Word Choice and Connotation

The baby was very clever. It already knew how to crawl into a room without making a sound.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word “cunning” instead of word “clever”?

• The baby would seem sneakier.

• The baby would seem cuter.

• The baby would seem stupider.

• The baby would seem louder.

"He's very influential in the clowning community," she whispered to her friend, pointing to the tall man in loose pants and rainbow suspenders striding across the room. "He's a great artist. Balloon animals have never been the same."

What is the “charge” of the word “influential” in this passage?

• positive

• negative

• neutral

• extremely negative

The hedgehog was ecstatic-- she had found a hole to burrow into, and she happily settled beneath the ground, excited to sleep the day away.

Based on the context clues, what is the denotation of the word “ecstatic” in the passage?

• A. overly intelligent

• B. greatly impressed

• C. extremely happy

• D. often late

After winning the spelling bee, Bridget became cocky. "I can spell any word in the universe," she insisted loudly, even in places where it was not required to spell things. Like at the movies with her friends.

Her best friend, annoyed, said, "I bet you can't spell a word in German." Bridget did not speak German.

"I probably can," she insisted, "I mean, how hard can it be, right?"

What is the charge of the word “cocky” in this passage?

• positive

• negative

• neutral

• extremely positive

The man stretched slowly, then continued his sluggish walk down the street.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "unhurried" instead of word "sluggish"?

• A. The man would seem less lazy.

• B. The man would seem funnier.

• C. The man would seem more talented.

• D. The man would seem more talkative.

My grandmother is thrifty. She never throws out old clothes and saves all her jars to reuse as glasses.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "cheap" instead of word "thrifty"?

• The writer would seem unafraid.

• The grandmother would seem unknown.

• The writer would seem seem uncertain.

• The grandmother would seem ungenerous.

"How could you do this?" the painter screeched. "How could you paint that wall blue? It should clearly be orange."

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "whimpered" instead of word "screeched"?

• The painter would seem more pathetic.

• The painter would seem more powerful.

• The painter would seem more joyful.

• The painter would seem more intelligent.

A flock of flamingos slowly picked their way across the lawn towards the Gupta family where they stood, waiting.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "mob" instead of word "flock"?

• The flamingos would seem friendlier.

• The flamingos would seem more elegant.

• The flamingos would seem more indifferent.

• The flamingos would seem more threatening.

Read the sentences. What is the difference between the words mortified and embarrassed?

A. Sam was mortified when he was called to come up onstage during the assembly.

B. Sam was embarrassed when he was called to come up on stage during the assembly.

• "Mortified" is antonym of "embarrassed".

• "Embarrassed" is more intense and has more negative connotation than "mortified".

• "Mortified" is more intense and has a more negative connotation than "embarrassed".

• "Mortified" and "embarrassed" have different denotations.

Read the sentences. What is the difference between the words surprised and astounded?

A. Julie was surprised to find out that her grandma was coming for a visit.

B. Julie was astounded to find out that her grandma was coming for a visit.

• "Surprised" is antonym of "astounded".

• "Astounded" is more intense than "surprised" and implies that Julie was even more shocked.

• "Surprised" is more intense than "astounded" and implies that Julie was even more shocked.

• "Surprised" and "astounded" have different denotations.