Let’s work through the problems step by step.
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Part A: Denotation and Connotation
We are told to replace underlined words with words from the box that have the
same meaning (denotation) but a
different feeling or association (connotation).
The word box is:
> yelling, walk, scent, forced, terrible
Now let’s go sentence by sentence:
1. “Kim was having a sad and unpleasant day.”
→ Underlined word:
unpleasant
We need a word with same meaning (bad, not nice) but different connotation.
“Terrible” fits — it means very bad, but sounds stronger and more dramatic than “unpleasant.”
✔ Replace with:
terrible
2. “First she was required to clean her room.”
→ Underlined word:
required
Means she had to do it — no choice.
“Forced” means the same thing but feels more harsh or negative.
✔ Replace with:
forced
3. “Then Kim’s stroll with her Dad was canceled.”
→ Underlined word:
stroll
Means a slow, relaxed walk.
“Walk” is the same denotation but less poetic or gentle.
✔ Replace with:
walk
4. “That meant that she would not be able to pass by the park’s flower gardens with their lovely smell.”
→ Underlined word:
smell
Neutral word for odor.
“Scent” has a nicer, more pleasant connotation — often used for flowers or perfume.
✔ Replace with:
scent
5. “And finally, her brother was calling out loudly.”
→ Underlined word:
calling out loudly
Means shouting.
“Yelling” means the same but feels louder and more aggressive.
✔ Replace with:
yelling
So Part A answers in order:
terrible, forced, walk, scent, yelling
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Part B: Most Positive Connotation
For each group, pick the word that sounds the nicest or most positive.
1. youngster, child, juvenile, brat
→ “Child” is neutral/positive. “Youngster” is okay. “Juvenile” can sound clinical or even negative (like “juvenile delinquent”). “Brat” is definitely negative.
✔ Best:
child
2. unusual, odd, crazy, strange
→ All mean “not normal,” but “unusual” is the most neutral and sometimes even positive (e.g., “unusual talent”). “Odd,” “crazy,” and “strange” often sound weird or bad.
✔ Best:
unusual
3. silent, tomblike, peaceful, still
→ “Silent” = quiet. “Tomblike” = spooky/deadly quiet. “Peaceful” = calm and nice. “Still” = not moving, can be neutral.
“Peaceful” has the most positive feeling.
✔ Best:
peaceful
4. pretty, beautiful, nice, neat
→ All good, but “beautiful” is stronger and more emotionally positive than “pretty” or “nice.” “Neat” is more about order.
✔ Best:
beautiful
5. stupid, silly, foolish, unintelligent
→ All negative, but “silly” is the lightest — like being goofy in a fun way. The others are harsher.
✔ Best:
silly
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Final Answers:
Part A:
terrible, forced, walk, scent, yelling
Part B:
1. child
2. unusual
3. peaceful
4. beautiful
5. silly
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Final Answer:
A: terrible, forced, walk, scent, yelling
B: 1. child, 2. unusual, 3. peaceful, 4. beautiful, 5. silly
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of connotative worksheets.
