Mr. Thompson
8th Grade Reading
8th Snow Day All Reading Classes
Read from your reading workshop book for one- half hour.
Determining Meanings
Voters Urged Not to Eat Their Ballots
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters)—Canadians went to the polls in a federal election on Monday
with a firm warning from election officials: Please do not eat your ballots.
"Eating a ballot, not returning it, or otherwise destroying or defacing it constitutes a serious breach of
the Canada Elections Act," Elections Canada warns on its Internet site.
The issue was of sufficient concern to warrant inclusion in the site's "Frequently asked Questions"
section, above answers to such inquiries as "Why should I vote?" and "Am I registered?"
Three Alberta men were charged with eating their paper ballots during Canada's last federal election, in
2000. The members of the Edible Ballot Society were protesting against what they said was a lack of real
choice among candidates.
Copyright 2004 Reuters. Reprinted with permission from Reuters. Reuters content is the intellectual
property of Reuters or its third party content providers. Any copying, republication or redistribution of
Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be
liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the
Reuters Sphere Logo are registered trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. For
additional information about Reuters content and services, please visit Reuters website at
www.reuters.com.
1.
firm, adj. aggressive, absolute, assured, certain, confident, demanding, domineering, forceful, insistent,
overbearing, sure
firm, adj. anchored, bolted, braced, cemented, screwed, welded
firm, n. agency, organization, bureau, company, department, office
Which thesaurus entry best replaces the word firm in the article above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
cemented
welded
forceful
office
2.
warrant, v. allow, permit, tolerate, certify, approve, authorize
warrant, n. authorization, authentication, authority, permit, testimonial, ticket, token, verification, word
Which thesaurus entry best replaces the word warrant in the article above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
3.
authority
token
allow
ticket
firm, adj. aggressive, absolute, assured, certain, confident, demanding, domineering, forceful, insistent,
overbearing, sure
firm, adj. anchored, bolted, braced, cemented, screwed, welded
firm, n. agency, organization, bureau, company, department, office
How many noun forms of the word firm are listed in this thesaurus entry?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
3
7
17
6
4.
Felix is writing an essay about cleaning products and how safe they are. He writes the following
sentence:
"After pouring the bleach around the fixtures, the marks that rusted over the drain dissolved."
Felix wants to replace the word rusted so he uses his thesaurus and finds the following entries:
rust, v. corrode, oxidize, tarnish
rust, n. corrosion, oxidation, decay, decomposition
Which word would best replace rusted in the original sentence?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
corrosion
oxidation
corroded
decay
Rank: A row of eight horizontal squares.
Rating: A number that comes from a formula devised by Dr. Arpad Elo which indicates a player's strength,
based on his win-loss record against other rated players.
Resigns: To give up the game and concede defeat before getting checkmated. Not to be confused with
'forfeit'.
Risk: A move or combination that aims for advantage in a game while carrying the danger of ending up
with a poor position.
Sacrifice: To exchange a piece for an opponent's lesser-valued piece in order to gain a positional or tactical
advantage.
Semi-Open Game: Type of position resulting when white plays 1. e4 and black replies with anything other
than 1. e5.
Sharp: A move that boldly attempts to grab the initiative, involving commitment and bridge-burning, that
is, "there's no going back now!".
Shot: An unexpected and sudden strong move that surprises your opponent.
Simplify: Act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an enemy attack.
Skewer: A tactic where you attack two of your opponents pieces at the same time along a rank, file, or
diagonal, and the more-valuable piece is attacked first.
Space: The territory (squares) controlled and occupied by each player's pieces and pawns.
from http://www.kidchess.com/glossary/abridged_glossary.htm
5.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "skewer." After looking up the term
in the glossary, you know that a skewer is
Select answer A A.
a move or combination that aims for advantage in a game while
carrying the danger of ending up with a poor position.
Select answer B B.
a tactic where you attack two of your opponents pieces at the same time
along a rank, file, or diagonal, and the more-valuable piece is attacked first.
Select answer C C.
an act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an
enemy attack.
Select answer D D.
the territory (squares) controlled and occupied by each player's pieces
and pawns.
6.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "sharp." What is the definition of the
word "sharp" as it is used in the book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
having a thin edge
a bold move
strongly affecting the senses of smell
a music note that is raised a half step
7.
To perform a move that can possibly put you in a poor position but may give you a chance to win
is known as
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
risk.
resigns.
shot.
sacrifice.
8.
According to this chess glossary, when a player "resigns," he or she
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
admits defeat before the game is over.
exchanges pieces.
forfeits the game.
checkmates his or her opponent.
9.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "shot." What is the definition of the
word "shot" as it is used in the book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
an unexpected and sudden strong move that surprises your opponent
a player's strength, based on his win-loss record against other rated
players
Select answer C C.
enemy attack
Select answer D D.
act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an
to give up the game and concede defeat before getting checkmated
Researchers Begin Humpback Whale Study
By PEGGY ANDERSEN, Associated Press Writer
SEATTLE - Researchers are heading out to the North Pacific this weekend on a four-month mission to
learn more about humpback whales, which have had their population decimated by more than a century of
commercial whaling.
The voyage of the federal research ship McArthur II marks the kickoff of a three-year, $3 million
multinational effort to assess the region's humpback population.
"This is the largest whale project that has ever been attempted — the most people and the biggest
ocean," said Jay Barlow, chief scientist on the ship, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration fleet.
Scientists and volunteers along the Pacific Rim are participating in the count, including Japan, Russia,
Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the U.S. coast. The
project is bankrolled by the NOAA.
Humpbacks feed in northern waters over the summer and then head south in winter to breed off Hawaii,
Japan, Mexico and Central America.
They are believed to make the longest migration of any mammal, as much as 5,000 miles one way, said
John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research, who will be conducting small-boat counts on the West Coast.
That makes international cooperation essential, said the researchers. Up to now, "we knew about each
other's research," but there had been little formal collaboration, Calambokidis said.
Scientists believe the North Pacific population had dropped to about 2,000 when California whaling
stations were shut down in 1966. The huge mammals were hunted for their oil and for use as fertilizer and
dog food.
They're now believed to number more than 10,000, Barlow said, and the population appears to be
growing 6 percent to 8 percent a year. But humpbacks remain a mystery to humans.
"We see so little of the humpback whale. ... All its life is conducted under water," Barlow said. And
while 10,000 may sound like a lot of animals, spread over the vast Pacific "they can be very difficult to
find."
McArthur II will travel north to explore feeding grounds along the coasts of British Columbia and
Alaska, west to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and then east to the south Bering Sea before heading home
to NOAA's Lake Union dock north of downtown.
When whales are spotted, researchers will approach on inflatable vessels to photograph their tail flukes
— the undersides, visible when they dive, are as individual as fingerprints.
The vessel also will tow an array of hydrophones to listen for whales below the surface. The singing
tends to occur only at the winter breeding grounds, Barlow said, but humpbacks do make sounds while
feeding.
Tissue samples less than an inch thick will be taken by crossbow so researchers can collect genetic data
and learn about toxin levels.
The whales are now protected under the Endangered Species Act and by the International Whaling
Commission, but humpback meat can still sometimes be found in Japanese markets, he said.
Used with permission of the Associated Press © 2007. All rights reserved.
10.
\ә\ as u in circus
\a\ as a in ash
\A\ as a in ace
\ä\ as o in mop
\au\ as ou in out
\ch\ as ch in chin \e\ as e in bet
\E\ as ea in easy
\g\ as g in go
\i\ as i in hit
\I\ as i in ice
\j\ as j in job
\[ng]\ as ng in sing
\O\ as o in go
\o\ as aw in law
\oi\ as oy in boy
\th\ as th in thin
\th\ as th in the
\ü\ as oo in loot
\u\ as oo in foot
\y\ as y in yet
\zh\ as si in vision
hy·dro·phone
n. ('hI-drә-"fOn)
1. An instrument for listening to sound transmitted through water
According to the pronunciation key above, which word has the same O-sound as found in the word
"hydrophone"?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
law
boy
out
go
11.
Which word from the article above would most likely be found in most dictionaries?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Calambokidis
Decimated
Barlow
National Whaling Commission
12.
breed
v. intr.
1. To produce offspring.
2. To originate and develop: Mischief breeds in bored minds.
n.
3. A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a
group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.
4. A kind; a sort.
What is the meaning of the word "breed" in the passage above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Definition 4
Definition 2
Definition 1
Definition 3
13.
hy·dro·phone
n. ('hI-drә-"fOn)
1. An instrument for listening to sound transmitted through water
The word "hydrophone" can be found on the same page as the guide words
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
hydrophane and hydrophora.
hydrophobia and hydrophoby.
hydrophones and hydrophore.
hydrozoon and Hydrus.
14.
proj·ect
n. ('präj-"ekt)
1. A plan or proposal; a scheme.
v. (prә-jekt) pro·ject·ed, pro·ject·ing, pro·jects
2. To extend forward or out; jut out:
3. To cause an image to appear on a surface.
4. In psychology, to externalize and attribute something, such as an emotion, to someone or something else.
What is the meaning of the word "project" in the passage above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Definition 1
Definition 3
Definition 4
Definition 2
1) One thing is sure-building Stonehenge was a really tough job. Without cranes, hoists or machinery, the
massive rocks were erected, some heavier than a fully-loaded truck, and they still stand undisturbed
thousands of years later. We still don't know what this mysterious configuration of rocks was for-but
archaeologists have identified the architects by examining human remains more than 4,000 years old found
in the area.
2) Stonehenge dominates Salisbury Plain in southern England and lies at the heart of an area steeped in
monuments to long-forgotten pagan religions. The design evolved over many generations: first a circular
ditch and bank, then a second phase of timber structures. The third phase saw the arrival of stones-the
largest 23 feet tall and weighing more than 44 tons. In total, Stonehenge is made up of more than 1,500 tons
of rock.
3) The precision with which it was built is amazing. Some believe that the massive stones were carefully
aligned with stars in the sky. At some stage in its creation, the circle of upright stones was topped by huge
carved rock lintels. These stones are nearly perfectly level, despite being built on sloping ground. Within
the larger stones lie a circular arrangement of smaller uprights known as bluestones. And in the middle is a
horseshoe with the largest of all the stones: a series of three slab constructions known as the Trilithons.
Stonehenge is unique; nothing quite like it has been built before or since. But the question remains: who
built it?
4) There are lots of likely suspects. The first humans in Britain, at the end of the last ice age, were
primitive, stone age hunter-gatherers. Then settlers and invaders started arriving from mainland Europe.
Was Stonehenge built by ancient Britons or foreign invaders? There are clues to be found deep under the
stones. Early archaeologists found deer antlers, pottery and even human remains in the area and
radiocarbon dating, can determine exactly how old these artifacts are. Because they were buried directly
underneath the stones, it also gives us the most likely date when Stonehenge was built.
http://www.firstscience.com
15.
Mark read this article in a book about famous rock formations. Which of these words from the
article would most likely be defined in the glossary for this book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Answers
1.
C
2.
C
3.
D
4.
C
5.
B
6.
B
7.
A
design
massive
pagan
erected
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
A
A
D
B
C
A
A
C
Explanations
1.
In the passage, the word "firm" is used as an adjective, so you must choose a synonym from one of the
adjective entries. Think about how the word "firm" is used in the passage. It is used to describe a warning,
so the word "forceful" is the only answer choice that makes sense.
2.
The word "warrant" is being used as a verb in this passage, and "allow" is the only answer choice that is a
synonym of the verb form of "warrant".
3.
The n. next to the entry stands for noun. Six synonyms--agency, organization, bureau, company,
department, and office--are listed next to this entry.
4.
According to the list, one of the synonyms for "rust" is "corrode." The other word choices deal with "rust"
as a noun and not rust as a verb or the action of rusting.
5.
Locate the word "skewer" in the glossary. It reads:
Skewer: A tactic where you attack two of your opponents pieces at the same time along a rank, file, or
diagonal, and the more-valuable piece is attacked first.
6.
Glossaries give only the definition of words as they are used in the book. All of the answers are correct
definitions for the word "sharp," but only one gives the definition of the word "sharp: as it is used in the
book about chess.
7.
If you look in the glossary under the entry "risk," it reads, "a move or combination that aims for advantage
in a game while carrying the danger of ending up with a poor position." Basically, a risk is a move that can
be advantageous, but if performed at the wrong time and under the wrong situation, it can contribute to a
loss.
8.
Locate the word "resigns" in the glossary. It reads:
Resigns: To give up the game and concede defeat before getting checkmated. Not to be confused with
'forfeit'.
9.
The word "shot" has other meanings when it's being used outside of a chess book. Using the glossary gives
you a context for how the word should be used in the course of a chess match.
10.
The capital O in the pronunciation of hydrophone (fOn) indicates that the O-sound is similar to the O in go.
11.
Unless its a very, very famous person, the names of people do not typically appear in the dictionary. The
same goes for organizations. The National Whaling Commission is not an extremely well known
organization. The word "decimate" is a legitimate vocabulary word, however. It means "to kill or destroy."
12.
The word "breed" is used as a transitive verb in the passage above; therefore, it would make sense to look
consider only the definitions for the verb form of the word "breed." Definition 1 is the only definition
which makes sense in this context.
13.
Alphabetically, the word "hydrophone" comes between the words hydrophane and hydrophora.
14.
In this passage, the word "project" is used as a noun, so it makes sense to look at the definitions for the
noun form of the word "project."
15.
Glossaries give definitions of unusual words or special terms in a non-fiction book. Words in the glossary
are specifically related to the subject of the book. In this case, the article above describes Stonehenge as
one of England’s “monuments to pagan religions.” It is important to know what “pagan” means in order to
understand why these stone monuments might have been built. Mark will most likely find a definition of
pagan in the glossary at the back of the book.
Copyright © 2009 StudyIsland.com - All rights reserved. Determining Meanings
Voters Urged Not to Eat Their Ballots
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters)—Canadians went to the polls in a federal election on Monday
with a firm warning from election officials: Please do not eat your ballots.
"Eating a ballot, not returning it, or otherwise destroying or defacing it constitutes a serious breach of
the Canada Elections Act," Elections Canada warns on its Internet site.
The issue was of sufficient concern to warrant inclusion in the site's "Frequently asked Questions"
section, above answers to such inquiries as "Why should I vote?" and "Am I registered?"
Three Alberta men were charged with eating their paper ballots during Canada's last federal election, in
2000. The members of the Edible Ballot Society were protesting against what they said was a lack of real
choice among candidates.
Copyright 2004 Reuters. Reprinted with permission from Reuters. Reuters content is the intellectual
property of Reuters or its third party content providers. Any copying, republication or redistribution of
Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be
liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the
Reuters Sphere Logo are registered trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. For
additional information about Reuters content and services, please visit Reuters website at
www.reuters.com.
1.
firm, adj. aggressive, absolute, assured, certain, confident, demanding, domineering, forceful, insistent,
overbearing, sure
firm, adj. anchored, bolted, braced, cemented, screwed, welded
firm, n. agency, organization, bureau, company, department, office
Which thesaurus entry best replaces the word firm in the article above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
cemented
welded
forceful
Select answer D D.
office
2.
warrant, v. allow, permit, tolerate, certify, approve, authorize
warrant, n. authorization, authentication, authority, permit, testimonial, ticket, token, verification, word
Which thesaurus entry best replaces the word warrant in the article above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
authority
token
allow
ticket
3.
firm, adj. aggressive, absolute, assured, certain, confident, demanding, domineering, forceful, insistent,
overbearing, sure
firm, adj. anchored, bolted, braced, cemented, screwed, welded
firm, n. agency, organization, bureau, company, department, office
How many noun forms of the word firm are listed in this thesaurus entry?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
3
7
17
6
4.
Felix is writing an essay about cleaning products and how safe they are. He writes the following
sentence:
"After pouring the bleach around the fixtures, the marks that rusted over the drain dissolved."
Felix wants to replace the word rusted so he uses his thesaurus and finds the following entries:
rust, v. corrode, oxidize, tarnish
rust, n. corrosion, oxidation, decay, decomposition
Which word would best replace rusted in the original sentence?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
corrosion
oxidation
corroded
decay
Rank: A row of eight horizontal squares.
Rating: A number that comes from a formula devised by Dr. Arpad Elo which indicates a player's strength,
based on his win-loss record against other rated players.
Resigns: To give up the game and concede defeat before getting checkmated. Not to be confused with
'forfeit'.
Risk: A move or combination that aims for advantage in a game while carrying the danger of ending up
with a poor position.
Sacrifice: To exchange a piece for an opponent's lesser-valued piece in order to gain a positional or tactical
advantage.
Semi-Open Game: Type of position resulting when white plays 1. e4 and black replies with anything other
than 1. e5.
Sharp: A move that boldly attempts to grab the initiative, involving commitment and bridge-burning, that
is, "there's no going back now!".
Shot: An unexpected and sudden strong move that surprises your opponent.
Simplify: Act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an enemy attack.
Skewer: A tactic where you attack two of your opponents pieces at the same time along a rank, file, or
diagonal, and the more-valuable piece is attacked first.
Space: The territory (squares) controlled and occupied by each player's pieces and pawns.
from http://www.kidchess.com/glossary/abridged_glossary.htm
5.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "skewer." After looking up the term
in the glossary, you know that a skewer is
Select answer A A.
a move or combination that aims for advantage in a game while
carrying the danger of ending up with a poor position.
Select answer B B.
a tactic where you attack two of your opponents pieces at the same time
along a rank, file, or diagonal, and the more-valuable piece is attacked first.
Select answer C C.
an act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an
enemy attack.
Select answer D D.
the territory (squares) controlled and occupied by each player's pieces
and pawns.
6.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "sharp." What is the definition of the
word "sharp" as it is used in the book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
having a thin edge
a bold move
strongly affecting the senses of smell
a music note that is raised a half step
7.
To perform a move that can possibly put you in a poor position but may give you a chance to win
is known as
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
risk.
resigns.
shot.
sacrifice.
8.
According to this chess glossary, when a player "resigns," he or she
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
admits defeat before the game is over.
exchanges pieces.
forfeits the game.
checkmates his or her opponent.
9.
When reading a book about chess, you come across the word "shot." What is the definition of the
word "shot" as it is used in the book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
an unexpected and sudden strong move that surprises your opponent
a player's strength, based on his win-loss record against other rated
players
Select answer C C.
enemy attack
Select answer D D.
act of exchanging pieces in a game to reduce complexity or stop an
to give up the game and concede defeat before getting checkmated
Researchers Begin Humpback Whale Study
By PEGGY ANDERSEN, Associated Press Writer
SEATTLE - Researchers are heading out to the North Pacific this weekend on a four-month mission to
learn more about humpback whales, which have had their population decimated by more than a century of
commercial whaling.
The voyage of the federal research ship McArthur II marks the kickoff of a three-year, $3 million
multinational effort to assess the region's humpback population.
"This is the largest whale project that has ever been attempted — the most people and the biggest
ocean," said Jay Barlow, chief scientist on the ship, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration fleet.
Scientists and volunteers along the Pacific Rim are participating in the count, including Japan, Russia,
Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and the U.S. coast. The
project is bankrolled by the NOAA.
Humpbacks feed in northern waters over the summer and then head south in winter to breed off Hawaii,
Japan, Mexico and Central America.
They are believed to make the longest migration of any mammal, as much as 5,000 miles one way, said
John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research, who will be conducting small-boat counts on the West Coast.
That makes international cooperation essential, said the researchers. Up to now, "we knew about each
other's research," but there had been little formal collaboration, Calambokidis said.
Scientists believe the North Pacific population had dropped to about 2,000 when California whaling
stations were shut down in 1966. The huge mammals were hunted for their oil and for use as fertilizer and
dog food.
They're now believed to number more than 10,000, Barlow said, and the population appears to be
growing 6 percent to 8 percent a year. But humpbacks remain a mystery to humans.
"We see so little of the humpback whale. ... All its life is conducted under water," Barlow said. And
while 10,000 may sound like a lot of animals, spread over the vast Pacific "they can be very difficult to
find."
McArthur II will travel north to explore feeding grounds along the coasts of British Columbia and
Alaska, west to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and then east to the south Bering Sea before heading home
to NOAA's Lake Union dock north of downtown.
When whales are spotted, researchers will approach on inflatable vessels to photograph their tail flukes
— the undersides, visible when they dive, are as individual as fingerprints.
The vessel also will tow an array of hydrophones to listen for whales below the surface. The singing
tends to occur only at the winter breeding grounds, Barlow said, but humpbacks do make sounds while
feeding.
Tissue samples less than an inch thick will be taken by crossbow so researchers can collect genetic data
and learn about toxin levels.
The whales are now protected under the Endangered Species Act and by the International Whaling
Commission, but humpback meat can still sometimes be found in Japanese markets, he said.
Used with permission of the Associated Press © 2007. All rights reserved.
10.
\ә\ as u in circus
\a\ as a in ash
\A\ as a in ace
\ä\ as o in mop
\au\ as ou in out
\ch\ as ch in chin \e\ as e in bet
\E\ as ea in easy
\g\ as g in go
\i\ as i in hit
\I\ as i in ice
\j\ as j in job
\[ng]\ as ng in sing
\O\ as o in go
\o\ as aw in law
\oi\ as oy in boy
\th\ as th in thin
\th\ as th in the
\ü\ as oo in loot
\u\ as oo in foot
\y\ as y in yet
\zh\ as si in vision
hy·dro·phone
n. ('hI-drә-"fOn)
1. An instrument for listening to sound transmitted through water
According to the pronunciation key above, which word has the same O-sound as found in the word
"hydrophone"?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
law
boy
out
go
11.
Which word from the article above would most likely be found in most dictionaries?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Calambokidis
Decimated
Barlow
National Whaling Commission
12.
breed
v. intr.
1. To produce offspring.
2. To originate and develop: Mischief breeds in bored minds.
n.
3. A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a
group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.
4. A kind; a sort.
What is the meaning of the word "breed" in the passage above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
13.
hy·dro·phone
Definition 4
Definition 2
Definition 1
Definition 3
n. ('hI-drә-"fOn)
1. An instrument for listening to sound transmitted through water
The word "hydrophone" can be found on the same page as the guide words
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
hydrophane and hydrophora.
hydrophobia and hydrophoby.
hydrophones and hydrophore.
hydrozoon and Hydrus.
14.
proj·ect
n. ('präj-"ekt)
1. A plan or proposal; a scheme.
v. (prә-jekt) pro·ject·ed, pro·ject·ing, pro·jects
2. To extend forward or out; jut out:
3. To cause an image to appear on a surface.
4. In psychology, to externalize and attribute something, such as an emotion, to someone or something else.
What is the meaning of the word "project" in the passage above?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
Definition 1
Definition 3
Definition 4
Definition 2
1) One thing is sure-building Stonehenge was a really tough job. Without cranes, hoists or machinery, the
massive rocks were erected, some heavier than a fully-loaded truck, and they still stand undisturbed
thousands of years later. We still don't know what this mysterious configuration of rocks was for-but
archaeologists have identified the architects by examining human remains more than 4,000 years old found
in the area.
2) Stonehenge dominates Salisbury Plain in southern England and lies at the heart of an area steeped in
monuments to long-forgotten pagan religions. The design evolved over many generations: first a circular
ditch and bank, then a second phase of timber structures. The third phase saw the arrival of stones-the
largest 23 feet tall and weighing more than 44 tons. In total, Stonehenge is made up of more than 1,500 tons
of rock.
3) The precision with which it was built is amazing. Some believe that the massive stones were carefully
aligned with stars in the sky. At some stage in its creation, the circle of upright stones was topped by huge
carved rock lintels. These stones are nearly perfectly level, despite being built on sloping ground. Within
the larger stones lie a circular arrangement of smaller uprights known as bluestones. And in the middle is a
horseshoe with the largest of all the stones: a series of three slab constructions known as the Trilithons.
Stonehenge is unique; nothing quite like it has been built before or since. But the question remains: who
built it?
4) There are lots of likely suspects. The first humans in Britain, at the end of the last ice age, were
primitive, stone age hunter-gatherers. Then settlers and invaders started arriving from mainland Europe.
Was Stonehenge built by ancient Britons or foreign invaders? There are clues to be found deep under the
stones. Early archaeologists found deer antlers, pottery and even human remains in the area and
radiocarbon dating, can determine exactly how old these artifacts are. Because they were buried directly
underneath the stones, it also gives us the most likely date when Stonehenge was built.
http://www.firstscience.com
15.
Mark read this article in a book about famous rock formations. Which of these words from the
article would most likely be defined in the glossary for this book?
Select answer A A.
Select answer B B.
Select answer C C.
Select answer D D.
design
massive
pagan
erected
Mr. Thompson
8th Grade Reading
8th Snow Day All Reading Classes
Read from your reading workshop book for one- half hour.
Determining Meanings
Dictionary | Thesaurus
You can use a dictionary for many things. A dictionary can tell you what words mean. It can tell you how
to pronounce, or say, words. It also tells which country words come from.
Alphabetical Order | Pronunciation | Word Origins | Guide Words | Definitions | Syllables
Alphabetical Order
Dictionaries are arranged in alphabetical order. For example, words that start with the letter A come first.
After the A words come the B words.
Pronunciation
Dictionaries have pronunciation keys to help you pronounce words. Here is a pronunciation key:
\a\ as a in ash
\A\ as a in ace
\ä\ as o in mop
\au\ as ou in out \ch\ as ch in chin
\e\ as e in bet
\E\ as ea in easy
\g\ as g in go
\i\ as i in hit
\I\ as i in ice
\j\ as j in job
\[ng]\ as ng in sing
\O\ as o in go
\o\ as aw in law
\oi\ as oy in boy
\th\ as th in thin
\[th_]\ as th in the
\ü\ as oo in loot
\u\ as oo in foot
\y\ as y in yet
\zh\ as si in vision
from Merriam-Webster Word Central, www.wordcentral.com
Which word has the same pronunciation as the word beat?
chEt
chet
chat
chät
chEt shows the correct pronunciation. The key shows that E makes an e sound as in easy--the same vowel
sound in beat.
Word Origins
An origin of a word is the language the word comes from. Some words come from French. Some come
from Spanish. Others are original English words.
What is the origin of dog?
dog ('dog) n. [English] 1. a mammal that eats meat and is related to wolves 2. a male dog
The word dog originated from the English language. The origin is usually in brackets before the definition.
Guide Words
Dictionaries have guide words to help you find the word you need. Guide words are at the top corner of the
page and tell which words are first and last on the page. Words that come between these words in
alphabetic order are on this page.
Which word is on the page with guide words cool and cop?
Words on this page must be between the words cool and cop when in alphabetical order. You would find
the words cooler, coop, and cootie on this page.
Definitions
A definition is the meaning of a word. Some words have more than one meaning. Dictionaries number the
definitions when there is more than one.
What is the meaning of the word fly in the sentence below?
"He hit a pop fly past second base."
fly ('flI) n. [English] 1. a winged insect, especially a housefly 2. a baseball hit high in the air 3. a fishhook
covered to look like an insect
The meaning in this sentence is a baseball hit high in the air, definition 2.
Syllables
A dictionary will show how a word is divided into syllables. Here are some examples:
for•get
cov•er
il•lus•tra•tion
A thesaurus is a reference book similar to dictionary. Instead of having definitions like a dictionary, a
thesaurus has synonyms. Synonyms are words that have the same or almost the same meaning as another
word.
You can use a thesaurus to revise your writing. If you are writing a story and keep using the word "big,"
you can look in a thesaurus for other words that mean the same thing as "big" and use those instead. By
using a variety of words, your writing becomes more colorful and more exciting.
Concepts of Words | Parts of Speech | Synonyms | Antonyms
Concepts of Words
Concepts of words are very, very short definitions. Concepts are one word long. They describe the word
you are looking up. For example, the concept for the word dog is "animal." The concept in a thesaurus
entry is in parenthesis and capital letters.
Look at the thesaurus entry below.
ground, n. soil, earth, dust (LAND)
What is the concept of the word ground?
The concept is in parenthesis and capital letters. It tells a short meaning of the word ground.
Parts of Speech
A thesaurus gives the part of speech of each entry. The part of speech tells how the word is used in the
sentence. Below are abbreviations for parts of speech.
v. = verb n. = noun
adj. = adjective adv. = adverb
Look at the thesaurus entry below.
sag, v. lean, curve, bow (BEND) What part of speech is the word sag?
The part of speech is abbreviated by v. This means "verb."
Synonyms
The main purpose for using a thesaurus is to choose synonyms. Writers use a thesaurus when they revise
their work. They can replace dull words with interesting ones.
All the words listed after the entry word are synonyms, except the concept word.
Look at the thesaurus entries below.
date, n. appointment, engagement (ARRIVAL)
date, n. day, year, hour, moment (TIME)
date, v. fix the time, register (TIME MEASUREMENT)
Which word would best replace the word date in this sentence?
The sisters set a date to meet for lunch.
day
registered
appointment
year
Substitute the word appointment for date in the sentence. Appointment makes the most sense: The sisters
set an appointment to meet for lunch.
Antonyms
Sometimes the thesaurus will show antonyms of a word. Antonyms are words that have an opposite
meaning. The thesaurus will use ant to show that the words listed are antonyms instead of synonyms. Here
is an example:
sad adj.
heavyhearted, mournful, sorry, unhappy
ant glad
Mr. Thompson
8th Grade Reading
8th Snow Day All Reading Classes
Read from your reading workshop book for one- half hour.
Determining Meanings
A glossary is an alphabetized list of words and their meanings. You will often find glossaries in the back of
your textbooks. A science textbook will have a glossary that lists science words and their meanings. Below
is an example of a glossary.
C
COLONY
A community of tens of thousands of worker bees, usually containing one queen, with or without drones.
COMB HONEY
Honey presented in its original wax comb.
CRYSTALLIZATION
Honey is a supersaturated solution. Crystals will develop in honey when glucose crystallizes out of
solution. Crystallization of honey is most rapid at 57°F.
D
DRONE
A male bee.
E
EXTRACTED HONEY
Honey removed from the comb by a special machine called an extractor and sold in liquid or crystallized
form.
EXTRACTOR
A machine that rotates honeycomb with great speed to remove honey.
Mr. Thompson
8th Grade Reading
8th Snow Day All Reading Classes
Read from your reading workshop book for one- half hour.
Determining Meanings
Footnotes are notes that appear at the end of a piece of writing. Each note has a number that matches with a
number in the text. These notes give extra information about something in the passage. Sometimes,
passages will have footnotes to help you figure out the meaning of difficult words.
Example:
A single mutation1 in 1820 yielded 2 the navel orange. It happened in an orchard of sweet oranges
planted at a monastery3 in Brazil.
1 change
2 produced
3 a private place where religious people, such as monks, live
Another way authors provide additional information is with sidebars. Look at the space around a text, and
you may find some useful information.
Example:
Clinical trials conducted by the University of Geneva and the University of Birmingham indicate that
green tea raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation. In addition to caffeine, green tea is proven to
raise thermogenesis.
fat oxidation:
the process by which fat is broken down
thermogenesis:
the rate at which calories are burned