Synonyms and Antonyms — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The tiny mouse decided to shout its secret to its friend.
Corrected: The tiny mouse decided to whisper its secret to its friend.
Whisper means to speak very softly, which fits a secret much better than shout, its loud antonym.
2. Fix the sentence:
The racehorse will crawl down the track when the gate opens.
Corrected: The racehorse will gallop down the track when the gate opens.
Gallop is a synonym for running swiftly, while crawl means to move very slowly on hands and knees.
3. Fix the sentence:
The new stadium was a microscopic structure that held 80,000 fans.
Corrected: The new stadium was a colossal structure that held 80,000 fans.
Colossal means enormous, a fitting synonym for a huge stadium, while microscopic means too small to see.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. She did not want to wake the baby, so she spoke in a soft whisper to her sister.
Whisper, murmur, and mumble are synonyms describing very quiet speech, perfect near a sleeping baby.
2. The horses began to gallop across the open meadow when they saw the trainer.
Gallop is a Grade 5 synonym for sprint and dash, all describing rapid forward motion.
3. The redwood trees in the forest are tremendous, towering hundreds of feet above us.
Tremendous, colossal, and immense are synonyms meaning extremely large, fitting for towering redwoods.
4. The athlete had to sprint to the finish line to win the close race.
Sprint and dash are synonyms describing brief bursts of fastest running, ideal for finishing a race.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Explain how the synonyms whisper, murmur, and mumble share a shade of meaning.
Sample answer: All three synonyms describe quiet speech, but each has its own nuance: whisper is intentionally soft and breathy, murmur is a low continuous sound, and mumble suggests unclear, mushy speech.
Recognizing fine shades of meaning helps writers select the most precise synonym for a specific situation.
2. Why might a writer choose colossal instead of big when describing a mountain?
Sample answer: Colossal carries a stronger, more dramatic connotation than big. It suggests something so immense it inspires awe, making the description of the mountain feel grander and more powerful.
Sophisticated synonyms like colossal add precision and emotional weight that a plain word like big cannot deliver.