Writing: Language in Writing 1A&B

Ian is writing cooking directions for the class newsletter. He needs to revise the directions to choose a word with a clearer meaning. Read the sentences from the directions and choose the best word to replace the underlined phrase.

Bring the soup to a boil on the stove. Then, bring down the temperature and cook for 20 minutes.

• limit

• lessen

• reduce

• reserve

Sabrina is writing a report about grasslands for social studies class. She wants to choose the word with the clearest meaning. Read the paragraph from her report and choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Grasslands are large, flat areas of land that are covered in grass and do not have trees. Most grasslands receive little rainfall and become hot in the summer. Because of this climate, wildfires can occur, but these wildfires are actually helpful to life in the grassland. Fires ________ trees and large plants from taking over the area.

• seize

• prevent

• remove

• pause

Felicia is writing a paper about food history for class. She needs to choose a word with the clearest meaning for her paper. Read the paragraph from the paper and choose the change that provides the clearest meaning for the paper.

Today, pies are commonly known as a sweet dessert with fruit or chocolate fillings. In the past, however, pies were basically filled with meats and spices to be served as the main dish. These meat pies can be traced back to ancient Romans and Greeks, who served meats and cheeses in a thick crust.

• change commonly to "greatly"

• change basically to "originally"

• change served to "offered"

• change traced to "followed"

A student named Majid is writing a story for class. He needs to use a word with clearer meaning in his story. Read the sentence from the story and choose the word that best replaces "stay away from."

As James sped out the door, his mother reminded him to be careful at the pool and to _________ getting a sunburn.

• avoid

• stay away from

• escape

• survive

• outlaw

A student named Mina is writing a letter to her pen pal. She wants to choose the word with the clearest meaning. Read the sentences from Mina's letter and choose the best word to complete the sentence.

Yesterday I helped make cheese at a nearby farm. My favorite part was _________ the farmer adding the healthy bacteria to the milk because the milk then started to clump together into cheese curds.

• noticing

• observing

• studying

• witnessing

A student is writing a report for class. The student wants to choose the word with the clearest meaning. Read the sentences from the report and choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Quinoa is a type of grain found in the Andes region of South America. ______________, quinoa has become popular in the United States, and many cooks use it in different types of dishes.

• Freshly

• Soon

• Next

• Recently

Choose the abstract noun to correctly complete the sentence.

Casey enjoyed sleepovers at Brittany's house because her friend always had a good _________.

• imagination

• book

• watermelon

• movie

A student named Sumitra is writing a story for class. She is not certain which words she should use. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Peter _________ from his peaceful dream feeling ready to start the new day.

• woked

• woken

• woke

• wokened

Which sentence uses correct grammar?

• My sister cross the street after looking both ways.

• I always crosses the street carefully to remain safe.

• The brothers often cross the street while holding hands.

• We sometimes crosses the street together to visit the park.

A student is writing a report for class. One of the sentences contains an error in grammar. Read the sentence and choose the word or phrase that corrects the underlined error in grammar.

I think that baking cookies is easy than baking a cake.

• easyer

• easier

• most easier

• more easier