Word Origins and Connotation — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 7th Grade vocabulary worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet7th Grade · English · VocabularyWord Origins and Connotation — Answers
Part A: Roots
Many English words are built from Greek and Latin roots. Use the example words to work out the meaning of each root.
- Afar
- Bsound
- Clight
- Dwrite
Answer: far
Television = seeing from far away.
- Aair
- Bwater
- Cearth
- Dfire
Answer: water
An aquarium holds water.
- Alife
- Bearth
- Cstar
- Dbody
Answer: life
Biology = the study of life.
- Asee
- Bwrite or draw
- Chear
- Dbuild
Answer: write or draw
An autograph is your own name written.
- Acarry
- Bbuild
- Cbreak
- Dsell
Answer: carry
Portable = able to be carried.
- Aplace
- Btime
- Cspeed
- Dage
Answer: time
Chronology = the order of events in time.
Part B: Connotation
Connotation is the feeling a word carries. Circle whether each word is positive, negative or neutral.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: positive
"Slender" suggests graceful thinness.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: negative
"Scrawny" suggests unhealthy thinness.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: neutral
"Thin" simply describes, without judging.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: positive
"Confident" is admiring.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: negative
"Arrogant" is critical: too confident.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: positive
"Thrifty" praises careful spending.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: negative
"Stingy" criticizes someone for not spending.
- Apositive
- Bnegative
- Cneutral
Answer: neutral
"Inexpensive" states a fact without strong feeling.
Part C: Why that word?
Answer each question in a sentence or two.
Answer: Affordable. It has a positive connotation (good value), whereas "cheap" can suggest poor quality.
Answer: Vintage. It suggests the car is classic and desirable, while "old" suggests worn out.
Answer: The politician's plan was announced today. ("Scheme" suggests something sneaky; "plan" is neutral.)
Answer: The boy was determined about finishing the race. ("Determined" praises the same quality that "stubborn" criticizes.)
Part D: Change the tone
The cozy house sat at the end of a quiet street. Its rustic walls were draped in lush vines, and the lively garden hummed with insects. Inside, the snug rooms smelled of well-loved old furniture.
Model answer: The cramped house sat at the end of a deserted street. Its weathered walls were covered in overgrown vines, and the cluttered garden crawled with insects. Inside, the dim rooms smelled of stale, musty old furniture.
Success criteria:
- Same house and same facts described
- At least six words swapped for negative-connotation alternatives
- Changed words underlined
- Writing remains grammatically correct
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.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.