Study Island Connotation and Denotation Activities
Standard
GA Grade 7, ELA Standard
ELACC7RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative
meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
GA Grade 7, ELA Standard
ELACC7RI4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and
technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
GA Grade 7, ELA Standard
ELACC7L5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context. b. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonym/antonym, analogy) to better understand each of the
words. c. Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations (definitions) (e.g., refined,
Melissa Heinz could breeze through a lot of things: cheerleading, talking on the phone, studying for tests, making straight-As, baking fudge brownies with her mom, and even putting up with her moody older brother! But one thing Melissa Heinz was never good at was chin-ups. In fact, she'd never been able to do any. Ever. Not three. Not two. Not even one! And so every year, as the rest of her class lined up to receive their yearly Presidential Fitness Awards, Melissa sat in the back of her PE class and cursed her skinny arms and scrawny muscles.
"They're just pieces of paper," said her friends. "We don't even care about them." But Melissa knew her friends were just blowing smoke. After all, those "pieces of paper" all rested in nice, gold frames in their rooms, next to their Field Day ribbons and Science Fair trophies. And while Melissa had plenty of the last two, she wished just once that she could get one of those silly "pieces of paper." If only to make herself proud. A couple of weeks before that year's Presidential Fitness Day, Melissa started training. Usually, things came easy to her. Like math. Or brownies. But every once in awhile, Melissa found something that was just out of her reach. This time, it was chin-ups! Long after her friends had finished their homework and were nestled in front of Must-See-TV with a big bowl of popcorn and a frosty root beer, Melissa crept into her backyard and grabbed hold of the lowest branch of the old oak tree. It was just about the height of that darn chin-up bar on the PE field at school, and when she wore her mother's gardening gloves (the ones with the miniature carrots all over them), she could barely feel the bark beneath her straining hands. Night after night, week after week, Melissa strained and stretched her scrawny little arms to pull her determined chin all the way up to the top of that branch. And night after night, week after week, her muscles got a little stronger, and her chin grew a little closer, but she never got quite far enough. By the time Presidential Fitness Day rolled around again, Melissa realized that she would never do a chin-up, even after all that practice. But still she participated in all of the other events, completing the requirements for sit-ups and push-ups, jogging and sprinting. Her friends joshed and laughed about how this would be her year, but still Melissa didn't believe them. As friend after friend left the chin-up bar to a round of applause and plenty of congratulations, Melissa waited in line and hoped and prayed she would be up to the challenge. Finally, it was her turn, and Melissa reached up gamely to do her best. Amazingly, she found that the bar felt cool and firm beneath her grasp, unlike the bark and gardening glove mixture from home Petrified of P.E. by Rusty Fischer
1. Although it is not clearly defined, what is the connotation of the phrase blowing smoke as it is
used in this story?
A. fibbing
B. laughing
C. groaning
D. crying
2. What is the most likely connotation of breeze as it is used in the first sentence of this story?
A. blow off
B. blow down
C. escape from
D. accomplish easily
3.
Transform the way your hair looks and feels. Tame frizzy hair.
Give new life to stringy thin hair. Put all your hair woes to rest by making it
Nice and Smooth, available at fine stores everywhere.
Why does the ad use the negative connotations "frizzy" and "stringy"?
A. to pinpoint major flaws that most supermodels are lacking
B. to make people feel empowered when handling their hair
C. to make the shampoo seem better than other brands
D. to pinpoint hair problems that the shampoo can treat
A Blast from the Past
Owner Julian Reeves opened In Retrospect last Saturday, and Greenville can't seem to get enough vintage stuff. "I saw a need in our area for this kind of store," said Reeves. "I've got clothes that are 10 years old to 110 years old. You can't find fashions like these in shopping malls." Many customers agree. "I love my new blazer!" said Contessa Mathews, a Choctaw High School student. "While the other students in the locker hall at school look so similar in their _______ mall purchases, I stand out in a very good way." Quality vintage clothing goes even further than fashions. "I'm a fashionista and an
environmentalist," said Greenville resident Clare Beckam, "so fashionable, _______ clothing from In Retrospect is such a blessing." Reeves is thrilled that the customers are so thrilled. "This is my first business venture, and I hope that In Retrospect will last as long as the clothes have," he said.
4. The author wants to use a different word than "vintage" in the third paragraph. Which of the
following words has the most positive connotation of "vintage"?
A. dated
B. antique
C. old
D. classic
Mark was sick of receiving a dozen annoying emails with jokes from Sally every day. He dashed
off a sloppy reply letting her know that he wasn't allowed to receive silly emails at school.
5. What does the phrase dashed off suggest that Mark did as it is used in the second sentence of
this story?
A. carelessly wrote
B. ran away
C. punctuated
D. ambled
6. What is the dictionary meaning of the word sick?
A. bored
B. at rest
C. sleepy
D. ill
Outside, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the biggest sandlot baseball game of the summer was mere minutes away from starting. But Sarah James wasn't exactly hitting a home run with her best friend, Ed! Nestled away in the corner of his tidy bedroom, the walls covered baseball wallpaper, baseball pennants, and baseballs signed by his favorite players, Ed sat hunched over a large piece of poster board he was keeping mysteriously hidden behind his square shoulders. Feverishly, he was scribbling away on the peculiar poster, even while he should have been getting ready for the big game. Sarah, who was there looking puzzled as Ed refused to look up from his desk, asked, "Ed? Hello? Edward? Can't you hear me, Eddy boy?"
When she got no response, Sarah persisted: "Ed! If you don't hurry, we'll miss the big game!" Not even flinching, Sarah's best friend and the best first-basemen since, well, the first first-basemen, Ed continued toiling away on his poster as outside his window fellow players straggled toward the nearby sandlot, bats slung over their shoulders and hats cocked sideways on their heads. "How can you just sit there like that when your favorite pastime, your favorite sport, heck, your favorite all-time THING since breathing is getting ready to start in just a few minutes?" Sarah asked. Still, Ed toiled away. Almost feverishly, he continued to ignore Sarah as he painstakingly filled in the borders of his homemade poster. Watching as more and more of her teammates flooded by outside Ed's window, Sarah practically shouted in Ed's ear: "Earth to Ed! We can't possibly win the Elm Park Championship without our best first-basemen, not to mention batter! I can't believe you'd think of missing this game. You NEVER miss a game!" Finally, as if only then suddenly realizing that she was there, Ed looked up from his half-finished poster. "Sarah," he explained calmly, even as his best friend and teammate threatened to pull her bright red hair out. "I'll never get this poster finished if you keep interrupting me!" "I hardly think winning the neighborhood baseball championship is an interruption," scoffed a surprised Sarah. Had some baseball-loving, alien planet kidnapped her real friend? And perhaps replaced him with their resident artist? "What are you DOING that's so interesting anyway?" Ed barely looked up. "You wouldn't understand, Sarah." "You've got THAT right!" Sarah readily agreed. "I wouldn't understand how someone who eats baseball, sleeps baseball, and dreams baseball could risk losing the biggest game of the summer just to doodle on a piece of poster board. That is, unless that's a big sign making fun of our rivals, The West Side Wiffers!" "No, Sarah," explained Ed. "It's not a sign for our rivals. It's a poster, for something more important than baseball!" "More important than baseball!?" shrieked Sarah. "Like what?" Homeless Home Run by Rusty Fischer
7. Although it is not clearly defined, what is the most likely connotation of the word flooded as it
is used in this story?
A. swarmed
B. splashed
C. drowned
D. pounded
8. Scattered across the room was a downpour of paper that seemed to grow larger every day. Stella couldn't take it any longer. She was drowning in homework and projects. Life as a student at Englewood Middle School definitely required willpower that
she seemed to no longer have. Stella stared at the papers until they blurred together to make a larger mound; she gasped in fear. After a while, with trembling hands, she lifted a sheet from the very top of the stack. The entire heap of papers collapsed on top of her.
In the context of the story, what does the word drowning connote?
A. drenched in sweat
B. poorly organized
C. completely overrun
D. emotionally sad
When Brady James walked out of school on Friday, he knew he had two days free from teachers and bells, he knew his English teacher was going to be crazy about the amazing paper he'd just turned in, and he knew he only had to wait a few hours for his birthday party. Yes, Brady James was tickled. He saw his mother's car in the parking lot and ran over. He jumped in the passenger seat and slammed the door, singing a little tune as he fastened his seat belt and threw his book bag into the back seat. "Hey there, birthday boy," his mom said. "Don't you look pleased?" "Oh, Mom, my party is so close, I can barely sit still. I am so pumped!" "Well," his mom said, "we're going to go watch your little sister in her piano recital first, you know. Then we have to go pick up the ice cream, get some drinks, pick up your brother after football practice, and clean up the living room before we even begin to get ready for that party. Better save some of that energy for later!"
9. What is the most likely connotation of the word tickled as it is used in the first paragraph?
A. very happy
B. annoyed
C. a little scared
D. floating
10. What does the word crazy most likely connote as it is used in the first sentence of the story?
A. insane
B. tired
C. impressed
D. bored
Ramona and Beverly were the best of friends. They roamed the halls of Smithside Elementary School arm in arm, and rode their bikes to and from school together every single day. They passed notes constantly, and never went anywhere apart, except maybe to sleep at night. Ramona and Beverly told each other everything, from what they were wearing to school each morning to what they were wearing to bed! They trusted each other completely and never ever told each other a lie. And then, one day, stretching the truth about a simple party invitation threatened to stretch the very limits of their friendship. It all started when Missy Limburger, the newest girl in class, wanted to conduct a little experiment with the two best friends. And so she devised a plan to put their friendship to the test, and almost ruined it for good. "Oh Ramona," said Missy, catching her outside in the halls during a rare occasion when Beverly was absent from school and Ramona was feeling bummed. "I'm throwing a party this weekend. All the kids will be there, but I only had enough invitations to invite you. So Beverly won't be coming. Will that be a problem?" Ramona regarded the new girl and thought it would be fun to go to her party, just for something new to do. She knew Beverly's grandmother was coming into town this weekend anyway, and would keep her occupied. So she agreed. "One more thing," added Missy before walking away haughtily. "You can't tell Beverly, or you'll hurt her feelings." Ramona nodded. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt Beverly's feelings. The next day, Missy sold the very same story to Beverly! Beverly agreed to come to the party, only because she knew Ramona was helping her little brother build a tree house and would be too occupied to worry about some stupid party. Also, it would give her a chance to escape her feisty grandmother! And so, the two friends didn't exactly lie to each other about their weekend plans. They simply decided to skirt the issue. But on Friday, Missy unleashed the worst part of her plan. She told Beverly that Ramona had asked that Beverly not be invited to her little soiree, and then she told Ramona that Beverly had asked the very same thing about her! Before long, Ramona and Beverly weren't even speaking to each other at all! By the end of that Friday, they sped to the bike rack as quickly as possible, hoping to avoid their former best friend. But, as fate would have it, the two girls reached the bike rack at the very same time. Naturally, their identical bikes were locked to each other with the lock that they had saved up together to purchase. As the two "friends" looked to each other to see who would unlock it first, they decided to take one last stab at friendship. Friends 'Til the End by Rusty Fischer
11. What is the most likely connotation of bummed as it is used in this story?
A. feeling sad
B. chilled to the bone
C. up on a high
D. taking a big risk
12. Buster was a puny dog. He could not even scare the cat that lived next door.
What is the dictionary meaning of the word puny in the sentence above?
A. noisy or loud
B. heavy or overweight
C. large in actions or words
D. undersized or small
Outside, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the biggest sandlot baseball game of the summer was mere minutes away from starting. But Sarah James wasn't exactly hitting a home run with her best friend, Ed! Nestled away in the corner of his tidy bedroom, the walls covered baseball wallpaper, baseball pennants, and baseballs signed by his favorite players, Ed sat hunched over a large piece of poster board he was keeping mysteriously hidden behind his square shoulders. Feverishly, he was scribbling away on the peculiar poster, even while he should have been getting ready for the big game. Sarah, who was there looking puzzled as Ed refused to look up from his desk, asked, "Ed? Hello? Edward? Can't you hear me, Eddy boy?" When she got no response, Sarah persisted: "Ed! If you don't hurry, we'll miss the big game!" Not even flinching, Sarah's best friend and the best first-basemen since, well, the first first-basemen, Ed continued toiling away on his poster as outside his window fellow players straggled toward the nearby sandlot, bats slung over their shoulders and hats cocked sideways on their heads. "How can you just sit there like that when your favorite pastime, your favorite sport, heck, your favorite all-time THING since breathing is getting ready to start in just a few minutes?" Sarah asked. Still, Ed toiled away. Almost feverishly, he continued to ignore Sarah as he painstakingly filled in the borders of his homemade poster. Watching as more and more of her teammates flooded by outside Ed's window, Sarah practically shouted in Ed's ear: "Earth to Ed! We can't possibly win the Elm Park Championship without our best first-basemen, not to mention batter! I can't believe you'd think of missing this game. You NEVER miss a game!" Finally, as if only then suddenly realizing that she was there, Ed looked up from his half-finished poster. "Sarah," he explained calmly, even as his best friend and teammate threatened to pull her bright red hair out. "I'll never get this poster finished if you keep interrupting me!" "I hardly think winning the neighborhood baseball championship is an interruption," scoffed a surprised Sarah. Had some baseball-loving, alien planet kidnapped her real friend? And perhaps replaced him with their resident artist? "What are you DOING that's so interesting anyway?" Ed barely looked up. "You wouldn't understand, Sarah."
"You've got THAT right!" Sarah readily agreed. "I wouldn't understand how someone who eats baseball, sleeps baseball, and dreams baseball could risk losing the biggest game of the summer just to doodle on a piece of poster board. That is, unless that's a big sign making fun of our rivals, The West Side Wiffers!" "No, Sarah," explained Ed. "It's not a sign for our rivals. It's a poster, for something more important than baseball!" "More important than baseball!?" shrieked Sarah. "Like what?" Homeless Home Run by Rusty Fischer
13. What is the dictionary meaning, or denotation, of the word flooded?
A. overshadowing
B. overflowing
C. overcoming
D. barren
Mark was sick of receiving a dozen annoying emails with jokes from Sally every day. He dashed
off a sloppy reply letting her know that he wasn't allowed to receive silly emails at school.
14. What does the word sick suggest Mark was feeling as it is used in the first sentence of this
story?
A. nauseous
B. bored
C. full
D. fed up with
15. Ginny was a nosy child. She wanted to know about everything that happened in the little town of Darington.
What is the dictionary meaning of nosy in the sentence above?
A. curious, inquisitive
B. similar, identical
C. intelligent, smart
D. interesting, unusual
When Brady James walked out of school on Friday, he knew he had two days free from teachers and bells, he knew his English teacher was going to be crazy about the amazing paper he'd just turned in, and he knew he only had to wait a few hours for his birthday party. Yes, Brady James was tickled. He saw his mother's car in the parking lot and ran over. He jumped in the passenger
seat and slammed the door, singing a little tune as he fastened his seat belt and threw his book bag into the back seat. "Hey there, birthday boy," his mom said. "Don't you look pleased?" "Oh, Mom, my party is so close, I can barely sit still. I am so pumped!" "Well," his mom said, "we're going to go watch your little sister in her piano recital first, you know. Then we have to go pick up the ice cream, get some drinks, pick up your brother after football practice, and clean up the living room before we even begin to get ready for that party. Better save some of that energy for later!"
16. As it is used in the story, what does the word pumped mean?
A. full of energy
B. unfocused
C. in a hurry
D. annoyed
A Blast from the Past
Owner Julian Reeves opened In Retrospect last Saturday, and Greenville can't seem to get enough vintage stuff. "I saw a need in our area for this kind of store," said Reeves. "I've got clothes that are 10 years old to 110 years old. You can't find fashions like these in shopping malls." Many customers agree. "I love my new blazer!" said Contessa Mathews, a Choctaw High School student. "While the other students in the locker hall at school look so similar in their _______ mall purchases, I stand out in a very good way." Quality vintage clothing goes even further than fashions. "I'm a fashionista and an environmentalist," said Greenville resident Clare Beckam, "so fashionable, _______ clothing from In Retrospect is such a blessing." Reeves is thrilled that the customers are so thrilled. "This is my first business venture, and I hope that In Retrospect will last as long as the clothes have," he said.
17. In the second paragraph, which of the following words could Contessa Mathews use to keep
from angering or upsetting her classmates?
A. faddish
B. bandwagon
C. trendy
D. current
Outside, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the biggest sandlot baseball game of the summer was mere minutes away from starting. But Sarah James wasn't exactly hitting a home run with her best friend, Ed! Nestled away in the corner of his tidy bedroom, the walls covered baseball
wallpaper, baseball pennants, and baseballs signed by his favorite players, Ed sat hunched over a large piece of poster board he was keeping mysteriously hidden behind his square shoulders. Feverishly, he was scribbling away on the peculiar poster, even while he should have been getting ready for the big game. Sarah, who was there looking puzzled as Ed refused to look up from his desk, asked, "Ed? Hello? Edward? Can't you hear me, Eddy boy?" When she got no response, Sarah persisted: "Ed! If you don't hurry, we'll miss the big game!" Not even flinching, Sarah's best friend and the best first-basemen since, well, the first first-basemen, Ed continued toiling away on his poster as outside his window fellow players straggled toward the nearby sandlot, bats slung over their shoulders and hats cocked sideways on their heads. "How can you just sit there like that when your favorite pastime, your favorite sport, heck, your favorite all-time THING since breathing is getting ready to start in just a few minutes?" Sarah asked. Still, Ed toiled away. Almost feverishly, he continued to ignore Sarah as he painstakingly filled in the borders of his homemade poster. Watching as more and more of her teammates flooded by outside Ed's window, Sarah practically shouted in Ed's ear: "Earth to Ed! We can't possibly win the Elm Park Championship without our best first-basemen, not to mention batter! I can't believe you'd think of missing this game. You NEVER miss a game!" Finally, as if only then suddenly realizing that she was there, Ed looked up from his half-finished poster. "Sarah," he explained calmly, even as his best friend and teammate threatened to pull her bright red hair out. "I'll never get this poster finished if you keep interrupting me!" "I hardly think winning the neighborhood baseball championship is an interruption," scoffed a surprised Sarah. Had some baseball-loving, alien planet kidnapped her real friend? And perhaps replaced him with their resident artist? "What are you DOING that's so interesting anyway?" Ed barely looked up. "You wouldn't understand, Sarah." "You've got THAT right!" Sarah readily agreed. "I wouldn't understand how someone who eats baseball, sleeps baseball, and dreams baseball could risk losing the biggest game of the summer just to doodle on a piece of poster board. That is, unless that's a big sign making fun of our rivals, The West Side Wiffers!" "No, Sarah," explained Ed. "It's not a sign for our rivals. It's a poster, for something more important than baseball!" "More important than baseball!?" shrieked Sarah. "Like what?" Homeless Home Run by Rusty Fischer
18. What is the denotative meaning of the word feverishly?
A. with a deep embarrassment
B. with a strong anger
C. with a lonely gloom
D. with a high temperature
Ramona and Beverly were the best of friends. They roamed the halls of Smithside Elementary School arm in arm, and rode their bikes to and from school together every single day. They passed notes constantly, and never went anywhere apart, except maybe to sleep at night. Ramona and Beverly told each other everything, from what they were wearing to school each morning to what they were wearing to bed! They trusted each other completely and never ever told each other a lie. And then, one day, stretching the truth about a simple party invitation threatened to stretch the very limits of their friendship. It all started when Missy Limburger, the newest girl in class, wanted to conduct a little experiment with the two best friends. And so she devised a plan to put their friendship to the test, and almost ruined it for good. "Oh Ramona," said Missy, catching her outside in the halls during a rare occasion when Beverly was absent from school and Ramona was feeling bummed. "I'm throwing a party this weekend. All the kids will be there, but I only had enough invitations to invite you. So Beverly won't be coming. Will that be a problem?" Ramona regarded the new girl and thought it would be fun to go to her party, just for something new to do. She knew Beverly's grandmother was coming into town this weekend anyway, and would keep her occupied. So she agreed. "One more thing," added Missy before walking away haughtily. "You can't tell Beverly, or you'll hurt her feelings." Ramona nodded. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt Beverly's feelings. The next day, Missy sold the very same story to Beverly! Beverly agreed to come to the party, only because she knew Ramona was helping her little brother build a tree house and would be too occupied to worry about some stupid party. Also, it would give her a chance to escape her feisty grandmother! And so, the two friends didn't exactly lie to each other about their weekend plans. They simply decided to skirt the issue. But on Friday, Missy unleashed the worst part of her plan. She told Beverly that Ramona had asked that Beverly not be invited to her little soiree, and then she told Ramona that Beverly had asked the very same thing about her! Before long, Ramona and Beverly weren't even speaking to each other at all! By the end of that Friday, they sped to the bike rack as quickly as possible, hoping to avoid their former best friend. But, as fate would have it, the two girls reached the bike rack at the very same time. Naturally, their identical bikes were locked to each other with the lock that they had saved up together to purchase. As the two "friends" looked to each other to see who would unlock it first, they decided to take one last stab at friendship. Friends 'Til the End by Rusty Fischer
19. What is the dictionary meaning, or denotation, of the word skirt?
A. hem
B. garment for the upper body usually having a front opening
C. outer-garment extending from the waist down
D. over-garment that resembles a shirt
20. There was no turning back now. Steven had said what he had said, and it was out there now. He could see the tears well up in Valerie's eyes once she had felt the full impact of his words. They were cruel but honest. However, Steven was still surprised by Valerie's reaction. She was never this delicate. She was typically a very tough person; nothing ever bothered her. Valerie choked back some of her tears and stared directly into Steven's eyes. Valerie's eyes were fiery, and now, Steven was aware he was in trouble.
What does the word delicate connote as it is used in the story?
A. detailed
B. flimsy
C. sensitive
D. graceful
21. The Harrison boys were very boisterous. Their mother could not keep them in the house for five minutes. The whole neighborhood knew when those boys were outside playing cowboys or wrestling.
What does the use of the word boisterous suggest about the Harrison boys?
A. They are quietly boring.
B. They are happily noisy.
C. They are boldly smart.
D. They are happily calm.
Jessica was trying out for the girl's basketball team at school, and nothing was going right. First, she bounced the ball right off of her foot as she was flying right past the defender for an easy basket. Then, she tripped over her own feet when she was defending one of the other players, allowing an easy score for the other team. Then, just before the coach blew the whistle to stop the game, Jessica didn't notice when her teammate was throwing a pass toward her. It hit Jessica right in the nose, bringing tears to her eyes and causing all the other players to wince in pain. After she'd cleaned up in the locker room, Jessica was trying to sneak out the back door so no one would see her leave. If anyone tried to talk to her, she was scared she would break down and cry right there. But just her luck, Trish, the best player in the whole school, was waiting for her right outside the door. Trish saw the tears welling up in Jessica's eyes. She put a hand on her shoulder and
said, "It's cool, Jessica. You've still got two more years to make this team. I didn't make it on my first try, either."
22. What does the word cool connote as it is used in the story?
A. cold
B. funny
C. okay
D. terrible
23.
Which of the following parts of the ad should Mark, the owner of Mark's Territory, change?
A. prized pooch
B. mangy mutt
C. following services
D. certified groomer
Outside, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the biggest sandlot baseball game of the summer was mere minutes away from starting. But Sarah James wasn't exactly hitting a home run with her best friend, Ed! Nestled away in the corner of his tidy bedroom, the walls covered baseball wallpaper, baseball pennants, and baseballs signed by his favorite players, Ed sat hunched over a large piece of poster board he was keeping mysteriously hidden behind his square shoulders. Feverishly, he was scribbling away on the peculiar poster, even while he should have been getting ready for the big game. Sarah, who was there looking puzzled as Ed refused to look up from his desk, asked, "Ed? Hello? Edward? Can't you hear me, Eddy boy?" When she got no response, Sarah persisted: "Ed! If you don't hurry, we'll miss the big game!" Not even flinching, Sarah's best friend and the best first-basemen since, well, the first first-basemen, Ed continued toiling away on his poster as outside his window fellow players straggled toward the nearby sandlot, bats slung over their shoulders and hats cocked sideways on their heads. "How can you just sit there like that when your favorite pastime, your favorite sport, heck, your favorite all-time THING since breathing is getting ready to start in just a few minutes?" Sarah asked. Still, Ed toiled away. Almost feverishly, he continued to ignore Sarah as he painstakingly filled in the borders of his homemade poster. Watching as more and more of her teammates flooded by outside Ed's window, Sarah practically shouted in Ed's ear: "Earth to Ed! We can't possibly win the Elm Park
Championship without our best first-basemen, not to mention batter! I can't believe you'd think of missing this game. You NEVER miss a game!" Finally, as if only then suddenly realizing that she was there, Ed looked up from his half-finished poster. "Sarah," he explained calmly, even as his best friend and teammate threatened to pull her bright red hair out. "I'll never get this poster finished if you keep interrupting me!" "I hardly think winning the neighborhood baseball championship is an interruption," scoffed a surprised Sarah. Had some baseball-loving, alien planet kidnapped her real friend? And perhaps replaced him with their resident artist? "What are you DOING that's so interesting anyway?" Ed barely looked up. "You wouldn't understand, Sarah." "You've got THAT right!" Sarah readily agreed. "I wouldn't understand how someone who eats baseball, sleeps baseball, and dreams baseball could risk losing the biggest game of the summer just to doodle on a piece of poster board. That is, unless that's a big sign making fun of our rivals, The West Side Wiffers!" "No, Sarah," explained Ed. "It's not a sign for our rivals. It's a poster, for something more important than baseball!" "More important than baseball!?" shrieked Sarah. "Like what?" Homeless Home Run by Rusty Fischer
24. What is the most likely connotation of feverishly as it is used in this story?
A. quickly
B. creepily
C. hotly
D. menacingly
Jessica was trying out for the girl's basketball team at school, and nothing was going right. First, she bounced the ball right off of her foot as she was flying right past the defender for an easy basket. Then, she tripped over her own feet when she was defending one of the other players, allowing an easy score for the other team. Then, just before the coach blew the whistle to stop the game, Jessica didn't notice when her teammate was throwing a pass toward her. It hit Jessica right in the nose, bringing tears to her eyes and causing all the other players to wince in pain. After she'd cleaned up in the locker room, Jessica was trying to sneak out the back door so no one would see her leave. If anyone tried to talk to her, she was scared she would break down and cry right there. But just her luck, Trish, the best player in the whole school, was waiting for her right outside the door. Trish saw the tears welling up in Jessica's eyes. She put a hand on her shoulder and said, "It's cool, Jessica. You've still got two more years to make this team. I didn't make it on my first try, either."
25. What does the word flying connote as it is used in the first paragraph of the story?
A. stumbling
B. dribbling the ball
C. floating in the air
D. moving quickly
Ramona and Beverly were the best of friends. They roamed the halls of Smithside Elementary School arm in arm, and rode their bikes to and from school together every single day. They passed notes constantly, and never went anywhere apart, except maybe to sleep at night. Ramona and Beverly told each other everything, from what they were wearing to school each morning to what they were wearing to bed! They trusted each other completely and never ever told each other a lie. And then, one day, stretching the truth about a simple party invitation threatened to stretch the very limits of their friendship. It all started when Missy Limburger, the newest girl in class, wanted to conduct a little experiment with the two best friends. And so she devised a plan to put their friendship to the test, and almost ruined it for good. "Oh Ramona," said Missy, catching her outside in the halls during a rare occasion when Beverly was absent from school and Ramona was feeling bummed. "I'm throwing a party this weekend. All the kids will be there, but I only had enough invitations to invite you. So Beverly won't be coming. Will that be a problem?" Ramona regarded the new girl and thought it would be fun to go to her party, just for something new to do. She knew Beverly's grandmother was coming into town this weekend anyway, and would keep her occupied. So she agreed. "One more thing," added Missy before walking away haughtily. "You can't tell Beverly, or you'll hurt her feelings." Ramona nodded. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt Beverly's feelings. The next day, Missy sold the very same story to Beverly! Beverly agreed to come to the party, only because she knew Ramona was helping her little brother build a tree house and would be too occupied to worry about some stupid party. Also, it would give her a chance to escape her feisty grandmother! And so, the two friends didn't exactly lie to each other about their weekend plans. They simply decided to skirt the issue. But on Friday, Missy unleashed the worst part of her plan. She told Beverly that Ramona had asked that Beverly not be invited to her little soiree, and then she told Ramona that Beverly had asked the very same thing about her! Before long, Ramona and Beverly weren't even speaking to each other at all! By the end of that Friday, they sped to the bike rack as quickly as possible, hoping to avoid their former best friend. But, as fate would have it, the two girls reached the bike rack at the very same time. Naturally, their identical bikes were locked to each other with the lock that they had saved up together to purchase. As the two "friends" looked to each other to see who would unlock it first, they decided to take one last stab at friendship. Friends 'Til the End by Rusty Fischer
26. Although it is not clearly defined, what is the meaning of the word skirt as it is used in this
story?
A. wear
B. cancel
C. avoid
D. dress
27.
Penelope McCampbell
Penelope McCampbell did not really get along with many students at school. In fact, she did not get along with anyone, but that did not stop her from bothering people. She was a gnat that was always in the way. The kids in her class avoided her as best as they could. They would scramble out of Penelope McCampbell's path when she walked down the hall.
In the context of the story, what does the word gnat connote?
A. Penelope McCampbell is an interesting person.
B. Penelope McCampbell is a very small person.
C. Penelope McCampbell is a productive person.
D. Penelope McCampbell is an annoying person.
A Blast from the Past
Owner Julian Reeves opened In Retrospect last Saturday, and Greenville can't seem to get enough vintage stuff. "I saw a need in our area for this kind of store," said Reeves. "I've got clothes that are 10 years old to 110 years old. You can't find fashions like these in shopping malls." Many customers agree. "I love my new blazer!" said Contessa Mathews, a Choctaw High School student. "While the other students in the locker hall at school look so similar in their _______ mall purchases, I stand out in a very good way." Quality vintage clothing goes even further than fashions. "I'm a fashionista and an environmentalist," said Greenville resident Clare Beckam, "so fashionable, _______ clothing from In Retrospect is such a blessing." Reeves is thrilled that the customers are so thrilled. "This is my first business venture, and I hope that In Retrospect will last as long as the clothes have," he said.
28. In the third paragraph, fill the blank with what Clare Beckam could say to put the most
positive spin on In Retrospect.
A. pre-owned
B. secondhand
C. used
D. recycled
29. Ginny was a nosy child. She wanted to know about everything that happened in the little town of Darington.
What does the use of the word nosy suggest about Ginny?
A. She is into sports.
B. She is disciplined.
C. She is intelligent.
D. She is meddlesome and snoopy.
Melissa Heinz could breeze through a lot of things: cheerleading, talking on the phone, studying for tests, making straight-As, baking fudge brownies with her mom, and even putting up with her moody older brother! But one thing Melissa Heinz was never good at was chin-ups. In fact, she'd never been able to do any. Ever. Not three. Not two. Not even one! And so every year, as the rest of her class lined up to receive their yearly Presidential Fitness Awards, Melissa sat in the back of her PE class and cursed her skinny arms and scrawny muscles. "They're just pieces of paper," said her friends. "We don't even care about them." But Melissa knew her friends were just blowing smoke. After all, those "pieces of paper" all rested in nice, gold frames in their rooms, next to their Field Day ribbons and Science Fair trophies. And while Melissa had plenty of the last two, she wished just once that she could get one of those silly "pieces of paper." If only to make herself proud. A couple of weeks before that year's Presidential Fitness Day, Melissa started training. Usually, things came easy to her. Like math. Or brownies. But every once in awhile, Melissa found something that was just out of her reach. This time, it was chin-ups! Long after her friends had finished their homework and were nestled in front of Must-See-TV with a big bowl of popcorn and a frosty root beer, Melissa crept into her backyard and grabbed hold of the lowest branch of the old oak tree. It was just about the height of that darn chin-up bar on the PE field at school, and when she wore her mother's gardening gloves (the ones with the miniature carrots all over them), she could barely feel the bark beneath her straining hands. Night after night, week after week, Melissa strained and stretched her scrawny little arms to pull her determined chin all the way up to the top of that branch. And night after night, week after week, her muscles got a little stronger, and her chin grew a little closer, but she never got quite far enough. By the time Presidential Fitness Day rolled around again, Melissa realized that she would never do a chin-up, even after all that practice. But still she participated in all of
the other events, completing the requirements for sit-ups and push-ups, jogging and sprinting. Her friends joshed and laughed about how this would be her year, but still Melissa didn't believe them. As friend after friend left the chin-up bar to a round of applause and plenty of congratulations, Melissa waited in line and hoped and prayed she would be up to the challenge. Finally, it was her turn, and Melissa reached up gamely to do her best. Amazingly, she found that the bar felt cool and firm beneath her grasp, unlike the bark and gardening glove mixture from home Petrified of P.E. by Rusty Fischer
30. What is the denotative meaning of the word breeze?
A. hurricane wind
B. gentle wind
C. gale force wind
D. ferocious storm
Mark was sick of receiving a dozen annoying emails with jokes from Sally every day. He dashed
off a sloppy reply letting her know that he wasn't allowed to receive silly emails at school.
31. What is the dictionary meaning of the phrase dashed off?
A. casually finished
B. effortlessly executed
C. thoughtfully completed
D. hurriedly wrote
Answers
1. A
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. A
6. D
7. A
8. C
9. A
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. B
14. D
15. A
16. A
17. D
18. D
19. C
20. C
21. B
22. C
23. B
24. A
25. D
26. C
27. D
28. D
29. D
30. B
31. D
Explanations
1. Since the main character's friends are not out and out lying, but more gently sugarcoating the
truth, the most likely connotation of the phrase blowing smoke is "fibbing."
2. The author lists several things Melissa is good at before telling what she has trouble with.
3. The denotation for "frizzy" is "tightly curled or poofy hair." "Stringy" when referring to hair
denotes "straight, thin, fine, lackluster hair." The shampoo ad most likely mentions these issues
to pinpoint hair problems that the shampoo can treat.
4. Although all the choices have the same denotation, "classic" has the most positive connotation
because something "classic" has timeless appeal.
5. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). Mark is annoyed at receiving the many emails, so he is likely to be impatient. The
connotation of the phrase dashed off is that he carelessly wrote, instead of taking his time to
compose a careful reply.
6. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). The literal, or denotative, meaning for sick is affected with disease or ill health.
7. The author depicts a large group of teammates passing by outside the main character's
window. The use of flooded has nothing to do with water.
8. Determining the connotation of words and phrases often depends on how they are used in the
story. In this case, Stella is overrun with papers in her room; the stacks of paper are called a
downpour. Therefore, the reader can tell that the word "drowning" connotes the feeling of being
completely overrun with schoolwork.
9. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). Brady is excited because his birthday is coming up. The connotation of the word
tickled is that Brady was very happy.
10. The paper that Brady James just turned in is described as "amazing" in the first sentence of
the story. Though it literally means "insane", in this sentence crazy most likely means
"impressed," because that is the reaction a teacher would have to an "amazing" paper.
11. The author uses comments like "the girls never went anywhere apart" to imply that Ramona
would be sad if her very best friend was not in school.
12. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (dictionary or literal
meanings). The denotation of puny is undersized or small. That is the dictionary definition of the
word.
13. The dictionary definition of flood is an overflowing of the land by water.
14. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). The connotation of the word sick (often used with the phrase "and tired") is one of
frustration, implying that Mark was fed up with receiving jokes.
15. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). The dictionary definition of nosy is curious or inquisitive.
16. Brady James uses the word pumped to describe how he feels. In the third paragraph, he tells
his mother that he can "barely sit still," because he is excited about his party being so near. In
this instance, "pumped" connotes the "full of energy."
17. "Current" has the most positive connotation, so Contessa would be wise to use it. Use of
"faddish," "trendy," or "bandwagon" is another way of saying that Contessa's classmates have no
originality and usually fall for the latest crazes.
18. The literal, or denotative, meaning for feverishly is in a way or manner of showing signs of
an increased temperature, or fever.
19. The definition of skirt is a free-hanging part of an outer garment or undergarment extending
from the waist down.
20. Determining the connotation of words and phrases often depends on how they are used in the
story. In this case, Steven is surprised by Valerie's tears because she is usually a tough person,
who is not bothered by anything. Therefore, the reader can tell that the word "delicate" connotes
Valerie's sensitive nature.
21. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). The word boisterous literally means rough and loud, but the word suggests that the
boys are happily noisy.
22. In the story, Trish knows that Jessica is very sad because of how badly her tryout went. She
can see that Jessica is about to cry, and she is trying to comfort her. She tells Jessica that she has
"two more years to make this team". This is a reason why things are going to be "okay", and
Jessica doesn't need to be sad. So the in this sentence, cool connotes "okay."
23. Dirty or not, most pet owners would not call their dog "mangy mutt." Pet lovers probably
would not take their pets to a groomer who uses that term. The denotation for "mutt" is "a mixed
breed of dog," like a puggle (part pug and part beagle). However, mutt has a negative
connotation because it can also mean that a dog is inferior just because it is a mixed breed.
"Mangy" denotes "filthy and/or diseased with a skin problem caused by parasites." Some readers
could get offended that Mark assumes his potential animal customers are are filthy and diseased.
24. Since the main character seems to be trying to finish the poster in time to play the game,
feverishly in this case most closely resembles the word "quickly."
25. In the second sentence of the story, it says that Jessica is running "right past the defender".
To do it, she must be moving very quickly, or she wouldn't be able to go right past. Therefore,
flying connotes "moving quickly".
26. Since the girls decide to entirely evade the issue of Missy's party, the most likely meaning of
skirt is "avoid."
27. Determining the connotation of words and phrases often depends on how they are used in the
story. In this case, Penelope bothers a lot of people, and they try to avoid her. Therefore, the
reader can tell that the word "gnat" connotes how annoying Penelope is. Gnats are small flying
insects that can be very bothersome.
28. All of the words have the same denotation, but "recycled" has the most positive connotation.
It shows that the In Retrospect is beneficial because it helps the environment.
29. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). While the word nosy literally means curious or inquisitive, the word suggests
someone that pries into other people's business or is meddlesome. She wants to know everything
about everyone, so Ginny is nosy.
30. The literal, or denotative, meaning for breeze is a light, gentle wind.
31. Words have connotations (suggestive meanings) and denotations (literal or dictionary
meanings). The literal, or denotative, meaning of the phrase dashed off is to complete, execute,
