English 9 Honors
Vocabulary Calisthenics
NAME_______________________
“Teaching Chess and Life”, “Community Service and You”, and “Feeding Frenzy”
Related Meanings
In each of the following word groups, cross out the word whose meaning or part of speech is
different from the meaning or part of speech of the vocabulary word in boldface type and the
other two words.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
legislation
leadership
threatening
endeavors
observing
courageous
laws
mentorship
overwhelming
undertakings
bureaucratic
unafraid
penalize
hardship
intimidating
efforts
official
uninterested
regulations
guardianship
contemplating
concerns
administrative
undaunted
Fill in the blank
Choose the vocabulary word from the word bank that best completes the sentence.
legislation
mentorship
intimidating
endeavors
bureaucratic
undaunted
7.
8.
9.
10.
The barking dogs were __________ to the small child.
As town mayor, Nodra had grown tired of the job’s __________ constraints.
All serious __________require patience and hard work.
A newly hired athletic trainer benefits from the __________ of an experienced
professional.
11. The team persevered, __________ by the disappointing loss.
12. The new __________ would obligate skateboarders to wear helmets.
“To Da-Duh, in Memorium” by Paule Marshall
Question and Answer
Respond to the following questions or statements with an appropriate answer based on your
understanding of the italicized vocabulary word.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
In what situation is it good to be unrelenting?
What person, place, or thing do you find formidable?
Name an action that might be reproved by your teacher.
Describe a situation that would leave you truculent.
If a building is decrepit, what does it look like?
Describe a time when someone admonished you.
Describe something in your life that is perennial.
If a person’s clothing were austere, what would it look like?
What does it mean if two people have a protracted argument?
Describe something or someone that you find menacing.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Below are ten word pairs. The first word in each pair is a Vocabulary word. For each
pair, write S in the blank if the second word in the pair is a synonym of the Vocabulary
word or A if the word is an antonym.
23. unrelenting : weakening _____
24. decrepit : intact _____
25. protracted : lengthy _____
26. truculent : mild _____
27. austere : decorated ____
28. reproved : reprimanded _____
29. perennial : annual _____
30. formidable : weak _____
31. admonished : encouraged _____
32. menacing : threatening _____
“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
Fill in the blank
Choose the Vocabulary word from the word bank that best completes the sentence.
Sullenly
imminent
iridescent
blighted
doggedness
reiterated
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
serene infallibility
precariously
mar
A roar of thunder disturbed the __________ mood of the forest.
A darkening sky warned that a storm was __________.
The sunlight cast an __________ glow over the lake.
Hating to be inside on a sunny day, the boy __________ started on his homework.
The boy was so sure his brother would walk that he predicted it with an air of
___________.
The little boy __________ his plea: “Brother don’t leave me; don’t leave me, Brother!”
Although the boy could barely stand, he worked at learning to walk with great
__________.
The crops are __________ due to the severe drought.
The trembling bird perched __________ on a tree limb.
The lies he told would someday ________ his reputation.
Making Meanings with Synonyms
Find a synonym for each Vocabulary word below, and write the synonym in the space provided.
Next, write a sentence using context clues that make the synonym’s meaning clear. An example is
provided:
EXAMPLE: vermillion red Sentence: The Ibis, as red as a cherry, fell from the tree with a thud.
43. imminent __________Sentence:______________________________________________
44. infallibility_________Sentence:______________________________________________
45. doggedness_________Sentence:______________________________________________
46. precariously_________Sentence:_____________________________________________
47. reiterated___________Sentence:_____________________________________________