sage is both an adjective and a
noun; a sage is a wise person.
Another form of the adjective is
sagacious, and the state of being
sagacious is known as sagacity,
which is a noun. These are some
examples of suffixes that can be
added to the base word sage.
Tip
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Add as many of the above suffixes as you can to each of the following
words to form new words.
examples
bake: baked, baking
keyboard: keyboards
sad: sadly, sadder, saddest
1. report
2. create
3. sweet
4. paper
5. rich
A number of common suffixes form adjectives—words that describe
nouns. These are adjective suffixes.
Meaning
can be done
full of or characterized by
performs or tends toward
without
possessing the qualities of
characterized by
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A comparative adjective is
a word that modifies a noun. It
shows how something compares
to, or relates to, something else.
Julie’s costume was funnier than
Scott’s.
Adjective Suffixes
Suffix
-able/-ible
-ful
-ive
-less
-ous
-y
An adverb is a word that
modifies a verb.
Examples
flexible, memorable, visible
helpful, respectful, cheerful
possessive, supportive, expensive
fruitless, thoughtless, homeless
continuous, gracious, porous
funny, happy, grouchy
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
A superlative adjective also
modifies a noun, but describes
something as having the highest
degree of a certain quality.
The speech Belinda gave on
election day was the shortest of all
the candidates’.
Other common suffixes
can be found on page
838 of your student textbook.
Tip
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EXERCISE B
Create an adjective by combining each of the following words with one
of the suffixes above. Then use the new word in a sentence. Write your
adjectives and adjective sentences in your notebook. Remember that
you may have to alter the spelling of the word when you add a suffix.
1. hope
2. joy
3. response
4. manage
5. sense
Noun Suffixes
Some common suffixes form nouns—words that describe a person,
place, thing, or idea. These are noun suffixes.
Suffix
-ant/-ent
-er/-or
-ion/-tion
-ment
-ness
Meaning
one who performs (an action)
one who performs (an action)
result of an action or process
result of an action or process
state of
Examples
agent, attendant, correspondent
writer, actor, supervisor
solution, conversion, computation
enactment, recruitment, government
kindness, fondness, happiness
EXERCISE C
Create a noun by combining each of the following words with one of
the noun suffixes. Then use the new word in a sentence. Write your
nouns and noun sentences in your notebook. Remember that you may
have to change the spelling of the word when you add a suffix.
1. farm
2. enjoy
3. blissful
4. condense
5. defend
Verb Suffixes
Other common suffixes form verbs—words that express action or a
state of being. These are verb suffixes.
Suffix
-ify/-fy
-ize
-ate
Meaning
to make or to make similar to
cause to be or to resemble, or
subject to, or engage in
to make or to cause to be
Examples
vilify, magnify, glorify
utilize, sympathize, standardize
fixate, congregate, activate
EXERCISE D
Create a verb by combining each of the following words with one of
the suffixes on the previous page. Then use the new word in a sentence.
Write your verbs and verb sentences in your notebook. Remember that
you may have to alter the spelling of the word when you add a suffix.
1. active
2. colony
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3. simple
4. horror
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5. harmony
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 23
Roots and Base Words
Understand the Concept
A word root is a morpheme, or word part, that attaches to other
morphemes to form a complete word. A base word can stand on its own,
but it can also be combined with other morphemes to form a new word.
Most word roots in English come from the Latin and Greek
languages.
These are some common Latin word roots:
Word root
tract
flect/flex
duc/duct
man/manu
loc
Meaning
draw, drag
bend
lead
hand
place
Examples
retract, tractor, contract
reflex, deflect, flexible
conduct, reproduce, deduction
manufacture, manual, manuscript
location, relocate, allocate
Word of the Week
trance (tran(t)s) n., a hypnoticlike state where the individual is
unaware of their surroundings
When the evil sorcerer used
magic to put the princess into a
trance, the princess stared straight
ahead, spoke in a strangely deep
voice, and provided the sorcerer
with important information on the
castle’s defenses.
Trances are not restricted to
science-fiction movies. Various
cultures and religions embrace
trances as a way of cleansing
the soul, communicating with
deceased relatives, or speaking to
a divine being.
These are some common Greek word roots:
Word root
cosm
lect
dyn
Meaning
universe, order
speak, choose
force, power
Examples
cosmic, cosmos, cosmetic
lecture, election, collect
dynamic, dynamite, dynasty
Try It Yourself
Tip
A morpheme is a word
part.
A word root cannot
stand alone. A base word
can stand alone. Prefixes and
suffixes can attach to both word
roots and base words.
Tip
Add a prefix or suffix or both to each word root to form a new word.
1. ject (throw)
2. scrib/script (write)
3. vol/volv (turn)
4. mot (move)
5. port (carry)
6. terr (earth)
7. firm (firm, strong)
8. fort (strong)
9. gress (go)
10. dic/dict (say)
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Tip
Word roots are usually
from Latin or Greek.
11. reg (rule)
12. viv (live)
13. nov (new)
14. typ (stamp, model)
15. top (place)
Just For Fun
Work with a small group. Together try to figure out the meaning of
these following Latin words and phrases often used in English.
1. aqua pura
2. alter ego
3. gratis
4. de novo
5. e pluribus unum
6. veni, vidi, vici
7. verbatim
8. status quo
9. pro bono
10. de minimus
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 24
Greek and Latin Roots
Understand the Concept
Many common English words originated from ancient Greek or Latin.
These words are formed from roots that were used in Greece and the
Roman Empire two thousand years ago. By becoming familiar with as
many of these roots as possible, you’ll be able to easily understand and
remember new words.
Common Greek Word Roots
Root Word
bio
geo
hemo
hydro
hyper
meter
oct
tel
therm
tri
Meaning
life
earth
blood
water
too much
measure
eight
far/end
heat
three
English Words
biography, biology
geopolitical, geology
hemoglobin, hemorrhage
hydroplane, hydrogen
hyperactive, hyperextend
thermometer, kilometer
octogenarian, octopus
telephone, television
thermos, thermometer
triad, triathlon
Word of the Week
luminous (l2> m@ n@s) adj.,
related to light; shining
The luminous glow produced
by the full moon allowed the
scouting party to see perfectly
well at night.
Luminous is derived from the
Latin root lumin, which refers
to light. There are many other
words derived from lumin,
including luminary, a person of
importance (someone who shines
metaphorically); and luminosity,
a measure of the brightness of a
light.
Many English words were
derived from ancient
Greek or Latin words.
Tip
Knowing some common
Greek and Latin word
roots can help you figure out the
meaning of words you don’t know.
Tip
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Think of five other English words derived from the Greek word roots in
the chart. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Common Latin word roots
Root Word
aqu
aud
bene
brev
jur/just
mult/multi
scrib/script
struct
uni/un
vac
Meaning
water
sound/hearing
good/well
short
law
many
write
build
one
empty
English Words
aquatic, aqueduct
auditorium, audible
benefit, benevolent
abbreviation, brevity
jury, justice
multiply, multiplex
inscribe, scripture
structure, construction
union, university
vacant, vacuum, vacation
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Think of five other English words derived from the Latin word roots in
the chart. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Spelling Review
Write the letter of the correctly spelled word on the line.
_____ 1. Denise bought her ___ a new dress.
A. niece
B. neice
_____ 2. Australia is in the southern ___.
A. hemisphear
B. hemisphere
_____ 3. Mrs. Keillor said Jason’s behavior
was ___.
A. inexcusable
B. inexcuseable
_____ 4. The chamber orchestra played ___ by
famous Italian composers.
A. concertos
B. concertoes
_____ 5. The students behaved ___ when there
was a sub.
A. frightfuly
B. frightfully
_____ 6. The outfielder did not want to ___
the ball that had gone over the fence.
A. retrieve
B. retreive
_____ 8. Michelangelo worked on the ___ of
the Sistine Chapel for four years.
A. ceiling
B. cieling
_____ 9. The advent of new ___ allows people
more and more leisure time.
A. technologys
B. technologies
_____ 10. The ___ sounds of children playing
on the playground made the old man
feel young again.
A. joyous
B. joyious
_____ 11. The classroom ___ could be used at
home if students signed them out.
A. dictionarys
B. dictionaries
_____ 12. Because the driver of the sports car
did not ___, the approaching driver
had to slam on his brakes.
A. yeild
B. yield
_____ 7. ___ marked the edges of the
swimming area.
A. buoys
B. buoies
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 25
Word of the Week
beam (b7m) n., a long, heavy,
squared piece of timber; a shaft of
light; v., to smile widely
In the construction of the
Yellowstone Lodge, numerous
large beams were used to
support the steep roof of the
building.
Beam has one spelling and
pronunciation, but several
different meanings. These
different definitions of beam are
homonyms. When you smile
widely after something really good
happens, it is called beaming. A
shaft of light is also called a beam.
If you look in the dictionary, you’ll
see several more meanings of this
word that are specific to engines,
boats, and even to a part of your
body.
Homographs, Homophones,
and Homonyms
Understand the Concept
Many words in English sound alike or are spelled alike but have
different meanings. In addition, many words that sound the same are
spelled differently, and some words that are spelled the same sound
differently and have different meanings. Not surprisingly, this can
cause confusion. These kinds of words are known as homographs,
homophones, and homonyms.
Homographs
Homographs are words that have the same spelling but are pronounced
differently and have different meanings.
For example, the word wind can be pronounced two different ways,
with two different definitions. These are:
wind (wind) n., the movement of air
wind (w8nd) v., to crank, the act of winding
Can you think of any other homographs?
Try It Yourself
Homographs are words
that are spelled the
same but pronounced differently
and have different meanings.
An example is desert, which
can either mean to abandon
something or an area that receives
very little rainfall.
Tip
EXERCISE A
For the following homographs, first use the pronunciation guide to
pronounce the word. Then, in your own words, write the meaning of
each homograph on lines given.
1. bow (ba1) v.,
bow (b9) n.,
2. bass (bas) n.,
bass (b6s) n.,
3. sewer (s9> @r) n,.
sewer (s2>@r) n,.
4. wound (w2nd) n.,
wound (wa1nd) v.,
5. minute (mi> n@t) n.,
minute (m8 ny2t>) adj.,
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Homophones
Homophones are words
that are spelled differently
but pronounced the same.
Examples include air, err, and heir;
I and eye; blew and blue; and or,
oar, and ore.
Tip
Homophones are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently.
You are probably familiar with quite a few of these, such as new, knew,
and gnu; male and mail; and ant and aunt. Can you think of any other
homophones?
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
For the following groups of homophones, write the meaning of each
word on the line given. How many of these groups are you familiar with?
1. pale
pail
2. which
witch
3. weather
whether
4. where
ware
wear
5. muscle
mussel
Homonyms
Homonyms are words
that are spelled and
pronounced the same but have
multiple meanings. One example
is fire, which can refer to burning
something or dismissing someone
from a job.
Tip
Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced alike but
have different meanings. One familiar example is the word mind. As a
noun, mind refers to the brain, and as a verb, it means to be concerned
about something. Another example is beat, whose noun form refers to
musical timing and whose verb form means to hit something.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
Try to think of two different definitions for each of the following words.
Write the definitions in your own words in your notebook. Use a
dictionary if necessary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
bear
just
left
hit
vault
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LESSON 26
Word of the Week
warrant (w0r? @nt) v., declare,
guarantee, assure, authorize, or
justify. n., confirmation, proof,
authorization, or document serving
as such.
I warrant that Suki will be back in
town in time for the trial.
The judge issued a warrant for
Suki’s arrest.
Warrant is a word with multiple
meanings, some of which apply to
its noun form and others of which
apply to its verb form. Warrant
is a homograph, because each
meaning of the word has the
same spelling.
Warrant the noun and warrant
the verb are two distinct words.
Because they are both spelled
and pronounced alike, they can be
considered homonyms.
Dirk moped when his
moped got stolen.
I wound the bandage around the
wound.
Tip
More about Homographs, Homophones,
and Homonyms
Understand the Concept
English can be a confusing language at times. It contains many words
that are spelled alike but pronounced differently—such as lead (to
guide) and lead (the metal). It contains words that are pronounced
alike but spelled differently—such as hear and here. It also contains
words that are both spelled and pronounced alike, but have completely
different meanings—such as bore (an uninteresting person), bore (drill
a hole), and bore (past tense of bear). You can probably think of many
more examples! These types of easily confused words are known as
homographs, homophones, and homonyms.
Homographs
Homographs are words that have the same spelling, but have different
meanings and often, different pronunciations. Homograph literally
means “written the same.” It comes from the Greek roots homo,
meaning same, and graph, meaning to write. Often, homographs are
words that are related, but have a different meaning and function. For
example, one may be a verb and the other a noun. Homographs are
listed as separate entries in a dictionary. See Lesson 25 for examples of
some common homographs.
Just For Fun
With a partner, come up with sentences that contain two or more
homographs. Then share your sentences with the class. Sometimes the
effect is quite comical!
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Give the pronunciation and meaning for each homograph in the pairs
below.
1. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
Lead poisoning is very dangerous for children.
2. Jessica plays the bass guitar.
Dad caught a number of striped bass on his fishing trip.
3. “I object!” shouted the attorney for the defense.
The campers spotted an unidentified flying object.
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4. ShaVonda flipped through a copy of the Reader’s Digest.
My sister spoke so quickly I barely had time to digest what she
was saying.
5. The cat purred when it felt content.
The teacher liked the content of my essay, but took off points for
spelling mistakes.
Homophones
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but differ in
spelling and/or meaning.
examples
to, two, too
their, they’re, there
right, write, rite
site, sight, cite
Paronyms are words
that have similarities in
meaning and spelling. They cause
many writers problems. Becoming
familiar with common paronyms
will help you avoid errors in your
writing.
Tip
emigrate and immigrate
capitol and capital
principle and principal
counsel and council
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Circle the word that correctly completes each sentence.
1. Dan didn’t know (whether / weather) or not the soccer game
would be cancelled due to the thunderstorm.
2. Although some of the teachers advocated keeping the school doors
locked during lunchtime, the (principle / principal) thought it was
important to allow students to go outside for some fresh air if they
wished to do so.
3. Ethel wanted to buy all of the furniture at the garage sale
(accept / except) for the rickety bookshelf.
4. My mom waited until there was no traffic coming before she
(passed / past) the tractor on the highway.
5. Before Lisa met Jenny, she wouldn’t have been willing to
(bear / bare) her soul to anyone.
Just For Fun
How many additional
homophones can you think up?
Think creatively as you brainstorm.
Word pairs that incorporate names
or phrases can be fun to do, too.
sweet / suite
Wayne / wane
let us / lettuce
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that are both homographs and homophones—
that is, they are spelled and pronounced alike, but have different and
unrelated meanings.
examples
lock (of hair)
lock (door)
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
Look at the following pairs of homonyms. Then write a sentence in
your notebook that clearly shows the distinct meaning of each word in
the pair.
example
1. well/well
2. can/can
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bear/bear
The grizzly bear could not bear living in the cage.
3. tip/tip
4. spring/spring
5. rib/rib
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Time Out for Test Practice
Homophones
Choose the word or pair of words that best completes each sentence.
_____ 1. The suspect did not ___ his right to
have an attorney present when the
police questioned him.
A. waive
B. wave
_____ 9. President Clinton was influential in
brokering a ___ accord in Northern
Ireland.
A. piece
B. peace
_____ 2. The dog buried ___ bone under the
porch.
A. it’s
B. its
_____ 10. The outlaws put down ___ weapons.
A. they’re
B. there
C. their
_____ 3. In the nineteenth century, people
who were in ___ wore black bands on
their sleeves.
A. morning
B. mourning
_____ 11. The developers want to build a
shopping mall on the ___ of an
Indian burial mound.
A. site
B. sight
C. cite
_____ 4. Eric felt that the ___ of the world was
on his shoulders.
A. wait
B. weight
_____ 5. Deirdre rented a room that was ____
except for a table and a chair.
A. bear
B. bare
_____ 6. The ___ jousted in a tournament.
A. knight
B. night
_____ 7. Brian set out a ___ to collect water
from the leaky roof.
A. pale
B. pail
_____ 8. The hair ___ turned Jessica’s hair
purple.
A. dye
B. die
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_____ 12. The anthropologist is studying an
initiation ___ in an African tribe.
A. right
B. rite
C. write
_____ 13. ___ going to build a new freeway
around the city.
A. Their
B. They’re
C. There
_____ 14. The tribal ___ built an ___ in the
sacred woods.
A. counsel … alter
B. council … altar
C. council … alter
D. counsel … altar
_____ 15. An ___ up this side of the mountain
is not ___.
A. ascent … allowed
B. assent … aloud
C. ascent … aloud
D. assent … allowed
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_____ 16. There is a statue of the ___ in front of
the ___.
A. kernel … capital
B. colonel … capitol
C. colonel … capital
D. kernel … capitol
_____ 17. Ellen’s ___ did not ___ in time to
avoid the deer.
A. bow … brake
B. beau … break
C. beau … brake
D. bow … break
_____ 18. The ___ lives in a ___ outside of
London.
A. baron … burrow
B. barren … burrow
C. barren … borough
D. baron … borough
_____ 19. The robbers decided to ___ through
the ___.
A. flee … gate
B. flea … gate
C. flea … vgait
D. flee … gait
_____ 20. The bus passenger paid the ___ that
was ___ the driver.
A. fair … due
B. fare … due
C. fare … dew
D. fair … dew
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LESSON 27
Word of the Week
intercede (in< t@r s7d>) v.,
intervene; to bring two groups
together for the purpose of
negotiating
President Theodore Roosevelt
was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize because he interceded
in the Russo-Japanese War
and convinced the two sides to
negotiate an end to the conflict.
The word intercede is generally
used to describe the action of
a third party in attempting to
convince two opposing groups
or individuals to reconcile their
differences.. When an argument
you have with your brother or
sister gets heated, your parents
probably decide to intercede.
Dictionaries explain the
meanings of words. They
also contain information on the
proper spelling and pronunciation
of words, on parts of speech,
and provide a brief history, or
etymology, of each word.
Tip
Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses
Understand the Concept
If you come across a word you are not familiar with in your reading,
clues such as the word’s context and its root, prefix, and suffix can be
helpful in figuring out its meaning. However, sometimes these clues are
not enough. If you encounter an unknown word and cannot figure out
its definition using any other means, you can look it up in a dictionary.
Dictionaries
A dictionary is a reference book that provides information on words.
Dictionaries show the proper way to spell and pronounce words, as
well as listing the meanings of words and what part of speech they are.
Dictionaries also briefly explain the history or origin of words, which is
known as their etymology.
All dictionaries do not contain the same amount of information. Some
dictionaries contain many more words than others, and some contain
more information about each entry. There are also many different types of
dictionaries. Some dictionaries are more general and comprehensive, while
others contain information about specific topics, such as cars or birds.
The meaning of a word is known as its definition. For many words,
several definitions exist, and all of these are listed in most dictionaries.
As you read through the definitions of a word, use the context you
found it in to figure out which meaning applies.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Look up the following words in a dictionary. Based on the dictionary
definition, write a brief definition for each in your own words.
1. seethe
2. nebulae
3. lavish
4. etiquette
5. encase
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Thesauruses
A thesaurus provides lists
of synonyms of words,
as well as some antonyms. A
thesaurus will give you choices
that will help you select the most
accurate and appropriate word.
Tip
In the English language, there are many ways to say the same thing.
However, when you are writing a story or report, do you sometimes
find that you use the same word over and over? This can get boring and
tiresome for both you and your readers. Fortunately, it is almost always
possible to find an alternative word that means the same thing. These
alternatives are called synonyms. They can be found in a reference book
called a thesaurus.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Look up each of the following words in a dictionary. In your own
words, write a brief definition on the line given. Then use a thesaurus to
find three synonyms for each word.
1. adequate
definition
synonyms
2. bombard
definition
synonyms
3. constructive
definition
synonyms
4. habitat
definition
synonyms
5. perception
definition
synonyms
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 28
Word of the Week
terminate (t@r> m@ n6t) v., to
end something
Amy was tired of his lies, rude
behavior, and obsession with
violent video games, so she
decided to terminate their
relationship.
Terminate has many synonyms,
including end, complete, finish,
fire, dismiss, kill, and conclude.
Here, fire and dismiss mean to
end employment or an activity.
Terminal, terminus, termination,
and terminator are also related
words. Can you think of a political
figure who is sometimes referred
to as “The Terminator”? Why is he
called that?
A word’s etymology is
the origin and history of
the word.
Tip
Choosing the Right Definition
Understand the Concept
Because many words in English have more than one meaning, you
must be able to determine which meaning applies when you look up a
word in the dictionary. If the dictionary entry for a word contains four
definitions, you must strategize to figure out which definition matches
the word’s meaning in the context in which you found it. Consider the
following passage.
Science is the search for truth—it is not a game in which one
tries to beat his opponent, to do harm to others. We need
to have the spirit of science in international affairs, to make
the conduct of international affairs the effort to find the right
solution, the just solution of international problems…
—Linus Pauling, from No More War!
Imagine that you want to look up the word conduct in the dictionary.
There are two entries for conduct—one as a noun and one as a verb.
You look back at the passage and determine that conduct is definitely
used as a noun. There are three definitions for conduct under the noun
entry: “escort, guide”; “act, manner, or process of carrying on”; and
“mode or standard of personal behavior.” Try to substitute each of the
definitions for the word conduct in the passage. Which one works the
best? After trying each definition, you should be able to see that “act,
manner, or process of carrying on” is the best.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Choose the correct definition for house as it is used in each of the
following sentences. Write the correct definition on a seperate sheet of
paper.
1. The House of Representatives voted on the bill yesterday.
2. Laura lives in Parker House, one of the dormitories at the
university.
3. Queen Victoria was the matriarch of the House of Windsor.
4. We are going to eat dinner at The Anchor tonight, where the
specialty of the house is lobster.
5. Kevin works for Dunn & Morgan, a brokerage house on the north
side of town.
6. The concert was so good that the encore had the entire house
screaming for more.
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EXERCISE B
Sometimes, a word has more than one main entry, so first you must
determine which entry is correct before deciding which definition
within the entry is correct. Consider the following example.
Fatima looked with satisfaction around the perfectly decorated
room: there were streamers and ribbons on the walls, candles
on the buffet, and a delicate spray on the dining room table.
If you didn’t know the meaning of buffet or spray in this context and
had to look up the words in the dictionary, you’d find more than one
main entry for each.
buf·fet n 1 : a blow esp. with the hand 2 : something that strikes with
telling force
1
buf·fet vb 1 : to strike sharply esp. with the hand : cuff 2 : to strike
repeatedly : batter <the waves ~ed the shore> 3 : to drive, force,
move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows 4 : to make one’s
way esp. under difficult conditions
2
buf·fet n 1 : sideboard 2 a : a counter for refreshments b : a restaurant
operated as a public convenience as in a railway station c : a meal
set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service
3
Just For Fun
A pangram is a sentence that
uses each letter of the alphabet.
The best pangrams use the fewest
letters and avoid repeating letters.
A few pangrams have been written
with the exact number of letters in
the alphabet (26), but they don’t
make much sense. Here are some
of the best pangrams that use only
a few extra letters and still make
some sense.
How quickly daft jumping zebras
vex. (30 letters)
Quick zephyrs blow, vexing daft
Jim. (29 letters)
Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex
Bud. (28 letters)
Try writing your own pangram.
4
buf·fet adj : served informally (as from a buffet)
spray n 1 : a usually flowering branch or shoot 2 : a decorative flat
arrangement of flowers and foliage 3 : something (as a jeweled pin)
resembling a spray
1
spray n 1 : water flying in small drops or particles blown from waves
or thrown up by a waterfall 2 a : a jet of vapor or finely divided
liquid b : a device (as an atomizer or sprayer) by which a spray is
dispersed or applied c (1) : an application of a spray or by spraying
(2) : a substance (as paint) so applied
2
spray vb 1 : to disperse or apply as a spray 2 : to project spray on or into
3 : to break up into spray 4 : to disperse or apply a spray 5 : to emit
a stream or spray <a cat may ~ to mark its territory>
3
1. Which main entry would you go to for buffet?
2. Which definition within the entry for buffet is correct?
3. Which main entry would you go to for spray?
4. Which definition within the entry for spray is correct?
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LESSON 29
Word of the Week
compulsion (k@m p@l> sh@n)
n., an irresistible need to do
something
Because of the addictive power of
nicotine, the compulsion to smoke
was so strong that even cancer
warnings could not convince the
young teen to quit.
Compulsion can imply behavior
ranging from a silly habit such as
wearing your lucky socks before
a basketball game or a test to
something as serious as a mental
disease that can severely impact a
person’s daily life.
Synonyms are words that
have essentially the same
meaning. Learning synonyms of
common words can make your
writing more interesting and help
you express yourself more clearly.
Tip
Synonyms can be found
in dictionaries or in a
thesaurus. Some word processing
programs contain a thesaurus if
you do not have one on hand.
Tip
Synonyms and Antonyms
Understand the Concept
There are hundreds of thousands of words in the English language. This
means that no matter what idea you want to express, there is probably
a word that means exactly what you want to say. When you find that
you are using the same words repeatedly in your writing, you may want
to try using other words that have similar meanings. Words that have
similar meanings are called synonyms.
Sometimes when you are writing you’ll find that you can express an
idea more effectively by describing what it is not. In such cases, you will
use words that mean the opposite of what you want to say. Words that
have opposite meanings are known as antonyms.
Synonyms
You probably already know some synonyms of common words. For
example, the word giant has many synonyms. Some that you may know
include huge, massive, vast, and immense. But there are others you
may not know, such as colossal, mammoth, gargantuan, humongous,
immeasurable, incalculable, and oversized. Each of these words conveys
a slightly different meaning. When you have all these synonyms
available to you, you will be able to choose the one that provides the
most accurate and vivid description of your subject.
Where can you find synonyms? For some words, dictionaries
contain several synonyms. However, a reference book specifically
intended to provide synonyms is called a thesaurus. If you do not have
a thesaurus on hand, some computer word processors have a built-in
thesaurus tool. The Internet also contains links to online thesauruses
and other sources of synonyms.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Use your personal knowledge, a dictionary, or a thesaurus to find four
synonyms for the following words. For some of these words, synonyms
may vary somewhat in meaning from the original word. Write your
synonyms in your notebook.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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loud
shy
ebullient
endearing
admiration
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6. humility
7. audacity
8. liar
Antonyms are words that
have opposite meanings,
such as hot and cold, and young
and old.
Tip
Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. You already know
many common antonyms such as short and tall and big and small.
Antonyms can be useful when making comparisons in your writing.
For example, if you are writing a travel brochure, and you know that
quaint is the perfect way to describe a small town, but you are not sure
how to describe a big city, you can look up antonyms of quaint and find
contemporary.
Where can you find antonyms? Like synonyms, you can find
antonyms for some words in dictionaries. However, a thesaurus will
provide the most complete list. Your computer’s word processing
program or the Internet may also be helpful.
EXERCISE B
Use your personal knowledge, a dictionary, or a thesaurus to find two
antonyms for each of the following words. Write your antonyms in
your notebook.
sluggish
timid
uncouth
rapid
vague
joyful
forgettable
truthful
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Sometimes it is difficult
to find a long list of
antonyms for a given word. One
way to find more options is to
select the antonym closest to
what you are looking for and find
synonyms of that word. Some
of these new words will also be
antonyms of your original word.
Tip
Try It Yourself
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Antonyms can be found
in a dictionary or on the
Internet, but a thesaurus will most
likely contain the most complete
lists.
Tip
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Connotation
Select the connotation of each underlined word below. Write the letter of the
best answer on the line.
_____ 1. The shrewd inventor designed many
award-winning contraptions.
A. demonstrating unusual
perception
B. diplomatically smart
C. using practical, hardheaded
cleverness
_____ 3. The conceited athlete showed off his
medal to everyone.
A. rightfully self-confident
B. someone with an excessively high
opinion of himself or herself that
is not warranted
C. proud
_____ 2. In the summer, there is sometimes a
vagrant sleeping in the park.
A. an undesirable person with no
fixed address and no visible means
of support
B. wanderer with no plans
C. homeless person who lost his or
her job
_____ 4. Our nosy neighbor is always
watching everyone on the block.
A. inquisitive in an inoffensive way
B. showing an excessive interest in
other people’s affairs
C. curious but not malicious
Select the intended meaning in each sentence below. Write the letter of the
best answer on the line.
_____ 5. Brad wanted to check out the
University of Chicago before
deciding if he wanted to enroll there.
A. a counter or area in a store where
goods are paid for or rented
B. the time at which a lodger must
vacate a room or be charged for
retaining it
C. the action of examining
and testing something for
performance, suitability, or
readiness
_____ 6. The science teacher was so remote
that the students were afraid to ask
him a question.
A. a device controlled from a
distance
B. out-of-the way or secluded
C. distant in manner; aloof
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_____ 7. The radical student president
organized a demonstration.
A. a mathematical expression
B. extreme and untraditional, as in a
political sense
C. growing from the root of a plant
_____ 8. The butcher stunned the cattle before
killing them.
A. to kill ruthlessly and brutally
B. a seller of meat
C. a person who slaughters animals
for their meat
_____ 9. The novelist was known for her spare
prose style.
A. to refrain from attacking or
reprimanding
B. a duplicate kept in reserve, like a
tire
C. not liberal or profuse; lean
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LESSON 30
Figurative Language
Understand the Concept
When authors go beyond the use of literal language to convey an
emotion or express an image, they use figurative language. Figurative
language is language that uses imaginative or poetic words to express
thoughts. For example, consider the following complimentary
statement about a girl named Kathryn:
Kathryn is an outstanding student who performed well on the
exam.
This statement communicates information in a literal manner but
does not express much emotion. If you wanted to communicate
this information and convey a sense of enthusiasm, you might write
something like:
Kathryn is the cream of the crop; she really hit a home run on
the exam!
Some of the most common forms of figurative language are idioms,
similes, and metaphors.
Word of the Week
manifestation (ma n@ f@ st6>
sh@n) n., the outward expression
of something
Sam didn’t look sad after
his parents’ divorce, but his
troublemaking, poor performance
in school, and arguments with his
sisters were all manifestations of
inner turmoil.
Manifestation refers to what
you see, rather than to what is
hidden; but it may also imply
that what you see gives you
information on what is hidden.
For example, a rash on your skin
might be a manifestation of an
infection inside your body. As
described in the sentence above,
a person’s behavior is commonly
a manifestation of his or her
emotions.
Idioms
An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different than its literal
meaning. For example, in the sentence above, Kathryn did not actually
hit a home run, but her outstanding performance on the exam was
similar to hitting a home run in baseball. Comparing Kathryn’s
achievement to an event most people can relate to helps the reader to
better understand the emotions surrounding Kathryn’s achievement.
Can you pick out the idiom in the following sentence from Persephone
and Demeter?
Wordlessly she walked through the garden at silent Hades’ side
and slowly her heart turned to ice.
When a writer uses words
or phrases whose literal
meaning is different than the
intended meaning, the writer is
using figurative language.
Tip
Idioms are words or
phrases whose actual
meaning is different from their
literal meaning.
Tip
Does the author mean to imply that Persephone’s heart really turned to
ice? Or is this a poetic way of saying that she became emotionally cold?
Some common idioms include:
Idiom
as clear as mud
chomping at the bit
hit the road
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Meaning
confusing
very eager
get going; leave
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Idiom
throw money around
splitting hairs
pulling teeth
a chip on your shoulder
a dime a dozen
piece of cake
it’s Greek to me
Figurative language is
used to produce an
emotional response in the reader.
Idioms, similes, and metaphors
are examples of figurative
language.
Tip
Meaning
spend money carelessly
being particular
a difficult or unpleasant task
a grudge; ill feelings
readily available; common
an easy task
I don’t understand
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
What do the following common idioms mean? Define each idiom and
write a sentence using each idiom in your notebook.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Idiom: kick the bucket
Idiom: needle in a haystack
Idiom: on the fence
Idiom: pulling your leg
Idiom: rock the boat
Similes
A simile is a comparison
between two seemingly
unrelated things using the words
like or as.
Tip
A simile is a comparison between two seemingly unrelated things using
the words like or as. For example, instead of descrbing something as
“very large” you might say:
She was as tall as a giant.
The whale was as big as a bus.
The city was as expansive as the ocean.
The field was as wide as the Mississippi River.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Write a sentence using each of the following similes.
example
like a herd of elephants
As soon as the doors opened for the Day-After-Christmas sale, the
customers charged into the department store like a herd of elephants.
Remember: Do not write about a herd of elephants; compare something
else to a herd of elephants.
1. sly as a fox
2. glistens like gold
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3. sweet as candy
4. hard as a rock
5. like a moth to the flame
Metaphors
A metaphor is a
comparison between
two seemingly unrelated things
without using the words like or as.
Tip
Like a simile, a metaphor is a comparison between two seemingly
unrelated things. However, metaphors do not use the words like or as;
they simply describe one thing as if it were another. Metaphors may
not be as obvious as similes, but they are very common in written and
spoken English. Some examples of metaphors are:
Her eyes are glistening gems.
Your love is the moon and the stars.
He had the heart of a lion.
You are the light of my life.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE C
For each of the following pairs of words, create a metaphor that
compares the two and use it in a sentence.
example
leaves, carpet
We trudged through the think carpet of leaves that covered the
forest floor.
1. moon, trees
2. apple, mirror
3. children, mice
4. ocean, mountains
5. snake, sand
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 31
Word of the Week
gnarled (n5r@ld) adj., knobby,
distorted
The gnarled old man had
a heavily wrinkled face and
resembled the trolls portrayed in
children’s stories.
Although it is a descriptive word,
gnarled is generally not a positive
way to describe a person. It can
also be used to describe nonhuman things, such as a gnarled
tree trunk. A slang form of the
word is gnarly. Gnarly can mean
dangerous, unpleasant, or awful,
but it can also mean excellent,
attractive, or fascinating. If you are
going to call something gnarly,
make sure people know what you
mean!
Slang and Colloquialisms
Understand the Concept
American English is full of slang words and colloquial expressions.
Slang is nonstandard vocabulary. It tends to have a spicy flavor and
falls in and out of popularity rather quickly. Slang is often associated
with a particular group of people and is not understood by everyone.
Colloquialisms are informal expressions used in everyday speech. Most
people who speak the language will be familiar with colloquialisms.
Many slang words or expressions start out as slang and then, once they
are used by everyone, they can be called colloquialisms.
COLLOQUIALISMS
• let the cat out of the bag: reveal a secret
Marsha promised not to tell anyone about Jim’s problem, but
when asked about it, she let the cat out of the bag.
• in the doghouse: in trouble
I can’t go to the movie today. I’m in the doghouse for getting
home late last night.
• hogwash: nonsense
I didn’t believe anything that politician said. It was all hogwash.
SLANG
• chill/chill out: sit around; do nothing; calm down
What did you do this afternoon? I just chilled over at Marcy’s
house.
Slow down! Chill out and tell me what the problem is.
• scarf: eat; eat quickly
Pizza is Karen’s favorite food. Yesterday she scarfed an entire
large mushroom and pepperoni!
• ride: car; vehicle
When I get rich, I’m going to buy an excellent ride.
Colloquialisms and slang are not appropriate in formal writing and
speech. Rather, they should be used in informal situations, such as
when you are communicating with friends. Keep in mind that the slang
you speak may not be understood by other people.
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Try It Yourself
Just For Fun
Match each colloquialism at left with the sentence it fits into at right.
_____ 1. hit the jackpot
_____ 2. hash out
_____ 3. put in my two cents’
worth
_____ 4. bounce off the walls
_____ 5. out in left field
_____ 6. wheel and deal
_____ 7. get the show on the
road
_____ 8. bite off more than you
can chew
_____ 9. a dime a dozen
_____ 10. cough it up
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A. Those antique bowls are nice,
but they’re ___.
B. It’s great to get involved in
extracurricular activities, but
make sure you don’t ___.
C. We agreed on the main ideas
and just have to ___ the
details.
D. Sherry’s so nervous about the
audition that she will soon
begin to ___.
E. I’m tired of waiting for you to
get ready. Let’s ___!
F. I know you took that candy
bar out of my locker. Now,
___!
G. I had never won anything
before, but I really ___ when
I won that new computer!
H. John sometimes says some
strange things, but that
comment was really ___.
I. Jane’s father, a slick-talking
car salesman, is always trying
to ___.
J. “I just want to ___,” Michaela
said before expressing her
opinion.
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
Fill in the blanks with slang
expressions.
1. Have you seen
Johnny’s new car? It’s
_________________________!
2. I really don’t care for
those shoes. They are so
_________________________.
3. Hey,
_________________________!
How’s my best pal doing?
4. She’s making some
_________________________
money at her new job.
5. Jenna redecorated her
bedroom. It looks really
_________________________.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 32
Word of the Week
precipitous (pri si> p@ t@s) adj.,
very steep; sudden
The mountaineers checked their
climbing gear before attempting
to climb the precipitous north face
of the Matterhorn.
In addition to referring to
something that is very steep,
precipitous can also refer to an
abrupt action. When someone
makes an extreme change with no
prior warning, that action can be
considered precipitous.
Look for prefixes, suffixes,
word roots, and base
words in these words for clues to
their meaning. For example, which
word contains the Latin word root
spic, meaning “look”? How does
this root relate to the meaning of
the word?
Tip
Look for the following
Latin word roots in this
Tip
activity.
lev—light in weight; lift
Words for Your Word Study Notebook
Understand the Concept
You can add new words to your vocabulary by logging them in your
word study notebook. Record this list in your notebook, making sure to
leave room for the pronunciations and definitions of each word. Begin
incorporating a word or two into each piece of writing you create. Choose
a word or two a week to use in your conversations with friends. The more
you use the new words, the more you will develop your vocabulary.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Fill in the pronunciations and definitions for each word.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
cleft
bombastic
despicable
elucidate
coax
gallivant
gauche
crevice
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
flourish
deference
drivel
levitate
loquacious
malaise
malevolent
moribund
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
nefarious
oscillate
pungent
quibble
quip
waft
Did any of these words already sound familiar to you? If so, which
ones? Did you know what they meant?
EXERCISE B
Choose five of the words from above and use each one in a sentence.
1.
2.
loqu—speak
3.
mal—bad
pung—sting or prick
Which words stem from the Latin
words mori, meaning “to die,” and
nefas, meaning “crime”?
4.
5.
Just For Fun
Ask for permission to take a walk through school with a pen and
a notebook. Write down any new words you encounter. Look on
signs, on bulletin boards, in the lunchroom, in the auditorium, in the
gymnasium, in the library, and anywhere else you are allowed to go.
You may be surprised by the number of new words you find.
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Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Time Out for Test Practice
Reading Comprehension
Write the letter of the word that best completes each sentence.
_____ 1. Julie’s ___ when wearing the new
shoes was evident in her walk.
A. discomfort
B. curiosity
C. vocation
D. malpractice
_____ 2. Both teachers wanted to ___ their
classes, because team teaching was
more helpful and less work.
A. absolve
B. misunderstand
C. combine
D. concentrate
_____ 3. Maria and Juana decided to ___ an
apartment to save money on rent.
A. commingle
B. cohabit
C. compartmentalize
D. dictate
_____ 4. Mr. Zicarelli received a ___ that his
flight would leave at 5:45 on March
20.
A. dismissal
B. habitation
C. confirmation
D. biofeedback
_____ 5. Not holding any subject sacred, the
standup comic is especially ___ about
politics and religion.
A. misinformed
B. eccentric
C. irreverent
D. understated
_____ 6. Hercules was known for his ___
strength.
A. proactive
B. superhuman
C. replaceable
D. shameless
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_____ 7. The political speaker’s ___ was
disrupted when a plane flew
overhead.
A. concentration
B. demerit
C. absorption
D. synchronicity
_____ 8. The receptionist’s ___ at Merton
Advertising was a disappointment
because she was impolite on the
phone.
A. vocation
B. advocate
C. biography
D. replacement
_____ 9. For his art project, Jeremy created an
innovative ___ by borrowing styles
from his favorite artists.
A. hierarchy
B. production
C. odometer
D. synthesis
_____ 10. Heather had to ___ her essay because
her handwriting was illegible.
A. conform
B. justify
C. desegregate
D. rewrite
_____ 11. Carl’s ___ personality earns him a
lot of friends; he is always polite,
outgoing, and friendly.
A. cynical
B. gregarious
C. sensitive
D. studious
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_____ 12. Artist Jackson Pollock’s most famous
works are ___; that is, they don’t seek
to depict how things actually look.
A. synthetic
B. affected
C. centered
D. abstract
_____ 13. The set design was ___, with a
balcony on the left and a balcony on
the right.
A. disproportionate
B. ugly
C. symmetrical
D. abhorrent
_____ 14. South Carolina was the first southern
state to ___ from the Union.
A. malfunction
B. misbehave
C. centralize
D. secede
_____ 15. The situation at the factory ___ even
further when replacements were
brought in for the strikers.
A. destabilized
B. discovered
C. miscontrued
D. oriented
_____ 17. In the movie My Fair Lady, Professor
Henry Higgins teaches Eliza to
improve her ___ so she’ll sound like a
lady.
A. disability
B. diction
C. oration
D. understudy
_____ 18. Listening to Janis Joplin ___ my
mom’s memories of her adolescence.
A. supplies
B. misconceives
C. manages
D. evokes
_____ 19. The Johnsons ___ their bottles, cans,
and newspapers to help preserve the
environment.
A. recycle
B. misdirect
C. supercede
D. misfile
_____ 20. The ___ strains of the bacteria are
resistant to antibiotics.
A. ironic
B. mutant
C. irregular
D. rearranged
_____ 16. The politician decided to ___ his
opponent with ads that attacked his
integrity.
A. restrengthen
B. miscalculate
C. vilify
D. synchronize
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ANSWER KEY
Lesson 1: Word Study Notebook, page 1
Lesson 4: Morphemes, page 8
EXERCISE A
Try It Yourself
word: mesmerize
definition: to subject to mesmerism; hypnotize;
spellbind
contextual sentence: Responses will vary.
pronunciation: (mez> m@ r8z<)
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary.
Lesson 2: Word Study Skills, page 3
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary.
1. im / perfect / ion
2. pre / script / ion
3. sub / conscious / ly
4. un / clean / ly
5. re / serv / ation
EXERCISE B
1. outrageous
Try It Yourself
Word Part
EXERCISE A
1. retirement check
2. Responses will vary.
EXERCISE B
1. introspection: intro- = in(to); spec = look;
-tion = act of
2. transmitter: trans- = across;
mit = send; -er = that which
3. quadruped: quad- = four; -ped = foot
4. irreversible: ir- = not; reverse = go back;
-ible = able to
5. circumnavigate: circum- = around;
nav = ship; igate = drive
Type
out-
prefix
rage
base word
-ous
suffix
2. indigestion
Word Part
Type
in-
prefix
digest
base word
-ion
suffix
3. regression
Word Part
EXERCISE C
1.
2.
3.
4.
brackish: somewhat salty
rouse: excite
plight: bad state or condition
omnibus: of, relating to, or providing for
many things at once
5. impulse: sudden motivation or desire
Type
re-
prefix
gress
base word
-ion
suffix
4. unlikely
Word Part
Type
Lesson 3: PAVE, page 6
un-
prefix
Try It Yourself
like
base word
Responses will vary. Dictionary definitions are
given.
1. scathing: bitterly severe
2. prerequisite: something that is necessary to
an end or to carrying out another function
3. floriferous: bearing flowers; blooming freely
4. fluctuate: change
5. hoard: keep supply hidden away
-ly
suffix
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5. disrupting
Word Part
Type
dis-
prefix
rupt
base word
-ing
suffix
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Lesson 5: Morphemes and Meaning,
page 10
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary. Examples are shown.
1. borderland
border: division of land between two parcels
or political units
land: territory
borderland: the territory near where a
division of land occurs
2. houseguest
house: home
guest: invited person
houseguest: person invited to one’s home
3. gateway
gate: opening
way: route
gateway: opening allowing one to pursue a
particular route
4. stonewashed
stone: rock
washed: cleaned with water
stonewashed: cleaned with water and rocks
5. boomtown
boom: to develop rapidly in population and
importance
town: small community
boomtown: a small community that is
developing rapidly in population and
importance
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary. Possible definitions are
given.
1. transcontinental
Morpheme
transcontinent
-al
Type
prefix
base word
suffix
Meaning
across
chunk of land
relating to
meaning based on morphemes: relating to
crossing a chunk of land
dictionary definition: extending or going
across a continent
(continent is defined as “mainland” or “one
of the six or seven great divisions of land on
the globe”)
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2. unprofitable
Morpheme
unprofit
-able
Type
prefix
base word
suffix
Meaning
not
gain; earnings
able to be
meaning based on morphemes: not able to
garner gain or earnings
dictionary definition: not profitable;
useless, vain.
(profitable is defined as “yielding
advantageous returns or results”)
3. resounding
Morpheme
resound
-ing
Type
prefix
base word
suffix
Meaning
over again
noise
adjective
meaning based on morphemes: making
repeated noises
dictionary definition: producing echoing
sound
Time Out for Test Practice, page 12
Recognizing Word Parts
1. vigorous
C. full of strength and energy
2. reactivate
A. make active again
3. immobile
D. unable to move
4. retrospective
C. having to do with looking back in time
5. transformation
A. act or process of changing form
6. indestructible
D. not possible to destroy
7. audible
C. able to be heard
8. quadruped
C. animal that walks on four feet
9. inflexible
A. rigid; not capable of being moved or
changed
10. hydrology
B. study of water
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Lesson 6: Syllabication, page 13
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Students should label the vowels and consonants
in each word, then break words as indicated.
1. mud / dy (VC / CV)
2. per / fect (VC / CV)
3. rough / est (VCC / V; gh is a digraph)
4. im / mense (VC / CV)
5. for / bid / den (VC / CV, VC / CV)
6. hack / ney (VCC / CV; ck is a digraph)
7. haw / thorn (VC / CCV)
8. in / struct (VC / CCCV)
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ru / ler (V / CV)
cli / mate (V / CV)
shiv / er (VC / V)
mu / sic (V / CV)
prop / er (VC / V)
EXERCISE C
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
stu’ pid _2_
myth’ _1_
oc’ cu py _3_
im ag’ ine _3_
hap’ py _2_
stu pid’ i ty _4_
myth’ i cal _3_
pre oc cu pa’ tion _5_
im ag in a’ tion _5_
un hap’ pi ness _4_
Lesson 8: Accented Syllables and
Pronunciation, page 17
Try It Yourself
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
in / tol’ / er / a / ble
tol’ / er / ate
un / der / stand’ / ing
stand’ / point
cur’ / sor
Lesson 9: Mispronunciations, page 18
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Try It Yourself
Responses will vary. Be sure that students
understand that these “mispronunciations” in
this activity are now accepted in the language.
Point out that when we drop out sounds that
were originally meant to be pronounced, it can
make the word tricky to spell. For example, the
first r in February has been dropped in most
people’s pronuncation of the word. For this
reason, many people misspell it as Febuary.
1. The first c sound is dropped.
2. The schwa sound made by the second e
is dropped, so that the first and second
syllables are combined.
3. The schwa sound made by the o is dropped,
so that the second and third syllables are
combined.
4. The second syllable, ab, is dropped.
5. The second syllable is dropped.
EXERCISE A
EXERCISE B
Responses may vary.
1. ri / ot (V/V)
2. re / coil (V/CV; also, re- is always a syllable
unto itself)
3. hus / tle (VC/CCV or Cle rule)
4. re / luc / tant (V/CV; VC/CV)
5. in / se / cure (VC/CV, V/CV)
6. met / a / phor (VC/V; V/CCV because ph is
a digraph)
7. an / tic / i / pate (VC/CV; VC/V; V/CV)
8. clev / er / ly (VC/V, VC/CV)
Just For Fun
Message: A quiet, cute rat is clearly the ideal pet.
Lesson 7: Spelling by Syllables, page 15
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
un / der / stand
prac / ti / cal
non / fic / tion
sil / li / ness
dis / gus / ting
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
burglar (burg a ler)
mischievous (mis cheev e ous)
narrator (nar ar a tor)
disastrous (dis as te rous)
remembrance (re mem ber ance)
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Time Out for Test Practice, page 20
EXERCISE C
verb
Syllable Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
B. one
A. first syllable
B. second syllable
B. flair
D. tether
D. four
C. three
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
D. four
C. three
C. three
A. one
B. two
D. five
B. two
Lesson 10: Spelling Patterns I, page 21
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1.
2.
3.
4.
believe
neither
vein
sufficient
5.
6.
7.
8.
achieve
receipt
frontier
weigh
5.
6.
7.
8.
psalm
knuckle
succumb
sci-fi
ghoul
wreck
cosign
straight
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
couch
crouch
particle
occasional
channel
subtle
EXERCISE C
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
enough
morph
dwarf
graph
dispatch
porch
Lesson 11: Spelling Patterns II, page 24
Try It Yourself
4. fingers
5. bunches
6. paragraphs
EXERCISE B
1. your horse’s bridle
2. the students’
grades
3. the mice’s nest
4. Chris’s books
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pronoun
I
you
he
it
we
they
she
they
couldn’t
hasn’t
didn’t
shouldn’t
+ verb
have
will
would
is
are
will
has
are
contraction
I’ve
you’ll
he’d
it’s
we’re
they’ll
she’s
they’re
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
quitter, quitting
hasten, hasty
preferred, preferring, preference
witty
disappeared, disappearing, disappearance
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
latest
retrievable, retrieved, retrieving
courageous
communicated, communicating,
communicative
5. bubbled, bubbling, bubbly
EXERCISE C
EXERCISE A
1. dictionaries
2. lives
3. tomatoes
could
has
did
should
Lesson 12: Spelling Patterns III, page 27
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
+ not
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
enviable, envied, envying
slipperier, slipperiest
drearier, dreariest
candied
cried, crier, crying
smokier, smokiest
5. the children’s
father
6. Mr. Briggs’s
lawnmower
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
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Lesson 13: Spelling Patterns IV, page 29
Time Out for Test Practice, page 33
Try It Yourself
Spelling Review
EXERCISE A
1. compatible
2. likeable
3. responsible
4. reliable
5. teachable
6. readable
EXERCISE B
1. competition
2. recognition
3. occasion
4. location
5. ambition
Lesson 14: Commonly Misspelled Words,
page 31
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
A. breeches
A. tacos
B. lives
A. geese
A. its
B. valuable
B. inevitable
B. peaceable
A. digestible
B. extension
B. beginner
A. trophies
A. glorious
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
A. appearance
B. proceed
A. competition
A. recognition
B. occasions
B. children’s
D. boss’s
D. twins
A. women’s
B. wolves’
C. supersede
D. succeed
Try It Yourself
Lesson 15: Context Clues, page 35
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary.
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
1. Our neighbor bakes the most delicious
meals.
2. You really should not run with scissors.
3. When washing clothes, it’s necessary to
separate the darks from the lights.
4. How many people get accepted to the college
of their choice?
5. There is an excellent restaurant near the
library.
Just For Fun
P E
B C
F O
S M
G M
Z I
B T
N T
O E
K E
U Y
L L
V O
WK
Q I
A
E
O
E
R
U
V
V
N
G
I
E
R
O
F
M
N
R
A
B
S
E
N
C
E
S
L
T
F
M
S
O
E
X
Y
T
X
I
E
Z
E
A
E
Z
O
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0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 83
H I
T U
M V
U I
I U
Y G
C E
C O
R W
W P
P A
R A
I D
F E
F S
D
R
I
R
T
R
L
U
E
O
R
P
E
U
N
W
F
L
T
O
T
L
H
I
E
A
X
C
G
E
O
I
L
A
K
O
E
I
R
R
T
C
E
Z
I
E
L
A
O
N
P
N
D
D
T
E
F
N
B
C
C
O
I
L
E
J
C
R
R
S
N
R
D
R
E
E
P
N
P
R
I
E
E
S
E
P
I
R
A
T
I N
S I
T H
H E
T W
B E
R P
N D
C N
H E
V C
M S
Q E
A D
H H
EXERCISE A
1. bleak
c. unlikely or doubtful
2. inexorable
d. unstoppable
EXERCISE B
1. vertigo: a sensation of dizziness or
lightheadedness
2. miniscule: tiny; very small
3. stentorian: very loud
4. saunter: to walk slowly; stroll; amble
5. teal: a blue-green color
6. resilient: tough
Lesson 16: Using Context Clues I, page 37
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
precision: accuracy
edifice: building
ecstatic: happy, excited
competent: capable
minor: small, unimportant
amendments: changes
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
prudent: careful
anxiety: nervousness
catastrophic: extremely damaging
pacifist: person opposed to violence
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
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3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
Lesson 17: Using Context Clues II,
page 39
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
complimentary: free
reiterated: repeated
feigned: faked
debacle: disastrous failure
feral: wild
6. smile: facial expression in which eyes
brighten and mouth curves upward
grin: broad smile
7. fib: untruth; implies a small untruth
lie: untruth
8. forest: a tract of land densely covered with
trees
woods: wooded area; implies a smaller area
than a forest
EXERCISE B
Time Out for Test Practice, page 45
Responses will vary.
Context Clues
Lesson 18: Using Context Clues III,
page 41
Try It Yourself
1. differentiate: distinguish or tell apart
2. legumes: peas and beans; vegetables that
grow in pods
3. comply: conform to
4. augment: add to
5. compensation: payment for labor
6. plausible: believable
7. punctual: on time
8. scandals: disgraces; loss or damage of
reputation
Try It Yourself
Responses will vary. Suggested differentiations in
connotation are shown.
1. save: put away for later use
hoard: store up usually beyond one’s needs;
connotes selfishness.
2. cut: wound made by something sharp
gash: deep, long cut; connotes an injury
more severe than a cut
3. pretty: having elements of beauty; attractive
cute: attractive, pretty in a diminutive way
4. cage: barred cell or box for enclosing
animals or prisoners
enclosure: implies something larger than a
cage
5. juvenile: young; implies childish
youthful: characterized by youth
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 84
Lesson 20: Word Roots, Prefixes, and
Suffixes, page 47
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Lesson 19: Denotation and
Connotation, page 43
84
1. d. surrounded by
2. a. discussion marked by opposing
viewpoints
3. b. idea
4. a. person who digs and studies fossils
5. c. buried
6. b. adjust
7. b. unable to be identified
8. c. putting an end to debate through proof
9. b. mythical
1.
2.
3.
4.
semicircular: half of a circle
disapprove: not approve
biweekly: every two weeks
international: nations together (relations
between different nations)
5. midline: middle line, or a line in the middle
of something
6. unproductive: not productive
EXERCISE B
1. sisterhood: the quality of relationships
between sisters
2. employer: one who employs
3. dealership: the condition or state of a dealer
4. awkwardness: the state of being awkward
5. randomly: the characteristics of being
random
6. delightful: full of delight
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
Lesson 21: Prefixes and Similar Word
Parts, page 49
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
disagree
unstable
nonstop
improbable
unfreeze
active: activate
colony: colonize
simple: simplify
horror: horrify
harmony: harmonize
Try It Yourself
Students’ sentences will vary.
1. collection
2. combination
3. compromise
4. configure
5. correction
Lesson 22: Suffixes, page 51
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1. report: reported, reporting, reports, (reporter
uses the suffix -er to form a noun, not a
comparative adjective)
2. create: created, creating
3. sweet: sweetly, sweeter, sweetest
4. paper: papered, papering, papers
5. rich: richly, riches, richer, richest
EXERCISE B
Sentences will vary. Examples of possible
adjectives are shown.
1. hope: hopeful, hopeless
2. joy: joyful, joyous
3. response: responsible, responsive
4. manage: manageable
5. sense: sensible, senseless, sensuous
EXERCISE C
Sentences will vary. Examples of possible nouns
are shown.
1. farm: farmer
2. enjoy: enjoyment
3. blissful: blissfulness
4. condense: condensation
5. defend: defendant, defender
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 85
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lesson 23: Roots and Base Words, page 53
EXERCISE B
© EMC Publishing, LLC
EXERCISE D
Responses will vary. Possible answers are shown.
1. object, conjecture, injection, reject, subject,
dejected
2. inscription, prescribe, conscript, describe,
description
3. revolve, revolution, convoluted, evolve,
evolution
4. motion, motor, remote, motive, motivate
5. portable, porter, import, export, support,
transport
6. terrain, terrestrial, subterranean
7. confirm, affirm, infirmary, reaffirmation
8. comfort, fortify, fortress, effort
9. progress, regress, congress, aggression
10. predict, dictate, dictionary, contradict, edict
11. regulate, register, regular, regimen
12. vivacious, vivid, revive, survival
13. novel, nova, novice, innovative
14. type, atypical, typographical, typecast
15. topography, topic, utopia, topiary
Lesson 24: Greek and Latin Roots,
page 55
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
bio: autobiography, bionic, biosphere
geo: geography, geode, geometry
hemo: hemostat, hematite, hemorrhage,
hemophilia
hydro: hydrostatic, hydrothermal, hydroponic
hyper: hyperexcite, hyperbolic, hyperlink,
hyperglycemia
meter: millimeter, symmetry, geometry
oct: octagon, octave, octane
tel: telescope, telekinesis, telegram, telephoto
therm: thermal, thermocline, thermostat,
thermonuclear, hydrothermal
tri: triangle, triple, tricycle, triumvirate, Triassic
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
85
3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
aqu: aquatic, aqueduct, aqualung,
aud: auditorium, audible, audiotape,
bene: benefit, benevolent
brev: abbreviation, brevity, brief
jur/just : jurisprudence, judge, judgmental
mult/multi: multiply, multiplex, multimedia,
multinational
scrib/script: inscribe, scripture, scribe, scribble,
scriptwriter
struct: structure, construction, destructive
uni/un: union, university, universe, universal,
unity
vac: vacant, vacuum, vacation, vacancy, vacuole,
vacuous
Time Out for Test Practice, page 57
Spelling Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A
B
A
A
B
A
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
A
A
B
A
B
B
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1. bow (ba1) v., to bend at the waist in a show
of respect or greeting
bow (b9) n., an item used to play string
instruments
2. bass (bas) n., a type of fish
bass (b6s) n., a large musical instrument, a
deep sound
3. sewer (s9> @r) n,. one who sews
sewer (s2‘ @r) n,. a system of pipes that
transport waste
4. wound (w2nd) n., an injury, commonly
with broken skin
wound (wa1nd) v., past tense of to wind
5. minute (mi‘ n@t) n., sixty seconds
minute (m8‘ny2t) adj., very small
1. pale: without much color
pail: bucket
86
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 86
EXERCISE C
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
1. bear: a furry brown mammal; to put up with
something; to produce fruit
2. just: refers to something that happened
recently; fair
3. left: a direction (opposite of right);
remaining
4. hit: to strike; a success
5. vault: to leap or jump; burial chamber
Lesson 26: More about Homographs,
Homophones, and Homonyms, page 60
Lesson 25: Homographs, Homophones,
Homonyms, page 58
EXERCISE B
2. which: a word used to specify what ones out
of a group
witch: an woman who practices magic
3. weather: the condition of the atmosphere
whether: a word involving a question of
alternatives
4. where: a word used to ask a question of
location
ware: an article of merchandise
wear: to have on one’s body
5. muscle: organ that allows movement of
one’s body
mussel: marine animal with a shell
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1. lead
pronunciation 1: /leed/
meaning 1: to guide
pronunciation 2: /led/
meaning 2: a heavy metal
2. bass
pronunciation 1: /base/
meaning 1: low pitch
pronunciation 2: /bas/
meaning 2: a fish
3. object
pronunciation 1: /ob ject’/
meaning 1: to oppose
pronunciation 2: /ob’ ject/
meaning 2: thing, item
4. digest
pronunciation 1: /di’ gest/
meaning 1: collection of writings
pronunciation 2: /di gest’/
meaning 2: absorb nutrients, as from food
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
5. content
pronunciation 1: /con tent’/
meaning 1: satisfied
pronunciation 2: /con’ tent/
meaning 2: substance; the material
contained in something
EXERCISE B
1. Dan didn’t know whether or not the
soccer game would be cancelled due to the
thunderstorm.
2. Although some of the teachers advocated
keeping the school doors locked during
lunchtime, the principal thought it was
important to allow students to go outside for
some fresh air if they wished to do so.
3. Ethel wanted to buy all of the furniture at the
garage sale except for the rickety bookshelf.
4. My mom waited until there was no traffic
coming before she passed the tractor on the
highway.
5. Before Lisa met Jenny, she wouldn’t have
been willing to bare her soul to anyone.
EXERCISE C
Sentences will vary. Possible sentences are given.
1. The deep well provided such good water that
I felt especially well whenever I drank it.
2. If our school recycles every aluminum can,
we can fund an incredible, overnight field
trip.
3. The tip of the day is to tip your food server
generously.
4. This spring, as the weather warms up, I want
to spring into action and really get in shape.
5. Elise wanted to rib Kyle for cracking a rib,
but he was in so much pain she didn’t want
to make him laugh.
Time Out for Test Practice, page 62
Homophones
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
B
B
B
B
A
B
A
B
C
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 87
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A
B
B
B
A
B
C
D
A
B
Lesson 27: Using Dictionaries and
Thesauruses, page 64
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
1. seethe: to burn with anger
2. nebulae: clouds of gas or dust; galaxies
3. lavish: splendidly abundant
4. etiquette: rules of behavior
5. encase: to enclose something in a container
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
1. adequate
definition: something that satisfies what is
necessary
synonyms: sufficient, enough, satisfactory,
passable, plenty
2. bombard
definition: to attack with bomb or a verbal
barrage
synonyms: bomb, shell, attack, assail, blast
3. constructive
definition: promoting improvement or
development
synonyms: positive, helpful, productive,
useful, beneficial
4. habitat
definition: a place to live or stay
synonyms: home, environment, residence,
dwelling, territory
5. perception
definition: the way one sees or thinks about
things
synonyms: conception, understanding,
awareness, idea, impression
Lesson 28: Choosing the Right
Definition, page 66
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1. 6a: a legislative, deliberative, or consultative
assembly; esp: one constituting a division of
a bicameral body
2. 5a: a residence for a religious community or
for students
3. 4b: a family including ancestors,
descendants, and kindred
4. 7a: a place of business or entertainment
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
87
3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
5. 7b (1): a business organization
6. 7c: the audience in a theater or
concert hall
Time Out for Test Practice, page 70
Connotation
EXERCISE B
1.
2.
3.
4.
Main entry for buffet: 3
Definition 2a: a counter for refreshments
Main entry for spray: 1
Definition 2: a decorative flat arrangement
of flowers and foliage
Lesson 29: Synonyms and Antonyms,
page 68
EXERCISE A
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
1. loud: noisy, earsplitting, thunderous,
deafening, strident, booming
2. shy: timid, bashful, reserved, self-conscious,
introverted, inhibited
3. ebullient: bubbly, joyful, cheerful, jovial,
merry, happy
4. endearing: appealing, charming, attractive,
engaging, winning, pleasing
5. admiration: respect, esteem, approval,
reverence, appreciation, awe, regard
6. humility: modesty, unassuming,
humbleness, meekness, reserve,
unpretentious
7. audacity: boldness, courage, nerve, bravery,
daring, bravado
8. liar: cheat, charlatan, fraud, fake, phony,
pretender
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary. Possible answers are given.
1. sluggish: active, alert, energetic, fast
2. timid: brave, daring, bold, fearless
3. uncouth: couth, polished, refined,
sophisticated
4. rapid: slow, lazy, leisurely, languid
5. vague: precise, clear, certain, definite
6. joyful: sad, miserable, morose, gloomy
7. forgettable: memorable, extraordinary,
unforgettable, interesting
8. truthful: false, deceitful, sneaky, lying
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 88
C
A
B
B
C
6.
7.
8.
9.
C
B
C
C
Lesson 30: Figurative Language,
page 71
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Try It Yourself
88
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sentences will vary.
1. Meaning: to die
2. Meaning: something that is hard to find
3. Meaning: having trouble deciding
4. Meaning: kidding
5. Meaning: cause problems (usually through
change)
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary.
EXERCISE C
Responses will vary.
Lesson 31: Slang and Colloquialisms,
page 74
Try It Yourself
g
c
j
d
h
i
e
b
a
f
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
hit the jackpot
hash out
put in my two cents’ worth
bounce off the walls
out in left field
wheel and deal
get the show on the road
bite off more than you can chew
a dime a dozen
cough it up
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
© EMC Publishing, LLC
3/25/09 3:54:09 PM
Lesson 32: Words for Your Word Study
Notebook, page 76
Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
1. cleft (kleft)
a space or opening made as if by splitting ;
divided about halfway
2. bombastic (b5m bas> tik)
pompous; overblown
3. despicable (di spi> k@ b@l)
deserving to be despised; worthless or
obnoxious enough to be hated
4. elucidate (i l2> s@ d6t)
to make clear by explanation or analysis
5. coax (k9ks)
to influence, gently urge, or persuade; to
manipulate with perseverance
6. gallivant (gal> @ vant)
go about with members of the opposite sex;
travel or roam about for pleasure
7. gauche (g9sh>)
lacking social grace; crude; awkward
8. crevice (kre> v@s)
a narrow opening
9. flourish (fl@r> ish)
to grow or thrive; to brandish or wave
something
10. deference (de> f@ r@n(t)s)
respect and esteem to a superior or an elder
11. drivel (dri> v@l)
to drool; to talk stupidly or nonsensically;
nonsense
12. levitate (lev> @ t6t)
rise or float in the air in defiance of gravity
13. loquacious (l9 kw6> sh@s)
given to excessive talking
14. malaise (m@ l6z>)
indefinite feeling of lack of health; vague
sense of ill-being
15. malevolent (m@ le> v@ l@nt)
having or arising from vicious ill will or evil
16. moribund (mor> @ b@nd)
being in the state of dying; approaching
death
17. nefarious (ni far> 7 @s)
flagrantly wicked or vicious
18. oscillate (5s> @ lat)
swing like a pendulum; move back and forth
between two points
© EMC Publishing, LLC
0079-0089_Gr7_vocab&spelling-AK.indd 89
19. pungent (pun> j@nt)
sharply painful; sharp or biting in odor
20. quibble (kwi> b@l)
bicker; argue
21. quip (kwip>)
clever taunting remark; witty or funny
observation; something strange, droll,
curious, or eccentric
22. waft (w5ft>)
move or go lightly through the air
EXERCISE B
Responses will vary.
Time Out for Test Practice, page 77
Reading Comprehension
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
C
B
C
C
B
A
D
D
D
Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
B
D
C
D
A
C
B
D
A
B
LEVEL II, ANSWER KEY
89
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