Grade 7 ELA Practice Test: Connotation, Denotation and Word Choice
- Connotation, Denotation and Word Choice
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
These 10 questions practice the difference between what a word means and what it suggests. Tip: when two words mean almost the same thing, ask which one makes you feel better or worse about the person or thing described.
Tap an option to mark your answer. You can change your mind, or tap the same option again to leave the question blank. The correct answers and explanations appear when you finish the test.Tap an option to answer; tap it again to leave the question blank.
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Question 1
What is the denotation of a word?
Correct answer: B
Denotation is the dictionary meaning. The feelings and associations a word carries are its connotation, which is the most common mix-up.
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Question 2
Which word gives the most positive description of a person who spends money carefully?
Correct answer: C
All four words describe someone who does not spend much, but "thrifty" praises good planning. "Stingy," "cheap" and "tight-fisted" suggest the person is selfish or unwilling to share.
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Question 3
A writer wants readers to dislike an old house. Which word should the writer use to describe it?
Correct answer: A
"Rundown" suggests neglect and decay, so it has a negative connotation. "Historic," "charming" and "classic" all make an old house sound appealing.
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Question 4
When the bell rang, the students scurried to their seats.
What does the word scurried suggest that the word walked does not?
Correct answer: D
"Scurry" means to move with quick, short steps, like a small animal in a hurry. "Walked" is neutral and says nothing about speed or mood.
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Question 5
Sentence 1: Maya is confident.
Sentence 2: Maya is arrogant.How are the two sentences different?
Correct answer: B
Both words describe someone who believes in herself, but "arrogant" has a negative connotation: it suggests she looks down on others. "Confident" is positive.
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Question 6
The new skate park is a cramped slab of concrete squeezed between two parking lots.
What tone do the underlined words create?
Correct answer: A
"Cramped" and "squeezed" both suggest there is not enough room, so the writer sounds disapproving. A neutral sentence would simply give the park's size and location.
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Question 7
The farmers market was crowded on Saturday morning.
A writer wants the market to sound lively and welcoming. Which word should replace crowded?
Correct answer: C
"Bustling" suggests cheerful activity and energy. "Jammed," "overrun" and "clogged" all make the crowd sound like a problem.
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Question 8
Which pair of words has nearly the same denotation but opposite connotations?
Correct answer: A
A scent and a stench are both smells, but a scent is pleasant and a stench is disgusting. "Happy" and "joyful" are both positive, and "quick" and "slow" have opposite denotations.
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Question 9
The builders say the new tower will "revitalize" downtown. The neighbors say it will "swallow" the last open park.
What does the difference in word choice show?
Correct answer: D
"Revitalize" means to bring new life, a positive word, while "swallow" makes the tower sound like a threat. The opposite connotations reveal opposite attitudes.
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Question 10
Which word describes a person's build with a neutral connotation?
Correct answer: B
"Thin" simply states the person's build. "Slender" is a compliment, while "scrawny" and "bony" sound unhealthy or unattractive.
Questions you leave blank are not counted as wrong.
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