Grade 8 Vocabulary Unit 2
Name _________________________________________________
Hypothesis
Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation,
parts of speech, and definitions of each of the
following words. Then write the word in the
blank space in the illustrative sentences.
Finally, study the lists of synonyms and
antonyms given at the end of each entry.
There is little evidence to support his ___________.
SYNONYMS: assumption, conclusion, guess
ANTONYMS: reality, truth, proof
Impudent
Absurd
This is the most ______________ idea I have
ever heard.
Audacity
(adj) offensively bold and disrespectful
Since the Hawthorne’s were found guilty of a crime,
the reporter described them as _________________.
(adj) ridiculously unreasonable
SYNONYMS: crazy, foolish, idiotic, laughable
ANTONYMS: logical, reasonable, sensible
(n) a theory used as a basis for research
SYNONYMS: brazen, audacious, cocky, rude
ANTONYMS: humble, modest, polite
Impair
(n) shameless daring or boldness
(v) to weaken or damage
Drinking can _________________ your judgment
and make driving dangerous.
It takes a lot of ___________________ to talk
back to your parents.
SYNONYMS: hinder, injure, hurt, diminish
ANTONYMS: aid, assist, help, improve
SYNONYMS: cockiness, arrogance, recklessness
ANTONYMS: caution, meekness, modesty
Persist
Crevice
(v) to continue stubbornly
(n) a crack
Walter’s lucky coin fell into a ________________
between two stones and was never seen again.
SYNONYMS: gap, fissure, chasm
ANTONYMS: closure, solid
The snow appeared as if it would ______________
all day.
SYNONYM: continue, endure, remain, persevere
ANTONYM: cease, give up, leave, quit, stop
2
Pervade
Proportional
(v) to be spread or to be present throughout
Regression
When my grandmother cooks, the smell of garlic
will ______________________ the whole house.
The _____________________ of ice to water
occurred after we heated it up.
SYNONYMS: fill, penetrate, extend, infuse
SYNONYMS: lapse, revert, deterioration
ANTONYMS: progression
(adj) having a constant relation in degree or number
Shrew
Your grade is usually _____________________ to
the amount of studying you do.
(n) a mean, nagging woman
Jane's a brilliant woman, but she's really quite a
________________.
SYNONYMS: comparable, equal, even
ANTONYMS: disproportionate, unequal
Proposition
(n) a return to a less developed condition
SYNONYMS: biddy, wench, hag
ANTONYMS: gentlewoman, sweetheart, lady
(n) a suggested plan
Specialization (n) a focus on a particular activity or area of study
The buyer's _____________________ for the house
was not accepted because the offer was too low.
The _______________________ of a pediatrician is
working with sick children.
SYNONYMS: suggestion, recommendation
ANTONYMS: opposition, refusal, rejection
Ransom
(n) a price or a payment demanded in return for the
release of property or a person
SYNONYMS: profession, employment, occupation
ANTONYMS: entertainment, fun, pastime
Tangible
(adj) able to be seen or touched
I received a __________________ note from the
kidnappers.
He preferred money instead of praise for a
__________________ reward.
SYNONYMS: bribe, payoff, payment
SYNONYMS: real, concrete
ANTONYMS: abstract, unreal, fictitious, imaginary
3
SECTION II
Choosing the Correct Vocabulary Term
From the words for this unit, choose the one
that best completes each of the following
sentences. Write the word in the space
provided.
1. The detective searched for _________________ evidence to solve
the mystery.
12. After several big wins, the feeling of school pride began to
_________________ the student body.
13. The grade I get on my test is ____ to how much time I study for
the test.
14. The student who ____________________ (s) with her piano
lessons will be the best performer.
2. This is the most __________________ idea I ever heard.
15. One area of a mold maker’s ________________________ is in
welding.
3. Even drinking in moderation can ______________ your reflexes.
SECTION III
4. It is ______________________ to talk back to your parents.
Choose and then circle the word from this unit
that is the same or most nearly the same in
meaning as the boldface word.
5. A single blade of grass grew out of the ___________________ in
the concrete patio.
6. Harold had the ______________________ to ask me and another
girl for a date on the same night.
Synonyms
1. Penetrate
Audacity
Tangible
Pervade
2. Assumption
Hypothesis
Ransom
Proposition
8. The ______________________ of the patient’s condition was not
expected after the surgery.
3. Chasm
Crevice
Impudent
Persist
4. Occupation
Absurd
Impair
Specialization
9. When kidnappers abduct someone, they usually ask for
_______________ money.
5. Foolish
Hypothesis
Absurd
Tangible
6. Bribe
Regression
Ransom
Hypothesis
7. Recommendation
Specialization Proposition
Tangible
8. Continue
Audacity
Persist
7. The school board offered the parents a _____________________.
10. The neighborhood kids called the old woman down the street a
_______________ because she always yelled at them when
they crossed her yard.
11. The science experiment established that his ________________
was correct.
Pervade
4
SECTION IV
4. Chris thought that Dr. Denton was holding him for (ransom,
impudent, specialization) .
Antonyms
Choose and circle the word from this unit that is
most nearly opposite in meaning to the
boldface word or expression in the given
phrase.
9. Sweetheart
Ransom
Shrew
Proposition
10. Progression
Regression
Crevice
Pervade
11. Fictitious
Absurd
Tangible
Impudent
12. Modesty
Proportional
Proposition
Audacity
13. Unequal
Proportional
Proposition
Audacity
14. Improve
Impair
Absurd
Impudent
15. Polite
Impudent
Impair
Tangible
SECTION V
5. Her temper made her seem like a (tangible, regression, shrew) .
6. The doctor assured him that the surgery would not (hypothesis,
pervade, impair) his vision.
7. I could not believe the (audacity, impudent, absurd) of the
announcer saying that the Falcons will beat the Gators.
8. The (audacity, impudent, tangible) young student was
called before the principal to be disciplined.
9. Get rid of that dead mouse so that the odor doesn’t (regression,
pervade, shrew) the whole 8th grade classroom.
10. Punishment ought to be (tangible, shrew, proportional) to the
crime.
Choosing the Correct Word
11. The child's (regression, crevice, audacity) was evident when he
began to suck his thumb.
Circle the boldface word that most accurately
completes each of the following sentences.
12. Each of your 8th grade teachers have at least one area of
(regression, specialization, persistence).
1. Because you cannot see or touch it, love is not a (tangible,
regression, proposition) thing.
13. There used to be an (absurd, hypothesis, shrew) that stated the
world was flat.
14. Her (persist, regression, proposition) was put up for a vote.
2. Ms. Frizzle slipped into a (crevice, pervade, specialization) and
we never saw her again!
3. Telling Mrs. Reilly that an alien took your homework is an
(crevice, absurd, audacity) excuse!
15. If you (persist, impudent, ransom) in asking me the same
question, I will begin to ignore you.
5
SECTION VI
Creating a List of Unit 1 Vocabulary
Accurately spell each of the terms on the lines below.
1. _________________________
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2. _________________________
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3. _________________________
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10. _________________________
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11. _________________________
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12. _________________________
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13. _________________________
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14. _________________________
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15. _________________________
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Grade 8 Vocabulary Unit 2