Word Choice

Read the following sentence:

The baby was very clever. It already knew how to crawl into a room without making a sound.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used "cunning" instead of the word "clever"?

Read the following passage:

"He's very influential in the clowning community," she whispered to her friend, pointing to the tall man in loose pants and rainbow suspenders striding across the room. "He's a great artist. Balloon animals have never been the same."

How does the author intend the word "influential" to be taken in this passage?

Read the following sentence:

The hedgehog was ecstatic-- She had found a hole to burrow into, and she was happily settled beneath the ground, excited to sleep the day away.

Based on the context clues, what is the denotation of the word "ecstatic" in the passage?

Read the following passage:

After winning the spelling bee, Bridget became cocky. "I can spell any word in the universe," she insisted loudly, even in places where it was not required to spell things. Like at the movies with her friends.

Her best friend, annoyed, said, "I bet you can't spell a word in German." Bridget did not speak German.

"I probably can," she insisted,"I mean, how hard can it be, right?"

How does the author intend the word "cocky" to be taken in this passage?

Read the following sentence:

The man stretched slowly, then continued his sluggish walk down the street.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "unhurried" instead of the word "sluggish"?

Read the following passage:

My grandmother is thrifty. She never throws out old clothes and saves all her jars to reuse as glasses.

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used "cheap" instead of the word "thrifty"?

Read the following passage:

"How could you do this?" the painter screeched. "How could you paint that wall blue? It should clearly be orange!"

How would the meaning of the sentence change if the author used the word "whimpered" instead of the word "screeched"?

Read the following sentence:

A flock of flamingos slowly picked their way across the lawn towards the Gupta family where they stood waiting.

How would the meaning of the sentence change is the author used the word "mob" instead of the word "flock"?