Vocabulary spelling american tradition g11

Word of the Week Word Study Notebook Understand the Concept With more than one million words and growing every day, English has the largest vocabulary of any language in the world.. Word

Tradition

Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling, American Tradition

Care has been taken to verify the accuracy of information presented in this book However, the authors, editors, and

publisher cannot accept responsibility for Web, e-mail, newsgroup, or chat room subject matter or content, or for

consequences from application of the information in this book, and make no warranty, expressed or implied, with

respect to its content.

Trademarks: Some of the product names and company names included in this book have been used for identification

purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trade names of their respective manufacturers and sellers

The authors, editors, and publisher disclaim any affiliation, association, or connection with, or sponsorship or

endorsement by, such owners.

Cover Image Credits: Scene, Dennis Ackerson, 2007, Rocky Mountains, CO; liberty bell, © Tetra Images/Tetra

Images/CORBIS.

ISBN 978-0-82194-357-1

© 2009 by EMC Publishing, LLC

875 Montreal Way

Lesson 1: Word Study Notebook 1

Lesson 2: Word Study Skills in Reading 3

Lesson 3: PAVE 6

Time Out for Test Practice: Word Study Skills 8

Unit 2: Word Parts Lesson 4: Affixes and Roots 9

Lesson 5: Suffixes 11

Lesson 6: Prefixes 13

Time Out for Test Practice: Recognizing Word Parts 15

Unit 3: The Evolution of Language Lesson 7: Archaic Language 17

Lesson 8: Compound Words 19

Lesson 9: Manipulating Language 21

Lesson 10: Technology-Related Words 23

Time Out for Test Practice: Defining Archaic Language and Technology-Related Words 26

Unit 4: Determining Meaning Lesson 11: Denotation and Connotation 27

Lesson 12: Literal vs Figurative Language 29

Lesson 13: Homophones 31

Time Out for Test Practice: Words with Multiple Meanings and Homophones 33

Unit 5: Context Clues Lesson 14: Context Clues 35

Lesson 15: Providing Context Clues in Your Writing 37

Time Out for Test Practice: Using Context Clues 39

Unit 6: Spelling Lesson 16: Spelling Review 41

Lesson 17: Contractions 43

Lesson 18: Common Spelling Errors 45

Time Out for Test Practice: Spelling Patterns 47

Unit 7: Word Origins

Lesson 19: Borrowed Words 49

Lesson 20: Greek and Latin Words 51

Lesson 21: French and Spanish Words 53

Lesson 22: Native American Words 55

Lesson 23: Eponyms and Toponyms 57

Time Out for Test Practice: Borrowed Words 59

Unit 8: Formal and Informal Language Lesson 24: Register 60

Lesson 25: Colloquial Language 62

Lesson 26: Academic Language 64

Time Out for Test Practice: Register, Colloquialisms, and Academic Language 66

Unit 9: Choosing Your Words Lesson 27: Synonyms and Antonyms 68

Lesson 28: Semantic Families 70

Lesson 29: Celestial Words 72

Lesson 30: Varying Word Choice 74

Lesson 31: Euphemisms, Doublespeak, and Clichés 76

Lesson 32: Expanding Your Word Knowledge 78

Time Out for Test Practice: Synonyms and Antonyms 80

Answer Key 82

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.

Teach Word Attack Strategies

There are a number of strategies good readers employ when they are confronted with an unfamiliar

word These strategies include:

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

real-world 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”

martial (>m5r sh@l) adj., relating

to military matters

Because of his many years spent as an army officer, Colonel Thompson tended to view relationships between countries from a martial perspective—which country had the best equipped army, which country could best defend itself in the event of an invasion, and which country held its military officers in the highest esteem.

Martial is derived from the

name of the Roman god of war, Mars Synonyms of martial

include military, soldierly, warlike, belligerent, aggressive, hostile,

and bellicose, though these

words can be used in somewhat different ways Military music, such

as the famous marches written

in the late nineteenth century by John Philip Sousa, is also referred

to as martial music.

Word of the Week

Word Study Notebook

Understand the Concept

With more than one million words and growing every day, English has the largest vocabulary of any language in the world Most of us know only a small percentage of those words and use even fewer of them in our daily life So, no matter what, you are bound to run into unfamiliar words from time to time Keeping track of these words and their definitions can help you enrich your vocabulary and therefore become a better reader, speaker, and writer

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, pronunciation, and origins, along with an example sentence or drawing to help you remember it

Here is a sample page from a word study notebook

Add a picture or catchy saying to help you remember the meaning of a word.Tip

Word: vestige

Pronunciation: \ves´ tij\

Origins: French, from Latin vestigium, meaning

“footstep, footprint, track, vestige”

Definition: trace, mark, or visible sign left by

something vanished or lost

Contextual sentence: The ruins of Chichén Itzá are

vestiges of the vanished civilization of the ancient Maya

The origins of a word

are known as its

etymology Many words in

English come from Latin and

Greek In a good dictionary, you

will find the etymology of each

word along with its meaning and

pronunciation.

Tip

To write the pronunciation

of a word, you need to

use special phonetic symbols such

as the following:

\ä\ (as in star)

\e–\ (as in me)

\8\ (as in my)

\ô\ (as in paw)

\u \ (as in foot) and

\ @\ (as in extra and civil)

You can find these and many

other symbols in a dictionary or

glossary.

Tip

You may think of

books, newspapers,

and magazines first, but you’ll

also see new words on signs, in

instructions, and in restaurant

menus You may hear unfamiliar

words on the radio, in songs, or in

movies Keep your eyes and ears

open—words are everywhere!

Tip

Word: pulchritudePronunciation:

Fill in this sample page of a word study notebook

Many words in the dictionary have more than one definition When looking up a new word, you will often have to decide which definition best fits Skim a newspaper or magazine article until you find a word you don’t know Use the sample notebook page below to create a word study notebook entry If there is more than one definition, decide which one is most appropriate to the way the word is used in the article Add

a second definition if there is one, and write a sentence illustrating the second meaning

pilfer (pil> f3r) v., steal Her daughter would pilfer coins out of the wishing well.

The word pilfer comes from the

Middle-French word pelfrer, which

comes from the word pelfre,

meaning “booty” or “treasure.”

The first recorded use of this word

in English occurred in 1548.

Word of the Week

Word Study Skills in Reading

Understand the Concept

When reading, you will often encounter words that are new to you

These unfamiliar words should not stop you from understanding and enjoying what you read Here are several strategies you can use to figure out the meaning of unknown words

Use Context Clues

If you encounter a new word in a passage you are reading, you can

often figure out the meaning of the word by using context clues—

information in the passage that hints at the meaning of the word Look

at the following passage:

The town was considering building a tunnel under the Grace River Environmental concerns threatened to derail the subfluvial road An alternate plan called for a bridge instead.

You may not know the word subfluvial, but, by looking at some of the

clues in the passage, you can figure out what the word means The word

subfluvial describes the road that is also called a tunnel A tunnel goes

under something Since this tunnel goes under a river, you can guess

that subfluvial means “put or located under a river.”

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E A

Look at the following passage Use context clues to figure out the

meaning of the word acerbic.

American author Ambrose Bierce is well known for his somber tale “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” However, he is perhaps best loved for the acerbic wit he displays in some of his other works His acid tongue shows up well in the satirical Devil’s Dictionary, which contains many stinging barbs aimed at people and conventions of nineteenth-century American society.

1 What do you think acerbic means?

2 What clues in the passage helped you determine the word’s meaning?

Try these strategies to attack new words:

• look for context clues

• find text support

• examine word parts

• use a dictionary

• ask for help

If one strategy doesn’t work, try a different one

Other context clues use contrast These types of clues help you under stand the meaning of a word

by showing what the word is not like

Tip

Examine Text Support

The use of context clues is one strategy to understand new words Using other items on the page can help too These items may include pictures, diagrams, maps, charts, captions, headings, and sidebars These text features are designed to clarify or provide additional information about a subject Consider the passage below Context clues in the text help explain

the term salt box, but the picture gives you even more information.

One example of New England colonial architecture is the salt box With its steeply sloped rear roof, this style of home resembled the boxes used for storing salt The first salt box homes came about in the early 1700s when people added lean-tos to the back of the house Later, the design caught on and many houses were built with the lean-to already part of the original structure.

Find Meaning in Word Parts

Some unfamiliar words may contain parts that you have seen in other

words These parts, or morphemes, may be prefixes, suffixes, or roots

Prefixes come at the beginning of the word Suffixes come at the end

of the word Roots make up the core part of the word Knowing the

meaning of common prefixes, suffixes, and roots can help you decipher the meaning of many words Take a look at the following sentence:

Fatima lay awake, plagued by incertitude.

What does incertitude mean? If you don’t know the word, you can get

a good sense of the meaning by looking at the word parts You might

notice cert and think of certain, so you know the word has something

to do with being sure Then you look at the prefix, in-, which means

“not,” like un- Now you know the word has something to do with

being unsure or uncertain Since the word is a noun, you can guess the word means something like uncertainty, which happens to be one of the

dictionary definitions of incertitude.

You know many word parts already Learning others will help you attack new words Your teacher may provide you with Word Parts Charts containing common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots Familiarize yourself with these word parts and their meanings When you encounter

an unfamiliar word, break it down to see if you recognize any of its parts

Try It Yourself

A prefix is a letter or

group of letters added to

the beginning of a word to change

its meaning.

A suffix is a letter or group of

letters added to the end of a word

to change its meaning Many

suffixes indicate the part of speech

of the word For example, the

suffix -ly often denotes an adverb.

A word root is a word part that is

neither a prefix nor a suffix

Tip

meaning Look at the following example:

The gushing review contained too many fulsome comments that only showed the reviewer was enthralled with the lead actress.

The dictionary offers several definitions for fulsome:

ful • some (ful> s@m) adj., 1 a: characterized by abundance:

copious b: generous in amount, extent, or spirit c: being full and well developed 2 : aesthetically, morally, or generally offensive 3 : exceeding the bounds of good taste: overdone 4 : excessively

complimentary or flatteringBecause there are four possibilities (even more if you consider that definition 1 contains several different related meanings), you have to decide which one works best in this particular context Try inserting each definition in the sentence where fulsome appears Definition four works best in this case

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E C

Look up each underlined word in the dictionary Then write down the definition that best fits how the word is used in the sentence

1 Jo has an affinity for music

2 The anthology contains many old chestnuts

3 The discord between the two factions erupted into violence

4 Bernie’s fustian toast went on and on

5 Trevor removed the woof from the loom.

another knowledgeable person may be able to help you When you discover the meaning of the word, enter it in your word study notebook

Many words appear in the dictionary as main entries more than once Often these entries represent different parts of speech, such as break the noun

and break the verb Other times,

entries have completely unrelated meanings Use context clues to determine which meaning makes the most sense

Tip

Name: Date: _

acquiesce (a kw7 es>) v., agree

without protest

Lowell felt compelled to acquiesce

because the enemy had him

surrounded.

The word acquiesce comes from

the French word acquiescer and

from the Latin word acquiescere,

created by combining ad- and

quiescere, which means “to be

quiet.”

Word of the Week

LESSON 3

PAVE

Understand the Concept

PAVE is a good way to help yourself remember the meaning of a new

word PAVE stands for Predict, Associate, Verify, and Evaluate When

you encounter a new word, try the following process:

Predict Try to predict the meaning of the word based on context

and on your prior knowledge of the word or its parts

Associate Then, write a sentence using the word.

Verify Next, check the meaning of the word by using a dictionary

or glossary If you find more than one definition, write down the most appropriate definition

Evaluate Finally, assess the sentence you wrote using the word If

necessary, rewrite the sentence to reflect the meaning you found

Try It Yourself

Use PAVE to learn the underlined words in the sentences below

1 If you need your passport quickly, you can pay a small fee to expedite the process

Predict Associate

Verify Evaluate

2 The diffident student never raised his hand or spoke in class, but the more outgoing and confident students participated every day

Predict

Use context clues to

predict the meaning of an

unfamiliar word Context clues

are words and phrases in the

surrounding text that hint at the

meaning of a word They allow

you to compare or contrast an

unfamiliar word to words that are

familiar.

Comparison clues help show

the meaning of the word through

restatement, apposition (the

renaming of something in different

words), and examples Contrast

clues help show the meaning of

a word through giving its opposite,

or antonym Contrast clues may

Tip

Verify Evaluate

4 The company refused to capitulate to the demands of the striking workers

Predict Associate

Verify Evaluate

5 I was trying to read, but my loquacious neighbor made it hard to concentrate

Predict Associate

Verify Evaluate

Just for Fun

Find an unfamiliar word in a magazine or newspaper Use PAVE to learn the word

Word Predict Associate

Verify Evaluate

Use your knowledge of word parts to predict the meaning of the word (Hint: locu

or loqu is a word root meaning

“speak.”)Tip

Switch sentences with a partner and try PAVE on your partner’s word

Name: Date: _

Time Out for Test Practice

Word Study Skills

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the underlined words in the

following sentences Write your answers on the blanks provided

_ 1 Randall would like to venture to the

front lines, but those who do are either wounded or killed

A undertake the risk of

B demonstrate; protest

C understand the appeal of

D avoid; disappear from _ 2 Queen Margo was kind to anyone

who displayed submission; she did not appreciate those who fought back

A a feat of strength

B uncertainty; danger

C state of being above pettiness

D act of yielding; surrendering

_ 3 When Parla became a government

agent, she encountered many insidious characters whom she did not trust

A mean; rude

B sly; crafty

C dull; boring

D curious; entertaining _ 4 His proposal was ineffectual, so

we did not invest our money in his business

A above or superior to all others

B not powerful enough; inadequate

C annoying; irritating

D blasphemous; void of religious ideals

Use your knowledge of word parts to answer the following questions Write

your answers on the blanks provided

_ 5 The prefix retro- means “back.”

Knowing this, what might the word

non- _ 7 Consider the words describe

and prescription Based on your

knowledge of word parts, which of the following words belongs in this grouping?

A scribble

B scripture

C script

D All of the above

_ 8 Consider the words symphony

undaunted (un d5n> ted) adj.,

firm in the face of danger; unafraid

The undaunted warriors continued on their difficult journey.

The word undaunted contains the

following word parts: The prefix

un-, meaning “not,” the suffix -ed,

which indicates the past tense

of the verb, and the verb daunt,

which means “to lessen the courage of.” Knowing these word parts, a reader might determine that undaunted means “not

subdued.”

Word of the Week

Affixes and Roots

Understand the Concept

When you encounter an unfamiliar word, analyze its parts You may be able to guess the meaning of the word if you recognize its prefix, suffix,

or word root

You are already familiar with many prefixes and suffixes Prefixes

and suffixes are called affixes They can be added to a base word or

word part to change its meaning For example, adding affixes to the

word believe results in different words such as unbelievable, disbelieving, and nonbeliever Adding affixes to the word root cred results in different words such as incredible, credulous, and discredit Following are some

common prefixes

co-/col-/com-/con-/cor- together cooperate, collaborate

inter- among; between international, intersect

syn- with; together synonym, synergy

trans- across; beyond transatlantic, transfer

Below are some common suffixes

-able/-ible capable of attainable, possible

-al having to do with personal, governmental

-ar/-er/-or one who liar, lawyer, actor

-ion/-tion action or process revolution, occasion

-ive tending to creative, pensive

-ous characterized by generous, joyous

A prefix is a letter or group of letters added

to the beginning of a word A suffix is a letter or group of letters attached to the end of a word

Many suffixes indicate what part

of speech the word represents (whether noun, verb, adjective, or adverb).

The majority of prefixes, suffixes, and word roots in English are derived from Latin and Greek words.

Tip

Word roots are central word parts that cannot stand alone Instead

they combine with other word parts to form words Below are some common word roots

scrib/script write describe, prescription

Your teacher may provide you with Word Parts Charts containing common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots Familiarize yourself with these word parts and their meanings When you encounter an unfamiliar word, break it down to see if you can recognize any of its parts

Try It Yourself

Examine each word below Divide the word into parts—prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and base words—and use what you know about these parts to determine the meaning of each word Write your response in your notebook

The following word

parts all have to do with

number:

mono-, uni- one

quadr-, tetr- four

pent-, quint- five

hex-, sex- six

hept-, sept- seven

Use prefixes, suffixes, word roots,

and base words to make up your

own words For example, you

might put together mis + dict

+ age as the action of speaking

wrongly Use each made-up word

in a sentence

Just for Fun

The following suffixes

create nouns:

-age, -ion, -tion, and

-ment mean “action or process”

-dom, -ity, -ment, -ness, and -ty

mean “state or quality of”

-ant, -ent, -er, and -or mean “one

who”

Tip

palpable (pal> p@ b@l) adj.,

able to be touched or felt; easily observed

The tension in the air was palpable and we all wanted to leave.

The word palpable contains the

suffix -able, which means “capable

of.” Knowing the meaning of this suffix will allow you to better understand words that contain this suffix, such as questionable, treatable, and expandable.

Word of the Week

Suffixes

Understand the Concept

A suffix is letter or group of letters added to the end of a word

Knowing common suffixes will help you identify unknown words that contain those suffixes Consider the suffixes in the chart below

-ance/-ence/-ency/-ancy quality or state defiance, independence,

emergency

-ment action or process; state or

quality; product or thing development, government, amusement, ointment

-ly in such a way quickly, studiously, invisibly

-ed past tense of verb walked, acted, fixed

-ify/-fy make or cause to be vilify, magnify, glorify

Sentence:

2 earnestness Meaning:

Sentence:

3 effacement Meaning:

Sentence:

4 fluctuated Meaning:

5 baseless Meaning:

Sentence:

The suffix -ism has several meanings, as shown in the chart below.

act, practice, or process plagiarism, despotismprejudice or discrimination based on a

specific characteristic

sexism, ageismstate or condition alcoholism, barbarismsystem of belief; doctrine feudalism, Taoism, optimismcharacteristic or trait heroism

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E B

Use what you know about the suffix -ism to determine the meaning of

each of the following words Write the definition of each word Check your response using a dictionary if necessary Then write a contextual sentence using the word

1 realism Meaning Sentence

2 communism Meaning Sentence

3 Stoicism Meaning Sentence

4 pessimism Meaning Sentence

Words that end in -ist

often apply to people.

Note that the suffix -ist means

“a person who does a particular

thing.” The suffix -ist also means

“characteristic of.” Examples of

-ist words related to isms are

ventriloquist, communist, and

realist

Tip

Make up your own “isms”

to describe acts, prejudices,

conditions, doctrines, or traits

Make a list of these words and

their definitions.



doomism: the act of predicting

doom in all situations

Just for Fun

unscrupulous (un skr2> py2

l@s) adj., lacking moral principles Her actions were unscrupulous and she hurt many people because of this.

The word scruple means

“an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action; to show reluctance on grounds

of conscience.” If a person is

scrupulous, it means they have

moral integrity Therefore, adding the prefix un- (which means “not”)

to scrupulous describes a person

who has little or no moral integrity.

Word of the Week

Prefixes

Understand the Concept

A prefix is a meaningful word part that appears at the beginning of a

word A prefix can be added to an existing word to change the word’s

meaning, or it can be combined with a word root (such as rupt, fer, or ject) to create a new word.

prefix + word inter + cede = intercedeprefix + root inter + ject = interjectKnowing the meanings of common prefixes can help you understand

and define words that contain them For example, the prefixes en- and em- mean “into or onto; cover with; cause to be; or provide with.” Words

that contain either of these prefixes will have one of these meanings

empower: provide with power

I felt empowered by my new position.

enslave: cause to become a slave

His goal was to enslave the others before the sun rose.

Other common prefixes include:

anti-/ant- against; opposite antibody, antacid

co-/col-/com-/

con-/cor- together commingle, concentrate, correlate

circum- around; about circumnavigate,

circumstance

ex- out of; from explode, export, extend

extra-/extro- outward; outside; beyond extrasensory, extrovert

il-/im-/in-/ir- not illogical, impossible,

inoperable, irrational

intra-/intro- into; within; inward introvert, intramural

super- above; over; exceeding superstar, superfluous

ultra- too much; too many; extreme ultraviolet, ultrasound

under- below; short of a quantity or limit underestimate, understaffed

The spelling of a prefix may vary depending on the word or base to which it is attached The prefix con- can be spelled com-, col-, co-, or cor-.

com- used before b, p, or m col- used before l

co- used before o cor- used before r

The spelling changes make the resulting words easier to pronounce For instance, when

con- is added to the word respond, it is spelled cor-

Correspond is easier to pronounce

than conrespond

Tip

Most prefixes we use today come from ancient Greek and Latin, although some come from Old English

Tip

Just for Fun

Prefixes may have more

than one meaning The

prefix ex- can mean “out of,” as

in extract and exclude, or it can

mean “former,” as in ex-boyfriend

parts is to break a word down into

its parts and then use those parts

to make other words Take the

word introspective, for example

You could use the prefix intro- to

make words such as introduction

and introvert You could work

with the word root spec to

make aspect, retrospective, and

spectacle You could also use the

suffix -ive to make words such as

creative, passive, and elusive.

Tip

Recognizing Word Parts

Use your knowledge of word parts to choose the word that best completes each sentence

_ 1 American authors writing in the

_ period, that is, the period following World War II, include Marianne Moore, John Cheever, and John Updike

A prewar

B postwar

C subwar

D antebellum _ 2 We will have to _ the old

equipment with special filters to meet the new emissions standards

A revamp

B retrofit

C replace

D produce _ 3 What are the seven events in the

could take months

A transatlantic

B crossatlantic

C overatlantic

D coatlantic _ 5 Martin said he thought we’d have

snow, but his was wrong

A prodiction

B predict

C prediction

D predicament

_ 6 Any parent of _ will tell you

it is a lot of work taking care of six babies at once

A quintuplets

B septuplets

C sextuplets

D quadruplets _ 7 If you are slipping a lot, apply

_ pads to the bottoms of your shoes

A antiskid

B misskid

C malskid

D deskid _ 8 Paula quickly _ the unreliable

_ 11 With affiliates all over the world, the

company often holds instead

of trying to get everyone together in one place

A transconferences

B teleconferences

C geoconferences

D synergy _ 12 Because of his , Jordan never

all his life and thought he would always be angy and bitter

A benevolent

B malcontented

C decimated

D discreditable _ 14 Confessional poetry shows the

meet at the same time

A synchronize

B realignment

C retromatch

D chronicle

_ 16 The committee voted to

funds for the construction project, so

it could begin as scheduled

A resign

B misdirect

C retraction

D allocate _ 17 Walt is being punished for several

additional cakes are

A sufficient

B overindulgence

C superfluous

D sub-par _ 20 The colored glass is only _, so

the room is rather dark

A supertransparent

B semitranslucent

C subvisible

D semitransvisible

whim-wham (wim> wam)

n., whimsical object or device,

especially of ornament or dress

Lila liked to dress up in fancy clothing adorned with a fancy whim-wham or two.

Whim-wham is a word whose

origin is unknown, although lexicologists think it originated around 1500 There are a number

of words like this in the English language Curiously, there are a few with the same, or nearly the same, meaning as whim-wham These

are: gewgaw (ca 1529), gimcrack

(ca 1676), knick-knack (1682),

and whigmaleerie (ca 1730).

Word of the Week

Archaic Language

Understand the Concept

Language is not static; it changes and evolves over time If you were to look at works written in English in previous centuries, you would likely find words you do not recognize or that are no longer used today For

example, pronouns such as thee and thou are rarely used today You

would also find words that don’t have the same meaning today as they did when the piece was written

Archaic and Obsolete Words

Words or specific senses of a word that are no longer used may be

labeled in the dictionary as archaic or obsolete An archaic word is a

word that is rarely used or is only used in some contexts For example,

the word desert was once used to mean any uninhabited, uncultivated

piece of land This sense of the word is now considered archaic An

obsolete word is no longer used at all (though you may still find it in

writings from long ago)

Often, archaic or obsolete words may refer to clothing, activities, or objects that are no longer commonly used In some texts, such words may be footnoted; in others you will need to use your word study skills

to determine the meaning of the word Look at the following sentence:

Some of the company sat and talked while others were engrossed in a game of quadrille

You may be unfamiliar with the word quadrille From the context,

it is clear that quadrille is a game, and you may guess from the

word part quad- that the game involved four people This is

probably enough information to allow you to continue reading

However, if you want to know more, consult a dictionary There you might learn that quadrille is a variant of the card game ombre, that it was popular in the eighteenth century, and that it was a predecessor to whist, another card game.

Tackle archaic and obsolete words the way you would tackle any other word The only difference is that you will not incorporate such words in

to your own speech or writing They will become part of your reading vocabulary

An archaic word is one that is no longer widely used A word that is still used may have an archaic meaning, or a definition that is no longer used

Just for Fun

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E A

Rewrite each of the following sentences, replacing archaic or obsolete terms with more contemporary words Use your dictionary for help

1 We must reach the city by nightfall Hurry up anon!

2 I would be lief to lend a hand if you need my aid

3 Although the story sounds crazy, Lena speaks soothly

4 Approaching the menacing dog, Horace shouted, “Aroint!”

5 “This foul attitude ill beseemeth my fair-tempered young daughter,” said Rhianna’s father after she yelled at him

6 I found my shoes betwixt the bookcase and the bedpost

7 Meseems that Malcolm would get a better grade on his paper if he spent more than two minutes on it

8 I nigh made that winning basket, but the buzzer startled me

9 After he walked under a ladder, he was plagued by wanion

10 Howbeit she was not responsible for the mess, Ana was asked to clean it up anyway

Use context clues to

discover the meaning

of unknown words That is, use

the surrounding words and their

meanings to provide you with an

idea of what the unknown word

might mean.

Tip

Try coining your own words

Consider clipping words,

combining words in unique ways,

combining word parts, or using

a word to mean something it

hasn’t meant before Use each

of your new words in a sentence

that shows what your new word

neologisms, often have

to do with technology, popular

culture, and current events.

Tip

cutting edge (k@> ti4 ej>) n.,

1 a sharp effect or quality; 2 the foremost part or place

He was proud of his work because it was regarded as being the cutting edge of the industry.

The word cutting edge is an

example of a compound word A compound word is created when two or more words are joined together What compound words

do you use in your vocabulary?

Word of the Week

Compound Words

Understand the Concept

The English language is constantly changing As old words become archaic and obsolete, new words are being coined, used, and accepted

into the English language Many of these newer words are compound words, which are created when two or more words are joined together

to create a single meaning

examples volleyball, downwind, campsite, over-the-counter,

Type of Compound Adjective Examplesages the thirty- to forty-year-old groupcenturies or eras eighteenth-century art, space-age

technologymultiword phrases over-the-counter medicine, matter-of-fact

approachnumbered ranks or positions forty-two dollars, fifty-first winneradjectives + nouns ill-tempered personality

nouns + adjectives interest-free loannouns + gerunds the decision-making process

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E A

Identify the compound nouns and compound adjectives in the following sentences by underlining the word(s) Then identify the compound as a noun or an adjective on the line provided

example I was hoping to obtain an interest-free loan adjective

1 The play’s ending was very tongue-in-cheek _

2 He was known as a blue-collar worker _

3 Yasmene wanted to be a poet laureate _

4 The photojournalists put themselves in danger to uncover the truth _

5 The work was hard, but the plowboy refused to let the earth get the best of him _

6 While I tried to prove my point, Cedric presented a solid counterargument _

7 The grassroots poet was known for her use of hyperbole and alliteration _

8 The misrepresentation of her character was viewed as poetic license _

9 The nine-day-old bread was actually quite delicious with a cup of milk _

10 French had the greatest influence on sixteenth-century English _

E X E R C I S E B

Write five sentences that use compound words not used in this lesson

Underline your compound words and then find words or phrases that could replace them For example, you might replace “father-in-law” with “my spouse’s father.” Note whether the tone of the sentence changes without your initial compound word

Consult a good dictionary

when you are not sure

of the correct way to write a

compound word.

Tip

picturesque (pik< ch@ resk>)

adj., resembling a picture;

charming or quaint

The resort is known for its calming pools and picturesque gardens.

The word picturesque is an

example of manipulated language, specifically, adding an affix to a word in order to give it another meaning The suffix -esque means

“in the manner or style of” or

“like,” so adding it to any word gives it a new meaning Consider other words to which you could add this suffix.

Word of the Week

Manipulating Language

Understand the Concept

People manipulate language all the time, twisting it and changing it to make it new and fun In this way, language continues to evolve Here are some ways people manipulate language

Changing a Word’s Function English speakers often change the functions of words This process is called conversion For example, we

may take a noun and use it as a verb The word contact was used as a

noun for several hundred years before it made it into the dictionary as a verb Even then, many people railed against its use as a verb And today,

you can hear businesspeople using nouns like transition and partner as

verbs, as in: “We are transitioning to a new form of marketing…would you like to partner with us on that?”

Changing a Word’s Meaning In slang or colloquial use, words are

often given new meaning The meaning may be based on an accepted meaning of the word, or it may be completely different For example, the

word chill, meaning “to make cooler,” is now used as slang for “relax.”

Adding Affixes We can add a prefix and/or a suffix to change the

meaning of a word For example, if your aunt is allergic to your cats,

you might need to de-cat-hair-ify the furniture before she comes over

Or when you hear a new pop singer, you may say with annoyance, “She

sounds so Britney-esque.” Are these real words? Maybe not But many words formed in this way (such as deice and ultrachic) have entered

dictionaries over the years

Clipped or Shortened Words We shorten words, as in fax, which is a

shortened form of facsimile, or cab, originally cabriolet Clipped words

are especially popular among college students, who coined such words

as prof, dorm, poli sci, and exam.

Try It Yourself

Using each prompt below, try to manipulate language yourself

1 Write a sentence in which you use a noun as a verb

2 Write a sentence using a commonly recognized word with a slang

or colloquial meaning

Sometimes instead

of adding an affix, one is removed This is called backformation For example,

babysit is a backformation of babysitter It was created when

the suffix -er was removed from

babysitter In the same way, the verb edit was formed from the the

noun editor

Tip

People manipulate language by forming compounds and blends too

Cookout is a compound made

from the words cook and out The

word refers to a barbecue, when people cook outdoors The word

glimmer is a blend of gleam and shimmer

Tip

3 Make four new words by adding prefixes or suffixes to existing words.

4 Create your own blends by combining parts of two words as in

brunch or smog Write three blends on the lines below along with

the words used to form them

5 Choose a word that is used frequently Make a shorter form of the word Write the long form and the clipped form below Then use the clipped form in a contextual sentence

Full word Clipped form

Writers and speakers often manipulate language in other ways, too They play with word sounds, such as rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia; idioms and other common expressions; and figurative meaning to create a specific image or reaction in the reader

Introducing new words and new ways of saying things can keep language fresh Newly coined words or phrases often catch on quickly, like a fad Some are simply vogue words or buzzwords that will fade out when people tire of them, but others will become more firmly embedded in the language

When you manipulate language, take care to use new words and phrases appropriately Be aware that some new language may be too informal for some purposes and may annoy or confuse your audience

As always, choose words that are appropriate to your audience and purpose, and make sure the meaning is clear in context

Just for Fun

Coin a few of your own words and write formal dictionary entries for these words Then share your dictionary with a partner and try to use each other’s words in conversation

Each of the following words was

formed by the manipulation of

language Match each word with

the explanation of how it was

c word with a changed meaning

d word formed by adding an affix

e shortened or clipped form

f blend of two words

g word with a changed function

Just for Fun

wireless (w8r> l@s) adj.,

describing telecommunications devices that use radio signals rather than wires

The wireless company offers

800 minutes for $39.99 with no roaming charges.

Although the word wireless has

been around since the nineteenth century, it has taken on a new meaning with the introduction of cellular telephones in 1991.

Word of the Week

Technology-Related Words

Understand the Concept

As technology changes, new words are needed to describe new devices, actions and processes, and entities Technology-related words enter language the same way other kinds of words do and you can approach them the same way Use context clues, what you know about word parts, text support, dictionaries, and help from others to determine word meaning

Technology-Related Word Parts

Knowing the meaning of certain word parts can help you understand a number of technology-related words

cyber- cybernetic (related to

computer networks)

cyberspace, cybercafé

net- related to the Internet netiquette, netizen

techno- technical, technological technophobe

web- related to or of the World

New Meanings for Old Words

Words may gain new meaning over time as people use them in different ways Many words that are now used in reference to new technology

have other meanings in English Some examples include boot, bug, surf, and flame.

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E B

Use a dictionary if you are unsure of the meaning of each of the following words as it relates to technology Write a contextual sentence using each word in its technological sense

You are probably aware of terms such as Achilles’ heel and scrooge that

come from mythology or literature Some technological words make references to mythology or pop culture as well Here are two examples:

Trojan horse—destructive program disguised as a benign application

The term alludes to the Trojan Horse of the Iliad, an epic poem by the

ancient Greek writer, Homer In the poem, the Greeks presented a wooden horse as a gift as a way to get inside the city of Troy

spam—junk e-mail The term comes from a Monty Python skit in which the word spam is repeated, drowning out other talk.

Acronyms and Initialisms

Acronyms are words made from initial letters of the main parts of a compound term Initialisms are abbreviations in which each letter is

pronounced as a letter There are many technological acronyms and initialisms Here are some examples:

ISP Internet service provider

IT information technologyPDA personal digital assistant

If you can’t find these

technological terms in

your dictionary, check out an

online resource Several are listed

on the following page.

Tip

An allusion is a reference

to a well-known person,

event, object, or work from history,

literature, the movies, etc The

person who coined the computer

term Trojan horse, meaning a

destructive computer program,

was making an allusion to a Greek

myth.

Tip

LOL is a very common chatroom

abbreviation that stands for

“laughing out loud.” Another

common abbreviation is IMHO

for “in my humble opinion.” What

other chatroom abbreviations

do you know? Make your

own glossary of chatroom

abbreviations You may wish to

Just for Fun

1 I miskeyed the URL, so the site didn’t load.

2 Sick of the slow speeds of her dial-up connection, Erin switched to DSL

3 FAQ How do I subscribe?

How do I unsubscribe?

What happens if I forget my password?

Where to Look Up Tech-Related Words

Because technology changes quickly, the language related to it changes quickly as well Printed dictionaries may not include many of the latest tech-related terms, so you might need to consult an online source instead Some sites to try include the following:

1 malware

2 bookmark

3 clicks and mortar

are initialisms Other acronyms include scuba (self-contained

underwater breathing apparatus) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Other initialisms include HDTV (high definition television) and TBA (to

be announced).

Both acronyms and initialisms are types of abbreviations.

A mouse potato is an online

couch potato, a person who spends a lot of time in front of a computer screen Snail mail is a

term coined for mail sent through the postal service instead of electronically Make a list of other fun technology-related phrases you encounter while searching the online dictionaries.

Just for Fun

Try an online source for definitions of the latest tech-related terms.

Tip

Name: Date: _

Time Out for Test Practice

Defining Archaic Language and Technology-Related Words

Use context clues, your prior knowledge, and word parts to identify the

meaning of the following underlined archaic words Write your answers on

the blanks provided

_ 1 You are completely wood! Who

would ever wear that to a funeral?

A serious

B mad; wild

C boring; calm

D sad; concerned _ 2 Stella wanted to get directions from

her teacher afore she wrote the assignment

A before

B when

C after

D because _ 3 I was beforetime known as Miss

Pennbrewster, today I am known as Mrs B

A formerly

B afterward

C curiously

D descriptively

_ 4 I think the yacht is large enough

endlong, but it is rather narrow from side to side

A today

B before

C outside

D lengthwise _ 5 Our eyne have seen too much!

A dreams

B hearts

C eyes

D fears _ 6 The detective spoke to them

semovedly, so they couldn’t hear one another’s account of the evening’s events

A at once

B cautiously

C separately

D suspiciously

Use your prior knowledge as well as your knowledge of word parts to identify

the technology-related word that each question describes Write your answer

on the blank

_ 7 the rules of conduct for social

communication on the internet

A netiquette

B etiquetology

_ 9 a video segment created for the

World Wide Web

A cyberology

B semicyber

Although vagabond is

synonymous with the word

traveler, it has a more negative

connotation Would you prefer

to be called a vagabond or a traveler? Other synonyms that

also have negative connotations include tramp and bum, while the

synonyms tourist and wanderer

are more neutral.

Word of the Week

Denotation and Connotation

Understand the Concept

A denotation of a word is its dictionary definition A connotation of

a word is an emotional association or implication it has in addition

to its literal meaning For example, the words unique and freakish are

synonyms They both mean “different from what is typical.” However,

unique connotes someone or something that is special or one-of-a-kind, while freakish connotes someone or something that is ugly, scary, or upsetting Meanwhile, the term different is more neutral—it lacks either

positive or negative connotations

When you are writing and speaking, it is important to be aware

of the connotations of words so that you do not offend or confuse people When you are reading, you can learn about the connotations

of unfamiliar words by using the context as a clue, or by consulting a dictionary or another person

Use Context Clues and Tone

Context clues can help you determine the emotions connected to a

word Also look at the tone of the passage for clues about a word’s

meaning in that particular case Look at the following sentences:

I didn’t realize how illness had ravaged Jorge’s body until I saw his emaciated, skeletal figure.

Vince was a scrawny kid, who was always getting picked on.

Emaciated and scrawny both suggest thinness In the first sentence, you

can tell that the thinness is related to illness or suffering and conveys a

sense of feebleness or fragility In the second sentence, scrawny suggests

small or unnaturally thin with a related lack of strength

Use a Dictionary

Although connotations are associations or implications, not dictionary definitions, a dictionary can still be helpful in determining the connotations

of a word Some definitions may give some insight into the connotations of

a word, and the usage examples in the dictionary may help you determine connotations Some dictionaries have short features on usage that focus on the differences in meaning or connotation of synonyms

Ask for Help

If, after using context clues and a dictionary, you are still unsure about the connotations of a word, ask somebody else who knows the word to explain the connotations to you

A thesaurus, which lists synonyms, near synonyms, and antonyms

of a word, can also give you information about the differences

in connotation between words of the same meaning.

Tip

Try It Yourself

Use a dictionary to check the meaning of the following synonyms Then write a sentence for each word that uses the word correctly, taking into account its connotations as well as its denotation

1 beguiling charming

2 mercurial fickle

3 guffaw laugh

4 supercilious arrogant

5 fault foible

Just for Fun

Make a list of synonyms with different connotations Then, put them

in order to show a progression from positive to neutral to negative For

example: persevering, resolute, tenacious, persistent, obstinate, stubborn, pigheaded You might start your list by thinking of synonyms for silly, fake, or flighty.

Connotations may be very

personal For example, when you

think city you may think crowded,

but a friend may think exciting

Make a quick list of connotations

for the following words and

compare them with a classmate’s.

incessantly (in ses> @nt l7)

adv., continuing for a long time

without stopping

Roland felt that he had been in detention incessantly for the past two years.

In the above sentence, the word

incessantly is used figuratively

It can be assumed that Roland did not spend two solid years in detention; he just felt like he was always there.

Word of the Week

Literal vs Figurative Language

Understand the Concept

Literal language means just what it says; it presents the actual or

ordinary meaning of words This type of language is appropriate for directions or instructions, reports, and many formal documents

Figurative language is meant to be understood imaginatively

Figurative language includes such figures of speech as metaphor, simile, and personification These figures of speech encourage readers to see things in new ways Figurative language is used frequently in literary works and everyday speech

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E A

Identify each of the following examples as literal or figurative language

1 The leaves fell onto the recently raked lawn

2 The angry river seized the raft and crushed it against the rocks

3 I barricaded myself behind the newspaper, but my neighbor continued to assault me with questions and small talk

4 After a long pause, Mr Vincenzo asked if I wanted the job

5 The brakes screeched like a frightened animal as the car skidded to

a stop

Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken or

written of as if it were another This figure of speech invites the reader

to make a comparison between the two “things” involved The two

things involved are the writer’s actual subject, or the tenor of the metaphor, and the thing to which the subject is likened, or the vehicle

of the metaphor To interpret a metaphor, identify the tenor and vehicle and determine what the two have in common

The expression “Her eyes were diamonds” is a metaphor The expression “Her eyes were like diamonds” is a simile.

Tip

A simile is a comparison that uses like or as A simile is a type of

metaphor and can be broken into a tenor and a vehicle Interpret a simile like you would any other metaphor

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea, animal, or thing

is described as if it were a person Animals or objects speaking are one example of personification

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E B

Identify each of the following as a metaphor, simile, or personification

1 The snow danced on the wind

2 Corbin’s words stung like lemon juice in a cut

3 Shana was graceful as a gazelle as she leapt over the hurdles

4 The sun painted the room a warm gold

5 Martha’s story planted a seed of fear that sprouted into a monstrous plant of terror

E X E R C I S E C

1 Explain the following metaphor:

There comes a time when we all must spread our wings and leave the nest

What is the tenor? What is the vehicle? What does it mean to

“spread [one’s] wings” and “leave the nest”?

2 Describe a good day using literal language

3 Describe a good day using figurative language

Poetic expressions such

as “the trees sang in the

wind” and “the sky wept” are

examples of personification.

Tip

Other examples of

figurative language include

verbal irony and understatement

Verbal irony occurs when a

statement is made that implies

its opposite, as in “Gee, I’m so

happy there is a test today.” An

understatement is an ironic

expression in which something

of importance is emphasized by

being spoken of as though it were

not important, as in the phrase,

“He’s sort of dead, I think.”

Tip

Using your own paper, write

several similes using the following

items as tenors or vehicles:

• a clown

• a pumpkin

• a roller coaster

• eating spaghetti

Make up your own metaphors

Just for Fun

arrant (6r> 2nt) adj., extreme His arrant negativity has put us all

in a bad mood.

The word arrant might be

confused with the word errant,

because they share the same pronunciation However, while

arrant means “extreme,” the word errant means “given to travel”

and “straying outside the proper path.” These are examples of homophones.

Word of the Week

Homophones

Understand the Concept

Homophones are words that sound the same but differ in spelling

and/or meaning Homophone is derived from the Greek roots homo, meaning same, and phone, meaning sound, so it literally means “same

sound.” Because homophones sound the same, many people get them confused in their writing The following are some of the most commonly confused homophones

Commonly Confused Homophones

cite/sight/site Cite means to quote or refer to Sight means vision Site

means place or location, as in campsite and website.

flair/flare Flair means skill, ability, or style Flare means to emit a

sudden burst of flame or temper, as in the term flare-up.

its/it’s Its is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to it.” It’s is a

contraction of it is or it has.

reek/wreak To reek means to stink or to smell To wreak means to

bring about or to inflict

reign/rein To reign means to exercise authority As a noun, reign

means the length of time during which an individual rules A rein is a strap used to control an animal, such as a horse To rein in means to

control as if by using reins

right/rite/write Right is the opposite of left It also means “something

to which one is entitled,” as in human rights As an adjective, right means “correct.” A rite is a ceremony, particularly a religious one Write

means to put words on paper or to create a literary work

their/there/they’re Their is the possessive form of they There is the

opposite of here They’re is a contraction of they are.

who’s/whose Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has Whose is a

possessive pronoun or possessive adjective

your/you’re Your is the possessive of you You’re is a contraction of

you are.

The word rein appears in

the expression “to give free rein.” It refers to the fact that you give rein, or slacken up on the reins, to let a horse gallop more freely Do not make the common mistake of writing this expression

as “free reign.”

Tip

Homographs are words that share the same spelling, but have different meanings and pronunciations

One example is bow (as in

“bowing before a king”) and bow

(as in “tie a bow on the present”) Homonyms share the same spelling and pronunciation, but mean different things An example

of a homonym would be bow (as

in “tie a bow on the present”) and

bow (as in “hunt with a bow and

arrow”).

Tip

2 As we rounded the corner, the city came into (cite / sight / site).

3 (Who’s / Whose) supplies are these?

4 The (cite / sight / site) of the school is on the outskirts of town

5 Do you have the (right / rite / write) stuff to succeed?

6 The presentation showed a creative (flair / flare)

7 Zach’s room (reeks / wreaks) of dirty socks

8 The dense fog compromised our (cite / sight / site)

9 Give me (your / you’re) keys, and I’ll get the car

10 Rosa took the (reigns / reins) when Kwynn resigned

Proofreading for Common Errors

To avoid errors with homophones, first make sure you understand when and how to use each word Memorizing the meanings of the homophones listed in this lesson will help If you are unsure about which homophones to use, check a dictionary Always proofread carefully to make sure you have used the correct word Even if you know which word to use, it is easy to write the wrong word by mistake

Try It Yourself

E X E R C I S E B

Proofread the following passage for errors in homophone usage

Rewrite the passage in your notebook, correcting any errors you find

If you have to rite a report on a famous person, you could start by consulting a reference book such as an encyclopedia or Whose Who? These resources will tell you when a person lived, usually

the sight of his or her birth, and, for a ruler, the years of his or her rein You’re report may be a compilation of facts, or it may include your opinions about the person You can use visual aids

With nouns and proper

nouns, an apostrophe is

used to show possession, as in

the doctor’s office, Kayla’s pen,

the girls’ bathroom.

However, with the possessive

forms of personal pronouns, an

apostrophe is not used.

  

she her, hers

it its (not it’s!)

you your, yours

they their, theirs

(not they’re!)

who whose (not

who’s!) Remember that it’s, they’re,

and who’s are contractions, not

Here’s an example: The reigning

champs floundered until the

Just for Fun

Words with Multiple Meanings

Decide which meaning of the underlined word best fits the context of the sentence Write the letter of the best answer on the line

_ 1 These don’t have to be perfect; just

haggle the wood into smaller pieces

A bargain

B annoy or exhaust

C hack

D wrangle _ 2 Can you haggle at the market or are

the prices fixed?

A bargain

B annoy or exhaust

C hack

D wrangle _ 3 I love philosophy, but my mother

wants me to choose a more practical major

A major musical interval

B field of study

C rank of commissioned officer

D greater in rank or importance _ 4 Love of animals was one of the major

reasons Kelly chose to study biology

A major musical interval

B field of study

C rank of commissioned officer

D greater in rank or importance _ 5 Glen registered the cold before his

feet went numb

A indicated

B achieved

C enrolled

D perceived _ 6 Marcus registered early for the

_ 7 Deirdre held fast to her beliefs, even

when faced by strong opposition

A firmly

B quickly

C deeply

D wildly _ 8 The ring was fast on Susan’s finger,

and she thought she’d never get it off

A firmly loyal

B quick to learn

C stuck

D swift _ 9 I generally follow my impulses rather

than relying on careful thought

A waves

B incentives

C changes in momentum

D sudden inclinations _ 10 The electrical impulses caused lights

to blink on and off

A waves

B incentives

C changes in momentum

D sudden inclinations _ 11 We ordered a quarter of beef for the

C three-month division of the year

D unit of length that is one fourth of

a whole

On the line, write the letter of the word that best completes each sentence

_ 1 Don’t worry not important

A Its

B It’s _ 2 When did Queen Elizabeth’s

begin?

A reign

B rein _ 3 If going on the field trip, you’ll

need a signed permission slip

A your

B you’re _ 4 Rosa’s argument struck a with

many listeners

A chord

B cord _ 5 The program was informative, but it

lacked

A flair

B flare _ 6 Grady can numerous studies to

support his thesis

A cite

B sight

C site _ 7 Did Mr and Mrs Rossi find car

in the garage?

A there

B their

C they’re _ 8 Who has the of way?

A right

B rite

C write _ 9 going to change the

requirements for graduation

_ 10 For many, graduation is a of

passage

A right

B rite

C write _ 11 excited to get licenses

A There … their

B Their … they’re

C They’re … their

D Their … there _ 12 Did Keith down the

guaranteed by the Constitution?

A sight … rites

B site … rights

C cite … rites

D cite … rights _ 14 to the Office of Tourism to get a

map of the historical

A Right … site

B Write … cite

C Right … sight

D Write … site _ 15 The of grandchildren

always makes Myrna and Lloyd smile

A sight … there

B sight … their

C site … their

D site … they’re