MAP 3rd Grade Reading › 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 furious with Melissa.
Kellie was angry with Melissa.
Kellie was agitated by 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.
Select the answer choice that best describes a very big stuffed bear.
The stuffed bear was large.
The stuffed bear was enormous.
The stuffed bear was big.
None of the answer choices are correct.
Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
Big, enormous, and large all mean to be great in size. Since we are looking for “very big” or the largest option, “The stuffed bear was enormous” is the correct answer.
Select the answer choice that best shows that Charlie was upset with Josh.
Charlie was angry that Josh beat him in the race.
Charlie was furious that Josh beat him in the race.
Charlie was a bit agitated 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.
Which sentence describes how Andy would throw his toy if he were having a temper tantrum?
Andy tossed his toy to the side during his tantrum.
Andy hurled his toy to the side during his tantrum.
Andy sent his toy to the side during his tantrum.
Andy chucked his toy to the side during his tantrum.
In this question, readers can imagine a child having a tantrum and throwing a toy during their fit. The word that best describes how Andy would throw the toy is "hurled." Hurling means throwing something with force, which would make sense during a temper tantrum. Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning. Chuck, hurl, toss, and send all mean to throw something but each evokes a different shade of meaning.
Select the answer choice that best shows that Jesse was annoyed with the fly.
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 furious with 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.”
Select the answer choice that shows Ben was mad at Anna.
Ben glared at Anna.
Ben peeked at Anna.
Ben stared 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.
Which sentence describes how someone with an injury would move?
Jessa limped down the field to complete the race.
Jessa ran down the field to complete the race.
Jessa jogged down the field to complete the race.
Jessa bolted down the field to complete the race.
Limping, bolting, jogging, and running are all synonyms to describe the speed of movement. If someone is injured, it is not likely that they will be moving quickly, so the word that describes the slowest form of motion of the four is to "limp." Bolting describes someone moving very fast, running is also a speedy type of movement, and jogging would be medium speed. Some words are alike but have slight differences in meaning. This is referred to as shades of meaning.
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.
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.
Select the answer choice that shows that Sarah looked at the stars for a long time.
Sarah stared up at the stars.
Sarah glared up at the stars.
Sarah looked 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.
Select the answer choice that best describes a very small bug.
The bug was tiny.
The bug was small.
The bug was little.
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.