All Common Core: 3rd Grade English Language Arts Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Replace the underlined word with the correct word(s) to show that Ashley was certain about the answer to the math question.
While taking a math test, Ashley wondered about the answer to the first question.
suspected
knew
heard
believed she knew
knew
To be certain of an answer means that you know the answer. To believe to know or suspect doesn't mean to be certain. Also, to hear something does not mean to know something.
Example Question #2 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that best shows Kellie being very upset with Melissa.
Kellie was angry with Melissa.
Kellie was furious with Melissa.
Kellie was agitated by Melissa.
Kellie was furious with Melissa.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Furious, angry, and agitated all mean to be upset, but in different ways. These words all have different intensities.
To be agitated by someone is to be a little bit annoyed with them, not very upset.
To be angry with someone is to be upset with them.
To be furious with someone is to be very upset or very angry.
The word that would be best to describe being very upset is “furious”. “Kellie was furious with Melissa.” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that best shows that Charlie was upset with Josh.
Charlie was a bit agitated that Josh beat him in the race.
Charlie was furious that Josh beat him in the race.
Charlie was angry that Josh beat him in the race.
Charlie was angry that Josh beat him in the race.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Furious, angry, and agitated all mean to be upset, but in different ways. These words all have different intensities.
To be agitated by someone is to be a little bit annoyed with them, not very upset.
To be angry with someone is to be upset with them.
To be furious with someone is to be very upset or very angry.
The word that would be best to describe being upset is “angry”. “Charlie was angry that Josh beat him in the race.” is the correct answer.
Example Question #1 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that best shows that Jesse was annoyed with the fly.
Jesse was furious with the fly that kept landing on his food.
Jesse was agitated by the fly that kept landing on his food.
Jesse was angry with the fly that kept landing on his food.
Jesse was agitated by the fly that kept landing on his food.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Furious, angry, and agitated all mean to be upset, but in different ways. These words all have different intensities.
To be agitated by someone is to be a little bit annoyed with them, not very upset.
To be angry with someone is to be upset with them.
To be furious with someone is to be very upset or very angry.
Given our choices, agitated is the best word to use to show annoyance. The correct answer is “Jesse was agitated by the fly that kept landing on his food.”
Example Question #3 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that shows Ben was mad at Anna.
Ben glared at Anna.
Ben peeked at Anna.
Ben stared at Anna.
Ben glared at Anna.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Glared, peeked, and stared all mean to look at something, but in different ways.
When you glare as something you look in an angry way.
When you peek at something you look quickly.
When you stare at something you look for a long time.
Because this question asks us to pick the answer that shows Ben was mad, “Ben glared at Anna” is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that shows that Matthew didn’t completely look at the homework assignment.
Matthew peeked at the assignment.
Matthew stared at the assignment.
Matthew glared at the assignment.
Matthew peeked at the assignment.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Glared, peeked, and stared all mean to look at something, but in different ways.
When you glare as something you look in an angry way.
When you peek at something you look quickly.
When you stare at something you look for a long time.
Because this question asks us to pick the answer that shows Matthew didn’t completely look at the assignment, we can assume he looked quickly or peeked at it.
Example Question #4 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that shows that Sarah looked at the stars for a long time.
Sarah stared up at the stars.
Sarah looked up at the stars.
Sarah glared up at the stars.
Sarah stared up at the stars.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Glared, peeked, and stared all mean to look at something, but in different ways.
When you glare as something you look in an angry way.
When you peek at something you look quickly.
When you stare at something you look for a long time.
Because this question asks us to pick the answer that shows Sarah looked at the stars for a long time, “Sarah stared up at the stars.” is the correct answer.
Example Question #8 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that best describes a very small bug.
The bug was little.
The bug was small.
The bug was tiny.
The bug was tiny.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Tiny, small, and little all mean to be small in size. Since we are looking for “very small” or the smallest option, “The bug was tiny” is the correct answer.
Example Question #5 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the answer choice that best describes how someone might feel after winning the grand prize at a fair.
Happy
Content
Thrilled
Thrilled
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Thrilled, happy, and content are all words that describe having a good or positive feeling. But, these words all have different intensities. If we were going to rate these feelings “content” would be good, “happy” would be very good, and “thrilled” would be the best feeling.
If you win a grand prize, that would likely be the best feeling. So “Thrilled” is the correct answer.
Example Question #6 : Distinguish Shades Of Meaning Among Related Words: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.3.5.C
Select the best word to describe how you might feel if you lost your favorite toy.
Unhappy
Sad
Devastated
Devastated
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Devastated, sad, and unhappy all mean to be upset about something. But, these words all have different intensities.
Unhappy means to be not glad or cheerful
Sad means to be upset, having no joy
Devastated means to be severely affected by something in a negative way.
If you lost something that was your favorite thing, it would likely severely affect you. “Devastated” is the best answer choice.
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