Language - Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

To think about something means to ponder.

To use ponder in a sentence, "High school seniors usually ponder about which college to attend."

Something that shines or is bright is radiant.

To use radiant in a sentence, "Her teeth were so white, her smile was radiant."

Answer: Negligent.

Answer: Omit

Allege. The word “allege” means “claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong.” In general, an allegation does not involve evidence or proof, whereas an accusation involves some form of evidence.

Answer: Famished

compel. Compel means “to force or oblige someone to do something.

Exonerated means “absolved from blame or wrongdoing, particularly after careful consideration of the case.”

A prediction is a claim or belief made about the future, much like a forecast is an indication that something is likely to happen.

Rudimentary means basic, fundamental, or primitive.

Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.

Both impatient and eager mean to want something to happen. However, eager means you are excited- which is more positive. Impatient means you are pushy or demanding- which is negative. Eager is the correct answer.

Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.

Both employee and underling mean to work for someone. However, underling is more of a negative term.

Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.

All of the words are similar in meaning and imply that something (in this case a stray cat) is skinny. Based on the context of the sentences the cat is extremely skinny which means that “thin” is not a severe enough denotation.

Domineering means inclined to rule arbitrarily or despotically; overbearing; tyrannical. The king is incredibly unwilling to listen to anyone and uses brute force to rule. This is beyond pushy, assertive, and aggressive.

The context of the sentence tells us he has a very high IQ and a difficult job that requires a lot of knowledge so readers know he is brainy, smart, and bright but he is more than that. The connotation of the sentences leads the readers to understand he is incredibly smart or in this case, brilliant.

Several of these choices have similar connotations (meanings) but to varying extremes. Something that is hideous would be hard to look at, and therefore distinguishable or noticeable; to a slightly lesser extent, ugly is also a memorable condition when the sentence indicates that this person would be forgettable. And “dull” when applied to a person generally relates to personality not appearance (when applied to an object it means the opposite of shiny). Someone who has features that are easily forgotten or undistinguishable would be plain.

All of the answer choices mean something similar in that the items must be old but the connotation of the sentences assists readers with which word has the most appropriate denotation. When describing handcrafted items, such as furniture, that are old and worth a lot of money they are referred to as antiques. What was found in this example were valuable pieces of antique furniture.

Jackie is overcome with joy and is elated to have received just the gift she was hoping for. Her smile was enormous and she had tears of joy in her eyes. This tells readers that she is thrilled with the gift and far beyond the wrong answer choices emotionally.