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Commonly Confused Words: affect or effect, principal or principle — Answers

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

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet9th Grade · English · Vocabulary

Commonly Confused Words: affect or effect, principal or principle — Answers

Part A: Choose the right word

Circle the correct word for each sentence. Read the memory trick in each answer.

1.The lack of sleep began to ___ her concentration.
  1. Aaffect
  2. Beffect

Answer: affect

Affect is usually a verb (to influence). Memory trick: A for Action.

2.The new law had an immediate ___ on traffic.
  1. Aaffect
  2. Beffect

Answer: effect

Effect is usually a noun (a result). It follows an or the.

3.The writer ___ that the plan would fail, without saying it directly.
  1. Aimplied
  2. Binferred

Answer: implied

The writer or speaker implies (suggests); the reader or listener infers (works it out).

4.From the clues, the detective ___ that the thief knew the family.
  1. Aimplied
  2. Binferred

Answer: inferred

The detective works it out from evidence, so the detective infers.

5.The red scarf is a perfect ___ to her coat.
  1. Acomplement
  2. Bcompliment

Answer: complement

A complement completes something. Memory trick: complement and complete share the letters c-o-m-p-l-e.

6.He blushed when his teacher paid him a ___.
  1. Acomplement
  2. Bcompliment

Answer: compliment

A compliment is praise. Memory trick: I like to receive a compliment.

7.The school ___ spoke at the assembly.
  1. Aprincipal
  2. Bprinciple

Answer: principal

Principal means the head of a school, or main. Memory trick: the principal is your pal.

8.Honesty is an important ___ in her life.
  1. Aprincipal
  2. Bprinciple

Answer: principle

A principle is a rule or belief. Both principle and rule end in -le.

9.The bus remained ___ while the driver checked the engine.
  1. Astationary
  2. Bstationery

Answer: stationary

Stationary means not moving. Memory trick: a for at rest.

10.We bought pens, paper and envelopes from the ___ shop.
  1. Astationary
  2. Bstationery

Answer: stationery

Stationery is writing materials. Memory trick: e for envelopes.

Part B: Fill the gap

Write the correct word from the pair given in parentheses.

11.Please be (answer space) (discreet / discrete) and keep the surprise party a secret.

Answer: discreet

Discreet means careful not to attract attention.

12.The data was sorted into five (answer space) (discreet / discrete) categories.

Answer: discrete

Discrete means separate and distinct. Memory trick: the t separates the two e letters.

13.The interviewer tried to (answer space) (elicit / illicit) an honest answer.

Answer: elicit

Elicit means to draw out a response.

14.The police seized the (answer space) (elicit / illicit) goods.

Answer: illicit

Illicit means illegal. Both begin with ill-.

15.Everyone (answer space) (accept / except) Jordan had finished the test.

Answer: except

Except means not including.

16.She was happy to (answer space) (accept / except) the invitation.

Answer: accept

Accept means to receive or agree to.

17.If you (answer space) (lose / loose) your ticket, you cannot get in.

Answer: lose

Lose (one o) means to misplace or fail to win.

18.This screw is (answer space) (lose / loose) and needs tightening.

Answer: loose

Loose (two o letters) means not tight.

Part C: Proofreading

19.Proofread this paragraph. Find and correct the five word-choice errors. The principle reason for the change was safety. The new rules will effect every student, and most people have excepted them. The speech inferred that more changes were coming, but the principal did not loose his calm when questioned.[5 marks]

Answer: 1. principle → principal (main reason). 2. effect → affect (verb: will influence). 3. excepted → accepted. 4. inferred → implied (the speech suggests). 5. loose → lose.

Part D: Your turn

20.Your turn: write five sentences, each using one word from a different pair on this worksheet correctly. Underline the word, and add a memory trick of your own for one pair.

Model answer: 1. The cold weather did not affect our plans. 2. The two shades of blue complement each other. 3. Fairness is a principle our team takes seriously. 4. Please keep the information discreet. 5. I keep my stationery in a box on my desk. Memory trick: you infer when you are in the audience, working something out.

Success criteria:

  • Five sentences, each using a word from a different pair
  • Each word used correctly in context
  • Each sentence shows the meaning clearly
  • An original and useful memory trick for one pair
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