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Shades of Meaning: Choosing Precise Synonyms — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 9 vocabulary worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 9 · English · Vocabulary

Shades of Meaning: Choosing Precise Synonyms — Answers

Part A: Turn up the volume

Synonyms often differ in intensity. Write each set in order from weakest to strongest.

1.Rank from weakest to strongest: furious, annoyed, angry, irritated

Answer: irritated, annoyed, angry, furious

  1. Irritated and annoyed are close; either order for the first two is accepted.
2.Rank from weakest to strongest: warm, scorching, hot, mild

Answer: mild, warm, hot, scorching

3.Rank from weakest to strongest: content, ecstatic, happy, delighted

Answer: content, happy, delighted, ecstatic

4.Rank from weakest to strongest: tiny, small, microscopic, little

Answer: little or small, then tiny, then microscopic. (Little and small are close in intensity; either order is accepted.)

Part B: Choose the precise word

Synonyms can also differ in manner (how something is done) and formality. Circle the best word.

5.After the ten-hour hike, the exhausted walkers (answer space) back to camp.
  1. Astrolled
  2. Btrudged
  3. Cskipped
  4. Dmarched

Answer: trudged

Trudged suggests slow, heavy, tired steps, which fits exhausted walkers.

6.On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the couple (answer space) along the river, enjoying the view.
  1. Astrolled
  2. Btrudged
  3. Cstormed
  4. Dstaggered

Answer: strolled

Strolled suggests a relaxed, unhurried walk.

7.Offended by the comment, she (answer space) out of the room and slammed the door.
  1. Awandered
  2. Btiptoed
  3. Cstormed
  4. Dambled

Answer: stormed

Stormed suggests anger and force.

8."Please don't wake the baby," Dad (answer space).
  1. Abellowed
  2. Bwhispered
  3. Cannounced
  4. Dshrieked

Answer: whispered

Whispered fits the need to stay quiet.

9.The children (answer space) with laughter when the clown fell over.
  1. Achuckled
  2. Bsmirked
  3. Chowled
  4. Dsniggered

Answer: howled

Howled shows loud, uncontrollable laughter, matching the slapstick moment.

10.Which word is the most formal synonym for buy?
  1. Agrab
  2. Bpick up
  3. Cpurchase
  4. Dget

Answer: purchase

Purchase suits formal writing such as reports and letters.

Part C: Banish vague words

Replace the vague word with a more precise one that suits the context.

11."I'm so sorry," she (answer space), tears running down her cheeks. (replace said)

Answer: sobbed

Any word that shows crying or distress is correct: sobbed, wept, whimpered.

12.The racing car (answer space) past the crowd. (replace went)

Answer: roared

Any word that suggests speed and noise is correct: roared, zoomed, sped, flashed.

13.The view from the mountaintop was (answer space). (replace good)

Answer: breathtaking

Any precise, vivid adjective is correct: breathtaking, spectacular, magnificent.

14.The old house was (answer space), with peeling paint and broken windows. (replace bad)

Answer: dilapidated

Any precise word that suggests decay is correct: dilapidated, run-down, crumbling.

Part D: Revise for precision

15.Revise this paragraph, replacing the five underlined vague words with precise ones: "The storm was big. The wind went through the trees and the rain fell on the roof. The dog looked at the window and made a noise."

Answer: Model: The storm was ferocious. The wind howled through the trees and the rain hammered on the roof. The dog stared at the window and whimpered. (Any precise, well-chosen replacements are correct.)

16.Explain why slim and skinny create different impressions even though both mean thin.

Answer: Slim has a positive connotation, suggesting someone is attractive or healthy. Skinny can sound negative, suggesting someone is too thin. Choosing between them changes how the reader feels about the person.

Part E: Your turn

17.Your turn: write two short descriptions (3–4 sentences each) of the same moment, such as a crowd leaving a stadium or a family arriving home. Make the first calm and the second tense, using different synonyms to change the mood. Underline the words you changed.

Model answer: Calm: The crowd drifted out of the stadium into the warm evening. Families ambled towards the bus stops, chatting about the game, and children skipped ahead. Tense: The crowd surged out of the stadium into the dark evening. Families pushed towards the bus stops, shouting over the noise, and children clutched their parents' hands.

Success criteria:

  • Two descriptions of the same moment
  • First description creates a calm mood
  • Second description creates a tense mood
  • Synonyms chosen precisely for intensity and manner
  • Changed words underlined
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Marking tips

  • Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
  • For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
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