Exploring vocabulary - Muschla Gary R. 2012
Alaska’s state flag
Easily confused words, I
Some words have similar sounds or spellings but different meanings. These words are easily confused.
1. country (n): a nation
county (n): a part of a state in the United States
2. later (adj): coming after the proper time
latter (adj): the second of two
3. than (conj): used as a conjunction, than compares things
then (adv): at that time
4. recent (adj): not long ago
resent (v): to feel offended
5. dairy (n): a place where milk is produced or processed
diary (n): a written record of what the writer has experienced
6. accept (n): to take something offered; to agree to
except (prep): leaving out; not including
7. breath (n): air taken into the lungs
breathe (v): to inhale and exhale
8. lightening (v): making less heavy
lightning (n): static electrical discharge in the air
9. desert (n): a dry wasteland
dessert (n): a tasty, usually sweet, food served at the end of a meal
10. cease (v): to stop; to end; to discontinue
seize (v): to take hold of; to grab; to grasp
Vocabulary tip
Writers must work hard to avoid making mistakes with “easily confused words.”
9.1 Alaska’s state flag
In 1927, a 13-year-old boy designed the state flag of Alaska. Who was he?
To answer the question, match each definition with its word. Choose your answers from the words that follow each definition. Write the letter of each answer in the space above its definition number at the bottom of the page. One letter is provided.
1. at that time
Y. then
R. than
2. a place where milk is produced or processed
P. diary
B. dairy
3. a tasty, usually sweet, food served at the end of a meal
E. dessert
A. desert
4. to inhale and exhale
E. breathe
O. breath
5. a part of a state in the United States
R. country
N. county
6. the second of two
M. later
N. latter
7. to take something offered
E. except
O. accept
8. static electrical discharge in the air
B. lightning
T. lightening
9. to stop; to end; to discontinue
R. seize
S. cease
10. to feel offended
N. resent
D. recent
