Word Relationships | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	A. Positive "Thrifty" has a positive connotation suggesting wise money management, unlike "cheap" which sounds negative.
2	C. nosy "Nosy" suggests intrusive, unwanted prying. The others suggest genuine interest in a more positive way.
3	C. sprint Whisper is a quiet version of shout; walk is a slow version of sprint. Both show degree (less to more intense).
4	"Stubborn" has a negative connotation (difficult, unreasonable), while "determined" has a positive connotation (committed, persistent). The change would make the dog seem admirable rather than frustrating.
5	C. Part to Whole A chapter is part of a book; a stanza is part of a poem. Both show part-to-whole relationships.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. Negative - suggesting he is cold and unfriendly "Reserved" in this context (watching from a distance, not speaking) suggests coldness or unfriendliness.
2	"Thoughtful" suggests Mr. Chen is considerate and reflective, while "reserved" suggests he is distant and perhaps unfriendly. Both describe quiet behavior, but "thoughtful" presents it positively as someone who thinks carefully.
3	"Meticulous" suggests overly fussy or obsessive attention to detail (slightly negative), while "passionate" suggests enthusiastic care (positive). Both describe careful attention, but one sounds like a fault and the other like a virtue.
4	B. The reader would see her as intrusive and rude "Nosy" has a negative connotation of unwelcome prying; "interested" is neutral or positive.
5	C. stingy Meticulous : careless are antonyms; generous : stingy are also antonyms.
6	C. Part to Whole A chapter is part of a novel; an act is part of a play.
7	B. rain Whisper is a quiet/gentle form of speaking; drizzle is a light/gentle form of rain. Both show degree relationship.
8	B. "Cramped" is negative (uncomfortable); "intimate" is positive (cozy, romantic)
9	"Hovered" suggests the waiter was intrusive and annoying, while "attentive" suggests he was helpfully available. The same behavior (checking on diners frequently) is made to seem negative or positive through word choice.
10	"Meager" suggests insufficient, disappointingly small (negative), while "delicate" suggests refined, artful smallness (positive). The denotation (small portions) is the same, but the connotations are opposite.
11	C. Critical and negative Words like "cramped," "crammed," "hovered," and "meager" all have negative connotations.
12	conceited, arrogant, confident, self-assured "Conceited" and "arrogant" are negative; "confident" and "self-assured" are positive.
13	B. passionate "Obsessed," "fixated," and "fanatical" all have negative connotations; "passionate" is positive.
14	B. ecstatic Irritated : furious shows degree (mild to intense). Pleased : ecstatic also shows mild to intense positive emotion.
15	C. principled "Principled" suggests admirable commitment to beliefs (positive). The others are negative ways to describe inflexibility.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	A. "Gathering ideas" sounds positive and proactive; "collecting complaints" sounds negative and passive.
2	B. Positive - suggests dedication and strong work ethic
3	B. timid In the passage, "cautious" is Maya's positive word for taking time; "reckless" is Derek's negative spin. Similarly, "bold" is Derek's positive word; "timid" would be Maya's negative spin on the same quality.
4	B. states "States" is neutral. "Claims," "alleges," "insists," and "argues" all suggest doubt or conflict.
5	C. Degree - active/intentional to passive/automatic "Listen" is active and intentional; "hear" is passive. "Examine" is active; "see" is passive.
6	B. "Working tirelessly" suggests dedicated effort; "busy" sounds more ordinary or scattered.
7	B. demand Whisper is gentle/quiet; shout is forceful/loud. Suggest is gentle; demand is forceful.
8	B. Word choice can make the same actions seem positive or negative depending on the speaker's intent.
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
2	Clearly explains how both candidates describe the same quality differently, provides specific word examples from the passage, and explains how connotation creates different impressions
1	Identifies different word choices but provides weak explanation of connotation, OR explains concept without specific examples
0	Does not address word choice differences or provides irrelevant response

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Maya and Derek both describe the quality of taking time before making decisions, but they use opposite connotations. Maya presents herself as someone who "listens" and "gathers ideas" - words with positive connotations suggesting thoughtful leadership. Derek criticizes this same quality by saying Maya "cautiously waits for consensus," using "cautiously" to suggest she is too slow and indecisive. Meanwhile, Derek describes his quick decision-making as "bold action" (positive), but Maya implies this same quality is "reckless" (negative). The same behavior sounds either wise or foolish depending on which words are chosen.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
2	Identifies a specific word pair, correctly explains the shared denotation, and clearly explains the different connotations
1	Identifies a word pair but explanation of denotation or connotation is incomplete or unclear
0	Does not correctly identify denotation and connotation or response is off-topic

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
I'll analyze "gathering ideas" vs. "collecting complaints." Both phrases share the DENOTATION of listening to what students say and keeping track of their input. However, their CONNOTATIONS are opposite. "Gathering ideas" suggests Maya is actively seeking valuable input from students - "gathering" sounds purposeful and "ideas" sounds creative and useful. "Collecting complaints" suggests she is just passively receiving negativity - "collecting" sounds passive and "complaints" sounds like whining rather than helpful feedback. Derek uses this connotation difference to make Maya's leadership sound weak rather than responsive.

Quick Reference: Connotation Types