Loaded or Neutral? is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on telling a loaded word from a neutral one, aligned to Common Core standard RI.4.8. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Sort: a pointless, silly rule, a high price, money that was spent, a group of seagulls, a cramped, gloomy little room, a crumbling, dangerous old bridge
LoadedNeutral
2.Sort each one: Loaded or Neutral?
Sort: a greedy gang of seagulls, a magnificent, breathtaking view, the volunteers, a ridiculous waste of money, a loud storm, a wide view
LoadedNeutral
3.Sort each one: Loaded or Neutral?
Sort: the heroic volunteers, a tiny, helpless kitten, an old bridge, a large meal, a mouth-watering feast, a young kitten
LoadedNeutral
LessonPrint · RI.4.8 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Loaded or Neutral?
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. a cramped, gloomy little room — Loaded 2. a crumbling, dangerous old bridge — Loaded 3. a group of seagulls — Neutral 4. a high price — Neutral 5. a pointless, silly rule — Loaded 6. money that was spent — Neutral
2.1. a greedy gang of seagulls — Loaded 2. a loud storm — Neutral 3. a magnificent, breathtaking view — Loaded 4. a ridiculous waste of money — Loaded 5. a wide view — Neutral 6. the volunteers — Neutral
3.1. a large meal — Neutral 2. a mouth-watering feast — Loaded 3. a tiny, helpless kitten — Loaded 4. a young kitten — Neutral 5. an old bridge — Neutral 6. the heroic volunteers — Loaded
Questions about Loaded or Neutral?
What does the Loaded or Neutral? worksheet cover?
It practices telling a loaded word from a neutral one — 3 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core RI.4.8: Explain which reasons and evidence hold up each of the author's points. The instruction to students is “Sort each phrase into the right column”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Loaded or Neutral? practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.8 — RI.4.8, under Reading: Informational Text for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Loaded or Neutral? is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on RI.4.8, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Loaded or Neutral? come with an answer key?
Yes. All 3 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Loaded or Neutral? can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Loaded or Neutral? free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Loaded or Neutral?, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for RI.4.8
Explain which reasons and evidence hold up each of the author's points.