FAST Practice Quiz

Word Relationships
Grade 7 Reading
FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.7.V.1.3
10 Questions
/10
Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions about word relationships, including connotation, denotation, analogies, and how word choice affects meaning and tone.
The Debate

The student council election had come down to two candidates: Maya and Derek. Their final debate would determine the winner.

Maya spoke first. "Our school needs a leader who listens to students," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I've spent months gathering ideas from every grade. My opponent has been busy making promises he can't keep."

Derek responded quickly. "Maya claims she listens, but she's really just collecting complaints. I've been working tirelessly on real solutions. While she cautiously waits for consensus, I'm ready to take bold action."

The audience noticed something interesting: both candidates described similar activities but used very different words. Maya's "gathering" became Derek's "collecting complaints." Derek's "bold" leadership was Maya's "reckless" decision-making.

After the debate, student reporter Jenna Chen wrote: "Tonight showed us that word choice matters. The same actions can sound heroic or foolish depending on who describes them and which words they choose."

1
Maya uses "gathering ideas" while Derek says she is "collecting complaints." What is the difference in CONNOTATION between these descriptions?
A
"Gathering ideas" sounds positive and proactive; "collecting complaints" sounds negative and passive.
B
Both phrases have the same meaning and connotation.
C
"Collecting complaints" is more positive because it sounds organized.
D
"Gathering ideas" sounds negative because it implies indecision.
2
Derek describes himself as "working tirelessly." What is the CONNOTATION of this phrase?
A
Negative - suggests he is exhausted and inefficient
B
Positive - suggests dedication and strong work ethic
C
Neutral - simply describes the amount of work
D
Negative - suggests he complains about his workload
3
Complete the analogy based on the connotation pattern in the passage: CAUTIOUS : RECKLESS :: BOLD : ___
A
brave
B
timid
C
confident
D
strong
4
Derek uses the word "claims" when referring to Maya's statement. Which word would create a more POSITIVE impression of Maya?
A
alleges
B
states
C
insists
D
argues
5
What type of relationship is shown in this analogy: LISTEN : HEAR :: EXAMINE : SEE
A
Synonym - the words mean the same thing
B
Antonym - the words are opposites
C
Degree - active/intentional to passive/automatic
D
Part to Whole - one is part of the other
6
The DENOTATION of both "busy" and "working tirelessly" relates to doing many tasks. How do their CONNOTATIONS differ?
A
"Busy" is more positive because it sounds more professional.
B
"Working tirelessly" suggests dedicated effort; "busy" sounds more ordinary or even scattered.
C
Both words have identical connotations.
D
"Busy" suggests more important work than "working tirelessly."
7
Complete the analogy: WHISPER : SHOUT :: SUGGEST : ___
A
speak
B
demand
C
mention
D
recommend
8
Based on the reporter's conclusion, what is the main message about word choice in the passage?
A
Politicians always lie about their opponents.
B
Word choice can make the same actions seem positive or negative depending on the speaker's intent.
C
Students should not trust political debates.
D
Maya is clearly the better candidate based on her word choice.
9
Explain how Maya and Derek use word choice differently to describe the SAME quality (taking time before making decisions). Use specific examples from the passage.
10
Choose ONE word pair from the passage where the candidates describe the same thing differently. Explain the DENOTATION they share and how their CONNOTATIONS differ.
___Multiple Choice (8)
___Written Response (2)
___Total (10)
FAST Success Kit | Grade 7 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.7.V.1.3
Practice quiz format mirrors Florida FAST assessment style