dictionary skills355f5fff485fd0bd834f-ee8d35f23e0ceb27c81bace1301421dd.r93... · 2016-08-06 ·...

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REM 400

Dictionary Skills

GRADES 4-8

A TEACHING RESOURCE FROM

This product utilizes innovative strategies and proven methods to improve student learning. The product is based upon reliable research and effective practices that have been replicated in classrooms across the United States. Information regarding the research basis is provided on our website at www.rempub.com/research

REM400_book.indd 1 7/19/11 9:57:10 AM

Copyright by Remedia Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The purchase of this product entitles the individual teacher to reproduce copies for classroom use.

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Dictionary Skills ii ©Remedia Publications

An important awareness that all students should acquire is the many ways a dictionary can help them in their reading, spelling, comprehension, word usage, and writing. This book provides twenty-six appealing exercises that will result in a good working knowledge of this resource tool. The lessons cover alphabetizing, guide words, definitions, syllabication, parts of speech, multiple meanings, and more.

Included are a pre/post-test and an answer key. This book is recommended for use in grades 4-8.

INTRODUCTION

Entry Words – Alphabetical Order ....................................................................1-3

Entry Words – Syllables .......................................................................................4

Entry Words – Compound Words .........................................................................5

Guide Words ....................................................................................................6-7

Respelling .........................................................................................................8-9

Respelling – Accent Marks .................................................................................10

Entry Words – Parts of Speech ............................................................................11

Definitions ....................................................................................................12-13

Multiple Meanings ........................................................................................14-15

Homophones .....................................................................................................16

Synonyms ..........................................................................................................17

Slang .................................................................................................................18

Abbreviations ....................................................................................................19

Proper Nouns ....................................................................................................20

People ...............................................................................................................21

Pictures .............................................................................................................22

Word Meanings ............................................................................................23-25

Animals .............................................................................................................26

Pre/Post-Test ......................................................................................................27

Answer Key ..................................................................................................28-29

CONTENTS

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©Remedia Publications 1 Dictionary Skills

Name ________________________________________

Adictionary is a book you use to find out about words. It tells you how to spell words, how to pronounce words, how to use words, where

words come from, and what words mean.

To be able to use a dictionary, you must know the alphabet. All the words listed in the dictionary are called ENTRY WORDS. The entry words are listed in alphabetical order and printed in bold, dark letters.

ENTRY WORDS: ALPHABETICAL ORDER

1. fox ____________________

2. alligator ____________________

3. tiger ____________________

4. jaguar ____________________

5. zoo ____________________

6. penguin ____________________

7. lion ____________________

8. bear ____________________

9. rat ____________________

10. snake ____________________

11. deer ____________________

12. elk ____________________

13. ox ____________________

Look at the words below. If you were going to look up each word, which part of the dictionary would you turn to—front, middle,or back? Write the part on the line next to each word.

14. hawk ____________________

15. monkey ____________________

16. unicorn ____________________

17. quail ____________________

18. yak ____________________

19. iguana ____________________

20. koala ____________________

21. vulture ____________________

22. nightingale ____________________

23. crane ____________________

24. walrus ____________________

25. gorilla ____________________

26. xylophone ____________________

aard•vark (ärd’ värk’), n. A burrowing mammal of Africa having long claws and a long, sticky tongue with which it feeds on insects.

The entry words are listed in alphabetical order so they are easier to find. Imagine that your dictionary is divided into three parts: The FRONT part has all the words from A thru G; the MIDDLE part has all the words from H thru Q; the BACK part has all the words from R thru Z.

A-G = Front H-Q = Middle R-Z = Back

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Dictionary Skills 2 ©Remedia Publications

Name ________________________________________

BADGER, BAT, BALD EAGLE – Which one comes first in alphabetical order? As you can see, alphabetizing can be tricky. Many words not

only begin with the same first two letters, but also with the same first three, four, and even sometimes five letters.

Practice your alphabetizing skills with the words below by putting each group in ABC order.

1. alligator ____________________

aardvark ____________________

asp ____________________

2. bear ____________________

bull ____________________

bird ____________________


3. cat ____________________

crane ____________________

cockatoo ____________________

4. dog ____________________

deer ____________________

duck ____________________

1. elephant ____________________

elk ____________________

elder duck ____________________

2. fawn ____________________

falcon ____________________

fang ____________________

1. jackal ____________________

jackrabbit ____________________

jackdaw ____________________

Now, it gets a little trickier. Put these groups in ABC order.

3. goat ____________________

gorilla ____________________

gopher ____________________

4. hartebeest ____________________

hawk ____________________

hamster ____________________

This is even trickier. Put these groups in ABC order.

2. police dog ____________________

polar bear ____________________

pointer ____________________

REM400_book.indd 2 7/19/11 9:57:11 AM


Name ________________________________________

COCKATOO, COCKATIEL, COCKEREL – Which one comes first in alphabetical order? With so many words in the dictionary, you really must be

good at alphabetizing. So, do just a little more practice with putting words in alphabetical order.

1. loft ______________________

log ______________________

loss ______________________

lodge ______________________


Put each group of “L” words in ABC order.

1. marmoset ______________________

marquee ______________________

market ______________________

marble ______________________

Now, try these groups of “M” words.

2. locust ______________________

love ______________________

lobster ______________________

lock ______________________

2. marabou ______________________

martingale ______________________

martin ______________________

marsh ______________________

1. starfish ______________________

startle ______________________

star ______________________

starch ______________________

Alphabetize each group of “S” words.

1. tread ______________________

treason ______________________

treasure ______________________

treat ______________________

Now, try these groups of “T” words.

2. starling ______________________

stargazer ______________________

starry ______________________

starve ______________________

2. treaty ______________________

treachery ______________________

treadmill ______________________

treatment ______________________

REM400_book.indd 3 7/19/11 9:57:11 AM


Name ________________________________________

Did you notice the dot (•) in many of the entry words in your dictionary? This dot is there to show how the word is divided into syllables.

Look up the words below in your dictionary. Divide them into syllables using a dot between the syllables.

pen•guin (pen’gwin), n. 1. Any of various flightless sea birds that live mostly in or near Antarctica and have webbed feet and narrow wings resembling flippers.

1. mulberry _____________________

2. collie _____________________

3. crumple _____________________

4. vampire _____________________

5. adventure _____________________

6. alligator _____________________

7. giant _____________________

8. koala _____________________

9. dandelion _____________________

10. pencil _____________________

11. lollipop _____________________

12. office _____________________

13. shovel _____________________

14. octopus _____________________

Write a short definition for each word below.

1. manatee _____________________________________________________________

2. jackal _____________________________________________________________

3. locust _____________________________________________________________

4. tapir _____________________________________________________________

5. badger _____________________________________________________________

ENTRY WORDS: SYLLABLES

˘ ˘

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Name ________________________________________

Even if a compound word is familiar to us, we may not be able to spell it correctly. A dictionary will tell us the correct way to spell a

compound word.

There are three kinds of compound words:

CLOSED COMPOUND (goldfish)

HYPHENATED COMPOUND (life-size)

OPEN COMPOUND (ice cream)

Look at the words below. If the word is a closed compound, put a C after it; if it is a hyphenated compound, put an H after it; if it is an open compound, put an O after it. Use your dictionary to help you.

1. rowboat _____

2. roadblock _____

3. rightofway _____

4. leanto _____

5. lifejacket _____

6. lifesize _____

7. fullback _____

8. fullblown _____

9. fullmoon _____

10. teenager _____

11. teddybear _____

12. teaspoon _____

13. homerun _____

14. homework _____

15. hotblooded _____

16. campfire _____

17. hothead _____

18. hotrod _____

19. fingerprint _____

20. fingerbowl _____

21. fireplace _____

22. firewood _____

23. rockbottom _____

24. rockinghorse _____

25. seahorse _____

26. seashore _____

27. goldleaf _____

28. firefly _____

29. bullheaded _____

30. bluebird _____

ENTRY WORDS: COMPOUND WORDS

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Name ________________________________________

Finding a word in the dictionary can be difficult. Because there are so many words on a page, the dictionary uses GUIDE WORDS at the top of each

page to help you find a word.

The guide word on the left side is the FIRST word on the page. The guide word on the right side is the LAST word on the page.

All other words on the page come between these two words in alphabetical order.

Here are two guide words — BULL and BUMP. Look at the list of words below. Put them in alphabetical order between “bull” and “bump.”

GUIDE WORDS

1. ______________________________

2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________

4. ______________________________

Put the words below in alphabetical order.

course, cow, court, cover, coward, coupon, cove, cousin

5. ______________________________

6. ______________________________

7. ______________________________

8. ______________________________

bull

1. ___________________

2. ___________________

3. ___________________

4. ___________________

5. ___________________

6. ___________________

7. ___________________

8. ___________________

bump

bulldog bulldoze

bulletin bullheaded

bumblebee bum

bully bullet

____________________________________

If these were the only words on the page, which two words would be the guide words?

____________________________________

REM400_book.indd 6 7/19/11 9:57:11 AM


Name ________________________________________

Guide words can be found on every page of your dictionary. Without them, it would be much more difficult to find a particular word.

Here are two guide words — PEACOCK and PEG. Circle the words below that would come between “peacock” and “peg” on a page in the dictionary.

GUIDE WORDS

peeper peel pecan peach peace pellet pay peek

Put the words you circled in alphabetical order.

1. ___________________________________

2. ___________________________________

3. ___________________________________

4. ___________________________________

Look up each word below in your dictionary. Look at the top of the page on which you found each word. What are the guide words? Write the guide words for each entry word below.

1. farm _______________________________ ______________________________

2. puppet _______________________________ ______________________________

3. weasel _______________________________ ______________________________

4. market _______________________________ ______________________________

5. lobster _______________________________ ______________________________

6. raspberry _______________________________ ______________________________

7. snake _______________________________ ______________________________

8. buffalo _______________________________ ______________________________

9. holiday _______________________________ ______________________________

10. gorilla _______________________________ ______________________________

GUIDE WORDS

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Name ________________________________________

1. I have a favorite duk at the park that I like to feed.

________________________________________________________________________

2. After lunch, her boss will dik’ tat’ a letter.

________________________________________________________________________

3. That piece of furniture is an an-tek’.

________________________________________________________________________

4. Meg painted a beautiful di zin’ on her shirt.

________________________________________________________________________

5. The teacher sed we will have a test tomorrow.

________________________________________________________________________

HOLESTEIN. Can you pronounce this word? If not, the dictionary will help you. After each entry word, there is a respelling of each word.

This respelling is used to show you how to pronounce a word.

The dictionary also contains Pronunciation Key to help you understand the respellings.

Find each word below in the dictionary. Write the respelling for each.

1. holly _____________________

2. cucumber _____________________

3. design _____________________

4. baseball _____________________

RESPELLING

Hol•stein (hol’ stin’), n. Any of a breed of black and white dairy cattle.

– –

5. glove _____________________

6. birthday _____________________

7. beaver _____________________

8. beast _____________________

Rewrite each sentence below. Replace the underlined respelling with the word it stands for.

–

–

–˘

˘

˘

˘

˘

REM400_book.indd 8 7/19/11 9:57:12 AM


Name ________________________________________

INCH’ WÛRM’. Do you know what this is? It is the dictionary respelling of the word inchworm. We can learn how to pronounce many new words by

studying the respellings in a dictionary.

Use the Pronunciation Key in your dictionary to match the entry words with their dictionary respellings. Write the entry word next to its respelling.

RESPELLING

inch•worm (inch’ wûrm’), n. A caterpillar that moves by drawing the rear of its body forward, forming a loop, and then stretching the front forward.

1. kowtow ________________________

2. frolic ________________________

3. incline ________________________

4. tirade ________________________

5. statute ________________________

6. fox ________________________

7. push ________________________

8. moldy ________________________

9. palm ________________________

10. tattoo ________________________

Find each word below in the dictionary. Write the respelling.

RESPELLING ENTRY WORDS

1. i-rod’ ____________________________ petticoat

2. pet’ e-kot’ ____________________________ chalet

3. ik-sen’ trik ____________________________ beseech

4. sha-la’ ____________________________ mongoose

4. bi-sech’ ____________________________ erode

5. rin’ ston’ ____________________________ eccentric

6. mong’ goos’ ____________________________ rhinestone

–

––

˘

˘

˘ ˘ ˘

˘ –

–˘

––

––˘

˘˘

REM400_book.indd 9 7/19/11 9:57:12 AM


Name ________________________________________

ust when you think the dictionary can’t help you pronounce a word any more than it already has, you see another way it helps you—ACCENT MARKS (’).

The accent mark helps you by showing you on which syllable more emphasis (or force) should be put when saying a word.

Use your dictionary to look at the respellings of the words below. Divide each word into syllables and put the accent mark on the correct syllable in each word.

1. instrument _____________________

2. decode _____________________

3. miracle _____________________

4. question _____________________

5. chopsticks _____________________

6. football _____________________

jag•uar (jag’ wär’), n. A large wild cat of tropical America similar to a leopard, having a coat of tawny fur spotted with black marks.

7. stagecoach _____________________

8. tissue _____________________

9. whopper _____________________

10. yellow _____________________

11. zebra _____________________

12. castle _____________________

RESPELLING: ACCENT MARKS

Look at the respelling in the example above. The accent mark is on jag, which means you say that syllable with more force when saying the word jaguar.

1. prankster _____________________________________________________________

2. unicorn _____________________________________________________________

3. ermine _____________________________________________________________

4. rumba _____________________________________________________________

5. albatross _____________________________________________________________

Write a short definition for each word below.

J

˘

REM400_book.indd 10 7/19/11 9:57:12 AM


Name ________________________________________

KUdU. do you know what a kudo is? Is it a magical spell or a baby crying? How would you know how to use it in a sentence? Is it a verb, a noun,

an adjective, an adverb? The dictionary will tell you!

Look up the words below in your dictionary. Tell what part of speech each word is.

1. accept _____________________

2. aspirin _____________________

3. broken _____________________

4. childish _____________________

5. distant _____________________

6. driveway _____________________

7. elevator _____________________

ku•du (koo’ doo), n. An African antelope having a brownish coat marked by white stripes.

8. flipper _____________________

9. jargon _____________________

10. krypton _____________________

11. lax _____________________

12. huge _____________________

13. illness _____________________

14. bouquet _____________________

ENTRY WORDS: PARTS OF SPEECH

Were you surprised to learn that a kudu is an antelope? Notice the letter n. after the respelling in the example above. This is an abbreviation for “noun.” So, the word kudu is a noun.

The dictionary abbreviations for the parts of speech are: noun (n.), verb (v.), adjective (adj.), adverb (adv.).

1. aardvark ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. baffle ___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. feeble __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. koala ___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Write a sentence for each word.

— —

REM400_book.indd 11 7/19/11 9:57:13 AM


Name ________________________________________

LEMMING. do you what a lemming is? No? Well, look it up in the dictionary! It will tell you how to spell the word, how to pronounce it, how

to divide it into syllables, which syllable should be accented, and what part of speech it is. But, you need to know more. The dictionary will also tell you just what a lemming is.

Use your dictionary to write a short definition for each word below.

1. agape _____________________________________________________________

2. anchovy _____________________________________________________________

3. confection _____________________________________________________________

4. cryptic _____________________________________________________________

5. falter _____________________________________________________________

6. grebe _____________________________________________________________

7. mallet _____________________________________________________________

8. mauve _____________________________________________________________

9. outfox _____________________________________________________________

10. pug _____________________________________________________________

11. rumpus _____________________________________________________________

12. siesta _____________________________________________________________

13. slink _____________________________________________________________

14. taw _____________________________________________________________

15. tote _____________________________________________________________

lem•ming (lem’ ing), n. Any of various stout rodents somewhat like mice, living in northern regions.

DEFINITIONS

˘

REM400_book.indd 12 7/19/11 9:57:13 AM


Name ________________________________________

Many times, if you see a word you don’t know used in a sentence, it is easier to figure out what the word means.

Each word in the box below will complete one of the sentences. Use your dictionary to complete each sentence. Then, write a short definition of the word you used on the line below the sentence.

DEFINITIONS

marlin

proficient

soggy

docile

inkling

condone

obvious

cranium

1. The ____________________________ is the part of your skull that protects your brain.

________________________________________________________________________

2. I had an ____________________________ that they were planning something special.

________________________________________________________________________

3. He caught a huge ____________________________ when he was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

________________________________________________________________________

4. I cannot ____________________________ you being late to work again.

________________________________________________________________________

5. Joe’s new puppy is really ____________________________; he’s easy to care for.

________________________________________________________________________

6. When John thre down his glove, it was ____________________________ he was angry.

________________________________________________________________________

7. Jessie practiced every day. Now, she is a ____________________________ piano player.

________________________________________________________________________

8. It rained all night and the field is really ____________________________.

________________________________________________________________________

REM400_book.indd 13 7/19/11 9:57:13 AM


Name ________________________________________

NOvEL—that’s a long, fictional story, right? Yes. Novel also means “something new or different.” The word is spelled the same, but has two

completely different meanings. The dictionary will give you all the different meanings for words like this.

nov•el1 (nov’ l), n. A long piece of prose writing that tells an invented story.

nov•el2 (nov’ l), adj. Strikingly new or different.

MULTIPLE MEANINGS

The dictionary usually puts a little number (1) next to each new entry.

Read the three definitions of the word duck. Then, read the sentences and put the number of the correct defintion of duck as it is used in each sentence.

1duck (d k), n. Any of various wild or domesticated water birds having a broad flat bill, short neck and legs, and webbed feet.

2duck (d k), v. To lower quickly.

3duck (d k), n. A strong cotton or linen cloth that is lighter than canvas.

______ 1. If you’re too tall, you’d better duck when you go through the door.

______ 2. We went to the park to feed the ducks.

______ 3. My new summer dress is made of duck.

______ 4. The duck ate the bread crumbs.

______ 5. If you duck, you won’t get hit by the ball.

______ 6. I’m going to have duck at the Chinese restaurant.

______ 7. duck would be good to use for that tent.

______ 8. The boy ducked when the paper airplane soared by.

˘

˘

REM400_book.indd 14 7/19/11 9:57:13 AM


Name ________________________________________

One word with many meanings can be very confusing. It is easier to know which meaning fits when you see the word in a sentence.

MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Read the sentences below. Look up the underlined word in your dictionary to find out how it is used in the sentence. Write a short definition of the word on the line.

1. The sheep will need a lot of land for grazing.

________________________________________________________________________

2. Joe loves to watch the planes land.

________________________________________________________________________

3. If you need the police, call 911.

________________________________________________________________________

4. After the picnic, we must police the area.

________________________________________________________________________

5. Jane sent the package by express mail.

________________________________________________________________________

6. Sometimes, it is difficult to express your feelings.

________________________________________________________________________

7. You must take care when crossing the street.

________________________________________________________________________

8. I don’t really care for her cooking.

________________________________________________________________________

9. Jack has a terrible pain in his head.

________________________________________________________________________

10. He is the head cook at the restaurant.

________________________________________________________________________

REM400_book.indd 15 7/19/11 9:57:14 AM


Name ________________________________________

PEAK, PEEK. Both words sound alike, but they are spelled differently, and they have different meanings. These words are called

HOMOPHONES.

HOMOPHONES

Select one of the homophones in parentheses to complete each sentence. Use your dictionary to help you find the correct word.

1. My voice is ____________________________ from talking too much. (horse, hoarse)

2. Jack is going to ____________________________ a new car. (buy, by)

3. Our boat is docked at ____________________________ nine. (pier, peer)

4. We watched the eagle ____________________________ by. (soar, sore)

5. The old door makes a loud ____________________________ when it is opened. (creak, creek)

6. Which ____________________________ are you on? (team, teem)

7. She looked very ____________________________. (pale, pail)

8. The queen will ____________________________ for a long time. (reign, rain)

9. Did it ____________________________ on your house last night? (hail, hale)

10. I’m going to have to ____________________________ over that idea. (pore, pour)

11. There’s a big ____________________________ at the store tomorrow. (sale, sail)

12. Will you ____________________________ the cheese for me? (great, grate)

13. How much is the bus ____________________________? (fair, fare)

14. That ____________________________ of hay is for the elephant. (bale, bail)

15. He delivers the ____________________________ at the same time every day. (male, mail)

16. It took them six hours to climb that mountain ____________________. (peek, peak)

peak (pek), n. The pointed top of a mountain.

peek (pek), v. To look, peer, or glance breifly.–

–

REM400_book.indd 16 7/19/11 9:57:14 AM


Name ________________________________________

OBSTINATE—Now that’s a tough word. do you know what it means? The dictionary sometimes gives SYNONYMS for words in the definitions.

A synonym is a word that means the same, or nearly the same, as another word. A synonym often makes another word easier to understand.

SYNONYMS

Use your dictionary to find a synonym for each word below. Write it on the line. Use the synonym in a sentence.

1. hare ____________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. simple __________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. lonely ___________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. connect _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. sorrowful ________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. roar _____________________________

________________________________________________________________________

7. courteous ________________________

________________________________________________________________________

8. renowned _______________________

________________________________________________________________________

9. conceal _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

10. combat __________________________

________________________________________________________________________

ob•sti•nate (ob’st -nit), adj. 1. Stubbornly adhering to an attitude or course of action. 2. Difficult to control. syn see STUBBORN, MULISH

˘˘

REM400_book.indd 17 7/19/11 9:57:14 AM


Name ________________________________________

COOL. In American slang, we use the term cool to say something is good. “It’s cool that you went to DisneyLand!” SLANG WORDS are

not really correct English. They are words we use in everyday language. The dictionary will sometimes tell you if a word is a slang expression (slang).

SLANG

Look up each underlined word in your dictionary and write what it means in the sentence.

1. The little monkey is really kooky.

________________________________________________________________________

2. If I win the lottery, I’ll be loaded.

________________________________________________________________________

3. The man gave Joey a few bucks for shoveling his driveway.

________________________________________________________________________

4. She is going to jazz up her new house.

________________________________________________________________________

5. It is not nice to sock your friend in the eye.

________________________________________________________________________

6. That test was a breeze.

________________________________________________________________________

7. I think I will ace this math quiz.

________________________________________________________________________

8. Paul is lucky; he gets all the breaks.

________________________________________________________________________

1cool (kool), adj. 1. Moderately cold. 2. Allowing relief from heat. 3. Calm 4. Indifferent 5. Slang a. Excellent b. Acceptable 6. Slang Entire

—

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Name ________________________________________

ST. is the abbreviation (abbr.) for Street, Saint, Statute, and Strait. Often, you will see an abbreviation used instead of a word. For example:

Barbara’s address is 3648 North Bluebird Ln., Scottsdale, AZ. “Ln.” is the abbreviation for lane and “AZ” is the abbreviation for Arizona.

ABBREvIATIONS

Use your dictionary to find the meanings of these abbreviations. Write the word or words on the line.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

Choose five abbreviations from above. Use each one in a sentence. Underline the abbreviations that you use.

1. hr. _________________________

2. DOB _________________________

3. Mt. _________________________

4. T _________________________

5. CA _________________________

6. COd _________________________

7. Sept. _________________________

8. LF _________________________

9. mph _________________________

10. Co. _________________________

11. ant. _________________________

12. bu. _________________________

13. dJ _________________________

14. alt. _________________________

Sr. abbr. 1. senior 2. señor 3. sister

REM400_book.indd 19 7/19/11 9:57:14 AM


Name ________________________________________

TASMANIAN DEvIL—that’s a very mean animal. The first letter of its name is capitalized because this animal is named after Tasmania, the country,

where it is found. The name of a specific person, place, or thing is considered a PROPER NOUN.

The dictionary, like the encyclopedia, gives you information about some famous people, places, and things. These words are always capitalized in your dictionary.

PROPER NOUNS

Use your dictionary to complete each sentence below about the famous person whose name is underlined.

1. John Adams was the ____________________________ president of the United States.

2. Clara Barton started the _______________________________________ in 1881.

3. Rembrandt was a famous _______________________________________.

4. Samuel Morse invented the ____________________________.

5. Robin Hood robbed the __________________ and gave to the ___________________.

6. Paul Revere lived from _________________________ to _________________________.

7. Pocahontas was a famous American ____________________________.

8. Robert Peary was the first explorer to reach the ____________________________.

9. Annie Oakley was famous for her ____________________________ skills.

10. Marie Antoinette was the queen of ____________________________.

11. John Fiztgerald Kennedy was the ____________________________ president of the United States.

12. Joan of Arc was thought to be a ____________________________, but she was really a heroine.

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Name ________________________________________

Unusual words that describe people and the things they do can be found in the dictionary. While you are probably familiar with most of

these types of people,you might not know that there is a word for what they do, or how they act.

PEOPLE

Use words from the word box to complete each sentence below.

1. A ____________________________ would usually be found working in a theatre.

2. A ____________________________ is someone who collects coins.

3. An ____________________________ might be found on a Navy ship.

4. A ____________________________ would probably not believe you if you told him you had seen a flying saucer.

5. An ____________________________ knows good food when he tastes it.

6. An ____________________________ usually works for the government.

7. Your best friend might be called your ____________________________.

8. A ____________________________ is a caring person who helps his community.

9. A ____________________________ is not a good person with whom to share a secret.

numismatist

envoy

epicurean

gossip

thespian

ensign

skeptic

philanthropist

comrade

1. Would a wrangler do his work in a suit and tie? _______________________________

2. Is a clairvoyant someone who cleans windows? _______________________________

3 Would a musketeer belong to the Mickey Mouse Club?_________________________

Use your dictionary to help you answer these questions.

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Name ________________________________________

vICUÑA. The dictionary describes a vicuña as a “mammal of the Andes mountains of South America, related to the llama.” From that

description, would you be able to picture a vicuña in your mind? Probably not. That’s why the dictionary often includes pictures of different animals and objects.

Read the definitions below. Then, try to draw a picture of the animal or object next to the description. After you have finished your drawing, check your dictionary to see how close you are.

PICTURES

bi • son (bi’ s n), n. A large mammal of western North America similar to an ox and having a massive head, a shaggy dark-brown mane, and short curved horns.

–

hour • glass (our’ glas’), n. An instrument for measuring time, consisting of two chambers connected by a narrow neck and containing an amount of sand or other substance that passes from the top chamber to the bottom one in a fixed amount of time, often an hour.

˘

gnu (noo), n. Either of two large African antelopes having a beard and mane, a long tufted tail, and curved horns.

—

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Name ________________________________________

What would you do with a goblet? Your dictionary will tell you that a goblet is a drinking glass. So, you would probably drink

from a goblet.

Use your dictionary to help you find out what someone would probably do with each of the things listed below. Write your answer on the line.

WORD MEANINGS

1. cleaver _________________________________________________________________

2. snood _________________________________________________________________

3. tabard _________________________________________________________________

4. hassock _________________________________________________________________

5. scallion _________________________________________________________________

6. kale _________________________________________________________________

7. cloak _________________________________________________________________

8. anklet _________________________________________________________________

9. amulet _________________________________________________________________

10. chalet _________________________________________________________________

11. gondola _________________________________________________________________

12. coronet _________________________________________________________________

Use each word in a sentence.

1. feline _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. prawn _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

3. endive _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

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Name ________________________________________

XEBEC. do you know what a xebec is? There are many new and interesting words to be found in the dictionary. It’s amazing how few words we

really know. By using your dictionary, you could learn a new word every day for many years. Think how good you would be at Scrabble!

Read each sentence below. Make a guess as to what each bolded word means. Write down your guess, and then look up the word in your dictionary. If your guess is not correct, write the correct definition.

WORD MEANINGS

1. If you own a xebec, should you sail in it or feed it hay?

________________________________ _______________________________

2. If you are a younker, are you a child or a person from New York?

________________________________ _______________________________

3. If you hit a midge, have you swatted a fly or a small dog?

________________________________ _______________________________

4. If you bought a puffin, did you buy a type of bird or a sweet cake?

________________________________ _______________________________

5. If you caught a loggerhead, did you catch a big piece of wood or a turtle?

________________________________ _______________________________

6. If you bumped your patella, would your head or your kneecap hurt?

________________________________ _______________________________

7. If you have ragout, are you eating stew or do you have an illness?

________________________________ _______________________________

Your Guess Dictionary Definition







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Name ________________________________________

You do many things in a day. You have many different feelings. There are words to describe how we feel or how we act. And, of course, we

probably don’t know what those words are. But, the dictionary will tell us!

Read each sentence below. Make a guess as to what each bolded word means. Write down your guess, and then look up the word in the dictionary. If the definition is different from your guess, write the definition.

WORD MEANINGS

1. If you are crafty, are you good at fooling people or are you a good artist?

________________________________ _______________________________

2. If you grovel, are you on your hands and knees or are you complaining?

________________________________ _______________________________

3. If you are frugal, are you careful with money or are you able to play a

musical instrument?

________________________________ _______________________________

4. If you convalesce, are you talking with someone or getting better after an illness?

________________________________ _______________________________

5. If you are an asset, are you someone of value or a type of snake?

________________________________ _______________________________

6. If you regale someone, are you punching them or treating them really well?

________________________________ _______________________________

7. If you are mystified, are you confused or in trouble?

________________________________ _______________________________








REM400_book.indd 25 7/19/11 9:57:16 AM


Name ________________________________________

ZEBU. Would you find a zebu in a zoo, an aquarium, or a bird sanctuary? There are many, many types of wildlife that we may have seen,

but we may not know what they are called.

ANIMALS

1. emu ________________________________________________________________

2. auk ________________________________________________________________

Use your dictionary. Write where these birds might be found.

_____ 1. pickerel

_____ 2. macaw

_____ 3. grebe

_____ 4. flounder

_____ 5. gibbon

_____ 6. coati

_____ 7. pike

_____ 8. teal

_____ 9. snipe

_____ 10. vole

1. egret ________________________________________________________________

2. dodo ________________________________________________________________

3. dingo ________________________________________________________________

4. dromedary ________________________________________________________________

Use your dictionary. Write a short description of these words.

Look up the names below in your dictionary. If it is a type of animal, put an “A” on the line. If it is a type of fish, put an “F” on the line. If it is a type of bird, put a “B” on the line.

REM400_book.indd 26 7/19/11 9:57:16 AM


Can You Use A Dictionary?

Use your dictionary to answer the following questions.

1. On what page is the word kitchen found in your dictionary? _____________________

2. How many syllables does the word horizontal have? ____________________________

3. What is the pronunciation (respelling) for the word caribou?

_________________________________________________________________________

4. What are the guide words on page 150 of your dictionary?

____________________________ ____________________________

5. What is the plural of the word louse? _________________________________________

6. On what page do words beginning with D start? ________________________________

7. On what page is the word pinafore? _______ Write a definition for pinafore.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

8. How many definitions does the word plain have? _______________________________

9. What word comes before planet in your dictionary? _____________________________

10. What word comes after mail in your dictionary? ________________________________

11. What part of speech is the word futile? ________________________________________

12. Write the first dictionary definition that you find for each of these words:

bewitch: __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

harvest: __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Name ________________________________________ PRE/POST-TEST

REM400_book.indd 27 7/19/11 9:57:16 AM

Answer Key


TO THE TEACHER: Pronunciation symbols for the respelling activities in this book were taken from The American Heritage® Student Dictionary. Because there is no universally accepted set of markings, you may find some answers on this key will vary depending upon the dictionaries used in your classroom.

PAGE 1 1) front 2) front 3) back 4) middle 5) back 6) middle 7) middle 8) front 9) back 10) back 11) front 12) front 13) middle 14) middle 15) middle 16) back 17) middle 18) back 19) middle 20) middle 21) back 22) middle 23) front 24) back 25) front 26) back

PAGE 2 1) aardvark, alligator, asp 2) bear, bird, bull 3) cat, cockatoo, crane 4) deer, dog, duck 1) elder duck, elephant, elk 2) falcon, fang, fawn 3) goat, gopher, gorilla 4) hamster, hartebeest, hawk 1) jackal, jackdaw, jackrabbit 2) pointer, polar bear, police dog

PAGE 3 L words: 1) lodge, loft, log, loss 2) lobster, lock, locust, love M words: 1) marble, market, marmoset, marquee 2) marabou, marsh, martin, martingale S words: 1) star, starch, starfish, startle 2) stargazer, starling, starry, starve T words: 1) tread, treason, treasure, treat 2) treachery, treadmill, treatment, treaty

PAGE 4 1) mul•ber•ry 2) col•lie 3) crum•ple 4) vam•pire 5) ad•ven•ture 6) al•li•ga•tor 7) gi•ant 8) ko•a•la 9) dan•de•li•on 10) pen•cil 11) lol•li•pop 12) of•fice 13) shov•el 14) oc•to•pus 1) plant-eating water mammal 2) a wild dog of Africa and Asia that hunts for food 3) a large grasshopper that travels in a large swarm 4) tropical American or Asian mammal with a heavy body, short legs, and a long snout 5) a burrowing mammal with short legs, long claws, and thick fur

PAGE 5 1) C 2) C 3) H 4) H 5) O 6) H 7) C 8) H 9) O 10) C 11) O 12) C 13) O 14) C 15) H 16) C 17) C 18) O 19) C 20) O 21) C 22) C 23) O 24) O 25) O 26) C 27) O 28) C 29) C 30) C

PAGE 6 1) bulldog 2) bulldoze 3) bullet 4) bulletin 5) bullheaded 6) bully 7) bum 8) bumblebee 1) coupon 2) course 3) court 4) cousin 5) cove 6) cover 7) cow 8) coward (Guide words: coupon and coward)

PAGE 7 Circled words put in ABC order: 1) pecan 2) peek 3) peel 4) peeper Guide words at bottom of page will vary depending upon dictionary used.

PAGE 8 1) hŏl´ e 2) kyoo kŭm´ b r 3) dĭ-zi n 4) bas bôl´ 5) glŭv 6) bûrth´ da´ 7) be´ v r 8) best 1) duck 2) dictate 3) antique 4) design 5) said

PAGE 9 1) erode 2) petticoat 3) eccentric 4) chalet 5) beseech 6) rhinestone 7) mongoose 1) kou tou´ 2) frŏl´ ĭk 3) ĭn klin´ 4) ti ´ rad´ 5) stăch´ oot 6) fŏks 7) poosh 8) mo l´ de 9) päm 10) tă too

PAGE 10 1) in´•stru•ment 2) de•code´ 3) mir´•a•cle 4) ques´•tion 5) chop´•sticks´ 6) foot´•ball´ 7) stage´•coach´ 8) tis´•sue 9) whop´•per 10) yel´•low 11) ze´•bra 12) cas´•tle 1) a person who plays tricks 2) a legendary animal with a single long horn 3) a weasel of northern regions 4) a dance of Cuban origin 5) large, web- footed sea bird

PAGE 11 1) verb 2) noun 3) adjective 4) adjective 5) adjective 6) noun 7) noun 8) noun 9) noun 10) noun 11) adjective 12) adjective 13) noun 14) noun Sentences will vary.

PAGE 12 1) in a state of wonder or surprise 2) small sea fish related to the herring 3) a sweet food such as candy 4) having a hidden meaning or secret nature 5) to lose confidence or purpose 6) diving bird having a pointed bill 7) a hammer with a wooden head and a short handle 8) a light rosy or grayish purple 9) to outwit 10) a small short-haired dog 11) a noisy disturbance or dispute 12) a rest or nap after the midday meal 13) to move in a quiet sneaky way 14) a large fancy marble used for shooting 15) to haul; carry

˘

REM400_book.indd 28 7/19/11 9:57:16 AM

Answer Key


PAGE 13 1) cranium; the skull 2) inkling; a slight indication or hint 3) marlin; a large ocean fish 4) condone; forgive or overlook 5) docile; easy to handle 6) obvious; easily understood 7) proficient; performing skillfully 8) soggy; saturated with moisture

PAGE 14 1) 2 2) 1 3) 3 4) 1 5) 2 6) 1 7) 3 8) 2

PAGE 15 1) ground or soil 2) to set down on the ground 3) department that maintains order and enforces the law 4) to control or keep in order 5) sent by rapid transportation 6) to put into words 7) caution; avoid harm or danger 8) to have a liking 9) the top part of the body 10) a person who leads

PAGE 16 1) hoarse 2) buy 3) pier 4) soar 5) creak 6) team 7) pale 8) reign 9) hail 10) pore 11) sale 12) grate 13) fare 14) bale 15) mail 16) peak

PAGE 17 1) rabbit 2) easy 3) alone 4) join 5) sad 6) shout 7) polite 8) noted 9) hide 10) oppose (Some of these synonyms may vary.)

PAGE 18 1) crazy 2) very wealthy 3) dollar bills 4) make more lively 5) hit hard 6) easy 7) achieve a grade of A 8) unexpected chance

PAGE 19 1) hour 2) date of birth 3) mount, mountain 4) temperature, Thursday, Tuesday 5) California 6) cash on delivery 7) September 8) left field, low frequency 9) miles per hour 10) company, county 11) antonym 12) bushel 13) disc jockey 14) alternate, altitude

PAGE 20 1) second 2) American Red Cross 3) Dutch painter 4) telegraph 5) rich, poor 6)1735 to 1818 7) Indian 8) North Pole 9) shooting 10) France 11) 35th 12) witch

PAGE 21 1) thespian 2) numismatist 3) ensign 4) skeptic 5) epicurean 6) envoy 7) comrade 8) philanthropist 9) gossip 1) no 2) no 3) no

PAGE 22 Pictures will vary, but should bear some resemblance to the description given.

PAGE 23 1) cut meat 2) wear it on the head 3) wear it 4) use as a footstool 5) eat it 6) eat it 7) wear it 8) wear it around the ankle 9) wear it around the neck 10) live in it 11) ride in it on water 12) wear it on the head 1-3) Sentences will vary.

PAGE 24 (Answers to the "guess" questions will vary.) 1) sail in it – small ship with three masts 2) a child – a youngster 3) a fly – tiny insect like a gnat 4) bird – a bird with a body like a duck 5) a turtle – a large sea turtle 6) kneecap – a small bone at the front of the knee 7) stew – a meat or fish and vegetable stew

PAGE 25 (Answers to the "guess" questions will vary.) 1) good at fooling people; skillful in deceit 2) on your hands and knees; crawl on the ground 3) careful with money; thrifty 4) getting better after an illness; to get back health and strength 5) someone of value; something of value 6) treating them really well; to entertain or amuse 7) confused; confused or bewildered

PAGE 26 1) F 2) B 3) B 4) F 5) A 6) A 7) F 8) B 9) B 10) A 1) Australia 2) northern seas 1) a wading bird with a long neck, pointed bill, and white feathers 2) a large bird with a hooked bill and short wings 3) a wolf-like, wild dog with a yellowish-brown coat 4) a one-humped camel

PRE/POST- TEST Answers will vary for questions 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 10. 2) 4 5) lice 7) (page # will vary) a garment

without sleeves; like a kind of apron 8) 9 11) adjective 12) bewitch: to cast a spell over harvest: the act of gathering a crop

REM400_book.indd 29 7/19/11 9:57:16 AM

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