once upon a time
advice column
language
editing
literal
figurative
revising
metaphors
similes
writing a play
writing a play
1
1
Writing
Writing
100
REPRODUCIBLE ACTIVITIES
W
riting
1
Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc.
Copyright © 2000 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
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the publisher, with the exception below.
Pages labeled with the statement Saddleback Educational Publishing
© 2000 are intended for reproduction. Saddleback Publishing, Inc. grants to
individual purchasers of this book the right to make sufficient copies of
reproducible pages for use by all students of a single teacher. This permission
is limited to a single teacher, and does not apply to entire schools or school

systems.
ISBN 1-56254-220-6
Printed in the United States of America
05 04 03 02 01 00 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Three Watson
Irvine, CA 92618-2767
E-Mail:
Website: www.sdlback.com
CONTENTS
1 YOUR OPINION, PLEASE
2 ANTONYM SEARCH
3 ARE YOU VERY,
VERY
HUNGRY?
4 TWO WAYS TO SPELL
NOT
5 SEE AND SAY
6 DAILY DOINGS
7 APHORISMS
8 BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH
I
9 BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH
II
10 WISE WORDS FROM BEN FRANKLIN
11 WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
12 ONE FROM MANY
13 TWO-PART TALK
14 HIDDEN HOMONYMS
15 AN ARCTIC ANIMAL
16 A SUBSINES RETTLE

17 SYNONYM SEARCH
18 SENTENCE SAVVY
19 FUN WITH WORD FORMS
20 WORKING WITH WORD FORMS
21 OVERUSED EXPRESSIONS
22 HALF-BAKED HEADLINES
23 CLARIFYING COLLECTIVES
24 STORY STARTERS
25 DESCRIBING MARINE ANIMALS
i
26 PHRASES
X
THREE
27 A BREAD-AND-BUTTER NOTE
28 DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT?
29 PARAPHRASING SHAKESPEARE
30 OUT OF ORDER!
31 HOMONYM HUNT
32 BODDY BASICKS
33 WINNING WORDS
34 HYPNOSIS, ANYONE?
35 ALL ABOUT ANIMALS
36 FIXING FRAGMENTS
37 THE RUNDOWN ON RUN-ONS
I
38 THE RUNDOWN ON RUN-ONS
II
39 HE SAID, SHE SAID
I
40 HE SAID, SHE SAID

II
41 CAN YOU SPELL WELL?
42 COMPLETE THE THOUGHT
43 WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
44 REDUNDANT REDUNDANCIES
45 BUILDING ON THE BASICS
I
46 BUILDING ON THE BASICS
II
47 ADDING AN APPOSITIVE
48 EXPLAIN YOUR THINKING
49 ADJUSTING ADJECTIVES
50 WHICH VOICE IS IT?
51 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: METAPHORS
I
52 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: METAPHORS
II
53 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: MIXED METAPHORS
54 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: SIMILES
I
55 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: SIMILES
II
56 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: SIMILES
III
57 SEXIST LANGUAGE
I
58 SEXIST LANGUAGE
II
59 BE CONCISE
I

60 BE CONCISE
II
61 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS
I
62 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS
II
63 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS
III
64 A MIXED-UP MESSAGE
65 SPLITTING HEADACHES
66 PUNCTUATION, PLEASE!
67 COMMUNICATION QUIZ
68 COMPLETE THE STORY
69 FUNNY STORY FRAMES
I
70 FUNNY STORY FRAMES
II
71 FUNNY STORY FRAMES
III
72 WHAT A WAY TO GO!
73 QUALIFYING OPINIONS
74 SENSORY SENTENCES
75 WATCH YOUR USAGE
I
ii
76 WATCH YOUR USAGE
II
77 FORMAL OR INFORMAL?
78 EXPLAINING BIG WORDS
79 AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY

80 WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
81 WRITING DIALOGUE: AN ARGUMENT
82 PERSONALIZING PROVERBS
I
83 PERSONALIZING PROVERBS
II
84 BRAINSTORMING SUBTOPICS
85 WRITING AN ADVICE COLUMN
I
86 WRITING AN ADVICE COLUMN
II
87 APPLYING FOR A DREAM JOB
88 PARAPHRASING FAMOUS WRITERS
89 EDIT THE FABLE
90 MOVIE LISTINGS
I
91 MOVIE LISTINGS
II
92 PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA
I
93 PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA
II
94 LINKING EVENTS AND FEELINGS
95 HEADLINE NEWS
96 DIRECTIONS
I
97 DIRECTIONS
II
98 VOCABULARY WORKOUT
99 EXPLAINING WITH EXAMPLES

100 PRACTICING POETRY
ANSWER KEY
1 YOUR OPINION, PLEASE
Answers will vary.
2 ANTONYM SEARCH
A.
1. realistic 7. partial
2. unlawful 8. unusual
3. disallow 9. extreme
4. withhold 10. inflexible
5. civilized 11. affirm
6. denounce 12. honest
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
3 ARE YOU VERY,
VERY
HUNGRY?
Answers will vary.
4 TWO WAYS TO SPELL
NOT
A.
in
credible,
un
ceasing,
un
restricted,
in
audible,
in

distinct,
un
abridged,
in
organic,
un
daunted
B. Sentences will vary.
1. inaudible 2. undaunted
3. incredible 4. unabridged
CHALLENGE: uncouth. Sentences will vary.
5 SEE AND SAY
Answers will vary.
6 DAILY DOINGS
Answers will vary.
7 APHORISMS
Answers will vary.
8 BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH I
A. 1. noun 2. verb 3. pronoun
4. adjective 5. adverb
6. conjunction 7. interjection
B. ACROSS: 4. preposition 6. noun 7. adverb
DOWN: 1. conjunction 2. adjective
3. pronoun 5. verb
CHALLENGE: interjection: a word or phrase
used to show strong feeling
9 BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH II
A. Additional example words will vary.
1. noun 2. pronoun 3. preposition
4. adverb 5. interjection 6. verb

7. adjective 8. conjunction
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
10 WISE WORDS FROM BEN FRANKLIN
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will
learn in no other. (Original writing will vary.)
11 WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Answers will vary.
12 ONE FROM MANY
Answers should approximate:
1. Grandma stayed with us for two weeks
while my mother was in the hospital.
2. One dark night my friend and I went
outside to see the stars.
3. I saw a stucco house being moved on
a flatbed truck.
4. My younger brother Reggie has red hair.
5. Although we tried, Dad and I couldn’t move
the heavy boulder.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
13 TWO-PART TALK
1. “
T
he score of the game
,
” said (
R
oger)
,
“surprised everyone

.
”
2. “
I
believe you
,
” replied (
K
eith)
,
“but do
you think
M
om will
?
”
3. “
I
f we leave early
,
” (
A
l) suggested
,
“we’ll
get good seats
.
”
4. “
T

his math problem
,
” (
M
aggie) grumbled
,
“is very difficult
.
”
5. “
L
isten up
,
” snapped (
C
oach
J
ohnson)
,
“or start running laps
.
”
6. “
C
ome here
,

J
ohn
,

” the (principal) called,
“and give me a hand
.
”
7. “
I
f
I
were you
,
” said (
G
loria)
,
“
I
’d take
that job offer
.
”
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
14 HIDDEN HOMONYMS
A. 1. knot 7. nose
2. lone 8. heal
3. steel 9. for
4. meat 10. flour
5. aunts 11. won
6. here 12. threw
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.

iii
AFPROV I DEE
CA LTB L
CNAAIAU
LCMMRF
AIIRBT
IPTFEAHI
MY I D UPRG E
TG ELI C
ENT I RENLC E
LELPPUSY D
LT WON
ROFNOSES
NNTT
KMENRT
HERE UU H
ELAO R
ALTE
LF W
15 AN ARCTIC ANIMAL
Answers will vary.
16 A SUBSINES RETTLE
A. 1. greeting 2. body 3. heading
4. inside address 5. closing 6. signature
B. Student examples will vary.
1. signature 2. closing 3. greeting
4. inside address 5. heading
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
17 SYNONYM SEARCH
A. 1. ardent 7. prideful

2. reasonable 8. former
3. decorate 9. heathen
4. careless 10. impartial
5. vigorous 11. barter
6. copious 12. entice
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
18 SENTENCE SAVVY
A. 1. D 2. IM 3. IN 4. E 5. IM 6. D
B.
ACROSS: 1. complete 2. imperative
4. statement 6. question 7. command
DOWN: 1. capital 3. period 5. emotion
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
19 FUN WITH WORD FORMS
A. VERB ADJECTIVE
1. enjoy enjoyable
2. vary various
3. rely reliable
4. prefer preferable
B. Sentence must include the word:
1. furious 2. patience 3. indicate
C. NOUN ADJECTIVE
1. amazement amazing
2. remainder remaining
3. explosion explosive
4. action active
CHALLENGE: Sentence must include the word:
1. impressive 2. divide 3. possible
20 WORKING WITH WORD FORMS

A. ADJECTIVE ADVERB
1. energetic energetically
2. criminal criminally
3. effective effectively
4. lucky luckily
B. Sentence must include the word:
1. mistake 2. timidly 3. passionate
4. normalcy or normality 5. violently
6. truth
CHALLENGE: Sentences must include the words
beautiful, able,
and
confident
.
21 OVERUSED EXPRESSIONS
A. Probable answers: 1. researched
2. labored 3. practiced 4. deliberated
5. struggled 6. searched
B. Answers will vary.
22 HALF-BAKED HEADLINES
Answers should approximate:
1. Was the felon locked up in a violin case?
FELON GETS NINE MONTHS FOR STEALING VIOLIN
2. Should children be eaten as snacks?
KIDS LEARN TO PREPARE NUTRITIOUS SNACKS
3. Did the tree find the stolen painting?
STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BESIDE TREE
4. Were the kids’ bodies cut in half?
NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF
5. Were even fatter people needed for testing?

MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR OBESITY STUDY
6. Were the sisters waiting at the checkout
counter for 18 years?
AFTER SEPARATION OF 18 YEARS, SISTERS MEET
AT
CHECKOUT COUNTER
23 CLARIFYING COLLECTIVES
Original sentences will vary. 1. litter
2. pack 3. swarm 4. bunch 5. deck
6. fleet 7. flock 8. set 9. herd 10. team
CHALLENGE: Original sentence will vary but must
be about a
lion
pride.
24 STORY STARTERS
Answers will vary.
25 DESCRIBING MARINE ANIMALS
Answers will vary.
26 PHRASES
X
THREE
A. 1. V 2. P 3. N 4. V 5. N 6. P
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
27 A BREAD-AND-BUTTER NOTE
Answers will vary.
28 DEPENDENT OR INDEPENDENT?
A. 1. D 2. D 3. I 4. I 5. D 6. D
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.

29 PARAPHRASING SHAKESPEARE
Answers should approximate:
1. Satisfaction with who you are brings
happiness and contentment that power
and riches cannot bring.
2. We’ll never know what we might have
achieved because our insecurities and
low self-esteem keep us from even trying.
3. You’re better off keeping your life private.
Y SSELKCER
TRATIONAL
NONT
E I EA SWAPV
LR V G RU A
PR AIBI
ERULP A ON
FBEAUT I FY R
iv
CHALLENGE: Answers should approximate:
Uneasy…
= It’s not easy being the
top dog.
Conscience…
= Our feeling of what is
right or wrong keeps us from attempting
some things that could have an iffy
outcome.
He jests…
= It’s easy to be brave when
you’ve never experienced anything

that scares you.
30 OUT OF ORDER!
A. 1. S: The biggest cats are Siberian tigers.
Q: Are Siberian tigers the biggest cats?
2. S: No two zebras are striped alike.
Q: (approx. answer) Are any two zebras
striped alike?
3. S: Bullfrogs croak with their mouths
closed.
Q: Do bullfrogs croak with their mouths
closed?
4. S: Whales can’t roll their eyes.
Q: Can whales roll their eyes?
B. BOXED WORDS:
starfish
swim,
pigeons
fly,
elephants
stomp,
caterpillars
creep
1. Caterpillars 2. Elephants 3. Starfish
4. Pigeons
CHALLENGE:
Crickets hear with their knees.
Dingoes don’t bark.
31 HOMONYM HUNT
A. 1.
A

n eagle’s feathers
weigh
twice as
much as its bones
.
2.
O
nly the
male
robin sings
.
3.
W
hy
do
prairie dogs kiss
?
4.
A
bullfrog closes its
eyes
when
it jumps
.
5.
D
o you know that elephants sleep
only
two
hours a night

?
B. Original sentences will vary.
2. would 3. their or they’re 4. I
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
32 BODDY BASICKS
A. 1. fourth, of, your
2. human, quart, saliva
3. average, person, about
4. organ, in, body
5. There, tubes, kidneys
6. There, miles, vessels
B. ACROSS: 1. muscle 4. skull 6. wrist
7. stomach 8. ankle
DOWN: 2. skeleton 3. thigh 5. knee
33 WINNING WORDS
Answers will vary.
34 HYPNOSIS, ANYONE?
The following is a standard test used by
many psychiatrists to determine if a person is
susceptible to hypnotism. The patient is told to
stand in the center of the room with his eyes
shut. The tester stands behind him and asks
the patient to fall back into his arms without
resistance. The tester assures the patient that
he will not be hurt. If the patient falls back
without hesitation, he will be easily hypnotized.
If not, he won’t.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
35 ALL ABOUT ANIMALS
A. 1. have transparent blood.

2. have eight eyes.
3. stab but do not bite.
4. hear with their hair.
5. can have as many as ten hearts.
6. breathe through their skin.
B. 1. kangaroo 2. hippopotamus 3. horse
4. rodent 5. bat 6. sheep
36 FIXING FRAGMENTS
Answers will vary.
37 THE RUNDOWN ON RUN-ONS I
Answers will vary.
38 THE RUNDOWN ON RUN-ONS II
Answers will vary.
39 HE SAID, SHE SAID I
1. promised 2. shouted 3. advised
4. claims 5. agreed 6. exclaimed
7. admitted 8. muttered
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
40 HE SAID, SHE SAID II
Answers will vary.
41 CAN YOU SPELL WELL?
1. Fourteen, every, hundred
2. Only, Americans, snails
3. female, about, sixty
4. Worldwide, million, birthday
5. average, polar, bear
6. pounds, grapes, raisins
7. scientists, believe, whales
8. Of, your, facial
9. typical, gorilla, night

CHALLENGE: Original sentences will vary. Some
possible words are
steam, mates, teams,
meats, tames.
42 COMPLETE THE THOUGHT
Answers will vary.
43 WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE?
Answers will vary.
v
44 REDUNDANT REDUNDANCIES
1. in size 2. future 3. actual 4. free
5. of 6. false 7. past 8. usual
CHALLENGE: A teenager named Brian quickly
covered ten yards and then advanced to
easily win the race.
45 BUILDING ON THE BASICS I
A. 1. Bells rang. 2. The robin chirped.
3. John gave his mother flowers.
4. The winds blew.
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
46 BUILDING ON THE BASICS II
Answers will vary.
47 ADDING AN APPOSITIVE
Answers will vary.
48 EXPLAIN YOUR THINKING
Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: A
philatelist
is a postage stamp

collector. Original sentence will vary.
49 ADJUSTING ADJECTIVES
A. ACROSS: 1. youthfully 4. dangerously
6. lazily 7. gently
DOWN: 2. wisely 3. noisily 5. coolly
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary; students should
have underlined
fantastically
and
terrifically
.
50 WHICH VOICE IS IT?
A. 1. The principal called my parents.
2. Michael’s uncle baked the cake.
3. We washed, dried, and brushed the dog.
4. That man in overalls washed the windows.
B. 1. She was hit by a car.
2. The child was trapped in a burning
building.
3. The vans were driven by volunteers.
4. An error was made in shipping my order.
CHALLENGE: passive; because the emphasis is
on the receiver
51 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Metaphors I
A. 1. angel: behaved perfectly
2. dissolved: cried very hard
3. wolfed: ate hurriedly, taking big bites
of food
4. some rain must fall: Everyone has

disappointments and problems.
B. 1. steambath 2. giant 3. nightmare
4. workhorse 5. crown
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
52 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Metaphors II
A. 1. donkey 2. duck 3. chickens
4. birds 5. snake 6. elephant
B. 1. snake 2. sheep 3. lion 4. bear
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
53 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Mixed Metaphors
Possible answers:
1. The threatening growl of thunder
sounded to Jody like a vicious animal
.
2.
Herds
of dark, shaggy clouds stampeded
across the sky.
3. A flash of lightning
headed toward earth
like a bullet from a rifle.
4. Enormous waves
hungrily snapped
at
Jody’s small boat.
5. The lights from a nearby dock
reached
out to Jody like welcoming arms.
54 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Similes I
A. 1. a bald head 2. an empty room

3. a temper tantrum 4. an overstuffed chair
5. flattering words 6. children’s smiles
B. Answers will vary.
55 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Similes II
A. 1. f 2. e 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. d
B. Answers will vary.
56 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Similes III
1. When we dropped the heavy trunk, it
hit the pavement like a
ton of bricks
.
2. Donna has lost so much weight she’s
as thin as a
reed
.
3. Even in a crisis, Kelly stays as cool
as a
cucumber
.
4. Like a
bloodhound
, the reporter tracks
down the facts until he gets the whole
story.
5. Swaying in the gentle breeze, the flowers
in the field look like a
swarm of colorful
butterflies
.
6. You should know by now that Jake’s

promises are as worthless as a
three-dollar bill
.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
57–58 SEXIST LANGUAGE I and II
A. 1. A successful
doctor knows
that
he or she has
to work long hours. -or-
Successful
doctors know
that
they have
to work long hours.
2. A
principal is
responsible for
his or her
whole school; a
teacher is
responsible only
for the students in
his or her
class. -or-
Principals are
responsible for
their
whole
school;

teachers are
responsible only for
the students in
their
classes.
vi
3. A dutiful
parent takes
good care of
his or her
baby by bathing
him or her
every day. -or-
Dutiful
parents take
good care of
their
babies
by bathing
them
every day.
B. 1. If you miss the bus, it’s your own fault.
2. No one will admit cheating on the test.
3. Everyone needs a quiet place to think.
C. 1. A dog is a person’s…
2. Our company’s salespeople…
3. The committee…elect a chairperson.
4. These days, even the average person…
CHALLENGE: Possible answers:
•Only a poor

worker blames his or her
tools.
-or- Only poor
workers blame their
tools.
•Make me a
super
sized sandwich.
•Barbara Smith is my
lawyer
.
•Is Frank Murphy a
fire fighter
?
59–60 BE CONCISE I and II
A. Possible answers:
1. The possibility that brain development
continues into adulthood is intriguing, but
proof is difficult to find.
2. For many years, some people believed
that brain development peaked in late
childhood.
3. Recent studies with rats suggest, however,
that brain cells can be transformed by a
stimulating environment.
4. While some rats were individually caged,
others were grouped in cages containing
a variety of toys.
5. Positive changes were shown in the
brains of rats grouped in a stimulating

environment.
6. The effect of a challenging environment
diminishes, however, as the brain gets
older.
7. Nonetheless, these new theories about later
development suggest that the brain is more
flexible than had been previously thought.
B. 1. The difference between that point in time
then
and now…
2. In view of the fact that
Because
the rain …
3. We met for the purpose of
to
…
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
61 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS I
1. through, carefully
2. Underline, direction
3. Number, answer
4. understand, conclusions
5. outline, write
6. stick, time
62 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS II
Answers will vary.
63 ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS III
ACROSS: 2. conclusion 5. comparison
6. sequence
DOWN: 1. direction 3. continuation

4. emphasis
64 A MIXED-UP MESSAGE
August 12, 2001
Rte. 2, P.O. Box 12
West Hampton, NC 23784
Brown’s Bookstore
13 E. Seventh St.
New York, NY 11432
Dear Sir:
Please send me a copy of
Great Ghosts
by
I. Skreem. Enclosed is my money order for
$19.95, which includes payment for postage.
Thank you for your promptness.
Sincerely yours,
John Andersen
65 SPLITTING HEADACHES
A. 1. may be 2. Maybe 3. all ready
4. already 5. everyday 6. every day
7. every one 8. Everyone 9. all right
10. all together
B. 1. c 2. d 3. b 4. a
CHALLENGE: Sentence with
already
.
66 PUNCTUATION, PLEASE!
M
arco
P

olo was born in
V
enice
,

I
taly
.

H
is
father and uncle were merchants who traveled
to other countries
,
buying and selling as they
went
.

W
hen
M
arco was 17 years old
,
he set out
with them to trade in the country of
C
athay
(
C
hina)

.

T
he
P
olos were away from
V
enice for
24 years
.
W
hen they returned
,

M
arco was taken
prisoner in a battle between the cities of
V
enice
and
G
enoa and spent nearly a year in prison
.
W
hile there
,
he dictated the story of his travels
to another prisoner who wrote the story on
parchment with a quill
.


I
t was later translated
into 75 languages
.

E
ach book was written by
hand
.

I
t was not until 1477 that the book was
first printed
.

M
arco
P
olo had given the world a
great travel adventure
.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
67 COMMUNICATION QUIZ
Answers will vary.
68 COMPLETE THE STORY
Answers will vary.
vii
69–71 FUNNY STORY FRAMES I, II, and III
Answers will vary.

72 WHAT A WAY TO GO!
A. 1. toothpick 2. barrel
3. eating 4. feather
5. vessel 6. armor
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
73 QUALIFYING OPINIONS
Answers will vary.
74 SENSORY SENTENCES
Answers will vary.
75 WATCH YOUR USAGE I
1. He can’t

can
…
2. … divided between
among
the…
3. … acting like

as if
it…
4. The celebrity gave less
fewer
…
5. There isn’t nothing
anything
…
6. either add a verb with “when,” e.g.,
“A stalemate

occurs
when…”,
–or–
eliminate “when,” e.g., “A stalemate
is the
refusal
of either side to
give in.”
7. … apologies, they
he or she
…
76 WATCH YOUR USAGE II
A. Original sentences will vary.
1. invented 2. effects
3. accept 4. besides
5. number 6. set
B. ACROSS: 2. farther 3. well
5. neither 6. badly
DOWN: 1. credible 2. fewer
4. liable
77 FORMAL OR INFORMAL?
A. 1. Greta’s residence
home
…
2. … will commence
begin
at 9 A.M.
3. The museum tour terminates
ends
…

4. Roscoe asserts
says
…
B. ACROSS: 1. way 5. seemed
6. told 7. had
DOWN: 2. ate 3. wanted 4. needed
78 EXPLAINING BIG WORDS
A. Answers will vary.
B. Original sentences will vary
but should include the word:
1. lament 2. irresolute
3. repeat
C. 1. Consolation 2. lamentation
3. resolution
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
79 AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY
A. More than 45 centuries ago, an Egyptian
pharaoh named Cheops built a great
pyramid. It took 22 years to construct.
About 100,000 common
laborers worked
on the project. No one knows how these
workers moved
stones that weighed up
to 2
1
/2 tons each! Another mystery is the
reason why the pyramid was built in the
first place. The height of the towering
structure multiplied by 1 billion is nearly

the same as the distance between Earth
and the sun. How did the ancient Egyptians
know how to
measure such a distance?
Was the great pyramid of Cheops once used
as an astronomical calculator?
B. Make sure the paragraph has been correctly
copied and that a story title was added.
80 WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Original sentences will vary.
1. Oregonian 2. Vermonter 3. Nebraskan
4. Washingtonian 5. New Yorker
6. Minnesotan 7. Illinoisan
8. Rhode Islander
CHALLENGE: Original sentences will vary but
should include the words
Briton, Belgian,
and
Tur k
.
81 WRITING DIALOGUE: An Argument
Answers will vary.
82 PERSONALIZING PROVERBS I
A. 1. heads 2. stitch 3. picture
4. ventured 5. Saying 6. bridge
7. deed 8. loaf
B. Original writing will vary, but
proverbs are:
1. A stitch in time saves nine.
2. Saying is one thing, and doing

is another.
3. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
83 PERSONALIZING PROVERBS II
A. 1. bird 2. cooks 3. haste
4. apple 5. stone 6. money
7. home 8. need
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
84 BRAINSTORMING SUBTOPICS
Answers will vary.
85–86 WRITING AN ADVICE COLUMN I and II
Answers will vary.
87 APPLYING FOR A DREAM JOB
Answers will vary.
88 PARAPHRASING FAMOUS WRITERS
Answers will vary.
viii
89 EDIT THE FABLE
90 MOVIE LISTINGS I
Answers will vary.
91 MOVIE LISTINGS II
Answers will vary.
92 PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA I
1. Garfield 2. Pierce 3. Ford
4. Truman 5. Taft
93 PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA II
A. 1. George Washington
’s
… el
e

phant…
2. John Ad
a
ms… July 4
,
1826.
3. James Madison… reg
u
larly… breeches
.
B. ACROSS: 2. Van Buren 4. Adams 5. Madison
6. Washington 7. Jefferson
DOWN: 1. Harrison 3. Jackson 5. Monroe
94 LINKING EVENTS AND FEELINGS
Answers will vary.
95 HEADLINE NEWS
Answers will vary.
96 DIRECTIONS I
A. 1. father’s name
2. home address
3.
underlined
book title
4. favorite food,
written upside down
5.
printed
name of TV show
6.
printed

color in
capital letters
7.
printed
name of famous person
in
capital letters
8.
printed
long word
B. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
97 DIRECTIONS II
A. 1. Jefferson, Second 2. north, Second
3. northwestern 4. blocks
B. 1. south, right, Third, Second
2. right, left, Washington, west, First Avenue
3. Second Avenue, right, Third
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
98 VOCABULARY WORKOUT
Original sentences will vary but should
correctly use the words indicated:
ANSWER USED IN SENTENCE
1. aerie eerie
2. crevasse crevice
3. doctrine document
4. flick flinch
5. impenitent impecunious
6. larch leech
7. manatee mandrill

8. obdurate obtuse
99 EXPLAINING WITH EXAMPLES
A. 2. DESERTS 3. RIVERS
B. 1. Cuba, Ireland, Java
2. Albany, Harrisburg, Jefferson City
3. Betelgeuse, Alpha Centauri, Canopus
C. Answers will vary.
CHALLENGE: Answers will vary.
10 0
PRACTICING POETRY
Answers will vary.
ix
?
once there was a king who was very cruel to
his people he took their money whenever he
wanted it but he did not grant them any of their
rights
one day he went hunting with his servants he
became separated from them he was not seen
all day but in the evening he returned
the night after the hunt the king seemed to be
thinking very deeply he ate no dinner his
servants saw that the lights in his room were on
all night
in the morning he called together his servants
and said to them I have been a bad king I have
made my people unhappy now I am going to
change tell all of the people that from now on
my cruelty is over
the servants were amazed but they did as the

king told them soon the country became a
happy one the king was kind and just
what changed you one of the servants
asked him
the king told this story on the day of the hunt
I saw a fox kill a rabbit but before the fox could
eat the rabbit a wolf killed the fox as the wolf
raised his head he was hit by a hunter’s arrow
the hunter got down from his horse to look at the
wolf his horse kicked him in the head the hunter
was killed the horse ran away but I saw him fall
off the edge of a cliff and die for the first time I
saw that evil happens to those who do evil I
learned at last that those who harm others harm
themselves
Saddleback Educational Publishing 1 Writing 1
NAME DATE
YOUR OPINION, PLEASE
All of us are entitled to our own opinions. As you
probably know, an
opinion
is a belief based on what
someone thinks to be true or likely.
EXAMPLE: In my opinion, Adam is the best candidate.
Circle a letter to show your answer to each question.
Then explain why you made that choice.
1. If you could have only one of the following, which
would you choose?
a. good looks b. great personality c. lots of money
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. What makes you angriest? Why?
a. being cheated b. being teased c. being blamed unfairly
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. What quality is most important in a friend?
a. a sense of humor b. loyalty c. popularity
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Have you and a friend ever had a serious difference of
opinion? Did you argue about it? Did either of you change your mind
and come to agree? Describe the situation on the back of this sheet.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 2 Writing 1
NAME DATE
ANTONYM SEARCH
A.
Read the words listed below. Find and circle each word
in the hidden words puzzle. Words may go up, down,
across, backward, or diagonally. Check off each word as
you find it. Then find an antonym (word that means the opposite) in the
box for each puzzle word. Write the antonyms on the correct lines. Use a
dictionary for help with meanings.
1. ___
FANCIFUL ____________________

2. ___
LEGITIMATE ____________________
3. ___
PERMIT ____________________
4. ___
PROVIDE ____________________
5. ___
BARBARIC ____________________
6. ___
ACCLAIM ____________________
7. ___
ENTIRE ____________________
8. ___
TYPICAL ____________________
9. ___
SLIGHT ____________________
10. ___
SUPPLE ____________________
11. ___
DENY ____________________
12. ___
DECEITFUL ____________________
B.
On the lines below, write a sentence about each of the boldfaced topics.
1. an inflexible rule _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. a legitimate claim ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. a partial payment ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

4. a deceitful excuse ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. a realistic plan ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! On the back of this sheet, write three pairs of antonyms.
AFPROV I DEEJON
CZAWHELETBUXL
CBDNIAFAIAGPU
LYWHCHMSMRTSF
AOL I P I NERBEWT
IUPJTKFOEAKHI
MYXINDIUPRGYE
TUGOOF E E L I PUC
AENT I RENLC I SE
LKELPPUSYBOTD
honest affirm inflexible
extreme unlawful realistic
disallow unusual withhold
partial civilized denounce
Saddleback Educational Publishing 3 Writing 1
NAME DATE
ARE YOU VERY,
VERY
HUNGRY?
Imagine that you own a popular fast food restaurant. Create menu
descriptions for the food items pictured. First, give each item a
memorable name. Then describe its ingredients and wonderful taste.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Do you have a good idea for a new kind of fast food? On the
back of this sheet, draw a picture of the food item you have in mind.
Then write three sentences of description.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 4 Writing 1
NAME DATE
TWO WAYS TO SPELL
NOT
A
prefix
is a group of letters added to the
beginning of a word to change its meaning.

The prefixes
un
and
in
mean
not
.
A.
Add in or un to correctly complete the
following words. Use a dictionary if you
need help.
__ __ credible __ __ distinct
__ __ ceasing __ __ abridged
__ __ restricted __ __ organic
__ __ audible __ __ daunted
B.
Write a word from Part A next to each definition. Then write a
sentence using each word correctly.
1. ____________________________: not able to be heard
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________: not afraid or discouraged
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________: hard or impossible to believe
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________: not shortened or condensed
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

CHALLENGE! Would you call a rough, rude person uncouth or incongruous?
On the back of this sheet, write sentences using both words. Use a
dictionary if you need help.
NOT ABRIDGED SECTION
Saddleback Educational Publishing 5 Writing 1
NAME DATE
SEE AND SAY
Explain what’s happening in each picture. Name the people. Tell
what they’re doing, and describe how they feel about it. Write on the
lines next to each picture. Hint: Use your imagination!
1. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
2. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
3. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

_______________________________
CHALLENGE! On the back of this sheet, write a paragraph to continue
the story about one of the pictured activities. In your paragraphs,
you might tell more about the characters, describe the setting, or tell
what happens next.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 6 Writing 1
NAME DATE
DAILY DOINGS
Think about all the things that you do
in a day. Then write as much as you
can under each heading.
1. The First Thing I See When
I Wake in the Morning
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
2. The First Words I Hear in the Morning
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. What I Can See from My Window
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. What I See on My Way to School
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. The First Thing I Do at School
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
6. What I Do After School
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
7. The Last Thing I Do Before I Go to Bed
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Compare your answers to those of a classmate. On the back
of this sheet, explain the differences in your daily routines.
Woof woof woof woof
woof WOOF!
(I need to go out NOW!)
Saddleback Educational Publishing 7 Writing 1
NAME DATE
APHORISMS
An
aphorism
is a short, clear statement telling a general truth.
The well-known aphorisms below were written by Miguel de Cervantes,
a great Spanish writer in the 16th century. In your own words, explain
the meaning of each aphorism.
1. A word to the wise is enough.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. Tell me your company, and I’ll tell you what you are.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. There’s no sauce in the world like hunger.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

5. Forewarned is forearmed.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
6. Don’t look for this year’s birds in last year’s nests.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
7. He preaches well who lives well.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Cervantes’ most famous character was Don Quixote.
Have you ever read about his adventures or seen the movie Man of
La Mancha? Do some research and write three sentences about this
colorful character on the back of this sheet.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 8 Writing 1
NAME DATE
BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH
I
Do you remember the names of the eight parts of speech? Can you identify
how each part of speech is used in a sentence?
A.
Complete each sentence with a word from the box.
preposition noun interjection adverb
adjective verb conjunction pronoun
1. A _________________________ names a person, place, or thing.
2. A _________________________ tells the subject’s action or state of being.
3. A _________________________ is a word used in place of a noun.
4. An _________________________ describes a noun or a pronoun.
5. An _________________________ describes a verb, an adjective, or another
adverb.
6. A _________________________ connects word,

phrases, or clauses in a sentence.
7. An _________________________ is a word or phrase
exclaimed to show strong feeling.
B.
Puzzle answers are names of
the parts of speech. Clues are
examples of each part of speech.
ACROSS
4. of, by, in
6. grass, pond, campgrounds
7. soon, there, slowly
DOWN
1. and, but, or
2. wider, true, first
3. myself, they, it
5. were, thought, fly
CHALLENGE! Which of the eight parts of speech does not appear in the
puzzle? On the back of this sheet, name the missing part of speech and
explain its function in a sentence.
1
6
5
4
3
2
7
9 Writing 1
NAME DATE
BUILDING BLOCKS OF SPEECH
II

A.
Label each group of words with the correct part of
speech. Then add another example word of your own.
preposition noun interjection adverb
adjective verb conjunction pronoun
1. ________________________: pillow, canyon, mystery, ___________________
2. ________________________: us, you, them, ____________________________
3. ________________________: on, with, at, ______________________________
4. ________________________: very, almost, now, _________________________
5. ________________________: Oh!, Wow!, Ouch! ________________________
6. ________________________: am, went, ate, ____________________________
7. ________________________: several, that, kind, _______________________
8. ________________________: because, and, either, ______________________
B.
Now write sentences of your own. Circle words in your sentences
that are the parts of speech given in boldfaced type.
1. noun, adjective ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. verb, adverb ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. noun, pronoun ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. conjunction, preposition _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. verb, interjection _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! On the back of this sheet, write a sentence in which you use
all eight parts of speech. Under your sentence, list each word separately
and identify its part of speech.
OUCH!

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 10 Writing 1
NAME DATE
WISE WORDS FROM BEN FRANKLIN
In the 1700s, the following sayings appeared in
Poor Richard’s Almanack. This publication was
written by Ben Franklin, one of the great statesmen
of America’s Revolutionary era. Rewrite these bits
of folk wisdom in your own words.
1. Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Remember that time is money.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. The cat in gloves catches no mice.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. There was never a good war or a bad peace.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. Necessity never makes a good bargain.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
6. Experience keeps a dear [costly] school, but fools will learn in no other.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
7. When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

CHALLENGE! Which saying warns you against “learning things the hard
way”? On the back of this sheet, write about a time in your life when
you learned a lesson “the hard way.”
11 Writing 1
NAME DATE
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
Choose one of the story starters below. Then complete
the story on the writing lines.
Len and Kay were
walking down the street.
As they were passing the bank, a
man ran out. He was wearing a
ski mask and carrying a bag in
his hand. A loud alarm pierced
the air.
Lucy and Seth
put on their
wetsuits. They climbed over the
side of the boat and plunged
into the ocean. Could this be the
day they would find the sunken
treasure?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! On the back of this sheet, write two imaginative titles for
the story you’ve just written.
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000 12 Writing 1
NAME DATE
ONE FROM MANY
Combine each group of short sentences
below to make one long sentence. You
may have to add words such as and, who,
which, that, but, or although. You may
leave out some of the words.
EXAMPLE: The horse was frightened. It was a black
horse. It was frightened by the lightning.
The horse ran down the street.
Frightened by the lightning, the black
horse ran down the street.
1. Grandma came to our house. She stayed with us for two weeks.
It was when my mother was in the hospital.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. We went outside. The night was dark. I went with my friend.
We went to see the stars.

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. I saw a house. It was a stucco house. It was being moved. It was
on a flatbed truck.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. That is my brother. His name is Reggie. He is younger than I am.
He has red hair.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. We couldn’t move it. Dad and I tried. It was a boulder. It was too heavy.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Write four short sentences on the back of this sheet.
Then combine the four sentences into one.
13 Writing 1
NAME DATE
TWO-PART TALK
Quotations that are split in two parts are called
divided
quotations
. Notice that quotation marks are used before
and after each part of a divided quotation. The first word
in the second part of a divided quotation starts with a
lowercase (small) letter. Pay attention to where the
commas are placed.
EXAMPLE: “Speak softly,” whispered Jared, “or you’ll wake Dad.”
In each of these sentences, circle the name of the person who is
speaking. Underline the exact words the speaker says. Then
capitalize and punctuate each sentence correctly. Finally, copy the

correctly punctuated sentences on the writing lines.
1. the score of the game said roger surprised everyone
____________________________________________________________________
2. i believe you replied keith but do you think mom will
____________________________________________________________________
3. if we leave early al suggested we’ll get good seats
____________________________________________________________________
4. this math problem maggie grumbled is very difficult
____________________________________________________________________
5. listen up snapped coach johnson or start running laps
____________________________________________________________________
6. come here john the principal called and give me a hand
____________________________________________________________________
7. if i were you said gloria i’d take that job offer
____________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE! Write a question and an answer on the back of this sheet.
Use a divided quotation in each sentence.
Z

Z

Z

Z
Z
WORLD’S
GREATEST
DAD
Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2000