2nd Grade Reading Quiz: Read Irregularly Spelled Words
20 questions · exam conditions
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Read Irregularly Spelled WordsQuestion 1 of 20

Look at the words: want, went, what, when, with, will. Find the word that says what.

what
whut
that
when
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2nd Grade Reading Quiz

2nd Grade Reading Quiz: Read Irregularly Spelled Words

Practice Read Irregularly Spelled Words in 2nd Grade Reading with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Read Irregularly Spelled Words, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for 2nd Grade Reading.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Look at the words: want, went, what, when, with, will. Find the word that says what.

  1. what (correct answer)
  2. whut
  3. that
  4. when
Explanation: This question tests 2nd grade ability to recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words (CCSS.RF.2.3.f). These are called 'sight words' because students must recognize them by sight—they don't follow regular phonics rules. The word what is spelled w-h-a-t. It doesn't follow phonics patterns: if we sounded it out, it would be /whāt/, but we say /wət/ or /hwət/. This word appears very often in books and must be memorized. Choice A is correct because what is the proper spelling of this high-frequency sight word. Students who have practiced reading sight words will recognize what by sight and know it means to ask about something. Choice B is incorrect because whut is a phonetic spelling error. This error happens when students try to sound out irregular words or mix up spellings. To help students: Use repeated exposure—students need to see sight words many times. Practice with flashcards showing word on one side, picture/sentence on other. Use multisensory activities: trace word in sand, skywrite, build with letters. Read books with high-frequency words repeatedly. Make sight word walls in classroom. Practice in context (sentences and stories), not just isolation. Use games (sight word bingo, memory match). Focus on highest-frequency words first (Dolch or Fry lists). Teach in small groups (5-10 words at a time). Watch for: students trying to sound out these words (they can't be decoded), students confusing similar-looking sight words (was/saw, on/no, want/went), students mixing up homophones (to/too/two), frustration—validate that these words are tricky and require memory practice. Remember: Irregular words MUST be memorized; phonics strategies won't work. But with practice and repeated exposure, students learn to recognize them automatically.

Question 2

Read the sentences. What is the underlined word?

We have a new book in our class. I read it at home.

  1. has
  2. hav
  3. have (correct answer)
  4. gave
Explanation: This question tests 2nd grade ability to recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words (CCSS.RF.2.3.f). These are called 'sight words' because students must recognize them by sight—they don't follow regular phonics rules. The word 'have' is spelled h-a-v-e. It doesn't follow phonics patterns: if we sounded it out, it would be 'hayv,' but we say 'hav.' This word appears very often in books and must be memorized. Choice C is correct because 'have' is the proper spelling of this high-frequency sight word. Students who have practiced reading sight words will recognize 'have' by sight and know it means to possess something. Choice B is incorrect because 'hav' is a common spelling error, which happens when students haven't memorized the correct spelling. To help students: Use repeated exposure—students need to see sight words many times. Practice with flashcards showing word on one side, picture/sentence on other. Use multisensory activities: trace word in sand, skywrite, build with letters. Read books with high-frequency words repeatedly.

Question 3

Which word is spelled o-n-e?

  1. won
  2. on
  3. once
  4. one (correct answer)
Explanation: The word one is spelled o-n-e, matching the letters in the question, so answer D is correct. Won looks and sounds similar but is spelled w-o-n. On is spelled o-n, and once is spelled o-n-c-e, so they do not match.

Question 4

Which of these is the correct spelling of the word there, as in "Put the book over there"?

  1. thare
  2. there (correct answer)
  3. their
  4. ther
Explanation: There is the correct spelling for the word that means in that place. Thare is not a real word. Their sounds the same but means belonging to them. Ther is missing the letter e at the end. The word meaning in that place is spelled there.

Question 5

Read the sentence: Amir said we could play after school. What is the underlined word?​

  1. sayd
  2. sad
  3. said (correct answer)
Explanation: This tests reading tricky words. The word 'said' is the past of 'say'. Remember the silent 'i' in the middle.

Question 6

We picked   flowers for Mom.

Which word correctly finishes the sentence?

  1. same
  2. some (correct answer)
  3. sum
  4. seem
Explanation: The word some means a certain amount of something, so 'We picked some flowers for Mom' is correct, making answer B right. Same means identical or alike, which does not fit. Sum means a total number in math, which does not fit. Seem means to appear a certain way, which does not fit either.

Question 7

We   on the swings after lunch. Which word correctly completes the sentence?

  1. where
  2. were (correct answer)
  3. wer
  4. wear
Explanation: The word were is spelled w-e-r-e, and it fits the sentence 'We were on the swings.' This matches the second answer. Where is spelled with an extra h and means a place. Wer is missing the final e, so it is not a real word. Wear means to put on clothes and does not fit the sentence. The correct answer is the right spelling of were.

Question 8

  is your favorite game?

Which word correctly finishes the sentence?

  1. wet
  2. what (correct answer)
  3. that
  4. hat
Explanation: The word what is used to ask a question, so 'What is your favorite game?' is correct, making answer B right. Wet describes something with water on it and does not fit. That points to something instead of asking a question. Hat is a thing you wear and does not fit the sentence.

Question 9

I   hello to Nina at school.

Which word is spelled correctly to finish the sentence?

  1. sed
  2. siad
  3. said (correct answer)
  4. sayd
Explanation: The correct spelling is said, where the letters ai make an unexpected short e sound, so answer C is correct. Sed leaves out the ai spelling pattern. Siad has the letters in the wrong order. Sayd is also spelled wrong. Remembering that said keeps its ai spelling, even though it sounds like sed, helps with this tricky word.

Question 10

Which of these is the correct spelling of the word "would," as in "I would like a snack"?

  1. wud
  2. wood
  3. woud
  4. would (correct answer)
Explanation: Would is the correct spelling for the word in I would like a snack. Wud is not a real word. Wood sounds the same but means the hard part of a tree. Woud is missing the letter l. The word is spelled would, with l before d.

Question 11

Which word correctly completes the sentence?   are ready to go outside.

  1. They (correct answer)
  2. Thay
  3. Their
  4. Thei
Explanation: They is the correct spelling of the word that means more than one person. Thay is not a real word. Their means belonging to them, not more than one person. Thei is not a real word. The correct spelling is they.

Question 12

Which word is spelled correctly to complete the sentence: We   art class today?

  1. hav
  2. has
  3. have (correct answer)
  4. haev
Explanation: Have is the correctly spelled word that completes the sentence 'We have art class today,' so answer C is correct. Hav is missing a letter, so it is not a real word. Has is spelled correctly, but it does not fit this sentence, which needs have. Haev has the letters in the wrong order, so it is not a real word.

Question 13

Read the sentence: I want to draw a big kite today. What is the underlined word?​​

  1. want (correct answer)
  2. wont
  3. went
Explanation: This tests reading tricky words. The word 'want' has an a that sounds like 'ah'. We spell it w-a-n-t.

Question 14

Read the sentence: I   to draw a big star. Which word is spelled correctly to complete it?

  1. wont
  2. want (correct answer)
  3. went
  4. won
Explanation: The word want is spelled w-a-n-t and fits 'I want to draw a big star,' so answer B is correct. Wont is missing the letter a and does not fit. Went shows past time and means to go. Won means to win and does not fit here.

Question 15

I want to   the answer.

Which word correctly finishes the sentence?

  1. no
  2. now
  3. know (correct answer)
  4. knot
Explanation: The word know means to understand something, so 'I want to know the answer' is correct, making answer C right. No is the opposite of yes and does not fit. Now tells about time, not understanding. Knot is a tie in a rope or string and does not fit the sentence.

Question 16

We   in the library after lunch.

Which word is spelled correctly to finish the sentence?

  1. where
  2. we're
  3. were (correct answer)
  4. wear
Explanation: The word were shows something happened in the past, so 'We were in the library after lunch' is correct, making answer C right. Where asks about a place, not the past. We're is a short way to say we are, which does not fit. Wear means to put on clothes, which does not fit the sentence.

Question 17

Read the sentence: I   like to help clean up the room. Which word is spelled correctly to complete it?

  1. wood
  2. would (correct answer)
  3. wold
Explanation: The word would is spelled w-o-u-l-d and means you are willing to do something, so 'I would like to help' is correct, making answer B right. Wood sounds the same but means the hard part of a tree. Wold is not a common word.

Question 18

Omar and I   ready for art.

Which word correctly completes the sentence?

  1. was
  2. are (correct answer)
  3. our
  4. is
Explanation: The word are is correct because it goes with a plural subject like 'Omar and I,' so answer B is correct. Was shows past time and is used with one person. Our shows something belongs to us. Is is used with one person, not two.

Question 19

  play a game after school today.

Which word is spelled correctly to complete the sentence?

  1. thay
  2. they (correct answer)
  3. them
  4. the
Explanation: The word they is the correct subject word and is spelled t-h-e-y, so answer B is correct. Thay is a misspelling and not a real word. Them is used after a verb, not as the subject. The is a small word that points to a noun, not a subject that does the action.

Question 20

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: We packed our bags because   are ready to go outside.

  1. them
  2. they (correct answer)
  3. there
  4. their
Explanation: The word they correctly completes the sentence because it is the subject that does the action of being ready, so answer B is correct. Them is used after a verb, not as the subject. There tells about a place, not about people. Their is a possessive word and needs a naming word after it, so it does not fit.