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Meaning of Unknown Words

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Read the following paragraph.
At the end of the battle, everyone helps to tidy up the ankle-deep tomato mess in the streets.  The streets are hosed down and people can clean off in specially built outdoor showers.  In a couple of hours, the city is spic and span again, and everyone parties until late at night.
What is the meaning of the word tidy?
a)
eat
b)
mess up
c)
destroy
d)
clean up
2.
Which word has a prefix that means "not"?
a)
rewind
b)
defend
c)
incorrect
d)
preview
3.

Which word(s) in the following sentence help the reader understand the underlined word: There was crazy pandemonium as people were trying to leave the rock concert.

a)

leave

b)

people

c)

concert

d)

crazy

4.

The window had been left open during the storm, so the papers on my desk were a soggy mess.

a)

wet and soft

b)

fresh and hard

c)

dry and clean

d)

sticky and dirty

5.

The firefighters arrived promptly and were able to stop the fire from spreading to other houses.

a)

without delay

b)

not in time

c)

late

d)

slowly

6.
Today I had to deal with one mishap after another. I couldn’t find my car keys, I dropped a bowl of soup at lunchtime, and my computer crashed twice.
In this sentence "mishap" means...
a)
unlucky accident
b)
event
c)
unexpected question
d)
plan
7.
I asked the instructor to explain a confusing passage in the textbook. She said, “I wish I could, but it’s obscure to me, too.” 
In this sentence "obscure" means
a)
obvious
b)
long
c)
unclear
d)
short
8.
Teachers may overlook it when a student is two minutes late. But they are not going to condone someone’s walking into class a half hour late.
In this sentence "condone" means...
a)
allow
b)
color
c)
notice
d)
hear
9.

Lakes occupy less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they help sustain life For instance lakes give us fish to eat irrigate life. For instance, lakes give us fish to eat, irrigate crops, and generate electrical power. What does the word sustain probably mean?

a)

support

b)

destroy

c)

prolong

d)

obstruct

10.
Use context clues to figure out what the word in red means:
Just then, they heard thunder rumble in the distance. Moments later, drops of rain fell on the car’s windshield. 
a)
roar
b)
speak
c)
think
d)
rain