Synonyms & Antonyms as Context Clues

Read the following sentence:
Nelson developed an affection for nature growing up in the woods of northern Wisconsin. As an adult, he brought his love of the land to his political career.
Which word has almost the same meaning as affection?

• developed
• political
• love
• nature

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

Read the following sentences:
When he became governor of Wisconsin in 1959, he worked hard to protect and care for his state’s natural resources. His Outdoor Recreation Acquisition Program preserved thousands of acres of unspoiled land.
Which pair of words from the sentences best show what preserved means?   

• governor, Wisconsin
• thousands, acres
• natural, unspoiled
• protect, care

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

Read the following sentence:
The program purchased private lands and converted them into wildlife habitats and public parks.
Which word means the opposite of private?

• public
• converted
• purchased
• habitats

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

Read the following excerpt:
Nelson hoped President John F. Kennedy could generate support for environmental issues. In 1963 the senator helped plan a national conservation tour for the president, but the tour did not produce the amount of support for environmental issues that Nelson hoped it would.
Which word from the excerpt best shows what generate means?

• conservation
• support
• produce
• issues

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

All the while, Bill kept his seat. He pressed his knees into the sides of his stormy steed, gripped the rope in one hand, and held on to his hat with the other.
Choose a pair of words from the list below that show synonyms for gripped.
*held                    *climbed
*pressed                *scrambled
*released                  *grasped
*repelled

• held, climbed
• held, grasped
• released, repelled
• scrambled, grasped

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

All the while, Bill kept his seat. He pressed his knees into the sides of his stormy steed, gripped the rope in one hand, and held on to his hat with the other.
Choose a pair of words from the list below that show antonyms for gripped.
*held                    *climbed
*pressed                *scrambled
*released                  *grasped
*repelled

• scrambled, released
• repelled, grasped
• held, climbed
• repelled, released