Word Choice and Connotation

Read the sentence below. The word dinky has a ________ connotation.

My mom only let me eat a dinky scoop of ice cream.

• positive

• negative

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

• "Surprised" is an antonym of "astounded"

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

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

• "surprised" and "astounded" have different denotations

Read the following sentence: The hedgehog was ecstatic-- She had found a hole to burrow into, and she was 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?

• overly intelligent

• greatly impressed

• extremely happy

• often late

What is the term for the emotions that a word stirs in a reader?

• synonym

• denotation

• connotation

• acronym

Read the sentence below. The word tranquil has a ___________ connotation.

The baby looked tranquil as he slept.

• positive

• negative

Read the sentence below. The word dinky has a __________ connotation.

My mom only let me eat a dinky scoop of ice cream.

• positive

• negative

William wanted to be honest but still impress his girlfriend. So he told her that the fancy necklace he gave her was _________________________.

• inexpensive

• cheap

• free

• stolen

Ollie ___________________ science so much that he can talk about it for hours and hours.

• appreciates

• adores

• reads

• watches

Shayla thought her best friend's cat had lost too much weight. Hoping not to be too negative, Shayla told her that the cat looked ________________________

• gaunt

• ill

• skinny

• like death

Martin can talk his friends into doing or believing just about anything. Some parents are worried that Martin is ___________________________ them.

• telling

• brainwashing

• blackmailing

• influencing