Question

name: ______ sixth grade
circle the best synonym for each word. hint: a dictionary might come in handy.

1. gaunt thin broke
2. muster congregation absorb
3. scholarship painting research
4. agile nimble bath
5. dismay alarm beware

split each word into syllables.

word	in syllables	word	in syllables
gaunt	gaunt (handwritten)	valedictorian
despair		withdrawn
mutter		agile

Answer:

Synonym Section (Correcting and Answering)

1. gaunt: "gaunt" means very thin, especially because of illness or hunger. "thin" is a synonym. "broke" means having no money, so the correct one is "thin" (already circled correctly).
2. muster: "muster" means to gather or assemble. "congregation" is a group of people gathered, but "muster" is an action of gathering. Wait, actually, "muster" as a verb is to assemble, and "congregation" is a noun for a group. Wait, maybe a typo? Wait, the options are "congregation" and "absorb". Wait, no, maybe the original problem has a mistake? Wait, no, maybe I misread. Wait, "muster" synonyms: "assemble", "gather". "congregation" is a noun, but maybe the intended option was miswritten? Wait, no, the user's paper has "congregation" and "absorb". Wait, maybe it's a mistake, but assuming the options are as given, maybe the correct one is "congregation" (but "absorb" is wrong). Wait, maybe the original problem had a different set. Alternatively, maybe the user made a typo. But based on the paper, the second question's circled answer is "absorb", which is wrong. The correct synonym for "muster" (as a verb meaning to gather) would be related to gathering, so "congregation" (noun) or maybe a verb. But maybe the problem has an error. However, proceeding:
3. scholarship: "scholarship" can mean academic research or financial aid for education. "research" is a synonym (related to academic work), while "painting" is unrelated. So correct is "research".
4. agile: "agile" means able to move quickly and easily; "nimble" has the same meaning. "bath" is unrelated. So correct is "nimble".
5. dismay: "dismay" means a feeling of distress or alarm. "alarm" is a synonym (as a noun, a feeling of fear). "beware" is a verb meaning to be cautious, so correct is "alarm".

Syllable Section (Correcting and Answering)

To split a word into syllables, we follow the rules of English pronunciation (syllables are units of sound, usually containing a vowel sound).

• dismay: Pronounced /dɪsˈmeɪ/ or /dɪsmeɪ/. So syllables: dis - may
• gaunt: Pronounced /ɡɔːnt/ (or /ɡɑːnt/). Syllables: gaunt (it's a single syllable? Wait, no: "gaunt" is g - aunt? Wait, no, "gaunt" is one syllable? Wait, no, in English, "gaunt" is pronounced as /ɡɔːnt/, which is one syllable? Wait, no, maybe "ga - unt"? Wait, no, the vowel is "au" (as in "aunt"), so "gaunt" is one syllable? Wait, no, maybe the correct split is "gaunt" (but that's not helpful). Wait, maybe the intended split is "ga - unt" (but that's not standard). Wait, maybe the user's handwritten "gaunt" is incorrect. Let's check:

• gaunt: Correct syllable split: gaunt (it's a monosyllabic word? Wait, no, "gaunt" has one syllable? Wait, no, "gaunt" is pronounced with one vowel sound, so it's one syllable. But maybe the problem expects a split, so maybe "ga - unt" (though not standard).

• valedictorian: Pronounced /ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/ (or /ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːriən/). Syllables: va - le - dic - to - ri - an
• despair: Pronounced /dɪˈspeə(r)/ (or /dɪˈsper/). Syllables: de - spair
• withdrawn: Pronounced /wɪðˈdrɔːn/ (or /wɪðˈdrɔːn/). Syllables: with - drawn (or with - draw - n? Wait, "withdrawn" is with - drawn (two syllables? Wait, no: with - draw - n? Wait, "withdrawn" is /wɪðˈdrɔːn/, so syllables: with - drawn (two syllables? Or with - draw - n (three)? Wait, the correct split is with - drawn (two) or with - draw - n (three). Let's use the standard: with - drawn (two) or with - draw - n (three). Maybe with - draw - n.
• mutter: Pronounced /ˈmʌtə(r)/. Syllables: mut - ter
• agile: Pronounced /ˈædʒaɪl/. Syllables: a - gile

Filling the Syllable Table:

Word	In Syllables	Word	In Syllables
gaunt	gaunt (or ga - unt)	valedictorian	va - le - dic - to - ri - an
despair	de - spair	withdrawn	with - draw - n (or with - drawn)
mutter	mut - ter	agile	a - gile

Final Answers for Synonyms (Correcting the Circled Ones):

1. gaunt: thin (correctly circled)
2. muster: congregation (the circled "absorb" is wrong)
3. scholarship: research (circled option? The paper has "painting" and "research" – so circle "research")
4. agile: nimble (circle "nimble")
5. dismay: alarm (circle "alarm")

Final Answers for Syllables (Filled Table):

Word	In Syllables	Word	In Syllables
gaunt	gaunt (or ga - unt)	valedictorian	va - le - dic - to - ri - an
despair	de - spair	withdrawn	with - draw - n
mutter	mut - ter	agile	a - gile