Thrifty, economical, scrimping and stingy all describe spending very little money. Which one shows disapproval, suggesting a person is unwilling to spend or to give?

A car review must stay neutral about fuel use. Which word meaning 'using little fuel and wasting nothing' carries no praise or blame: stingy, thrifty, scrimping or economical?

Which word for spending very little suggests painful cutting back because money is short, rather than wise planning: thrifty, scrimping, economical or stingy?

A club report says, 'Our treasurer is thrifty with the budget.' What attitude does the word thrifty show toward the treasurer?

Thrifty and stingy can describe the same behavior, spending very little, but thrifty sounds approving while stingy sounds disapproving.

Determined, persistent, stubborn and pigheaded all describe refusing to change course. Which one is an insult, calling that refusal foolish?

A neighbor writes that Ana would not move her chair. He wants a word for refusing to change that criticizes her without name-calling: determined, persistent, stubborn or pigheaded?

A news story says, 'Rosa was determined to finish the flooded trail.' What does the writer's choice of determined show about her refusal to quit?

A coach's report praises a player who kept training after an injury. Which word for refusing to stop carries that approving feeling: obstinate, stubborn, pigheaded or persistent?

Stubborn and determined can describe the same refusal to give in. In that pair, stubborn is the word of praise and determined is the disapproving one.

A doctor's notes must describe a patient's build with no praise or criticism. Which word meaning 'having little flesh' is the neutral one: slender, skinny, gaunt or thin?

A story shows a traveler who has gone days without food, and the writer wants readers to worry about his health. Which word for very thin fits: slender, skinny, thin or gaunt?

A magazine wants to compliment a dancer's build. Which word meaning 'having little flesh' sounds graceful and admiring: skinny, gaunt, thin or slender?

A note says, 'Her little brother is skinny.' What feeling does the word skinny add that the word thin would not?

Curious, inquisitive, prying and nosy all describe wanting to know about other people. Which is the informal, everyday word used to complain that someone asks about private business?

A report card says, 'Ben is an inquisitive learner who asks about everything.' What does inquisitive show about the teacher's view of Ben's questions?

A note says, 'Mia is a curious neighbor.' The writer now wants to complain about her. Which replacement for curious makes the sentence critical: interested, questioning, thoughtful or prying?

An award certificate honors a young scientist for wanting to learn about everything. Which word for that eagerness belongs there: nosy, prying, meddlesome or curious?

In vocabulary study, what is a word's connotation?

In vocabulary study, what is a word's denotation?

Curious and nosy both mean eager to know about other people. In what way do the two words differ?

Child, kid, youngster and brat all name a young person. Which one criticizes the child's behavior?

Aroma, scent, odor and stench all name a smell. A story wants readers to recoil from a flooded basement. Which word carries the strongest disgust?

A bakery advertisement wants the smell of fresh bread to sound delicious. Which word for a smell fits that pleasant shade: odor, stench, fumes or aroma?

Aroma and stench both name a smell. In that pair, stench is the word for a pleasant smell and aroma is the word for a disgusting one.

Confident, self-assured, assured and cocky all describe someone sure of their own ability. Which one criticizes that sureness as boastful?

A profile says, 'The new goalkeeper is confident in front of the net.' What does the word confident suggest about the writer's view of her?

Crowd, group, gathering and mob all name many people in one place. Which word tells readers the people were angry and out of control?

Cheap, inexpensive, affordable and low-priced all mean costing little. Which one also hints that the item is poorly made?

House, residence, dwelling and home all name the building a person lives in. Which word carries warmth and a sense of belonging?

'The students ___ at Sam's answer.' All four fillers mean laughed. Which word tells readers they were mocking him?

'On the last stretch the hikers ___ up the hill.' All four fillers describe going up on foot. Which word shows they were worn out?

A travel piece describes a slow, relaxed walk through a seaside town on a warm evening. Which word for walking fits that pleasant, unhurried feeling: trudged, plodded, marched or strolled?

A shop wants a ninety-year-old desk to sound valuable rather than worn out. Which word for something from an earlier time fits: outdated, old-fashioned, secondhand or antique?

Assertive, decisive, firm and bossy all describe a group leader who tells others what to do. Which one criticizes the leader for it?

A writer first calls a character slender, then changes the word to gaunt. What changes for the reader?

'Mr. Ellis is very ___ with his paycheck.' All four fillers describe spending very little. Which word praises him for it?

Talkative, chatty, sociable and long-winded all describe someone who talks a lot. Which word complains that a speaker went on far too long?

Read the sentence: 'The shop sells cheap toys.' Besides costing little, the word 'cheap' hints that the toys are poorly made.

An advertisement calls a jacket inexpensive rather than cheap. Why does that word choice help the seller?