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Worksheets

Meaning of Unknown Words

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."


What does the word firestorm mean?

a)

an intense, destructive fire

b)

fire that rains from burning clouds in the sky

c)

a tool for fighting fires

d)

a goat that battles fires

2.

What does the word "portable" mean?

a)

tending to be carried

b)

tending to take place at the ocean

c)

to make something that can be carried

d)

to carry inside

3.

Mr. Holmes inspected the crime scene for clues.


Based on the word's morphology, what does "inspect" mean?

a)

the study of clues

b)

the study of vision

c)

to not look

d)

to look inside

4.

The movie star's large and beautiful home was palatial.


What does palatial mean?

a)

ugly

b)

tiny

c)

for dogs

d)

like a palace

5.

The video game was supposed to be a diversion. I was just going to play for a few minutes. You know, waste a little time. Instead, I played for hours. When I say "hours," I’m not just exaggerating the amount of time I spent playing. I spent so much time playing it that, over my Thanksgiving break, I slept only four hours and missed Thanksgiving dinner. I did, however, beat the game. When it was over, my accomplishment had earned me little more than a headache and a bad case of insomnia. I felt foolish, so I immediately started playing another game. Read the following sentence from the passage. The video game was supposed to be a diversion. What does the word diversion mean?

a)

lifestyle

b)

disguise

c)

distraction

d)

contest

6.

When Wei Yei got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she became melodramatic, and sobbed and demanded to see a doctor.


What does melodramatic mean?

a)

quiet

b)

overly emotional

c)

angry

d)

not angry enough

7.

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."


What does the word combustible mean?

a)

eaten by goats

b)

from the Pacific coast

c)

healthy and green

d)

easily burned

8.

should look both ways before crossing the street.


Based on the context clues, what does the word pedestrian mean?

a)

crosswalks

b)

walkers

c)

stoplights

d)

parrots

9.

If we use the red napkins, my mom will be happy but my dad will be discontent.


What does discontent mean?

a)

from another continent

b)

not happy

c)

from a different country

d)

not from the same country

10.

Diane was lethargic; she didn't have the energy to get out of bed.

a)

allergic

b)

lively, alert

c)

drowsy, sluggish

d)

in bed

11.

the suffix -ist means a person, or one who does an action; the meaning of -ambular- is walk; and the prefix somn- means sleep. The somnambulist had to be locked in his bedroom at night for his own safety. What does somnambulist mean?

a)

a person who walks to class

b)

a person who decorates bedrooms

c)

a person who walks in their sleep

d)

a person who knows about sleeping

12.

The root word -grat- means: thanks/ pleasing; the suffix -fy means to make, cause. Determine the meaning: A guilty verdict would gratify the victim's relatives.

a)

make them angry

b)

make them glad

c)

make them sad

d)

make them annoyed

13.

She told her friend, “I’m through with blind dates forever. What a dull evening! I was bored every minute. The conversation was absolutely vapid.”

a)

exciting

b)

boring

c)

strong

d)

smelly

14.

What does the word 'elated' mean?

a)

A) very happy

b)

B) very sad

c)

C) confused

d)

D) tired

15.

In the sentence, 'The detective was known for his astute observations,' what does 'astute' mean?

a)

A) clumsy

b)

B) sharp

c)

C) slow

d)

D) dull

16.

What does the word 'benevolent' mean in the context of 'a benevolent leader'?

a)

A) kind and generous

b)

B) strict and harsh

c)

C) indifferent

d)

D) selfish

17.

In the phrase 'a cacophony of sounds,' what does 'cacophony' mean?

a)

A) a pleasant harmony

b)

B) a harsh mixture of sounds

c)

C) a single note

d)

D) silence

18.

What does the word 'meticulous' mean in the sentence 'She was meticulous in her work'?

a)

A) careless

b)

B) thorough and precise

c)

C) quick

d)

D) lazy

19.

In the context of 'an ephemeral moment,' what does 'ephemeral' mean?

a)

A) lasting a long time

b)

B) short-lived

c)

C) permanent

d)

D) eternal

20.

What does the word 'gregarious' mean in the sentence 'He is a gregarious person'?

a)

A) shy

b)

B) sociable

c)

C) unfriendly

d)

D) quiet

21.

In the sentence 'The artist's work was considered avant-garde,' what does 'avant-garde' mean?

a)

A) traditional

b)

B) innovative and ahead of its time

c)

C) outdated

d)

D) simple

22.

What does the word 'quintessential' mean in the phrase 'the quintessential example'?

a)

A) atypical

b)

B) perfect or typical example

c)

C) flawed

d)

D) rare

23.

In the context of 'a clandestine meeting,' what does 'clandestine' mean?

a)

A) open and public

b)

B) secret and hidden

c)

C) noisy

d)

D) accidental

24.

What does the word 'voracious' mean in the sentence 'She had a voracious appetite for books'?

a)

A) disinterested

b)

B) eager and enthusiastic

c)

C) slow

d)

D) reluctant

25.

In the phrase 'a plethora of options,' what does 'plethora' mean?

a)

A) a lack

b)

B) an abundance

c)

C) a few

d)

D) none