To Ask

To Ask
Answer Key
Vocabulary Ladders
Teacher Note
For detailed instructions Word Definition
on how to implement the inquire to ask; to find out; to learn
components of this lesson,
see pages 15–19. quiz to question in order to test knowledge
to ask questions to uncover personal or secret
pry
information

Objective nag to bother by asking the same question repeatedly

Students will analyze words probe to question thoroughly

related to asking, from to ask questions in a persistent and doubtful
gently to forcefully. challenge
manner
to ask many questions in a harsh way for a long
grill
time
Materials
Ordering Words
• Vocabulary Ladders
template (page 142) Check that students can explain why the words are ordered the
way they are.
• Activity Cards
(page 53)
Sentence Clues
• Ordering Words 1. My study partner wanted to (quiz/probe) me over the main
(page 54) ideas in the chapter before my big test.
• Sentence Clues 2. My teacher thought it was a great idea to (grill/challenge) me
(page 55) in front of the whole class about the lesson since I wasn’t
• Sentence Stems paying attention.
(page 56) 3. Suzie wanted to know more about which girl Tony likes the
• Write About It! best, so she decided to (pry) and ask him personal questions.
(page 57) 4. My little sister likes to (nag/grill) me all the time by continually
asking me about my friends.

Additional Words 5. I decided to (inquire/probe) about the giraffes’ day-to-day life

Introduce students to
additional words such as
pester, snoop, interview,
examine, harass, and
research as you work
through the lesson.
at the zoo because I find them fascinating.
Sentence Stems
Check that student responses reflect the meaning of the
underlined word in each sentence frame.
Write About It!
Check that responses include the new vocabulary terms used in
the correct way.

52 #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 To Ask

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Activity Cards
Directions: Cut apart and match the words and definitions below. Then, glue them onto
the Vocabulary Ladders activity sheet in order, from asking gently to
asking forcefully.

to ask many questions

challenge in a harsh way for a long
time
to ask questions in a
grill persistent and doubtful
manner

inquire to question thoroughly

to bother by asking
nag the same question
repeatedly
to ask questions to
probe uncover personal or
secret information

to question in order to
pry test knowledge

to ask; to find out; to

quiz learn

© Shell Education #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 53

 To Ask

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Ordering Words
Directions: Write the words from the Word Bank in the order you choose, from asking
gently to forcefully, on the ladder. Then, explain why you put them in the order
you chose.

Word Bank
challenge grill inquire nag
probe pry quiz

Explain why you ordered the words

the way you did. You may use
example sentences to help explain
your thinking.
______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

54 #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 To Ask

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Sentence Clues
Directions: Choose the best word from the Word Bank to complete each sentence.
Note: You may need to add or change the ending of a word to make it fit the sentence.

Word Bank
challenge grill inquire nag
probe pry quiz

1. My study partner wanted to ___________________ me over the main ideas

in the chapter before my big test.

2. My teacher thought it was a great idea to ___________________ me in

front of the whole class about the lesson since I wasn’t paying attention.

3. Suzie wanted to know more about which girl Tony likes the best, so she

decided to ___________________ and ask him personal questions.

4. My little sister likes to ___________________ me all the time by continually

asking me about my friends.

5. I decided to ___________________ about the giraffes’ day-to-day life at the

zoo because I find them fascinating.

Directions: Create a fill-in-the-blank sentence on a separate sheet of

paper for at least one of the words in this lesson. Use the sentences
in the activity above as examples. Notice how a part of each sentence
provides a clue about which word fits best. Have a partner fill in the
missing word. Then, discuss why that word works best.

© Shell Education #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 55

 To Ask

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Sentence Stems
Directions: Complete each statement.

1. I am most often nagged about ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ .

2. Something I wouldn’t be shy to inquire about is ______________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ .

3. The police officer grilled the suspect about _________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ .

4. Kari and I quizzed each other about ______________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ .

5. I don’t like when people pry because _____________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________ .

56 #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances © Shell Education

 To Ask

Name: ___________________________________________  Date: __________________

Write About It!

Directions: Read the prompt. Then, write a response. Underline the new vocabulary
words you use in your response.

Word Bank
challenge grill inquire nag
probe pry quiz

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

© Shell Education #51305—Vocabulary Ladders: Understanding Word Nuances 57