HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE
SAT
®
2008
23RD EDITION
Your Blueprint for Test Success
A diagnostic test
Six full-length practice tests
All questions answered and explained
In-depth review of all test subjects
Your Private Tutor
■ An overview of the test: What you
should know about the current SAT
test format
■ Additional practice questions with
answers
■ Vocabulary flash cards to increase your
word power
■ Study tips and test-taking strategies
Sharon Weiner Green and Ira K. Wolf, Ph.D.
Personal Instruction for a Better
Test Score
• Extensive reviews in critical reading,
grammar, and math
• Coaching to help you master the Writing
section
• Expanded math review includes
third-year college preparatory math topics
Visit www.barronstestprep.com
® SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board,
which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this
product.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE
SAT
®
23RD EDITION
Sharon Weiner Green
Former Instructor in English
Merritt College
Oakland, California
Ira K. Wolf, Ph.D.
President, PowerPrep, Inc.
Former High School Teacher, College Professor,
and University Director of Teacher Preparation
® SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this book.
DEDICATION
In memory of Mitchel Weiner and Samuel Brownstein, who first brought
college entrance test preparation to the high school students of America.
S.W.G.
To Elaine, my wife and best friend, for all of your support and love.
I.K.W.
© Copyright 2006, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1997, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1989, 1987,
1986, 1984, 1982, 1980, 1978, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1966,
1965, 1964, 1962, 1958, 1955, 1954 by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
Formerly Published as Barron’s How to Prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude
Test.
Critical Reading sections adapted from previous editions of How to Prepare
for SAT I by Samuel C. Brownstein, Mitchel Weiner, and Sharon Weiner
Green, published by Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form,
by photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, or incorporated
into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without
the written permission of the copyright owner.
All inquiries should be addressed to:
Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
http://www.barronseduc.com
ISBN-13: 978-0-7641-3449-4
ISBN-10: 0-7641-3449-3
ISBN-13 (with CD-ROM): 978-0-7641-7934-1
ISBN-10 (with CD-ROM): 0-7641-7934-9
International Standard Serial No.: 1069-272X
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
987654321
Contents
Preface
PART THREE
Tactics, Strategies, Practice: Critical Reading
v
Countdown to the SAT
v
SAT Format and Test Dates
ix
Acknowledgments
x
4
5
6
The Sentence Completion Question
87
The Critical Reading Question
103
Build Your Vocabulary
143
The SAT High-Frequency Word List
The SAT Hot Prospects Word List
The 3,500 Basic Word List
Basic Word Parts
144
145
146
248
Tactics, Strategies, Practice: Writing Skills
PART ONE
7
8
Get Acquainted with the SAT
1
2
Let’s Look at the SAT
3
What Is the SAT?
3
The Critical Reading Sections
5
The Mathematics Sections
6
The Use of Calculators on the SAT
9
The Writing Skills Sections
10
Winning Tactics for the SAT
13
Setting Goals
13
Pacing Yourself
15
Guessing
16
Tactics for the Test
20
PART TWO
Pinpoint Your Trouble Spots
3
A Diagnostic SAT
27
Diagnostic Test
33
Answer Key
66
Self-Evaluation
68
Answer Explanations
73
9
10
Grammar, Plain and Fanciful
269
Common Problems in Grammar
and Usage
273
The Writing Skills Questions
291
Writing a 25-Minute Essay
307
Tactics, Strategies, Practice: Mathematics
11
12
Introduction to the Math Sections
329
Math Strategies and Tactics
337
Reviewing Mathematics
371
12-A
12-B
12-C
12-D
12-E
12-F
12-G
12-H
12-I
12-J
12-K
12-L
12-M
12-N
12-O
12-P
12-Q
12-R
372
385
396
404
413
419
425
434
441
448
459
465
472
477
485
494
499
507
Basic Arithmetic Concepts
Fractions and Decimals
Percents
Ratios and Proportions
Averages
Polynomials
Solving Equations and Inequalities
Word Problems
Lines and Angles
Triangles
Quadrilaterals and Other Polygons
Circles
Solid Geometry
Coordinate Geometry
Counting and Probability
Logical Reasoning
Interpretation of Data
Functions and Their Graphs
PART FOUR
Test Yourself
13
Six Model SAT Tests
517
Model SAT Test 1
Model SAT Test 2
Model SAT Test 3
Model SAT Test 4
Model SAT Test 5
Model SAT Test 6
523
579
635
691
745
799
Preface
This edition of Barron’s How to Prepare for the
SAT reflects all of the changes in the new SAT. In
writing this book, we have aimed to give you the
advantages on the SAT that the students we tutor
and teach in classes have enjoyed for decades.
Therefore, we’d like you to think of this study guide
as your personal SAT tutor, because that’s precisely what it is. Like any good tutor, it will work closely
with you, prompting you and giving you pointers to
improve your testing skills. It will help you pinpoint
your trouble spots and show you how to work on
them, and it will point out your strengths as well.
After working with your tutor, you should see
marked improvement in your performance.
Your personal tutor will be available to work
with you whenever you like, for as long or short a
time as you like. Working with your tutor, you can
go as quickly or as slowly as you like, repeating
sections as often as you need, skipping over sections you already know well. Your tutor will give
you explanations, not just correct answers, when
you make mistakes, and will be infinitely patient
and adaptable.
Here are just a few of the things your tutor
offers you:
• It takes you step by step through thousands
of critical reading, writing, and mathematical
questions, showing you how to solve them and
how to avoid going wrong.
• It offers you dozens of clear-cut Testing Tactics
and shows you how to use them to attack every
question type you will find on the new SAT.
• It enables you to simulate actual testing conditions, providing you with a diagnostic test and
six model tests—all with answers fully
explained—each of which follows the format
of the SAT exactly.
• It provides comprehensive mathematics review
in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry—the
three math areas you need to know to do well
on the SAT.
• It pinpoints specific sources of SAT reading
passages, naming authors and books and magazines, and provides a college-level reading list
that can guide you to these works and more.
• It gives you the 365-word High Frequency
Word List, 365 words from abridge to zealot
that have been shown by computer analysis to
occur and reoccur on actual published SATs,
plus Barron’s 3,500 Basic Word List, your best
chance to acquaint yourself with the whole
range of college-level vocabulary you will face
on the SAT.
• It even gives you your own set of highfrequency word list flash cards in a convenient
tear-out section at the back of the book. More
than 200 words that have appeared regularly
on previous SAT exams are presented, each
with its part of speech, pronunciation, definition, and illustrative sentence. Separate the
cards and carry some with you to study in
spare moments. Or devise a competitive
game, and use them with a partner.
No other book offers you as much. Your personal tutor embodies Barron’s ongoing commitment to
provide you with the best possible coaching for the
SAT and every other important test you take. It has
benefited from the dedicated labors of Linda Turner
and other members of the editorial staff of Barron’s,
all of whom wish you the best as you settle down
with your tutor to work on the SAT.
Countdown to the SAT
The day before you take the test, don’t do practice tests. Do look over all the
tactics listed below so they will be fresh in your mind.
BEFORE THE TEST
Set out your test kit the night before. You will need
your admission ticket, a photo ID (a driver’s license
or a non-driver picture ID, a passport, or a school
ID), your calculator, four or five sharp No. 2 pencils
(with erasers), plus a map or directions showing
how to get to the test center.
Get a good night’s sleep so you are well rested
and alert.
Wear comfortable clothes. Dress in layers.
Bring a sweater in case the room is cold.
Bring an accurate watch—not one that beeps—
in case the room has no clock.
Bring a small snack for quick energy.
Don’t be late. Allow plenty of time for getting to
the test site. You want to be in your seat, relaxed,
before the test begins.
v
DURING THE TEST
Sentence Completion Questions
First answer all the easy questions; then tackle the
hard ones if you have time.
Pace yourself. Don’t work so fast that you start
making careless errors. On the other hand, don’t
get bogged down on any one question.
Play the percentages: guess whenever you can
eliminate one or more of the answers.
Make educated guesses, not random ones. As
a rule, don’t fill in answers when you haven’t even
looked at the questions.
Watch out for eye-catchers, answer choices that
are designed to tempt you into guessing wrong.
Change answers only if you have a reason for
doing so; don’t change them on a last-minute
hunch or whim.
Check your assumptions. Make sure you are
answering the question asked and not the one you
thought was going to be asked.
Remember that you are allowed to write in the
test booklet. Use it to do your math computations
and to draw diagrams. Underline key words in sentence completion questions, grammar questions,
and reading passages. Cross out any answer
choices you are sure are wrong. Circle questions
you want to return to.
Be careful not to make any stray marks on your
answer sheet. The test is graded by a machine,
and a machine cannot always tell the difference
between an accidental mark and an intentionally
filled-in answer.
Check frequently to make sure you are answering the questions in the right spots.
Remember that you don’t have to answer every
question to do well.
First, read the sentence carefully to get a feel for
its meaning.
Before you look at the choices, think of a word
that makes sense.
Watch for words that signal a contrast (but,
although, however) or indicate the continuation of
a thought (also, additionally, besides, furthermore).
These signal words are clues that can help you
figure out what a sentence actually means.
Look for words that signal the unexpected, such
as abnormal, illogical, and ironic. These words
indicate that something unexpected, possibly even
unwanted, exists or has occurred.
In double-blank sentences, go through the
answers, testing the first word in each choice (and
eliminating the ones that don’t fit).
TIPS FOR THE CRITICAL READING QUESTIONS
Read all the answer choices before you decide
which is best.
Think of a context for an unfamiliar word; the
context may help you come up with the word’s
meaning.
Break down unfamiliar words into recognizable
parts.
Consider secondary meanings of words. If none
of the answer choices seems right to you, take
another look. A word may have more than one
meaning.
vi
Reading Passage Questions
When you have a choice, tackle reading passages
with familiar subjects before passages with unfamiliar ones.
Make use of the introductions to acquaint yourself with the text.
Read as rapidly as you can with understanding,
but do not force yourself.
As you read the opening sentence, try to anticipate what the passage is about.
When you tackle the questions, use any line
references given to help in the passage.
Base your answer only on what is written in the
passage, not on what you know from other books
or courses.
In answering questions on the long paired reading passages, first read one passage and answer
the questions based on it; then read the second
passage and tackle the remaining questions.
Try to answer all the questions on a particular
passage.
TIPS FOR THE MATHEMATICS QUESTIONS
Whenever you know how to answer a question
directly, just do it. The tactics that are reviewed
below should be used only when you need them.
Memorize all the formulas you need to know.
Even though some of them are printed on the first
page of each math section, during the test you do
not want to waste any time referring to that reference material.
Be sure to bring a calculator, but use it only
when you need it. Don’t use it for simple arithmetic
that you can easily do in your head.
Remember that no problem requires lengthy or
difficult computations. If you find yourself doing a
lot of arithmetic, stop and reread the question. You
are probably not answering the question asked.
Answer every question you attempt. Even if you
can’t solve it, you can almost always eliminate two
or more choices. Often you know that an answer
must be negative, but two or three of the choices
are positive, or an answer must be even, and
some of the choices are odd.
Unless a diagram is labeled “Note: Figure not
drawn to scale,” it is perfectly accurate, and you
can trust it in making an estimate.
When a diagram has not been provided, draw
one, especially on a geometry problem.
If a diagram has been provided, feel free to
label it, and mark it up in any way, including
adding line segments, if necessary.
Answer any question for which you can estimate the answer, even if you are not sure you are
correct.
Don’t panic when you see a strange symbol in a
question; it will always be defined. Getting the correct answer just involves using the information
given in the definition.
When a question involves two equations, either
add them or subtract them. If there are three or
more, just add them.
Never make unwarranted assumptions. Do not
assume numbers are positive or integers. If a
question refers to two numbers, do not assume
that they have to be different. If you know a figure
has four sides, do not assume that it is a rectangle.
Be sure to work in consistent units. If the width
and length of a rectangle are 8 inches and 2 feet,
respectively, either convert the 2 feet to 24 inches
or the 8 inches to two-thirds of a foot before calculating the area or perimeter.
Student-Produced Response (Grid-in)
Questions
Standard Multiple-Choice Questions
First read the sentence to get a feel for its structure and sense.
Remember that the error, if there is one, must
be in an underlined part of the sentence.
Look first for the most common errors (lack of
subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent problems, faulty diction, incorrect verb tense).
Whenever you answer a question by backsolving,
start with choice C.
When you replace variables with numbers,
choose easy-to-use numbers, whether or not they
are realistic.
Choose appropriate numbers. The best number
to use in percent problems is 100. In problems
involving fractions, the best number to use is the
least common denominator.
When you have no idea how to solve a problem, eliminate all of the absurd choices and guess.
Write your answer in the four spaces at the top of
the grid, and carefully grid in your answer below.
No credit is given for a correct answer if it has
been gridded improperly.
Remember that the answer to a grid-in question
can never be negative.
You can never grid in a mixed number—you
must convert it to an improper fraction or a decimal.
Never round off your answers, and never
reduce fractions. If a fraction can fit in the four
spaces of the grid, enter it. If not, use your calculator to convert it to a decimal (by dividing) and
enter a decimal point followed by the first three
decimal digits.
When gridding a decimal, do not write a zero
before the decimal point.
If a question has more than one possible
answer, grid in only one of them.
There is no penalty for wrong answers on gridin questions, so you should grid in anything that
seems reasonable, rather than omit a question.
TIPS FOR THE WRITING SKILLS QUESTIONS
Read all the answer choices before you decide
which is correct.
Use your ear for the language to help you
decide whether something is wrong.
Pay particular attention to the shorter answer
choices. Good prose is economical. Often the correct answer choice will be the shortest, most direct
way of making a point.
Remember that not every sentence contains an
error or needs to be improved.
Identifying Sentence Error Questions
Improving Sentence Questions
If you immediately spot an error in the underlined
section, eliminate any answer choice that repeats
the error.
If you don’t spot an error in the underlined section, look at the answer choices to see what is
changed in each one. The nature of the changes
may reveal what kind of error is present.
vii
Make sure that all parts of the sentence are
logically connected.
Make sure that all sentence parts arranged as
a series are similar in form. If they are not, the
sentence suffers from a lack of parallel structure.
Improving Paragraph Questions
First read the passage; then read the questions.
First tackle the questions that ask you to
improve individual sentences; then tackle the ones
that ask you to strengthen the passage as a
whole.
Consider whether the addition of signal words
or phrases—transitions—would strengthen the
passage or particular sentences within it.
When you tackle the questions, go back to the
passage to verify each answer choice.
viii
Tips for the Essay
First, read and re-read the prompt with care. Be
sure you understand the topic.
Decide on your thesis, the main point you want
to make.
Pace yourself: keep to your essay-writing plan.
Allow yourself 5 minutes for pre-writing and
outlining.
Keep careful track of your time. Allow yourself
time to come to a conclusion.
Write as legibly as you can.
Length counts: write as much as you can (while
still making sense) within the allotted time.
Follow traditional essay-writing conventions.
Indent paragraphs. Use transitions.
Upgrade your vocabulary judiciously. Avoid
throwing in big words that you don’t understand.
SAT FORMAT
TOTAL TIME: 4 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES*
Secctioon 1: Esssayy
Time—25 minutes
Sectioon 2: Criticcal Reeadingg—224 Quesstioons
Time—25 minutes
8 Sentence Completion
4 Reading Comprehension (2 short passages)
12 Reading Comprehension (1 long passage)
Sectioon 3: Matheematicss—220 Queestioonss
Time—25 minutes
20 Standard Multiple-Choice
Breeakk
Time—10 minutes
Sectioon 4: Writingg Skillss—335 Queestioonss
Time—25 minutes
11 Improving Sentences
18 Identifying Sentence Errors
6 Improving Paragraphs
Sectioon 5: Exxperimentaal
Time—25 minutes
This section can be Critical Reading, Mathematics,
or Writing Skills
Sectioon 6: Criticcal Reeadingg—224 Quesstioons
Time—25 minutes
5 Sentence Completion
4 Reading Comprehension (paired short passages)
15 Reading Comprehension (2 long passages)
Breeakk
Time—10 minutes
Sectioon 7: Matheematicss—118 Queestioonss
Time—25 minutes
8 Standard Multiple-Choice
10 Student-Produced Response (Grid-in)
Sectioon 8: Criticcal Reeadingg—119 Quesstioons
Time—20 minutes
6 Sentence Completion
13 Reading Comprehension (paired long passages)
Sectioon 9: Matheematicss—116 Queestioonss
Time—20 minutes
16 Standard Multiple-Choice
Sectioon 100: Writingg Skillss—14 Queestioons
Time—10 minutes
14 Improving Sentences
Note: As stated above, the “experimental” section can be an extra 25-minute Critical Reading, Mathematics, or Writing Skills section.
This section, which permits the test-makers to try out new questions, does not count in your score; but because there is no way to
know which section is the experimental one, you must do your best on every section.
Section 1 is always the essay. Sections 2–7, which are each 25-minutes long, can come in any order. In particular, the experimenal
section is not necessarily Section 5—it can be any of Sections 2–7. Sections 8 and 9 are always a 20-minute Mathematics section
and a 20-minute Critical Reading section—in either order. Section 10 is always the 10-minute Writing Skills section.
*The above format is used in all the model tests in the book (including the diagnostic test), except that the model tests don’t have an
experimental section. Therefore, the model tests take 25 minutes less than an actual SAT.
SAT TEST DATES
Teest Datees
2007
March 10
May 5
June 2
Registraatioon Deadlinees
Regulaar
Laatee
February 2
April 3
April 27
February 14
April 11
May 9
ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors gratefully acknowledge the following copyright
holders for permission to reprint material used in the reading
passages.
Page 6: From A Handbook to Literature by C. Hugh Holman,
©1995. Reprinted by permission of Prentice Hall, Inc.
Pages 35–36: From Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian
History of the American West by Dee Brown ©1970 by Dee
Brown. Reprinted with permission of Henry Holt & Co., LLC.
Page 49: From Black Boy by Richard Wright. Copyright ©1937,
1942, 1944, 1945 by Richard Wright. Renewed 1973 by Ellen
Wright. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins, Inc.
Page 50: From King Solomon’s Ring by Konrad Z. Lorenz,
©1952 Harper & Row. Reprinted with permission of
HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Page 57: From “Let’s Say You Wrote Badly This Morning” in
The Writing Habit by David Huddle, ©1989, 1994 University
Press of New England.
Pages 57–58: From “My Two One-Eyed Coaches” by George
Garrett, ©1987. Reprinted with permission of The Virginia
Quarterly Review, Spring 1987, Vol. 63, No. 2.
Page 113: From Summer of ’49 by David Halberstam, ©1989.
Reprinted with permission of William Morrow & Co.
Pages 113–114: From Take Time For Paradise ©1989 by the
Estate of A. Bartlett Giamatti. Reprinted by permission of
Estate of A. Bartlett Giamatti.
Pages 123–124: From Sculpture/Inuit, ©1971. Reprinted with
permission of the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council and James
Houston.
Page 127: From “Renaissance to Modern Tapestries in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art” in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art Bulletin, Spring 1987, by Edith Appleton Standen, copyright ©1987 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Reprinted
courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Pages 128–129: From “I Love Paul Revere Whether He Rode
or Not” by Richard Shenkman. Copyright ©1991 by Richard
Shenkman.
Pages 129–130: From One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora
Welty, Reprinted with permission of Faber and Faber Limited.
Copyright ©1983 by Eudora Welty.
Pages 131–132: From “African Sculpture Speaks,” by Ladislas
Segy, ©1958 by permission of Dover Publications.
Pages 132–133: From “Yonder Peasant, Who Is He?” in
Memories of a Catholic Girlhood, ©1948 and renewed 1975 by
Mary McCarthy, reprinted with permission of Harcourt, Inc.
Page 133: From Reinventing Womanhood by Caroline G.
Heilbrun. Copyright ©1979 by Carolyn G. Heilbrun. Reprinted
with permission of W.W. Norton & Co., Inc.
Page 546: From Take Time for Paradise ©1989 by the Estate
of A. Bartlett Giamatti. Reprinted by permission of Estate of
A.B. Giamatti.
Pages 546–547: From City by William H. Whyte. Copyright
©1989 by William Whyte. Used by permission of Doubleday,
a division of Random House, Inc.
Page 582: From Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard.
Copyright ©1982 by Annie Dillard. Reprinted by permission of
HarperCollins, Inc.
x
Page 595: From The Waning of the Middle Ages by J. Huizinga.
Reprinted with permission of Edward Arnold.
Page 596: From Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriquez.
Reprinted with permission of David R. Godine, Publishers, Inc.
Copyright ©1982 by Richard Rodriquez.
Page 602: From “The Guilty Vicarage” in The Dyer’s Hand and
Other Essays by W.H. Auden. Copyright ©1948 by W.H.
Auden. Reprinted with permission of Random House, Inc.
Pages 602–603: From Modus Operandi: An Excursion into
Detective Fiction by Robin W. Winks, ©1982, pp. 118–119.
Reprinted by permission of Robin W. Winks.
Pages 651–652: From Athabasca by Alistair MacLean.
Copyright ©1980 by Alistair MacLean. Reprinted by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Page 653: From The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno
Bettelheim. Copyright ©1975, 1976 by Bruno Bettelheim.
Reprinted with permission of Alfred A. Knopf.
Page 660: From Native Stranger: A Black American’s Journey
into the Heart of Africa by Eddy L. Harris, ©1992. Reprinted
by permission of Simon & Schuster.
Pages 660–661: From Turning Japanese by David Mura,
©1991 by David Mura. Reprinted by permission of
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Page 707: From The Overworked American: The Unexpected
Decline of Leisure by Juliet B. Schor. Copyright ©1991 by
BasicBooks, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Reprinted by permission of BasicBooks, a member of Perseus
Books, L.L.C.
Page 714: From The Soul of the Night by Chet Raymo, ©1985.
Reprinted by permission of Chet Raymo.
Pages 747–748: From “The Art of Mickey Mouse” edited by
Craig Yoe and Janet Morra-Yoe. Introduction by John Updike.
Copyright ©1991 by The Walt Disney Company. Introduction
©1991 by John Updike. Reprinted by permission of Disney
Editions, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide.
Page 762: From The Indian in America (New American Nation
Series) by Wilcomb E. Washburn. Copyright ©1975 by
Wilcomb E. Washburn. Reprinted with permission of
HarperCollins, Inc.
Pages 768–769: From The Greenpeace Book of Dolphins by
John May, ©1990. Reprinted with permission of Greenpeace ©
Greenpeace.
Page 816: From Civilisation by Kenneth Clark. Copyright
©1969 by Kenneth C. Clark. Reprinted with permission of
HarperCollins, Inc.
Page 817: From Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery by
Richard Selzer. Copyright © 1974, 1975, 1976 by Richard
Selzer. Reprinted by permission of Georges Borchardt, Inc., for
the author.
Page 824: From “Tradition and Practice” in George
Santayana’s America: Essays on Literature and Culture, James
C. Ballowe, editor. ©1966 Reprinted with permission of the
University of Illinois Press, Urbana.
Pages 824–825: From “Postscript: The Almighty Dollar” in
The Dyer’s Hand and Other Essays by W.H. Auden. Copyright
©1948 by W.H. Auden. Reprinted with permission of Random
House, Inc.
PART ONE
Get Acquainted with
the SAT
1
Let’s Look
at the SAT
■
■
■
■
■
What Is the SAT?
The Critical Reading Sections
The Mathematics Sections
The Use of Calculators on the SAT
The Writing Skills Sections
What Is the SAT?
Many colleges and universities require their applicants to
take a standardized examination called the SAT. Consequently, most of you as high school juniors or seniors will
take this test as part of the college admissions process. The
SAT, which is written and administered by the Educational
Testing Service (ETS), purports to evaluate students’ reading, writing, and mathematical reasoning abilities. As a
result, you will actually get three scores: a critical reading
score, a math score, and a writing score, each of which will
lie between 200 and 800. For each part the median score is
500, meaning that about 50 percent of all students score
below 500 and about 50 percent score 500 or above.
What Is New About the SAT?
The SAT that you will take is somewhat different from the
SAT I that your older brothers and sisters may have taken.
This is not a big deal. Every ten years or so, the College
Board revises the SAT in some way. The “old” SAT I that
was replaced by the “new” SAT in March 2005 was itself
“new” when it was introduced in 1995.
Every page of this book presents what you need to know to
excel on the test that you will take. The diagnostic test and
all of the model tests in this book reflect the format of the current SAT. It really doesn’t matter what used to be on the test.
But just so you know, the major changes were as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
The test is 45 minutes longer.
There are three writing skills sections: an essay section
and two sections consisting of multiple-choice grammar
questions.
Analogies are no longer on the critical reading (formerly,
the verbal) part.
Quantitative comparison questions no longer appear on
the Math sections.
Some math questions cover topics not previously included on the test.
None of the changes should concern you, and all of them
are thoroughly explained in this book. If you read the book
carefully and take some model tests for practice, you will
know exactly what to expect. Finally, you will be taking the
exact same test that high school students all across the
country will take. You are all in the same boat, but you will
be better prepared for the voyage.
Why Do So Many Colleges Require
You to Take the SAT?
The United States has no national education standards, so
a B+ from one teacher doesn’t necessarily represent the
same level of accomplishment as does a B+ from another
teacher, even in the same school. Given how hard it is to
compare the academic achievements of students within one
school, consider the difficulty of evaluating students who
come from public and private schools in urban, suburban,
and rural areas throughout the United States. The SAT provides college admissions officers with a quick way to compare applicants from thousands of different high schools.
On one day, hundreds of thousands of students throughout
the United States (and in many foreign countries) take the
exact same version of the SAT, and a math score of 670
means exactly the same thing at a private school in
Massachusetts as it does in a public school in California.
How Do I Sign Up to Take the SAT?
Your high school guidance office should have copies of the
SAT Program Registration Bulletin, which provides information on how to register for the test by mail. If your school is
out of bulletins, you can get copies from:
College Board SAT
P. O. Box 6200
Princeton NJ 08541-6200
3
4 Let’s Look at the SAT
You can ask to have a bulletin sent to you by phoning the
College Board office in Princeton from 8:00 A.M. to 8:45 P.M.
Eastern time on weekdays (9:00 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. on
Saturdays). The number is (609) 771-7600.
Many students register for the SAT online. To take advantage of this service, go to: www.collegeboard.com. You will
need to have your social security number and/or your date
of birth, plus a major credit card.
Online registration is fast and efficient. However, not everyone is eligible to use it. If you plan to pay with a check,
money order, or fee waiver, you must register by mail.
Similarly, if you are signing up for Sunday testing, or if you
have a visual, hearing, or learning disability and plan to
take advantage of the Services for Students with Disabilities
Program, you must register by mail.
What Does the SAT Test?
The critical reading sections test your reading skills and
your vocabulary. One goal of the exam is to determine
whether when you read a passage you understand what
the author is saying and can make valid conclusions based
on the text. Another goal is to determine whether the level
of your vocabulary is sufficiently high for you to be able to
read college-level texts. These sections contain two types
of questions: sentence completion questions and critical
reading questions. This book will teach you the strategies
that will enable you to attack each type of question intelligently and will help you to develop the high-level vocabulary you need to score well on these reading sections of
the SAT.
The mathematics sections of the SAT are less a test of
your knowledge of arithmetic, geometry, and algebra than
they are of your ability to reason logically. What many students find difficult about these questions is not the level of
mathematics—much of the exam is based on topics in
arithmetic, algebra, and geometry taught in middle school.
Most topics taught in high school are not included, and the
majority of the questions are based on mathematics that is
taught by the ninth grade. Rather, the difficulty lies in the
way that test-takers must use the mathematics they already
know as they reason through the solutions. In this book,
you will learn all the strategies you need to decipher these
quantitative questions successfully.
The writing skills sections of the SAT test both your ability
to write an essay under time pressure and your quickness
at spotting grammatical errors and awkwardly written prose.
In the essay-writing section, you are not being tested on
how neatly you write (although legibility helps!), or on how
much you put down on paper (although longer papers often
treat the topic more thoroughly than shorter ones do and
may receive higher scores). You are being tested on how
effectively you express your ideas. Likewise, in the multiplechoice writing skills sections, you are not being tested on
your knowledge of technical grammatical terms. You are
being tested on your sense of standard written English.
In this book you will encounter models of correct English
and will learn ways to revise ungrammatical and awkward
sentences.
Beyond your vocabulary, reading, mathematics, and writing
skills, the SAT tests something else: your ability to take
standardized tests. Some students are naturally good testtakers. They instinctively know how to use standardized
tests to their advantage. They never freeze; and when they
guess, they are correct far more often than the laws of
averages would suggest. You probably have at least a few
classmates who are no brighter than you and who don’t
study any more than you, but who consistently earn higher
test grades—and you resent them! Don’t. Just learn their
secrets. In classes, in private tutorials, and through previous editions of this and other books, we have helped
millions of students to become better test-takers. Now it’s
your turn.
How Important Is the SAT?
In addition to your application form, the essays you write,
and the letters of recommendation that your teachers and
guidance counselor provide, colleges receive two important
pieces of numerical data. One is your high school transcript, which shows the grades you have earned in all your
courses during a 3-year period. The other is your SAT
scores, which show how well you did on a 33⁄4-hour test one
Saturday morning. Which is more important? Your transcript, by far. However, your scores on the SAT definitely
do count, and it is precisely because you want those scores
to be as high as possible that you purchased this book.
If you use it wisely, you will not be disappointed.
What Is the Format of the SAT?
The SAT is a 33⁄4-hour exam divided into ten sections; but
because you should arrive a little early and because time is
required to pass out materials, read instructions, collect the
test, and give you two 10-minute breaks between sections,
you should assume that you will be in the testing room for
41⁄2 to 5 hours.
Although the current SAT contains ten sections, your
scores will be based on only nine of them: five 25-minute
multiple-choice sections (two math, two critical reading, and
one writing skills); two 20-minute multiple-choice sections
(one math and one critical reading); one 10-minute multiplechoice section (writing skills); and one 25-minute essaywriting section. The tenth section is an additional 25-minute
multiple-choice section that may be on math, critical reading, or writing skills. It is what ETS calls an “equating” section, but most people refer to it as the “experimental” section. ETS uses it to test new questions for use on future
exams. However, because this section typically is identical
in format to one of the other sections, you have no way of
knowing which section is the experimental one, and so you
must do your best on all ten sections.
The Critical Reading Sections 5
The Critical Reading
Sections
There are two types of questions on the critical reading portion of the SAT: sentence completion questions and reading
comprehension questions.
Examples of each type appear in this chapter. Later, in
Chapters 4 and 5, you will learn important strategies for handling both types. The sentence completion and reading comprehension questions are divided into three sections, each
of which has its own format. Below is one typical format for
the SAT. You should expect to see something like the following on your test, although not necessarily in this order:
24-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–8
sentence completion
Questions 9–12
reading comprehension (short passages)
Questions 13–24 reading comprehension (long passage)
24-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–5
sentence completion
Questions 6–9
reading comprehension (short passages)
Questions 10–24 reading comprehension (long passages)
19-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–6
sentence completion
Questions 7–19
reading comprehension (long passages)
As you see, most of the critical reading questions on the
SAT directly test your reading skills.
Pay particular attention to how the sections described
above are organized. These sections contain groups of
sentence completion questions arranged roughly in order
of difficulty: they start out with easy warm-up questions and
get more and more difficult as they go along. The critical
reading questions, however, are not arranged in order of
difficulty. Instead, they follow the organization of the passage on which they are based: questions about material
found early in the passage precede questions about material occurring later. This information will be helpful to you in
pacing yourself during the test, as you will see in Chapter 2.
NOTE: If the 25-minute experimental section on your
SAT is a critical reading section, it will most likely follow exactly the same format as one of the two 25minute sections described above. Since, however,
there will be no way for you to know which one of the
25-minute critical reading sections on your test is
experimental, you must do your best on each one.
Here are examples of the specific types of critical reading
questions you can expect.
Sentence Completions
Sentence completion questions ask you to fill in the blanks.
In each case, your job is to find the word or phrase that
best completes the sentence and conveys its meaning.
Directions: Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted
in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Brown, this biography suggests, was an _______ employer,
giving generous bonuses one day, ordering pay cuts the next.
(A) indifferent (B) objective (C) unpredictable
(D) ineffectual (E) unobtrusive
Note how the phrases immediately following the word
employer give you an idea of Brown’s character and help
you select the missing word. Clearly, someone who switches back and forth in this manner would be a difficult
employer, but the test-makers want the precise word that
characterizes Brown’s arbitrary behavior.
Insert the different answer choices in the sentence to see
which make the most sense.
(A) Was Brown an indifferent (uncaring or mediocre)
employer? Not necessarily: he may or may not have cared
about what sort of job he did.
(B) Was Brown an objective (fair and impartial) employer?
You don’t know: you have no information about his fairness
and impartiality.
(C) Was Brown an unpredictable employer? Definitely. A
man who gives bonuses one day and orders pay cuts the
next clearly is unpredictable—no one can tell what he’s going
to do next. The correct answer appears to be choice C.
To confirm your answer, check the remaining two choices.
(D) Was Brown an ineffectual (weak and ineffective)
employer. Not necessarily: though his employees probably
disliked not knowing from one day to the next how much
pay they would receive, he still may have been an effective
boss.
(E) Was Brown an unobtrusive (hardly noticeable; low-profile) employer? You don’t know: you have no information
about his visibility in the company.
The best answer definitely is choice C.
Sometimes sentence completion questions contain two
blanks rather than one. In answering these double-blank
sentences, you must be sure that both words in your
answer choice make sense in the original sentence.
For a complete discussion of all the tactics used in handling
sentence completion questions, turn to Chapter 4.
6 Let’s Look at the SAT
Reading Comprehension
Critical reading questions ask about a passage’s main idea
or specific details, the author’s attitude to the subject, the
author’s logic and techniques, the implications of the discussion, or the meaning of specific words.
Directions: The passage below is followed by questions
based on its content. Answer the questions on the basis of
what is stated or implied in that passage.
Certain qualities common to the sonnet should be
noted. Its definite restrictions make it a challenge to
the artistry of the poet and call for all the technical
Line skill at the poet’s command. The more or less set
(5) rhyme patterns occurring regularly within the short
space of fourteen lines afford a pleasant effect on the
ear of the reader, and can create truly musical effects.
The rigidity of the form precludes too great economy
or too great prodigality of words. Emphasis is placed
(10) on exactness and perfection of expression. The brevity of the form favors concentrated expression of
ideas or passion.
1. The author’s primary purpose is to
(A) contrast different types of sonnets
(B) criticize the limitations of the sonnet
(C) identify the characteristics of the sonnet
(D) explain why the sonnet has lost popularity as a
literary form
(E) encourage readers to compose formal sonnets
The first question asks you to find the author’s main idea. In
the opening sentence, the author says certain qualities of the
sonnet should be noted. In other words, he intends to call
attention to certain of its characteristics, identifying them. The
correct answer is choice C.
You can eliminate the other answers with ease. The author is
upbeat about the sonnet: he doesn’t say that the sonnet has
limitations or that it has become less popular. You can eliminate choices B and D.
Similarly the author doesn’t mention any different types of
sonnets; therefore, he cannot be contrasting them. You can
eliminate choice A.
And although the author talks about the challenge of composing formal sonnets, he never invites his readers to try to
write them. You can eliminate choice E.
NOTE: Even if you felt uneasy about eliminating all four
of these incorrect answer choices, you should have
been comfortable eliminating two or three of them.
Thus, even if you were not absolutely sure of the correct answer, you would have been in an excellent position to guess. You will learn more about guessing tactics on the SAT in the next chapter.
2. The word “afford” in line 6 means
(A) initiate
(B) exaggerate
(C) are able to pay for
(D) change into
(E) provide
The second question asks you to figure out a word’s meaning from its context. Substitute each of the answer choices
in the original sentence and see which word or phrase
makes most sense. Some make no sense at all: the rhyme
patterns that the reader hears certainly are not able to pay
for any pleasant effect. You can definitely eliminate choice
C. What is it exactly that these rhyme patterns do? The
rhyme patterns have a pleasant effect on the ear of the listener; indeed, they provide (furnish or afford) this effect.
The correct answer is choice E.
NOTE: Because you can eliminate at least one of the
answer choices, you are in a good position to guess
the correct answer to this question. Again, you’ll find
information on guessing in Chapter 2.
3. The author’s attitude toward the sonnet form can best be
described as one of
(A) amused toleration
(B) grudging admiration
(C) strong disapprobation
(D) effusive enthusiasm
(E) scholarly appreciation
The third question asks you to figure out how the author
feels about his subject. All the author’s comments about the
sonnet are positive: he approves of this poetic form. You
can immediately eliminate choice C, strong disapprobation
or disapproval.
You can also eliminate choice A, amused toleration or forbearance: the author is not simply putting up with the sonnet form in a good-humored, somewhat patronizing way; he
thinks well of it.
Choices B and D are somewhat harder to eliminate. The
author does seem to admire the sonnet form. However, his
admiration is unforced: it is not grudging or reluctant. You
can eliminate choice B. Likewise, the author is enthusiastic
about the sonnet. However, he doesn’t go so far as to
gush: he’s not effusive. You can eliminate choice D.
The only answer that properly reflects the author’s attitude
is choice E, scholarly appreciation.
See Chapter 5 for tactics that will help you handle the entire
range of critical reading questions.
The Mathematics
Sections
There are two types of questions on the mathematics portion
of the SAT: multiple-choice questions and grid-in questions.
Examples of both types appear in this chapter. Later, in
Chapter 11, you will learn several important strategies for
handling each type.
There are 54 math questions in all, divided into three sections,
each of which has its own format. You should expect to see,
although not necessarily in this order:
The Mathematics Sections 7
•
a 25-minute section with 20 multiple-choice questions
•
•
a 25-minute section with 8 multiple-choice questions
followed by 10 student-produced response questions
(grid-ins)
Example 2.
•
a 20-minute section with 16 multiple-choice questions
Note: If the 25-minute experimental section on your SAT is a
mathematics section, it will follow exactly the same format as
one of the two 25-minute sections described above. Since,
however, there will be no way for you to know which section
is experimental, you must do your best on each one.
Within each of the three math sections, the questions are
arranged in order of increasing difficulty. The first few multiplechoice questions are quite easy; they are followed by several
of medium difficulty; and the last few are considered hard.
The grid-ins also proceed from easy to difficult. As a result,
the amount of time you spend on any one question will vary
greatly. Time management is discussed in detail in Chapter 2,
where you will learn the best way to pace yourself.
Note that, in the section that contains eight multiple-choice
questions followed by ten grid-in questions, questions 7 and 8
are hard multiple-choice questions, whereas questions 9–11
and 12–15 are easy and medium grid-in questions, respectively. Therefore, for many students, it is advisable to skip
questions 7 and 8 and to move on to the easy and medium
grid-in questions.
A necklace is formed by stringing 133 colored beads on a
thin wire in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo, violet; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,
violet. If this pattern continues, what will be the color of the
101st bead on the string?
(A) Orange (B) Yellow (C) Green (D) Blue (E) Indigo
Again, you are not helped by the fact that the question,
which is less a test of your arithmetic skills than of your
ability to reason, is a multiple-choice question. You need to
determine the color of the 101st bead, and then select the
choice that matches your answer.
The seven colors keep repeating in exactly the same order.
Color:
Example 1.
What is the average (arithmetic mean) of all the even integers between –5 and 7?
5
6
(A) 0
(B)
(C) 1
(D)
(E) 3
6
5
To solve this problem requires only that you know how to
find the average of a set of numbers. Ignore the fact that
this is a multiple-choice question. Don’t even look at the
choices.
•
•
List the even integers whose average you need: –4, –2,
0, 2, 4, 6. (Be careful not to leave out 0, which is an
even integer.)
Calculate the average by adding the six integers and
dividing by 6.
(–4) + (–2) + 0 + 2 + 4 + 6 6
= = 1.
6
6
red orange yellow green blue indigo violet
Bead
number: 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
etc.
•
The violet beads are in positions 7, 14, 21, . . . , 70, . . . ,
that is, the multiples of 7.
•
If 101 were a multiple of 7, the 101st bead would be
violet.
•
But when 101 is divided by 7, the quotient is 14 and the
remainder is 3.
•
Since 14 × 7 = 98, the 98th bead completes the 14th
cycle, and hence is violet.
•
The 99th bead starts the next cycle; it is red. The 100th
bead is orange, and the 101st bead is yellow.
•
The answer is B.
Multiple-Choice Questions
On the SAT, all but 10 of the questions are multiple-choice
questions. Although you have certainly taken multiplechoice tests before, the SAT uses a few different types of
questions, and you must become familiar with all of them.
By far, the most common type of question is one in which
you are asked to solve a problem. The straightforward way
to answer such a question is to do the necessary work, get
the solution, look at the five choices, and choose the one
that corresponds to your answer. In Chapter 11 other techniques for answering these questions are discussed, but
now let’s look at a couple of examples.
Having found the average to be 1, look at the five
choices, see that 1 is choice C, and blacken C on your
answer sheet.
NOTE:
1. You could have just pointed at the colors as you quickly
counted up to 101. Had there been 500 or 1000 beads,
however, that would not have been practical, whereas
the solution given will work with any number.
2. Did you notice that the solution didn’t use the fact that
the necklace consisted of 133 beads? This is unusual;
occasionally, but not often, a problem contains information you don’t need.
In contrast to Examples 1 and 2, some questions require
you to look at all five choices in order to find the answer.
Consider Example 3.
Example 3.
If a and b are both odd integers, which of the following can
be an odd integer?
(A) a + b
(B) a2 + b2
(D) (a + 1)(b – 1)
(E)
(C) (a + 1)2 + (b – 1 )2
a +1
b –1
8 Let’s Look at the SAT
The words Which of the following alert you to the fact that
you will have to examine each of the five choices to determine which one satisfies the stated condition, in this case
that the quantity can be odd. Check each choice.
•
The sum of two odd integers is always even. Eliminate A.
•
The square of an odd integer is odd; so a 2 and b 2 are
each odd, and their sum is even. Eliminate B.
•
Since a and b are odd, (a + 1) and (b – 1) are even; so
(a + 1)2 and (b – 1)2 are also even, as is their sum.
Eliminate C.
•
The product of two even integers is even. Eliminate D.
•
Having eliminated A, B, C, and D, you know that the
a +1
answer must be E. Check to be sure:
need not
b –1
even be an integer (e.g., if a = 1 and b = 5), but it could
be. For example, if a = 3 and b = 5, then
a +1
3+1
4
=
=
= 1,
b –1
5–1
4
which is an odd integer. The answer is E.
Another kind of multiple-choice question that appears on the
SAT is the Roman numeral-type question. These questions
actually consist of three statements labeled I, II, and III.
The five answer choices give various possibilities for which
statement or statements are true. Here is a typical example.
Example 4.
Grid-in Questions
Ten of the mathematics questions on the SAT are what the
College Board calls student-produced response questions.
Since the answers to these questions
are entered on a special grid, they are
usually referred to as grid-in questions.
Except for the method of entering your
answer, this type of question is proba0
0
0
bly the one with which you are most
1
1
1
1
familiar. In your math class, most of
2
2
2
2
your homework problems and test
3
3
3
3
questions require you to determine an
4
4
4
4
answer and write it down, and this is
5
5
5
5
what you will do on the grid-in problems.
6
6
6
6
The only difference is that, once you
7
7
7
7
have figured out an answer, it must be
8
8
8
8
recorded on a special grid, such as the
9
9
9
9
one shown at the right, so that it can be
read by a computer. Here is a typical
grid-in question.
Example 5.
At the diner, John ordered a sandwich for $3.95 and a soda
for 85¢. A sales tax of 5% was added to his bill, and he left
the waitress a $1 tip. What was the total cost, in dollars, of
John’s lunch?
•
Calculate the cost of the food:
$3.95 + $0.85 = $4.80
•
Calculate the tax (5% of $4.80):
.05 × $4.80 = $0.24
•
Add the cost of the food, tax, and tip:
$4.80 + $0.24 + $1.00 = $6.04
If x is negative, which of the following must be true?
I. x 3 < x 2
1
II. x +
<0
x
III. x =
x
2
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
•
To solve this problem examine each statement independently.
I. If x is negative, x 3 is negative and must be less than x 2,
which is positive. (I is true.)
1
, and the sum of two negative
II. If x is negative, so is
x
numbers is negative. (II is true.)
III. The square root of a number is never negative, and so
could not possibly equal x. (III is false.)
•
Only I and II are true. The answer is C.
NOTE: You should almost never leave out a Roman
numeral-type question. Even if you can’t solve the
problem completely, there should be at least one of the
three Roman numeral statements that you know to be
true or false. On the basis of that information, you
should be able to eliminate two or three of the answer
choices. For instance, in Example 4, if all you know for
sure is that statement I is true, you can eliminate choices B and D. Similarly, if all you know is that statement
III is false, you can eliminate choices D and E. Then, as
you will learn in Chapter 2, you must guess between
the remaining choices.
To enter this answer, you write 6.04
(without the dollar sign) in the four
spaces at the top of the grid, and
blacken the appropriate oval under
each space. In the first column,
under the 6, you blacken the oval
marked 6; in the second column,
under the decimal point, you blacken
the oval with the decimal point; in the
third column, under the 0, you blacken
the oval marked 0; and, finally, in
the fourth column, under the 4, you
blacken the oval marked 4.
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
Always read each grid-in question very
carefully. Example 5 might have asked
for the total cost of John’s lunch in cents. In that case, the
correct answer would have been 604, which would be gridded in, without a decimal point, using only three of the four
columns (see below).
Note that the only symbols that appear in the grid are the
digits from 0 to 9, a decimal point, and a fraction bar (/).
The grid does not have a minus sign, so answers to grid-in
problems can never be negative. In Introduction
to the Math Sections, in Part Three, you will learn some
The Use of Calculators on the SAT 9
important tactics for answering grid-in
questions and will be able to practice
filling in grids. You will also learn the
special rules concerning the proper way
to grid in fractions, mixed numbers, and
decimals that won’t fit in the grid’s four
columns. When you take the diagnostic
test in Chapter 3, just enter your
answers to the grid-in questions exactly
as was done in Example 5.
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
NOTE: Any multiple-choice ques8
8
8
8
tion whose answer is a positive
9
9
9
9
number less than 10,000 could be
a grid-in question. If Example 1 had
been a grid-in question, you would have solved it in
exactly the same way: you would have determined that
the average of the six numbers is 1; but then, instead of
looking for 1 among the five choices, you would have
entered the number 1 on a grid. The mathematics is no
harder on grid-in questions than on multiple-choice
questions. However, if you don’t know how to solve a
problem correctly, it is harder to guess at the right
answer, since there are no choices to eliminate.
The Use of Calculators
on the SAT
There isn’t a single question on any section of the SAT for
which a calculator is required. In fact, on most questions a
calculator is completely useless. There are several questions, however, for which a calculator can be used; and
since calculators are permitted, you should definitely bring
one with you when you take the SAT. As you go through
the hundreds of practice math questions in this book, you
should have available the calculator you intend to take to
the test, and should use it whenever you think it is appropriate. You will probably use it more at the beginning of your
review because, as you go through this book, you will learn
more and more strategies to help you solve problems easily
without doing tedious calculations.
If you forget to bring a calculator to the actual test, you will
not be able to use one, since none will be provided and you
will not be allowed to share one with a friend. For the same
reason, be sure that you have new batteries in your calculator or that you bring a spare, because if your calculator fails
during the test, you will have to finish without one.
What Calculator Should You Use?
Almost any four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is
acceptable. Since you don’t “need” a calculator at all, you don’t
“need” any particular type. There is absolutely no advantage to
having a graphing calculator. The College Board recommends
a scientific calculator, since it is occasionally useful to
1
have parentheses keys, ( ); a reciprocal key, ; and an
x
exponent key, y x or ^. All scientific calculators have these
features. If you tend to make mistakes in working with fractions, you may want to get a calculator that can do fractional arithmetic. With such a calculator, for example, you can
1
1
add
and
by entering 1 / 3 + 1 / 5; the readout will be
3
5
8/15, not the decimal 0.5333333. Such calculators can
also reduce fractions. Most scientific calculators have this
capability.
CAUTION: Do not buy a new calculator right before
you take the SAT. If you don’t have a calculator, or you
want to get a different one, buy it now and become
familiar with it. Do all the practice exams in this book
with the calculator you intend to take to the test.
When Should Calculators Be Used?
If you have strong math skills and are a good test-taker, you
will probably use your calculator infrequently, if at all. One
reason is that strong math students can do a lot of basic
arithmetic just as accurately, and faster, in their heads or on
paper than with a calculator. A less obvious, but more
important, reason is that students who are good test-takers
will realize that many problems can be solved without doing
any calculations (mental, written, or calculator-assisted);
they will solve these problems in less time than it takes to
pick up a calculator. On the other hand, if you are less confident about your mathematical ability or your test-taking
skills, you will probably find your calculator a useful tool.
Throughout this book, the icon
will be placed next to a
problem where the use of a calculator is recommended. As
you will see, this judgment is subjective. Sometimes a
question can be answered in a few seconds, with no calculations whatsoever, if you see the best approach. In that
case, the use of a calculator is not recommended. If you
don’t see the easy way, however, and have to do some
arithmetic, you may prefer to use a calculator.
Let’s look at a few sample questions on which some students would use calculators a lot, others a little, and still
others not at all.
Example 1.
If 16 × 25 × 36 = (4a)2, what is the value of a?
(A) 6
(B) 15
(C) 30
(D) 36
(E) 60
(i) Heavy calculator use: WITH A CALCULATOR multiply:
16 × 25 × 36 = 14,400. Observe that (4a)2 = 16a2, and
so 16a2 = 14,400. WITH A CALCULATOR divide:
a2 = 14,400 ÷ 16 = 900. Finally, WITH A CALCULATOR take
the square root: a = 900 = 30. The answer is C.
(ii) Light calculator use: Immediately notice that you
can “cancel” the 16 on the left-hand side with the 42 on
the right-hand side. WITH A CALCULATOR multiply: 25 × 36
= 900, and WITH A CALCULATOR take the square root of
900: 900 = 30.
10 Let’s Look at the SAT
(iii) No calculator use: “Cancel” the 16 and the 42.
Notice that 25 = 52 and 36 = 62, so a 2 = 52 × 62 = 302,
and a = 30.
By the way, after reading Section E in Chapter 12, you won’t
use a calculator on either problem—you won’t even do
any arithmetic. You’ll know that the average of any three
consecutive integers is the middle one.
Example 2.
Here are three final comments on the use of calculators:
Of the following, which has the greatest value when
w = 0.0001?
(A) 1000w
(B) w
2
(C) w
(D)
w
1
(E)
w
(i) Heavy calculator use: WITH A CALCULATOR evaluate each of the five choices and compare:
(A) 0.1 (B) 0.00000001 (C) 0.0001 (D) 0.01 (E) 10,000
The decision is not even close. The answer is E.
(ii)
No calculator use: Observe that, when w is very
small,
1
is very large, whereas the other numbers
w
2. No SAT problem ever requires a lot of tedious calculation. However, if you don’t see how to avoid calculating,
just do it—don’t spend a lot of time looking for a shortcut
that will save you a little time!
are small.
Example 3 (Grid-in).
If the length of a diagonal of a rectangle is 13, and if the
length of one of the sides is 5, what is the perimeter?
Whether you intend to use your calculator
a lot, a little, or not at all, the first thing
to do is to draw a diagram. This topic is
discussed more fully in Chapter 8, but
remember: you never do a geometry
problem without first drawing a diagram.
1. The reason that calculators are of limited value on the
SAT is that no calculator can do mathematics. You have
to know the mathematics required for a particular problem and the way to apply it. No calculator can tell you,
for example, that on a particular question you should
use the Pythagorean theorem. All the calculator is
good for is to calculate 132 in 5 seconds instead of the
10 seconds you would take to do the calculation on
paper. If, on the other hand, you had to calculate 67892,
the calculator would save you a lot of time, but you will
never have to do such a calculation on the SAT.
3. Most students use calculators more than they should;
but, if you can solve a problem with a calculator that
you might otherwise miss, use the calculator.
13
x
5
The Writing Skills
Sections
There are three types of questions on the writing skills
section of the SAT:
(i) Heavy calculator use: By the Pythagorean theorem, x 2 + 52 = 132. Observe that 52 = 25, and WITH A
2
CALCULATOR evaluate: 13 = 169. Then WITH A CALCULA2
TOR subtract: 169 – 25 = 144, so x = 144. Hit the
square-root key on your CALCULATOR to get x = 12.
Finally, WITH A CALCULATOR add to find the perimeter:
5 + 12 + 5 + 12 = 34.
1. Improving sentences
2. Identifying sentence errors
3. Improving paragraphs
(ii) Light calculator use: The steps are the same as in
(i) except that some of the calculations are done mentally: taking the square root of 144 and adding at the end.
The writing skills section on your test will contain 49 questions. The two sections break down as follows:
(iii) No calculator use: All calculations are done mentally. Better yet, no calculations are done, because you
immediately see that each half of the rectangle is a
5-12-13 right triangle, and you add the sides mentally.
Who should use a calculator to find the average of 3, 4,
and 5? No one. This arithmetic you can do in your head:
3 + 4 + 5 = 12, and 12 ÷ 3 = 4. You can do that faster than
you can push the buttons on your calculator.
Who should use a calculator to find the average of –3, –4,
and –5? Anyone who is uncomfortable with negative numbers or tends to make mistakes when dealing with these
numbers.
Examples of each type of question appear in this chapter.
Later, in Chapter 9, you will find some tips on how to handle each one.
35-Question Writing Skills Section
• Questions 1–11 Improving sentences
• Questions 12–29 Identifying sentence errors
• Questions 30–35 Improving paragraphs
14-Question Writing Skills Section
• Questions 1–14 Improving sentences
Here are examples of the specific types of writing skills
questions you can expect.
The Writing Skills Section 11
Identifying Sentence Errors
Identifying sentence errors questions ask you to spot something wrong. Your job is to find the error in the sentence,
not to fix it.
Directions: These sentences may contain errors in grammar, usage, choice of words, or idioms. Either there is just
one error in a sentence or the sentence is correct. Some
words or phrases are underlined and lettered; everything
else in the sentence is correct.
If an underlined word or phrase is incorrect, choose that
letter; if the sentence is correct, select No error.
Example:
After the incident was over, neither the passengers nor
A
B
the bus driver were able to identify the youngster who
C
had created the disturbance. No error
D
E
The error here is lack of agreement between the subject
and the verb. In a neither-nor construction, the verb agrees
in number with the noun or pronoun that comes immediately before it. Here, the noun that immediately precedes the
verb is the singular noun driver. Therefore, the correct verb
form is the singular verb was. The error is in C.
Improving Sentences
Improving sentences questions ask you to spot the form of
a sentence that works best. Your job is to select the most
effective version of a sentence.
Directions: Some or all parts of the following sentences are
underlined. The first answer choice, (A), simply repeats the
underlined part of the sentence. The other four choices
present four alternative ways to phrase the underlined part.
Select the answer choice that produces the most effective
sentence, one that is clear and exact.
Example:
Walking out the hotel door, the Danish village with its
charming stores and bakeries beckons you to enjoy
a memorable day.
(A) Walking out the hotel door, the Danish village with its
charming stores and bakeries beckons you to enjoy a
memorable day.
(B) Walking out the hotel door, the Danish village with its
charming stores and bakeries is beckoning you to
enjoy a memorable day.
(C) While you were walking out the hotel door, the Danish
village with its charming stores and bakeries beckons
you to enjoy a memorable day.
(D) As you walk out the hotel door, the Danish village with
its charming stores and bakeries beckons you to enjoy
a memorable day.
(E) Walking out the hotel door, the Danish village with its
charming stores and bakeries beckon you to enjoy a
memorable day.
The underlined sentence above begins with a participial
phrase, Walking out the hotel door. In such cases, be on
the lookout for a possible dangling modifier. A dangling participial phrase is a phrase that does not refer clearly to
another word in the sentence. Ask yourself who or what is
walking out the hotel door. Certainly not the village! To
improve the sentence, you must fix the dangling modifier,
replacing the initial participial phrase with a clause. Both
choices C and D do so. However, choice C introduces an
error involving the sequence of tenses: the verb were walking is in the past tense, not the present. Only choice D corrects the dangling participial phrase without introducing any
fresh errors. It is the correct answer.
To reach the answer above, you took a shortcut. You suspected the presence of a dangling participial phrase,
focused on the two answer choices that replaced the participial phrase Walking out the hotel door with different
wording, and selected the answer choice that produced a
clear, effective sentence. Even if you had not taken this
shortcut, however, you could have figured out the correct
answer by working your way through all the answer choices, noting any changes to the original sentence.
Improving Paragraphs
Improving paragraphs questions require you to correct the
flaws in a student essay. Some questions involve rewriting
or combining separate sentences to come up with a more
effective wording. Other questions involve reordering sentences to produce a better organized argument.
Directions: The passage below is the unedited draft of a
student’s essay. Parts of the essay need to be rewritten to
make the meaning clearer and more precise. Read the essay
carefully.
The essay is followed by six questions about changes that
might improve all or part of the organization, development,
sentence structure, use of language, appropriateness to
the audience, or use of standard written English. Choose the
answer that most clearly and effectively expresses the
student’s intended meaning.
(1) This fall I am supposed to vote for the first time.
(2) However, I do not know whether my vote will count.
(3) Ever since the 2000 presidential election, I have been
reading in the newspapers about problems in our voting
system. (4) Some days I ask myself whether there is any
point in me voting at all. (5) From the papers, I know our
methods of counting votes are seriously flawed. (6) We use
many different kinds of technology in voting, and none of
them work perfectly. (7) And the newest method, electronic
voting technology, is the worst of all.
Sentence 3 would make the most sense if placed after
(A) Sentence 1
(B) Sentence 4
(C) Sentence 5
(D) Sentence 6
(E) Sentence 7
12 Let’s Look at the SAT
The best way to improve this opening paragraph is to place
sentence 3 immediately after sentence 4. The opening section would then read: This fall I am supposed to vote for the
first time. However, I do not know whether my vote will
count. Some days I ask myself whether there is any point in
me voting at all. Ever since the 2000 presidential election, I
have been reading in the newspapers about problems in
our voting system. From the papers, I know our methods of
counting votes are seriously flawed. Rewritten in this fashion, the paragraph moves from the general (“voting”) to the
specific (“problems in our voting system”). The student
author is gradually introducing her topic, the problems
inherent in today’s electronic voting technology. Her opening paragraph still contains errors, but its organization is
somewhat improved.
2
Winning Tactics
for the SAT
■
■
■
■
Setting Goals
Pacing Yourself
Guessing
Tactics for the Test
Everyone wants to be a winner. In this chapter we present
our winning tactics for the SAT.
How can you become a winner on the SAT?
• First, you have to decide just what winning is for you. For
one student, winning means breaking 1500; for another,
only a total score of 2100 will do. Therefore, the first thing
you have to do is set your goals.
• Second, you must learn to pace yourself during the test.
You need to know how many questions to attempt to
answer, how many to spend a little extra time on, and
how many simply to skip.
• Third, you need to understand the rewards of guessing—
how educated guesses can boost your scores dramatically. If you doubt this statement, or if the idea of guessing
troubles you, work your way through the section on
guessing later in this chapter. It will convince you that
guessing is an important strategy in helping you to reach
your goal.
Finally, you have to master the 16 practical, reliable tactics
presented in this chapter that will help you improve your
performance on the SAT. Memorize these tactics: they will
work for you on this test, and on other tests to come.
Setting Goals
Before beginning your course of study for the SAT, it is very
important that you set a realistic goal for yourself. In order
to do that, you need to know your math, critical reading,
and writing scores on one actual PSAT or SAT to use as a
reference or starting point.
1. If you have already taken an SAT and will be using this
book to help you prepare to retake it, use your actual
scores from that test.
2. If you have already taken the PSAT, but have not yet
taken the SAT, use your most recent actual PSAT
scores, being sure to add a zero to the end of each
score (changing a 55 to a 550, for example).
3. If you have not yet taken an actual PSAT or SAT, do the
following:
• Reread Chapter 1 of this book to familiarize yourself
with each type of question that appears on the SAT.
• Get a copy of the College Board’s SAT Preparation
Booklet from your guidance office and read the introductory material.
• Find a quiet place where you can work for 31⁄2 hours
without interruptions.
• Take the SAT in the booklet under true exam conditions: time yourself on each of the nine sections; take
no more than a 2-minute break between sections;
after finishing three sections, take a 10-minute break,
and another after Section 6.
• Carefully follow the instructions in the booklet to
grade the test and convert your total raw scores on
each part to a scaled score.
• Use these scores as your starting point.
If for some reason you feel that your actual PSAT or SAT
scores do not provide an accurate picture of where you are
(because you were sick the day you took the exam, or for
some other reason failed to you your best), instead of using
those scores, take another sample test following the instructions in number 3 above.
The College Board reports that about a third of all students
earn lower scores on the SAT than they did on the PSAT;
but by virtue of being more familiar with the test, having
been in school for six more months, and having done some
test preparation, two-thirds of all students earn higher scores
on the SAT than they did on the PSAT. However, the overall
average increase is less than 50 points in total for all three
parts. The College Board reports similar results for students
who take the SAT in the spring of their junior year and then
again in the fall of their senior year. Recently, the average
change was an increase of 10 points on the critical reading
score and 13 points on the math score, a total of 23 points.
The statistics cited in the preceding paragraph are not very
encouraging. Fortunately for you, students who conscientiously go through this book, learning the material, mastering
13
14 Winning Tactics for the SAT
the various tactics, and practicing on the model tests, have
much better results than the College Board’s averages.
Using these techniques, we have helped thousands of students increase their scores by hundreds of points each.
It is now time to set a goal that will please you, but at the
same time is reasonable. If you earned 470 on the critical
reading portion of the PSAT, for example, you might like to
get 700 on the SAT, but unfortunately that’s not a realistic
goal. On the other hand, you certainly shouldn’t accept as
your goal the increase of only 10 points or so that the
College Board says is about average. How much you can
improve depends on three factors:
1. How high your previous scores are. It is much easier to
go up 100 points from 450 to 550 than from 650 to 750.
2. How well prepared you were when you last took the
PSAT or SAT. If you studied extensively, are already
familiar with the format of the test, and know some of
the basic tactics, you probably have less room for
improvement than someone who has not yet learned
any good test-taking strategies.
3. How much effort you are willing to devote to getting the
highest possible scores. If you are committed to learning
the material in this book and are willing to work diligently,
you should set your goals higher than if you plan to spend
just a few hours practicing and are not intending to devote
the time necessary to get full benefit from this book.
Subject to the conditions mentioned, the following guidelines
are reasonable for your initial goals.
Current
score
300
350
400
450
500
Goal
400
450
500
540
580
Current
score
550
600
650
700
750
Goal
620
660
700
740
780
Therefore, if your PSAT grades were 470 critical reading
and 520 math, realistic goals for you are about 550 critical
reading and 600 math, an increase of about 80 on each
part, for a total increase of 160 points. You should also
expect your writing skills multiple-choice score to improve.
Clearly, a 160-point rise is far more than the College
Board’s guidelines, but it is absolutely realistic. If you set
your goals still higher, however, you risk being continually
frustrated by falling far short of your target. Of course, if
after using this book for several weeks it appears to you
that you will easily reach your goals, do what thousands of
students have done: revise your goals upward. For example, if your initial math score was 500 and it appears that
you will easily reach your goal of 580, then aim for 600 or
even 620. Later, you could even revise it again.
Why is it so important to set a goal? Why not just try to get
the highest score you can by correctly answering as many
questions as possible? The answer is that your goal tells
you how many questions you should try to answer. The single most common tactical error that students make is trying
to answer too many questions. Surprising as it may be, the
following statement is true for almost all students:
THE BEST WAY TO INCREASE YOUR SCORE ON
THE SAT IS TO ANSWER FEWER QUESTIONS.
To understand why this is so, let’s look at two hypothetical
students. The first is John, an average student who expects
to graduate in the middle of his class. His grade point average is in the low 80s, higher than about half of the students
in his school and lower than the other half. On the SAT, he
would expect to do about the same, but he sets his sights a
little higher, hoping to be in about the 60th percentile, scoring higher than 60 percent of the students taking the exam
and lower than the other 40 percent.
What would have happened to John if on his final exam in
math last year there were 54 questions, and he worked
very slowly and carefully, making no mistakes, but answering only 32 of the questions, leaving the other 22 out? The
result would have been a disaster; he would have failed the
final. Now let’s look at the result if he does exactly that on
the SAT. He would earn 1 point for each of the 32 questions he answers correctly and nothing for the 22 he omits,
so his raw score would be 32. That raw score would then
be converted to a scaled score of about 540. For John,
that’s not a disaster; that’s great! His score of 540 is not
failing; it places him in the top third of all students taking the
SAT. If this occurs, John would exceed his goal, even
though he left out more than 40 percent of the questions on
the test.
Actually, John is not a hypothetical student; he is real. And
here’s what really happened to him. In May of his junior
year, he earned 470 on the math portion of the SAT.
Naturally, he had missed a lot of the more difficult questions
toward the end of each section. But he had also missed
some of the easier questions. One morning, we had him do
a sample SAT for us. On the first math section, which had
20 questions, John finished the first 13 questions in about
13 minutes and used the remaining 12 minutes for the 7
harder questions. Of the first 13 questions, he got 9 right
and 4 wrong; of the last 7, he got 2 right and 5 wrong. We
recommended that he slow down and not even attempt the
hard problems at the end. Our advice was to spend all 25
minutes on the first 13 questions. We gave him similar
guidelines for each section of the test. The very next day,
he returned and took another complete SAT, following our
suggestions. The difference was remarkable.
Leaving out the last 7 questions, John earned no points for
them. That actually represented a small loss, because on
the preceding day he had earned 3/4 point of raw score for
these questions—2 points for the 2 right answers minus 5/4
or 11/4 points from those annoying 1/4 point penalties for
each of the 5 questions he missed. (See pages 16–17 to
learn how to calculate raw scores.) However, by taking the
full 25 minutes on the early questions, he was able to eliminate all of his careless errors and wound up getting 12 out
of 13 right. And that really helped his score a lot. Changing
3 wrong answers to 3 right answers raised his raw score by
33/4 points (plus 3 instead of minus 3/4). The net change on
that one section was enough to raise his math score 40
points. He had similar results on the other two math sections, and in one day his math score went up 90 points.
Pacing Yourself 15
John’s success didn’t stop there. He soon found that he
could actually get the first 13 questions right (occasionally
missing one), in about 21 minutes, rather than 25. Then,
using the tactics from this book, he figured out which one or
two of the remaining questions he had the best chance of
answering correctly, and spent 4 minutes working on them.
He made comparable improvements on the other math sections as well. When he finally took the SAT in the fall of his
senior year, he left out 13 of the 54 math questions (a quarter of the test) but missed only 2. His score of 610 was 140
points higher than the score he had earned the previous
May!
Our second not-so-hypothetical student is Mary. She is a
very good student, with an average in the low 90s. She isn’t
one of the few best in her school, but she is in the top 10 to
15 percent of her class. Her best subjects are math and science, and when she took the SAT in her junior year, her
math score was 710. However, she was disappointed in her
critical reading score, which was only 620. She desperately
wanted to “break” 1400, and so decided to retake the SAT
in the fall. It turned out that, although she understood virtually everything she read, Mary was a slow reader and, in
order to finish the test, wound up skimming some passages
rather than reading them. As a result, she missed too many
critical reading questions. She also missed some sentence
completions she shouldn’t have because she was racing to
get to the reading questions, which she knew would require
extra time.
We recommended that she slow down, just as we had for
John. In particular, on the critical reading section with two
passages, we recommended that, instead of reading both
passages quickly, she skip the 5-question passage
entirely, and read the 10-question passage more slowly
and carefully. For several weeks, she resisted. Students
used to getting grades of 90 and 95 never intentionally
leave out questions on a test, and Mary was sure that
leaving out questions on the SAT was a terrible strategy.
Instead, she concentrated on practicing the tactics
discussed in this book on the short-answer questions.
Her score did improve, but not as much as she wanted
it to. Finally, she agreed to try it our way. The results
were stunning and immediate. Her critical reading score
shot up 50 points.
When Mary finally took the SAT for the second time,
she left out 8 reading questions, and earned exactly
700 points. Note that, although she was only in the top
10 to 15 percent of her class, her critical reading SAT
score was in the top 2 to 3 percent of all the students in
the country.
CAUTION: This advice does not imply that you should
leave out questions without ever trying to guess. Later
in this chapter, you will learn that, if you have worked
on a problem and have eliminated some choices, you
must guess. Answering fewer questions never means
omitting questions that you have worked on and on
which you can make an educated guess. Answering
fewer questions means not even reading certain questions because you are pacing yourself properly and
taking more time on other questions. If, as you go
through this book, you discover that certain patterns of
questions consistently stump you, consider skipping
them entirely to give yourself more time to answer the
rest. However, once you’ve started work on any problem and have ruled out some answer choices, go for
that educated guess.
How Many Questions Should You
Answer?
Suppose that your current critical reading score is 400 and
that your initial goal is 500. To get 500 you need a raw
score of about 30, less than half of the 67 points available.
Look at the following chart, which shows several ways to
earn a raw score of 30. Which way do you think is best?
Number
answered
Number
omitted
Number
correct
Number
wrong
Raw score
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
37
32
27
22
17
12
7
2
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
Going very slowly and answering only 30 questions is not
the best strategy. Even working very carefully, you still may
misinterpret a critical reading question, or miss a sentence
completion question because you become confused about
a vocabulary word you think you know. You may wind up
missing 2 or 3 questions. If you miss 3, your raw score
will drop to 26 and you will fall short of your goal by 20 or
30 points.
Your best strategy is to answer 35 to 40 questions (still
omitting more than 40 percent of the test). This allows you
to miss 4 to 8 questions and still reach your goal.
To see how to apply this strategy, carefully read the next
section on pacing yourself.
The advice in this section is so important that it is worth
repeating:
THE BEST WAY TO INCREASE YOUR SCORE ON
THE SAT IS TO ANSWER FEWER QUESTIONS.
Pacing Yourself
Once you have determined your goal and know how many
questions in a particular section you have to answer to get
the score you want, then you can work out how to pace
yourself during the test.
16 Winning Tactics for the SAT
Consider an actual section. One 25-minute math section
contains 20 multiple-choice questions. To answer all 20,
you have to average 1.25 minutes per question. Going that
fast, you may miss several. If, on the other hand, you
attempted only 10 of them, you can average 2.5 minutes
per question. At that rate, you may not miss any. If your
math goal is 550, for example, you need credit for about 60
percent of the questions. Sixty percent of 20 is 12, but even
going slowly you may miss a question or two, so we recommend that you answer 14 questions in the 25 minutes allotted. Our advice is to spend your time as follows:
Questions 1–5
Questions 6–10
Questions 11–14
Questions 15–20
1 minute each
2 minutes each
2.5 minutes each
Don’t even read them!
Pacing yourself in this way will give you your best chance
of getting most of the first 14 questions right. However, if
you finish all 14 in 22 or 23 minutes, and still have 2 or 3
minutes left, use 30 seconds to read questions 15 and 16.
Quickly decide which one you think you have a better
chance of getting right or making an educated guess
on, and use your remaining time on that one question.
Unless you are consistently getting at least 12 of the first
14 questions right, do not go any faster.
As you see, the general rule is this: first do the easy questions at the beginning of a section or set; then do the harder
questions that follow. In the 20-multiple-choice-question
math section, for example, you will generally do best by
answering the questions in the exact order in which they
appear. In the 25-minute critical reading section that has 8
sentence completions, however, you may be better off
answering the first 6 questions in order, skipping the last 2,
which are surely hard, and moving on to the reading questions on the next page.
There are some exceptions to this general rule. In the 20multiple-choice-question math section, suppose you have
completed the first 15 questions and have only 5 minutes to
go. Because you have only enough time to answer 2 more
questions at most, don’t automatically try numbers 16 and
17. Take a few seconds to glance at the questions remaining and pick the 2 or 3 that you like best. Perhaps you may
want to do the geometry questions and avoid the algebra
ones (or vice versa). Likewise, on the critical reading section with two reading comprehension passages, glance at
both passages and choose which one you want to read
first. Pick the one you think will be easier or more congenial. Perhaps you prefer reading scientific passages to
reading excerpts from novels (or vice versa).
The biggest issue in pacing yourself properly is deciding
how many questions you are going to attempt in each section, and how many you will skip. As you saw in the preceding section, the answers depend on the goals you have set
for yourself.
To start the process, get the most recent copy of the
College Board’s booklet available in your school’s guidance
office, or the College Board’s book The Official SAT Study
Guide: For the New SAT, available in bookstores and pos-
sibly in your school or public library. Look at an actual score
conversion table. Find the raw scores corresponding to your
scaled score goals, and on each part the number of questions you should plan to answer is that raw score plus 5 or
6. For example, if the initial critical reading goal that you set
for yourself requires a raw score of about 44, you need to
answer 50 questions so that, even if you miss 5, your raw
score will still be 44.
Now do a couple of the model tests in this book, pacing
yourself to answer only the required number of questions in
each section. You will quickly determine how fast or slow
you have to go in order to answer the correct number of
questions in the allotted time. If you don’t finish, try to work
a little faster the next time. If you finish early, don’t answer
more questions; go back and look over any questions you
guessed at or about which you were unsure. Only when
you can consistently reach your goal should you raise it and
try to answer more questions.
Guessing
If you don’t know the answer to a question on the SAT,
should you guess?
There is probably more controversy surrounding the issue
of guessing than any other. If you ask several people for
advice, you will surely get conflicting answers. However, the
answer to the above question is very simple: in general, it
pays to guess. To understand why this is so and why so
many people are confused about guessing, you must
understand how the SAT is scored.
On the SAT, every question is worth exactly the same
amount: 1 point. A correct answer to a critical reading question for which you may have to reread a whole paragraph is
worth no more than a correct response to a sentence completion question that you can answer in a few seconds. You
get no more credit for a correct answer to the hardest math
question than you do for the easiest. For each question that
you answer correctly, you receive 1 raw score point. Your
total raw score on the math and critical reading sections are
then converted to scaled scores between 200 and 800.
Consider the following scenario. Suppose you work very
slowly and carefully, answer only 32 of the critical reading
questions (omitting 35), and get each of them correct. Your
raw score will be converted to a scaled score of about 520.
If that were the whole story, you should use the last minute
of the test to quickly fill in an answer to each of the other
questions. Because each question has 5 choices, you
should get about one-fifth of them right. Surely, you would
get some of them right—most likely about 7. If you did that,
your raw score would go up 7 points, and your scaled score
would then be about 560. Your critical reading score would
increase 40 points because of 1 minute of wild guessing!
Clearly, this is not what the College Board wants to happen.
To counter this possibility, there is a so-called guessing
penalty, which adjusts your scores for wrong answers and
makes it unlikely that you will profit from wild guessing.
Guessing 17
The penalty for each incorrect answer on the critical reasoning sections is a reduction of 1/4 point. What effect would this
penalty have in the example just discussed? Say that by
wildly guessing you got 7 right and 28 wrong. Those 7 extra
right answers caused your raw score to go up by 7 points.
But now you lose 1/4 point for each of the 28 problems you
missed—a total reduction of 28/4 or 7 points. As a result, you
broke even: you gained 7 points and lost 7 points. Your raw
score, and hence your scaled score, didn’t change at all.
Notice that the guessing penalty didn’t actually penalize
you. It prevented you from making a big gain that you didn’t
deserve, but it didn’t punish you by lowering your score.
It’s not a very harsh penalty after all. In fairness, however,
it should be pointed out that wild guessing could have lowered your score. It is possible that, instead of getting 7 correct answers, you got only 5, and as a result, your scaled
score dropped from 520 to 510. On the other hand, it is
actually slightly more likely that you would have gotten 9
rather than 5 right, and that your scaled score would have
increased from 520 to 530 or 540. But, on average, wild
guessing does not affect your score on the SAT.
Educated guessing, on the other hand, can have an enormous effect on your score: it can increase it dramatically!
Let’s look at what is meant by educated guessing and see
how it can improve your score on the SAT.
Consider the following sentence completion question.
In Victorian times, countless Egyptian mummies were
ground up to produce dried mummy powder, hailed by
quacks as a near-magical ----, able to cure a wide
variety of ailments.
(A) toxin
(B) diagnosis
(C) symptom
(D) panacea
(E) placebo
Clearly, what is needed is a word such as medicine—something capable of curing ailments. Let’s assume that you
know that toxin means poison, so you immediately eliminate choice A. You also know that, although diagnosis and
symptom are medical terms, neither means a medicine or a
cure, so you eliminate choices B and C. You now know that
the correct answer must be choice D or E, but unfortunately
you have no idea what either panacea or placebo means.
You could guess, but you don’t want to be wrong; after all,
there’s that penalty for incorrect answers. Then should you
leave the question out? Absolutely not! You must guess!
We’ll explain why and how in a moment, but first let’s look
at one more example, this time a math question.
y
x
(3a,0)
(0,–2a)
What is the slope of line ᐉ in the figure above?
(A) –
2
3
(B) –
3
2
(C) 0
(D)
2
3
(E)
3
2
Suppose that you have completely forgotten how to calculate the slope of a line, but you do remember that lines that
go up (ã) have positive slopes and that lines that go down
(Ã) have negative slopes. Then you know the answer must
be choice D or E. What do you do? Do you guess and risk
incurring the guessing penalty, or do you omit the question
because you’re not sure which answer is correct? You
must guess!
Suppose that you are still working slowly and carefully on
the critical reading sections, and that you are sure of the
answers to 32 questions. Of the 35 questions you planned
to omit, there are 15 in which you are able to eliminate 3 of
the choices, but you have no idea which of the remaining 2
choices is correct; and the remaining 20 questions you
don’t even look at. You already know what would happen if
you guessed wildly on those 20 questions—you would
probably break even. But what about the 15 questions you
narrowed down to 2 choices? If you guess on those, you
should get about half right and half wrong. Is that good or
bad? It’s very good! Assume you got 7 right and 8 wrong.
For the 7 correct answers, you would receive 7 points, and
for the 8 incorrect answers, you would lose 8/4 = 2 points.
This is a net gain of 5 raw score points, raising your critical
reading SAT score from 520 to 560. It would be a shame to
throw away those 40 points just because you were afraid of
the guessing penalty.
At this point, many students protest that they are unlucky
and that they never guess right. They are wrong. There
is no such thing as a poor guesser, as we’ll prove in a
minute. For the sake of argument, however, suppose you
were a poor guesser, and that when you guessed on those
15 questions, you got twice as many wrong (10) as you got
right (5). In that case you would have received 5 points for
the correct ones and lost 10/4 = 21/2 points for the incorrect
ones. Your raw score would have increased by 21/2 points,
which would be rounded up to 3, and your scaled score
would still have increased: from 520 to 540. Therefore,
even if you think you’re a poor guesser, you should guess.
Actually, the real guessing penalty is not the one that the
College Board uses to prevent you from profiting from wild
guesses. The real guessing penalty is the one you impose
on yourself by not guessing when you should.
Occasionally, you can even eliminate 4 of the 5 choices!
Suppose that in the sentence completion question given
above, you realize that you do know what placebo means,
and that it can’t be the answer. You still have no idea about
panacea, and you may be hesitant to answer a question
with a word you never heard of; but you must. If, in the
preceding math question, only one of the choices were positive, it would have to be correct. In that case, don’t omit the
question because you can’t verify the answer by calculating
the slope yourself. Choose the only answer you haven’t
eliminated.
What if you can’t eliminate 3 or 4 of the choices? You
should guess if you can eliminate even 1 choice. Assume
that there are 20 questions whose answers you are unsure
of. The following table indicates the most likely outcome if
you guess at each of them.
18 Winning Tactics for the SAT
Most Likely Effect
Number
of choices Number Number
Raw
Scaled Score
eliminated correct
wrong
score
Verbal
Math
0
4
16
+0
+0
+0
1
5
15
+1.25
+10
+15
2
7
13
+3.75
+30
+40
3
10
10
+7.50
+50
+70
4
20
0
+20
+120
+150
On an actual test, there would be some questions on which
you could eliminate 1 or 2 choices and others where you
could eliminate 3 or 4. No matter what the mix, guessing
pays.
The scoring of the math sections is somewhat different from
the scoring of the critical reading. The multiple-choice math
questions have the same 1/4-point penalty for incorrect
answers as do all the critical reading and writing skills questions. There is no penalty, however, on grid-in questions,
so you can surely guess on those. Of course, because
you can grid in any number from .001 to 9999, it is very
unlikely that a wild guess will be correct. But, as you will
see, sometimes a grid-in question will ask for the smallest
integer that satisfies a certain property (the length of the
side of a particular triangle, for example), and you know
that the answer must be greater than 1 and less than 10.
Then guess.
It’s time to prove to you that you are not a poor guesser;
in fact, no one is. Take out a sheet of paper and number
from 1 to 20. This is your answer sheet. Assume that
for each of 20 questions you have eliminated 3 of the
5 choices (B, C, and E), so you know that the correct
answer is either A or D. Now guess. Next to each number
write either A or D. When you are done, turn to page 19.
Tests 1, 2, and 3 list the order in which the first 20 A’s and
D’s appeared on three actual SATs. Check to see how
many right answers you would have had. On each test, if
you got 10 out of 20 correct, your SAT score would have
risen by about 60 points as a result of your guessing. If you
had more than 10 right, add an additional 10 points for
each extra question you got correct; if you had fewer than
10 right, subtract 10 points from 60 for each extra one you
missed. If you had 13 right, your SAT score increased by
90 points; if you got only 7 right, it still increased by 30
points. Probably, for the three tests, your average number
of correct answers was very close to 10. You couldn’t have
missed all of the questions if you wanted to. You simply
cannot afford not to guess.
You can repeat this experiment as often as you like. Ask a
friend to write down a list of 20 A’s and D’s, and then compare your list and his. Or just go to the answer keys for the
model tests in the back of the book, and read down any column, ignoring the B’s, C’s, and E’s.
Would you like to see how well you do if you can eliminate
only 2 choices? Do the same thing, except this time eliminate B and D and choose A, C, or E. Check your answers
against the correct answers in Tests 4, 5, and 6 on page
19. Give yourself 1 raw score point for each correct answer
and deduct 1/4 point for each wrong answer. Multiply your
raw score by 8 to learn approximately how many points you
gained by guessing.
A few final comments about guessing are in order.
• If it is really a guess, don’t agonize over it. Don’t spend
30 seconds thinking, “Should I pick A? The last time I
guessed, I chose A; maybe this time I should pick D. I’m
really not sure. But I haven’t had too many A answers
lately; so, maybe it’s time.” STOP! A guess is just that—
a guess.
• You can decide right now how you are going to guess on
the actual SAT you take. For example, you could just
always guess the letter closest to A: if A is in the running,
choose it; if not, pick B, and so on. If you’d rather start
with E, that’s OK, too.
• If you are down to 2 choices and you have a hunch, play
it. But if you have no idea and it is truly a guess, do not
take more than two seconds to choose. Then move on to
the next question.
Answer Key for Guessing 19
Answer Key for Guessing
TEST 1
1. A
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. A
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. A
10. A
TEST 2
11. D
12. D
13. A
14. D
15. A
16. D
17. A
18. D
19. A
20. D
TEST 4
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. E
6. E
7. C
8. A
9. E
10. C
1. D
2. A
3. D
4. A
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. D
9. A
10. A
TEST 3
11. D
12. A
13. D
14. D
15. A
16. A
17. D
18. D
19. D
20. A
TEST 5
11. E
12. A
13. E
14. E
15. C
16. C
17. C
18. E
19. E
20. A
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. A
5. C
6. E
7. A
8. C
9. C
10. C
1. A
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. D
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. A
10. D
11. D
12. D
13. D
14. A
15. A
16. D
17. A
18. A
19. D
20. D
TEST 6
11. C
12. E
13. E
14. E
15. A
16. E
17. C
18. C
19. C
20. E
1. C
2. C
3. E
4. E
5. A
6. A
7. C
8. E
9. E
10. A
11. C
12. E
13. A
14. C
15. A
16. A
17. A
18. C
19. E
20. E
20 Winning Tactics for the SAT
Tactics for the Test
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Here are 16 tactics to help you maximize your SAT scores.
Practice using them on every model test you do. Then,
1
Keep careful track of your time.
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Bring a watch. Even if there is a clock in the room, it is better for you to have a watch on your desk. Before you start
each section, set your watch to 12:00. It is easier to know
that a section will be over when your watch reads 12:25
than to have a section start at 9:37 and have to remember
2
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Ta
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actual exam. Learn them now. Do not waste even a few
seconds of your valuable test time reading them.
Answer the easy questions first;
then tackle the hard ones.
Because the questions in each section (except the critical
reading questions) proceed from easy to hard, usually
4
that it will be over at 10:02. Your job will be even easier if
you have a digital stopwatch that you start at the beginning
of each section; either let it count down to zero, or start it at
zero and know that your time will be up after the allotted
number of minutes.
Don’t read the directions or look
at the sample questions.
For each section of the SAT, the directions given in this
book are identical to the directions you will see on your
3
by the time you take your SAT, they will be second nature
to you.
you should answer the questions in the order in which they
appear.
Be aware of the difficulty level of
each question.
Easy questions (the first few in each section) can usually be
answered very quickly. Don’t read too much into them. On
these questions, your first hunch is probably right. Difficult
questions (the last few in a section or group) usually require
a bit of thought. Be wary of an answer that strikes you
immediately. You may have made an incorrect assumption
or fallen into a trap. Reread the question and check the
other choices before answering too quickly.
Ta
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Tactics for the Test 21
5
In the critical reading and writing sections, read
each choice before choosing your answer.
Ta
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In comparison to math questions, which always have exactly one correct answer, critical reading questions are more
6
If you aren’t sure of an answer, guess if you can eliminate even
one of the choices (which should almost always be the case).
Ta
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ic
Remember that educated guessing can significantly
increase your scores. In particular, don’t leave out any
critical reading questions; if you have read the passage,
you can always eliminate some of the choices. Most math
7
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ic
sections, where entering your answer after each question
may interrupt your train of thought about the passage.
CAUTION: When you get to the last two or three minutes of each section, enter your answers as you go.
You don’t want to be left with a block of questions that
you have answered but not yet entered when the proctor announces that time is up.
Make sure that you answer the
question asked.
Sometimes a math question requires you to solve an equation, but instead of asking for the value of x, the question
asks for the value of x 2 or x – 5. Similarly, sometimes a
critical reading question requires you to determine the
LEAST likely outcome of an action; still another may ask
9
questions contain at least one or two choices that are
absurd (for example, negative choices when you know the
answer must be positive); eliminate them and guess.
Fill in the answers on your answer
sheet in blocks.
This is an important time-saving technique. For example,
suppose that the first page of a math section has four
questions. As you answer each question, circle the correct
answer in your question book. Then, before going on to the
next page, enter your four answers on your answer sheet.
This is more efficient than moving back and forth between
your question booklet and answer sheet after each question.
This technique is particularly valuable on the critical reading
8
subjective. You are looking for the best choice. Even if A or
B looks good, check out the others; D or E may be better.
you to find the exception to something, as in “The author
uses all of the following EXCEPT.” To avoid answering the
wrong question, circle or underline what you have been
asked for.
Base your answers only on the information provided—
never on what you think you already know.
On critical reading questions, base your answers only on
the material in the passage, not on what you think you
know about the subject matter. On data interpretation
questions, base your answers only on the information given
in the chart or table.
Ta
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22 Winning Tactics for the SAT
10
Remember that you are allowed to write
anything you want in your test booklet.
Ta
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Circle questions you skip, and put big question marks next
to questions you answer but are unsure about. If you have
time left at the end, you want to be able to locate those
questions quickly to go over them. In sentence completion
questions, circle or underline key words such as although,
therefore, and not. In reading passages, underline or put a
mark in the margin next to any important point. On math
questions, mark up diagrams, adding lines when necessary.
11
And, of course, use all the space provided to solve the
problem. In every section, math, reading, and writing, cross
out every choice that you know is wrong. In short, write
anything that will help you, using whatever symbols you
like. But remember: the only thing that counts is what you
enter on your answer sheet. No one but you will ever see
anything that you write in your booklet.
Be careful not to make any stray pencil
marks on your answer sheet.
computer registers two answers where there should be only
one, it will mark that question wrong.
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The SAT is scored by a computer that cannot distinguish
between an accidental mark and a filled-in answer. If the
12 Don’t change answers capriciously.
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If you have time to return to a question and realize that you
made a mistake, by all means correct it, making sure you
completely erase the first mark you made. However, don’t
change answers on a last-minute hunch or whim, or for fear
you have chosen too many A’s and not enough B’s. In such
cases, more often than not, students change right answers
to wrong ones.
Use your calculator only when you
13 need to.
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As explained in Chapter 1, many students actually waste
time using their calculators on questions that do not require
them. Use your calculator whenever you feel it will help, but
14
don’t overuse it. And remember: no problem on the SAT
requires lengthy, tedious calculations.
When you use your calculator,
don’t go too quickly.
Your calculator leaves no trail. If you accidentally hit the
wrong button and get a wrong answer, there is no way to
look at your work and find your mistake. You just have to
do it all over.
Ta
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Tactics for the Test 23
15
Remember your pacing strategies: never get bogged
down on any one question, and don’t rush.
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Using the techniques in this chapter, you should set realistic goals for how many questions you can answer in the
16
allotted time. Stick to your plan. Don’t panic and try to race
through more questions.
Remember that you don’t have to
answer every question to do well.
Reread the sections on setting goals and pacing. You know
you don’t have to answer all the questions to do well. It is
possible to omit more than half of the questions and still be
in the top half of all students taking the test; similarly, you
can omit more than 40 questions and earn a top score.
After you set your final goal, pace yourself to reach it.
Now you have the general tactics you’ll need to deal
with the SAT. In the next chapter, apply them: take the
diagnostic test and see how you do. Then move on to
Part Three, where you will learn tactics for handling each
specific question type.
PART TWO
Pinpoint Your
Trouble Spots
3
A Diagnostic
SAT
■
■
■
■
Diagnostic Test
Answer Key
Self-Evaluation
Answer Explanations
The diagnostic test in this chapter is a multipurpose tool.
• First, it will help you identify your problem areas and skills.
Take the test and evaluate your results, following the charts
provided. You will discover your strengths and weaknesses,
and you will know what to study.
• Second, this test will help you design a study plan that’s
right for you. Use the information you get from your
result to tailor a study plan to fit your particular needs.
If you need extra time on a certain topic, build time in.
You are in charge of your study program—make it work
for you.
• Third, this test is your introduction to the format and
content of the SAT. There is nothing like working your
way through actual SAT-type questions for 3 hours and
20 minutes to teach you how much stamina you need
and how much speed.
• Finally, this test is your chance to learn how to profit from
your mistakes. It will expose you to the sorts of traps the
test-makers set for you and the sorts of shortcuts that you
should take. Read the answer explanation for every question you miss or omit. You’ll be amazed to see how much
you’ll learn.
You are about to take a diagnostic test that can change the
way you do on the SAT. You have 3 hours and 45 minutes to
get through the nine sections (numbered 1–4 and 6–10;
there is no Section 5), with breaks. Make every minute count.
27
Diagnostic Test/Answer Sheet 29
Answer Sheet—Diagnostic Test
Remove answer sheet by cutting on dotted line
Section 1
d
ESSAY
30 Diagnostic Test/Answer Sheet
Essay (continued)
Diagnostic Test/Answer Sheet 31
If a section has fewer questions than answer spaces, leave the extra spaces blank.
Section 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Section 3
Remove answer sheet by cutting on dotted line
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Section 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Section 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 d
32 Diagnostic Test/Answer Sheet
Section 7
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Section 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Section 9
1 2 3 4 Section 10
1 2 3 4 Diagnostic Test 33
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
SECTION
1
Time—25 Minutes
1 1 1 1 1 1
ESSAY
The excerpt appearing below makes a point about a particular topic. Read the passage carefully,
and think about the assignment that follows.
Since the invention of television, the medium has had its ups and downs. At first, television watching
was a communal affair; the first television set owners in a neighborhood would proudly invite the
neighbors in to view the marvelous box. In time, however, television came to have an isolating effect
on viewers; as the painter Andy Warhol once said, “When I got my first television set, I stopped
caring so much about having close relationships.”
ASSIGNMENT: What are your thoughts on the idea that television has turned out to isolate people
instead of bringing them together? Compose an essay in which you express your views on this topic.
Your essay may support, refute, or qualify the views expressed in the excerpt. What you write,
however, must be relevant to the topic under discussion. Additionally, you must support your viewpoint, explaining your reasoning and providing examples based on your studies and/or experience.
1
34 Diagnostic Test
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
SECTION
2
Time—25 Minutes
24 Questions
2
Select the best answer to each of the following questions; then
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet.
Each of the following sentences contains one or two
blanks; each blank indicates that a word or set of words
has been left out. Below the sentence are five words or
phrases, lettered A through E. Select the word or set of
words that best completes the sentence.
Example:
Fame is ----; today’s rising star is all too soon
tomorrow’s washed-up has-been.
(A) rewarding
(B) gradual
(C) essential
(D) spontaneous
(E) transitory
1. Because of their frequent disarray, confusion, and
loss of memory, those hit by lightning while alone
are sometimes ---- victims of assault.
(A) mistaken for
(B) attracted to
(C) unaware of
(D) avoided by
(E) useful to
2. Having published more than three hundred books
in less than fifty years, science fiction writer Isaac
Asimov may well be the most ---- author of our day.
(A) fastidious
(B) insecure
(C) outmoded
(D) prolific
(E) indigenous
3. Because his time was limited, Weng decided to
read the ---- novel War and Peace in ---- edition.
(A) wordy...an unedited
(B) lengthy...an abridged
(C) famous...a modern
(D) romantic...an autographed
(E) popular...a complete
4. In giving a speech, the speaker’s goal is to communicate ideas clearly and ----, so that the audience
will be in no ---- about the meaning of the speech.
(A) effectively...haste
(B) indirectly...distress
(C) vigorously...discomfort
(D) unambiguously...confusion
(E) tactfully...suspense
5. Although gregarious by nature, Lisa became quiet
and ---- after she was unexpectedly laid off from
work.
(A) autonomous (B) susceptible (C) assertive
(D) withdrawn (E) composed
6. The increasingly popular leader of America’s second largest tribe, Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller,
has ---- the myth that only males can be leaders in
American Indian government.
(A) shattered (B) perpetuated (C) exaggerated
(D) confirmed (E) venerated
7. The commission of inquiry censured the senator for
his ---- expenditure of public funds, which they
found to be ----.
(A) flagrant...cursory
(B) improper...vindicated
(C) lavish...unjustifiable
(D) judicious...blameworthy
(E) arbitrary...critical
8. Despite their ---- of Twain’s Huckleberry Finn for
its stereotyped portrait of the slave Jim, even the
novel’s ---- agreed that it is a masterpiece of
American prose.
(A) admiration...critics
(B) denunciation...supporters
(C) criticism...detractors
(D) defense...censors
(E) praise...advocates
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 35
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2
Read each of the passages below, and then answer the questions that follow the passage. The correct response may
be stated outright or merely suggested in the passage.
Questions 9 and 10 are based on the following passage.
Consider the humble jellyfish. Headless, spineless, without a heart or brain, it has such a simple
exterior that it seems the most primitive of creaLine tures. Unlike its sessile (attached to a surface, as
(5) an oyster is attached to its shell) relatives whose
stalks cling to seaweed or tropical coral reefs, the
free-swimming jellyfish, or medusa, drifts along
the ocean shore, propelling itself by pulsing, muscular contractions of its bell-shaped body. Yet
(10) beneath the simple surface of this aimlessly drifting, supposedly primitive creature is an unusually
sophisticated set of genes, as recent studies of the
invertebrate animal phylum Cnidaria (pronounced
nih-DARE-ee-uh) reveal.
9. Which assertion about jellyfish is supported by the
passage?
(A) They move at a rapid rate.
(B) They are cowardly.
(C) They lack mobility.
(D) They have a certain degree of intelligence.
(E) They are unexpectedly complex.
10. The last sentence of the passage serves primarily to
(A) explain the origin of a term
(B) contradict an assumption
(C) provide an example
(D) cite a well-known fact
(E) describe a process
The passage below is excerpted from Somerset
Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence, first published
in 1919.
Questions 11 and 12 are based on the following
passage.
The faculty for myth is innate in the human
race. It seizes with avidity upon any incidents,
surprising or mysterious, in the career of those
Line who have at all distinguished themselves from
(5) their fellows, and invents a legend. It is the
protest of romance against the commonplace of
life. The incidents of the legend become the
hero’s surest passport to immortality. The ironic
philosopher reflects with a smile that Sir Walter
(10) Raleigh is more safely enshrined in the memory
of mankind because he set his cloak for the
Virgin Queen to walk on than because he carried
the English name to undiscovered countries.
11. As used in the passage, the word “faculty” (line 1)
most nearly means
(A) capacity
(B) distinction
(C) authority
(D) teaching staff
(E) branch of learning
12. In lines 8–13, the author mentions Sir Walter
Raleigh primarily to
(A) demonstrate the importance of Raleigh’s
voyages of discovery
(B) mock Raleigh’s behavior in casting down his
cloak to protect the queen’s feet from the
mud
(C) illustrate how legendary events outshine
historical achievements in the public’s mind
(D) distinguish between Raleigh the courtier and
Raleigh the seafarer
(E) remind us that historical figures may act in
idiosyncratic ways
Questions 13–24 are based on the following passage.
The passage below is excerpted from the introduction to
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, written in 1970 by
the Native American historian Dee Brown.
Since the exploratory journey of Lewis and
Clark to the Pacific Coast early in the nineteenth
century, the number of published accounts
Line describing the “opening” of the American West
(5) has risen into the thousands. The greatest concentration of recorded experience and observation
came out of the thirty-year span between 1860
and 1890—the period covered by this book. It
was an incredible era of violence, greed, audacity,
(10) sentimentality, undirected exuberance, and an
almost reverential attitude toward the ideal of personal freedom for those who already had it.
During that time the culture and civilization of
the American Indian was destroyed, and out of
(15) that time came virtually all the great myths of the
American West—tales of fur traders, mountain
men, steamboat pilots, goldseekers, gamblers,
gunmen, cavalrymen, cowboys, harlots, missionaries, schoolmarms, and homesteaders. Only
(20) occasionally was the voice of the Indian heard,
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
36 Diagnostic Test
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
and then more often than not it was recorded by
the pen of a white man. The Indian was the dark
menace of the myths, and even if he had known
how to write in English, where would he have
(25) found a printer or a publisher?
Yet they are not all lost, those Indian voices of
the past. A few authentic accounts of American
western history were recorded by Indians either in
pictographs or in translated English, and some
(30) managed to get published in obscure journals,
pamphlets, or books of small circulation. In the
late nineteenth century, when the white man’s
curiosity about Indian survivors of the wars
reached a high point, enterprising newspaper
(35) reporters frequently interviewed warriors and
chiefs and gave them an opportunity to express
their opinions on what was happening in the
West. The quality of these interviews varied
greatly, depending upon the abilities of the inter(40) preters, or upon the inclination of the Indians to
speak freely. Some feared reprisals for telling the
truth, while others delighted in hoaxing reporters
with tall tales and shaggy-dog stories.
Contemporary newspaper statements by Indians
(45) must therefore be read with skepticism, although
some of them are masterpieces of irony and others burn with outbursts of poetic fury.
Among the richest sources of first-person
statements by Indians are the records of treaty
(50) councils and other formal meetings with civilian
and military representatives of the United States
government. Isaac Pitman’s new stenographic
system was coming into vogue in the second half
of the nineteenth century, and when Indians spoke
(55) in council a recording clerk sat beside the official
interpreter.
Even when the meetings were in remote parts
of the West, someone usually was available to
write down the speeches, and because of the
(60) slowness of the translation process, much of what
was said could be recorded in longhand.
Interpreters quite often were half-bloods who
knew spoken languages but seldom could read or
write. Like most oral peoples they and the Indians
(65) depended upon imagery to express their thoughts,
so that the English translations were filled with
graphic similes and metaphors of the natural
world. If an eloquent Indian had a poor interpreter, his words might be transformed to flat
(70) prose, but a good interpreter could make a poor
speaker sound poetic.
Most Indian leaders spoke freely and candidly
in councils with white officials, and as they
became more sophisticated in such matters during
(75) the 1870s and 1880s, they demanded the right to
choose their own interpreters and recorders. In
2
this latter period, all members of the tribes were
free to speak, and some of the older men chose
such opportunities to recount events they had wit(80) nessed in the past, or sum up the histories of their
peoples. Although the Indians who lived through
this doom period of their civilization have vanished from the earth, millions of their words are
preserved in official records. Many of the more
(85) important council proceedings were published in
government documents and reports.
Out of all these sources of almost forgotten
oral history, I have tried to fashion a narrative of
the conquest of the American West as the victims
(90) experienced it, using their own words whenever
possible. Americans who have always looked
westward when reading about this period should
read this book facing eastward.
This is not a cheerful book, but history has a
(95) way of intruding upon the present, and perhaps
those who read it will have a clearer understanding of what the American Indian is, by knowing
what he was. They may learn something about
their own relationship to the earth from a people
(100) who were true conservationists. The Indians knew
that life was equated with the earth and its
resources, that America was a paradise, and they
could not comprehend why the intruders from the
East were determined to destroy all that was
(105) Indian as well as America itself.
13. The author finds the period of 1860–1890 noteworthy because
(A) the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition
were made public during this time
(B) in that period the bulk of original accounts of
the “winning of the West” were produced
(C) during these years American Indians made
great strides in regaining their lands
(D) only a very few documents dating from this
period are still extant
(E) people still believed in personal freedom as an
ideal
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 37
2
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
14. The author most likely uses quotation marks
around the word “opening” (line 4) because
(A) the West was closed rather than opened during
this period of time
(B) the American West actually was opened for
settlement much earlier in the century
(C) from a Native American perspective it is an
inaccurate term
(D) he is citing an authoritative source
(E) he has employed the word in its figurative sense
15. A main concern of the author in this passage is to
(A) denounce the white man for his untrustworthiness and savagery
(B) evaluate the effectiveness of the military treaty
councils
(C) argue for the improved treatment of Indians
today
(D) suggest that Indian narratives of the conquest
of the West are similar to white accounts
(E) introduce the background of the original
source materials for his text
16. The word “concentration” in lines 5 and 6 means
(A) memory
(B) attention
(C) diligence
(D) imprisonment
(E) accumulation
17. In describing the ideal of freedom revered by the
pioneers as “personal freedom for those who
already had it” (lines 11 and 12), the author is being
(A) enthusiastic
(B) ironic
(C) prosaic
(D) redundant
(E) lyrical
18. According to the passage, nineteenth-century newspaper accounts of interviews with Indians may contain inaccuracies for which of the following reasons?
I. Lack of skill on the part of the translators
II. The tendency of the reporters to overstate what
they were told by the Indians
III. The Indians’ misgivings about possible
retaliations
(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) I and III only
(E) I, II, and III
19. The author’s tone in describing the Indian survivors
can best be described as
(A) skeptical
(B) detached
(C) elegiac
(D) obsequious
(E) impatient
20. The author is most impressed by which aspect of
the English translations of Indian speeches?
(A) Their vividness of imagery
(B) Their lack of frankness
(C) The inefficiency of the process
(D) Their absence of sophistication
(E) Their brevity of expression
21. The word “flat” in line 69 means
(A) smooth
(B) level
(C) pedestrian
(D) horizontal
(E) unequivocal
22. In treaty councils before 1870, most Indians did not
ask for their own interpreters and recorders because
(A) they could not afford to hire people to take
down their words
(B) the white officials provided these services as a
matter of course
(C) they were unaware that they had the option to
demand such services
(D) they preferred speaking for themselves without
the help of translators
(E) they were reluctant to have their words recorded for posterity
23. The author most likely suggests that Americans
should read this book facing eastward (lines 92
and 93)
(A) in an inappropriate attempt at levity
(B) out of respect for Western superstitions
(C) in order to read by natural light
(D) because the Indians came from the East
(E) to identify with the Indians’ viewpoint
24. The phrase “equated with” in line 101 means
(A) reduced to an average with
(B) necessarily tied to
(C) numerically equal to
(D) fulfilled by
(E) differentiated by
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
38 Diagnostic Test
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
SECTION
3
For each problem in this section determine which of the five choices
Time—25 Minutes
is correct and blacken the corresponding choice on your answer
20 Questions
sheet. You may use any blank space on the page for your work.
Notes:
• You may use a calculator whenever you think it will be helpful.
• Use the diagrams provided to help you solve the problems. Unless you see the words “Note:
Figure not drawn to scale” under a diagram, it has been drawn as accurately as possible.
Unless it is stated that a figure is three-dimensional, you may assume it lies in a plane.
Reference Information
Area Facts
w
Volume Facts
h
b
w
V = wh
r
A = 12 bh
r
Angle Facts
a 2 45° a
h
A= w
Triangle Facts
A = πr2
C = 2πr
a 60°
2a
30°
a3
y°
c
a
h
V = πr2h
1. Every Sunday Greg jogs 3 miles. For the rest of the
week, each day he jogs 1 mile more than the preceding day. How many miles does Greg jog in 2 weeks?
(A) 42 (B) 63 (C) 84 (D) 98 (E) 117
x°
120°
360°
45°
a
x°
z°
x + y + z = 180
b
a2 + b2 = c2
4. When a gymnast competes at the Olympics, each
of six judges awards a score between 0 and 10. The
highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the
gymnast’s final mark is the average (arithmetic
mean) of the remaining scores. What would be a
gymnast’s mark if the judges’ scores were 9.6, 9.4,
9.5, 9.7, 9.2, and 9.6?
(A) 9.5 (B) 9.525 (C) 9.55 (D) 9.575
(E) 9.6
130°
2. In the figure above, what is the value of x?
(A) 50 (B) 60 (C) 70 (D) 110
(E) It cannot be determined from the information
given.
3. The following table lists the prices of eight types of
sandwiches:
Sandwich
Price
Sandwich
Price
Roast beef
$5.25
Tuna fish
$4.25
Corned beef
$5.00
Salami
$4.50
BLT
$4.00
Grilled cheese
$3.95
Egg salad
$3.50
Club
$5.75
If the price of a tuna fish sandwich is increased 75¢
and the price of every other sandwich is increased
50¢, how many sandwiches will be more expensive
than the tuna fish?
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
B
A
10x°
C
(25x – 30)°
D
5. In parallelogram ABCD above, what is the value
of x?
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 20 (E) 60
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 39
3
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
7. If a – b = 10, and a2 – b2 = 20, what is the value of b?
(A) –6 (B) –4 (C) 4 (D) 6
(E) It cannot be determined from the information
given.
8. A dealer in rare metals owns 1000 ounces of silver.
If every year she sells half of the silver she owns
and doesn’t acquire any more, which of the following is an expression for the number of ounces of
silver she will own t years from now where t is a
positive integer?
1000
(A)
(B) 1000 × 2t
(C) 1000 × 2–t
2t
1000
(D)
(E) 1000 × 2t
2− t
9. If x = 9 is a solution of the equation x2 – a = 0,
which of the following is a solution of x4 – a = 0?
(A) –81 (B) –3 (C) 0 (D) 9 (E) 81
10. The following table shows the hourly wages earned
by the 16 employees of a small company and the
number of employees who earn each wage.
Wages per Hour
Number of Employees
$6
3
8
5
10
4
13
4
What is the average (arithmetic mean) of the
median and the mode of this set of data?
(A) 4.5 (B) 8 (C) 8.5 (D) 9 (E) 9.5
11. The degree measure of each of the three angles of a
triangle is an integer. Which of the following
CANNOT be the ratio of their measures?
(A) 2:3:4 (B) 3:4:5 (C) 4:5:6 (D) 5:6:7
(E) 6:7:8
12. If 3x + 2y = 11 and 2x + 3y = 17, what is the average (arithmetic mean) of x and y?
(A) 2.5 (B) 2.8 (C) 5.6 (D) 5.8 (E) 14
Questions 13 and 14 refer to the following definition.
W
Y
X
Z
is a number square if W + Z = X + Y
and 2W = 3X.
13. If
3
Y
X
7
is a number square, what is the
value of Y?
(A) 0 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 6 (E) 8
W
Y
14. If
(A) 3 W
4
X
W
is a number square, Y =
(B) W
(C) 4 W
3
(D) 3W (E) 4W
15. When the price of gold went up, a jeweler raised
the prices on certain rings by 60%. On one ring,
however, the price was accidentally reduced by
60%. By what percent must the incorrect price be
increased to reflect the proper new price?
(A) 60% (B) 120% (C) 300% (D) 400%
(E) It depends on the original price of the ring
Number of miles from A
6. Three lines are drawn in a plane. Which of the
following CANNOT be the total number of points
of intersection?
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3
(E) They all could.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:00
Time
16. John rode his bicycle 5 miles along a straight road
from A to B and back. The graph above shows how
far he was from A at any given time. Not counting
the time he stopped, what was John’s average
speed, in miles per hour, for the round trip?
2
1
4
(A) 6
(B) 7
(C) 8
(D) 10
3
2
7
(E) It cannot be determined from the graph.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
40 Diagnostic Test
3
17. Let A, B, and C be three points in a plane such that
AB:BC = 3:5. Which of the following can be the
ratio AB:AC?
I. 1:2
II. 1:3
III. 3:8
(A) I only (B) II only (C) III only
(D) I and III only (E) I, II, and III
Questions 18 and 19 refer to the following situation.
Over a weekend, fifteen students took car trips of varying distances and kept a record of how much gasoline
they used. On Monday in their math class, the students
plotted their distances against their gas consumptions as
shown below.
Gas Consumption (gallons)
3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
14
12
B •
19. Which of the five students labeled A, B, C, D, and E
had the best mileage? (In other words, which of them
drove the greatest number of miles per gallon of
gasoline?)
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D
(E) E
20. On the critical reading portion of the SAT, the raw
score is calculated as follows: 1 point is awarded
1
for each correct answer, and point is deducted
4
for each wrong answer. If Ellen answered all q
questions on the test and earned a raw score of 10,
how many questions did she answer correctly?
q
q
q − 10
(A) q 10 (B)
(C)
10 (D)
5
5
5
q
(E) 8 +
5
• C
10
8
A
6
4
2
O
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
30
D•
•
•
• E
•
60
90
120 150
Distance Traveled (miles)
180
18. What was the median number of miles driven by the
fifteen students?
(A) 7
(B) 12
(C) 90
(D) 120
(E) 150
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BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
Diagnostic Test 41
4
SECTION
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4
Time—25 Minutes
35 Questions
4
Select the best answer to each of the following questions; then
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet.
Some or all parts of the following sentences are underlined. The first answer choice, (A), simply repeats the
underlined part of the sentence. The other four choices present four alternative ways to phrase the underlined part. Select the answer that produces the most
effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, and
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet. In
selecting your choice, be sure that it is standard written English, and that it expresses the meaning of the
original sentence.
2. The difference between Liebniz and Schopenhauer
is that the former is optimistic; the latter, pessimistic.
(A) the former is optimistic; the latter, pessimistic
(B) the former is optimistic, the latter, pessimistic
(C) while the former is optimistic; the latter,
pessimistic
(D) the former one is optimistic; the latter one is a
pessimistic
(E) the former is optimistic; the latter being
pessimistic
Example:
The first biography of author Eudora Welty
came out in 1998 and she was 89 years old at
the time.
(A) and she was 89 years old at the time
(B) at the time when she was 89
(C) upon becoming an 89 year old
(D) when she was 89
(E) at the age of 89 years old
3. Most students like to read these kind of books
during their spare time.
(A) these kind of books
(B) these kind of book
(C) this kind of book
(D) this kinds of books
(E) those kind of books
1. Because he spoke out against Hitler’s policies was
why Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in Nazi
Germany, was arrested and eventually hanged by
the Gestapo.
(A) Because he spoke out against Hitler’s policies
was why Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran
pastor in Nazi Germany, was arrested and
eventually hanged by the Gestapo.
(B) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in Nazi
Germany, was arrested and eventually
hanged by the Gestapo because he spoke out
against Hitler’s policies.
(C) Because he spoke out against Hitler’s policies,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in
Nazi Germany, was arrested and eventually
hung by the Gestapo.
(D) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor in Nazi
Germany, being arrested and eventually hung
because he spoke out against Hitler’s policies.
(E) A Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany, Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, spoke out against Hitler’s policies so that he arrested and eventually hung.
4. John was imminently qualified for the position
because he had studied computer programming and
how to operate an IBM machine.
(A) imminently qualified for the position because
he had studied computer programming and
how to operate an IBM machine
(B) imminently qualified for the position since
studying computer programming and the
operation of an IBM machine
(C) eminently qualified for the position because he
had studied computer programming and how
to operate an IBM machine
(D) eminently qualified for the position because he
had studied computer programming and the
operation of an IBM machine
(E) eminently qualified for the position because he
has studied computer programming and how
to operate an IBM machine
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
42 Diagnostic Test
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5. The idea of inoculating people with smallpox to protect them from later attacks was introduced into
Europe by Mary Wortley Montagu, who learned of
it in Asia.
(A) Mary Wortley Montagu, who learned of it in
Asia
(B) Mary Wortley Montagu, who learned of them
in Asia
(C) Mary Wortley Montagu, who learned it of
those in Asia
(D) Mary Wortley Montagu, learning of it in Asia
(E) Mary Wortley Montagu, because she learned
of it in Asia
6. In general, the fate of Latin American or East Asian
countries will affect America more than it does
Britain or France.
(A) will affect America more than it does
(B) will effect America more than it does
(C) will affect America more than they do
(D) will effect America more than they do
(E) will affect America more than they would
7. While campaigning for President, Dole nearly
exhausted his funds and must raise money so that he
could pay for last-minute television commercials.
(A) exhausted his funds and must raise money so
that he could pay
(B) would exhaust his funds to raise money so that
he could pay
(C) exhausted his funds and had to raise money so
that he can pay
(D) exhausted his funds and had to raise money so
that he could pay
(E) exhausted his funds and must raise money so
that he can pay
4
9. The goal of the remedial program was that it enables
the students to master the basic skills they need to
succeed in regular coursework.
(A) that it enables
(B) by enabling
(C) to enable
(D) where students are enabled
(E) where it enables
10. Having revised her dissertation with some care,
that her thesis advisor rejected the changes
distressed her greatly.
(A) that her thesis advisor rejected the changes distressed her greatly
(B) she found her thesis advisor’s rejection of the
changes greatly distressing
(C) her thesis advisor’s rejection of the changes
was a great distress
(D) she was greatly distressed about her thesis
advisor rejecting the changes
(E) her distress at her thesis advisor’s rejection of
the changes was great
11. Running an insurance agency left Charles Ives little
time for composition, yet he nevertheless developed
a unique musical idiom.
(A) nevertheless developed a unique musical idiom
(B) nevertheless developed a very unique musical
idiom
(C) therefore developed a uniquely musical idiom
(D) nevertheless developed his musical idiom
uniquely
(E) however developed a very unique and
idiomatic music
8. Athletic coaches stress not only eating nutritious
meals but also to get adequate sleep.
(A) not only eating nutritious meals but also to get
(B) to not only eat nutritious meals but also
getting
(C) not only to eat nutritious meals but also
getting
(D) not only the eating of nutritious meals but also
getting
(E) not only eating nutritious meals but also
getting
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 43
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
The sentences in this section may contain errors in
grammar, usage, choice of words, or idioms. Either
there is just one error in a sentence or the sentence is
correct. Some words or phrases are underlined and
lettered; everything else in the sentence is correct.
If an underlined word or phrase is incorrect, choose
that letter; if the sentence is correct, select No error.
Then blacken the appropriate space on your answer
sheet.
Example:
The region has a climate so severe that plants
A
growing there rarely had been more than twelve
B
C
inches high. No error
D
E
12. I have been thinking lately about the monsters—
ᎏᎏ
A
or fantasies o r whatever— th at frightened
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
B
C
myself as a child. No error
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
D
E
13. We admired his ma ny attempts bravely to e nter
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
A
B
C
D
the burning building. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
14. He worked in the lumber camps dur ing the summer
ᎏᎏ
A
not because of the money b ut because he wanted to
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
B
C
strengthen his muscles by doing ha rd physical
ᎏᎏ
D
labor. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
15. That book is liable to become a best seller because
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
A
B
it is well written, full of s uspense, and very
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
C
D
entertaining. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
4
16. Accord ing to a random poll take n by National
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
A
B
Wildlife, the top three threats to the environment is
ᎏᎏ
C
water pollution, air pollution, and haza rdous
ᎏᎏ
D
wastes. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
17. His three children, Ruth, Frank, and Ellis, are very
talented youngsters, b ut the lat ter shows the m ost
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
A
B
C
D
promise. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
18. Passing antidrug legislation, calling for more
ᎏᎏ
A
education, and to aid Bolivia in raids on cocaine
ᎏᎏ
B
dealers are all ways that the United States is
ᎏᎏ
C
fighting back aga inst “crack” use. No error
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
D
E
19. Cajun cooking, which uses special prepared spices,
ᎏᎏ
A
has always been popular in Louisiana, b ut
ᎏᎏ
B
it is only now becoming known in other
ᎏᎏ
C
par ts of the country. No error
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
D
E
20. It seems strange to real ize that, when Harvey
ᎏᎏ
A
Firestone orga nized the Firestone Tire and Rubber
ᎏᎏ
B
Company in 1900, rubber tires had been a novelty.
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
C
D
No error
ᎏᎏ
E
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
44 Diagnostic Test
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4
21. The same laser technology that is being used on
ᎏᎏ
A
compact discs is also under ap plication to
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
B
C
computers to ac hieve additional memory.
ᎏᎏ
D
No error
ᎏᎏ
E
26. In or der to meet publication schedules, publishers
ᎏᎏ
A
often find it nec essary to trim everyone’s schedule
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
B
C
and leaving room for unexpected problems.
D
No error
ᎏᎏ
E
22. The Philippine government changed hands when
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
A
B
Marcos failed satis fying his countrymen that he had
ᎏᎏ
C
won the presidential election, and Corazon Aquino
27. There are probably few comeback stories
A
B
as moving as cycling’s stalwart champion, Lance
C
D
Armstrong. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
took over. No error
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
D
E
23. Was it th ey who were involved in the recent unruly
ᎏᎏ ᎏ ᎏ ᎏ ᎏ
ᎏᎏ
A B C
D
demonstration? No error
ᎏᎏ
E
24. We must regard any statement about this
ᎏᎏ
A
controversy, wha tever the source, as gossip until
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
B
C
they are confirmed. No error
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
D
E
25. She is the only one of the applicants who a re
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
A
B C
fully q ualified for the position. No error
ᎏᎏ
ᎏᎏ
D
E
28. A hotel’s ability for winning the loyalty of
A
its guests is primarily determined by the
B
friendliness and courtesy of the employees
who are stationed at the front desk. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
C
D
29. While some scientists are absorbed by the
A
B
philosophical question of what consciousness is,
but others restrict themselves to trying to
C
understand what is going on at the neurological
level when consciousness is present. No error
ᎏᎏ
E
D
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 45
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
The passage below is the unedited draft of a student’s
essay. Parts of the essay need to be rewritten to
make the meaning clearer and more precise. Read
the essay carefully.
The essay is followed by six questions about
changes that might improve all or part of the organization, development, sentence structure, use of language,
appropriateness to the audience, or use of standard
written English. In each case, choose the answer that
most clearly and effectively expresses the student’s
intended meaning. Indicate your choice by blackening
the corresponding space on the answer sheet.
[1] When you turn on the radio or pop in a tape while
the house is quiet or going to work or school in your car,
you have several choices of music to listen to. [2]
Although, in recent years, CDs have become the medium
of choice over records and even tapes. [3] On the radio
you have your rap on one station, your classical on
another, your New Wave music on another, and then you
have your Country. [4] Some young people feel that
country is for fat old people, but it isn’t. [5] It is music
for all ages, fat or thin.
[6] Country music is “fun” music. [7] It has an unmistakable beat and sound that gets you up and ready to
move. [8] You can really get into country, even if it is
just the clapping of the hands or the stamping of the feet.
[9] You can’t help feeling cheerful watching the country
performers, who all seem so happy to be entertaining
their close “friends,” although there may be 10,000 of
them in the stadium or concert hall. [10] The musicians
love it, and audience flips out with delight. [11] The
interpersonal factors in evidence cause a sudden psychological bond to develop into a temporary, but nevertheless tightly knit, family unit. [12] For example, you can
imagine June Carter Cash as your favorite aunt and
Randy Travis as your long lost cousin.
4
[13] Some people spurn country music. [14] Why,
they ask, would anyone want to listen to singers whine
about their broken marriages or their favorite pet that
was run over by an 18-wheeler? [15] They claim that
Willie Nelson, one of today’s country legends, can’t
even keep his income taxes straight. [16] Another
“dynamic” performer is Dolly Parton, whose most
famous feature is definitely not her voice. [17] How
talented could she be if her body is more famous than her
singing?
[18] Loretta Lynn is the greatest. [19] Anyone’s negative feelings towards country music would change
after hearing Loretta’s strong, emotional, and haunting
voice. [20] Look, it can’t hurt to give a listen. [21] You
never know, you might even like it so much that you will
go out, pick up a secondhand guitar and learn to strum a
few chords.
30. Which is the best revision of the underlined segment
of sentence 1 below?
When you turn on the radio or pop in a tape while
the house is quiet or going to work or school in your
car, you have several choices of music to listen to.
(A) while the house is quiet or in your car going to
work or school
(B) driving to work or school while the house is
quiet
(C) while the house is quiet or you are driving to
work or school
(D) while driving to work or school in your car,
and the house is quiet
(E) while there’s quiet in the house or you go to
work or school in your car
31. To improve the coherence of paragraph 1, which of
the following sentences should be deleted?
(A) Sentence 1 (B) Sentence 2
(C) Sentence 3 (D) Sentence 4
(E) Sentence 5
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
46 Diagnostic Test
4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
32. In the context of the sentences that precede and follow sentence 8, which of the following is the best
revision of sentence 8?
(A) Clap your hands and stamp your feet is what to
do to easily get into country.
(B) You’re really into country, even if it is just
clapping of the hands or stamping of the feet.
(C) You can easily get into country just by clapping your hands or stamping your feet.
(D) One can get into country music rather easily;
one must merely clap one’s hands or stamp
one’s feet.
(E) Getting into country is easy, just clap your
hands and stamp your feet.
33. With regard to the writing style and tone of the
essay, which is the best revision of sentence 11?
(A) The interpersonal relationship that develops
suddenly creates a temporary, but nevertheless a closely knit, family unit.
(B) A family-like relationship develops quickly
and rapidly.
(C) A close family-type relation is suddenly very
much in evidence between the performer and
his or her audience.
(D) All of a sudden you feel like a member of a
huge, but tight, family.
(E) A sudden bond develops between the entertainer and the audience that might most suitably be described as a “family,” in the best
sense of the term.
4
34. With regard to the essay as a whole, which of the following best describes the function of paragraph 3?
(A) To present some objective data in support of
another viewpoint
(B) To offer a more balanced view of the essay’s
subject matter
(C) To ridicule readers who don’t agree with the
writer
(D) To lend further support to the essay’s main
idea
(E) To divert the reader’s attention from the main
idea of the essay
35. Which of the following revisions of sentence 18
provides the smoothest transition between paragraphs 3 and 4?
(A) Loretta Lynn is one of the great singers of
country music.
(B) Loretta Lynn, however, is the greatest country
singer yet.
(C) But you can bet they’ve never heard Loretta
Lynn.
(D) The sounds of Loretta Lynn tells a different
story, however.
(E) Loretta Lynn, on the other hand, is superb.
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
Diagnostic Test 47
6
SECTION
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6
Time—25 Minutes
24 Questions
6
Select the best answer to each of the following questions; then
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet.
Each of the following sentences contains one or two
blanks; each blank indicates that a word or set of words
has been left out. Below the sentence are five words or
phrases, lettered A through E. Select the word or set of
words that best completes the sentence.
Example:
Fame is ----; today’s rising star is all too soon
tomorrow’s washed-up has-been.
(A) rewarding
(B) gradual
(C) essential
(D) spontaneous
(E) transitory
1. Despite the ---- of the materials with which Tiffany
worked, many of his glass masterpieces have survived for more than seventy years.
(A) beauty (B) translucence (C) abundance
(D) majesty (E) fragility
2. No summary of the behavior of animals toward
reflected images is given, but not much else that is
---- seems missing from this comprehensive yet
compact study of mirrors and mankind.
(A) redundant (B) contemplative
(C) relevant (D) peripheral
(E) disputable
3. Pain is the body’s early warning system: loss of ---in the extremities leaves a person ---- injuring himself unwittingly.
(A) agony...incapable of
(B) sensation...vulnerable to
(C) consciousness...desirous of
(D) feeling...habituated to
(E) movement...prone to
4. Much of the clown’s success may be attributed to
the contrast between the ---- manner he adopts and
the general ---- that characterizes the circus.
(A) giddy...sobriety
(B) lugubrious...hilarity
(C) gaudy...clamor
(D) joyful...hysteria
(E) frenetic...excitement
5. Fortunately, she was ---- her accomplishments,
properly unwilling to ---- them before her friends.
(A) excited by...parade
(B) immodest about...discuss
(C) deprecatory about...flaunt
(D) uncertain of...concede
(E) unaware of...conceal
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
48 Diagnostic Test
6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6
Read the passages below, and then answer the questions that follow them. The correct response may be stated
outright or merely suggested in the passages.
Questions 6–9 are based on the following passages.
Passage 1
Pioneering conservationist Marjory Stoneman
Douglas called it the River of Grass. Stretching
south from Lake Okeechobee, fed by the rainLine drenched Kissimmee River basin, the Everglades
(5) is a water marsh, a slow-moving river of swamps
and sawgrass flowing southward to the Gulf of
Mexico. It is a unique ecosystem, whose enduring
value has come from its being home to countless
species of plants and animals: cypress trees and
(10) mangroves, wood storks and egrets, snapping turtles and crocodiles. For the past 50 years, however, this river has been shrinking. Never a torrent,
it has dwindled as engineering projects have
diverted the waters feeding it to meet agricultural
(15) and housing needs.
Passage 2
Today South Florida’s sugar industry is in serious trouble. Responding to the concerns of the
scientific community and to the mandates of the
Everglades Forever Act, local sugar producers
(20) have spent millions of dollars since 1994 to minimize the runoff of phosphorus from sugar cane
fields into the Everglades. (Phosphorus runoff,
scientists maintain, has encouraged an invasion of
cattails, which overrun the native sawgrass and
(25) choke the flow of water through what was once a
vast sawgrass marsh.) Sugar producers have
adopted ecologically sound farming practices and
at great cost have dramatically reduced phosphorus levels to help save the Everglades’ fragile
(30) ecosystem. But who or what will help save
Florida’s imperiled sugar industry?
7. In Passage 1, the word “enduring” (line 7) most
nearly means
(A) tolerating
(B) noteworthy
(C) hard-won
(D) lasting
(E) serene
8. In lines 22–26, the author of Passage 2 uses a parenthetic remark to
(A) cast doubt on the credibility of a statement
(B) provide background on the reasons for a concern
(C) demonstrate support for the scientific community
(D) explain the usage of a technical term
(E) justify the efforts of the sugar industry
9. On the basis of the final sentence (“But…industry”)
of Passage 2, the author of this passage would most
likely appear to the author of Passage 1 as
(A) strongly opposed to the Everglades cleanup
(B) well informed concerning specific requirements of the Everglades Forever Act
(C) inclined to overestimate the importance of the
sugar industry
(D) having a deep sympathy for environmental
causes
(E) having little understanding of scientific
methods
6. The author of Passage 1 cites the conservationist
Marjory Stoneman Douglas in order to
(A) present a viewpoint
(B) challenge an opinion
(C) introduce a metaphor
(D) correct a misapprehension
(E) honor a pioneer
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 49
6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Questions 10–15 are based on the following passage.
In this excerpt from Richard Wright’s 1937 novel Black
Boy, the young African-American narrator confronts a
new world in the books he illegally borrows from the
“whites-only” public library.
That night in my rented room, while letting the
hot water run over my can of pork and beans in
the sink, I opened Mencken’s A Book of
Line Prejudices and began to read. I was jarred and
(5) shocked by the style, the clear, clean, sweeping
sentences. Why did he write like that? And how
did one write like that? I pictured the man as a
raging demon, slashing with his pen, consumed
with hate, denouncing everything American,
(10) extolling everything European, laughing at the
weaknesses of people, mocking God, authority.
What was this? I stood up, trying to realize what
reality lay behind the meaning of the words. Yes,
this man was fighting, fighting with words. He
(15) was using words as a weapon, using them as one
would use a club. Could words be weapons?
Well, yes, for here they were. Then, maybe, perhaps, a Negro could use them as a weapon? No. It
frightened me. I read on, and what amazed me
(20) was not what he said, but how on earth anybody
had the courage to say it.
What strange world was this? I concluded the
book with the conviction that I had somehow
overlooked something terribly important in life. I
(25) had once tried to write, had once reveled in feeling, had let my crude imagination roam, but the
impulse to dream had been slowly beaten out of
me by experience. Now it surged up again and I
hungered for books, new ways of looking and
(30) seeing. It was not a matter of believing or disbelieving what I read, but of feeling something new,
of being affected by something that made the look
of the world different.
As dawn broke I ate my pork and beans, feel(35) ing dopey, sleepy. I went to work, but the mood
of the book would not die; it lingered, coloring
everything I saw, heard, did. I now felt that I
knew what the white men were feeling. Merely
because I had read a book that had spoken of how
(40) they lived and thought, I identified myself with
that book. I felt vaguely guilty. Would I, filled
with bookish notions, act in a manner that would
make the whites dislike me?
I forged more notes and my trips to the library
(45) became frequent. Reading grew into a passion.
My first serious novel was Sinclair Lewis’s Main
Street. It made me see my boss, Mr. Gerald, and
identify him as an American type. I would smile
when I saw him lugging his golf bags into the
(50) office. I had always felt a vast distance separating
me from the boss, and now I felt closer to him,
6
though still distant. I felt now that I knew him,
that I could feel the very limits of his narrow life.
This had happened because I had read a novel
(55) about a mythical man called George F. Babbitt.
But I could not conquer my sense of guilt, my
feeling that the white men around me knew that I
was changing, that I had begun to regard them
differently.
10. The narrator’s initial reaction to Mencken’s prose
can best be described as one of
(A) wrath
(B) disbelief
(C) remorse
(D) laughter
(E) disdain
11. To the narrator, Mencken appeared to be all of the
following EXCEPT
(A) intrepid
(B) articulate
(C) satiric
(D) reverent
(E) opinionated
12. As used in line 36, “coloring” most nearly means
(A) reddening
(B) sketching
(C) blushing
(D) affecting
(E) lying
13. The narrator’s attitude in lines 28–30 is best
described as one of
(A) dreamy indifference
(B) sullen resentment
(C) impatient ardor
(D) wistful anxiety
(E) quiet resolve
14. The passage suggests that, when he saw Mr. Gerald
carrying the golf clubs, the narrator smiled out of a
sense of
(A) relief
(B) duty
(C) recognition
(D) disbelief
(E) levity
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
50 Diagnostic Test
6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
15. The passage as a whole is best characterized as
(A) an impassioned argument in favor of increased
literacy for blacks
(B) a description of a youth’s gradual introduction
to racial prejudice
(C) a comparison of the respective merits of
Mencken’s and Lewis’s literary styles
(D) an analysis of the impact of ordinary life on art
(E) a portrait of a youth’s response to expanding
intellectual horizons
Questions 16–24 are based on the following passage.
The following passage about pond-dwellers is excerpted
from a classic essay on natural history written by the
zoologist Konrad Lorenz.
There are some terrible robbers in the pond
world, and, in our aquarium, we may witness all
the cruelties of an embittered struggle for exisLine tence enacted before our very eyes. If you have
(5) introduced to your aquarium a mixed catch, you
will soon see an example of such conflicts, for,
amongst the new arrivals, there will probably be a
larva of the water-beetle Dytiscus. Considering
their relative size, the voracity and cunning with
(10) which these animals destroy their prey eclipse the
methods of even such notorious robbers as tigers,
lions, wolves, or killer whales. These are all as
lambs compared with the Dytiscus larva.
It is a slim, streamlined insect, rather more
(15) than two inches long. Its six legs are equipped
with stout fringes of bristles, which form broad
oar-like blades that propel the animal quickly and
surely through the water. The wide, flat head
bears an enormous, pincer-shaped pair of jaws
(20) that are hollow and serve not only as syringes for
injecting poison, but also as orifices of ingestion.
The animal lies in ambush on some waterplant;
suddenly it shoots at lightning speed towards its
prey, darts underneath it, then quickly jerks up its
(25) head and grabs the victim in its jaws. “Prey,” for
these creatures, is all that moves or that smells of
“animal” in any way. It has often happened to me
that, while standing quietly in the water of a
pond, I have been “eaten” by a Dytiscus larva.
(30) Even for man, an injection of the poisonous
digestive juice of this insect is extremely painful.
These beetle larvae are among the few animals
that digest “out of doors.” The glandular secretion
that they inject, through their hollow forceps, into
(35) their prey, dissolves the entire inside of the latter
into a liquid soup, which is then sucked in
through the same channel by the attacker. Even
large victims, such as fat tadpoles or dragon-fly
larvae, which have been bitten by a Dytiscus
6
(40) larva, stiffen after a few defensive moments, and
their inside, which, as in most water animals, is
more or less transparent, becomes opaque as
though fixed by formalin. The animal swells up
first, then gradually shrinks to a limp bundle of
(45) skin that hangs from the deadly jaws, and is finally allowed to drop. In the confines of an aquarium, a few large Dytiscus larvae will, within days,
eat all living things over a quarter of an inch long.
What happens then? They will eat each other, if
(50) they have not already done so; this depends less
on who is bigger and stronger than upon who succeeds in seizing the other first. I have often seen
two nearly equal sized Dytiscus larvae each seize
the other simultaneously and both die a quick
(55) death by inner dissolution. Very few animals,
even when threatened with starvation, will attack
an equal sized animal of their own species with
the intention of devouring it. I only know this to
be definitely true of rats and a few related
(60) rodents; that wolves do the same thing, I am much
inclined to doubt, on the strength of some observations of which I shall speak later. But Dytiscus
larvae devour animals of their own breed and size,
even when other nourishment is at hand, and that
(65) is done, as far as I know, by no other animal.
16. By robbers (line 1), the author refers to
(A) thieves
(B) plagiarists
(C) people who steal fish
(D) creatures that devour their prey
(E) unethical scientific observers
17. As used in line 5, a “mixed catch” most likely is
(A) a device used to shut the aquarium lid
temporarily
(B) a disturbed group of water beetle larvae
(C) a partially desirable prospective denizen of the
aquarium
(D) a random batch of creatures taken from a pond
(E) a theoretical drawback that may have positive
results
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 51
6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
18. The presence of Dytiscus larvae in an aquarium
most likely would be of particular interest to naturalists studying
(A) means of exterminating water-beetle larvae
(B) predatory patterns within a closed environment
(C) genetic characteristics of a mixed catch
(D) the effect of captivity on aquatic life
(E) the social behavior of dragon-fly larvae
19. The author’s primary purpose in lines 14–21 is to
(A) depict the typical victim of a Dytiscus larva
(B) point out the threat to humans represented by
Dytiscus larvae
(C) describe the physical appearance of an aquatic
predator
(D) refute the notion of the aquarium as a peaceful
habitat
(E) clarify the method the Dytiscus larva uses to
dispatch its prey
20. The passage mentions all of the following facts
about Dytiscus larvae EXCEPT that they
(A) secrete digestive juices
(B) attack their fellow larvae
(C) are attracted to motion
(D) provide food for amphibians
(E) have ravenous appetites
21. By digesting “out of doors” (line 33), the author is
referring to the Dytiscus larva’s
(A) preference for open-water ponds over confined
spaces
(B) metabolic elimination of waste matter
(C) amphibious method of locomotion
(D) extreme voraciousness of appetite
(E) external conversion of food into absorbable
form
6
22. According to the author, which of the following is
(are) true of the victim of a Dytiscus larva?
I. Its interior increases in opacity.
II. It shrivels as it is drained of nourishment.
III. It is beheaded by the larva’s jaws.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) II and III only
23. In the final paragraph, the author mentions rats and
related rodents in order to emphasize which point
about Dytiscus larvae?
(A) Unless starvation drives them, they will not
resort to eating members of their own
species.
(B) They are reluctant to attack equal-sized members of their own breed.
(C) They are capable of resisting attacks from
much larger animals.
(D) They are one of extremely few species given
to devouring members of their own breed.
(E) Although they are noted predators, Dytiscus
larvae are less savage than rats.
24. The author indicates that in subsequent passages he
will discuss
(A) the likelihood of cannibalism among wolves
(B) the metamorphosis of dragon-fly larvae into
dragon-flies
(C) antidotes to cases of Dytiscus poisoning
(D) the digestive processes of killer whales
(E) the elimination of Dytiscus larvae from
aquariums
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
52 Diagnostic Test
7
SECTION
7
Time—25 Minutes
18 Questions
You have 25 minutes to answer the 8 multiple-choice questions
and 10 student-produced response questions in this section.
For each multiple-choice question, determine which of the five choices
is correct and blacken the corresponding choice on your answer
sheet. You may use any blank space on the page for your work.
Notes:
• You may use a calculator whenever you think it will be helpful.
• Use the diagrams provided to help you solve the problems. Unless you see the words “Note:
Figure not drawn to scale” under a diagram, it has been drawn as accurately as possible.
Unless it is stated that a figure is three-dimensional, you may assume it lies in a plane.
Reference Information
Area Facts
w
Volume Facts
b
A = 12 bh
A = πr2
C = 2πr
r
Angle Facts
a 2 45° a
h
A= w
Triangle Facts
h
w
V = wh
r
a 60°
2a
30°
a3
y°
c
1. How many integers are solutions of the inequality
3|x| + 2 < 17?
(A) 0 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 9
(E) Infinitely many
2. If a speed of 1 meter per second is equal to a speed
of k kilometers per hour, what is the value of k?
(1 kilometer = 1000 meters)
(A) 0.036 (B) 0.06 (C) 0.36 (D) 0.6 (E) 3.6
b
a2 + b2 = c2
5. If today is Saturday, what day will it be 500 days
from today?
(A) Saturday (B) Sunday (C) Tuesday
(D) Wednesday (E) Friday
6
A
B
2
F
4
D
3. If f ( x ) = x + 3 x , what is the value of f(–8)?
x°
z°
x + y + z = 180
a
h
V = πr2h
360°
45°
a
4
E
C
2
(A) –66 (B) –62 (C) 62 (D) 64 (E) 66
4. In 1994, twice as many boys as girls at Adams
High School earned varsity letters. From 1994 to
2004, the number of girls earning varsity letters
increased by 25% while the number of boys earning
varsity letters decreased by 25%. What was the
ratio in 2004 of the number of girls to the number
of boys who earned varsity letters?
(A) 53 (B) 65 (C) 11 (D) 56 (E) 35
6. If a point is chosen at random from the interior of
rectangle ABCD above, what is the probability the
point will be in the shaded quadrilateral BDEF?
1
1
5
1
7
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
4
3
12
2
12
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 53
7
7. If the average (arithmetic mean) of a, b, c, and d is
equal to the average of a, b, and c, what is d in
terms of a, b, and c?
a+b+c
4( a + b + c )
(A) a + b + c (B)
(C)
3
3
3( a + b + c)
( a + b + c)
(D)
(E)
4
4
8. Because her test turned out to be more difficult than
she intended it to be, a teacher decided to adjust the
grades by deducting only half the number of points
a student missed. For example, if a student missed
10 points, she received a 95 instead of a 90. Before
the grades were adjusted, Meri’s grade on the test
was A. What was her grade after the adjustment?
A
A
50 + A
(A) 50 +
(B)
(C) 100 –
2
2
2
100 – A
(D)
(E) A + 25
2
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
54 Diagnostic Test
7
Directions for Student-Produced Response Questions (Grid-ins)
In questions 9–18, first solve the problem,
and then enter your answer on the grid provided on the answer sheet. The instructions
for entering your answers are as follows:
• First, write your answer in the boxes at the
top of the grid.
• Second, grid your answer in the columns
below the boxes.
• Use the fraction bar in the first row or the
decimal point in the second row to enter
fractions and decimal answers.
8
Answer: 15
Answer: 1.75
Write your →
answer in
the boxes. ⎧
⎪
⎪
⎪
Grid in → ⎨
your
⎪
answer.
⎪
⎪
⎩
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
0
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
9
6
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
Either position is acceptable
9. Pencils that were selling at three for 25 cents are
now on sale at five for 29 cents. How much money,
in cents, would you save by buying 60 pencils at
the sale price?
3
11 = 0.272727...
.272
.273
3/11
7
Answer: 100
1
• Grid only one space in each column.
• Entering the answer in the boxes is recommended as an aid in gridding, but is not
required.
• The machine scoring your exam can read
only what you grid, so you must grid in
your answers correctly to get credit.
• If a question has more than one correct
answer, grid in only one of these answers.
• The grid does not have a minus sign, so no
answer can be negative.
• A mixed number must be converted to an
improper fraction or a decimal before it is
1
gridded. Enter 1 as 5/4 or 1.25; the machine
4
11
will interpret 1 1/4 as
and mark it wrong.
4
• All decimals must be entered as accurately as possible. Here are the three
acceptable ways of gridding
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
2
7
1
2
7
• Note that rounding to .273 is acceptable,
because you are using the full grid, but you
would receive no credit for .3 or .27, because
these answers are less accurate.
10. If 1 < 3x – 5 < 2, what is one possible value for x?
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 55
7
11. What is the largest integer, x, such that x < 10,000
x
and
is an even integer?
5
12. Ellie is dropping marbles into a box one at a time
in the following order: red, white, white, blue, blue,
blue; red, white, white, blue, blue, blue; .... How
many marbles will be in the box right after the
100th blue one is put in?
16. Each of 100 cards has none, one, or two of the
letters A and C written on it. If 75 cards have the
letter A, 30 have the letter C, and fewer than 15 are
blank, what is the largest possible number of cards
that have both A and C written on them?
17. To use a certain cash machine, you need a Personal
Identification Code (PIC). If each PIC consists of
two letters followed by one of the digits from 1 to
9 (such as AQ7 or BB3) or one letter followed by
two digits (such as Q37 or J88), how many different PIC’s can be assigned?
13. Four 3-4-5 right triangles and a square whose sides
are 5 are arranged to form a second square. What is
the perimeter of that square?
Questions 14 and 15 refer to the following definition.
For any positive integer a: ⟨⟨a⟩⟩ =
14. What is the value of ⟨⟨3⟩⟩ – ⟨⟨4⟩⟩?
1
.
2 a+1
18. In the figure above, the three circles are tangent to
one another. If the ratio of the diameter of the large
white circle to the diameter of the small white circle is 3:1, what fraction of the largest circle has
been shaded?
15. What is the ratio of ⟨⟨a + 3⟩⟩ to ⟨⟨a⟩⟩?
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
56 Diagnostic Test
8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
SECTION
8
Time—20 Minutes
19 Questions
8
Select the best answer to each of the following questions; then
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet.
Each of the following sentences contains one or two
blanks; each blank indicates that a word or set of words
has been left out. Below the sentence are five words or
phrases, lettered A through E. Select the word or set of
words that best completes the sentence.
Example:
Fame is ----; today’s rising star is all too soon
tomorrow’s washed-up has-been.
(A) rewarding
(B) gradual
(C) essential
(D) spontaneous
(E) transitory
1. Although similar to mice in many physical characteristics, voles may be ---- mice by the shortness of
their tails.
(A) distinguished from
(B) classified with
(C) related to
(D) categorized as
(E) enumerated with
2. Dr. Charles Drew’s technique for preserving and
storing blood plasma for emergency use proved so
---- that it became the ---- for the present blood
bank system used by the American Red Cross.
(A) irrelevant...inspiration
(B) urgent...pattern
(C) effective...model
(D) innocuous...excuse
(E) complex...blueprint
3. The likenesses of language around the Mediterranean were sufficiently marked to ---- ease of
movement both of men and ideas: it took relatively
few alterations to make a Spanish song intelligible
in Italy, and an Italian trader could, without much
difficulty, make himself at home in France.
(A) eliminate (B) facilitate (C) hinder
(D) clarify (E) aggravate
4. Because he saw no ---- to the task assigned him, he
worked at it in a very ---- way.
(A) function...systematic
(B) method...dutiful
(C) purpose...diligent
(D) end...rigid
(E) point...perfunctory
5. During the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson
remained ---- , in full command of the situation in
spite of the hysteria and panic all around him.
(A) impassable (B) imperturbable
(C) overbearing (D) frenetic
(E) lackadaisical
6. Although he had spent many hours at the computer
trying to solve the problem, he was the first to
admit that the final solution was ---- and not
the ---- of his labor.
(A) trivial...cause
(B) incomplete...intent
(C) adequate...concern
(D) schematic...fault
(E) fortuitous...result
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 57
8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
8
The questions that follow the next two passages relate to the content of both, and to their relationship. The correct
response may be stated outright in the passage or merely suggested.
Questions 7–19 are based on the following passages.
The following passages are excerpted from two recent
essays that make an analogy between writing and
sports. The author of Passage 1, whose manuscript has
been rejected by his publisher, discusses the sorts of
failures experienced by writers and ballplayers. The
author of Passage 2 explores how his involvement in
sports affected his writing career.
Passage 1
In consigning this manuscript to a desk drawer,
I am comforted by the behavior of baseball players.
There are no pitchers who do not give up home
Line runs, there are no batters who do not strike out.
(5) There are no major league pitchers or batters who
have not somehow learned to survive giving up
home runs and striking out. That much is obvious.
What seems to me less obvious is how these
“failures” must be digested, or put to use, in the
(10) overall experience of the player. A jogger once
explained to me that the nerves of the ankle are so
sensitive and complex that each time a runner sets
his foot down, hundreds of messages are conveyed to the runner’s brain about the nature of the
(15) terrain and the requirements for weight distribution, balance, and muscle-strength. I’m certain
that the ninth-inning home run that Dave
Henderson hit off Donny Moore registered complexly and permanently in Moore’s mind and
(20) body and that the next time Moore faced
Henderson, his pitching was informed by his
awful experience of October 1986. Moore’s continuing baseball career depended to some extent
on his converting that encounter with Henderson
(25) into something useful for his pitching. I can also
imagine such an experience destroying an athlete,
registering in his mind and body in such a negative way as to produce a debilitating fear.
Of the many ways in which athletes and artists
(30) are similar, one is that, unlike accountants or
plumbers or insurance salesmen, to succeed at all
they must perform at an extraordinary level of
excellence. Another is that they must be willing to
extend themselves irrationally in order to achieve
(35) that level of performance. A writer doesn’t have
to write all-out all the time, but he or she must be
ready to write all-out any time the story requires
it. Hold back and you produce what just about any
literate citizen can produce, a “pretty good” piece
(40) of work. Like the cautious pitcher, the timid
writer can spend a lifetime in the minor leagues.
And what more than failure—the strike out,
the crucial home run given up, the manuscript
criticized and rejected—is more likely to produce
(45) caution or timidity? An instinctive response to
painful experience is to avoid the behavior that
produced the pain. To function at the level of
excellence required for survival, writers, like athletes, must go against instinct, must absorb their
(50) failures and become stronger, must endlessly
repeat the behavior that produced the pain.
Passage 2
The athletic advantages of this concentration,
particularly for an athlete who was making up for
the absence of great natural skill, were consider(55) able. Concentration gave you an edge over many
of your opponents, even your betters, who could
not isolate themselves to that degree. For example,
in football if they were ahead (or behind) by several touchdowns, if the game itself seemed to have
(60) been settled, they tended to slack off, to ease off a
little, certainly to relax their own concentration. It
was then that your own unwavering concentration
and your own indifference to the larger point of
view paid off. At the very least you could deal out
(65) surprise and discomfort to your opponents.
But it was more than that. Do you see? The
ritual of physical concentration, of acute engagement in a small space while disregarding all the
clamor and demands of the larger world, was the
(70) best possible lesson in precisely the kind of selfish
intensity needed to create and to finish a poem, a
story, or a novel. This alone mattered while all the
world going on, with and without you, did not.
I was learning first in muscle, blood, and bone,
(75) not from literature and not from teachers of literature or the arts or the natural sciences, but from
coaches, in particular this one coach who paid me
enough attention to influence me to teach some
things to myself. I was learning about art and life
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
58 Diagnostic Test
8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
(80) through the abstraction of athletics in much the
same way that a soldier is, to an extent, prepared
for war by endless parade ground drill. His body
must learn to be a soldier before heart, mind, and
spirit can.
Ironically, I tend to dismiss most comparisons
(85)
of athletics to art and to “the creative process.”
But only because, I think, so much that is claimed
for both is untrue. But I have come to believe—
indeed I have to believe it insofar as I believe in
(90) the validity and efficacy of art—that what comes
to us first and foremost through the body, as a
sensuous affective experience, is taken and transformed by mind and self into a thing of the spirit.
Which is only to say that what the body learns
(95) and is taught is of enormous significance—at
least until the last light of the body fails.
7. Why does the author of Passage 1 consign his manuscript to a desk drawer?
(A) To protect it from the inquisitive eyes of his
family
(B) To prevent its getting lost or disordered
(C) Because his publisher wishes to take another
look at it
(D) Because he chooses to watch a televised baseball game
(E) To set it aside as unmarketable in its current
state
8. Why is the author of Passage 1 “comforted by the
behavior of baseball players” (line 2)?
(A) He treasures the timeless rituals of America’s
national pastime.
(B) He sees he is not alone in having to confront
failure and move on.
(C) He enjoys watching the frustration of the
batters who strike out.
(D) He looks at baseball from the viewpoint of a
behavioral psychologist.
(E) He welcomes any distraction from the task of
revising his novel.
9. What function in the passage is served by the discussion of the nerves in the ankle in lines 11–16?
(A) It provides a momentary digression from the
overall narrative flow.
(B) It emphasizes how strong a mental impact
Henderson’s home run must have had on
Moore.
(C) It provides scientific confirmation of the
neuromuscular abilities of athletes.
(D) It illustrates that the author’s interest in sports
is not limited to baseball alone.
(E) It conveys a sense of how confusing it is for
the mind to deal with so many simultaneous
messages.
8
10. The word “registered” in line 18 means
(A) enrolled formally
(B) expressed without words
(C) corresponded exactly
(D) made an impression
(E) qualified officially
11. The attitude of the author of Passage 1 to accountants, plumbers, and insurance salesmen (lines
30–33) can best be described as
(A) respectful (B) cautious (C) superior
(D) cynical (E) hypocritical
12. In the final two paragraphs of Passage 1, the author
appears to
(A) romanticize the writer as someone heroic in his
or her accomplishments
(B) deprecate athletes for their inability to react to
experience instinctively
(C) minimize the travail that artists and athletes
endure to do their work
(D) advocate the importance of literacy to the common citizen
(E) suggest that a cautious approach would reduce
the likelihood of future failure
13. The author of Passage 2 prizes
(A) his innate athletic talent
(B) the respect of his peers
(C) his ability to focus
(D) the gift of relaxation
(E) winning at any cost
14. The word “settled” in line 60 means
(A) judged (B) decided (C) reconciled
(D) pacified (E) inhabited
15. What does the author mean by “indifference to the
larger point of view” (lines 63 and 64)?
(A) Inability to see the greater implications of the
activity in which you were involved
(B) Hostility to opponents coming from larger,
better trained teams
(C) Reluctance to look beyond your own immediate concerns
(D) Refusing to care how greatly you might be
hurt by your opponents
(E) Being more concerned with the task at hand
than with whether you win or lose
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 59
8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
16. What is the function of the phrase “to an extent” in
line 81?
(A) It denies a situation.
(B) It conveys a paradox.
(C) It qualifies a statement.
(D) It represents a metaphor.
(E) It minimizes a liability.
17. The author finds it ironic that he tends to “dismiss
most comparisons of athletics to art” (lines 85 and
86) because
(A) athletics is the basis for great art
(B) he finds comparisons generally unhelpful
(C) he is making such a comparison
(D) he typically is less cynical
(E) he rejects the so-called creative process
18. The authors of both passages would agree that
(A) the lot of the professional writer is more trying
than that of the professional athlete
(B) athletics has little to do with the actual workings of the creative process
(C) both artists and athletes learn hard lessons in
the course of mastering their art
(D) it is important to concentrate on the things that
hurt us in life
(E) participating in sports provides a distraction
from the isolation of a writer’s life
8
19. How would the author of Passage 2 respond to the
author of Passage 1’s viewpoint that a failure such
as giving up a key home run can destroy an athlete?
(A) An athlete learns through his body that failure
is enormously significant and affects him
both physically and spiritually.
(B) Athletes of great natural skill suffer less from
the agonies of failure than less accomplished
athletes do.
(C) If an athlete plays without holding back, he
will surpass athletes who are more inherently
adept.
(D) If the athlete focuses on the job at hand and
not on past errors, he will continue to function successfully.
(E) Athletes are highly sensitive performers who
need to be sheltered from the clamor and
demands of the larger world.
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
60 Diagnostic Test
9
9
SECTION
9
9
9
9
9
9
For each problem in this section determine which of the five choices
Time—20 Minutes
is correct and blacken the corresponding choice on your answer
16 Questions
sheet. You may use any blank space on the page for your work.
Notes:
• You may use a calculator whenever you think it will be helpful.
• Use the diagrams provided to help you solve the problems. Unless you see the words “Note:
Figure not drawn to scale” under a diagram, it has been drawn as accurately as possible.
Unless it is stated that a figure is three-dimensional, you may assume it lies in a plane.
Reference Information
Area Facts
w
Volume Facts
h
b
w
V = wh
r
A = 12 bh
r
Angle Facts
a 2 45° a
h
A= w
Triangle Facts
A = πr2
C = 2πr
a 60°
2a
30°
a3
y°
c
h
V = πr2h
x°
y°
30°
2x °
1. In the figure above, what is the value of y?
(A) 50 (B) 70 (C) 100 (D) 140
(E) It cannot be determined from the information
given.
2. In a laboratory a solution was being heated. In 90
minutes, the temperature rose from –8° to 7°. What
was the average hourly increase in temperature?
(A) 5° (B) 7.5° (C) 10° (D) 15° (E) 22.5°
3. For how many integers, n, is it true that n2 – 30 is
negative?
(A) 5
(B) 6 (C) 10 (D) 11
(E) Infinitely many
360°
45°
a
a
x°
z°
x + y + z = 180
b
a2 + b2 = c2
4. Which of the following is NOT a solution of
2a2 + 3b = 5?
5
(A) a = 0 and b =
(B) a = 1 and b = 1
3
(C) a = 2 and b = –1 (D) a = 3 and b = –4
(E) a = 4 and b = –9
5. What is the slope of the line that passes through
(0, 0) and is perpendicular to the line that passes
through (–2, 2) and (3, 3)?
1
1
(A) –5 (B) −
(C) 0 (D)
(E) 5
5
5
6. If the measures of the angles of a triangle are in
the ratio of 1:2:3, what is the ratio of the lengths
of the sides?
(A) 1:2:3 (B) 1:1: 2 (C) 1: 3 :2 (D) 3:4:5
(E) It cannot be determined from the information
given.
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 61
9
9
9
7. A googol is the number that is written as 1 followed
by 100 zeros. If g represents a googol, how many
digits are there in g2?
(A) 102 (B) 103 (C) 199 (D) 201 (E) 202
–– y
–
––
––
––
––
–
––
––
––
–
––
––
x
––
––
––
–
––
––
––
––
––
–
––
––
––
––
––
––
–
––
(E)
C
4π
(B)
C2
2π
(C)
C
2π
(D)
Cπ
4
11. If
x − 15 – 5 = 2 what is the value of
14
(C) 8 (D)
34
x?
(E) 64
12. To get to a business meeting, Joanna drove m miles
1
in h hours, and arrived hour early. At what rate
2
should she have driven to arrive exactly on time?
m
2m + h
2m − h
2m
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
2h
2h
2h
2h − 1
2m
(E)
2h + 1
x
x
y
––
––
––
–
––
––
x
y
––
––
–
––
––
––
–
–
––
––
––
––
–
(E)
C2
4π
x
–
–
––
––
–
–
––
–
(D)
(A)
(A) 2 (B)
y
–y
––
––
––
––
–
–
9. Which of the following expresses the area of a
circle in terms of C, its circumference?
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 8 (D) 16 (E) 64
––
––
––
––
––
–
(C)
9
9
1
–– y
–
––
–
––
––
–
(B)
9
1 2
1
⎛ 1 1
⎞
10. What is the value of ⎜ 4 2 ⋅ 8 3 ⋅ 16 4 ⋅ 32 5 ⎟ ?
⎝
⎠
8. The figure above is the graph of y = f(x). Which of
the following is the graph of y = –f(x – 3)?
(A)
9
x
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
62 Diagnostic Test
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
14. If y varies inversely with x and directly with z,
and x = 4 and z = 8 when y = 10, what is the value
of x + z when y = 20?
(A) 6 (B) 12 (C) 16 (D) 18 (E) 24
15. What is the average (arithmetic mean) of 330, 360,
and 390?
(A) 360 (B) 3177
(D) 327 + 357 + 387
13. In the figure above, what is the area of the shaded
region?
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 5.5 (D) 6 (E) 7
(C) 310 + 320 + 330
(E) 329 + 359 + 389
16. If a and b are the lengths of the legs of a right
triangle whose hypotenuse is 10 and whose area is
20, what is the value of (a + b)2?
(A) 100 (B) 120 (C) 140 (D) 180 (E) 200
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
Diagnostic Test 63
10
10
SECTION
Time—10 Minutes
14 Questions
10
10
10
10
10
For each of the following questions, select the best answer
from the choices provided and fill in the appropriate circle
on the answer sheet.
Some or all parts of the following sentences are underlined. The first answer choice, (A), simply repeats the
underlined part of the sentence. The other four choices present four alternative ways to phrase the underlined part. Select the answer that produces the most
effective sentence, one that is clear and exact, and
blacken the appropriate space on your answer sheet. In
selecting your choice, be sure that it is standard written English, and that it expresses the meaning of the
original sentence.
Example:
The first biography of author Eudora Welty
came out in 1998 and she was 89 years old at
the time.
(A) and she was 89 years old at the time
(B) at the time when she was 89
(C) upon becoming an 89 year old
(D) when she was 89
(E) at the age of 89 years old
10
1. Unfortunately, soul singer Anita Baker’s voice has
not weathered the years as well as other singers
have.
(A) has not weathered the years as well as other
singers have
(B) had not weathered the years as well as other
singers have
(C) has not been weathered by the years as well as
the voices of other singers have been
(D) has not weathered the years as well as other
singers’ voices have
(E) has not weathered the years as good as
other singers’ voices have
2. The mathematics teacher drew a right triangle on the
blackboard, he proceeded to demonstrate that we
could determine the length of the longest side of the
triangle if we knew the lengths of its two shorter
sides.
(A) The mathematics teacher drew a right triangle
on the blackboard, he
(B) The right triangle, which was drawn on the
blackboard by the mathematics teacher, he
(C) After drawing a right triangle on the blackboard, the mathematics teacher
(D) A right triangle was first drawn on the blackboard by the mathematics teacher, then he
(E) Once a right triangle was drawn on the blackboard by the mathematics teacher, who then
3. An inside trader is when a corporate officer who has
access to “inside” or privileged information about a
company’s prospects uses that information in buying or selling company shares.
(A) when a corporate officer who has access to
“inside” or privileged information about a
company’s prospects uses that information
(B) when a corporate officer has access to “inside”
or privileged information about a company’s
prospects and uses that information
(C) a corporate officer who has access to “inside”
or privileged information about a company’s
prospects and uses that information
(D) a corporate officer who has accessed “inside”
or privileged information about a company’s
prospects for use of that information
(E) that a corporate officer who has access to
“inside” or privileged information about a
company’s prospects and he uses that
information
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
64 Diagnostic Test
10
10
10
4. Gymnastics students perform stretching exercises
to develop flexibility and to become a more agile
tumbler.
(A) exercises to develop flexibility and to become
a more agile tumbler
(B) exercises for the development of flexibility and
to become a more agile tumbler
(C) exercises so that they develop flexibility,
becoming a more agile tumbler
(D) exercises to develop flexibility and to become
more agile tumblers
(E) exercises because they want to develop flexibility in becoming a more agile tumbler
5. Because the Ming vase is priceless plus being highly fragile, it is kept safe in a sealed display case.
(A) Because the Ming vase is priceless plus being
highly fragile,
(B) Being that the Ming vase is priceless and also
it is highly fragile,
(C) Although the Ming vase is priceless and highly
fragile,
(D) Because the Ming vase is priceless and highly
fragile is why
(E) Because the Ming vase is both priceless and
highly fragile,
6. The soft, pulpy flesh of the passion fruit possesses a
flavor at once tart and sweet and the flavor has
captivated many prominent chefs, among them
Alice Waters.
(A) sweet and the flavor has captivated
(B) sweet that has captivated
(C) sweet that have captivated
(D) sweet and the flavors have captivated
(E) sweet and the favor captivates
7. Shakespeare’s acting company performed in a relatively intimate setting, appearing before smaller
audiences than most theaters today.
(A) appearing before smaller audiences than most
theaters today
(B) they appeared before smaller audiences than
most theaters today
(C) appearing before audiences smaller than most
audiences today
(D) having appeared before smaller audiences than
most theaters today
(E) and they appeared before audiences smaller
than the ones at most theaters today
10
10
10
10
8. Observing the interactions of preschoolers in a playground setting, it can be seen that the less adults
relate to the children in their charge, the more these
children relate to one another.
(A) Observing the interactions of preschoolers in a
playground setting, it can be seen
(B) Having observed the interactions of preschoolers in a playground setting, it can be seen
(C) If one observes the interactions of preschoolers
in a playground setting, you can see
(D) Observing the interactions of preschoolers in a
playground setting, we can see
(E) Observing the interactions of preschoolers in a
playground setting can be seen
9. Neither the Florida coast nor the Caribbean islands
was prepared for the series of hurricanes that devastated the region in 2004.
(A) Neither the Florida coast nor the Caribbean
islands was prepared for
(B) Neither the Florida coast nor the Caribbean
islands have been prepared for
(C) Neither the Florida coast or the Caribbean
islands were prepared for
(D) Neither the Florida coast or the Caribbean
islands was prepared for
(E) Neither the Florida coast nor the Caribbean
islands were prepared for
10. Far from being mercenary ambulance chasers, trial
lawyers perform a public service by forcing corporations to consider the potential financial cost
of pollution, unsafe products, and mistreatment of
workers.
(A) Far from being mercenary ambulance chasers
(B) Despite them being mercenary ambulance
chasers
(C) Far from them being mercenary ambulance
chasers
(D) Far from having been mercenary ambulance
chasers
(E) Further from being mercenary ambulance
chasers
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
Diagnostic Test 65
10
10
10
11. Unsafe at Any Speed is Ralph Nader’s detailed
portrait of how the auto industry willfully resisted
safety innovations and thus contributed to thousands
of highway deaths a year.
(A) portrait of how the auto industry willfully
resisted safety innovations and thus
contributed to
(B) portrait of when the auto industry was willful
about resisting safety innovations and thus
contributing to
(C) portrait of how the auto industry fully willed
themselves to resist safety innovations and
thus contributed to
(D) portrait of how the auto industry willfully
resisted safety innovations in order to
contribute to
(E) portrait showing how the auto industry
willfully resisted safety innovations, and they
thus contributed to
12. In 1532, Francisco Pizarro and his troops arrived in
Cuzco, took hostage the Incan king, Atahualpa, and
then they demanded ransom.
(A) Atahualpa, and then they demanded ransom
(B) who was named Atahualpa, and then they
demanded ransom
(C) Atahualpa, it was so they could demand
ransom
(D) Atahualpa, and then there was a demand for
ransom
(E) Atahualpa, and then demanded ransom
10
10
10
10
13. Although demand for cars, motorcycles, and other
consumer goods are booming, the economy is
growing only at roughly 4 percent a year, and the
unemployment rate is about 10 percent.
(A) Although demand for cars, motorcycles, and
other consumer goods are booming
(B) Because demand for cars, motorcycles, and
other consumer goods are booming
(C) Although demand for cars, motorcycles, and
other consumer goods is booming
(D) Although demand for cars, motorcycles, and
other consumer goods have been booming
(E) Although demand of cars, motorcycles, and
other consumer goods is booming
14. Samuel Sewall, who was a judge in the Salem witch
trials but later repented his role and, in 1700, wrote
the first attack on the American slave trade.
(A) Samuel Sewall, who was a judge in the Salem
witch trials but later repented his role and, in
1700,
(B) Samuel Sewall was a judge in the Salem witch
trials but who later repented his role and, in
1700,
(C) Samuel Sewall, a judge in the Salem witch
trials, but later he repented his role and, in
1700,
(D) Samuel Sewall, a judge in the Salem witch
trials who later repented his role, in 1700
(E) Samuel Sewall, who was a judge in the Salem
witch trials but who later repented his role,
and who, in 1700,
YOU MAY GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS SECTION IN THE REMAINING TIME,
BUT DO NOT WORK IN ANY OTHER SECTION UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.
STOP
66 Diagnostic Test
Answer Key
Note: The letters in brackets following the Mathematical
Reasoning answers refer to the sections of Chapter 12
in which you can find the information you need to answer
the questions. For example, 1. C [E] means that the
answer to question 1 is C, and that the solution requires
information found in Section 12-E: Averages.
Section 2 Critical Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A
D
B
D
D
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
C
C
E
B
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
A
C
B
C
E
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
E
B
D
C
A
21.
22.
23.
24.
C
C
E
B
Section 3 Mathematical Reasoning
1.
2.
3.
4.
C [A]
C [I, J]
D [A, Q]
B [E]
5.
6.
7.
8.
C [G, K]
E [I]
B [F]
C [P]
9.
10.
11.
12.
B [G]
C [E]
E [D, J]
B [E, G]
13.
14.
15.
16.
E [G]
C [G]
C [C]
B [H, Q]
17.
18.
19.
20.
D [D, I]
D [E, Q]
E [N, Q]
E [G, H]
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
B
C
B
B
A
D
C
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
C
E
D
C
D
D
A
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
A
C
B
C
D
B
C
Section 4 Writing Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
B
A
C
D
A
A
D
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
E
C
B
A
D
C
B
Section 5
On this test, Section 5 was the experimental section. It could have been an extra critical reading, mathematics, or
writing skills section. Remember: on the SAT you take, the experimental section may be any section from 2 to 7.
Section 6 Critical Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
E
C
B
B
C
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
C
D
B
C
B
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
D
D
C
C
E
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
D
D
B
C
D
21.
22.
23.
24.
E
D
D
A
Answer Key 67
Section 7 Mathematical Reasoning
Multiple-Choice Questions
1.
2.
D [A]
E [D]
3.
4.
C [R]
D [C, D]
5.
6.
C [P]
C [O]
7.
8.
B [E, G]
A [E]
Grid-in Questions
9.
10.
11.
1 5 2 [G]
[A]
0
1
0
0
1
1
12.
13.
2 . 1 [A] 8 1 0 0 [O, P]
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
0
0
1
1
2
0
2 0 2 [J, K]
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
14.
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
2
0
1
2
2.01 ≤ x ≤ 2.33
[A, B]
2 8
15.
16.
1 / 3 2 [B, D]
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
17.
1 / 8 [P]
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
18.
3 / 8
or
9
. 3 7 5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
6
7
1
1
0
2
[D, L]
1
1 9 [O] 8 1 9 0
9
9
9
2
9
68 Diagnostic Test
Section 8 Critical Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
A
C
B
E
5.
6.
7.
8.
B
E
E
B
9.
10.
11.
12.
B
D
C
A
13.
14.
15.
16.
C
B
E
C
17.
18.
19.
C
C
D
13.
14.
C
D
Section 9 Mathematical Reasoning
1.
2.
3.
4.
C [I]
C [E]
D [A, O]
D [G]
5.
6.
7.
8.
A [N]
C [D, J]
D [A, P]
E [R]
9.
10.
11.
12.
A [L]
B [A]
C [G]
E [B, H]
13.
14.
15.
16.
A [J, K, N]
D [D]
E [A, E]
D [J, F]
7.
8.
9.
C
D
E
10.
11.
12.
A
A
E
Section 10 Writing Skills
1.
2.
3.
D
C
C
4.
5.
6.
D
E
B
Self-Evaluation
Now that you have completed the diagnostic test, evaluate your performance. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, and
then plan a practical study program based on what you have discovered. Follow these steps to evaluate your work on the
diagnostic test. (Note: You’ll find the charts referred to in steps 1–5 on the next four pages.)
■ STEP 1 Use the answer key to check your answers for each section.
■ STEP 2 For each section, count the number of correct and incorrect answers (remember that you don’t count omitted
answers), and enter the numbers on the appropriate lines of the chart “Calculate Your Raw Score.” Then do the indicated calculations to get your Critical Reading Raw Score and your Mathematical Reasoning Raw Score.
■ STEP 3 Consult the chart “Evaluate Your Performance” to see how well you did.
■ STEP 4 To pinpoint the specific areas in which you need to improve, circle the numbers of the questions that you either left
blank or got wrong on the “Identify Your Weaknesses” charts. You can then see where to concentrate your efforts to get the
most out of your study time. The chart for the math sections gives you page references for review and practice by skill areas.
The charts for the critical reading and writing skills sections refer you to the appropriate chapters to study for each question
type.
■ STEP 5 Wherever you had a concentration of circles, do the review and practice indicated on the charts.
Important: Remember that, in addition to evaluating your scores, you should read all of the answer explanations for questions you answered incorrectly, questions you omitted, and questions you answered correctly but found difficult. Reviewing the
answer explanations will help you understand concepts and strategies, and may point out shortcuts.
Score Your Own SAT Essay 69
Score Your Own SAT Essay
Use this table as you rate your performance on the essay-writing section of this Model Test. Circle the phrase
that most accurately describes your work. Enter the numbers in the scoring chart below. Add the numbers
together and divide by 6 to determine your total score. The higher your total score, the better you are likely to
do on the essay section of the SAT.
Note that on the actual SAT two readers will rate your essay; your essay score will be the sum of their two
ratings and could range from 12 (highest) to 2 (lowest). Also, they will grade your essay holistically, rating it on
the basis of their overall impression of its effectiveness. They will not analyze it piece by piece, giving separate
grades for grammar, vocabulary level, and so on. Therefore, you cannot expect the score you give yourself on
this Model Test to predict your eventual score on the SAT with any great degree of accuracy. Use this scoring
guide instead to help you assess your writing strengths and weaknesses, so that you can decide which areas to
focus on as you prepare for the SAT.
Like most people, you may find it difficult to rate your own writing objectively. Ask a teacher or fellow
student to score your essay as well. With his or her help you should gain added insights into writing your
25-minute essay.
6
5
4
3
POSITION
ON THE TOPIC
Clear, convincing,
& insightful
ORGANIZATION
OF EVIDENCE
2
Fundamentally
clear & coherent
Fairly clear
& coherent
Insufficiently
clear
Largely unclear
Extremely unclear
Well organized,
with strong, relevant
examples
Generally well
organized, with
apt examples
Adequately
organized, with
some examples
Sketchily
developed, with
weak examples
Lacking focus and
evidence
Unfocused and
disorganized
SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
Varied, appealing
sentences
Reasonably varied
sentences
Some variety
in sentences
Little variety
in sentences
Errors in sentence
structure
Severe errors in
sentence
structure
LEVEL OF
VOCABULARY
Mature & apt
word choice
Competent
word choice
Adequate
word choice
Inappropriate or
weak vocabulary
Highly limited
vocabulary
Rudimentary
GRAMMAR
AND USAGE
Almost entirely
free of errors
Relatively free
of errors
Some technical
errors
Minor errors, and
some major ones
Numerous major
errors
Extensive severe
errors
OVERALL
EFFECT
Outstanding
Effective
Adequately
competent
Inadequate, but
shows some
potential
Seriously flawed
Fundamentally
deficient
Self-Scoring Chart
Scoring Chart (Second Reader)
For each of the following categories,
rate the essay from 1 (lowest)
to 6 (highest)
For each of the following categories,
rate the essay from 1 (lowest)
to 6 (highest)
Position on the Topic
Position on the Topic
Organization of Evidence
Organization of Evidence
Sentence Structure
Sentence Structure
Level of Vocabulary
Level of Vocabulary
Grammar and Usage
Grammar and Usage
Overall Effect
Overall Effect
TOTAL
TOTAL
(To get a score, divide the total by 6)
(To get a score, divide the total by 6)
1
70 Diagnostic Test
Calculate Your Raw Score
Critical Reading
Section 2
number correct
Section 6
number correct
Section 8
number correct
−
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(A)
−
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(B)
−
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(C)
Critical Reading Raw Score = (A) + (B) + (C) =
Mathematical Reasoning
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(D)
Section 7
⎞
1⎛
Part I
=
− ⎜
number correct
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(1–8)
(E)
Section 3
number correct
Part II
(9–18)
−
=
(F)
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(G)
number correct
Section 9
number correct
−
Mathematical Reasoning Raw Score = (D) + (E) + (F) + (G) =
Writing Skills
Section 4
number correct
Section 10
number correct
Essay
−
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(H)
−
⎞
1⎛
=
⎜
4 ⎝ number incorrect ⎟⎠
(I)
+
score 1
=
score 2
Writing Skills Raw Score = H + I (J is a separate subscore)
(J)
Identify Your Weaknesses 71
Evaluate Your Performance
Critical
Reading
Mathematical
Reasoning
Writing
Skills
700–800
59–67
48–54
40–49
650–690
52–58
44–47
36–39
600–640
46–51
38–43
31–35
550–590
38–45
32–37
27–30
500–540
30–37
26–31
22–26
450–490
22–29
19–25
17–21
400–440
14–21
12–18
11–16
300–390
3–13
3–11
3–10
200–290
less than 3
less than 3
less than 3
Identify Your Weaknesses
Critical Reading
Question
Type
Question Numbers
Section 2
Section 6
Section 8
Chapter to
Study
Sentence
Completion
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Chapter 4
Critical Reading
9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19
Chapter 5
72 Diagnostic Test
Identify Your Weaknesses
Mathematical Reasoning
Section
in Chapter 12
A Basics of
Arithmetic
Section 3
1, 3, 18
B Fractions and
Decimals
Question Numbers
Section 7
Section 9
Pages to
Study
1, 9, 11, 14
3, 7, 10, 15
372–385
14, 15
12
385–396
C Percents
15
4
D Ratios and
Proportions
11, 17
2, 4, 15, 18
6, 14
404–413
E Averages
4, 10, 12, 18
7, 8
2, 15
413–419
F Polynomials
7
16
419–424
G Equations and
Inequalities
5, 9, 12, 13, 14,
20
4, 11
425–434
H Word
Problems
2, 16, 20
12
434–441
I Lines and Angles
2, 6, 17
1
441–447
J Triangles
2, 11
13
6, 13, 16
448–458
K Quadrilaterals
5
13
13
459–465
18
9
465–472
L Circles
7, 10
396–404
M Solid Geometry
N Coordinate
Geometry
472–476
19
O Counting and
Probability
P Logical
Reasoning
8
Q Data
Interpretation
3, 16, 18, 19
R Functions
5, 13
477–484
6, 12, 17
3
485–493
5, 12, 16, 18
7
494–499
499–507
3
8
507–512
Identify Your Weaknesses
Writing Skills
Question Type
Question Numbers
Section 4
Section 10
Improving Sentences
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11
Identifying Sentence Errors
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
Chapter 9
Improving Paragraphs
30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
Chapter 9
Essay
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Chapter to
Study
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Answer Explanations 73
Answer Explanations
Section 2 Critical Reading
1. A. Because lightning victims are so battered and
confused, they seem like assault victims.
Thus, they are often mistaken for victims of
assault.
(Cause and Effect Signal)
2. D. Anyone who has produced more than three
hundred books in a single lifetime is an enormously productive or prolific writer. Writers
are often described as prolific, but few, if any,
have been as prolific as the late Dr. Asimov.
Beware of Eye-Catchers: Choice A is incorrect. Fastidious means painstakingly careful;
it has nothing to do with writing quickly.
(Examples)
3. B. Time limitations would cause problems for
you if you were reading a lengthy book. To
save time, you might want to read it in an
abridged or shortened form.
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The use
of “because” in the opening clause is a cause
signal.
(Cause and Effect Signal)
4. D. Speakers wish to communicate unambiguously
in order that there may be no confusion about
their meaning.
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The presence of “and” linking two items in a pair indicates that the missing word may be a synonym
or near-synonym for the other linked word. In
this case, unambiguously is a synonym for
clearly. Similarly, the use of “so that” in the
second clause signals cause and effect.
(Argument Pattern)
5. D. Lisa was normally gregarious or sociable.
When she unexpectedly lost her job, she became
quiet and withdrawn (distant; unsociable).
Note how the signal word Although indicates a
contrast between her normally sociable and
later unsociable states.
(Contrast Pattern)
6. A. Wilma Mankiller, a female, heads a major
American Indian tribe. She performs her role
successfully: she is “increasingly popular.” By
her success, she has shattered or exploded a
myth of male supremacy. (Argument Pattern)
7. C. The commission censured or condemned
the senator for doing something wrong: his
expenditures of public funds were lavish
or extravagant. He spent the public’s money
in an unjustifiable, unwarranted way.
(Cause and Effect Pattern)
8. C. A stereotyped or oversimplified portrait of a
slave would lead sensitive readers to express
criticism because the issue of slavery was
treated so casually. Thus, they normally would
be detractors of the novel. However,
Huckleberry Finn is such a fine work that
even its critics acknowledge its greatness.
Signal words are helpful here. “Despite” in the
first clause implies a contrast, and “even” in
the second clause implies that the subjects
somewhat reluctantly agree that the novel is a
masterpiece.
(Contrast Signal)
9. E
The final sentence of the passage maintains
that, contrary to expectation, the jellyfish has a
sophisticated or complex genetic structure.
Beware of eye-catchers. Choice B is incorrect.
“Spineless” (lines 1–2) here means invertebrate, lacking a backbone or spinal column. It
does not mean cowardly.
10. B
The second sentence of the passage states that
the jellyfish “seems the most primitive of creatures.” The last sentence of the passage, however, contradicts or denies that assumption.
11. A. The human faculty for myth is the capacity or
ability of people to invent legends.
12. C. The fact that Raleigh is remembered more for a
romantic, perhaps apocryphal, gesture than for
his voyages of exploration illustrates how legendary events outshine historical achievements
in the public’s mind.
13. B. The author is writing a book about the effect
of the opening of the West on the Indians living there. As a historian, he needs primary
source materials—firsthand accounts of the
period written by men and women living at
that time. Thus, he finds the period of
1860–1890 worth mentioning because during
those years the “greatest concentration of
recorded experience and observation” (the
bulk of original accounts) was created.
14. C. Only the white settlers looked on their intrusion into Indian territory as the opening of the
West. To the Native Americans, it was an
invasion. Thus, “opening” from a Native
American perspective is an inaccurate term.
15. E.
Throughout the passage the author presents
and comments on the nature of the original
documents that form the basis for his historical narrative. Thus, it is clear that a major concern of his is to introduce these “sources of
almost forgotten oral history” to his readers.
Choice A is incorrect. The author clearly
regrets the fate of the Indians. However, he
does not take this occasion to denounce or
condemn the white man.
74 Diagnostic Test
16. E.
Choice B is incorrect. While the author discusses the various treaty councils, he does not
evaluate or judge their effectiveness.
Choice C is incorrect. The author never touches on the current treatment of Indians.
Choice D is incorrect. The author indicates no
such similarity.
22. C. Lines 73–76 state that, as the Indian leaders became more sophisticated or knowledgeable
about addressing treaty councils, “they demanded the right to choose their own interpreters and
recorders.” Until they had become familiar with
the process, they were unaware that they had
the option to demand such services.
Of all the thousands of published descriptions
of the opening of the West, the greatest concentration or accumulation of accounts dates
from the period of 1860 to 1890.
23. E.
17. B. The author is describing a period in which
Native Americans lost their land and much of
their personal freedom to the same pioneers
who supposedly revered the ideal of freedom.
Thus, in describing the ideal of freedom
revered by the pioneers as “personal freedom
for those who already had it” (in other words,
personal freedom for the pioneers, not the
Indians), the author is being ironic.
18. D. You can arrive at the correct choice by the
process of elimination.
Statement I is true. The passage states that the
quality of the interviews depended on the
interpreters’ abilities. Inaccuracies could creep
in because of the translators’ lack of skill.
Therefore, you can eliminate choice B.
Statement II is untrue. The passage indicates
that the Indians sometimes exaggerated,
telling the reporters tall tales. It does not indicate that the reporters in turn overstated what
they had been told. Therefore, you can eliminate choices C and E.
Statement III is true. The passage indicates
that the Indians sometimes were disinclined to
speak the whole truth because they feared
reprisals (retaliation) if they did. Therefore,
you can eliminate choice A.
Only choice D is left. It is the correct answer.
19. C. Brown speaks of the Indians who lived through
the “doom period of their civilization,” the victims of the conquest of the American West. In
doing so, his tone can best be described as elegiac, expressing sadness about their fate and
lamenting their vanished civilization.
Brown has tried to create a narrative of the
winning of the West from the victims’ perspective. In asking his readers to read the book facing eastward (the way the Indians would have
been looking when they first saw the whites
headed west), he is asking them metaphorically
to identify with the Indians’ viewpoint.
24. B. In the sentence immediately preceding the one
in which the phrase “equated with” appears,
Brown calls the Indians “true conservationists.” Such conservationists know that life is
necessarily tied to the earth and to its
resources, and that by destroying these
resources, by imbalancing the equation, so to
speak, “the intruders from the East” would
destroy life itself.
Section 3 Mathematical Reasoning
1. C. Just quickly add up the number of miles Greg
jogs each week:
3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 42.
In 2 weeks he jogs 84 miles.
x°
120° y°
z°
130°
2. C. In the figure above, x + y + z = 180.
Also, since y = 60 (180 – 120) and
z = 50 (180 – 130), then
x = 180 – (50 + 60) = 180 – 110 = 70.
3. D. After an increase of 75¢, a tuna fish sandwich
will cost $5.00. The only sandwiches that,
after a 50¢ increase, will be more expensive
than the tuna fish are the 3 that now cost more
than $4.50.
20. A. In the fifth paragraph Brown comments upon
the “graphic similes and metaphors of the
natural world” found in the English
translations of Indian speeches. Thus, he is
impressed by their vividness of imagery.
4. B. Discard the scores of 9.2 and 9.7, and take the
average of the other four scores:
21. C. Commenting about inadequate interpreters who
turned eloquent Indian speeches into “flat”
prose, Brown is criticizing the translations for
their pedestrian, unimaginative quality.
5. C. The sum of the measures of two adjacent
angles of a parallelogram is 180°. Therefore,
180 = 10x + 25x – 30 = 35x – 30,
which implies that 35x = 210 and x = 6.
9.4 + 9.5 + 9.6 + 9.6 38.1
=
= 9.525.
4
4
Answer Explanations 75
6. E.
The figures below show that all of the choices
are possible.
1
0
2
12. B. Add the two equations to get 5x + 5y = 28.
28
Then x + y =
, and the average of x and
5
y is
28
x+y
28
= 5 =
= 2.8.
2
10
2
3
7. B. Since a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b), then:
20 = a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b) = 10(a + b).
Therefore, a + b = 2. Adding the equations
a + b = 2 and a – b = 10 gives
2a = 12 ⇒ a = 6 ⇒ b = –4.
13. E.
Since W = 3 and 2W = 3X, then 3X = 6 ⇒ X = 2.
Therefore
3 + 7 = 2 + Y ⇒ Y = 10 – 2 = 8.
14. C. By definition, W + W = X + Y ⇒ 2W = X + Y;
but the definition also states that 2W = 3X, so
2
X = 3 W. Therefore
8. C. Each year the dealer sells half of her silver,
⎛ 1⎞
so after 1 year she owns ⎜ ⎟ 1000 ounces.
⎝ 2⎠
After 2 years she owns half as many ounces:
2
⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1
⎛ 1⎞
⎞
⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ (1000 )⎟⎠ = ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ (1000).
2
2
2
In general, after t years, she will own
t
⎛ 1⎞
1000 ⎜ ⎟ ounces.
⎝ 2⎠
Since
1
= 2–1:
2
t
t
⎛ 1⎞
⎛ 1⎞
–1 t
–t
–t
⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ = (2 ) = 2 and 1000 ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ = 1000 × 2 .
2
2
9. B. Since 9 is a solution of x2 – a = 0, then
81 – a = 0 ⇒ a = 81. Now solve the equation:
x4 – 81 = 0 ⇒ x4 = 81 ⇒ x2 = 9 ⇒ x = 3 or –3.
10. C. The mode is 8, since more people earn $8 an
hour than any other salary. Also, since there
are 16 employees, the median is the average
of the 8th and 9th items of data: $8 and $10,
so the median is 9. Finally, the average of 8
and 9 is 8.5.
11. E.
2
4
2W = 3 W + Y ⇒ Y = 3 W.
15. C. If the ring was originally priced at $100, it
was accidentally marked $40 instead of $160.
The incorrect price of $40 must be increased
by $120, which is 3 times, or 300% of, the
incorrect price.
16. B. John’s average speed is calculated by dividing
his total distance of 10 miles by the total time
he spent riding his bicycle. Each tick mark on
the horizontal axis of the graph represents 10
minutes. He left at 8:30 and arrived back
1
home 1 hours later, at 10:00. However, he
2
stopped for 10 minutes, from 9:20 to 9:30, so
he was riding for only 1 hour and 20 minutes,
4
4
3
1
or hours. Finally, 10 ÷ = 10 ×
= 7 .
3
3
4
2
17. D. Assume AB = 3 and BC = 5. The least that AC
can be is 2, if A is on line BC, between B and
C; and the most AC can be is 8, if A is on line
BC, so that B is between A and C. In fact, AC
can be any length between 2 and 8.
3
Since each of the choices is written in lowest
terms, a + b + c must be a factor of 180. This
is the case in choices A–D. Only choice E,
6:7:8, fails: 6 + 7 + 8 = 21, which is not a
divisor of 180.
A
3
If the ratio were a:b:c, then
180 = ax + bx + cx = (a + b + c)x.
2
B
A
C
5
B
C
A
4
3
B
5
C
Therefore the ratio AB:AC can be any number
between 3:2 (= 1.5) and 3:8 (= 0.375). In particular, it can be 1:2 (= 0.5) and 3:8. (I and III
are true.) It cannot be 1:3 (= 0.333). (II is
false.) Statements I and III only are true.
76 Diagnostic Test
18. D. Student D traveled 120 miles. Seven of the
students traveled less than 120 miles, and
seven traveled more than 120 miles. The
median is 120. If you draw a vertical line
through x = 120, seven of the points will be to
the left of it and seven to the right of it.
Since slope is the —
change in y over the change
in x, the slope of OA, for example, represents
the number of gallons used per mile driven by
student A. Since you want the student with the
highest number of miles per gallon, you want
the lowest number of gallons per mile; that is,
you want
slope. Draw
— the—smallest
— —
— in segments OA, OB, OC
,
OD
,
and
OE
, as shown
—
below. Clearly, OE has the smallest slope.
Gas Consumption (gallons)
19. E.
14
12
10
8
•
•
•
30
•
•
•
•
4
2
• C
•
A
6
O
20. E.
B •
D•
•
•
• E
•
60
90
120 150
Distance Traveled (miles)
180
To earn 10 points, Ellen needed to get 10 correct answers and then earn no more points on
the remaining q – 10 questions. To earn no
points on a set of questions, she had to miss
1
4 questions (thereby losing 4 × = 1 point)
4
for every 1 question she got right in that set.
1
She answered of the q – 10 questions
5
4
correctly (and of them incorrectly). The
5
total number of correct answers was
q − 10
q 10
q
10 +
= 10 + –
=8+ .
5
5
5
5
Alternative solution: Let c be the number of
questions Ellen answered correctly, and q – c
the number she missed. Then her raw score is
1
c – (q – c), which equals 10, so
4
4c – q + c = 40 ⇒ 5c – q = 40 ⇒ 5c = 40 + q
40 + q
q
⇒c=
=8+ .
5
5
Section 4 Writing Skills
1. B. Choice B eliminates the excessive wordiness
of the original sentence without introducing
any errors in diction.
2. A. As used in choice A, the semicolon separating
a pair of clauses is correct. Choices C–E introduce errors in parallel structure.
3. C. Error in agreement. Kind is singular and
requires a singular modifier (this).
4. D. Choice D corrects the error in diction (eminently, not imminently) and the error in parallel
structure.
5. A. The original answer provides the most effective and concise sentence.
6. A. The original sentence is correct. The singular
pronoun it refers to the subject of the main
clause, fate (singular).
7. D. Choices A, B, C, and E suffer from errors in
the sequence of tenses.
8. E. Error in parallelism. There is a lack of parallel
structure in the other four choices.
9. C. Errors in precision and clarity.
Choice A states the result of the program
rather than the goal.
Choice B results in a sentence fragment.
Choices D and E use the was where construction, which is unclear and should be avoided.
10. B. Dangling modifier. Ask yourself who revised
the dissertation. Clearly, she (the writer) did.
11. A. Sentence is correct. Unique means being without a like or equal. Avoid phrases like very
unique and more unique that imply there can
be degrees of uniqueness.
12. D. The reflexive pronoun myself cannot be used
as the object of the verb frightened. Change
myself to me.
13. C. Adjective and adverb confusion. Change his
many attempts bravely to enter to his many
brave attempts to enter.
14. B. Error in parallelism. Change not because of the
money to not because he needed the money (a
clause) to parallel the clause that follows but.
15. B. Error in diction. Change liable to likely.
16. C. Error in subject-verb agreement. Change is to
are.
17. B. Error in diction. Latter should not be used to
refer to more than two items. Change latter to
last.
18. B. Error in parallelism. Change to aid to aiding.
19. A. Adjective and adverb confusion. Change special prepared to specially prepared.
Answer Explanations 77
20. D. Error in tense. Change had been to were.
Choice E would be a good choice, but it contains a comma splice. A comma may not be
used to join two independent clauses.
21. C. Error in parallelism. Change under application
to being applied.
22. C. Faulty verbal. Change satisfying to the infinitive to satisfy.
23. E. Sentence is correct.
24. D. Error in pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Change they are to it is.
25. C. Error in subject-verb agreement. The
antecedent of who is one. Therefore, who is is
correct.
26. D. Error in parallelism. Change and leaving room
for to to leave room for.
27. D. Incomplete comparison. Compare stories with
stories, not stories with champion. The
sentence should read: “There are probably few
comeback stories as moving as that of cycling’s
stalwart champion, Lance Armstrong.”
28. A. Unidiomatic preposition. Replace ability for
winning with ability to win.
29. A. Error in coordination and subordination.
Remember: any sentence elements that are not
underlined are by definition correct. Here, the
coordinating conjunction but is not underlined.
Coordinating conjunctions connect sentence
elements that are grammatically equal. In this
case, but should connect the main clause
beginning “others restrict themselves” with
another main clause. However, while, a subordinating conjunction, introduces a subordinate
clause, not a main clause. To correct the error,
delete While and begin the sentence Some scientists are absorbed.
30. C. Choice A says that the house is in your car, an
unlikely situation.
Choice B contains an idea that the writer could
not have intended.
Choice C accurately states the intended idea. It
is the best answer.
Choice D, like choice B, contains an idea that
is quite absurd.
Choice E is wordy and awkwardly expressed.
31. B. All the sentences except sentence 2 contribute
to the development of the essay’s topic.
Therefore, Choice B is the best answer.
32. C. Choice A is awkwardly expressed.
Choice B is awkward and contains the pronoun
it, which has no specific antecedent.
Choice C is accurately expressed and is consistent with the sentences that precede and follow
sentence 8. It is the best answer.
Choice D is written in a style that is different
from that of the rest of the essay.
33. D. Choice A is quite formal and is not in keeping
with the style and tone of the essay.
Choice B is close to the style and tone of the
essay, but it contains the redundancy quickly
and rapidly.
Choice C has a formal tone inconsistent with
the rest of the essay.
Choice D uses the second-person pronoun and
is consistent with the folksy, conversational
style of the essay. It is the best answer.
Choice E uses an objective tone far different
from the writing in the rest of the essay.
34. B. Choice A is only partly true. While the paragraph gives another viewpoint, the data it contains are hardly objective.
Choice B accurately states the writer’s intention. It is the best answer.
Choices C, D, and E in no way describe the
function of paragraph 3.
35. C. Choice A provides no particular link to the
preceding paragraph.
Choice B provides a rather weak transition
between paragraphs.
Choice C creates a strong bond between paragraphs by alluding to material in paragraph 3
and introducing the topic of paragraph 4. It is
the best answer.
Choice D could be a good transition were it
not for the error in subject-verb agreement.
The subject sounds is plural; the verb tells is
singular.
Choice E provides a weak transition and its
writing style is not consistent with the rest of
the essay.
Section 6 Critical Reading
1. E.
Tiffany’s works of art have survived in spite
of their fragility (tendency to break).
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The use of
“despite” in the opening phrase sets up a contrast. Despite signals you that Tiffany’s glass
works were unlikely candidates to survive for
several decades.
(Contrast Signal)
2. C. A comprehensive or thorough study would not
be missing relevant or important material.
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The use of
“but” in the second clause sets up a contrast.
(Contrast Signal)
3. B. Pain is a sensation. Losing the ability to feel
pain would leave the body vulnerable,
78 Diagnostic Test
defenseless, lacking its usual warnings against
impending bodily harm.
Note how the second clause serves to clarify
or explain what is meant by pain’s being an
“early warning system.”
(Definition)
4. B. A lugubrious (exaggeratedly gloomy) manner
may create laughter because it is so inappropriate in the hilarity (noisy gaiety) of the circus. The clown’s success stems from a contrast. The missing words must be antonyms or
near-antonyms. You can immediately eliminate choices C, D, and E as nonantonym pairs.
In addition, you can eliminate choice A; sobriety or seriousness is an inappropriate term for
describing circus life.
(Contrast Pattern)
5. C. If she was deprecatory about her accomplishments (diminished them or saw nothing
praiseworthy in them), she would be unwilling
to boast about them or flaunt them. Note the
use of “properly” to describe her unwillingness to do something. This suggests that the
second missing word would have negative
associations.
(Definition)
6. C. The author refers to Douglas in order to introduce Douglas’s metaphoric description of the
Everglades as the River of Grass.
7. D. Enduring value is value that lasts. The lasting
value of the Everglades is that it provides a
habitat for endangered species.
8. B. The author’s parenthetic remark serves to provide background on the reasons for the scientific and governmental concern about the dangers of phosphorus runoff.
9. C. The author of Passage 1 is wholly concerned
with the threat to the Everglades’ fragile
ecosystem. The environment is what is important to her. She mentions agricultural needs
only in terms of how they have affected the
River of Grass. Given her perspective, she
would most likely view the author of Passage
2 as someone inclined to overestimate the
importance of the sugar industry.
10. B. The author describes himself as “jarred and
shocked” (lines 4 and 5). He asks himself,
“What strange world was this?” His initial
reaction to Mencken’s prose is one of
disbelief.
Choice A is incorrect. Mencken rages; the narrator does not.
Choice C is incorrect. It is unsupported by the
passage.
Choices D and E are incorrect. Again, these
terms apply to Mencken, not to the narrator.
11. D. The narrator does not portray Mencken as reverent or respectful of religious belief. Instead,
he says that Mencken mocks God.
Choice A is incorrect. The narrator portrays
Mencken as intrepid (brave); he wonders where
Mencken gets his courage.
Choice B is incorrect. The narrator portrays
Mencken as articulate (verbally expressive); he
says Mencken writes clear, clean sentences.
Choice C is incorrect. The narrator portrays
Mencken as satiric (mocking); he says
Mencken makes fun of people’s weaknesses.
Choice E is incorrect. The narrator portrays
Mencken as opinionated (stubborn about his
opinions; prejudiced). Mencken’s book, after
all, is A Book of Prejudices.
Remember: when asked about specific information in the passage, spot key words in the
question and scan the passage to find them (or
their synonyms).
12. D. The mood of the book colored or affected the
narrator’s perceptions.
Remember: when answering a vocabularyin-context question, test each answer choice,
substituting it in the sentence for the word in
quotes.
13. C. The narrator feels a hunger for books that
surges up in him. In other words, he is filled
with impatient ardor or eagerness.
Choice A is incorrect. The narrator has
his dreams, but he is involved rather than
indifferent.
Choices B and D are incorrect. There is nothing in the lines to suggest them.
Choice E is incorrect. The narrator is determined, but his resolve is active and eager
rather than quiet.
Remember: when asked to determine the
author’s attitude or tone, look for words that
convey emotion or paint pictures.
14. C. The narrator is able to identify Mr. Gerald as an
American type. He feels closer to Mr. Gerald,
familiar with the limits of his life. This suggests
that he smiles out of a sense of recognition.
Choices A, B, D, and E are incorrect. There is
nothing in the passage to suggest them.
Remember: when asked to make inferences,
base your answers on what the passage
implies, not what it states directly.
15. E.
Phrases like “of feeling something new, of
being affected by something that made the
look of the world different” and “filled with
bookish notions” reflect the narrator’s
response to the new books he reads. You have
Answer Explanations 79
here a portrait of a youth’s response to his
expanding intellectual horizons.
Choice A is incorrect. The narrator is not
arguing in favor of a cause; he is recounting
an episode from his life.
Choice B is incorrect. The narrator was aware
of racial prejudice long before he read
Mencken.
Choice C is incorrect. The passage is not
about Mencken’s and Lewis’s styles; it is
about their effect in opening up the world to
the narrator.
Choice D is incorrect. The passage is more
about the impact of art on life than about the
impact of life on art.
Remember: when asked to find the main idea,
be sure to check the opening and summary
sentences of each paragraph.
16. D. The terrible robbers in the pond world are the
cruel creatures that, in the course of the struggle to exist, devour their fellows.
17. D. Here, “catch” is used as in fishing: “a good
catch of fish.” Suppose you want to collect a
sample of pond-dwellers. You lower a jar into
the nearest pond and capture a random batch
of creatures swimming by—fish, tadpoles,
full-grown insects, larvae—in other words, a
“mixed catch.”
18. B. The opening paragraph states that the introduction of the Dytiscus larvae to the aquarium
will result in a struggle for existence in which
the larvae will destroy their prey. The larvae,
thus, are predators (hunters of prey). This suggests that their presence would be of particular
interest to naturalists studying predatory patterns at work within a closed environment
such as an aquarium.
19. C. The author is describing how the Dytiscus larva
looks: slim body, six legs, flat head, huge jaws.
Choice A is incorrect. All the details indicate
the author is describing the killer, not the
victim.
20. D. Though the passage mentions amphibians—
tadpoles—and food, it states that the tadpoles
provide food for the larvae, not vice versa. The
passage nowhere states that the larvae are a
source of food for amphibians.
Choice A is incorrect. The passage states that
the larvae secrete digestive juices; it mentions
secretion in line 33.
Choice B is incorrect. The passage states that
the larvae attack one another; they seize and
devour their own breed (lines 53–63).
Choice C is incorrect. The passage states that
the larvae are attracted to motion; prey for
them “is all that moves.”
Choice E is incorrect. The passage states that
the larvae have ravenous appetites: their
“voracity” is unique.
Remember: when asked about specific information in the passage, spot key words in the
question and scan the passage to find them (or
their synonyms).
21. E.
Digesting “out of doors” refers to the larva’s
external conversion of food into absorbable
form. Look at the sentence immediately
following line 33. Break down the process step
by step. The larva injects a secretion into the
victim. The secretion dissolves the victim’s
“entire inside.” That is the start of the digestive
process. It takes place inside the victim’s body;
in other words, outside the larva’s body—“out
of doors.” Only then does the larva begin to
suck up the dissolved juices of his prey.
22. D. Choice D is correct. You can arrive at it by
the process of elimination. Statement I is true.
The inside of the victim “becomes opaque”
(line 42); it increases in opacity. Therefore,
you can eliminate choices B, C, and E.
Statement II is also true. As the victim is
drained, its body shrivels or “shrinks to a limp
bundle of skin.” Therefore, you can eliminate
choice A. Statement III has to be untrue. The
victim’s head must stay on; otherwise, the dissolving interior would leak out. Only choice D
is left. It is the correct answer.
23. D. The author mentions rats because a rat will
attack and devour other rats. He is sure
rodents do this; he’s not sure any other animals do so. Thus, he mentions rats and related
rodents to point up an uncommon characteristic also found in Dytiscus larvae.
24. A. In lines 61 and 62 the author mentions some
“observations of which I shall speak later.”
These observations deal with whether wolves
try to devour other wolves. Thus, the author
clearly intends to discuss the likelihood of
cannibalism among wolves.
In answering questions about what may be
discussed in subsequent sections of the text,
pay particular attention to words that are similar in meaning to subsequent: following, succeeding, successive, later.
Section 7 Mathematical Reasoning
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. D. 3|x| + 2 < 17 ⇒ 3|x| < 15 ⇒ |x| < 5. There are
9 integers whose absolute values are less than 5:
–4, –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.
80 Diagnostic Test
2. E.
Set up a proportion:
1 meter
k kilometers 1000 k meters
=
=
=
1 second
1 hour
60 minutes
1000 k meters 10 k meters
=
3600 seconds 36 seconds
Cross-multiplying the first and last ratios, you
get 10k = 36, and so k = 3.6.
3. C.
f ( −8) = ( −8)2 + 3 −8 = 64 + ( −2 ) = 62
4. D. Pick easy-to-use numbers. Assume that, in
1994, 200 boys and 100 girls earned varsity
letters. Then, in 2004, there were 150 boys
and 125 girls. The ratio of girls to boys was
125:150 = 5:6 or 5 .
6
5. C. The days of the week form a repeating
sequence with 7 terms in the set that repeats.
The nth term is the same as the rth term,
where r is the remainder when n is divided
by 7. [See KEY FACT P2.]
500 ÷ 7 = 71.428… ⇒ the quotient is 71.
71 × 7 = 497 and 500 – 497 = 3 ⇒
the remainder is 3.
Therefore, 500 days from Saturday will be the
same day as 3 days from Saturday, namely
Tuesday.
6. C. The area of rectangle ABCD = (4)(6) = 24.
1
The area of right triangle DAB = (4)(6) = 12,
2
1
and the area of right triangle ECF = (2)(2) = 2.
2
Therefore, the area of quadrilateral
BDEF = 24 – 12 – 2 = 10. Then the shaded
10
5
area is
the area of the rectangle, and
=
24 12
5
so the required probability is
.
12
7. B. The easiest observation is that, if adding a
fourth number, d, to a set doesn’t change the
average, then d is equal to the existing average. If you don’t realize that, solve for d:
a+b+c+d a+b+c
=
⇒
4
3
3a +3b + 3c + 3d = 4a + 4b + 4c ⇒
a+b+c
3d = a + b + c ⇒ d =
.
3
8. A. If Meri earned a grade of A, she missed
(100 – A) points. In adjusting the grades, the
teacher decided to deduct only half that number:
100 − A , so Meri’s new grade was
2
(
)
100 – 100 − A = 100 – 50 + A = 50 + A .
2
2
2
Grid-in Questions
9. (152) Normally, to get 60 pencils you would
need to buy 20 sets of three at 25 cents per
set, a total expenditure of 20 × 25 = 500 cents.
On sale, you could get 60 pencils by buying
12 sets of five at 29 cents per set, for a total
cost of 12 × 29 = 348 cents. This is a savings
of 500 – 348 = 152 cents.
13
)
6
It is given that:
1 < 3x – 5 < 2
Add 5 to each expression:
6 < 3x < 7
7
Divide each expression by 3: 2 < x <
3
Grid in any decimal number or fraction
between 2 and 2.33: 2.1, for example, or
13
12
, which is the average of 2 =
6
6
7 14
and =
.
6
3
10. (any decimal between 2.01 and 2.33 or
11. (8100)
x < 10,000 ⇒
x < 10, 000 = 100 ⇒
x 100
<
= 20
5
5
x
must be an even integer, the
5
x
greatest possible value of
is 18:
5
x
x = 90 ⇒ x = 8100.
= 18 ⇒
5
Since
12. (202) After 33 repetitions of the pattern—red,
white, white, blue, blue, blue—there will be
6 × 33 = 198 marbles in the box, of which 99
will be blue. When these are followed by 4
more marbles (1 red, 2 whites, and 1 blue),
there will be 100 blue marbles, and a total of
198 + 4 = 202 marbles in all.
Answer Explanations 81
13. (28) Whether or not you can visualize (or draw)
the second (large) square, you can calculate its
area. The area of each of the four triangles is
1
(3)(4) = 6, for a total of 24, and the area of
2
the 5 × 5 square is 25. Then, the area of the
large square is 24 + 25 = 49. Each side of the
square is 7, and the perimeter is 28.
4
3
3
4
5
5
5
4
5
4
3
⎛ 1⎞
14. ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 32 ⎠
⎛ 1⎞
15. ⎝ ⎠
8
3
1
1
1
1
–
= 4 – 5 =
2 3+1 2 4+1
2
2
1
1
1
–
= .
16 32
32
⟨⟨3⟩⟩ – ⟨⟨4⟩⟩ =
1
1
1
1
:
= a+ 4 : a+1 =
2 ( a+3)+1 2 a+1
2
2
1
1
2 a+1
1
1
÷ a+1 = a+ 4 ×
= 3 = .
2
2
1
2
8
⟨⟨a + 3⟩⟩:⟨⟨a⟩⟩ =
1
2 a+ 4
16. (19) There are at most 14 blank cards, so at least
86 of the 100 cards have one or both of the
letters A and C on them. If x is the number of
cards with both letters on them, then
9π, and π. The sum of the areas of the white
circles is 10π, the shaded region is
6π
3
16π – 10π = 6π, and
= .
16 π 8
Section 8 Critical Reading
1. A. Voles are similar to mice; however, they are
also different from them, and so may be distinguished from them.
Note how the use of “although” in the opening
phrase sets up the basic contrast here.
(Contrast Signal)
2. C. Because Dr. Drew’s method proved effective,
it became a model for other systems.
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The
“so...that” structure signals cause and effect.
(Cause and Effect Signal)
3. B. The fact that the languages of the
Mediterranean area were markedly (strikingly)
alike eased or facilitated the movement of
people and ideas from country to country.
Note how the specific examples in the second
part of the sentence clarify the idea stated in
the first part.
(Examples)
4. E.
75 + 30 – x ≤ 86 ⇒ x ≤ 105 – 86 = 19.
Feeling that a job has no point might well lead
a person to perform it in a perfunctory (indifferent or mechanical) manner.
Remember: watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. “Because”
in the opening clause is a cause signal.
(Cause and Effect Signal)
This is illustrated in the Venn diagram below.
A
C
56
19
11
14
17. (8190) There are 26 × 26 × 9 = 6084 PIC’s with
two letters and one digit, and there are
26 × 9 × 9 = 2106 PIC’s with one letter and
two digits, for a total of 6084 + 2106 = 8190.
3
18. ⎛ or .375⎞ If the diameter of the small white
⎝8
⎠
circle is d, then the diameter of the large
white circle is 3d, and the diameter of the
largest circle is d + 3d = 4d. Then the ratio of
the diameters, and hence of the radii, of the
three circles is 4:3:1. Assume the radii are 4,
3, and 1. Then the areas of the circles are 16π,
5. B. Nelson remained calm; he was in control in
spite of the panic of battle. In other words, he
was imperturbable, not capable of being agitated or perturbed.
Note how the phrase “in spite of ” signals the
contrast between the subject’s calm and the
surrounding panic.
(Contrast Signal)
6. E.
Despite his hard work trying to solve the problem, the solution was not the result or outcome of his labor. Instead, it was fortuitous or
accidental.
Remember to watch for signal words that link
one part of the sentence to another. The use of
the “was...and not...” structure sets up a contrast. The missing words must be antonyms or
near-antonyms.
(Contrast Pattern)
7. E.
The italicized introduction states that the
author has had his manuscript rejected by his
publisher. He is consigning or committing it to
a desk drawer to set it aside as unmarketable.
82 Diagnostic Test
8. B. The rejected author identifies with these baseball players, who constantly must face “failure.” He sees he is not alone in having to confront failure and move on.
9. B. The author uses the jogger’s comment to make
a point about the mental impact Henderson’s
home run must have had on Moore. He reasons
that, if each step a runner takes sends so many
complex messages to the brain, then Henderson’s ninth-inning home run must have flooded Moore’s brain with messages, impressing
its image indelibly in Moore’s mind.
10. D. The author is talking of the impact of
Henderson’s home run on Moore. Registering
in Moore’s mind, the home run made an
impression on him.
11. C. The author looks on himself as someone who
“to succeed at all...must perform at an extraordinary level of excellence.” This level of
achievement, he maintains, is not demanded of
accountants, plumbers, and insurance salesmen,
and he seems to pride himself on belonging to a
profession that requires excellence. Thus, his
attitude to members of less demanding professions can best be described as superior.
12. A. The description of the writer defying his pain
and extending himself irrationally to create a
“masterpiece” despite the rejections of critics
and publishers is a highly romantic one that
elevates the writer as someone heroic in his or
her accomplishments.
13. C. The author of Passage 2 discusses the advantages of his ability to concentrate. Clearly, he
prizes his ability to focus on the task at hand.
14. B. When one football team is ahead of another by
several touchdowns and there seems to be no
way for the second team to catch up, the outcome of the game appears decided or settled.
15. E.
The “larger point of view” focuses on what to
most people is the big question: the outcome
of the game. The author is indifferent to this
larger point of view. Concentrating on his own
performance, he is more concerned with the
task at hand than with winning or losing the
game.
16. C. Parade ground drill clearly does not entirely
prepare a soldier for the reality of war. It does
so only “to an extent.” By using this phrase,
the author qualifies his statement, making it
less absolute.
17. C. One would expect someone who dismisses or
rejects most comparisons of athletics to art to
avoid making such comparisons. The author,
however, is making such a comparison. This
reversal of what would have been expected is
an instance of irony.
18. C. To learn to overcome failure, to learn to give
one’s all in performance, to learn to focus on
the work of the moment, to learn to have “the
selfish intensity” that can block out the rest of
the world—these are hard lessons that both
athletes and artists learn.
19. D. Throughout Passage 2, the author stresses the
advantages and the power of concentration.
He believes that a person who focuses on the
job at hand, rather than dwelling on past failures, will continue to function successfully.
Thus, this author is not particularly swayed by
the Passage 1 author’s contention that a failure
such as giving up a key home run can destroy
an athlete.
Section 9 Mathematical Reasoning
1. C. Replacing y by 2x in the equation x + y + 30 =
180, you get
x + 2x + 30 = 180 ⇒ 3x = 150 ⇒
x = 50 ⇒ y = 2x = 100.
2. C. The temperature rose 8 – (–7) = 8 + 7 = 15° in
1.5 hours. The average hourly increase was
15° ÷ 1.5 = 10°.
3. D. The expression n2 – 30 is negative whenever
n2 < 30. This is true for all integers between
–5 and 5 inclusive, 11 in all.
4. D. The only thing to do is to test each set of values to see which ones work and which one
doesn’t. In this case, choice D, a = 3 and
b = –4, does not work:
2(3)2 + 3(–4) = 18 – 12 = 6, not 5.
The other choices all work.
5. A. The slope of the line, 艎, that passes through
3− 2
1
(–2, 2) and (3, 3) is
= . The slope
3 − ( −2 ) 5
1
of any line perpendicular to 艎 is − 1 = –5.
5
6. C. For some number x, the measures of the
angles are x, 2x, and 3x; so
180 = x + 2x + 3x = 6x ⇒ x = 30.
Therefore, the triangle is a 30-60-90 triangle,
and the ratio of the sides is 1: 3 :2.
7. D. By definition, a googol is equal to 10100.
Therefore, g2 = 10100 × 10100 = 10200, which,
when it is written out, is the digit 1 followed by
200 zeros, creating an integer with 201 digits.
Answer Explanations 83
8. E.
Then
The graph of y = f(x – 3) is the graph of
y = f(x) shifted 3 units to the right, as shown
in choice D. The graph of y = –f(x – 3) reflects
choice D in the x-axis, resulting in graph E.
5 20
⇒ 5z = 80 ⇒ z = 16,
=
4
z
and so
C
9. A. Since C = 2πr, then r =
, and
2π
x + z = 2 + 16 = 18.
15. E.
2
area of circle = πr2 = π ⎛ C ⎞ =
⎝ 2π ⎠
⎛ C2 ⎞
C2
.
π⎜ 2⎟ =
⎝ 4π ⎠
4π
1
2
10. B.
1
1
⎛ 12 13
⎞
5
4
⎜⎝ 4 ⋅ 8 ⋅ 16 ⋅ 32 ⎟⎠ =
( 4 ⋅ 8 ⋅ 16 ⋅ 32 ) =
3
4
5
330 360 390
+
+
= 329 + 359 + 389.
3
3
3
1
2
16. D.
1
2
1
2
= ( 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ) = 16 = 16 = 4
11. C.
10
a
x − 15 − 5 = 2 ⇒ x − 15 = 7 ⇒ x − 15 = 49
b
⇒ x = 64 ⇒ x = 64 = 8 .
12. E.
To find the average of three numbers, divide
330 + 360 + 390
their sum by 3:
. To simplify
3
this fraction, divide each term in the
numerator by 3:
By the Pythagorean theorem,
a2 + b2 = 102 = 100;
Joanna needed to drive the m miles in
1
d
h + hours. Since r = , to find her rate, you
2
t
1⎞
⎛
divide the distance, m, by the time, ⎝ h + ⎠ :
2
m
2m
=
.
1 2h + 1
h+
2
13. A. In the figure below, the area of 䉭ABC is
1
(4)(5) = 10. Then the area of the shaded
2
region is 10 minus the areas of the small white
square and triangle: 10 – 4 – 2 = 4.
and since the area is 20,
1
ab = 20 ⇒ ab = 40, and 2ab = 80.
2
Expand:
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a2 + b2) + 2ab.
Then
(a2 + b2) + 2ab = 100 + 80 = 180.
Section 10
Writing Skills
1. D. Error in logical comparison. Compare voices
with voices, not voices with singers.
A
5
4
2
B
C
4
2. C. Run-on sentence. Choice C corrects the error
by turning the initial clause (“The … blackboard”) into a participial phrase (“After …
blackboard”) and changing the subject of the
main clause from he to the mathematics
teacher.
3. C. Error in usage. Do not use when after is in
making a definition.
14. D. Since y varies inversely with x, there is a
constant k such that xy = k. Then
k = (4)(10) = 40, and 40 = x(20) ⇒ x = 2.
Also, since y varies directly with z, there is a
y
10 5
constant m such that = m, so m =
= .
z
8 4
4. D. Shift in number. The subject, students, is plural; the subject complement should be plural as
well. Change tumbler to tumblers.
5. E.
Lack of parallelism. The “both … and” construction provides parallel structure.
84 Diagnostic Test
6. B. Wordiness. Choice B makes the writer’s point
simply and concisely.
10. A. Sentence is correct.
11. A. Sentence is correct.
7. C. Error in logical comparison. Compare audiences with audiences, not with theaters.
8. D. Dangling participle. Ask yourself who is
observing the preschoolers’ interactions.
9. E.
Error in subject-verb agreement. In a “neither
… nor” construction, if one subject is singular
and the other is plural, the verb agrees with
the nearer subject. Here, the subject nearer to
the verb is islands (plural). The verb should be
plural as well. Change was prepared to were
prepared.
12. E.
Lack of parallelism. Choice E has parallel
structure.
13. C. Error in subject-verb agreement. The subject,
demand, is singular; the verb should be singular as well. Change are to is.
14. D. Sentence fragment. Choice D economically
corrects the fragment.
PART THREE
Tactics, Strategies,
Practice: Critical Reading
■ Chapter 4: The Sentence Completion Question
■ Chapter 5: The Critical Reading Question
■ Chapter 6: Build Your Vocabulary
4
The Sentence
Completion
Question
■
■
■
■
Testing Tactics
Long-Range Strategies
Practice Exercises
Answer Key
All three critical reading sections start with “fill-in-the-blank”
sentence completion questions. Consider them warm-up
exercises: to answer them correctly, you’ll have to use both
your reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. You will
then be prepared for the critical reading portions of the test.
The sentence completion questions ask you to choose the
best way to complete a sentence from which one or two
words have been omitted. The sentences deal with the
sorts of topics you’ve probably encountered in your general
reading: ballet, banking, tarantulas, thunderstorms, paintings, plagues. However, this is not a test of your general
knowledge, although you may feel more comfortable if you
are familiar with the topic the sentence is discussing. If
you’re unfamiliar with the topic, don’t worry about it. You
should be able to answer any of the questions using what
you know about how the English language works.
Here is a set of directions for the sentence completion questions that has appeared on actual SAT exams for several
years. From time to time the SAT-makers come up with different sentences as examples. However, the basic directions
vary hardly at all. Master them now. Don’t waste your test
time re-reading familiar directions. Spend that time answering additional questions. That’s the way to boost your score!
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each
blank indicating that something has been omitted.
Beneath the sentence are five lettered words or sets of
words. Choose the word or set of words that best fits
the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Medieval kingdoms did not become constitutional
republics overnight; on the contrary, the change was
----.
(A) unpopular (B) unexpected (C) advantageous
(D) sufficient (E) gradual
The phrase on the contrary is your key to the correct
answer. It is what we call a signal word: it signals a contrast. On the contrary sets up a contrast between a hypothetical change—the change you might have assumed
took place—and the actual change. Did medieval kingdoms
turn into republics overnight ? No, they did not. Instead of
happening overnight, the actual change took time: it was
gradual. The correct answer is Choice E, gradual.
Now that you know what to expect on sentence completion
questions, work through the following tactics and learn to
spot the signals that will help you fill in the blanks. Then do
the practice exercises at the end of the chapter.
87
88 The Sentence Completion Question
Testing Tactics
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1
First, Read the Sentence Carefully to
Get a Feel for Its Meaning.
Have you ever put together a jigsaw puzzle and wound up
missing one final piece? There you are, staring at the
almost complete picture. You know the shape of the missing piece. You can see where it fits. You know what its coloration must be. You know, because you’ve looked hard at
the incomplete picture, and you’ve got a sense of what’s
needed to make it whole.
tic
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2
Before You Look at the Choices, Think
of a Word That Makes Sense.
Your problem here is to find a word that best completes the
sentence’s thought. Before you look at the answer choices,
try to come up with a word that makes logical sense in this
context. Then look at all five choices supplied by the SATmakers. If the word you thought of is one of your five
choices, select it as your answer. If the word you thought
of is not one of your five choices, look for a synonym of
that word.
See how the process works in dealing with the following
sentence.
The psychologist set up the experiment to test the rat’s
-----; he wished to see how well the rat adjusted to the
changing conditions it had to face.
tic
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3
That’s the position you’re in when you’re working with sentence completion questions. You have to look hard at that
incomplete sentence, to read it carefully to get a sense of
its drift. Once you’ve got a feel for the big picture, you’ll be
ready to come up with an answer choice that fits.
Note how the part of the sentence following the semi-colon
(the second clause, in technical terms) is being used to
define or clarify what the psychologist is trying to test. He is
trying to see how well the rat adjusts. What words does this
suggest to you? Flexibility, possibly, or adaptability. Either
of these words could complete the sentence’s thought.
Here are the five answer choices given.
(A) reflexes (B) communicability (C) stamina
(D) sociability (E) adaptability
The answer clearly is adaptability, Choice E.
Look at All the Possible Answers
Before You Make Your Final Choice.
You are looking for the word that best fits the meaning of
the sentence as a whole. Don’t be hasty in picking an
answer. Test each answer choice, substituting it for the
missing word. That way you can satisfy yourself that you
have come up with the answer that best fits.
Follow this tactic as you work through the following
question.
Physical laws do not, of course, in themselves force
bodies to behave in a certain way, but merely ---how, as a matter of fact, they do behave.
(A) determine (B) preclude (C) counteract
(D) describe (E) commend
When you looked at the answer choices, did you find that
one seemed to leap right off the page? Specifically, did
Choice A, determine, catch your eye?
A hasty reader might easily focus on Choice A, but in this
sentence determine doesn’t really work. However, there are
reasons for its appeal.
Determine often appears in a scientific context. It’s a word
you may have come across in class discussions of experiments: “By flying a kite during a lightning storm, Ben
Franklin tried to determine (find out; discover) just how
lightning worked.”
Here, determine is an eye-catcher, an answer choice set up
to tempt the unwary into guessing wrong. Eye-catchers are
Testing Tactics 89
words that somehow come to mind after reading the statement. They’re related in a way; they feel as if they belong in
the statement, as if they’re dealing with the same field.
Because you have seen determine previously in a scientific
context, you may want to select it as your answer without
thinking the sentence through. However, you must take
time to think it through, to figure out what it is about. Here
it’s about physical laws (the law of gravity, for example). It
says physical laws don’t force bodies to act in a specific
tic
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4
way. (The law of gravity didn’t make the apple fall on Isaac
Newton’s head; the force of gravity did.)
The sentence goes on to clarify what physical laws actually
do. What do they do? Do physical laws make discoveries
about how bodies behave? No. People make discoveries
about how bodies behave. Then people write down physical
laws to describe what they have discovered. The correct
answer to this question is Choice D, describe. Be suspicious of answer choices that come too easily.
Watch Out for Negative Words
and Prefixes.
No, not, none; non-, un-, in-. These negative words and
word parts are killers, especially in combination.
The damage to the car was insignificant.
(“Don’t worry about it—it’s just a scratch.”)
The damage to the car was not insignificant.
(“Oh, no, Bart! We totaled Mom’s car!”)
Watch out for not: it’s easy to overlook, but it’s a key word,
as the following sentence clearly illustrates.
What would happen if you overlooked not in this question?
Probably you’d wind up choosing Choice A: Madison was a
reticent (quiet; reserved) man. For this reason he made few
public addresses.
Unfortunately, you’d have gotten things backward. The sentence isn’t telling you what Madison was like. It’s telling you
what he was not like. And he was not a communicative person; he didn’t express himself freely. However, when he did
get around to expressing himself, he had valuable things to
say. Choice E is the correct answer.
Madison was not ---- person and thus made few public addresses; but those he made were memorable,
filled with noble phrases.
(A) a reticent (B) a stately (C) an inspiring
(D) an introspective (E) a communicative
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5
Use Your Knowledge of Context Clues
to Get at the Meanings of Unfamiliar
Words.
If a word used in a sentence is unfamiliar, or if an answer
choice is unknown to you, look at its context in the sentence to see whether the context provides a clue to the
meaning of the word. Often authors will use an unfamiliar
word and then immediately define it within the same
sentence.
The ---- of Queen Elizabeth I impressed her contemporaries: she seemed to know what dignitaries and
foreign leaders were thinking.
(A) symbiosis (B) malevolence (C) punctiliousness
(D) consternation (E) perspicacity
Looking at the five answer choices, you may feel
unequipped to try to tackle the sentence at all. However,
the clause that immediately follows the colon (“she seemed
to know what…leaders were thinking”) is there to explain
and clarify that missing word. The two groups of words are
juxtaposed—set beside one another—to make their
relationship clear. The missing word has something to do
with the queen’s ability to see through those foreign leaders
and practically read their thoughts.
Now that you know the missing word’s general meaning, go
through the answer choices to see which one makes sense.
Symbiosis means living together cooperatively or intimately
(as in “a symbiotic relationship”). It has nothing to do with
being insightful or astute; you can eliminate Choice A.
Malevolence means ill-will. The queen’s ability shows her
perceptiveness, not her ill-will; you can eliminate Choice B.
Punctiliousness means carefulness about observing all the
proper formalities; you can eliminate Choice C.
Consternation means amazement or alarm. Elizabeth was
clear-sighted, not confused or amazed; you can eliminate
Choice D. Only Choice E is left, perspicacity. Elizabeth’s
ability to know the thoughts of foreign leaders demonstrates
her acute mental vision or discernment, in other words, her
perspicacity. The correct answer is Choice E.
90 The Sentence Completion Question
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6
Break Down Unfamiliar Words Into
Recognizable Parts.
If you’re having vocabulary trouble, look for familiar parts—
prefixes, suffixes, and roots—in unfamiliar words.
Note that your knowledge of word parts could have helped
you answer the previous question. Suppose you had been
able to eliminate two of the answer choices and were trying
to decide among three unfamiliar words, symbiosis, punctiliousness, and perspicacity. By using what you know about
word parts, you still could have come up with the correct
answer. Take a good look at perspicacity. Do you know any
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Watch for Signal Words That Link One
Part of the Sentence to Another.
Writers use transitions to link their ideas logically. These
transitions or signal words are clues that can help you figure out what the sentence actually means.
Contrast Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate a contrast between
one idea and another. In such cases an antonym or nearantonym for another word in the sentence should be the
correct answer.
Signal Words
although
but
despite
even though
however
other words that begin with the letters per-? What about pervade, to spread through? The prefix per- means thoroughly
or through. Next look at the letters spic. What other words
contain those letters? Take despicable, for example, or conspicuous. A despicable person deserves to be looked down
on. A conspicuous object is noticeable; it must be looked at.
The root spic means to look at or see. Queen Elizabeth I
had the ability to see through surfaces and perceive people’s
inner thoughts. In a word, she had perspicacity.
in contrast
in spite of
instead of
nevertheless
on the contrary
on the other hand
rather than
still
yet
See how a contrast signal works in the following easy
question.
In sharp contrast to the previous night’s revelry, the
wedding was ---- affair.
(A) a fervent (B) a dignified (C) a chaotic
(D) an ingenious (E) a jubilant
In sharp contrast signals you explicitly to look for an
antonym or near-antonym of another word or idea in the
sentence. The wedding, it suggests, is different in character
from the party the night before. What was that party like? It
was revelry : wild, noisy, even drunken partying. The wedding, therefore, was not wild and noisy. Instead, it was calm
and formal; it was dignified (stately, decorous). The correct
answer is Choice B, dignified.
Support Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate that the omitted portion of the sentence supports or continues a thought developed elsewhere in the sentence. In such cases, a synonym
or near-synonym for another word in the sentence should
be the correct answer.
Signal Words
additionally
also
and
besides
furthermore
in addition
likewise
moreover
See how and works as a support signal in the following
question.
During the Middle Ages, plague and other ---- decimated the populations of entire towns.
(A) pestilences (B) immunizations (C) proclivities
(D) indispositions (E) demises
The presence of and linking two items in a series indicates
that the missing word may be a synonym or near-synonym
for the other linked word. In this case, pestilences are, like the
plague, deadly epidemic diseases: the medieval Black Plague
was one type of pestilence. The correct answer is Choice A.
Note, by the way, that the missing word, like plague, must be
a word with extremely negative associations. Therefore, you
can eliminate any word with positive or neutral ones. You can
even eliminate words with mildly negative connotations.
Immunizations (processes giving the ability to resist a disease) have positive effects: you may dislike your flu shot, but
you prefer it to coming down with the flu. You can eliminate
Choice B. Proclivities (natural tendencies), in themselves, are
neutral (you can have a proclivity for championing the rights
of underdogs, or a proclivity for neatness, or a proclivity for
violence); they are not by definition inevitably negative.
Therefore, you can eliminate Choice C. Similarly, while indispositions (slight illnesses; minor unwillingness) are negative,
they are only mildly so. You can eliminate Choice D. Choice
E, demises (deaths) also fails to work in this context. Thus,
you are left with the correct answer, Choice A.
Testing Tactics 91
Cause and Effect Signals
Look for words or phrases that indicate that one thing
causes another.
Signal Words
accordingly
because
consequently
for
hence
in order to
so...that
therefore
thus
when...then
See how a cause and effect signal works in the next
question.
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Words That Signal the Unexpected
abnormal
ironic
anomalous
odd
curious (odd)
paradoxical
illogical
surprising
incongruous
unexpected
See how such a word works in the following question.
The historian noted irony in the fact that developments considered ---- by people of that era are now
viewed as having been ----.
(A) inspirational…impetuous
(B) bizarre…irrational
(C) intuitive…uncertain
(D) actual…grandiose
(E) improbable…inevitable
9
For sets up a relationship of cause and effect. Why does
the tarantula ignore the loudly chirping cricket? Because, it
seems, the tarantula does not hear the cricket’s chirps.
Apparently, it has little sense of hearing. The correct
answer is Choice C.
Look for Words That Signal the
Unexpected.
Some words indicate that something unexpected, possibly
even unwanted, exists or has occurred. These words signal
a built-in contrast.
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Tarantulas apparently have little sense of ----, for a
hungry one will ignore a loudly chirping cricket placed
in its cage unless the cricket happens to get in its way.
(A) touch (B) time (C) hearing
(D) self-preservation (E) temperature
Before you consider the answer choices, think through the
sentence. Remember, something unexpected has taken
place. People of some earlier period had one idea of certain
developments during that time. With hindsight, however,
people today view them in an unexpected, different light.
The two views actually contradict each other.
Only one answer choice presents such a mutually contradictory pair of words, Choice E. People in days gone by
looked on certain developments as improbable, unlikely.
Today we view these very developments as inevitable,
inescapable. To a historian, such a mismatch in opinions is
ironic.
In Double-Blank Sentences, Go Through the Answers,
Testing the First Word in Each Choice
(and Eliminating Those That Don’t Fit).
In a sentence completion question with two blanks, read
through the entire sentence. Then insert the first word of
each answer pair in the sentence’s first blank. Ask yourself
whether this particular word makes sense in this blank. If
the initial word of an answer pair makes no sense in the
sentence, you can eliminate that answer pair.
The author portrays research psychologists not as disruptive ---- in the field of psychotherapy, but as effective ---- working ultimately toward the same ends as
the psychotherapists.
(A) proponents…opponents
(B) antagonists…pundits
(C) interlocutors…surrogates
(D) meddlers…usurpers
(E) intruders…collaborators
92 The Sentence Completion Question
If you test the first word in each choice, you can eliminate
some choices. The adjective “disruptive” suggests that the
first missing word is negative in tone. Proponents (supporters, advocates) and interlocutors (people engaged in a dialogue; questioners) are largely neutral terms. You can most
likely eliminate Choices A and C.
The author has undermined or weakened his thesis (the
point he’s trying to make). How has he done this? He has
let his prejudices affect his work as a scholar in a negative
way. Your first missing word must have a negative meaning; you can eliminate any answer choice whose first word
has only a positive sense.
Turn to the second part of the sentence. Both the contrast
signal but and the adjective “effective” indicate the second
missing word must be positive. Usurpers is a negative term:
a usurper is someone who seizes someone else’s power or
rank or position. You can eliminate Choice D. Pundits
(authorities on a subject; experts) and collaborators (people
who work cooperatively with others) are both positive terms.
However, research psychologists are described as “working…toward the same ends as the psychotherapists.” Thus,
they are in effect collaborating with the psychotherapists to
achieve a common goal. The correct answer is Choice E.
Bolster or support is wholly positive; so is confirm. You can
eliminate Choices A and D. The three other choices need
closer examination. To cloud someone’s scholarship,
obscuring or tarnishing it, would be damaging; to falsify
scholarly work would be damaging as well. To compromise
someone’s scholarship also is damaging: if you compromise your standards, you fail to live up to the high scholarly
standards expected of you. You thus endanger your scholarly reputation. (Note that this is a secondary, relatively
unfamiliar meaning of compromise; the SAT-makers love
words with multiple meanings like this.)
Here is a second, more difficult question that you can solve
using this same tactic.
Now examine the context of the second missing word.
Rephrase the sentence, breaking it down. The author has let
his prejudices damage his scholarship, which was otherwise
good. The second missing word must be positive in meaning.
The author inadvertently undermined his thesis by
allowing his biases to ---- his otherwise ---- scholarship.
(A) bolster...superior
(B) cloud...unfocused
(C) compromise...judicious
(D) confirm...exhaustive
(E) falsify...questionable
Check out the second word of Choices B, C, and E.
Unfocused, vague scholarly work isn’t good. Neither is
questionable, doubtful scholarship. Judicious, thoughtful
work, however, is good. The correct answer is Choice C.
Remember, in double-blank sentences, the right answer
must correctly fill both blanks. A wrong answer choice often
includes one correct and one incorrect answer. Always test
the second word.
Long-Range Strategies
Although you certainly will wish to consult “Build Your
Vocabulary,” Chapter 6, and work on the vocabulary-development methods there, answering sentence completion
questions involves more than recognizing individual words.
You need to know idiomatic expressions—groups of words
always used together—particularly those involving prepositions, and those used so frequently in formal prose that
they seem clichés. Similarly, you need to know the typical
patterns that writers follow in developing their thoughts.
Familiarize Yourself With Idiomatic
Expressions and Clichés
In their general tips for answering sentence completion
questions, the SAT-makers say, “Don’t select an answer
simply because it is a popular cliché or ‘sounds good.’” The
key word here is simply. If an answer is a popular cliché, it
may well be right. Don’t disregard an answer just because
it’s a cliché.
If you look at the answers to the sentence completion questions in 10 SATs and 5 SATs, the College Board’s own
publications, you will swiftly discover a high proportion of
the correct answers are, in fact, clichés—set phrases an
experienced reader will find extremely familiar. Consider,
for example, phrases like avert disaster, cavalier treatment,
render unnecessary, overt acts. The more formal prose you
read, the more you will encounter set phrases such as
these.
Learn to Spot Typical Sentence
Patterns
Definitions
In a definition, the author restates a word or phrase to clarify its meaning. The author commonly will set the definition
beside the word being defined, juxtaposing them. Commas,
hyphens, and parentheses are used to signal definitions.
1. The rebec, a medieval stringed instrument played with
a bow, has only three strings.
2. Paleontologists—students of fossil remains—explore
the earth’s history.
3. Most mammals are quadrupeds (four-footed animals).
Definitions also follow forms of the verb “to be” and other
connecting verbs.
Long-Range Strategies 93
1. A stoic is a person who is indifferent to pleasure or
pain.
2. A three-pronged spear is called a trident.
Often an unfamiliar word in one clause of a sentence will be
defined in the sentence’s other clause.
1. That Barbie doll is a lethal weapon; your daughter
nearly killed me with it!
2. The early morning dew had frozen, and everything was
covered with a thin coat of rime.
Examples
By presenting specific, concrete examples, an author
makes a general, abstract word come to life.
1. Crates of coins, paintings by Rubens and Renoir, diamond tiaras and rings of rubies and gold—I never realized the extent of President Marcos’ affluence until I
read the accounts of what he brought with him from
the Philippines.
2. Cowards, we use euphemisms when we cannot bear
the truth, calling our dead “the dear departed,” as if
they have just left the room.
3. I’m impressed by Trudy’s business acumen: she buys
sound but aging houses, renovates them relatively
inexpensively, and then rents them out for fabulous
sums.
Comparisons
Just as concrete examples make abstract words come to
life, in the same way the use of a familiar object in a comparison can bring home the meaning of an unfamiliar word
or phrase.
1. Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when
you find a trout in the milk. — Thoreau.
2. Our impact on this world is as evanescent as a skywriter’s impact on the sky.
Contrasts
You can learn a great deal about what something is if you
come to terms with what it is not. Notice the signal words at
work in the sentences that follow.
1. Although America’s total Vietnamese population is
minuscule, the number of Vietnamese students attending major American universities is surprisingly high.
2. Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures. — Johnson.
3. In place of complacency, I give you unrest; in place of
sameness I give you variety.
Often a writer contrasts two ideas without using a signal
word. The contrast is implicit in the juxtaposition of the two
clauses.
1. The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds; the pessimist fears this is true.
— Cabell.
2. Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
Where there is sadness, joy. —St. Francis
Arguments
Sentences that present arguments often follow the pattern
of cause and effect. You must try to follow the author’s reasoning as you work towards his or her conclusion.
1. When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers,
therefore, are the founders of human civilization.
— Webster.
2. A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; for
what he reads as a task will do him little good.
— Johnson.
94 The Sentence Completion Question
Practice Exercises
Use the following practice exercises as a warm-up before
you go on to the model tests. Check your answers against
the answer key. For every answer you get incorrect, follow
this procedure:
1. Review the unfamiliar words. Check them out in the
Basic Word List in Chapter 6, or look them up in your
dictionary. Again, remember that these are SAT-level
words. Make use of this chance to go over what they
mean.
2. Once you know the meaning of the words, see if you
can spot signal words or context clues that might have
helped you get the answer right. Note any word parts
that you can find in the unfamiliar words.
3. Go over your guessing tactics. If you eliminated any
answer choices, see whether you were correct in eliminating them. Remember, if you can eliminate one or two
answer choices, you should guess. Even if you get a
particular question wrong, in the long run, if you use the
process of elimination correctly, you ll come out ahead
of the game.
Sentence Completion Exercise A
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath
the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words.
Choose the word or set of words that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Although its publicity has been ----, the film itself is
intelligent, well-acted, handsomely produced, and
altogether ---- .
(A) tasteless..respectable (B) extensive..moderate
(C) sophisticated..amateur (D) risqué..crude
(E) perfect..spectacular
1. The selection committee for the exhibit was amazed
to see such fine work done by a mere ----.
(A) connoisseur (B) artist (C) amateur
(D) entrepreneur (E) exhibitionist
2. The teacher suspected cheating as soon as he noticed
the pupil’s ---- glances at his classmate’s paper.
(A) futile (B) sporadic (C) furtive (D) cold
(E) inconsequential
3. Known for his commitment to numerous worthy
causes, the philanthropist deserved ---- for his ----.
(A) recognition..folly
(B) blame..hypocrisy
(C) reward..modesty
(D) admonishment..wastefulness
(E) credit..altruism
4. Miss Watson termed Huck’s behavior --- because
in her opinion nothing could excuse his deliberate
disregard of her commands.
(A) devious (B) intolerant (C) irrevocable
(D) indefensible (E) boisterous
5. Either the surfing at Maui is ----, or I went there on
an off day.
(A) consistent (B) thrilling (C) invigorating
(D) overrated (E) scenic
6. Your ---- remarks spoil the effect of your speech; try
not to stray from your subject.
(A) innocuous (B) digressive (C) derogatory
(D) persistent (E) enigmatic
7. We need both ornament and implement in our
society; we need the artist and the ----.
(A) beautician (B) writer (C) politician
(D) artisan (E) model
8. When such ---- remarks are circulated, we can only
blame and despise those who produce them.
(A) adulatory (B) chance (C) rhetorical
(D) redundant (E) reprehensible
9. The stereotypical image of masculinity assumes that
weeping is ---- “unmanly” behavior, and not simply
a human reaction which may be ---- by either sex.
(A) inexplicably..repented
(B) excessively..discerned
(C) essentially..defined
(D) inherently..adopted
(E) intentionally..exaggerated
Practice Exercises 95
10. We need more men and women of culture and
enlightenment in our society; we have too many
---- among us.
(A) pedants (B) philistines (C) ascetics
(D) paragons (E) apologists
11. There was a hint of carelessness about her appearance, as though the cut of her blouse or the fit of
her slacks was a matter of ---- to her.
(A) satisfaction (B) aesthetics
(C) indifference (D) significance
(E) controversy
12. Many educators argue that a ---- grouping of
students would improve instruction because it
would limit the range of student abilities in the
classroom.
(A) heterogeneous (B) systematic
(C) homogeneous (D) sporadic
(E) fragmentary
13. As news of his indictment spread through the town,
the citizens began to ---- him and to avoid meeting
him.
(A) ostracize (B) congratulate (C) desecrate
(D) minimize (E) harass
14. After years of talking down to his students as if
they couldn’t understand a word, the teacher finally
acknowledged that his attitude was ---- .
(A) colloquial (B) condescending
(C) professorial (D) justifiable
(E) logical
15. There are too many ---- and not enough serious
workers.
(A) sycophants (B) kleptomaniacs (C) novices
(D) dilettantes (E) zealots
16. Unlike W. E. B. Dubois, who was ---- of the
vocational emphasis in black education, Booker T.
Washington favored ---- the limited funds available
for educating blacks to programs that prepared
people for practical jobs.
(A) critical..restricting
(B) aware..confining
(C) suspicious..denying
(D) protective..allotting
(E) appreciative..allocating
17. Many elderly people are capable of working, but
they are kept from gainful employment by the ----
of those employers who mistakenly believe that
young people alone can give them adequate
service.
(A) philosophy (B) parsimony
(C) conservatism (D) rationalizations
(E) short-sightedness
18. The college president made the ---- statement that
no student athlete on academic probation, not even
the top-scorer of the varsity team, would be
allowed to participate in intercollegiate sports.
(A) impertinent (B) uncontroversial
(C) opinionated (D) categorical
(E) equivocal
19. The fire marshalls spend many hours seeking the
cause of the ---- in which so many people were
killed and so many others hospitalized with major
burns.
(A) maelstrom (B) labyrinth
(C) conflagration (D) torpor
(E) carnage
20. If you come to the conference table with such an
---- attitude, we cannot expect to reach any
harmonious agreement.
(A) exemplary (B) iridescent
(C) indolent (D) obdurate
(E) unwonted
21. I can vouch for his honesty; I have always found
him ---- and carefully observant of the truth.
(A) arbitrary (B) plausible (C) volatile
(D) veracious (E) innocuous
22. This well-documented history is of importance
because it carefully ---- the ---- accomplishments of
Indian artists who are all too little known to the
public at large.
(A) recognizes..negligible
(B) overlooks..purported
(C) scrutinizes..illusory
(D) distorts..noteworthy
(E) substantiates..considerable
23. Perhaps because he feels ---- by an excess of
parental restrictions and rules, at adolescence the
repressed child may break out dramatically.
(A) nurtured (B) appeased
(C) confined (D) fascinated
(E) liberated
96 The Sentence Completion Question
24. Sue felt that Jack’s ---- in the face of the
compelling evidence which she had presented was
an example of his ---- mind.
(A) truculence..unbiased
(B) skepticism..open
(C) incredulity..closed
(D) acquiescence..keen
(E) reluctance..impartial
25. As a girl, Emily Dickinson was ---- but also ---- :
extraordinarily intense about her poetry yet
exceptionally inhibited socially.
(A) zealous..gregarious
(B) ardent..repressed
(C) prudent..reserved
(D) rash..intrusive
(E) impulsive..dedicated
26. The good night’s sleep had ---- effect on the weary
climber, who woke refreshed and eager to resume
the ascent.
(A) an innocuous (B) a tonic
(C) a minor (D) an enervating
(E) a detrimental
32. Ernest Hemingway’s prose is generally esteemed
for its ---- ; as one critic puts it, Hemingway “cuts
out unneeded words.”
(A) sensitivity (B) economy (C) gusto
(D) breadth (E) intricacy
33. After Bob had broken the punch bowl, we sensed
the extent of his ---- from the way he shamefacedly
avoided meeting his hostess’s eye.
(A) composure (B) perspicacity
(C) discomfiture (D) forbearance
(E) benevolence
34. Crowther maintained that the current revival was
the most fatuous and ---- production of the entire
theatrical season.
(A) gripping (B) inane (C) prophetic
(D) memorable (E) salubrious
35. His olfactory sense was so highly developed that he
was often called in to judge ----.
(A) productivity (B) colors (C) litigation
(D) perfume (E) acoustics
27. She is an interesting ----, an infinitely shy person
who, in apparent contradiction, possesses an
enormously intuitive ---- for understanding people.
(A) aberration..disdain
(B) caricature..talent
(C) specimen..loathing
(D) phenomenon..disinclination
(E) paradox..gift
36. Jean Georges was famous for his ---- cuisine,
which brought together ingredients from many
cooking traditions—Thai, Chinese, French—and
combined them in innovative ways.
(A) aesthetic (B) clandestine
(C) homogeneous (D) eclectic
(E) conventional
28. The coach’s harsh rebuke deeply wounded the star
quarterback, who had never been ---- like that
before.
(A) summoned (B) reprimanded
(C) stimulated (D) placated
(E) ignored
37. Believing that all children possess a certain natural
intelligence, the headmaster exhorted the teachers
to discover and ---- each student’s ---- talents.
(A) suppress..unrecognized
(B) develop..intrinsic
(C) redirect..specious
(D) belittle..dormant
(E) cultivate..gratuitous
29. At the present time, we are suffering from ---- of
stories about the war; try writing about another
subject.
(A) a calumny (B) a dearth (C) an insurgence
(D) a plethora (E) an inhibition
30. Because he was ----, he shunned human society.
(A) a misanthrope (B) an oligarch (C) an anomaly
(D) a stereotype (E) a nonentity
31. The police feel that the ---- shown by the judges to
first offenders unfortunately ---- many youngsters to
embark on a life of crime.
(A) understanding..condemns
(B) clemency.. encourages
(C) harshness..predisposes
(D) indifference..directs
(E) intolerance..induces
38. Micawber’s habit of spending more than he earned
left him in a state of perpetual ----, but he ---hoping to see a more affluent day.
(A) indigence..persevered in
(B) confusion..compromised by
(C) enervation..retaliated by
(D) motion..responded by
(E) opulence..insisted on
39. The ---- of such utopian notions is reflected by the
quick disintegration of the idealistic community at
Brooke Farm.
(A) timeliness (B) creativity
(C) impracticability (D) effervescence
(E) vindication
Practice Exercises 97
40. We were amazed that a man who had been
heretofore the most ---- of public speakers could,
in a single speech, electrify an audience and bring
them cheering to their feet.
(A) enthralling (B) accomplished (C) pedestrian
(D) auspicious (E) masterful
48. Famed athlete Bobby Orr was given his first pair
of skates by a ---- Canadian woman who somehow
“knew” he would use them to attain sporting
greatness.
(A) prosperous (B) prescient (C) notorious
(D) skeptical (E) fallible
41. Despite the mixture’s ---- nature, we found that by
lowering its temperature in the laboratory we could
dramatically reduce its tendency to vaporize.
(A) resilient (B) volatile (C) homogeneous
(D) insipid (E) acerbic
49. The supervisor’s evaluation was ---- , for she noted
the employee’s strong points and limitations without overly emphasizing either.
(A) equitable (B) laudatory (C) practicable
(D) slanted (E) dogmatic
42. Surrounded by a host of besiegers and unable to
---- their supplies, the defenders of the castle feared
their food would soon be ----.
(A) replenish..exhausted
(B) consume..hoarded
(C) replace..obtainable
(D) estimate..superfluous
(E) deplete..rationed
50. She has sufficient tact to ---- the ordinary crises of
diplomatic life; however, even her diplomacy is
insufficient to enable her to ---- the current
emergency.
(A) negotiate..comprehend
(B) survive..exaggerate
(C) handle..weather
(D) ignore..transform
(E) aggravate..resolve
43. Fitness experts claim that jogging is ----; once you
begin to jog regularly, you may be unable to stop,
because you are sure to love it more and more all
the time.
(A) exhausting (B) illusive (C) addictive
(D) exotic (E) overrated
44. Although newscasters often use the terms Chicano
and Latino ----, students of Hispanic-American
culture are profoundly aware of the ---- the two.
(A) interchangeably..dissimilarities between
(B) indifferently..equivalence of
(C) deprecatingly..controversies about
(D) unerringly..significance of
(E) confidently..origins of
45. She maintained that the proposed legislation was
---- because it simply established an affirmative
action task force without making any appropriate
provision to fund such a force.
(A) inevitable (B) inadequate (C) prudent
(D) necessary (E) beneficial
46. The faculty senate warned that, if its
recommendations were to go unheeded, the
differences between the administration and the
teaching staff would be ---- and eventually
rendered irreconcilable.
(A) rectified (B) exacerbated (C) imponderable
(D) eradicated (E) alienated
47. Hroswitha the nun, though hidden among the
cloisters and ---- time, is now considered an
important literary figure of the medieval period.
(A) oppressed by (B) fighting against
(C) celebrated throughout (D) elapsed from
(E) obscured by
Sentence Completion Exercise B
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath
the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words.
Choose the word or set of words that best fits the
meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Although its publicity has been ----, the film itself is
intelligent, well-acted, handsomely produced, and
altogether ---- .
(A) tasteless. .respectable (B) extensive. .moderate
(C) sophisticated..amateur (D) risqué..crude
(E) perfect..spectacular
1. Because he is so ----, we can never predict what
course he will take at any moment.
(A) incoherent (B) superficial (C) capricious
(D) deleterious (E) conventional
2. The bank teller’s ---- of the funds went undiscovered until the auditors examined the accounts and
found that huge sums were missing.
(A) extradition (B) embezzlement
(C) subordination (D) scrutiny
(E) verification
3. He was so convinced that people were driven by ---motives that he believed there was no such thing as
a purely unselfish act.
(A) sentimental (B) personal (C) altruistic
(D) ulterior (E) intrinsic
98 The Sentence Completion Question
4. Because he was ---- by nature, he preferred
reading a book in the privacy of his own study to
visiting a nightclub with friends.
(A) an exhibitionist (B) a hedonist
(C) an adversary (D) an egoist (E) an introvert
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Surprisingly enough, it is more difficult to write
about the ---- than about the ---- and strange.
(A) specific..foreign
(B) abstract..prosaic
(C) commonplace..exotic
(D) simple..routine
(E) ludicrous..dejected
The plot of this story is so ---- that I can predict the
outcome.
(A) intricate (B) theoretical (C) pivotal
(D) trite (E) fictitious
The fundraising ball turned out to be a ---- : it
started late, attracted too few dancers, and lost
almost a million dollars.
(A) debacle (B) blockbuster (C) deluge
(D) gala (E) milestone
She was pleased by the accolades she received;
like everyone else, she enjoyed being ----.
(A) entertained (B) praised (C) playful
(D) vindicated (E) charitable
Safire as a political commentator is patently never
----; he writes ---- editorials about every action the
government takes.
(A) content..deferential
(B) querulous..biased
(C) amazed..bemused
(D) overawed..flattering
(E) satisfied..peevish
10. Although frugal by nature, on this special
occasion he refused to ---- , but instead feasted
his guests ---- .
(A) splurge..munificently
(B) conserve..intangibly
(C) stint..lavishly
(D) temporize..austerely
(E) cooperate..exorbitantly
11. The tapeworm is an example of ---- organism, one
that lives within or on another creature, deriving
some or all of its nutriment from its host.
(A) a hospitable (B) an exemplary
(C) a parasitic (D) an autonomous
(E) a protozoan
12. He found himself in the ---- position of appearing
to support a point of view that he abhorred.
(A) obvious (B) innocuous (C) anomalous
(D) enviable (E) auspicious
13. The younger members of the company resented the
domineering and ---- manner of the office manager.
(A) urbane (B) prudent (C) convivial
(D) imperious (E) objective
14. Bluebeard was noted for his ---- jealousy, a
jealousy so extreme that it passed all reasonable
bounds.
(A) transitory (B) rhetorical (C) stringent
(D) callous (E) inordinate
15. I regret that my remarks seemed ----; I never
intended to belittle you.
(A) inadequate (B) justified (C) unassailable
(D) disparaging (E) shortsighted
16. A ---- glance pays ---- attention to details.
(A) furtive..meticulous (B) cursory..little
(C) cryptic..close (D) keen..scanty
(E) fleeting..vigilant
17. With its elaborately carved, convoluted lines, furniture of the Baroque period was highly ---- .
(A) functional (B) primitive (C) linear
(D) spare (E) ornate
18. His overweening pride in his accomplishments was
---- : he had accomplished little if anything at all.
(A) unjustified (B) innocuous (C) systematic
(D) rational (E) critical
19. A ---- relationship links the rhinoceros and the
oxpecker (or rhinoceros bird), for the two are
mutually dependent.
(A) monolithic (B) superficial (C) symbiotic
(D) debilitating (E) stereotypical
20. When we saw black smoke billowing from the
wing of the plane, we were certain that disaster
was ----.
(A) unlikely (B) opportune (C) imminent
(D) undeserved (E) averted
21. Upon realizing that his position was ----, the
general ---- his men to retreat to a neighboring hill.
(A) valuable..admonished
(B) untenable..ordered
(C) overrated..forbade
(D) exposed..urged
(E) salubrious..commanded
Practice Exercises 99
22. The seriousness of the drought could only be
understood by those who had seen the ---- crops
in the fields.
(A) copious (B) deluged (C) wilted
(D) bumper (E) diversified
23. As ecologists recently ---- in studying the effects of
naturally induced forest fires, some phenomena
that appear on the surface to be destructive often
have a hidden ---- effect on balance.
(A) disproved..beneficial
(B) discovered..positive
(C) hypothesized..catastrophic
(D) disclosed..unecological
(E) determined..disastrous
24. The dispute became so ---- that we were afraid the
adversaries would come to blows.
(A) ironic (B) generalized (C) didactic
(D) articulate (E) acrimonious
25. With the rift between the two sides apparently
widening, analysts said they considered the
likelihood of a merger between the two
corporations to be ----.
(A) deteriorating (B) substantial
(C) coincidental (D) legitimate (E) plausible
26. Fossils may be set in stone, but their interpretation
is not; a new find may necessitate the ---- of a
traditional theory.
(A) ambiguity (B) revision (C) formulation
(D) validation (E) assertion
27. In attempting to reconcile estranged spouses,
counselors try to foster a spirit of ---- rather than
one of stubborn implacability.
(A) disillusionment (B) ambivalence
(C) compromise (D) antagonism
(E) independence
28. Shakespeare’s reference to clocks in “Julius
Caesar” is an example of ----; that is, it is
chronologically out of place.
(A) timeliness (B) antiquarianism
(C) anachronism (D) synchronization
(E) ignorance
29. A diligent scholar, she devoted herself ---- to the
completion of the book.
(A) assiduously (B) ingenuously
(C) theoretically (D) voluminously
(E) sporadically
30. He was ---- success, painting not for the sake of fame
or monetary reward, but for the sheer love of art.
(A) indifferent to (B) destined for (C) avid for
(D) jaded by (E) enamored of
31. The thought of being trapped in a stalled elevator
terrifies me; it brings out all my ---- fears of small,
enclosed places.
(A) agoraphobic (B) kleptomaniac
(C) hypochondriac (D) therapeutic
(E) claustrophobic
32. Crows are extremely ---- : their cries easily drown
out the songs of neighboring birds.
(A) fickle (B) swarthy (C) raucous
(D) cordial (E) versatile
33. The gardener had planted such a wide variety of
flowering trees and shrubs in the courtyard that it
seemed a virtual ---- .
(A) wasteland (B) cloister (C) panorama
(D) arboretum (E) granary
34. You should ---- this paragraph in order to make
your essay more ----.
(A) delete..succinct (B) enlarge..redundant
(C) remove..discursive (D) revise..abstruse
(E) excise..legible
35. Sharon’s childhood can best be termed ---- : she
had never been farther west than Philadelphia
until she turned sixteen.
(A) provincial (B) transitory (C) nomadic
(D) utilitarian (E) eclectic
36. His submissiveness of manner and general air of
self-effacement made it ---- he would be ---- to take
command of the firm.
(A) unlikely..selected (B) implausible..hesitant
(C) clear..designated (D) puzzling..disinclined
(E) probable..demoted
37. She was accused of plagiarism in a dispute over a
short story, and, though ----, she never recovered
from the accusation and the scandal.
(A) indicted (B) verified (C) exonerated
(D) retaliated (E) convinced
38. The patient is subject to emotional ---- : she is
utterly ecstatic one minute and thoroughly ---- the
next.
(A) impoverishment..enervated
(B) upheavals..euphoric
(C) extremes..downcast
(D) deviations..wayward
(E) stability..unresponsive
39. The king’s champion was a ---- foe, one whose
mighty presence on the field of battle struck fear
in the hearts of his prospective adversaries.
(A) methodical (B) rancorous
(C) timorous (D) redoubtable
(E) questionable
100 The Sentence Completion Question
40. Watching the hang gliders soar above the fields, I
marveled at how they seemed to ---- gravity,
hovering in the sky like rainbow-colored birds.
(A) release (B) adorn (C) defy (D) emulate
(E) abet
41. Her novel published to universal acclaim, her
literary gifts acknowledged by the chief figures of
the Harlem Renaissance, her reputation as yet ---by envious slights, Hurston clearly was at the ---of her career.
(A) undamaged..ebb (B) untarnished..zenith
(C) untainted..extremity (D) blackened..mercy
(E) unmarred..brink
42. In Anne of Green Gables, the heroine turns down a
prestigious scholarship so that the young hero may
receive it; once more, the woman ---- her own ---to those of the man.
(A) prefers..ambitions (B) sacrifices..losses
(C) surrenders..talents (D) accommodates..beliefs
(E) subordinates..interests
43. Having envisioned atomic weapons a decade
before, Leo Szilard felt horror and guilt at the
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, calling them
“a flagrant ---- of our own moral standards.”
(A) violation (B) exposition (C) punishment
(D) vindication (E) agitation
44. From the lunch counter sit-ins and bus boycotts to
the historic freedom march from Selma to
Montgomery, this fine volume shows how ---Americans from every walk of life fought ---- battle
for “liberty and justice for all.”
(A) revolutionary..an unnecessary
(B) typical..an ignoble
(C) progressive..a vainglorious
(D) ordinary..an inspiring
(E) pugnacious..a dubious
45. Despite an affected ---- which convinced casual
observers that he was indifferent about his painting
and enjoyed only frivolity, Warhol cared deeply
about his art and labored at it ----.
(A) nonchalance..diligently
(B) empathy..methodically
(C) fervor..secretly
(D) gloom..intermittently
(E) hysteria..sporadically
46. Cancer cells are normal cells run riot, growing and
multiplying out of ----.
(A) spite (B) danger (C) control (D) apathy
(E) range
47. Science progresses by building on what has come
before; important findings thus form the basis of
---- experiments.
(A) gradual (B) subsequent (C) ingenious
(D) repetitive (E) perfunctory
48. The Internal Revenue Service agent was a ---- for
accuracy, insisting that taxpayers provide exact
figures for every deduction they claimed.
(A) martyr (B) scoundrel
(C) stickler (D) procrastinator
(E) candidate
49. Even if you do not ---- what I have to say, I would
appreciate your listening to me with an open mind.
(A) concur with (B) reject (C) clarify
(D) deviate from (E) anticipate
50. Paradoxically, Helen, who had been a strict
mother to her children, proved ---- mistress to her
cats.
(A) a harsh (B) an indolent (C) an ambivalent
(D) a cautious (E) a lenient
Answer Key 101
Answer Key
Sentence Completion Exercise A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
C
E
D
D
B
D
E
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
D
B
C
C
A
B
D
A
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
E
D
C
D
D
E
C
C
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
B
B
E
B
D
A
B
B
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
C
B
D
D
B
A
C
C
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
B
A
C
A
B
B
E
B
49.
50.
A
C
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
A
B
C
C
A
A
E
C
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
D
A
A
A
C
C
D
C
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
B
E
A
D
A
C
B
C
49.
50.
A
E
Sentence Completion Exercise B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
B
D
E
C
D
A
B
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
E
C
C
C
D
E
D
B
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
E
A
C
C
B
C
B
E
Sentence Completion Wrap-up
1. First, read the sentence carefully to get a feel for its meaning.
2. Before you look at the choices, think of a word that makes sense.
3. Look at all the possible answers before you make your final choice.
4. Watch out for negative words and prefixes.
5. Use your knowledge of context clues to get at the meanings of unfamiliar
words.
6. Break down unfamiliar words into recognizable parts.
7. Watch for signal words that link one part of the sentence to another.
8. Look for words that signal the unexpected.
9. In double-blank sentences, go through the answers, testing the first word
in each choice (and eliminating those that don’t fit).
5
The Critical
Reading Question
■
■
■
■
■
Testing Tactics
Long-Range Strategies
Practice Exercises
Answer Key
Answer Explanations
SAT critical reading questions test your ability to understand
what you read—both content and technique. One passage on
the test will be narrative: a passage from a novel, a short
story, an autobiography, or a personal essay. One will deal
with the sciences (including medicine, botany, zoology,
chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy); another with the
humanities (including art, literature, music, philosophy, folklore); a third, with the social sciences (including history, economics, sociology, government.) Some passages may be
what the College Board calls argumentative; these passages
present a definite point of view on a subject. One passage will
most likely be ethnic in content: whether it is a history passage, a personal narrative, or a passage on music, art, or literature, it will deal with concerns of a particular minority group.
Your SAT test will contain three critical reading sections (not
counting any experimental critical reading part). They will
most likely follow these three basic patterns.
24-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–8
sentence completion
Questions 9–12
reading comprehension
(2 short passages)
Question 13–24
reading comprehension
(1 long passage)
24-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–5
sentence completion
Questions 6–9
reading comprehension
(paired short passages)
Questions 10–24
reading comprehension
(2 long passages)
19-Question Critical Reading Section
Questions 1–6
sentence completion
Questions 7–19
reading comprehension
(paired long passages)
Unlike the sentence completion, the questions that come
after each reading passage are not arranged in order of difficulty. They are arranged to suit the way the passage’s content is organized. (A question based on information found at
the beginning of the passage will generally come before a
question based on information at the passage’s end.) If you
are stumped by a tough reading question, do not skip the
other questions on that passage. A tough question may be
just one question away from an easy one.
This chapter contains three SAT reading passages that are
somewhat shorter than most of the ones you will now face
on the SAT. However, the questions that follow the passages are just like the questions on the SAT. Some of the
questions ask you about specific details in the passages.
Others ask you to interpret the passages, to make judgments about them. These questions are modeled on questions on the SAT.
The chapter begins with basic advice about the SAT critical
reading sections. Tactics 1–7 tell you how to deal with SAT
reading questions in general. Tactics 8–14 give you the
answers to the questions on the three SAT passages, plus
solid hints about how to answer each type of question and
short lists of key words you are sure to meet in certain question types. Finally, Tactic 15 shows you how to deal with the
long paired passages you’ll face in one of the SAT’s three
critical reading sections.
The directions for the critical reading section on the SAT are
minimal. They are:
Each passage below is followed by questions based on
its content. Answer all questions following a passage on
the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage.
Do not worry if the test you take doesn’t exactly match the
above model. The SAT-makers occasionally seem to be
playing games, but they are just fine-tuning their new format.
103
104 The Critical Reading Question
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Testing Tactics
1
Make Use of the Introductions to
Acquaint Yourself with the Text.
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Almost every reading passage is preceded by an italicized
introduction. Don’t skip it. As you read the italicized introductory material and tackle the passage’s opening sentences,
2
Use the Line References in the
Questions to Be Sure You’ve Gone Back
to the Correct Spot in the Passage.
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Most of the reading passages on the SAT tend to be long.
Fortunately, the lines are numbered, and the questions often
refer you to specific lines in the passage by number. It takes
3
It is hard to concentrate when you read about something
that is wholly unfamiliar to you. Give yourself a break. When
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less time to locate a line number than to spot a word or
phrase. Use the line numbers to orient yourself in the text.
When You Have a Choice, Tackle
Passages with Familiar Subjects
Before Passages with Unfamiliar Ones.
Build on what you already know and like. It’s only common
sense: if you know very little about botany or are uninterested in it, you are all too likely to run into trouble reading a
passage about plant life.
4
try to anticipate what the passage will be about. You ll be in
a better position to understand what you read.
you have more than one reading passage in a section, start
with one that interests you or that deals with a topic you
know well. There is nothing wrong in skipping questions.
Just remember to check the numbering of your answer
sheet. You should, of course, go back to the questions you
skipped if you have time.
In Tackling the Short Reading Passages,
Try this Approach: First Read a Question;
Then Read the Passage.
Students often ask whether it is better to read the passage first
or the questions first. The answer depends on the passage,
and it depends on you. If you are a superfast reader faced with
one of the new, 100-word short reading passages, head for the
questions first. As you read each question, be on the lookout
for key words, either in the question itself or among the answer
choices. Then run your eye down the passage, looking for
those key words or their synonyms. When you locate a key
word, read the relevant sentence and a couple of sentences
around it to see whether you can confidently answer the question based on just that portion of the passage.
If, however, you’re not a speed demon at reading, a more
effective move may be to skim the whole passage and then
read the questions. Only you can decide which method
works better for you.
Here is a short reading passage, followed by a couple of
questions. Tackle the questions one at a time, each time
reading the question before turning to the passage to find
the correct answer. See whether this tactic works for you.
Descended from West African slaves,
Georgia’s Sea Islanders retain not only many
African rhythms and musical instruments but also
Line singing games more like British games than
(5) African ones. One spiraling game is “Wind up this
borrin.” Some teachers claim “borrin” is a corruption of “borrowing,” and explain that penniless
islanders always borrowed. The game’s spiraling,
happy ending shows their joy in having enough so
(10) that they no longer need to borrow. This is pure
invention. Yes, islanders always borrowed. But
that has nothing to do with the “borrin” in this
game. The spiraling figure is the English “wind
the bobbin”; the teachers’ claim may sound
(15) persuasive, but it just isn’t true.
Testing Tactics 105
1. In line 10, “pure” most nearly means
(A) chaste
(B) immaculate
(C) guiltless
(D) absolute
(E) abstract
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2. In line 11 (“Yes . . . borrowed”), the author does
which of the following?
(A) Denies a possibility
(B) Makes a concession
(C) Exaggerates a claim
(D) Refutes a theory
(E) Draws an inference
5
Here’s how to tackle Question 1. Look for the word pure in
the passage. It occurs in the phrase “pure invention.”
Consider that phrase. What do people mean when they say
a claim or statement is an invention? They mean that it is a
false statement, a fabrication, a story someone made up.
When they say it is pure invention, they are stressing that it
is a complete or total fabrication. In other words, it is
absolutely false. The correct answer is Choice D.
Now for Question 2. Look at the sentence the question
refers to. “Yes, islanders always borrowed.” In the sentence
just before, the author flatly states that the teachers’ claim
that borrin comes from borrowing is complete bunk (“pure
invention”). The author absolutely dismisses the teachers’
claim. However, she acknowledges there is some truth in
what the teachers have said; islanders have always borrowed. In acknowledging this, she is making a concession,
conceding that the teachers had some slight evidence supporting their claim. The correct answer is Choice B.
In Tackling the Long Reading
Passages, First Read the Passage;
Then Read the Questions.
Longer passages require a different approach than shorter
ones. If you’re a fast reader, reading all the questions before
you read a long passage may not save you time. In fact, it
may cost you time. If you read the questions first, when you
turn to the passage you will have a number of question words
and phrases dancing around in your head. These phrases
won’t focus you; they ll distract you. You will be so involved in
trying to spot the places that they occur in the passage that
you’ll be unable to concentrate on comprehending the passage as a whole. Why increase your anxiety and decrease
your capacity to think? Instead, try tackling a long passage
using the following technique.
you worry about not finishing the test, you will begin to take
short cuts and miss the correct answer in your haste.
2. As you read the opening sentences, try to anticipate what
the passage will be about. Who or what is the author talking
about?
3. As you continue reading, notice in what part of the passage the author makes major points. In that way, even when
a question does not point you to a particular line or paragraph, you should be able to head for the right section of the
text without having to reread the entire passage. Underline
key words and phrases—sparingly!
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1. Read as rapidly as you can with understanding, but do
not force yourself. Do not worry about the time element. If
6
Try to Answer All the Questions
on a Particular Passage.
Don’t let yourself get bogged down on any one question; you
can’t afford to get stuck on one question when you have
eleven more on the same passage to answer. Skip the one
that’s got you stumped, but make a point of coming back to it
later, after you’ve answered one or two more questions on the
passage. Often, working through other questions on the same
passage will provide you with information you can use to
answer any questions that stumped you the first time around.
If the question still stumps you, move on. It’s just fine to skip
an individual reading question, especially if it resembles
other reading questions that you’ve had trouble with before.
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106 The Critical Reading Question
7
Learn to Spot the Major Reading
Question Types.
Just as it will help you to know the directions for the sentence completion questions on the SAT, it will also help you
to familiarize yourself with the major types of reading questions on the test.
If you can recognize just what a given question is asking you
to do, you’ll be better able to tell which particular reading
tactic to apply.
Here are six categories of reading questions you are sure
to face.
1. Main Idea Questions that test your ability to find the
central thought of a passage or to judge its significance
often take the following form:
The main point of the passage is to
The passage is primarily concerned with
The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to
The chief theme of the passage can be best described as
Which of the following titles best describes the content of the
passage?
Which of the following statements best expresses the main
idea of the passage?
2. Specific Details Questions that test your ability
to understand what the author states explicitly are often
worded:
According to the author
The author apparently feels that
According to the passage, it is likely that
The passage is most likely directed toward an audience of
Which of the following statements about...can be inferred
from the passage?
4. Tone/Attitude Questions that test your ability to sense
an author’s or character’s emotional state often take the
form:
The author’s attitude to the problem can best be described
as
Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in
the passage?
The author’s tone in the passage is that of a person attempting to
The author’s presentation is marked by a tone of
The passage indicates that the author experiences a
feeling of
5. Vocabulary in Context Questions that test your ability
to work out the meaning of words from their context often
are worded:
As it is used in the passage, the term...can best be
described as
The phrase...is used in the passage to mean that
In the passage, the word...means
The author uses the phrase...to describe
The author states all of the following EXCEPT
According to the passage, which of the following is true
of the
According to the passage, the chief characteristic of the
subject is
Which of the following statements is (are) best supported by
the passage?
Which of the following is NOT cited in the passage as
evidence of
3. Inferences Questions that test your ability to go beyond
the author’s explicit statements and see what these statements imply may be worded:
It can be inferred from the passage that
The passage suggests that the author would support which
of the following views?
The author implies that
6. Technique Questions that test your ability to recognize
a passage’s method of organization or technique often are
worded:
Which of the following best describes the development of
this passage?
In presenting the argument, the author does all of the following EXCEPT...
The relationship between the second paragraph and the first
paragraph can best be described as...
As you become familiar with these major reading question
types, you may find that some question types cause you
more trouble than others. Make particular note of these
types: if you always get technique questions wrong, for
example, these may be good questions for you to skip.
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Testing Tactics 107
8
When Asked to Find the Main Idea, Be
Sure to Check the Opening and Summary
Sentences of Each Paragraph.
The opening and closing sentences of each paragraph are
key sentences for you to read. They can serve as guideposts for you, pointing out the author’s main idea.
Whenever you are asked to determine a passage’s main
idea, always check each paragraph’s opening and summary
sentences. Typically, in each paragraph, authors provide
readers with a sentence that expresses the paragraph’s main
idea succinctly. Although such topic sentences may appear
anywhere in the paragraph, experienced readers customarily
look for them in the opening or closing sentences.
Notice the impact of words like furthermore, moreover,
notably, and significantly in the passage. These signal words
may call your attention to the main idea.
Note that in SAT reading passages, topic sentences are
sometimes implied rather than stated directly. If you cannot
find a topic sentence, ask yourself these questions:
1. Whom or what is this passage about?
2. What aspect of this subject is the author talking about?
3. What is the author trying to get across about this aspect
of the subject?
Read the following ethnic reading passage and apply this
tactic.
Lois Mailou Jones is one example of an answer to the
charge that there are no Black or female American artists
to include in art history textbooks and classes. Beginning
her formal art education at the School of the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston, Lois Jones found herself strongly
attracted to design rather than fine arts. After teaching for
a while, she went to Paris to study, on the advice of the
sculptor Meta Warrick Fuller.
It was in Paris that she first felt free to paint. Following
her return to this country in 1938, Jones had an exhibit at
the Vose Gallery in Boston, a major breakthrough for a
Black artist at that time. Her work during this period consisted of excellent impressionist scenes of Paris. It was
not until the early 1940s, after she met the Black aesthetician Alain Locke, that she began to paint works like Mob
Victim, which explicitly dealt with her own background
as a Black American. Later, in the fifties, she went often
to Haiti, which had yet another influence on her style.
Then a sabbatical leave in Africa again changed her
imagery. Indeed, the scope of this distinguished artist’s
career so well spans the development of twentiethcentury art that her work could be a textbook in itself.
Now look at a question on this passage. It’s a good example
of a main idea question.
The passage primarily focuses on the
(A) influence of Lois Jones on other artists
(B) recognition given to Lois Jones for her
work
(C) experiences that influenced the work of
Lois Jones
(D) obstacles that Lois Jones surmounted in
her career
(E) techniques that characterize the work of
Lois Jones
Look at the opening and summary sentences of the two
paragraphs that make up the passage: “Lois Mailou Jones is
one example of...Black or female American artists to include
in art history textbooks and classes,” “It was in Paris that she
first felt free to paint,” “Indeed, the scope of [her] career
spans the development of twentieth-century art. . .” Note
particularly the use of the signal word “indeed” to call your
attention to the author’s point. Lois Jones has had a vast
range of experiences that have contributed to her work as
an artist. The correct answer is Choice C.
Choice A is incorrect. The passage talks of influences on
Lois Jones, not of Lois Jones’s influence on others. Choice
B is incorrect. The passage mentions recognition given to
Jones only in passing. Choice D is incorrect. There is nothing in the passage to support it. Choice E is incorrect. The
passage never deals with specific questions of craft or technique.
Certain words come up again and again in questions on a
passage’s purpose or main idea. You probably know most of
these words, but if you’re shaky about any of their meanings, look them up in a good dictionary and familiarize yourself with how they are used. It would be silly to miss an
answer not because you misunderstood the passage’s
meaning but because you failed to recognize a common
question word.
Important Words in Questions on Main Idea or Purpose
bolster (verb)
endorse
delineate
exemplify
depict
illustrate
discredit
refute
document (verb)
speculate
elaborate (verb)
verify
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108 The Critical Reading Question
9
Familiarize Yourself with the
Technical Terms Used to Describe
a Passage’s Organization.
Another part of understanding the author’s point is understanding how the author organizes what he or she has to
say. To do so, often you have to figure out how the opening
sentence or paragraph is connected to the passage as a
whole.
Try this question on the author’s technique, based on the
previous passage about Lois Mailou Jones.
Which of the following best summarizes the relationship of the first sentence to the rest of the passage?
(A) Assertion followed by supporting evidence
(B) Challenge followed by debate pro and con
(C) Prediction followed by analysis
(D) Specific instance followed by generalizations
(E) Objective reporting followed by personal
reminiscences
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The correct answer is Choice A. The author makes an assertion (a positive statement) about Jones’s importance and then
10
proceeds to back it up with specific details from her career.
Choice B is incorrect. There is no debate for and against the
author’s thesis or point about Jones; the only details given
support that point. Choice C is incorrect. The author does
not predict or foretell something that is going to happen; the
author asserts or states positively something that is an
accomplished fact. Choice D is incorrect. The author’s opening general assertion is followed by specific details to support it, not the reverse. Choice E is incorrect. The author
shares no personal memories or reminiscences of Jones;
the writing is objective throughout.
Important Words in Questions on Technique or Style
abstract
explanatory
analogy
expository
antithesis
generalization
argumentative
narrative
assertion
persuasive
cite
rhetorical
concrete
thesis
evidence
When Asked to Choose a Title, Watch
Out for Choices That Are Too Specific
or Too Broad.
Someone once defined a paragraph as a group of sentences
revolving around a central theme. A proper title for a paragraph,
therefore, should include this central theme that each of the
sentences in the paragraph is developing. It has to fit: it should
be neither too broad in scope, nor too narrow; it should be specific and yet comprehensive enough to include all the essentials.
A good title for a longer passage of two or more paragraphs
follows the same rules. It expresses the theme of the whole
passage. It is specific, yet comprehensive. It includes the
thoughts of ALL the paragraphs.
This third question on the Jones passage is a title question.
Note how it resembles questions on the passage’s purpose
or main idea.
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
(A) Unsung Black Artists of America
(B) A Hard Row to Hoe: The Struggles of Lois Jones
(C) Locke and Jones: Two Black Artistic Pioneers
(D) African and Haitian Influences on Lois Mailou Jones
(E) The Making of an Artist: Lois Mailou Jones
When you are trying to select the best title for a passage,
watch out for words that come straight out of the passage.
They may not always be your best choice. Consider Choice
C. Though the author mentions Alain Locke and suggests
the importance of his influence in prompting Jones to use
her experiences as a black American in her art, the passage
as a whole is about Jones, not about Locke and Jones.
Likewise, although the passage refers to African and Haitian
influences on her imagery and style, the passage is about
how Jones’s experiences formed her as an artist, not about
the specific influences on her style. Choice D is too narrow
in scope to be a good title for this text.
Choice A has the opposite problem. As a title for this passage, Unsung Black Artists of America is far too broad. This
passage concerns itself with a particular black artist whose
fame deserves to be sung.
While Choice B limits itself to Jones, it too has a flaw. The
passage clearly does not dwell on Jones’s struggles;
instead, it focuses on influences on her artistic growth.
Of the titles suggested, Choice E is best. The passage
refers to the many and varied experiences that have made
Jones an important figure in the world of art. Following her
progress step by step, it portrays “the making of an artist.”
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Testing Tactics 109
11
When Asked About Specific Details in
a Passage, Spot Key Words in the
Question and Scan the Passage to
Find Them (or Their Synonyms).
In developing the main idea of a passage, a writer will make
statements to support his or her point. To answer questions
about such supporting details, you must find a word or group
of words in the passage that supports your choice of
answer. The words “according to the passage” or “according
to the author” should focus your attention on what the passage explicitly states. Do not be misled into choosing an
answer (even one that makes good sense) if you cannot find
it supported in the text.
Often detail questions ask about a particular phrase or line.
The SAT generally provides numbered line references to
help you locate the relevant section of the passage.
Occasionally it fails to do so. In such instances, use the following technique:
1. Look for key words (nouns or verbs) in the answer
choices.
2. Run your eye down the passage, looking for those key
words or their synonyms. (This is called scanning. It is
what you do when you look up someone’s number in the
phone book.)
3. When you find a key word or its synonym, reread the
sentence to make sure the test-writer hasn’t used the
original wording to mislead you.
Read the following scientific passage and apply this tactic.
Prostaglandins are short-lived hormonelike substances
made by most cells in the body after injury or shock.
They are responsible for a number of physiological reactions. Prostaglandins have been shown to influence blood
pressure, muscle contraction, and blood coagulation and
are involved in producing pain, fever, and inflammation.
When released from platelets—minute discs in the blood
—a prostaglandin derivative called thromboxane makes
the platelets clump together and thus initiates clotting.
In 1971, John Vane, a British researcher, discovered
that aspirin interferes with the synthesis of prostaglandins.
Scientists now know that aspirin relieves pain by inactivating cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that aids in initiating the
synthesis of prostaglandins. When scientists realized that
aspirin can also interfere with clotting, they began to
wonder whether it could help prevent heart attacks and
strokes, which are often caused by blood clots that block
arteries in the chest and neck. Studies now indicate that
low daily doses of aspirin can cut the risk of a second heart
attack by about twenty percent and the risk of a second
stroke by nearly half. It seems logical to assume that if the
drug can prevent second heart attacks, it can also ward off
an attack the first time around. Therefore, many doctors
recommend an aspirin tablet every other day to people
who have high blood pressure or other symptoms that
increase the risk of heart attacks.
Now look at a question on a significant detail in the passage.
According to the passage, prostaglandins play a
role in all of the following EXCEPT the
(A) clotting of blood
(B) sensation of pain
(C) contraction of muscles
(D) manufacture of platelets
(E) inflammation of tissue
Watch out for questions containing the word EXCEPT. To
answer them, you must go through each answer choice in
turn, checking to see if you can find it supported in the passage. If you can find support for it, then you must rule it out.
When you find an answer choice without support in the passage, that’s the answer you want.
The last two sentences in the first paragraph are the key to
this question. These two sentences cite the physiological
reactions caused by prostaglandins. Check each of the
answer choices against these lines.
Choice A is incorrect. Prostaglandins influence “blood coagulation” or clotting. Note the use of clotting, a synonym for
coagulation, rather than the passage’s original wording.
Choice B is incorrect. Prostaglandins are involved in producing pain.
Choice C is incorrect. Prostaglandins influence muscle contraction.
Choice E is incorrect. Prostaglandins are involved in producing inflammation.
The correct answer is Choice D. While prostaglandins do have
an influence on platelets, they play a role in causing platelets
to clump or gather together, not in manufacturing them.
Important Words in Questions on Specific Detail
aesthetic
indicative
allusion
inherent
assumption
innate
attribute
innovative
divergent
misconception
fluctuate
phenomenon
hypothetical
preclude
incompatible
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110 The Critical Reading Question
12
When Asked to Make Inferences, Base
Your Answers on What the Passage
Implies, Not What It States Directly.
In Language in Thought and Action, S.I. Hayakawa defines
an inference as “a statement about the unknown made on
the basis of the known.”
Inference questions require you to use your own judgment.
You must not take anything directly stated by the author as
an inference. Instead, you must look for clues in the passage
that you can use in coming up with your own conclusion. You
should choose as your answer a statement which is a logical
development of the information the author has provided.
Try this fairly easy inference question, based on the previous passage about prostaglandins.
The passage suggests that which of the following
would be most likely to initiate the production of
prostaglandins?
(A) Taking an aspirin
(B) Spraining an ankle
(C) Climbing stairs
(D) Flexing a muscle
(E) Running a fever
The justification for Choice B as an answer comes in the
opening sentence, which states that prostaglandins are produced in response to injury or shock. Choice B, spraining an
ankle, is an example of an injury. As such, it is likely to initiate or set into motion the production of prostaglandins. None
of the other choices is an example of an injury or shock.
Thus, you can logically infer they are unlikely to start
prostaglandin production going. Taking an aspirin, in fact,
would interfere with or block prostaglandin production. Only
Choice B is logical to suggest.
Now read this fiction passage, taken from the novel The
Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene.
“Imagine. Forty days in the boats!” cried Mrs. Perrot.
Everything over the river was still and blank.
“The French behaved well this time at least,” Dawson
remarked.
“They’ve only brought in the dying,” the doctor retorted. “They could hardly have done less.”
Dawson exclaimed and struck at his hand. “Come
inside,” Mrs. Perrot said, “The windows are netted.” The
stale air was heavy with the coming rains.
“There are some cases of fever,” said the doctor, “but
most are just exhaustion—the worst disease. It’s what
most of us die of in the end.”
Mrs. Perrot turned a knob; music from the London
Orpheum filtered in. Dawson shifted uncomfortably; the
Wurlitzer organ moaned and boomed. It seemed to him
outrageously immodest.
Wilson came in to a welcome from Mrs. Perrot. “A
surprise to see you, Major Dawson.”
“Hardly, Wilson.” Mr. Perrot injected. “I told you he’d
be here.” Dawson looked across at Wilson and saw him
blush at Perrot’s betrayal, saw too that his eyes gave the
lie to his youth.
“Well,” sneered Perrot, “any scandals from the big
city?” Like a Huguenot imagining Rome, he built up a
picture of frivolity, viciousness, and corruption. “We
bush-folk live quietly.”
Mrs. Perrot’s mouth stiffened in the effort to ignore her
husband in his familiar part. She pretended to listen to the
old Viennese melodies.
“None,” Dawson answered, watching Mrs. Perrot with
pity. “People are too busy with the war.”
“So many files to turn over,” said Perrot. “Growing
rice down here would teach them what work is.”
The first question based on this passage is an inference
question. Note the use of the terms “suggests” and “most
likely.” The passage never tells you directly where the story
takes place. You must put two and two together and see
what you get.
The evidence in the passage suggests that the
story most likely takes place
(A) on a boat during a tropical storm
(B) at a hospital during a wartime blackout
(C) in a small town in France
(D) near a rice plantation in the tropics
(E) among a group of people en route to a
large Asian city
Go through the answer choices one by one. Remember that
in answering inference questions you must go beyond the
obvious, go beyond what the author explicitly states, to look
for logical implications of what the author says.
The correct answer is Choice D, near a rice plantation in the
tropics. Several lines in the passage suggest it: Perrot’s reference to “bush-folk,” people living in a tropical jungle or
similar uncleared wilderness; Perrot’s comment about the
work involved in growing rice; the references to fever and
the coming rains.
Choice A is incorrect. The people rescued have been in the
boats for forty days. The story itself is not set on a boat.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the presence of a doctor and
the talk of dying patients suggests a hospital and Dawson’s
comment implies that people elsewhere are concerned with
a war, nothing in the passage suggests that it is set in a
wartime blackout. The windows are not covered or blacked
out to prevent light from getting out; instead, they are netted to
prevent mosquitos from getting in. (Note how Dawson exclaims
and swats his hand; he has just been bitten by a mosquito).
Testing Tactics 111
Choice C is incorrect. Although the French are mentioned,
nothing suggests that the story takes place in France, a
European country not noted for uncleared wilderness or
tropical rains.
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Choice E is incorrect. Nothing in the passage suggests
these people are en route elsewhere. In addition, Wilson
could not logically pretend to be surprised by Dawson’s
presence if they were companions on a tour.
13
Important Words in Inference Questions
criterion
likelihood
derive
overrated
excerpt
plausible
implication
suggestive
imply
tentative
When Asked About an Attitude, Mood, or
Tone, Look for Words That Convey Emotions,
Express Values, or Paint Pictures.
In figuring out the attitude, mood, or tone of an author or
character, take a close look at the specific language used. Is
the author using adjectives to describe the subject? If so,
are they words like fragrant, tranquil, magnanimous—words
with positive connotations? Or are they words like fetid,
ruffled, stingy—words with negative connotations?
When we speak, our tone of voice conveys our mood—frustrated, cheerful, critical, gloomy, angry. When we write, our
images and descriptive phrases get our feelings across.
The second question on the Greene passage is a tone question. Note the question refers you to specific lines in which a
particular character speaks. Those lines are repeated here
so that you can easily refer to them.
“They’ve only brought in the dying,” the doctor
retorted. “They could hardly have done less.”
“There are some cases of fever,” said the doctor, “but
most are just exhaustion—the worst disease. It’s what
most of us die of in the end.”
The tone of the doctor’s remarks (lines 5–6, 10–12)
indicates that he is basically
(A) unselfish
(B) magnanimous
(C) indifferent
(D) rich in patience
(E) without illusions
Note the doctor’s use of “only” and “hardly,” words with a
negative sense. The doctor is deprecating or belittling what
the French have done for the sufferers from the boats, the
people who are dying from the exhaustion of their forty-day
journey. The doctor is retorting: he is replying sharply to
Dawson’s positive remark about the French having behaved
well. The doctor has judged the French. In his eyes, they
have not behaved well.
Go through the answer choices one by one to see which choice
comes closest to matching your sense of the doctor’s tone.
Choice A is incorrect. Nothing in the passage specifically suggests selfishness or unselfishness on his part, merely irritability.
Choice B is incorrect. The doctor sounds irritable, critical,
sharp-tempered. He feels resentment for the lack of care
received by the victims. He does not sound like a magnanimous, forgiving man.
Choice C is incorrect. The doctor is not indifferent or uncaring. If he did not care, he would not be so sharp in challenging Dawson’s innocent remark.
Choice D is also incorrect. The doctor is quick to counter
Dawson, quick to criticize the French. Impatience, not
patience, distinguishes him.
The correct answer is Choice E. The doctor is without illusions. Unlike Dawson, he cannot comfort himself with the
illusion that things are going well. He has no illusions about
life or death: most of us, he points out unsentimentally, die
of exhaustion in the end.
When you are considering questions of attitude and tone,
bear in mind the nature of the SAT. It is a standardized test
aimed at a wide variety of test-takers—hip-hop fans, political
activists, 4-H members, computer hacks, readers of GQ. It is
taken by Native Americans and Chinese refugees, evangelical Christians and Orthodox Jews, Buddhists and Hindus,
Hispanics and blacks, New Yorkers and Nebraskans—a
typically American mix.
The SAT-makers are very aware of this diversity. As
members of their staff have told us, they are particularly
concerned to avoid using material on the tests that might
upset students (and possibly adversely affect their
scores). For this reason, the goal is to be noncontroversial:
to present material that won’t offend anyone. Thus, in
selecting potential reading passages, the SAT-makers
tend to avoid subjects that are sensitive in favor of ones
that are bland. In fact, if a passage doesn’t start out bland,
they revise it and cut out the spice. One SAT test, for
example, includes Kenneth Clark’s comment about the
“sharp wits” of Romans, but cuts out his comment about
their “hard heads.” Another uses a passage from Mary
McCarthy’s prickly Memories of a Catholic Girlhood, but
cuts out every reference to Catholic and Protestant
interaction—and much of the humor, too.
112 The Critical Reading Question
How does this affect the sort of tone and attitude questions
the SAT-makers ask? As you can see, the SAT-makers
attempt to respect the feelings of minority group members.
Thus, you can expect minority group members to be portrayed
in SAT reading passages in a favorable light. If, for example,
there had been an attitude question based on the Lois
Mailou Jones passage, it might have been worded like this:
The author’s attitude toward the artistic achievements mentioned in the passage can best be
described as one of
(A) incredulity
(B) suspicion
(C) condescension
(D) indifference
(E) admiration
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Admiration is the only possible choice.
14
Important Words in Questions on Attitude and Tone
aloof
indifference
ambivalent
ironic
brusque
judicious
cautionary
naive
compassionate
nostalgia
condescension
objective
cynical
optimism
defensive
pedantic
detachment
pessimism
didactic
pomposity
disdain
prosaic
disparaging
resigned (adjective)
dispassionate
sarcasm
esteem
satirical
flippant
skeptical
grudging
trite
hypocritical
whimsical
When Asked to Give the Meaning of
an Unfamiliar Word, Look for Nearby
Context Clues.
Every student who has ever looked into a dictionary is aware
that many words have more than one meaning. A common
question that appears on the SAT tests your ability to determine the correct meaning of a word from its context.
Sometimes the word is a common one, and you must determine its exact meaning as used by the author. At other
times, the word is uncommon. You can determine its meaning by a careful examination of the text.
tion (unproven accusation) that our black and female artists
are not good enough to be included in the texts. Jones, however, is good enough. Therefore, she is an example of an
answer to this false accusation or charge.
As always, use your knowledge of context clues and word
parts (Chapter 4) to help you discover the meanings of unfamiliar words.
“Well,” sneered Perrot, “any scandals from the big
city?” Like a Huguenot imagining Rome, he built up a
picture of frivolity, viciousness, and corruption. “We
bush-folk live quietly.”
One question based on the Lois Mailou Jones passage asks
you to determine which exact meaning of a common word is
used in a particular sentence. Here is the sentence in which
the word appears.
Lois Mailou Jones is one example of an answer to the
charge that there are no black or female American artists
to include in art history textbooks and classes.
The word “charge” in line 2 means
(A) fee
(B) duty
(C) onslaught
(D) allegation
(E) care
To answer this question, simply substitute each of the
answer choices for the quoted word in its original context.
Clearly, both black and female American artists exist. Thus,
the statement that there are no black or female American
artists to include in art history texts or classes is an allega-
A second vocabulary question, this one based on the
Greene passage, concerns an uncommon, unfamiliar word.
Here is the paragraph in which the word appeared.
A Huguenot, as used in the passage, is most
likely
(A) a person dying of exhaustion
(B) a doctor angered by needless suffering
(C) an admirer of the Roman aristocracy
(D) a city-dweller scornful of country ways
(E) a puritan who suspects others of
immorality
What is a Huguenot? It’s certainly not an everyday word.
You may never have encountered the term before you read
this passage. But you can figure it out. A Huguenot is someone who, when he thinks of Rome, thinks of it in terms of
vice and lack of seriousness. He disapproves of it for its
wickedness and frivolity. Thus, he is a puritan of sorts, a
person who condemns practices which he regards as
impure or corrupt. The correct answer is Choice E.
Look at the words in the immediate vicinity of the word you
are defining. They will give you a sense of the meaning of
the unfamiliar word.
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Testing Tactics 113
15
When Dealing with Double Passages,
Tackle Them One at a Time.
If the double passage section has you worried, relax. It’s
not that formidable, especially if you deal with it our way.
Read the lines in italics introducing both passages. Then
look at the two passages. Their lines will be numbered as if
they were one enormous passage: if Passage 1 ends on line
42, Passage 2 will begin on line 43. However, they are two
separate passages. Tackle them one at a time.
The questions are organized sequentially: questions about
Passage 1 come before questions about Passage 2. So, do
things in order. First read Passage 1; then jump straight to
the questions and answer all those based on Passage 1.
Next read Passage 2; then answer all the questions based
on Passage 2. (The line numbers in the questions will help
you spot where the questions on Passage 1 end and those
on Passage 2 begin.) Finally, tackle the two or three questions that refer to both passages. Go back to both passages
as needed.
Occasionally a couple of questions referring to both passages will precede the questions focusing on Passage 1. Do
not let this minor hitch throw you. Use your common sense.
You’ve just read the first passage. Skip the one or two questions on both passages, and head for those questions about
Passage 1. Answer them. Then read Passage 2. Answer the
questions on Passage 2. Finally, go back to those questions
you skipped and answer them and any other questions at
the end of the set that refer to both passages. Remember,
however: whenever you skip from question to question, or
from passage to passage, be sure you’re filling in the right
ovals on your answer sheet.
Here is an example of a double passage. Go through the
questions that follow, applying the tactics you’ve just learned.
The following passages are excerpted from books on
America’s national pastime, baseball. Passage 1 is
taken from an account of a particularly memorable season. Passage 2 is from a meditation on the game written
in 1989 by the late literary scholar A. Bartlett Giamatti,
then commissioner of baseball.
Passage 1
DiMaggio had size, power, and speed. McCarthy,
his longtime manager, liked to say that DiMaggio
might have stolen 60 bases a season if he had given
Line him the green light. Stengel, his new manager, was
(5) equally impressed, and when DiMaggio was on
base he would point to him as an example of the
perfect base runner. “Look at him,” Stengel would
say as DiMaggio ran out a base hit, “he’s always
watching the ball. He isn’t watching second base.
(10) He isn’t watching third base. He knows they haven’t
been moved. He isn’t watching the ground, because
he knows they haven’t built a canal or a swimming
pool since he was last there. He’s watching the
ball and the outfielder, which is the one thing that
(15) is different on every play.”
DiMaggio complemented his natural athletic
ability with astonishing physical grace. He played
the outfield, he ran the bases, and he batted not
just effectively but with rare style. He would glide
(20) rather than run, it seemed, always smooth, always
ending up where he wanted to be just when he
wanted to be there. If he appeared to play effortlessly, his teammates knew otherwise. In his first
season as a Yankee, Gene Woodling, who played
(25) left field, was struck by the sound of DiMaggio
chasing a fly ball. He sounded like a giant truck
horse on the loose, Woodling thought, his feet thudding down hard on the grass. The great, clear noises
in the open space enabled Woodling to measure
(30) the distances between them without looking.
He was the perfect Hemingway hero, for
Hemingway in his novels romanticized the man
who exhibited grace under pressure, who withheld
any emotion lest it soil the purer statement of his
(35) deeds. DiMaggio was that kind of hero; his grace
and skill were always on display, his emotions
always concealed. This stoic grace was not achieved
without a terrible price: DiMaggio was a man
wound tight. He suffered from insomnia and ulcers.
(40) When he sat and watched the game he chainsmoked and drank endless cups of coffee. He was
ever conscious of his obligation to play well. Late
in his career, when his legs were bothering him and
the Yankees had a comfortable lead in a pennant
(45) race, columnist Jimmy Cannon asked him why he
played so hard—the games, after all, no longer
meant so much. “Because there might be somebody out there who’s never seen me play before,”
he answered.
Passage 2
(50)
Athletes and actors—let actors stand for the set
of performing artists—share much. They share the
need to make gesture as fluid and economical as
possible, to make out of a welter of choices the
single, precisely right one. They share the need for
(55) thousands of hours of practice in order to train the
body to become the perfect, instinctive instrument
to express. Both athlete and actor, out of that abundance of emotion, choice, strategy, knowledge of
the terrain, mood of spectators, condition of others
(60) in the ensemble, secret awareness of injury or
weakness, and as nearly an absolute concentration
as possible so that all externalities are integrated,
all distraction absorbed to the self, must be able to
change the self so successfully that it changes us.
(65)
When either athlete or actor can bring all these
skills to bear and focus them, then he or she will
114 The Critical Reading Question
(70)
(75)
(80)
(85)
(90)
achieve that state of complete intensity and complete relaxation—complete coherence or integrity
between what the performer wants to do and what
the performer has to do. Then, the performer is free;
for then, all that has been learned, by thousands of
hours of practice and discipline and by repetition of
pattern, becomes natural. Then intellect is upgraded
to the level of an instinct. The body follows commands that precede thinking.
When athlete and artist achieve such selfknowledge that they transform the self so that we
are re-created, it is finally an exercise in power.
The individual’s power to dominate, on stage or
field invests the whole arena around the locus of
performance with his or her power. We draw from
the performer’s energy, just as we scrutinize the
performer’s vulnerabilities, and we criticize as if
we were equals (we are not) what is displayed. This
is why all performers dislike or resent the audience
as much as they need and enjoy it. Power flows in
a mysterious circuit from performer to spectator (I
assume a “live” performance) and back, and while
cheers or applause are the hoped-for outcome of
performing, silence or gasps are the most desired,
for then the moment has occurred—then domination is complete, and as the performer triumphs, a
unity rare and inspiring results.
1. In Passage 1, Stengel is most impressed by DiMaggio’s
(A) indifference to potential dangers
(B) tendency to overlook the bases in his haste
(C) ability to focus on the variables
(D) proficiency at fielding fly balls
(E) overall swiftness and stamina
2. Stengel’s comments in lines 7–15 serve chiefly to
(A) point up the stupidity of the sort of error he
condemns
(B) suggest the inevitability of mistakes in running
bases
(C) show it is easier to spot problems than to come
up with answers
(D) answer the criticisms of DiMaggio’s base running
(E) modify his earlier position on DiMaggio’s ability
3. By quoting Woodling’s comment on DiMaggio’s
running (lines 26–28), the author most likely intends
to emphasize
(A) his teammates’ envy of DiMaggio’s natural gifts
(B) how much exertion went into DiMaggio’s moves
(C) how important speed is to a baseball player
(D) Woodling’s awareness of his own slowness
(E) how easily DiMaggio was able to cover territory
4. The phrase “a man wound tight” (line 39) means a man
(A) wrapped in confining bandages
(B) living in constricted quarters
(C) under intense emotional pressure
(D) who drank alcohol to excess
(E) who could throw with great force
5. In the last paragraph of Passage 1, the author acknowledges which negative aspect of DiMaggio’s heroic stature?
(A) His overemphasis on physical grace
(B) His emotional romanticism
(C) The uniformity of his performance
(D) The obligation to answer the questions of reporters
(E) The burden of living up to his reputation
6. Which best describes what the author is doing in the
parenthetical comment “let actors stand for the set
of performing artists” (lines 50–51)?
(A) Indicating that actors should rise out of respect
for the arts
(B) Defining the way in which he is using a particular
term
(C) Encouraging actors to show tolerance for their
fellow artists
(D) Emphasizing that actors are superior to other
performing artists
(E) Correcting a misinterpretation of the role of actors
7. The phrase “bring all these skills to bear” in lines
65–66 is best taken to mean that the athlete
(A) comes to endure these skills
(B) carries the burden of his talent
(C) applies these skills purposefully
(D) causes himself to behave skillfully
(E) influences himself to give birth to his skills
8. To the author of Passage 2, freedom for performers
depends on
(A) their subjection of the audience
(B) their willingness to depart from tradition
(C) the internalization of all they have learned
(D) their ability to interpret material independently
(E) the absence of injuries or other weaknesses
9. The author’s attitude toward the concept of the equality
of spectators and performers (lines 83–84) is one of
(A) relative indifference
(B) mild skepticism
(C) explicit rejection
(D) strong embarrassment
(E) marked perplexity
10. Why, in lines 86–87, does the author of Passage 2
assume a “live” performance?
(A) His argument assumes a mutual involvement
between performer and spectator that can only
occur when both are present.
(B) He believes that televised and filmed images give
a false impression of the performer’s ability to
the spectators.
(C) He fears the use of “instant replay” and other
broadcasting techniques will cause performers
to resent spectators even more strongly.
(D) His argument dismisses the possibility of combining live performances with filmed segments.
(E) He prefers audiences not to have time to reflect
about the performance they have just seen.
Testing Tactics 115
11. The author of Passage 2 would most likely react to
the characterization of DiMaggio presented in
lines 41–49 by pointing out that DiMaggio probably
(A) felt some resentment of the spectator whose
good opinion he supposedly sought
(B) never achieved the degree of self-knowledge
that would have transformed him
(C) was unaware that his audience was surveying
his weak points
(D) was a purely instinctive natural athlete
(E) was seldom criticized by his peers
12. Which of the following attributes of the ideal athlete
mentioned in Passage 2 is NOT illustrated by the
anecdotes about DiMaggio in Passage 1?
(A) knowledge of the terrain
(B) secret awareness of injury or weakness
(C) consciousness of the condition of other teammates
(D) ability to make gestures fluid and economical
(E) absolute powers of concentration
13. Which of the following statements is best supported
by a comparison of the two excerpts?
(A) Both excerpts focus on the development of a
specific professional athlete.
(B) The purpose of both excerpts is to compare
athletes with performing artists.
(C) The development of ideas in both excerpts is
similar.
(D) Both excerpts examine the nature of superior
athletic performance.
(E) Both excerpts discuss athletic performance
primarily in abstract terms.
DOUBLE PASSAGE ANSWER KEY
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. E
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. C
10. A
11. A
12. C
13. D
1. C. Stengel’s concluding sentence indicates that
DiMaggio watches “the one thing that is different
on every play.” In other words, DiMaggio focuses
on the variables, the factors that change from
play to play.
2. A. Stengel’s sarcastic comments about the mistakes
DiMaggio doesn’t make indicate just how dumb
he thinks it is to look down at the ground when
you should have your attention on the outfielder
and the ball. Clearly, if one of his players made
such an error, Stengel’s response would be to
say, “What’s the matter, stupid? Are you afraid
you’re going to fall in a canal down there?”
3. B. Note the context of the reference to Woodling.
In the sentence immediately preceding, the
author says that, if DiMaggio “appeared to play
effortlessly, his teammates knew otherwise.” The
author then introduces a comment by Woodling,
one of DiMaggio’s teammates. Woodling knew
a great deal of effort went into DiMaggio’s
playing: he describes how DiMaggio’s feet
pounded as he ran. Clearly, the force of
DiMaggio’s running is mentioned to illustrate
how much exertion went into DiMaggio’s moves.
4. C. Look at the sentences following this phrase.
They indicate that DiMaggio was a man under
intense emotional pressure, one who felt so much
stress that he developed ulcers and had problems
getting to sleep.
5. E. In the final paragraph, the author describes
DiMaggio pushing himself to play hard despite
his injuries. DiMaggio does so because he is
trying to live up to the image his public has of
him. He feels the burden of living up to his
reputation.
6. B. At this point, the questions on Passage 2 begin.
In this brief aside, the author is taking a moment
away from his argument to make sure the reader
knows exactly who the subjects of his comparison
are. He wishes to use the word actors to stand
for or represent all other performers. This way
every time he makes his comparison between
athletes and performers he won’t have to list all
the various sorts of performing artists (actors,
dancers, singers, acrobats, clowns) who resemble
athletes in their need for physical grace, extensive
rehearsal, and total concentration. Thus, in his
side comment, he is defining how he intends to
use the word actors throughout the discussion.
7. C. The author has been describing the wide range
of skills a performer utilizes in crafting an artistic
or athletic performance. It is by taking these
skills and applying them purposefully and with
concentration to the task at hand that the performer achieves his or her goal.
8. C. Performers are free when all they have learned
becomes so natural, so internalized, that it seems
instinctive. In other words, freedom depends on
the internalization of what they have learned.
9. C. The author bluntly states that we spectators are
not the performers’ equals. Thus, his attitude
toward the concept is one of explicit rejection.
10. A. While a spectator may feel powerfully involved
with a filmed or televised image of a performer,
the filmed image is unaffected by the spectator’s
feelings. Thus, for power to “flow in a mysterious
circuit” from performer to spectator and back,
the assumption is that both performer and
spectator must be present in the flesh.
116 The Critical Reading Question
11. A. Passage 1 indicates DiMaggio always played
hard to live up to his reputation and to perform
well for anyone in the stands who had never
seen him play before. Clearly, he wanted the
spectators to have a good opinion of him.
Passage 2, however, presents a more complex
picture of the relationship between the performer
and his audience. On the one hand, the performer
needs the audience, needs its good opinion and
its applause. On the other hand, the performer
also resents the audience, resents the way spectators freely point out his weaknesses and criticize
his art. Thus, the author of Passage 2 might well
point out that DiMaggio felt some resentment
of the audience whom he hoped to impress with
his skill.
12. C. Though DiMaggio’s teammates clearly were
aware of his condition (as the Woodling anecdote
illustrates), none of the anecdotes in Passage 1
indicate or even imply that DiMaggio was specifically conscious of his teammates’ condition.
You can answer this question by using the process of elimination. In running bases, DiMaggio
never lets himself be distracted by looking at
the bases or down at the ground; as Stengel says,
he knows where they are. Clearly, he knows the
terrain. You can eliminate Choice A. When
DiMaggio’s legs are failing him late in his career,
he still pushes himself to perform well for the
fan in the stands who hasn’t seen him play before.
In doing so, he takes into account his secret
awareness of his legs’ weakness. You can eliminate Choice B. Gliding rather than running, always
smooth, never wasting a glance on inessentials,
DiMaggio clearly exhibits fluidity and economy
in his movements. You can eliminate Choice
D. Running bases, DiMaggio always keeps his
eye on the ball and the outfielder; he concentrates
absolutely on them. You can eliminate Choice
E. Only Choice C is left. It is the correct answer.
13. D. Though one passage presents an abstract discussion of the nature of the ideal athlete and the
other describes the achievements and character
of a specific superior athlete, both passages
examine the nature of superior athletic performance.
Long-Range Strategies
Are you a good reader? Do you read twenty-five or more
books a year in addition to those books assigned in school?
When you read light fiction, do you cover a page per
minute? Do you read only light fiction, or have you begun to
read “heavy” books—books on science, political theory, literary criticism, art? Do you browse regularly through magazines and newspapers?
Faced with the above questions, students frequently panic.
Accustomed to gathering information from television and
radio rather than from books, they don’t know how to get
back on the track. But getting back on the track is easier
than they think.
Read, Read, Read!
Just do it.
There is no substitute for extensive reading as a preparation
for the SAT and for college work. The only way to obtain
proficiency in reading is by reading books of all kinds. As
you read, you will develop speed, stamina, and the ability to
comprehend the printed page. But if you want to turn yourself into the kind of reader the colleges are looking for, you
must develop the habit of reading—every day.
25 Books a Year
Suppose you’re an average reader; you read an ordinary
book at about 300 words a minute. In 20 minutes, how many
words can you read? Six thousand, right?
In a week of reading 20 minutes per day, how many words
can you read? Seven days, 42,000 words.
Now get out your calculator. In 52 weeks of reading 20 minutes per day, how many words can you read? That’s 52
times 42,000, a grand total of 2,184,000 words!
Now here comes the hard part. Full-length books usually
contain 60,000 to 100,000 words. Say the average book
runs about 75,000 words. If reading 20 minutes a day you
can read 2,184,000 words in a year, how many average,
75,000-word books can you read in a year?
The answer is a little over 29. Twenty-nine books in a year.
So don’t panic at the thought of reading 25 books a year.
Anybody can find twenty minutes a day, and if you can do
that, you can read more than 25 books a year. The trick is
always to have your book on hand, so that you don’t have to
waste time hunting around for it if you suddenly find yourself
with some free time.
Schedule a set time for nonschool reading. Make the 20minute-a-day plan part of your life.
Speed Up Your Reading
If you have trouble getting through a typical verbal section in
25 minutes, you may want to work on ways to build up your
reading speed.
One thing you should be aware of is that to build speed you
have to practice with easy materials. Most slow readers are
used to reading everything—technical material, sports
columns, comics—at one slow, careful speed. To build up
speed, you have to get your eyes and brain accustomed to
moving rapidly, and that means working with passages that
are easy for you. Given sufficiently easy material, there are
Long-Range Strategies 117
all sorts of techniques that you can try: you can draw a line
down the middle of a newspaper column, for example, and
then, focusing your eye on the line, try to get the meanings
of the words on each side as you read straight down the column. It’s a great exercise for your peripheral vision.
One major cause of slow reading is that sometimes you don’t
focus. Your eyes keep moving down the page, but your mind
is out to lunch. Then bang! You wake up from your daydream
and say, “Hey! What was I reading?” And your eyes jump
back to an earlier spot on the page and you wind up rereading the whole thing.
Obviously, regressing, going back and rereading words or
whole passages you’ve already supposedly read, slows you
down. Regressing is a habit, but like any other habit, you
can break it.
One way to reduce regressions is to preview a passage before
you read it. A quick look at the introductory sentences of
paragraphs, at titles and section headings, at words in italics
and other key words, will give you an idea of what you’re
about to read. At that point, you have a sense of the material
and you come to read the passage with some questions in
mind—you read actively, not passively.
A second way to reduce regressions is to make it impossible
to look back. Take a 3 × 5 card and use it like a shutter to
cover what you’ve already read. That way you force yourself
to keep going. You have to concentrate: you have no choice.
One last speed-reading technique you should be aware of is
called clustering or phrase-reading. Have you ever watched
somebody’s eyes when he or she is busy reading? Do it
sometime. You’ll see the eyes move, then come to a stop,
then dart back for a second, stop, then sweep forward again,
stop, and so on. The stops last only for a fraction of a second,
but they’re important: it’s only when the eyes stop that you
actually read. In that fraction-of-a-second stop, or fixation,
your eyes fix on a word. If you’re skilled at clustering, however, in that one stop your eyes fix on not one, but a group
of words. Clustering, phrase-reading, prevents word-by-word
reading. It speeds you up where word-by-word reading slows
you down.
Here’s how to practice clustering. First, find something easy
to read. Don’t start out with SAT tests. Divide up the passage
into three or four word phrases. Next read it trying to see those
three or four words in a single fixation. Then reread it at your
normal speed to catch anything you’ve missed.
One final, crucial point: These pointers on how to build up
your reading speed are long-range strategies. They are not
specific tactics for how to go about dealing with the SAT test
you’re going to face in the near future. The SAT is no time
for you to try out new techniques that you’ve heard of but
have yet to master.
Upgrade What You Read
Challenge yourself. Don’t limit your reading to light fiction
and biography as so many high school students do. Branch
out a bit. Go beyond People magazine. Try to develop an
interest in as many fields as you can. Sample some of the
quality magazines: The New Yorker, Smithsonian, Scientific
American, National Geographic, Harper’s, Newsweek, Time.
In these magazines, you’ll find articles on literature, music,
science, philosophy, history, the arts—the whole range of fields
touched on by the SAT. If you take time to acquaint yourself
with the contents of these magazines, you won’t find the subject
matter of the reading passages on the examination so strange.
Be sure to take a look at Scientific American. The SAT-makers used to use excerpts from Scientific American articles
regularly on their tests. Now, however, the SAT has cut
down on excessively technical, dry reading passages. Most
science passages on the SAT will be easier to read than the
average Scientific American article you face. Don’t feel you
have to read entire articles: if you can make sense out of the
first page or two of an article, you’re doing fine; you’re reading to get acquainted with the subject matter, not to master
every experimental detail.
Read good newspapers, too. The Washington Post, The
Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times—these and
other major papers offer excellent coverage of the arts and
sciences as well as current events.
Reader’s Guide to the SAT
The reading passages you will face on the SAT are excerpts
from the sorts of books your college instructors will assign
you in your freshman and sophomore years. You can get a
head start on college (and on the SAT) by beginning to read
college-level material now—today.
The following reading list is divided into seven sections:
1. Fiction
2. Personal Narrative
3. Ethnic (autobiography, biography, art, music, history)
4. Literary Criticism
5. Humanities (art, music, drama, dance)
6. Science (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics,
geology, astronomy)
7. Social Sciences (history, political science, archaeology,
sociology)
A number of the subjects on this list have been the source of
passages on published SATs.
Follow these steps in working through the list. Choose material from areas with which you feel unfamiliar. Do not worry if
the first book you tackle seems difficult to you. Try working
your way through a short section—the first chapter should
be enough to give you a sense of what the author has to
say. Remember that this is college-level material: it is bound
to be challenging to you; be glad you’re getting a chance at
it so soon.
If you get stuck, work your way up to the level of the book,
taking it step by step. If Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of
Innocence seems hard, try reading it after you’ve seen the
118 The Critical Reading Question
award-winning movie of the same name. If an article in the
Scientific American book The Brain seems hard, try reading
it after you’ve read Isaac Asimov’s popular The Human Brain.
Get introductory books on your subject from the high school
library or from the Young Adults section of the local public
library. There isn’t one of these books that’s beyond you;
you just need to fill in some background first.
(Note that books marked with an asterisk [*] have been the
sources for reading passages used in published SAT tests;
books marked M or TV have been made into excellent
motion pictures or television shows and are available as
videos or DVDs.)
Fiction
James Agee, A Death in the Family
Kingsley Amis, Lucky Jim (M)
Jane Austen, Emma (M)
Mansfield Park (M) *
Pride and Prejudice (M) *
James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain (TV)
Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre (M)
Villette
Joseph Conrad, The Heart of Darkness
Stephen Crane, “The Open Boat” *
Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge *
Great Expectations (M)
Little Dorritt (TV) *
Nicholas Nickelby (TV, M)
Our Mutual Friend *
Margaret Drabble, A Summer Bird-Cage
George Eliot, Middlemarch *
Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man (M)
William Faulkner, Collected Stories of William Faulkner
Intruder in the Dust (M)
Sartoris
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Babylon Revisited
The Great Gatsby (M)
E.M. Forster, A Room with a View (M)
Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford
Sylvia’s Lovers *
William Golding, Lord of the Flies (M)
Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter * (M)
Our Man in Havana (M)
The Power and the Glory
The Third Man (M)
Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd (M)
Jude the Obscure
Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms (M)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (M)
The Nick Adams Stories, “The Last Good Country” *
The Sun Also Rises (M)
Wm. Dean Howells, A Modern Instance *
Henry James, The American *
Daisy Miller
The Portrait of a Lady (M) *
The Turn of the Screw
Washington Square (M) *
James Joyce, Dubliners, “Araby” *
Arthur Koestler, Darkness at Noon
D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers (M)
Women in Love (M)
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
Herman Melville, Billy Budd (M)
Moby Dick (M)
George Orwell, Animal Farm (M)
1984 (M)
William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair (TV)
Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers (TV)
The Warden (TV)
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (M, TV)
“The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” *
Robert Penn Warren, All the King’s Men (M)
Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited (TV)
Men at Arms
Mary Webb, The House in Dormer Forest *
Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence (M) *
The House of Mirth *
Virginia Woolf, Orlando (M)
To the Lighthouse
Personal Narrative
Elizabeth Bishop, Efforts of Affection: A Memoir of
Marianne Moore*
Pablo Casals, Joys and Sorrows
M.F.K. Fisher, As They Were
Janet Flanner, Paris Journal/1944–1965
Gail Godwin, “My Face” *
Robert Graves, Goodbye to All That
Lillian Hellman, An Unfinished Life
C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (TV)
Mary McCarthy, Memories of a Catholic Girlhood *
How I Grew
George Orwell, Such, Such Were the Joys
Arthur Rubinstein, My Young Years
Gertrude Stein, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas
Gloria Steinem, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions
Ethnic
Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (TV)
The Heart of a Woman
“Shades and Slashes of Light” in Black Women Writers *
James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
Nobody Knows My Name
No Name in the Street
Vine Deloria, Custer Died for Your Sins
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of an
American Slave
W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk
Ralph Ellison, Going to the Territory
John Hope Franklin, From Slavery to Freedom
Jamake Highwater, Songs from the Earth: American
Indian Painting
Words in the Blood: Contemporary Indian Writers
Nathan I. Huggins, Black Odyssey
Harlem Renaissance
Slave and Citizen: The Life of Frederick Douglass
Leroi Jones, Blues People (music)
Maxine Hong Kingston, China Men
The Woman Warrior
Samella Lewis, Art: African American
H. Brett Melendy, Asians in America
Practice Exercises 119
William Peterson, Japanese Americans
Alan Riding, Our Distant Neighbors
Richard Rodriguez, The Hunger of Memory *
Lesley Byrd Simpson, Many Mexicans
Eileen Southern, Music of Black Americans
Stan Steiner, La Raza: The Mexican Americans
Wilcomb E. Washburn, The Indian in America
Richard Wright, American Hunger *
Black Boy
Literary Criticism
Marchette Chute, Geoffrey Chaucer of England
John Ciardi, How Does a Poem Mean
E.M. Forster, Aspects of the Novel
Arnold Kettle, An Introduction to the English Novel*
D.H. Lawrence, Studies in Classic American Literature
J.R.R. Tolkien, “Beowulf, the Monsters, & the Critics”*
Dorothy Van Ghent, The English Novel
Virginia Woolf, The Second Common Reader
Humanities
Sally Barnes, Terpsichore in Sneakers (dance)
Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment
Kenneth Clark, Civilization (TV)*
Marcia Davenport, Mozart
John Gassner, Masters of the Drama
Harley Granville-Barker, Prefaces to Shakespeare
S. I. Hayakawa, Language in Thought and Action *
Joseph Kerman, Contemplating Music
Beaumont Newhall, The History of Photography
Marcia B. Siegal, The Shapes of Change (dance)
C.P. Snow, The Two Cultures
Walter Sorell, Dance in its Time
Science
Isaac Asimov, The Human Body
The Human Brain
Eric T. Bell, The Development of Mathematics
Jeremy Bernstein, Experiencing Science
Science Observed
Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man
N.P. Davis, Lawrence and Oppenheimer
Adrian Desmond, The Hot-Blooded Dinosaurs
Gerald Durrell, My Family and Other Animals
Fauna and Family
Richard Feynman, Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman
Karl von Frisch, Animal Architecture
George Gamow, Mr. Tompkins (series)
One, Two, Three...Infinity
Jane Goodall, In the Shadow of Man
Stephen Jay Gould, Ever Since Darwin
Arthur Koestler, The Case of the Midwife Toad
Aldo Leopold, Sand County Almanac
Konrad Lorenz, King Solomon’s Ring
On Aggression
Jonathan Miller, The Body in Question
Scientific American Books, The Biosphere
The Brain
Energy and Power
Evolution
The Ocean*
The Solar System
Volcanoes and the Earth’s Interior*
James Watson, The Double Helix
Gary Zukav, The Dancing Wu Li Masters
Social Sciences
Frederick Lewis Allen, Only Yesterday
Corelli Barnet, The Desert Generals
The Sword Bearers
Peter Berger, Invitation to Sociology
Fritjof Capra, The Turning Point
Vincent Cronin, Napoleon
Will and Ariel Durant, The Story of Civilization
Einhard and Notken the Stammerer, Two Lives of
Charlemagne
J. Huizinga, The Waning of the Middle Ages
Joseph P. Lash, Eleanor and Franklin (TV)
Joe McGinniss, The Selling of the President, 1968
Paul MacKendrick, The Mute Stones Speak
Nancy Mitford, Frederick the Great
Johannes Nohl, The Black Death
Eileen Power, Medieval People
Diane Ravitch, The Democracy Reader *
Josephine Tey, The Daughter of Time
Barbara Tuchman, A Distant Mirror
The Guns of August (M)
T.H. White, The Making of the President (series)
Edmund Wilson, To the Finland Station
Michael Wood, In Search of the Trojan War (TV)
Practice Exercises
On the following pages you will find four reading exercises.
Allow about 30 minutes for each group. The correct
answers, as well as answer explanations, are given at the
end of the chapter. Practice the testing tactics you have
learned as you work. Your reading score will improve.
Exercise A
Each of the following passages comes from a novel or short story collection that has provided reading passages
on prior SATs. Use this exercise to acquaint yourself with the sort of fiction you will confront on the test and to
practice answering critical reading questions based on literature.
120 The Critical Reading Question
The following passage is taken from Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens. In it, the hero, Pip, recollects a dismal period in his youth during which he for a time lost
hope of ever bettering his fortunes.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of
home. There may be black ingratitude in the thing,
and the punishment may be retributive and well
deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can
testify. Home had never been a very pleasant place
to me, because of my sister’s temper. But Joe had
sanctified it and I believed in it. I had believed in the
best parlor as a most elegant salon; I had believed
in the front door as a mysterious portal of the Temple
of State whose solemn opening was attended with
a sacrifice of roast fowls; I had believed in the
kitchen as a chaste though not magnificent apartment; I had believed in the forge as the glowing
road to manhood. Now, it was all coarse and common, and I would not have had Miss Havisham
and Estella see it on any account.
Once, it had seemed to me that when I should
at last roll up my shirt sleeves and go into the forge,
Joe’s ’prentice, I should be distinguished and happy.
Now the reality was in my hold, I only felt that I
was dusty with the dust of small coal, and that I had
a weight upon my daily remembrance to which the
anvil was a feather. There have been occasions in
my later life (I suppose as in most lives) when I have
felt for a time as if a thick curtain had fallen on all
its interest and romance, to shut me out from any
thing save dull endurance any more. Never has that
curtain dropped so heavy and blank, as when my way
in life lay stretched out straight before me through
the newly-entered road of apprenticeship to Joe.
I remember that at a later period of my “time,”
I used to stand about the churchyard on Sunday
evenings, when night was falling, comparing my
own perspective with the windy marsh view, and
making out some likeness between them by thinking how flat and low both were, and how on both
there came an unknown way and a dark mist and
then the sea. I was quite as dejected on the first
working-day of my apprenticeship as in that after
time; but I am glad to know that I never breathed
a murmur to Joe while my indentures lasted. It is
about the only thing I am glad to know of myself
in that connection.
For, though it includes what I proceed to add,
all the merit of what I proceed to add was Joe’s.
It was not because I was faithful, but because Joe
was faithful, that I never ran away and went for a
soldier or a sailor. It was not because I had a
strong sense of the virtue of industry, but because
Joe had a strong sense of the virtue of industry,
that I worked with tolerable zeal against the grain.
It is not possible to know how far the influence of
any amiable honest-hearted duty-going man flies
out into the world; but it is very possible to know
how it has touched one’s self in going by, and I
know right well that any good that intermixed itself
with my apprenticeship came of plain contented
Joe, and not of restless aspiring discontented me.
1. The passage as a whole is best described as
(A) an analysis of the reasons behind a change in
attitude
(B) an account of a young man’s reflections on his
emotional state
(C) a description of a young man’s awakening to the
harsh conditions of working class life
(D) a defense of a young man’s longings for
romance and glamour
(E) a criticism of young people’s ingratitude to their
elders
2. It may be inferred from the passage that the young
man has been apprenticed to a
(A) cook
(B) forger
(C) coal miner
(D) blacksmith
(E) grave digger
3. In the passage, Joe is portrayed most specifically as
(A) distinguished
(B) virtuous
(C) independent
(D) homely
(E) coarse
4. The passage suggests that the narrator’s increasing
discontent with his home during his apprenticeship
was caused by
(A) a new awareness on his part of how his home
would appear to others
(B) the increasing heaviness of the labor involved
(C) the unwillingness of Joe to curb his sister’s temper
(D) the narrator’s lack of an industrious character
(E) a combination of simple ingratitude and sinfulness
5. According to the passage, the narrator gives himself
a measure of credit for
(A) working diligently despite his unhappiness
(B) abandoning his hope of a military career
(C) keeping his menial position secret from Miss
Havisham
(D) concealing his despondency from Joe
(E) surrendering his childish beliefs
The following passage is excerpted from the short story
“Clay” in Dubliners by James Joyce. In this passage, tiny,
unmarried Maria oversees tea for the washerwomen, all
the while thinking of the treat in store for her: a night off.
The matron had given her leave to go out as
soon as the women’s tea was over and Maria looked
forward to her evening out. The kitchen was spick
Line and span: the cook said you could see yourself in
(5) the big copper boilers. The fire was nice and bright
Practice Exercises 121
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
and on one of the side-tables were four very big
barmbracks. These barmbracks seemed uncut; but
if you went closer you would see that they had
been cut into long thick even slices and were ready
to be handed round at tea. Maria had cut them herself.
Maria was a very, very small person indeed but
she had a very long nose and a very long chin. She
talked a little through her nose, always soothingly:
“Yes, my dear,” and “No, my dear.” She was always
sent for when the women quarrelled over their tubs
and always succeeded in making peace. One day
the matron had said to her:
“Maria, you are a veritable peace-maker!”
And the sub-matron and two of the Board ladies
had heard the compliment. And Ginger Mooney
was always saying what she wouldn’t do to the
dummy who had charge of the irons if it wasn’t
for Maria. Everyone was so fond of Maria.
When the cook told her everything was ready,
she went into the women’s room and began to pull
the big bell. In a few minutes the women began to
come in by twos and threes, wiping their steaming
hands in their petticoats and pulling down the
sleeves of their blouses over their red steaming
arms. They settled down before their huge mugs
which the cook and the dummy filled up with hot
tea, already mixed with milk and sugar in huge tin
cans. Maria superintended the distribution of the
barmbrack and saw that every woman got her four
slices. There was a great deal of laughing and joking
during the meal. Lizzie Fleming said Maria was
sure to get the ring and, though Fleming had said
that for so many Hallow Eves, Maria had to laugh
and say she didn’t want any ring or man either; and
when she laughed her grey-green eyes sparkled with
disappointed shyness and the tip of her nose nearly
met the tip of her chin. Then Ginger Mooney lifted
her mug of tea and proposed Maria’s health while
all the other women clattered with their mugs on
the table, and said she was sorry she hadn’t a sup
of porter to drink it in. And Maria laughed again
till the tip of her nose nearly met the tip of her chin
and till her minute body nearly shook itself asunder
because she knew that Mooney meant well though,
of course, she had the notions of a common woman.
8. It can be inferred from the passage that Maria would
most likely view the matron as which of the following?
(A) A political figurehead
(B) An inept administrator
(C) A demanding taskmaster
(D) An intimate friend
(E) A benevolent superior
9. We may infer from the care with which Maria has
cut the barmbracks (lines 7–10) that
(A) she fears the matron
(B) she is in a hurry to leave
(C) she expects the Board members for tea
(D) it is a dangerous task
(E) she takes pride in her work
10. It can be inferred from the passage that all the
following are characteristic of Maria EXCEPT
(A) a deferential nature
(B) eagerness for compliments
(C) respect for authority
(D) dreams of matrimony
(E) reluctance to compromise
The following passage is taken from Jane Austen’s novel
Mansfield Park. This excerpt presents Sir Thomas
Bertram, owner of Mansfield Park, who has just joined
the members of his family.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
6. The author’s primary purpose in the second paragraph is to
(A) introduce the character of a spinster
(B) describe working conditions in a public institution
(C) compare two women of different social classes
(D) illustrate the value of peace-makers in society
(E) create suspense about Maria’s fate
7. The language of the passage most resembles the
language of
(A) a mystery novel
(B) an epic
(C) a fairy tale
(D) institutional board reports
(E) a sermon
(20)
(25)
(30)
Sir Thomas was indeed the life of the party, who
at his suggestion now seated themselves round the
fire. He had the best right to be the talker; and the
delight of his sensations in being again in his own
house, in the center of his family, after such a separation, made him communicative and chatty in a
very unusual degree; and he was ready to answer
every question of his two sons almost before it was
put. All the little particulars of his proceedings and
events, his arrivals and departures, were most
promptly delivered, as he sat by Lady Bertram
and looked with heartfelt satisfaction at the faces
around him—interrupting himself more than once,
however, to remark on his good fortune in finding
them all at home—coming unexpectedly as he did
—all collected together exactly as he could have
wished, but dared not depend on.
By not one of the circle was he listened to with
such unbroken unalloyed enjoyment as by his wife,
whose feelings were so warmed by his sudden
arrival, as to place her nearer agitation than she
had been for the last twenty years. She had been
almost fluttered for a few minutes, and still remained
so sensibly animated as to put away her work, move
Pug from her side, and give all her attention and
all the rest of her sofa to her husband. She had no
anxieties for anybody to cloud her pleasure; her
own time had been irreproachably spent during his
absence; she had done a great deal of carpet work
and made many yards of fringe; and she would have
122 The Critical Reading Question
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(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
(60)
(65)
(70)
answered as freely for the good conduct and useful
pursuits of all the young people as for her own. It
was so agreeable to her to see him again, and hear
him talk, to have her ear amused and her whole
comprehension filled by his narratives, that she
began particularly to feel how dreadfully she must
have missed him, and how impossible it would have
been for her to bear a lengthened absence.
Mrs. Norris was by no means to be compared in
happiness to her sister. Not that she was incommoded by many fears of Sir Thomas’s disapprobation
when the present state of his house should be known,
for her judgment had been so blinded, that she could
hardly be said to show any sign of alarm; but she
was vexed by the manner of his return. It had left
her nothing to do. Instead of being sent for out of
the room, and seeing him first, and having to spread
the happy news through the house, Sir Thomas,
with a very reasonable dependence perhaps on the
nerves of his wife and children, had sought no confidant but the butler, and had been following him
almost instantaneously into the drawing-room. Mrs.
Norris felt herself defrauded of an office on which
she had always depended, whether his arrival or
his death were to be the thing unfolded; and was
now trying to be in a bustle without having any
thing to bustle about. Would Sir Thomas have consented to eat, she might have gone to the housekeeper with troublesome directions; but Sir Thomas
resolutely declined all dinner; he would take nothing,
nothing till tea came—he would rather wait for tea.
Still Mrs. Norris was at intervals urging something
different; and in the most interesting moment of
his passage to England, when the alarm of a French
privateer was at the height, she burst through his
recital with the proposal of soup. “Sure, my dear
Sir Thomas, a basin of soup would be a much better
thing for you than tea. Do have a basin of soup.”
Sir Thomas could not be provoked. “Still the
same anxiety for everybody’s comfort, my dear
Mrs. Norris,” was his answer. “But indeed I would
rather have nothing but tea.”
11. We can infer from the opening paragraph that Sir
Thomas is customarily
(A) unwelcome at home
(B) tardy in business affairs
(C) dissatisfied with life
(D) more restrained in speech
(E) lacking in family feeling
12. The passage suggests that Sir Thomas’s sudden
arrival
(A) was motivated by concern for his wife
(B) came as no surprise to Lady Bertram
(C) was timed by him to coincide with a family
reunion
(D) was expected by the servants
(E) was received with mixed emotions
13. Which of the following titles best describes the passage?
(A) An Unexpected Return
(B) The Conversation of the Upper Class
(C) Mrs. Norris’s Grievance
(D) A Romantic Reunion
(E) An Account of a Voyage Abroad
14. The author’s tone in her description of Lady
Bertram’s sensations (lines 20–26) is
(A) markedly scornful
(B) mildly bitter
(C) gently ironic
(D) manifestly indifferent
(E) warmly sympathetic
15. By stressing that Lady Bertram “had no anxieties
for anybody to cloud her pleasure” (lines 26–27),
the author primarily intends to imply that
(A) Lady Bertram was hardhearted in ignoring the
sufferings of others
(B) it was unusual for Lady Bertram to be so
unconcerned
(C) others in the company had reason to be anxious
(D) Sir Thomas expected his wife to be pleased to
see him
(E) Lady Bertram lived only for pleasure
16. Sir Thomas’s attitude toward Mrs. Norris can best
be described as one of
(A) sharp irritation
(B) patient forbearance
(C) solemn disapproval
(D) unreasoned alarm
(E) unmixed delight
17. The office of which Mrs. Norris feels herself
defrauded is most likely that of
(A) butler
(B) housekeeper
(C) wife
(D) world traveler
(E) message-bearer
The following passage is taken from Edith Wharton’s
novel The Age of Innocence. In this excerpt, the
American hero has an unexpected encounter during the
course of a visit to the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Newman promised himself to pay Mademoiselle
Noemie another visit at the Louvre. He was curious
about the progress of his copies, but it must be added
Line that he was still more curious about the progress
(5) of the young lady herself. He went one afternoon
to the great museum, and wandered through several
of the rooms in fruitless quest of her. He was bending his steps to the long hall of the Italian masters,
when suddenly he found himself face to face with
(10) Valentin de Bellegarde. The young Frenchman
Practice Exercises 123
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
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greeted him with ardor, and assured him that he was
a godsend. He himself was in the worst of humors
and he wanted someone to contradict.
“In a bad humor among all these beautiful things?”
said Newman “I thought you were so fond of pictures, especially the old black ones. There are two
or three here that ought to keep you in spirits.”
“Oh, today,” answered Valentin, “I am not in a
mood for pictures, and the more beautiful they are
the less I like them. Their great staring eyes and
fixed positions irritate me. I feel as if I were at some
big, dull party, in a room full of people I shouldn’t
wish to speak to. What should I care for their beauty?
It’s a bore, and, worse still, it’s a reproach. I have
a great many ennuis; I feel vicious.”
“If the Louvre has so little comfort for you, why
in the world did you come here?” Newman asked.
“That is one of my ennuis. I came to meet my
cousin—a dreadful English cousin, a member of my
mother’s family—who is in Paris for a week with
her husband, and who wishes me to point out the
‘principal beauties.’ Imagine a woman who wears
a green crepe bonnet in December and has straps
sticking out of the ankles of her interminable boots!
My mother begged I would do something to oblige
them. I have undertaken to play valet de place this
afternoon. They were to have met me here at two
o’clock, and I have been waiting for them twenty
minutes. Why doesn’t she arrive? She has at least
a pair of feet to carry her. I don’t know whether to
be furious at their playing me false, or delighted to
have escaped them.”
“I think in your place I would be furious,” said
Newman, “because they may arrive yet, and then
your fury will still be of use to you. Whereas if you
were delighted and they were afterwards to turn up,
you might not know what to do with your delight.”
“You give me excellent advice, and I already
feel better. I will be furious; I will let them go to
(50) the deuce and I myself will go with you—unless
by chance you too have a rendezvous.”
18. The passage indicates that Newman has gone to the
Louvre in order to
(A) meet Valentin
(B) look at the paintings
(C) explore Paris
(D) keep an appointment
(E) see Mademoiselle Noemie
19. According to the passage, Valentin is unhappy
about being at the Louvre because he
(A) hates the paintings of the Italian masters
(B) has accidentally met Newman in the long hall
(C) wishes to be at a party
(D) feels that beauty should be that of nature
(E) is supposed to guide his cousin through it
20. It can be inferred from the passage that in lines
32–39 Valentin is expressing his annoyance by
(A) walking out of the Louvre in a fit of temper
(B) making insulting remarks about a woman
(C) not accepting Newman’s advice
(D) criticizing the paintings
(E) refusing to do as his mother wishes
21. With which of the following statements would
Valentin most likely agree?
I. Clothes make the man.
II. Blood is thicker than water.
III. Better late than never.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) I, II, and III
22. Newman’s role in the conversation is that of
(A) a heckler (B) a gossiper (C) a confidant
(D) an enemy
(E) a doubter
Exercise B
This exercise provides you with a mixture of reading passages similar in variety to what you will encounter on
the SAT. Answer all questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passages.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
The best Eskimo carvings of all ages seem to
possess a powerful ability to reach across the great
barriers of language and time and communicate
directly with us. The more we look at these carvings,
the more life we perceive hidden within them. We
discover subtle living forms of the animal, human,
and mystical world. These arctic carvings are not
the cold sculptures of a frozen world. Instead, they
reveal to us the passionate feelings of a vital people
well aware of all the joys, terrors, tranquility, and
wildness of life around them.
Eskimo carvers are people moved by dreams. In
spite of all their new contacts with the outsiders, they
are still concerned with their own kind of mystical
imagery. The most skillful carvers possess a bold
confidence, a direct approach to their art that has a
freedom unsullied by any kind of formalized training.
Eskimo carvers have strong, skilled hands, used to
forcing hard materials with their simple tools. Their
(20) hunting life and the northern environment invigorates
them. Bad weather often imposes a special kind of
leisure, giving them time in which to perfect their
carvings.
They are among the last of the hunting societies
(25) that have retained some part of the keen sense of
observation that we have so long forgotten. The
carvers are also butchers of meat, and therefore
masters in the understanding of animal anatomy.
Flesh and bones and sheaths of muscle seem to move
(30) in their works. They show us how to drive the
124 The Critical Reading Question
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
caribou, how to hold a child, how to walk cautiously
on thin ice. Through their eyes we understand the
dangerous power of a polar bear. In the very best
of Eskimo art we see vibrant animal and human
forms that stand quietly or tensely, strongly radiating
a sense of life. We can see, and even feel with our
hands, the cold sleekness of seals, the hulking weight
of walrus, the icy swiftness of trout, the flowing
rhythm in a flight of geese. In their art we catch
brief glimpses of a people who have long possessed
a very different approach to the whole question of
life and death.
In Eskimo art there is much evidence of humor
which the carvers have in abundance. Some of the
carvings are caricatures of themselves, of ourselves,
and of situations, or records of ancient legends. Their
laughter may be subtle, or broad and Chaucerian.
Perhaps no one can accurately define the right
way or wrong way to create a carving. Each carver
must follow his own way, in his own time. Technique in itself is meaningless unless it serves to
express content. According to the Eskimo, the best
carvings possess a sense of movement that seems
to come from within the material itself, a feeling
of tension, a living excitement.
5. According to the passage, Eskimo carvings have all
the following EXCEPT
(A) wit
(B) subtlety (C) emotional depth
(D) stylistic uniformity (E) anatomical accuracy
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
1. The author is primarily concerned with
(A) showing how Eskimo carvings achieve their
effects
(B) describing how Eskimo artists resist the
influence of outsiders
(C) discussing the significant characteristics of
Eskimo art
(D) explaining how Eskimo carvers use their
strength to manipulate hard materials
(E) interpreting the symbolism of Eskimo art
2. The author’s attitude toward Eskimo art is one of
(A) condescension (B) awe (C) admiration
(D) regret (E) bewilderment
3. With which of the following statements would the
author most likely agree?
(A) Formal training may often destroy an artist’s
originality.
(B) Artists should learn their craft by studying the
work of experts.
(C) The content of a work of art is insignificant.
(D) Caricatures have no place in serious art.
(E) Eskimo art is interesting more as an expression
of a life view than as a serious art form.
4. The author gives examples of the subjects of
Eskimo carvings primarily to
(A) show that they have no relevance to modern life
(B) indicate the artist’s lack of imagination
(C) imply that other artists have imitated them
(D) prove that the artists’ limited experience of life
has been a handicap
(E) suggest the quality and variety of the work
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
Charlotte Stanhope was at this time about thirtyfive years old; and, whatever may have been her
faults, she had none of those which belong to old
young ladies. She neither dressed young, nor talked
young, nor indeed looked young. She appeared to
be perfectly content with her time of life, and in no
way affected the graces of youth. She was a fine
young woman; and had she been a man, would have
been a fine young man. All that was done in the
house, and was not done by servants, was done by
her. She gave the orders, paid the bills, hired and
dismissed the domestics, made the tea, carved the
meat, and managed everything in the Stanhope
household. She, and she alone, could ever induce her
father to look into the state of his worldly concerns.
She, and she alone, could in any degree control the
absurdities of her sister. She, and she alone, prevented
the whole family from falling into utter disrepute and
beggary. It was by her advice that they now found
themselves very unpleasantly situated in Barchester.
So far, the character of Charlotte Stanhope is not
unprepossessing. But it remains to be said, that the
influence which she had in her family, though it had
been used to a certain extent for their worldly wellbeing, had not been used to their real benefit, as it
might have been. She had aided her father in his
indifference to his professional duties, counselling
him that his livings were as much his individual
property as the estates of his elder brother were the
property of that worthy peer. She had for years past
stifled every little rising wish for a return to England
which the reverend doctor had from time to time
expressed. She had encouraged her mother in her
idleness in order that she herself might be mistress
and manager of the Stanhope household. She had
encouraged and fostered the follies of her sister,
though she was always willing, and often able, to
protect her from their probable result. She had done
her best, and had thoroughly succeeded in spoiling
her brother, and turning him loose upon the world
an idle man without a profession, and without a
shilling that he could call his own.
Miss Stanhope was a clever woman, able to talk
on most subjects, and quite indifferent as to what
the subject was. She prided herself on her freedom
from English prejudice, and she might have added,
from feminine delicacy. On religion she was a pure
freethinker, and with much want of true affection,
delighted to throw out her own views before the
troubled mind of her father. To have shaken what
remained of his Church of England faith would have
gratified her much; but the idea of his abandoning
his preferment in the church had never once presented itself to her mind. How could he indeed, when
he had no income from any other source?
Practice Exercises 125
6. The passage as a whole is best characterized as
(A) a description of the members of a family
(B) a portrait of a young woman’s moral and
intellectual temperament
(C) an illustration of the evils of egotism
(D) an analysis of family dynamics in aristocratic
society
(E) a contrast between a virtuous daughter and her
disreputable family
7. The tone of the passage is best described as
(A) self-righteous and moralistic
(B) satirical and candid
(C) sympathetic and sentimental
(D) bitter and disillusioned
(E) indifferent and unfeeling
8. On the basis of the passage, which of the following
statements about Dr. Stanhope can most logically
be made?
(A) He is even more indolent than his wife.
(B) He resents having surrendered his authority to
his daughter.
(C) He feels remorse for his professional misconduct.
(D) He has little left of his initial religious beliefs.
(E) He has disinherited his son without a shilling.
9. It can be inferred from the passage that Charlotte’s
mother (lines 33–35) is which of the following?
I. An affectionate wife and mother
II. A model of the domestic arts
III. A woman of unassertive character
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and III only
(E) II and III only
10. The passage suggests that Charlotte possesses all of
the following characteristics EXCEPT
(A) an inappropriate flirtatiousness
(B) a lack of reverence
(C) a materialistic nature
(D) a managing disposition
(E) a touch of coarseness
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
The following passage on the nature of the surface of the
earth is taken from a basic geology text.
Of the 197 million square miles making up the
surface of the globe, 71 percent is covered by interconnecting bodies of marine water; the Pacific Ocean
Line alone covers half the earth and averages near 14,000
(5) feet in depth. The continents—Eurasia, Africa, North
America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica
—are the portions of the continental masses rising
(60)
(65)
above sea level. The submerged borders of the continental masses are the continental shelves, beyond
which lie the deep-sea basins.
The oceans attain their greatest depths not in
their central parts, but in certain elongated furrows,
or long narrow troughs, called deeps. These profound troughs have a peripheral arrangement,
notably around the borders of the Pacific and Indian
oceans. The position of the deeps near the continental
masses suggests that the deeps, like the highest
mountains, are of recent origin, since otherwise
they would have been filled with waste from the
lands. This suggestion is strengthened by the fact
that the deeps are frequently the sites of worldshaking earthquakes. For example, the “tidal wave”
that in April, 1946, caused widespread destruction
along Pacific coasts resulted from a strong earthquake on the floor of the Aleutian Deep.
The topography of the ocean floors is none too
well known, since in great areas the available soundings are hundreds or even thousands of miles apart.
However, the floor of the Atlantic is becoming fairly
well known as a result of special surveys since 1920.
A broad, well-defined ridge—the mid-Atlantic
ridge—runs north and south between Africa and the
two Americas, and numerous other major irregularities diversify the Atlantic floor. Closely spaced
soundings show that many parts of the oceanic floors
are as rugged as mountainous regions of the continents. Use of the recently perfected method of echo
sounding is rapidly enlarging our knowledge of
submarine topography. During World War II great
strides were made in mapping submarine surfaces,
particularly in many parts of the vast Pacific basin.
The continents stand on the average 2870 feet—
slightly more than half a mile—above sea level.
North America averages 2300 feet; Europe averages
only 1150 feet; and Asia, the highest of the larger
continental subdivisions, averages 3200 feet. The
highest point on the globe, Mount Everest in the
Himalayas, is 29,000 feet above the sea; and as the
greatest known depth in the sea is over 35,000 feet,
the maximum relief (that is, the difference in altitude
between the lowest and highest points) exceeds
64,000 feet, or exceeds 12 miles. The continental
masses and the deep-sea basins are relief features
of the first order; the deeps, ridges, and volcanic
cones that diversify the sea floor, as well as the
plains, plateaus, and mountains of the continents,
are relief features of the second order. The lands
are unendingly subject to a complex of activities
summarized in the term erosion, which first sculptures them in great detail and then tends to reduce
them ultimately to sealevel. The modeling of the
landscape by weather, running water, and other
agents is apparent to the keenly observant eye and
causes thinking people to speculate on what must
be the final result of the ceaseless wearing down
of the lands. Long before there was a science of
geology, Shakespeare wrote “the revolution of the
times makes mountains level.”
126 The Critical Reading Question
11. It can be inferred from lines 1–4 that the largest
ocean is the
(A) Atlantic
(B) Pacific
(C) Indian
(D) Aleutian Deep
(E) Arctic
12. According to lines 15–17, the peripheral furrows or
deeps are found
(A) only in the Pacific and Indian oceans
(B) near earthquakes
(C) near the shore
(D) in the center of the ocean
(E) to be 14,000 feet in depth in the Pacific
13. The passage indicates that the continental masses
(A) comprise 29 percent of the earth’s surface
(B) consist of six continents
(C) rise above sea level
(D) are partially underwater
(E) are relief features of the second order
14. The “revolution of the times” as used in the final
sentence means
(A) the passage of years
(B) the current rebellion
(C) the science of geology
(D) the action of the ocean floor
(E) the overthrow of natural forces
15. From this passage, it can be inferred that earthquakes
(A) occur only in the peripheral furrows
(B) occur more frequently in newly formed land or
sea formations
(C) are a prime cause of soil erosion
(D) will ultimately “make mountains level”
(E) are caused by the weight of water pressing on
the earth’s surface
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
we have the privilege to serve.
Over the past year or so, the Nation has been
awakened to the fact that the House—this House—
our institution—has been less than responsive to the
requirements of modern times. The Nation has read
one article after the other that finds this institution
wanting. One of the most pertinent and irrefutable
accusations has to do with the fact that the House
operates with too great an emphasis on secrecy,
with too great an imbalance of power and too little
attention paid to the wishes of the majority of its
Members. In effect, this House of the people has
been operating all too often in an undemocratic
manner.
We cannot pretend to stand for pluralistic democracy for the Nation if we daily deny the democratic
process in our procedures and deliberations. This
is what is going on each day, nonetheless. It is folly
to deny the need for reform. We only add fuel to
the fires already being set by reactionaries of every
stripe who have a vested interest in the failure of
democracy. They anticipate reaction, claiming our
lack of response as reason enough for seeking the
overthrow of the society we are all a part of. Reform
on our part in response to a proven need will cut
short the fuse of rebellion, cut short those who seek
the defeat of democracy.
Such reform can only be accomplished through
existing institutions; it can only be accomplished
through reform of them, beginning with the rules
and procedures of the House of Representatives. We
must let the people and their news media see what
is transpiring here in their name, rather than shut
them out in the name of fear and breach of security.
This is their House, and they have a right to know
what is happening here.
Mr. Speaker, we should have little to hide from
the people. The national security argument has been
worked to death. Recently, an article in the Wall
Street Journal by Dr. Edward Teller, no raving
liberal, attacks secrecy for its own sake. We defeat
our own purposes by being overly secretive.
By closing the House of the people to those very
same people, we only alienate growing segments
of society, stifle the democratic process and undermine the foundations of the institution and the
Nation we all love so deeply. If we do not take the
initiative in instituting reform, we merely reaffirm
the worst that has been stated about the lack of
progressivism in the Congress. We add strength to
the arguments of the radical revolutionaries among
us. We contribute to the erosion of this House and
its role.
Ever since America’s founding fathers established the
legislative branch of our government, the Senate and
House of Representatives have been the target of periodic criticisms. In this speech dating from the 1950s, we
learn of one accusation made against the House.
(60)
Mr. Speaker, ours is an open society. It is a
pluralistic society. Its strength lies in its institutions.
Those institutions remain viable only as long as the
Line majority of our citizens retain a meaningful belief
(5) in them. As long as Americans feel that their institutions are responsive to the wishes of the people,
we shall endure and prevail.
Everyone will admit freely that today there is a
crisis in our institutions and the faith people have in
(10) them. No institution is more basic than the Congress
—in this case the House of Representatives, in which
16. Which of the following does the author appear to
value LEAST?
(A) Legislative reforms
(B) Press coverage of Congressional sessions
(C) His responsiveness to his constituents
(D) The rhetoric of left wing extremists
(E) The opinion of Dr. Edward Teller
Practice Exercises 127
17. The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to
(A) encourage Congress to limit the powers of the
media
(B) call for an end to undemocratic practices in
Congress
(C) answer the radicals who want to overthrow the
government
(D) define the powers of Congressional committees
(E) analyze the needs for security of governmental
agencies
18. The phrase “stand for” in line 26 means
(A) tolerate
(B) withstand
(C) surpass
(D) advocate
(E) arise
19. The author’s attitude toward closed Congressional
hearings is one of
(A) cautious skepticism
(B) grudging tolerance
(C) outright rejection
(D) wholehearted acceptance
(E) fundamental indifference
20. The tone of the passage as a whole is best described as
(A) satirical
(B) cautionary
(C) alienated
(D) objective
(E) elegiac
Exercise C
This exercise provides you with a mixture of reading passages similar in variety to what you will encounter on
the SAT. Answer all questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passages.
The following passage is taken from the introduction to
the catalog of a major exhibition of Flemish tapestries.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
Tapestries are made on looms. Their distinctive
weave is basically simple: the colored weft threads
interface regularly with the monochrome warps, as
in darning or plain cloth, but as they do so, they form
a design by reversing their direction when a change
of color is needed. The wefts are beaten down to
cover the warps completely. The result is a design
or picture that is the fabric itself, not one laid upon
a ground like an embroidery, a print, or brocading.
The back and front of a tapestry show the same
design. The weaver always follows a preexisting
model, generally a drawing or painting, known as the
cartoon, which in most cases he reproduces as exactly
as he can. Long training is needed to become a professional tapestry weaver. It can take as much as a
year to produce a yard of very finely woven tapestry.
Tapestry-woven fabrics have been made from
China to Peru and from very early times to the present day, but large wall hangings in this technique,
mainly of wool, are typically Northern European.
Few examples predating the late fourteenth century
have survived, but from about 1400 tapestries were
an essential part of aristocratic life. The prince or
great nobleman sent his plate and his tapestries
ahead of him to furnish his castles before his arrival
as he traveled through his domains; both had the
same function, to display his wealth and social
position. It has frequently been suggested that
tapestries helped to heat stone-walled rooms, but
this is a modern idea; comfort was of minor importance in the Middle Ages. Tapestries were portable
grandeur, instant splendor, taking the place, north
of the Alps, of painted frescoes further south. They
were hung without gaps between them, covering
(35) entire walls and often doors as well. Only very occasionally were they made as individual works of art
such as altar frontals. They were usually commissioned or bought as sets, or “chambers,” and constituted
the most important furnishings of any grand room,
(40) except for the display of plate, throughout the Middle
Ages and the sixteenth century. Later, woven silks,
ornamental wood carving, stucco decoration, and
painted leather gradually replaced tapestry as expensive wall coverings, until at last wallpaper was
(45) introduced in the late eighteenth century and
eventually swept away almost everything else.
By the end of the eighteenth century, the “tapestryroom” [a room with every available wall surface
covered with wall hangings] was no longer fashion(50) able: paper had replaced wall coverings of wool and
silk. Tapestries, of course, were still made, but in
the nineteenth century they often seem to have been
produced mainly as individual works of art that
astonish by their resemblance to oil paintings, tours
(55) de force woven with a remarkably large number
of wefts per inch. In England during the second
half of the century, William Morris attempted to
reverse this trend and to bring tapestry weaving
back to its true principles, those he considered to
(60) have governed it in the Middle Ages. He imitated
medieval tapestries in both style and technique,
using few warps to the inch, but he did not make
sets; the original function for which tapestry is so
admirably suited—completely covering the walls
(65) of a room and providing sumptuous surroundings
for a life of pomp and splendor—could not be
revived. Morris’s example has been followed, though
with less imitation of medieval style, by many
weavers of the present century, whose coarsely
(70) woven cloths hang like single pictures and can be
admired as examples of contemporary art.
128 The Critical Reading Question
1. Tapestry weaving may be characterized as which of
the following?
I. Time-consuming
II. Spontaneous in concept
III. Faithful to an original
(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) I and III only
(E) II and III only
2. The word “distinctive” in line 1 means
(A) characteristic
(B) stylish
(C) discriminatory
(D) eminent
(E) articulate
3. Renaissance nobles carried tapestries with them to
demonstrate their
(A) piety
(B) consequence
(C) aesthetic judgment
(D) need for privacy
(E) dislike for cold
4. The word “ground” in line 9 means
(A) terrain
(B) dust
(C) thread
(D) base
(E) pigment
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
5. In contrast to nineteenth century tapestries,
contemporary tapestries
(A) are displayed in sets of panels
(B) echo medieval themes
(C) faithfully copy oil paintings
(D) have a less fine weave
(E) indicate the owner’s social position
6. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) explain the process of tapestry making
(B) contrast Eastern and Western schools of tapestry
(C) analyze the reasons for the decline in popularity
of tapestries
(D) provide a historical perspective on tapestry making
(E) advocate a return to a more colorful way of life
The following passage is taken from a book of popular
history written in 1991.
The advantage of associating the birth of democracy with the Mayflower Compact is that it is easy
to do so. The public loves a simple explanation, and
Line none is simpler than the belief that on November 11,
(5) 1620—the day the compact was approved—a cornerstone of American democracy was laid. Certainly
(45)
(50)
(55)
(60)
(65)
it makes it easier on schoolchildren. Marking the
start of democracy in 1620 relieves students of the
responsibility of knowing what happened in the
hundred some years before, from the arrival of the
Santa Maria to the landing of the Mayflower.
The compact, to be sure, demonstrated the
Englishman’s striking capacity for self-government.
And in affirming the principle of majority rule, the
Pilgrims showed how far they had come from the
days when the king’s whim was law and nobody
dared say otherwise.
But the emphasis on the compact is misplaced.
Scholarly research in the last half century indicates
that the compact had nothing to do with the development of self-government in America. In truth, the
Mayflower Compact was no more a cornerstone of
American democracy than the Pilgrim hut was the
foundation of American architecture. As Samuel Eliot
Morison so emphatically put it, American democracy
“was not born in the cabin of the Mayflower.”
The Pilgrims indeed are miscast as the heroes
of American democracy. They spurned democracy
and would have been shocked to see themselves
held up as its defenders. George Willison, regarded
as one of the most careful students of the Pilgrims,
states that “the merest glance at the history of
Plymouth” shows that they were not democrats.
The mythmakers would have us believe that
even if the Pilgrims themselves weren’t democratic,
the Mayflower Compact itself was. But in fact the
compact was expressly designed to curb freedom,
not promote it. The Pilgrim governor and historian,
William Bradford, from whom we have gotten
nearly all of the information there is about the
Pilgrims, frankly conceded as much. Bradford wrote
that the purpose of the compact was to control
renegades aboard the Mayflower who were threatening to go their own way when the ship reached
land. Because the Pilgrims had decided to settle in
an area outside the jurisdiction of their royal patent,
some aboard the Mayflower had hinted that upon
landing they would “use their owne libertie, for
none had power to command them.” Under the
terms of the compact, they couldn’t; the compact
required all who lived in the colony to “promise
all due submission and obedience” to it.
Furthermore, despite the compact’s mention of
majority rule, the Pilgrim fathers had no intention
of turning over the colony’s government to the
people. Plymouth was to be ruled by the elite. And
the elite wasn’t bashful in the least about advancing
its claims to superiority. When the Mayflower
Compact was signed, the elite signed first. The
second rank consisted of the “goodmen.” At the
bottom of the list came four servants’ names. No
women or children signed.
Whether the compact was or was not actually
hostile to the democratic spirit, it was deemed sufficiently hostile that during the Revolution the Tories
put it to use as “propaganda for the crown.” The
monarchists made much of the fact that the Pilgrims
Practice Exercises 129
had chosen to establish an English-style government
that placed power in the hands of a governor, not a
(70) cleric, and a governor who owed his allegiance not to
the people or to a church but to “our dread Sovereign
Lord King James.” No one thought it significant
that the Tories had adopted the principle of majority
rule. Tory historian George Chalmers, in a work
(75) published in 1780, claimed the central meaning of
the compact was the Pilgrims’ recognition of the
necessity of royal authority. This may have been
not only a convenient argument but a true one. It
is at least as plausible as the belief that the compact
(80) stood for democracy.
7. The author’s attitude toward the general public
(lines 3–11) can best be described as
(A) egalitarian
(B) grateful
(C) sympathetic
(D) envious
(E) superior
8. The phrase “held up” in line 30 means
(A) delayed
(B) cited
(C) accommodated
(D) carried
(E) waylaid
9. According to the passage (lines 45–53), the
compact’s primary purpose was to
(A) establish legal authority within the colony
(B) outlaw non-Pilgrims among the settlers
(C) preach against heretical thinking
(D) protect each individual’s civil rights
(E) countermand the original royal patent
10. The author of the passage can best be described as
(A) an iconoclast
(B) an atheist
(C) a mythmaker
(D) an elitist
(E) an authoritarian
11. In lines 58–63, the details about the signers of the
Mayflower Compact are used to emphasize
(A) the Pilgrims’ respect for the social hierarchy
(B) the inclusion of servants among those signing
(C) their importance to American history
(D) the variety of social classes aboard
(E) the lack of any provision for minority rule
In this excerpt from her autobiography, One Writer’s
Beginnings, the short-story writer Eudora Welty introduces her parents.
My father loved all instruments that would instruct and fascinate. His place to keep things was
the drawer in the “library table” where lying on top
Line of his folded maps was a telescope with brass exten(5) sions, to find the moon and the Big Dipper after
supper in our front yard, and to keep appointments
with eclipses. In the back of the drawer you could
find a magnifying glass, a kaleidoscope, and a
gyroscope kept in a black buckram box, which he
(10) would set dancing for us on a string pulled tight.
He had also supplied himself with an assortment of
puzzles composed of metal rings and intersecting
links and keys chained together, impossible for the
rest of us, however patiently shown, to take apart;
(15) he had an almost childlike love of the ingenious.
In time, a barometer was added to our dining
room wall, but we didn’t really need it. My father
had the country boy’s accurate knowledge of the
weather and its skies. He went out and stood on
(20) our front steps first thing in the morning and took
a good look at it and a sniff. He was a pretty good
weather prophet.
“Well, I’m not,” my mother would say, with
enormous self-satisfaction.
(25)
He told us children what to do if we were lost
in a strange country. “Look for where the sky is
brightest along the horizon,” he said. “That reflects
the nearest river. Strike out for a river and you will
find habitation.” Eventualities were much on his
(30) mind. In his care for us children he cautioned us to
take measures against such things as being struck
by lightning. He drew us all away from the windows
during the severe electrical storms that are common
where we live. My mother stood apart, scoffing at
(35) caution as a character failing. “Why, I always loved
a storm! High winds never bothered me in West
Virginia! Just listen at that! I wasn’t a bit afraid of
a little lightning and thunder! I’d go out on the
mountain and spread my arms wide and run in a
(40) good big storm!”
So I developed a strong meteorological sensibility.
In years ahead when I wrote stories, atmosphere
took its influential role from the start. Commotion
in the weather and the inner feelings aroused by
(45) such a hovering disturbance emerged connected in
dramatic form. (I tried a tornado first, in a story
called “The Winds.”)
From our earliest Christmas times, Santa Claus
brought us toys that instruct boys and girls (sepa(50) rately) how to build things—stone blocks cut to
the castle-building style, Tinker Toys, and Erector
sets. Daddy made for us himself elaborate kites that
needed to be taken miles out of town to a pasture
long enough (and my father was not afraid of horses
(55) and cows watching) for him to run with and get up
on a long cord to which my mother held the spindle,
and then we children were given it to hold, tugging
like something alive at our hands. They were beautiful, sound, shapely box kites, smelling delicately
(60) of office glue for their entire short lives. And of
course, as soon as the boys attained anywhere near
the right age, there was an electric train, the engine
with its pea-sized working headlight, its line of cars,
tracks equipped with switches, semaphores, its
130 The Critical Reading Question
(65) station, its bridges, and its tunnel, which blocked
off all other traffic in the upstairs hall. Even from
downstairs, and through the cries of excited children,
the elegant rush and click of the train could be
heard through the ceiling, running around and
(70) around its figure eight.
All of this, but especially the train, represents my
father’s fondest beliefs—in progress, in the future.
With these gifts, he was preparing his children.
And so was my mother with her different gifts.
(75)
I learned from the age of two or three that any
room in our house, at any time of day, was there to
read in, or be read to. My mother read to me. She’d
read to me in the big bedroom in the mornings, when
we were in her rocker together, which ticked in
(80) rhythm as we rocked, as though we had a cricket
accompanying the story. She’d read to me in the
dining room on winter afternoons in front of the
coal fire, with our cuckoo clock ending the story
with “Cuckoo,” and at night when I’d got in my own
(85) bed. I must have given her no peace. Sometimes
she read to me in the kitchen while she sat churning,
and the churning sobbed along with any story. It
was my ambition to have her read to me while I
churned; once she granted my wish, but she read
(90) off my story before I brought her butter. She was
an expressive reader. When she was reading “Puss
in Boots,” for instance, it was impossible not to
know that she distrusted all cats.
12. In saying that her father used the telescope to “keep
appointments with eclipses” (lines 6–7), Welty
means that
(A) the regularity of eclipses helped him avoid
missing engagements
(B) his attempts at astronomical observation met
with failure
(C) he made a point of observing major astronomical
phenomena
(D) he tried to instruct his children in the importance
of keeping appointments
(E) he invented ingenious new ways to use the
telescope
13. We can infer from lines 19–23 that Welty’s father
stood on the front steps and sniffed first thing in the
morning
(A) because he disapproved of the day’s weather
(B) because he suffered from nasal congestion
(C) to enjoy the fragrance of the flowers
(D) to detect signs of changes in the weather
(E) in an instinctive response to fresh air
14. The word “measures” in line 31 means
(A) legislative actions
(B) preventative steps
(C) yardsticks
(D) food rations
(E) warnings
15. When Welty’s mother exclaims “Just listen at that!”
(line 37), she wants everyone to pay attention to
(A) her husband’s advice
(B) her memories of West Virginia
(C) the sounds of the storm
(D) her reasons for being unafraid
(E) the noise the children are making
16. Compared to Welty’s father, her mother can best be
described as
(A) more literate and more progressive
(B) proud of her knowledge of the weather, but
imprudent about storms
(C) unafraid of ordinary storms, but deeply disturbed
by tornadoes
(D) more protective of her children, but less patient
with them
(E) less apt to foresee problems, but more apt to
enjoy the moment
17. The word “fondest” in line 72 means
(A) most affectionate
(B) most foolish
(C) most radical
(D) most cherished
(E) most credulous
18. By the phrase “brought her butter” (line 90), Welty
means that she
(A) manufactured butter
(B) fetched butter
(C) spread butter
(D) purchased butter
(E) melted butter
19. Why does Welty recount these anecdotes about her
parents?
(A) She wishes to prove that theirs was an unhappy
marriage of opposites
(B) The anecdotes are vivid illustrations of truths
that she holds dear
(C) She seeks to provide advice for travelers lost in
the wilderness
(D) She envisions her parents chiefly as humorous
subjects for ironic characterization
(E) She wishes to provide background on early
influences on her as a writer
Practice Exercises 131
Exercise D
This exercise provides you with a mixture of reading passages similar in variety to what you will encounter on
the SAT. Answer all questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passages.
The following passage analyzes the contributions of the
Mexican cowboy to American culture and to the English
language.
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
The near-legendary history of the American West
might have been quite different had the Mexican
not brought cattle-raising to New Mexico and Texas.
The Spanish style of herding cattle on open ranges
was different from the style of other Europeans,
particularly the English. The American rancho was
possible because of the lack of enough water for
normal agricultural practices, and because of the
easy availability of large amounts of land. This landextensive form of cattle-raising required different
techniques and brought forth the vaquero, the cowboy
(from the Spanish vaca, cow) who tended the
widely-scattered herds of Spanish longhorn cattle.
Because of the American penchant to be considered the inventors of nearly everything, the wideopen style of cattle-ranching was appropriated from
the Mexican originators. As popular a folk-hero as
the American cowboy is, he owes his development
to the Spanish and the Mexicans, not the English.
It is quite probable, as McWilliams asserts, that
“with the exception of the capital required to expand the industry, there seems to have been nothing the American rancher or cowboy contributed
to the development of cattle-raising in the
Southwest.”
Other contributions of the Mexican cowboy
were: the western-style saddle with a large, ornate
horn; chaparejos, or chaps; lazo, lasso; la reata,
lariat; the cinch; the halter; the mecate, or horsehair rope; chin strap for the hat; feed bag for the
horse; ten-gallon hat (which comes from a mistranslation of a Spanish phrase “su sombrero
galoneado” that really meant a “festooned” or
“galooned” hat). Cowboy slang came from such
words as: juzgado, hoosegow; ranchero, rancher;
estampida, stampede; calabozo, calaboose; and
pinto for a painted horse.
Just as the Mexican association for the protection of the rights of sheepherders gave rise to the
American Sheepman’s Association, the Spanish
system of branding range animals and registering
these brands became standard practice among Anglo
stockmen. The idea of brands originated in North
Africa and was brought to Spain by the Moors,
along with their stocky ponies. The Mexican brands
are of great antiquity, having been copied from
earlier Indian signs which include symbols of the
sky—sun, moon, and stars. Hernando Cortez is
said to have been the first to use a brand on the
continent.
1.
Which of the following would be the best title for
this passage?
(A) How to Herd Cattle
(B) The American Cowboy: A Romantic Figure
(C) Farming Practices in Europe and America
(D) Hispanic Contributions to Western Ranching
(E) Spanish Influence on American Culture
2.
It can be inferred from lines 8–9 that American ranches
developed in the West rather than the East because
(A) more Spanish-speaking people lived in the West
(B) there was more money available in the West
(C) people in the East were more bound by tradition
(D) many jobless men in the East wanted to become
cowboys
(E) there was more unsettled land available in the West
3.
The author gives examples of cowboy slang (lines
34–37) in order to
(A) arouse the reader’s interest
(B) show that he is familiar with the subject
(C) prove that many cowboys lacked education
(D) point out the differences between America’s
East and West
(E) demonstrate how these terms originated
4.
According to the author, which of the following did
Mexicans contribute to ranching?
I. Money to buy ranches
II. Methods of handling animals
III. Items of riding equipment
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) II and III only
5.
Which of the following best describes the development of this passage?
(A) Major points, minor points
(B) Statement of problem, examples, proposed solution
(C) Introduction, positive factors, negative factors
(D) Cause, effects
(E) Comparison, contrast
In this introduction to a pictorial survey of African art,
the author describes the impact of African sculpture.
When you first saw a piece of African art, it
impressed you as a unit; you did not see it as a
collection of shapes or forms. This, of course, means
Line that the shapes and volumes within the sculpture
(5) itself were coordinated so successfully that the
viewer was affected emotionally.
It is entirely valid to ask how, from a purely
132 The Critical Reading Question
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
(35)
(40)
artistic point of view, this unity was achieved. And
we must also inquire whether there is a recurrent
pattern or rules or a plastic language and vocabulary
which is responsible for the powerful communication of emotion which the best African sculpture
achieves. If there is such a pattern or rules, are these
rules applied consciously or instinctively to obtain
so many works of such high artistic quality?
It is obvious from the study of art history that an
intense and unified emotional experience, such as
the Christian credo of the Byzantine or 12th or 13th
century Europe, when expressed in art forms, gave
great unity, coherence, and power to art. But such
an integrated feeling was only the inspirational
element for the artist, only the starting point of the
creative act. The expression of this emotion and its
realization in the work could be done only with
discipline and thorough knowledge of the craft. And
the African sculptor was a highly trained workman.
He started his apprenticeship with a master when
a child, and he learned the tribal styles and the use
of the tools and the nature of woods so thoroughly
that his carving became what Boas calls “motor
action.” He carved automatically and instinctively.
The African carver followed his rules without
thinking of them; indeed, they never seem to have
been formulated in words. But such rules existed,
for accident and coincidence cannot explain the
common plastic language of African sculpture.
There is too great a consistency from one work to
another. Yet, although the African, with amazing
insight into art, used these rules, I am certain that he
was not conscious of them. This is the great mystery
of such a traditional art: talent, or the ability certain
people have, without conscious effort, to follow the
rules which later the analyst can discover only from
the work of art which has already been created.
6. The author is primarily concerned with
(A) discussing how African sculptors achieved their effects
(B) listing the rules followed in African art
(C) relating African art to the art of 12th- or 13thcentury Europe
(D) integrating emotion and realization
(E) expressing the beauty of African art
7. According to the passage, one of the outstanding
features of African sculpture is
(A) its subject matter
(B) the feelings it arouses
(C) the training of the artists
(D) its strangeness
(E) its emphasis on movement
8. The word “plastic” in line 10 means
(A) synthetic
(B) linguistic
(C) consistent
(D) sculptural
(E) repetitive
9. According to the information in the passage, an
African carver can be best compared to a
(A) chef following a recipe
(B) fluent speaker of English who is just beginning
to study French
(C) batter who hits a homerun in his or her first
baseball game
(D) concert pianist performing a well-rehearsed concerto
(E) writer who is grammatically expert but stylistically
uncreative
10. Which of the following titles best summarizes the
content of the passage?
(A) The Apprenticeship of the African Sculptor
(B) The History of African Sculpture
(C) How African Art Achieves Unity
(D) Analyzing African Art
(E) The Unconscious Rules of African Art
The following passages present two portraits of grandmothers. In Passage 1 Mary McCarthy shares her
memories of her Catholic grandmother, who raised
McCarthy and her brother after their parents’ death.
In Passage 2 Caroline Heilbrun tells of her Jewish
grandmother, who died when Heilbrun was 10.
Passage 1
Line
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
(25)
(30)
Luckily, I am writing a memoir and not a work
of fiction, and therefore I do not have to account for
my grandmother’s unpleasing character and look
for the Oedipal fixation or the traumatic experience
which would give her that clinical authenticity that
is nowadays so desirable in portraiture. I do not
know how my grandmother got the way she was;
I assume, from family photographs and from the
inflexibility of her habits, that she was always the
same, and it seems as idle to inquire into her childhood as to ask what was ailing Iago or look for the
error in toilet-training that was responsible for Lady
Macbeth. My grandmother’s sexual history, bristling
with infant mortality in the usual style of her period,
was robust and decisive: three tall, handsome sons
grew up, and one attentive daughter. Her husband
treated her kindly. She had money, many grandchildren, and religion to sustain her. White hair,
glasses, soft skin, wrinkles, needlework—all the
paraphernalia of motherliness were hers; yet it was
a cold, grudging, disputatious old woman who sat
all day in her sunroom making tapestries from a
pattern, scanning religious periodicals, and setting
her iron jaw against any infraction of her ways.
Combativeness was, I suppose, the dominant
trait in my grandmother’s nature. An aggressive
churchgoer, she was quite without Christian feel
ing; the mercy of the Lord Jesus had never entered
her heart. Her piety was an act of war against the
Protestant ascendancy. The religious magazines on
her table furnished her not with food for meditation
Practice Exercises 133
(35)
(40)
(45)
(50)
(55)
(60)
(65)
(70)
(75)
but with fresh pretexts for anger; articles attacking
birth control, divorce, mixed marriages, Darwin,
and secular education were her favorite reading.
The teachings of the Church did not interest her,
except as they were a rebuke to others; “Honor thy
father and thy mother”, a commandment she was
no longer called upon to practice, was the one most
frequently on her lips. The extermination of
Protestantism, rather than spiritual perfection, was
the boon she prayed for. Her mind was preoccupied
with conversion; the capture of a soul for God
much diverted her fancy—it made one less
Protestant in the world. Foreign missions, with
their overtones of good will and social service,
appealed to her less strongly; it was not a harvest
of souls that my grandmother had in mind.
This pugnacity of my grandmother’s did not
confine itself to sectarian enthusiasm. There was
the defence of her furniture and her house against
the imagined encroachments of visitors. With her,
this was not the gentle and tremulous protectiveness
endemic in old ladies, who fear for the safety of
their possessions with a truly touching anxiety,
inferring the fragility of all things from the brittleness of their old bones and hearing the crash of
mortality in the perilous tinkling of a tea-cup. My
grandmother’s sentiment was more autocratic: she
hated having her chairs sat in or her lawns stepped
on or the water turned on in her basins, for no reason
at all except pure officiousness; she even grudged
the mailman his daily promenade up her sidewalk.
Her home was a center of power, and she would not
allow it to be derogated by easy or democratic usage.
Under her jealous eye, its social properties had
atrophied, and it functioned in the family structure
simply as a political headquarters. The family had
no friends, and entertaining was held to be a foolish
and unnecessary courtesy as between blood relations.
Holiday dinners fell, as a duty, on the lesser members
of the organization: the daughters and daughtersin-law (converts from the false religion) offered up
Baked Alaska on a platter like the head of John
the Baptist, while the old people sat enthroned at
the table, and only their digestive processes
acknowledged, with rumbling, enigmatic salvos,
the festal day.
Passage 2
My grandmother, one of Howe’s sustaining
women, not only ruled the household with an arm
(80) of iron, but kept a store to support them all, her
blond, blue-eyed husband enjoying life rather than
struggling through it. My grandmother was one of
those powerful women who know that they stand
between their families and an outside world filled
(85) with temptations to failure and shame. I remember
her as thoroughly loving. But there can be no
question that she impaired her six daughters for
autonomy as thoroughly as if she had crippled them
—more so. The way to security was marriage; the
(90) dread that stood in the way of this was sexual dalliance, above all pregnancy. The horror of pregnancy
in an unmarried girl is difficult, perhaps, to recapture now. For a Jewish girl not to be a virgin on
marriage was failure. The male’s rights were
(95) embodied in her lack of sexual experience, in the
knowledge that he was the first, the owner.
All attempts at autonomy had to be frustrated.
And of course, my grandmother’s greatest weapon
was her own vulnerability. She had worked hard,
(100) only her daughters knew how hard. She could not
be comforted or repaid—as my mother would feel
repaid—by a daughter’s accomplishments, only
by her marriage.
11. McCarthy’s attitude toward her grandmother is best
described as
(A) tolerant
(B) appreciative
(C) indifferent
(D) nostalgic
(E) sardonic
12. The word “idle” in line 10 means
(A) slothful
(B) passive
(C) fallow
(D) useless
(E) unoccupied
13. According to McCarthy, a portrait of a character in
a work of modern fiction must have
(A) photographic realism
(B) psychological validity
(C) sympathetic attitudes
(D) religious qualities
(E) historical accuracy
14. McCarthy’s primary point in describing her grandmother’s physical appearance (lines 18–19) is best
summarized by which of the following axioms?
(A) Familiarity breeds contempt.
(B) You can’t judge a book by its cover.
(C) One picture is worth more than ten thousand words.
(D) There’s no smoke without fire.
(E) Blood is thicker than water.
15. By describing (in lines 52–58) the typical old
woman’s fear for the safety of her possessions,
McCarthy emphasizes that
(A) her grandmother feared the approach of death
(B) old women have dangerously brittle bones
(C) her grandmother possessed considerable wealth
(D) her grandmother had different reasons for her actions
(E) visitors were unwelcome in her grandmother’s home
134 The Critical Reading Question
16. The word “properties” in line 65 means
(A) belongings
(B) aspects
(C) holdings
(D) titles
(E) acreage
19. In stating that her grandmother’s greatest weapon
was her own vulnerability (lines 98–99), Heilbrun
implies that her grandmother got her way by
exploiting her children’s
(A) sense of guilt
(B) innocence of evil
(C) feeling of indifference
(D) abdication of responsibility
(E) lack of experience
17. Heilbrun is critical of her grandmother primarily
because
(A) she would not allow her husband to enjoy
himself
(B) she could not accept her own vulnerability
(C) she fostered a sense of sexual inadequacy
(D) she discouraged her daughters’ independence
(E) she physically injured her children
18. By describing the extent of the feeling against
pregnancy in unmarried girls (lines 91–96),
Heilbrun helps the reader understand
(A) her fear of being scorned as an unwed mother
(B) why her grandmother strove to limit her
daughters’ autonomy
(C) her disapproval of contemporary sexual practices
(D) her awareness of her mother’s desire for happiness
(E) how unforgiving her grandmother was
20. Each passage mentions which of the following as
being important to the writer’s grandmother?
(A) governing the actions of others
(B) contributing to religious organizations
(C) protecting her children’s virtue
(D) marrying off her daughters
(E) being surrounded by a circle of friends
21. McCarthy would most likely react to the characterization of her grandmother, like Heilbrun’s grandmother,
as one of the “sustaining women” (lines 78–79) by
pointing out that
(A) this characterization is not in good taste
(B) the characterization fails to account for her
grandmother’s piety
(C) the details of the family’s social life support this
characterization
(D) her grandmother’s actual conduct is not in keeping
with this characterization
(E) this characterization slightly exaggerates her
grandmother’s chief virtue
Answer Key
Exercise A
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B
D
B
A
D
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
C
E
E
E
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
D
E
A
C
C
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
B
E
E
E
B
21.
22.
D
C
5.
6.
7.
8.
D
B
B
D
9.
10.
11.
12.
C
A
B
C
13.
14.
15.
16.
D
A
B
D
17.
18.
19.
20.
B
D
C
B
5.
6.
7.
8.
D
D
E
B
9.
10.
11.
12.
A
A
A
C
13.
14.
15.
16.
D
B
C
E
17.
18.
19.
D
A
E
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
B
D
D
E
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
E
D
B
B
D
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
B
D
B
A
A
21.
D
Exercise B
1.
2.
3.
4.
C
C
A
E
Exercise C
1.
2.
3.
4.
D
A
B
D
Exercise D
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D
E
E
E
A
Answer Explanations 135
Answer Explanations
Exercise A
1. B. The opening lines indicate that the narrator is
reflecting on his feelings. Throughout the passage
he uses words like “miserable,” “ashamed,” and
“discontented” to describe his emotional state.
Choice A is incorrect. The narrator does not
analyze or dissect a change in attitude; he describes an ongoing attitude.
Choice C is incorrect. The passage gives an example of emotional self-awareness, not of political consciousness.
Choice D is incorrect. The narrator condemns
rather than defends the longings that brought
him discontentment.
Choice E is incorrect. The narrator criticizes
himself, not young people in general.
2. D. The references to the forge (line 13) and the
anvil (line 23) support Choice D. None of the
other choices are suggested by the passage.
3. B. Note the adjectives used to describe Joe: “faithful,” “industrious,” “kind.” These are virtues, and
Joe is fundamentally virtuous.
Choice A is incorrect. Joe is plain and hardworking, not eminent and distinguished.
Choice C is incorrect. The passage portrays not
Joe but the narrator as desiring to be independent.
Choice D is incorrect. It is unsupported by the
passage.
Choice E is incorrect. The narrator thinks his
life is coarse; he thinks Joe is virtuous.
4. A. Choice A is supported by lines 15–16 in which
the narrator states he “would not have had Miss
Havisham and Estella see (his home) on any
account.”
Choices B and C are incorrect. Nothing in the
passage suggests either might be the case.
Choice D is incorrect. Though the narrator may
not show himself as hard-working, nothing in the
passage suggests laziness led to his discontent.
Choice E is incorrect. Nothing in the passage
suggests sinfulness has prompted his discontent.
In addition, although ingratitude may play a part
in his discontent, shame at his background plays
a far greater part.
5. D. In lines 40–41, the narrator manages to say
something good about his youthful self: “I am
glad to know I never breathed a murmur to Joe.”
He gives himself credit for concealing his
despondency.
Choices A and B are incorrect. The narrator gives
Joe all the credit for his having worked industriously and for his not having run away to
become a soldier.
Choices C and E are incorrect. They are unsupported by the passage.
6. A. Throughout the second paragraph, the author
pays particular attention to Maria’s appearance,
her behavior, her effect on others. If she had been
introduced previously in the text, there would be
no need to present these details about her at this
point in the passage.
7. C. The descriptions of the bright and shiny kitchen
where you “could see yourself in the big copper
boilers” and of tiny, witch-like Maria with her
long nose and long chin belong to the realm of
fairy tales.
8. E. The passage mentions the matron twice: once,
in the opening line, where she gives Maria permission to leave work early; once, in lines 17–18,
where she pays Maria a compliment. Given this
context, we can logically infer that Maria views
the matron positively, finding her a benevolent
or kindly supervisor.
Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Nothing in
the passage suggests Maria has a negative view
of the matron.
Choice D is incorrect. Given Maria’s relatively
menial position, it is unlikely she and the matron
would be close or intimate friends.
9. E. To slice loaves so neatly and invisibly takes a
great deal of care. The author specifically states
that Maria has cut the loaves. Not only that, he
emphasizes the importance of her having done
so by placing this statement at the end of the
paragraph (a key position). As the subsequent
paragraphs point up, Maria is hungry for compliments. Just as she takes pride in her peacemaking, she takes pride in her ability to slice
barmbracks evenly.
10. E. Maria helps others to compromise or become
reconciled; she herself is not necessarily unwilling to compromise.
The passage suggests that Choice A is characteristic of Maria. She speaks soothingly and
respectfully. Therefore, Choice A is incorrect.
The passage suggests that Choice B is characteristic of Maria. Maria’s response to Ginger Mooney’s
toast shows her enjoyment of being noticed in
this way. Therefore, Choice B is incorrect.
The passage suggests that Choice C is characteristic of Maria. Maria’s obedience to the cook
and to the matron shows her respect for authority.
Therefore, Choice C is incorrect.
The passage suggests that Choice D is characteristic of Maria. Maria’s disappointed shyness
and her forced laughter about a wedding ring
and husband show that she has wistful dreams
of marriage. Therefore, Choice D is incorrect.
11. D. By stating that his joy at his return “made him
communicative and chatty in a very unusual
degree” (lines 6–7), the opening paragraph
136 The Critical Reading Question
implies that Sir Thomas is usually more restrained
in speech. Choice D is correct.
Choice A is incorrect. Nothing in the passage
suggests he is usually unwelcome in his own home.
Choices B and C are incorrect. Neither is supported by the opening paragraph.
Choice E is incorrect. Sir Thomas’s delight at
finding his family together “exactly as he could
have wished” indicates he does not lack family
feeling.
Remember, when asked to make inferences, base
your answers on what the passage implies, not
what it states directly.
12. E. The opening sentence of the second paragraph
states that none of the members of his family
listened to him with such “unbroken unalloyed
enjoyment” as his wife did. Her enjoyment was
complete and unmixed with other emotions.
This suggests that others in the group face Sir
Thomas’s arrival not with complete pleasure
but with mixed emotions.
Choice A is incorrect. It is unsupported by the
passage.
Choice B is incorrect. Lady Bertram’s fluttered
or discomposed state on his arrival indicates
her surprise.
Choice C is incorrect. Lines 14–15 indicate that
Sir Thomas did not expect to find his whole
family at home. Therefore, he had not timed his
arrival to coincide with a reunion.
Choice D is incorrect. Sir Thomas has had to
seek out the butler and confide the news of his
arrival to him (lines 50–51). Therefore, the
servants had not expected his arrival.
13. A. The phrases “coming unexpectedly as he did”
(line 15) and “his sudden arrival” (lines 20–21)
support the idea that Sir Thomas has returned
unexpectedly. Note that these key phrases are
found in the closing sentence of the first paragraph
and in the opening sentence of the second paragraph. Sir Thomas’s unexpected return is central
to the passage.
Choice B is incorrect. Although the persons
talking belong to the upper classes, as a title “The
Conversation of the Upper Class” is too vague.
Choice C is incorrect. Mrs. Norris’s complaint
or grievance (the subject of the third paragraph)
is too narrow in scope to be an appropriate title
for the passage as a whole.
Choice D is incorrect. Although Lady Bertram
is quite pleased to have her husband home again,
their reunion is placid rather than emotional or
romantic.
Choice E is incorrect. Although Sir Thomas gives
an account of his voyage in the first paragraph,
the passage places its emphasis on the reactions
of his family to his surprising return.
Remember, when asked to choose a title, watch
out for choices that are too specific or too broad.
14. C. Examine Lady Bertram’s behavior carefully. She
is not agitated (though she is “nearer agitation
than she had been for the last twenty years”).
She is so moved by her husband’s return that she
actually moves her lap dog from the sofa and
makes room for her husband. Clearly, the author
is making fun of Lady Bertram’s idiosyncratic
behavior, describing her quirky reactions in a
lightly mocking, gently ironic way.
15. C. The author italicizes the word her for emphasis.
Lady Bertram had no worries to take away from
her pleasure at Sir Thomas’s return. However,
she is unusual in this. The author’s emphasis on
her happiness serves to suggest that others in
the group have reason to be less happy about
Sir Thomas’s arrival.
16. B. Refusing to be provoked by Mrs. Norris’s interruptions, Sir Thomas demonstrates patient
forbearance or restraint.
Choice A is incorrect. Line 69 states that Sir
Thomas “could not be provoked.” Therefore, he
showed no irritation.
Choice C is incorrect. Sir Thomas remarks
courteously on Mrs. Norris’s anxiety for everybody’s comfort (lines 69–71). This implies that
he in general approves rather than disapproves
of her concern.
Choice D is incorrect. It is unsupported by the
passage.
Choice E is incorrect. Given Mrs. Norris’s interruptions of his story, it is unlikely Sir Thomas
would view her with unmixed delight.
17. E. Mrs. Norris has looked forward to spreading the
news of Sir Thomas’s return (or of his death!).
The office she has lost is that of herald or
message-bearer.
Choice A is incorrect. Mrs. Norris wishes to
give orders to the butler, not to be the butler.
Choice B is incorrect for much the same reason.
Choice C is incorrect. Mrs. Norris is the sister
of Sir Thomas’s wife; the passage does not
indicate that she has any desire to be his wife.
Choice D is incorrect. Mrs. Norris wishes to
give news of the traveler, not to be the traveler.
18. E. The first sentence of the passage states that
Newman’s purpose is to see Mademoiselle
Noemie, to pay her another visit. Indeed, in lines
6–7, he is described as roaming “through several
of the rooms in fruitless quest of her.”
19. E. In lines 35–36, Valentin explains that, giving in
to his mother’s entreaties, he has reluctantly
agreed to guide his cousin through the Louvre.
The prospect bores him—playing tour guide is
one of his ennuis. He is even more bored than
usual, for his cousin is late.
Answer Explanations 137
20. B. Valentin shows what a bad mood he is in by
making insulting comments about his cousin’s
poor taste in clothes, huge feet, and lack of
punctuality.
Choice A is incorrect. Though Valentin’s cousin
is late, he has not yet stalked off in a fit of temper.
Choice C is incorrect. Valentin is quite ready to
accept Newman’s advice.
Choice D is incorrect. He is criticizing his English
cousin’s choice of clothes, not his mother’s.
Choice E is incorrect. Though he is about to
offer to go off with Newman, Valentin has not
yet refused to do as his mother wished. Up to
now, he has been a very obedient, though disgruntled, son.
21. D. Use the process of elimination to answer this
question.
Valentin would most likely agree with Statement
I. His concern for fashionable clothing is evident
from the disparaging remarks he makes about
his cousin’s clothes. Therefore, you can eliminate Choices B and C.
Valentin would most likely also agree with
Statement II. He respects family relationships,
for he has agreed to his mother’s request to show
the cousin around. Therefore, you can eliminate
Choice A.
Valentin would probably not agree with Statement III. He is furious that his cousin is late.
Therefore, you can eliminate Choice E.
Only Choice D is left. It is the correct answer.
22. C. Valentin confides in Newman, telling the
American why he is so irritated. He speaks
extremely frankly, making disparaging comments
about his English cousin, for he is sure that his
trusted friend or confidant will not betray these
confidences.
Exercise B
1. C. Each paragraph discusses some important feature
or significant characteristic of Eskimo art (its
mystical quality, realistic understanding of
anatomy, humor, etc.).
2. C. The author’s use of such terms as “powerful
ability” (line 2), “masters in the understanding
of animal anatomy” (line 28), and “living
excitement” (line 55) indicates an admiration
for the art.
3. A. The author’s comment in line 17 that Eskimo
art “has a special freedom unsullied (unstained
or undefiled) by any kind of formalized training”
suggests that he would agree that formal training
might defile or destroy an artist’s originality
and freedom of expression.
4. E. Each example the author provides describes a
type of Eskimo sculpture (man driving a caribou,
woman holding a child, geese flying, polar bear
charging) and gives the reader a sense of its
quality and variety.
5. D. Use the process of elimination to answer this
question.
Choice A is incorrect. Line 43 states “there is
much evidence of humor” in Eskimo art.
Choice B is incorrect. Humor in Eskimo carvings
“may be subtle” (lines 46–47).
Choice C is incorrect. Eskimo carvings reveal
“the passionate feelings of a vital people” (line
9); they possess emotional depth.
Choice E is incorrect. Eskimo sculptors are
“masters in the understanding of animal anatomy”
(line 28). Their works are characterized by
anatomical accuracy.
Only Choice D is left. It is the correct answer.
If “no one can accurately define the right way
or wrong way to create a carving” (lines 48–49),
clearly Eskimo carving lacks stylistic uniformity.
6. B. The passage as a whole is a portrait of Charlotte
Stanhope’s moral and intellectual temperament
or character. The opening sentence of each paragraph describes some aspect of her behavior or
character which the paragraph then goes on to
develop.
Remember, when asked to find the main idea, be
sure to check the opening and summary sentences
of each paragraph.
Choice A is incorrect. While the various members
of the family are described, they are described
only in relationship to Charlotte.
Choice C is incorrect. Although Charlotte may
well be selfish or egotistical, she does do some
good for others. The passage does not illustrate
the evils of egotism.
Choice D is incorrect. The passage analyzes
Charlotte; it discusses the members of her family
only in relationship to her.
Choice E is incorrect. While Charlotte has her
virtues, the passage stresses her faults. While
her family may not be described as admirable,
nothing suggests that they are disreputable (not
well-esteemed or well-regarded).
7. B. The author presents Charlotte candidly and openly:
her faults are not concealed. The author also
presents her satirically: her weaknesses and those
of her family are mocked or made fun of. If you
find the characters in a passage foolish or pompous, the author may well be writing satirically.
Choice A is incorrect. While the author is concerned with Charlotte’s moral character, he is
not moralistic or self-righteous; he is describing
her character, not preaching a sermon against her.
Choice C is incorrect. The author is unsympathetic
to Charlotte’s faults and he is not sentimental or
138 The Critical Reading Question
emotionally excessive about her.
Choice D is incorrect. Bitterness is too strong a
term to describe the author’s tone. He has no
reason to be bitter.
Choice E is incorrect. While the author’s tone is
not highly emotional, it is better to describe it
as satiric than as unfeeling.
8. D. Lines 50–51 mention the troubled mind of Dr.
Stanhope, and state that Charlotte would have
enjoyed shaking “what remained of his Church
of England faith.” The phrase “what remained”
implies that little is left of Dr. Stanhope’s original
religious faith.
Choice A is incorrect. There is no comparison
made between the two elder Stanhopes. Both
are indolent (lazy).
Choice B is incorrect. Since only Charlotte could
persuade her father to look after his affairs (lines
14–15), he apparently was willing to let her
manage matters for him and willingly surrendered
his authority.
Choice C is incorrect. There is no evidence in the
passage that Dr. Stanhope feels regret or remorse.
Choice E is incorrect. While Charlotte’s brother
is described as moneyless (lines 41–42), there
is no evidence in the passage that Dr. Stanhope
has disinherited him.
9. C. There is no evidence in the passage that
Charlotte’s mother is an affectionate wife and
mother; similarly, there is no evidence that she
is excellent in the “domestic arts” (making tea;
managing the household—the very tasks assumed
by Charlotte).
Statements I and II are incorrect. Only Statement
III is correct. The sole mention of Charlotte’s
mother (lines 33–35) states that she was encouraged in her idleness by Charlotte. She lacks the
willpower to resist Charlotte’s encouragements.
Thus, she shows herself to be a woman of unassertive, pliable character.
10. A. The first paragraph emphasizes that Charlotte
“in no way affected the graces of youth.” Her
manner is that of an assured mistress of a household, not a flirt.
Choice B is incorrect. Charlotte is a free-thinker
(one who denies established beliefs) and thus
lacks reverence or respect for religion.
Choice C is incorrect. Charlotte is concerned
with her family’s worldly well-being and makes
her father attend to his material concerns. Thus,
she has a materialistic nature.
Choice D is incorrect. Charlotte manages everything and everybody.
Choice E is incorrect. Charlotte’s coarseness
(vulgarity; crudeness) is implied in the reference
to her “freedom...from feminine delicacy”
(lines 45–47).
11. B. We are told that 71 percent of the earth is covered
by water and that the Pacific Ocean covers half
the earth. The Pacific is obviously the largest
ocean.
12. C. The peripheral furrows or deeps are discussed
in lines 13–25. We are told that these deeps are
near the continental masses, and, therefore, near
the shore.
13. D. The last sentence of the first paragraph discusses
the submerged or underwater portions of the
continental masses.
Key Words: masses, percent, sea level, submerged, relief.
14. A.
Terms such as “unendingly,” “ultimately,” and
“ceaseless” indicate that the mountains are made
level over an enormous passage of years.
15. B. The passage states that the deeps, the site of
frequent earthquakes, are of recent origin: they
were formed comparatively recently. This suggests that newly formed land and sea formations
may have a greater frequency of earthquake
occurrence than older, more stable formations.
Remember, when asked to make inferences,
base your answers on what the passage implies,
not what it states directly.
16. D. The author does not value the rhetoric of left
wing extremists. He does not want to “add
strength to the arguments of the radical revolutionaries among us” (lines 61–63).
Choice A is incorrect. The author values legislative reform; he argues in its favor throughout
the passage.
Choice B is incorrect. The author values press
coverage of Congressional sessions: he advocates
letting “the people and their news media see
what is transpiring here” in lines 43–44.
Choice C is incorrect. The author values his
responsiveness to his constituents, his ability to
respond to the wishes of the people. He maintains
in lines 5–7 that it is this responsiveness on
the part of our institutions that makes our way
of life prevail.
Choice E is incorrect. The author apparently
values the opinion of Dr. Edward Teller: he
quotes Teller in order to back up his argument
against Congressional secretiveness.
17. B. Throughout the passage the author repeatedly
calls for reform. He points out the failings of
the House. In particular, he asserts that “this
House of the people has been operating...in an
undemocratic manner” (lines 23–25). Such
undemocratic practices must come to an end.
Choice A is incorrect. The author wishes to grant
the media access to Congress (lines 42–47); he
does not seek to limit their powers.
Answer Explanations 139
Choice C is incorrect. While he mentions the
radical revolutionaries in our midst, he does so
only in passing (lines 61–63): his primary purpose
is not to answer their arguments, but to make an
argument of his own.
Choice D is incorrect. The author never mentions stregthening the powers of Congressional
committees.
Choice E is incorrect. Although the author mentions in passing the needs for security of governmental agencies, he dismisses these needs as less
important than the public’s need (and right) to
know what’s going on.
18. D. The author has just accused the House of operating in an undemocratic manner. He now asserts
that he and his fellow Representatives cannot
pretend to advocate or support democracy to the
American people if they act undemocratically.
19. C. In lines 26–30 the author directly rejects closed
Congressional hearings. Closed hearings undermine the very foundations of Congress and of
democracy itself. He demands reform. His attitude
is one of outright, complete rejection.
Choice A is incorrect. The author is not merely
being skeptical (suspicious, unwilling to believe)
when he discusses closed hearings.
Choice B is incorrect. The author attacks closed
hearings. He does not accept or tolerate them
grudgingly (reluctantly).
Choice D is incorrect. The author certainly does
not accept closed hearings enthusiastically or
wholeheartedly.
Choice E is incorrect. The author is not basically
indifferent to closed hearings; he would not
have spent so much time arguing against them
if he were.
20. B. Choice B is correct. The passage is cautionary
in tone. The author is warning his audience,
giving them lots of advice.
Choice A is incorrect. Satirical means ironic,
mocking, critical in a witty or humorous manner.
The author is far too involved in the issue to
make witty, mocking remarks.
Choice C is incorrect. The author is concerned.
He has not been made indifferent or alienated.
Choice D is incorrect. Objective means fair, unprejudiced, undistorted by emotion. The author’s
prejudices against “radical revolutionaries” and
his use of emotionally loaded phrases like “stifle
the democratic process” and “Nation we all love
so deeply” make his lack of objectivity clear.
Choice E is incorrect. The author is not elegiac,
sorrowfully lamenting a death. He is issuing a
warning.
Exercise C
1. D. Tapestry weaving is time-consuming, taking
“as much as a year to produce a yard.” In addition,
it is faithful to the original (“The weaver always
follows a preexisting model.”) It is not, however,
spontaneous in concept.
2. A. The author mentions tapestry’s distinctive or
characteristic weave as something that distinguishes tapestry-woven materials from other
fabrics (prints, brocades, etc.).
3. B. By using tapestries “to display his wealth and
social position,” the nobleman is using them to
demonstrate his consequence or importance.
4. D. The “ground” upon which embroidery is laid is
the cloth base upon which the embroiderer
stitches a design.
5. D. In comparison to the tightly-woven tapestries of
the nineteenth century, present day wall-hangings
are described as “coarsely woven cloths.” Thus,
they have a less fine weave than their predecessors.
6. D. The passage explains the process of tapestry
making and mentions that large wall-hangings
are Western rather than Eastern in origin. Choices
A and B do not reflect the passage’s primary
purpose. This purpose is to provide an historical
perspective on tapestry making.
7. E. By stating that the public loves a simple explanation and by commenting on how much easier it
is for schoolchildren to ignore what happened
on the American continent from 1492 to 1620,
the historian-author reveals a superior attitude
toward the public at large, who are content with
easy answers.
8. B. The democracy-rejecting Pilgrims would have
been amazed to find themselves held up or
cited as defenders of democracy.
9. A. The Pilgrims had been given a royal patent
legally empowering them to settle in a certain
area. Because they had decided to colonize a
different area, some of the group felt that once
they were ashore no laws would bind them. The
compact bound the signers to obey the laws of
the colony. It thus served to establish legal
authority within the colony.
10. A. In debunking the image of the Mayflower Compact as the cornerstone of American democracy,
the author reveals himself to be an iconoclast,
an attacker of established beliefs.
140 The Critical Reading Question
11. A. According to the passage, the Pilgrims signed
the Mayflower Compact in order of rank: first,
the gentlemen; next, the “goodmen” or yeomanfarmers; finally, the servants. In doing so they
showed their respect for the social hierarchy.
12. C. Welty’s father used his telescope to observe the
moon and the Big Dipper. An eager amateur
astronomer, he clearly made a point of observing
eclipses and other major astronomical phenomena.
13. D. Welty calls her father a “pretty good weather
prophet,” saying he had “the country boy’s accurate knowledge of the weather and its skies.”
In support of this, she describes his going out
on the porch first thing in the morning for a look
at the weather and a sniff. This suggests he sniffed
the air to detect signs of changes in the weather.
2. E. The first paragraph notes that ranches can develop
where large amounts of land are available. It can
be inferred that more unsettled land was available
in the West than in the East.
3. E. The use of only Mexican terms suggests that
the author is using these examples of cowboy
slang to demonstrate the origins of the words
and prove how much Mexicans contributed.
4. E. The first paragraph tells of the adoption of
Mexican methods of handling animals, and the
second speaks of Mexican contributions to riding
equipment. The quotation at the end of the first
paragraph implies that the money for the ranching industry was provided by Americans.
14. B. Caring for his children, the father warned them
to take preventative steps (such as moving away
from the windows during electrical storms) to
avoid being hit by lightning.
5. A. The passage starts with the major Mexican contribution of the whole concept of ranching, goes
on, in the second paragraph, to discuss lesser
contributions of equipment and slang, and ends,
in the third paragraph, with the relatively minor
contribution of branding.
15. C. Exhilarated by the thunderstorm (she “always
loved a storm!”), the mother stands apart from
the rest of the family, urging them to share her
excitement over the sounds of the storm.
6. A. Each paragraph of the passage discusses how
African sculptors achieved their effects.
16. E. Running through thunderstorms unworried by
lightning bolts, Welty’s mother was clearly less
apt to foresee problems than Welty’s father was;
she also was more apt to enjoy the moment.
17. D. Welty’s father held dear his beliefs in progress
and in the future; these were his fondest, most
cherished beliefs.
18. A. Welty’s ambition was to beat the milk in the
churn and make butter while her mother read to
her; her mother finished reading the story before
Welty finished manufacturing butter for her.
19. E. Welty calls her autobiography One Writer’s
Beginnings. In this passage she shows how her
father and mother, with their different gifts, were
preparing her for life, especially for the life of a
writer. Her father gave her his love of ingenious
devices, his country-boy’s knowledge of terrain.
Her mother gave her books, a love of reading, a
sense of the sound of words. Both parents helped
form her “strong meteorological sensibility” that
affected her later tales.
Exercise D
1. D. The topic discussed throughout this passage is
Hispanic (Spanish and Mexican) contributions
to Western ranching.
7. B. Both the first and second paragraphs mention
the emotions aroused by African sculpture.
8. D. The passage discusses sculpture, so it can be
inferred that “the common plastic language”
means the common sculptural language.
9. D. We are told that the African sculptor was highly
trained and followed the rules without thinking
about them. Similarly, a well-rehearsed pianist
can perform a concerto without worrying too
much about the notes. Both artists have become
free to concentrate on mood or creativity.
10. E. Throughout the passage, the author discusses
the rules of African art. He concludes that they
were unconscious.
11. E. In candidly exposing her grandmother’s flaws,
the author exhibits a sardonic or scornful and
sarcastic attitude.
12. D. McCarthy sees as little point in speculating about
her grandmother’s childhood as she does in
wondering about the toilet-training of a fictional
character like Lady Macbeth. Such speculations
are, to McCarthy’s mind, idle or useless.
13. B. The author states (somewhat ironically) that
modern fictional characters must have “clinical
authenticity.” In other words, they must appear
to be genuine or valid in psychological terms.
Answer Explanations 141
14. B. Although the grandmother’s outward appearance
was soft and motherly, her essential nature was
hard as nails. Clearly, you cannot judge a book
(person) by its cover (outward appearance).
15. D. McCarthy is building up a portrait of her grandmother as a pugnacious, autocratic person. She
describes the fear old ladies have for their
belongings as a very human (and understandable) reaction: aware of their own increasing
fragility (and eventual death), the old ladies
identify with their fragile possessions and are
protective of them. McCarthy’s grandmother
was also protective of her belongings, but she
was not the typical “gentle and tremulous” elderly
woman. She was a petty tyrant and had decidedly
different reasons for her actions.
16. B. Because her grandmother was more interested
in maintaining her power than in being hospitable,
the social properties or aspects of the family
home had withered and decayed till no real
sociability existed.
17. D. Heilbrun’s central criticism is that her grandmother “impaired her six daughters for autonomy”
or independence. In other words, she discouraged
her daughters’ independence.
18. B. Heilbrun realizes that people nowadays may
have difficulty understanding what motivated
her grandmother to control her daughters’ lives
and restrict their autonomy so thoroughly. By
describing how great the horror of pregnancy in
an unmarried girl was, she helps the reader understand why her grandmother acted as she did.
19. A. By dwelling on how hard she had worked to
support her daughters and how much she would
be hurt if they failed to pay her back by making
good marriages, Heilbrun’s grandmother exploited their sense of guilt.
20. A. The common factor in both grandmothers’ lives
is their need to govern the actions of others.
McCarthy’s grandmother tyrannized everyone
from the mailman to her daughters and daughtersin-law; Heilbrun’s grandmother “ruled the household with an arm of iron,” governing her
daughters’ lives.
21. D. While Heilbrun’s grandmother was a “sustaining
woman” who provided for her family, allowing
her husband to live a life of relative leisure,
McCarthy’s grandmother was a grudging
woman, not a sustaining one. Thus, McCarthy
would most likely point out that her grandmother’s actual conduct is not in keeping with
this characterization.
6
Build Your
Vocabulary
■
■
■
■
The SAT High-Frequency Word List
The SAT Hot Prospects Word List
The 3,500 Basic Word List
Basic Word Parts
The more you study actual SAT critical reading questions,
the more you realize one thing: the key to doing well on the
critical reading portions of SAT is a strong working vocabulary of college-level words. And the key to building that
strong working vocabulary can be summed up in one
word: READ.
Read widely, read deeply, read daily. If you do, your vocabulary will grow. If you don’t it won’t.
Reading widely, however, may not always help you remember the words you read. You may have the words in your
passive vocabulary and be able to recognize them when
you see them in a context and yet be unable to define them
clearly or think of synonyms for them. In addition, unless
you have already begun to upgrade your reading to the
college level, reading widely also may not acquaint you
most efficiently with college-level words.
What are college-level words? In going through the preceding two chapters, you have examined dozens of questions
taken from recently published SATs. Some of the words in
these questions—govern and tyrant—have been familiar
to you; others—pundit and interlocutor—have not. Still
others—husband and nip—have looked familiar, but have
turned out to be defined in unexpected ways. All these
words belong in your college-level vocabulary; any of them
may turn up when you take SAT.
Use the vocabulary and word parts lists in this chapter to
upgrade your vocabulary to a college level. They are all
excellent vocabulary building tools.
No matter how little time you have before you take SAT, you
can familiarize yourself with the sort of vocabulary you will
be facing on the test. First, look over the words on our SAT
High-Frequency Word List, which you’ll find on the following
pages. Each of these words has appeared (as answer
choices or as question words) from eight to forty times on
SATs published in the past two decades.
Next, look over the words on our Hot Prospects List, which
appears immediately after the High-Frequency List. Though
these words don’t appear as often as the high-frequency
words do, when they do appear, the odds are that they’re
key words in questions. As such, they deserve your special
attention.
Now you’re ready to master the words on the High-Frequency
and Hot Prospects Word Lists. First, check off those words
you think you know. Then, look up all the words and their
definitions in our 3,500 Basic Word List. Pay particular
attention to the words you thought you knew. See whether
any of them are defined in an unexpected way. If they are,
make a special note of them. As you know from the preceding chapters, SAT often stumps students with questions
based on unfamiliar meanings of familiar-looking words.
Use the flash cards in the back of this book and create others for the words you want to master. Work up memory
tricks to help yourself remember them. Try using them on
your parents and friends. Not only will going over these
high-frequency words reassure you that you do know some
SAT-type words, but also it may well help you on the actual
day of the test. These words have turned up on recent tests;
some of them may well turn up on the test you take.
143
144 Build Your Vocabulary
The SAT High-Frequency Word List*
abridge
abstemious
abstract
abstruse
accessible
acclaim
acknowledge
adulation
adversary
adversity
advocate
aesthetic
affable
affirmation
alleviate
aloof
altruistic
ambiguous
ambivalence
analogous
anarchist
anecdote
animosity
antagonism
antidote
antiquated
apathy
appease
apprehension
arbitrary
archaic
arrogance
articulate
artifact
artisan
ascendancy
ascetic
aspire
astute
attribute (V)
augment
austere
authoritarian
autonomous
aversion
belie
benevolent
bolster
braggart
brevity
cajole
calculated
candor
capricious
censorious
censure
coercion
commemorate
compile
complacency
compliance
composure
comprehensive
concede
conciliatory
concise
concur
condone
conflagration
confound
consensus
constraint
contend
contentious
contract (V)
conviction
cordial
corroborate
credulity
criterion
cryptic
cursory
curtail
decorum
deference
degradation
delineate
denounce
deplore
depravity
deprecate
deride
derivative
despondent
detached
deterrent
detrimental
devious
devise
diffuse
digression
diligence
diminution
discerning
disclose
discordant
discount (V)
discrepancy
discriminating
disdain
disinclination
dismiss
disparage
disparity
disperse
disputatious
disseminate
dissent
divergent
doctrine
document (V)
dogmatic
dubious
duplicity
eclectic
egotism
elated
eloquence
elusive
embellish
emulate
endorse
enhance
enigma
enmity
ephemeral
equivocal
erroneous
erudite
esoteric
eulogy
euphemism
exacerbate
exalt
execute
exemplary
exemplify
exhaustive
exhilarating
exonerate
expedient
expedite
explicit
exploit (V)
extol
extraneous
extricate
exuberance
facilitate
fallacious
fanaticism
fastidious
feasible
fervor
flagrant
frivolous
frugality
furtive
garrulous
glutton
gratify
gratuitous
gravity
gregarious
guile
gullible
hamper (V)
hardy
haughtiness
hedonist
heresy
hierarchy
homogeneous
hypocritical
hypothetical
idiosyncrasy
illusory
immutable
impair
impeccable
impede
implausible
implement (V)
impudence
inadvertent
inane
incisive
incite
inclusive
incongruous
inconsequential
incorrigible
indict
indifferent
indiscriminate
induce
inert
ingenious
inherent
innate
innocuous
innovation
insipid
instigate
insularity
integrity
intervene
intimidate
intrepid
inundate
invert
ironic
lament
laud
lavish (ADJ)
lethargic
levity
linger
listless
lofty
malicious
marred
materialism
methodical
meticulous
miserly
mitigate
morose
mundane
negate
nonchalance
notoriety
novelty
nurture
obliterate
oblivion
obscure (V)
obstinate
ominous
opaque
opportunist
optimist
opulence
orator
ostentatious
pacifist
partisan
peripheral
perpetuate
pervasive
pessimism
phenomena
philanthropist
piety
placate
ponderous
pragmatic
preclude
precocious
predator
predecessor
presumptuous
pretentious
prevalent
prodigal
profane
profound
profusion
proliferation
prolific
provincial
proximity
prudent
qualified
quandary
ramble
rancor
ratify
rebuttal
recluse
The SAT Hot Prospects Word List 145
recount
rectify
redundant
refute
relegate
remorse
renounce
repel
reprehensible
reprimand
reprove
repudiate
reserve (N)
resigned
resolution
resolve (N)
restraint
reticence
retract
reverent
rhetorical
rigor
robust
sage
sanction (V)
satirical
saturate
scanty
scrupulous
scrutinize
seclusion
servile
skeptic
sluggish
somber
sporadic
squander
stagnant
static (ADJ)
submissive
subordinate (ADJ)
subside
substantiate
succinct
superficial
superfluous
surpass
surreptitious
susceptible
sustain
sycophant
taciturn
temper (V)
tentative
terse
thrive
tranquillity
transient
trite
turbulence
turmoil
undermine
uniformity
unwarranted
usurp
vacillate
venerate
verbose
vigor
vilify
vindicate
virtuoso
volatile
whimsical
zealot
mercenary (ADJ)
mercurial
mirth
misanthrope
misnomer
mollify
mosaic
munificent
nefarious
nuance
obdurate
odious
ornate
pariah
parody
parsimony
paucity
penury
perfunctory
pernicious
pitfall
pithy
polemical
prattle
precarious
profligate (ADJ)
quagmire
quell
querulous
quiescent
rant
rarefy
raucous
ravenous
raze
recant
remission
replete
repugnant
rescind
respite
resplendent
savory
sedentary
soporific
spurious
spurn
steadfast
stolid
strident
stupefy
supplant
surfeit
swagger
tantamount
tenacity
terrestrial
threadbare
tirade
torpor
trepidation
trifling
truncate
unkempt
unprecedented
vaporize
viable
virulent
voluble
witticism
*This word list has been updated to include all released SAT exams through January 2002.
The SAT Hot Prospects Word List
abate
accolade
acquiesce
acrid
acrimony
aggregate (V)
amorphous
anachronistic
anomaly
antediluvian
antipathy
apocryphal
arable
ardent
assiduous
assuage
atrophy
audacious
avarice
avert
aviary
beguile
bequeath
bleak
blighted
bombastic
buttress
cacophonous
cardiologist
carping
certitude
charlatan
circumlocution
cliché
coalesce
colloquial
combustible
complementary
confluence
conjecture
converge
corrode
corrugated
culpable
debilitate
debunk
dehydrate
deleterious
depose
desiccate
diffidence
dilatory
discourse
discrepancy
disquiet
distend
dupe
ebullient
edify
efface
effervesce
elegy
elicit
elucidate
emaciated
emend
equanimity
equitable
evanescent
excerpt
fallow
falter
fathom (V)
fell (V)
fitful
florid
foolhardy
glacial
hackneyed
hyperbole
iconoclastic
ignominy
illicit
impecunious
impregnable
incidental
incontrovertible
indefatigable
indolent
ineffable
inexorable
insolvent
insuperable
intractable
irreproachable
jocular
labyrinth
laconic
laggard
lampoon
lassitude
lithe
lurid
luxuriant
meander
146 Build Your Vocabulary
The 3,500 Basic Word List
The 3,500 Basic Word List begins on the following page. Do
not let this list overwhelm you. You do not need to memorize
every word.
The more than 3,500 words in this list have been compiled
from various sources. They have been taken from the standard literature read by high school students throughout the
country and from the many tests taken by high school and
college students. Ever since this book first appeared in
1954, countless students have reported that working with
this list has been of immense value in the taking of all kinds
of college entrance and scholarship tests. It has been used
with profit by people preparing for civil service examinations,
placement tests, and promotional examinations in many
industrial fields. Above all, it has been used with profit by
people studying for SAT.
Even before the College Board began publishing its own
SAT sample examinations, the Basic Word List was unique
in its ability to reflect, and often predict, the actual vocabulary appearing on the SAT. Today, thanks to our ongoing
research and computer analysis of published SAT materials,
we believe our 3,500 Basic Word List is the best in the field.
For those of you who wish to work your way through the
entire word list and feel the need for a plan, we recommend
that you follow the procedure described below in order to
use the lists and the exercises most profitably:
1. Allot a definite time each day for the study of a list.
2. Devote at least one hour to each list.
3. First go through the list looking at the flagged HighFrequency and Hot Prospects words and the short,
simple-looking words (7 letters at most). Mark those you
don’t know. In studying, pay particular attention to them.
4. Go through the list again looking at the longer words. Pay
particular attention to words with more than one meaning
and familiar-looking words that have unusual definitions
that come as a surprise to you. Study these secondary
definitions.
5. List unusual words on index cards that you can shuffle
and review from time to time, along with the flash cards
in this book.
6. Use the illustrative sentences in the list as models and
make up new sentences of your own.
For each word, the following is provided:
1. The word (printed in heavy type).
2. Its part of speech (abbreviated).
3. A brief definition.
4. A sentence illustrating the word’s use.
5. Whenever appropriate, related words are provided,
together with their parts of speech.
The word lists are arranged in strict alphabetical order. In
each word list, High-Frequency words are marked with a
square bullet ( ■ ), Hot Prospects with a round one ( ).
•
Basic Word List 147
Basic Word List
Word List 1
abase-adroit
abase V. Iower; humiliate. Defeated, Queen Zenobia was
forced to abase herself before the conquering Romans,
who made her march in chains before the emperor in the
procession celebrating his triumph. abasement, N.
abash V. embarrass. He was not at all abashed by her
open admiration.
• abate
V. subside; decrease, lessen. Rather than leaving
immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. abatement, N.
abbreviate V. shorten. Because we were running out of
time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
abdicate V. renounce; give up. When Edward VIII abdicated the British throne to marry the woman he loved, he
surprised the entire world.
aboriginal Indians were widely reported in the scientific
journals. aborigines, N.
abortive ADJ. unsuccessful; fruitless. Attacked by armed
troops, the Chinese students had to abandon their abortive
attempt to democratize Beijing peacefully. abort, V.
abrade V. wear away by friction; scrape; erode. Because
the sharp rocks had abraded the skin on her legs, she
dabbed iodine on the scrapes and abrasions.
abrasive ADJ. rubbing away; tending to grind down. Just
as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish,
abrasive remarks can wear away a listener’s patience.
abrade, V.
V. condense or shorten. Because the publishers
felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace,
they proceeded to abridge the novel.
■ abridge
abduction N. kidnapping. The movie Ransom describes
the attempts to rescue a multimillionaire’s son after the
child’s abduction by kidnappers. abduct, V.
abrogate ADJ . abolish. He intended to abrogate the
decree issued by his predecessor.
aberrant N . abnormal or deviant. Given the aberrant
nature of the data, we doubted the validity of the entire
experiment. also N.
abscond V . depart secretly and hide. The teller who
absconded with the bonds went uncaptured until someone
recognized him from his photograph on “America’s Most
Wanted.”
abet V. aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage.
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
abeyance N . suspended action. The deal was held in
abeyance until her arrival.
abhor V. detest; hate. She abhorred all forms of bigotry.
abhorrence, N.
abject ADJ. wretched; lacking pride. On the streets of New
York the homeless live in abject poverty, huddling in doorways to find shelter from the wind.
abjure V. renounce upon oath. He abjured his allegiance
to the king. abjuration, N.
ablution N. washing. His daily ablutions were accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled “Opera in
the Bath.”
abnegation N. repudiation; self-sacrifice. Though Rudolph
and Duchess Flavia loved one another, their love was
doomed, for she had to marry the king; their act of abnegation was necessary to preserve the kingdom.
abolish V. cancel; put an end to. The president of the college refused to abolish the physical education requirement.
abolition, N.
abominable ADJ. detestable; extremely unpleasant; very
bad. Mary liked John until she learned he was dating
Susan; then she called him an abominable young man, with
abominable taste in women.
aboriginal ADJ., N. being the first of its kind in a region;
primitive; native. Her studies of the primitive art forms of the
absolute ADJ. complete; totally unlimited; certain. Although
the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he did not want
to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of
her infidelity.
absolve V . pardon (an offense). The father confessor
absolved him of his sins. absolution, N.
absorb V. assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; wholly
engage. During the nineteenth century, America absorbed
hordes of immigrants, turning them into productive citizens.
Can Huggies diapers absorb more liquid than Pampers
can? This question does not absorb me; instead, it bores
me. absorption, N.
abstain V. refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an
action or practice. After considering the effect of alcohol on
his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race. abstinence, N.
ADJ. sparing in eating and drinking; temperate. Concerned whether her vegetarian son’s abstemious
diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother
pressed food on him.
■ abstemious
abstinence N. restraint from eating or drinking. The doctor
recommended total abstinence from salted foods. abstain, V.
ADJ . theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational. To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he had
never missed a meal.
■ abstract
ADJ. obscure; profound; difficult to understand.
Baffled by the abstruse philosophical texts assigned in
■ abstruse
148 Build Your Vocabulary
class, Dave asked Lexy to explain Kant’s Critique of Pure
Reason.
abundant ADJ. plentiful; possessing riches or resources.
At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom,
the prospect of employment, the promise of a more abundant life.
abusive ADJ. coarsely insulting; physically harmful. An
abusive parent damages a child both mentally and physically.
abut V. border upon; adjoin. Where our estates abut, we
must build a fence.
abysmal ADJ. bottomless. His arrogance is exceeded only
by his abysmal ignorance.
abyss N . enormous chasm; vast bottomless pit. Darth
Vader seized the evil emperor and hurled him down into the
abyss.
academic ADJ. related to a school; not practical or directly
useful. The dean’s talk about reforming the college admissions system was only an academic discussion: we knew
little, if anything, would change.
accede V. agree. If I accede to this demand for blackmail,
I am afraid that I will be the victim of future demands.
accelerate V. move faster. In our science class, we learn
how falling bodies accelerate.
accentuate V. emphasize; stress. If you accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, you may wind up with an
overoptimistic view of the world.
ADJ. easy to approach; obtainable. We asked
our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
■ accessible
accost V. approach and speak first to a person. When the
two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I
thought they were going to attack me.
accoutre V. equip. The fisherman was accoutred with the
best that the sporting goods store could supply. accoutrements, N.
accretion N. growth; increase. Over the years, Bob put on
weight; because of this accretion of flesh, he went from size
M to size XXL.
accrue V. come about by addition. You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal
sum. accrual, N.
acerbity N. bitterness of speech and temper. The meeting
of the United Nations General Assembly was marked with
such acerbity that informed sources held out little hope of
reaching any useful settlement of the problem. acerbic, ADJ.
acetic
flavor.
ADJ. vinegary. The salad had an exceedingly acetic
acidulous ADJ. slightly sour; sharp, caustic. James was
unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
V. recognize; admit. Although Iris acknowledged that the Beatles’ tunes sounded pretty dated nowadays, she still preferred them to the hip-hop songs her
brothers played.
■ acknowledge
acme N. top; pinnacle. His success in this role marked the
acme of his career as an actor.
acoustics N. science of sound; quality that makes a room
easy or hard to hear in. Carnegie Hall is liked by music
lovers because of its fine acoustics.
• acquiesce
accessory N. additional object; useful but not essential
thing. She bought an attractive handbag as an accessory
for her dress. also ADJ.
V. assent; agree without protesting. Although
she appeared to acquiesce to her employer’s suggestions,
I could tell she had reservations about the changes he
wanted made. acquiescence, N.; acquiescent, ADJ.
V. applaud; announce with great approval. The
NBC sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the
Olympics and decried every American defeat. also N.
acquire V . obtain; get. Frederick Douglass was determined to acquire an education despite his master’s efforts
to prevent his doing so.
acclimate V. adjust to climate. One of the difficulties of our
present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.
acquittal N. deliverance from a charge. His acquittal by the
jury surprised those who had thought him guilty. acquit, V.
■ acclaim
acclivity N. sharp upslope of a hill. The car would not go
up the acclivity in high gear.
• accolade
N. award of merit. In Hollywood, an “Oscar” is
the highest accolade.
accommodate V. oblige or help someone; adjust or bring
into harmony; adapt. Mitch always did everything possible
to accommodate his elderly relatives, from driving them to
medical appointments to helping them with paperwork.
(secondary meaning)
accomplice N. partner in crime. Because he had provided
the criminal with the lethal weapon, he was arrested as an
accomplice in the murder.
accord N. agreement. She was in complete accord with
the verdict.
• acrid
ADJ. sharp; bitterly pungent. The acrid odor of burnt
gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
• acrimonious
ADJ. bitter in words or manner. The candidate
attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms. acrimony, N.
acrophobia N. fear of heights. A born salesman, he could
convince someone with a bad case of acrophobia to sign
up for a life membership in a sky-diving club.
actuarial ADJ. calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics. According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is
greater today than it was a century ago.
actuate V. motivate. I fail to understand what actuated you
to reply to this letter so nastily.
acuity N. sharpness. In time his youthful acuity of vision
failed him, and he needed glasses.
acumen N . mental keenness. His business acumen
helped him to succeed where others had failed.
Basic Word List 149
acute ADJ. quickly perceptive; keen; brief and severe. The
acute young doctor realized immediately that the gradual
deterioration of her patient’s once acute hearing was due to
a chronic illness, not an acute one.
adhere V. stick fast. I will adhere to this opinion until proof
that I am wrong is presented. adhesion, N.
adage N. wise saying; proverb. There is much truth in the
old adage about fools and their money.
adjacent ADJ. adjoining; neighboring; close by. Philip’s
best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block,
close but not immediately adjacent.
adamant ADJ. hard; inflexible. Bronson played the part of a
revenge-driven man, adamant in his determination to punish the criminals who destroyed his family. adamancy, N.
adapt V . alter; modify. Some species of animals have
become extinct because they could not adapt to a changing environment.
addendum N. an addition or supplement. As an addendum to the minutes, let me point out that Susan moved to
appoint Kathy and Arthur to the finance committee.
addiction N. compulsive, habitual need. His addiction to
drugs caused his friends much grief.
addle V. muddle; drive crazy; become rotten. This idiotic
plan is confusing enough to addle anyone. addled, ADJ.
address V. direct a speech to; deal with or discuss. Due to
address the convention in July, Brown planned to address
the issue of low-income housing in his speech.
adherent N. supporter; follower. In the wake of the scandal, the senator’s one-time adherents quickly deserted him.
adjunct N. something added on or attached (generally
nonessential or inferior). Although I don’t absolutely need a
second computer, I plan to buy a laptop to serve as an
adjunct to my desktop model.
admonish V. warn; reprove. He admonished his listeners
to change their wicked ways. admonition, N.
admonition N . warning. After the student protesters
repeatedly rejected the dean’s admonitions, the administration issued an ultimatum: either the students would end the
demonstration at once or the campus police would arrest
the demonstrators.
adorn V . decorate. Wall paintings and carved statues
adorned the temple. adornment, N.
adroit ADJ. skillful. His adroit handling of the delicate situation pleased his employers.
adept ADJ. expert at. She was adept at the fine art of irritating people. also N.
Word List 2
adulation-amend
N. flattery; admiration. The rock star thrived on
the adulation of his groupies and yes men. adulate, V.
■ adulation
adulterate V. make impure by adding inferior or tainted
substances. It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer; when consumers learned that Beech-Nut had
adulterated their apple juice by mixing it with water, they
protested vigorously.
advent N. arrival. Most Americans were unaware of the
advent of the Nuclear Age until the news of Hiroshima
reached them.
adventitious ADJ. accidental; casual. He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
N. opponent. The young wrestler struggled to
defeat his adversary.
■ adversary
adverse ADJ. unfavorable; hostile. The recession had a
highly adverse effect on Father’s investment portfolio: he
lost so much money that he could no longer afford the butler and the upstairs maid. adversity, N.
N. poverty; misfortune. We must learn to meet
adversity gracefully.
■ adversity
advocacy N . support; active pleading on something’s
behalf. No threats could dissuade Bishop Desmond Tutu
from his advocacy of the human rights of black South
Africans.
■ advocate
V. urge; plead for. The abolitionists advocated
freedom for the slaves. also N.
aerie N. nest of a large bird of prey (eagle, hawk). The
mother eagle swooped down on the unwitting rabbit and
bore it off to her aerie high in the Rocky Mountains.
■ aesthetic
ADJ. artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful. The beauty of Tiffany’s stained glass
appealed to Esther’s aesthetic sense. aesthete, N.
■ affable
ADJ. easily approachable; warmly friendly. Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at
how affable his new employer was.
affected ADJ. artificial; pretended; assumed in order to
impress. His affected mannerisms—his “Harvard” accent,
air of boredom, use of obscure foreign words—annoyed us:
he acted as if he thought he was too good for his old high
school friends. affectation, N.
affidavit N. written statement made under oath. The court
refused to accept his statement unless he presented it in
the form of an affidavit.
affiliation N. joining; associating with. His affiliation with the
political party was of short duration for he soon disagreed
with his colleagues.
affinity N. kinship. She felt an affinity with all who suffered;
their pains were her pains.
N . positive assertion; confirmation; solemn
pledge by one who refuses to take an oath. Despite Tom’s
affirmations of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had
eaten the pie.
■ affirmation
150 Build Your Vocabulary
affix V. fasten; attach; add on. First the registrar had to
affix her signature to the license; then she had to affix her
official seal.
alchemy N. medieval chemistry. The changing of baser
metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy.
alchemist, N.
affliction N. state of distress; cause of suffering. Even in
the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the
spirits of those around her.
alcove N . nook; small, recessed section of a room.
Though their apartment lacked a full-scale dining room, an
alcove adjacent to the living room made an adequate
breakfast nook for the young couple.
affluence N. abundance; wealth. Foreigners are amazed
by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
affront N . insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect.
When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon
at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and
refused to speak to her hosts for a week. also V.
aftermath N . consequences; outcome; upshot. People
around the world wondered what the aftermath of China’s
violent suppression of the student protests would be.
agenda N. items of business at a meeting. We had so
much difficulty agreeing upon an agenda that there was
very little time for the meeting.
agent N. means or instrument; personal representative; person acting in an official capacity. “I will be the agent of
America’s destruction,” proclaimed the beady-eyed villain,
whose agent had gotten him the role. With his face, he
could never have played the part of the hero, a heroic F.B.I.
agent.
alias N. an assumed name. John Smith’s alias was Bob
Jones. also ADV.
alienate V. make hostile; separate. Her attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith
in each other.
alimentary ADJ. supplying nourishment. The alimentary
canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods
occurs there. When asked for the name of the digestive tract,
Sherlock Holmes replied, “Alimentary, my dear Watson.”
alimony N. payments made to an ex-spouse after divorce.
Because Tony had supported Tina through medical school,
on their divorce he asked the court to award him $500 a
month in alimony.
allay V. calm; pacify. The crew tried to allay the fears of
the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
agglomeration N. collection; heap. It took weeks to assort
the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
allege V. state without proof. Although it is alleged that she
has worked for the enemy, she denies the allegation and,
legally, we can take no action against her without proof.
allegation, N.
aggrandize V. increase or intensify. The history of the past
quarter century illustrates how a President may aggrandize
his power to act aggressively in international affairs without
considering the wishes of Congress.
allegiance N . loyalty. Not even a term in prison could
shake Lech Walesa’s allegiance to Solidarity, the Polish
trade union he had helped to found.
• aggregate
V. gather; accumulate. Before the Wall Street
scandals, dealers in so-called junk bonds managed to
aggregate great wealth in short periods of time. aggregation, N.
aggressor N. attacker. Before you punish both boys for
fighting, see whether you can determine which one was the
aggressor.
aghast ADJ. horrified. He was aghast at the nerve of the
speaker who had insulted his host.
agility N. nimbleness. The agility of the acrobat amazed
and thrilled the audience.
agitate V. stir up; disturb. Her fiery remarks agitated the
already angry mob.
agnostic N . one who is skeptical of the existence or
knowability of a god or any ultimate reality. Agnostics say
we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of god; we
simply just can’t know. also ADJ.
agrarian ADJ. pertaining to land or its cultivation. Because
its recent industrialization has transformed farmhands into
factory workers, the country is gradually losing its agrarian
traditions.
alacrity N. cheerful promptness. Eager to get away to the
mountains, Phil and Dave packed up their ski gear and
climbed into the van with alacrity.
allegory N. story in which characters are used as symbols;
fable. Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of the temptations
and victories of man’s soul. allegorical, ADJ.
V. relieve. This should alleviate the pain; if it does
not, we shall have to use stronger drugs.
■ alleviate
alliteration N. repetition of beginning sound in poetry. “The
furrow followed free” is an example of alliteration.
allocate V. assign. Even though the Red Cross had allocated a large sum for the relief of the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.
alloy N. a mixture as of metals. Alloys of gold are used
more frequently than the pure metal.
alloy V. mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate. Our
delight at the Yankees’ victory was alloyed by our concern
for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the
game.
allude V. refer indirectly. Try not to mention divorce in
Jack’s presence because he will think you are alluding to
his marital problems with Jill.
allure V. entice; attract. Allured by the song of the sirens,
the helmsman steered the ship toward the reef. also N.
allusion N. indirect reference. When Amanda said to the
ticket scalper, “One hundred bucks? What do you want, a
pound of flesh?,” she was making an allusion to Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.
Basic Word List 151
aloft ADV. upward. The sailor climbed aloft into the rigging.
To get into a loft bed, you have to climb aloft.
ADJ. apart; reserved. Shy by nature, she remained
aloof while all the rest conversed.
■ aloof
altercation N. noisy quarrel; heated dispute. In that hottempered household, no meal ever came to a peaceful conclusion; the inevitable altercation might even end in blows.
■ altruistic
ADJ. unselfishly generous; concerned for others.
In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for
hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene
Lang performed a truly altruistic deed. altruism, N.
amalgamate V. combine; unite in one body. The unions will
attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
amass V. collect. The miser’s aim is to amass and hoard
as much gold as possible.
ambidextrous ADJ. capable of using either hand with equal
ease. A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally
ambidextrous.
ambience N. environment; atmosphere. She went to the
restaurant not for the food but for the ambience.
N. the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes. Torn between loving her parents
one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by
the ambivalence of her feelings. ambivalent, ADJ.
■ ambivalence
amble N. moving at an easy pace. When she first mounted
the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster
than a gentle amble. also V.
ambulatory ADJ. able to walk; not bedridden. Juan was a
highly ambulatory patient; not only did he refuse to be confined to bed, but he insisted on riding his skateboard up
and down the halls.
ameliorate V . improve. Many social workers have
attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in
the slums.
amenable ADJ . readily managed; willing to be led.
Although the ambassador was usually amenable to friendly
suggestions, he balked when we hinted that he should
waive his diplomatic immunity and pay his parking tickets.
amend V. correct; change, generally for the better. Hoping
to amend his condition, he left Vietnam for the United
States.
ADJ . unclear or doubtful in meaning. His
ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which
road to take. ambiguity, N.
■ ambiguous
Word List 3
amenities-apostate
amenities N. convenient features; courtesies. In addition
to the customary amenities for the business traveler—fax
machines, modems, a health club—the hotel offers the services of a butler versed in the social amenities.
amiable ADJ. agreeable; lovable; warmly friendly. In Little
Women, Beth is the amiable daughter whose loving disposition endears her to all who know her.
amicable ADJ. politely friendly; not quarrelsome. Beth’s sister Jo is the hot-tempered tomboy who has a hard time
maintaining amicable relations with those around her. Jo’s
quarrel with her friend Laurie finally reaches an amicable
settlement, but not because Jo turns amiable overnight.
amiss ADJ. wrong; faulty. Seeing her frown, he wondered if
anything were amiss. also ADV.
amity N. friendship. Student exchange programs such as
the Experiment in International Living were established to
promote international amity.
amnesia N. Ioss of memory. Because she was suffering
from amnesia, the police could not get the young girl to
identify herself.
amnesty N. pardon. When his first child was born, the king
granted amnesty to all in prison.
amoral ADJ. nonmoral. The amoral individual lacks a code
of ethics; he cannot tell right from wrong. The immoral person can tell right from wrong; he chooses to do something
he knows is wrong.
amorous ADJ. moved by sexual love; loving. “Love them
and leave them” was the motto of the amorous Don Juan.
• amorphous
ADJ. formless; lacking shape or definition. As
soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send
you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous.
amphibian ADJ. able to live both on land and in water.
Frogs are classified as amphibian. also N.
amphitheater N. oval building with tiers of seats. The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
ample ADJ . abundant. Bond had ample opportunity to
escape. Why did he let us catch him?
amplify V . broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify;
make stronger. Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks,
but he was drowned out by jeers from the audience. Lucy
was smarter: she used a loudspeaker to amplify her voice.
amputate V. cut off part of body; prune. Though the doctors had to amputate his leg to prevent the spread of cancer, the young athlete refused to let the loss of a limb keep
him from participating in sports.
amulet N. charm; talisman. Around her neck she wore the
amulet that the witch doctor had given her.
• anachronistic
ADJ. having an error involving time in a story.
The reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is anachronistic:
clocks did not exist in Caesar’s time. anachronism, N.
analgesic ADJ. causing insensitivity to pain. The analgesic
qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.
ADJ. comparable. She called our attention to
the things that had been done in an analogous situation
and recommended that we do the same.
■ analogous
152 Build Your Vocabulary
analogy N. similarity; parallelism. A well-known analogy
compares the body’s immune system with an army whose
defending troops are the lymphocytes or white blood cells.
■ anarchist
N. person who seeks to overturn the established
government; advocate of abolishing authority. Denying she
was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to
make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely.
anarchy, N.
annihilate V. destroy. The enemy in its revenge tried to
annihilate the entire population.
annotate V . comment; make explanatory notes. In
explanatory notes following each poem, the editor carefully
annotated the poet’s more esoteric references.
annuity N. yearly allowance. The annuity he set up with the
insurance company supplements his social security benefits so that he can live very comfortably without working.
anarchy N. absence of governing body; state of disorder.
The assassination of the leaders led to a period of anarchy.
annul V. make void. The parents of the eloped couple
tried to annul the marriage.
anathema N . solemn curse; someone or something
regarded as a curse. The Ayatolla Khomeini heaped anathema upon “the Great Satan,” that is, the United States. To
the Ayatolla, America and the West were anathema; he
loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying
words. anathematize, V.
anoint V. consecrate. The prophet Samuel anointed David
with oil, crowning him king of Israel.
ancestry N. family descent. David can trace his ancestry
as far back as the seventeenth century, when one of his
ancestors was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany.
ancestral, ADJ.
anchor V. secure or fasten firmly; be fixed in place. We set
the post in concrete to anchor it in place. anchorage, N.
ancillary ADJ. serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary. In
an ancillary capacity, Doctor Watson was helpful; however,
Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on his own. also N.
N. short account of an amusing or interesting
event. Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare
reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people
who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds.
■ anecdote
anemia N. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles.
The doctor ascribes her tiredness to anemia. anemic, ADJ.
anesthetic N. substance that removes sensation with or without loss of consciousness. His monotonous voice acted like
an anesthetic ; his audience was soon asleep. anesthesia, N.
anguish N. acute pain; extreme suffering. Visiting the site
of the explosion, the governor wept to see the anguish of
the victims and their families.
angular ADJ. sharp-cornered; stiff in manner. Mr. Spock’s
features, though angular, were curiously attractive, in a Vulcan way.
animated ADJ. lively; spirited. Jim Carrey’s facial expressions are highly animated: when he played Ace Ventura, he
looked practically rubber-faced.
N. active enmity. He incurred the animosity of
the ruling class because he advocated limitations of their
power.
■ animosity
animus N. hostile feeling or intent. The speaker’s sarcastic
comments about liberal do-gooders and elitist snobs
revealed his deep-seated animus against his opponent.
anomalous ADJ. abnormal; irregular. He was placed in the
anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures
which he despised.
• anomaly
N. irregularity. A bird that cannot fly is an anomaly.
anonymity N. state of being nameless; anonymousness.
The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him
by name; the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity.
anonymous ADJ. having no name. She tried to ascertain
the identity of the writer of the anonymous letter.
N. hostility; active resistance. Barry showed
his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her
whenever she tried talking to him. antagonistic, ADJ.
■ antagonism
antecede V. precede. The invention of the radiotelegraph
anteceded the development of television by a quarter of a
century.
antecedents N. preceding events or circumstances that
influence what comes later; ancestors or early background.
Susi Bechhofer’s ignorance of her Jewish background had
its antecedents in the chaos of World War II. Smuggled out
of Germany and adopted by a Christian family, she knew
nothing of her birth and antecedents until she was reunited
with her family in 1989.
antediluvian
. antiquated; extremely ancient. Looking at
• his
great-aunt’s antique furniture, which must have been clutADJ
tering up her attic since the time of Noah’s flood, the young
heir exclaimed, “Heavens! How positively antediluvian!”
anthem N. song of praise or patriotism. Let us now all join
in singing the national anthem.
anthology N. book of literary selections by various authors.
This anthology of science fiction was compiled by the late
Isaac Asimov. anthologize, V.
anthropocentric ADJ. regarding human beings as the center of the universe. Without considering any evidence that
might challenge his anthropocentric viewpoint, Hector categorically maintained that dolphins could not be as intelligent
as men. anthropocentrism, N.
anthropoid ADJ. manlike. The gorilla is the strongest of the
anthropoid animals. also N.
annals N. records; history. “In this year our good King
Richard died,” wrote the chronicler in the kingdom’s annals.
anthropologist N. a student of the history and science of
mankind. Anthropologists have discovered several relics of
prehistoric man in this area.
annex V. attach; take possession of. Mexico objected to
the United States’ attempts to annex the territory that later
became the state of Texas.
anthropomorphic ADJ. having human form or characteristics. Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics. anthropomorphism, N.
Basic Word List 153
anticlimax N. Ietdown in thought or emotion. After the fine
performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax. anticlimactic, ADJ.
N. medicine to counteract a poison or disease.
■ antidote
•
When Marge’s child accidentally swallowed some cleaning
fluid, the local poison control hotline instructed Marge how
to administer the antidote.
antipathy N. aversion; dislike. Tom’s extreme antipathy for
disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his
temperamental wife. Noise in any form is antipathetic to
him. Among his other antipathies are honking cars, boom
boxes, and heavy metal rock.
ADJ. old-fashioned; obsolete. Philip had grown
so accustomed to editing his papers on word processors
that he thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to
use.
■ antiquated
antiseptic N. substance that prevents infection. It is advisable to apply an antiseptic to any wound, no matter how
slight or insignificant. also ADJ.
antithesis N. contrast; direct opposite of or to. This tyranny
was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he
fought it with all his strength.
■ apathy
N . Iack of caring; indifference. A firm believer
in democratic government, she could not understand the
apathy of people who never bothered to vote. apathetic,
ADJ.
ape V. imitate or mimic. He was suspended for a week
because he had aped the principal in front of the whole
school.
aperture N. opening; hole. She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the
room.
apex N. tip; summit; climax. At the apex of his career, the
star was deluged with offers of leading roles; two years
later, he was reduced to acting in mouthwash ads.
aphasia N. Ioss of speech due to injury or illness. After the
automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia
Word List 4
when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
aphorism N. pithy maxim. An aphorism differs from an
adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific. “The
proper study of mankind is man” is an aphorism. “There’s
no smoke without a fire” is an adage. aphoristic, ADJ.
apiary N. a place where bees are kept. Although he spent
many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung
by a bee.
aplomb N. poise; assurance. Gwen’s aplomb in handling
potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around
the office; when one of her clients broke a piece of her best
crystal, she coolly picked up her own goblet and hurled it
into the fireplace.
apocalyptic ADJ. prophetic; pertaining to revelations. The
crowd jeered at the street preacher’s apocalyptic predictions
of doom. The Apocalypse or Book of Revelations of Saint
John prophesies the end of the world as we know it and foretells marvels and prodigies that signal the coming doom.
. untrue; made up. To impress his friends,
• apocryphal
Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the
ADJ
big city.
apogee N. highest point. When the moon in its orbit is farthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
apolitical ADJ. having an aversion or lack of concern for
political affairs. It was hard to remain apolitical during the
Vietnam War; even people who generally ignored public
issues felt they had to take political stands.
apologist N. one who writes in defense of a cause or institution. Rather than act as an apologist for the current
regime in Beijing and defend its brutal actions, the young
diplomat decided to defect to the West.
apostate N. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs. Because he switched from one party to another,
his former friends shunned him as an apostate. apostasy, N.
apotheosis-astigmatism
apotheosis N. elevation to godhood; an ideal example
of something. The apotheosis of a Roman emperor
was designed to insure his eternal greatness: people would
worship at his altar forever. The hero of the musical How to
Succeed in Business…was the apotheosis of yuppieness:
he was the perfect upwardly-bound young man on the
make.
appall V. dismay; shock. We were appalled by the horrifying conditions in the city’s jails.
him of his uncle’s treachery. In Ghostbusters, hordes of
apparitions materialized, only to be dematerialized by the
specialized apparatus wielded by Bill Murray.
V. pacify or soothe; relieve. Tom and Jody tried
to appease the crying baby by offering him one toy after
another, but he would not calm down until they appeased
his hunger by giving him a bottle.
■ appease
apparatus N . equipment. Firefighters use specialized
apparatus to fight fires.
appellation N. name; title. Macbeth was startled when the
witches greeted him with an incorrect appellation. Why did
they call him Thane of Cawdor, he wondered, when the
holder of that title still lived?
apparition N. ghost; phantom. On the castle battlements,
an apparition materialized and spoke to Hamlet, warning
append V. attach. When you append a bibliography to a
text, you have just created an appendix.
154 Build Your Vocabulary
application N. diligent attention. Pleased with how well
Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for
his application to the task. apply, V. (secondary meaning)
apposite ADJ. appropriate; fitting. He was always able to
find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every
occasion.
appraise V. estimate value of. It is difficult to appraise the
value of old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
appraisal, N.
appreciate V. be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of. Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated
the stocks Daddy Warbucks gave her, which appreciated in
value considerably over the years.
apprehend V. arrest (a criminal); dread; perceive. The
police will apprehend the culprit and convict him before long.
N . fear. His nervous glances at the
passersby on the deserted street revealed his apprehension.
■ apprehension
arboretum N . place where different tree varieties are
exhibited. Walking along the tree-lined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine
sycamores.
arcade N. a covered passageway, usually lined with shops.
The arcade was popular with shoppers because it gave
them protection from the summer sun and the winter rain.
arcane ADJ. secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated.
Secret brotherhoods surround themselves with arcane rituals and trappings to mystify outsiders. So do doctors. Consider the arcane terminology they use and the impression
they try to give that what is arcane to us is obvious to them.
archaeology N . study of artifacts and relics of early
mankind. The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
ADJ. antiquated. “Methinks,” “thee,” and “thou”
are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal
vocabulary.
■ archaic
apprenticeship N. time spent as a novice learning a trade
from a skilled worker. As a child, Pip had thought it would
be wonderful to work as Joe’s apprentice; now he hated his
apprenticeship and scorned the blacksmith’s trade.
archetype N. prototype; primitive pattern. The Brooklyn
Bridge was the archetype of the many spans that now connect Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
apprise V. inform. When he was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions, he decided to postpone his trip.
archipelago N. group of closely located islands. When
Gauguin looked at the map and saw the archipelagoes in
the South Seas, he longed to visit them.
approbation N . approval. She looked for some sign of
approbation from her parents, hoping her good grades
would please them.
appropriate V. acquire; take possession of for one’s own
use. The ranch owners appropriated the lands that had
originally been set aside for the Indians’ use.
apropos PREP. with reference to; regarding. I find your
remarks apropos of the present situation timely and pertinent. also ADJ. and ADV.
aptitude N. fitness; talent. The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should
follow.
aquatic ADJ. pertaining to water. Paul enjoyed aquatic
sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
aquiline ADJ. curved, hooked. Cartoonists exaggerated the
senator’s aquiline nose, curving it until it looked like the
beak of an eagle.
• arable
ADJ. fit for growing crops. The first settlers wrote
home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast
acres of arable land ready for the plow.
arbiter N. a person with power to decide a dispute; judge.
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence
of the workers and the employers.
■ arbitrary
ADJ . capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical.
Tom’s arbitrary dismissal angered him; his boss had no reason to fire him. He threw an arbitrary assortment of clothes
into his suitcase and headed off, not caring where he went.
arbitrator N. judge. Because the negotiating teams had
been unable to reach a contract settlement, an outside arbitrator was called upon to mediate the dispute between
union and management. arbitration, N.
archives N. public records; place where public records are
kept. These documents should be part of the archives so
that historians may be able to evaluate them in the future.
• ardent
ADJ. intense; passionate; zealous. Katya’s ardor
was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were
busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by
her ardent enthusiasm for the cause. ardor, N.
arduous ADJ . hard; strenuous. Her arduous efforts had
sapped her energy.
aria N. operatic solo. At her Metropolitan Opera audition,
Marian Anderson sang an aria from Norma.
arid ADJ. dry; barren. The cactus has adapted to survive in
an arid environment.
aristocracy N. hereditary nobility; privileged class. Americans have mixed feelings about hereditary aristocracy: we
say all men are created equal, but we describe particularly
outstanding people as natural aristocrats.
armada N . fleet of warships. Queen Elizabeth’s navy
defeated the mighty armada that threatened the English
coast.
aromatic ADJ. fragrant. Medieval sailing vessels brought
aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
arousal N. awakening; provocation (of a response). On
arousal, Papa was always grumpy as a bear. The children
tiptoed around the house, fearing they would arouse his
anger by waking him up.
arraign V. charge in court; indict. After his indictment by
the Grand Jury, the accused man was arraigned in the
County Criminal Court.
array V . marshal; draw up in order. His actions were
bound to array public sentiment against him. also N.
Basic Word List 155
array V. clothe; adorn. She liked to watch her mother array
herself in her finest clothes before going out for the
evening. also N.
asperity N. sharpness (of temper). These remarks, spoken
with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been
directed.
arrears N. being in debt. He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
aspersion N. slander; slur; derogatory remark. Unscrupulous politicians practice character assassination as a political tool, casting aspersions on their rivals.
arrest V. stop or slow down; catch someone’s attention.
Slipping, the trapeze artist plunged from the heights until a
safety net luckily arrested his fall. This near-disaster
arrested the crowd’s attention.
N. pride; haughtiness. Convinced that Emma
thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed
rebuked her for her arrogance.
■ arrogance
aspirant N. seeker after position or status. Although I am
an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the
dictates of the party bosses. also ADJ.
V. seek to attain; long for. Because he aspired to a
career in professional sports, Philip enrolled in a graduate
program in sports management. aspiration, N.
■ aspire
arroyo N. gully. Until the heavy rains of the past spring,
this arroyo had been a dry bed.
assail V. assault. He was assailed with questions after his
lecture.
arsenal N. storage place for military equipment. People
are forbidden to smoke in the arsenal for fear that a stray
spark might set off the munitions stored there.
assay V. analyze; evaluate. When they assayed the ore,
they found that they had discovered a very rich vein. also N.
■ articulate
ADJ. effective; distinct. Her articulate presentation
of the advertising campaign impressed her employers. also V.
■ artifact
N. object made by human beings, either hand-
made or mass-produced. Archaeologists debated the significance of the artifacts discovered in the ruins of Asia
Minor but came to no conclusion about the culture they represented.
artifice N. deception; trickery. The Trojan War proved to
the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than military might.
■ artisan N. manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed
to artist. A noted artisan, Arturo was known for the fine
craftsmanship of his inlaid cabinets.
artless ADJ. without guile; open and honest. Sophisticated
and cynical, Jack could not believe Jill was as artless and
naive as she appeared to be.
N. controlling influence; domination. Leaders
of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers
by methods that can verge on brainwashing.
■ ascendancy
ascertain V. find out for certain. Please ascertain her present address.
ADJ. practicing self-denial; austere. The wealthy,
self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict,
ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders. also N.
■ ascetic
ascribe V. refer; attribute; assign. I can ascribe no motive
for her acts.
aseptic ADJ . preventing infection; having a cleansing
effect. Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as
soon as they introduced aseptic conditions.
ashen
ADJ. ash-colored. Her face was ashen with fear.
asinine ADJ. stupid. “What an asinine comment!” said Bob
contemptuously. “I’ve never heard such a stupid remark.”
askance ADJ. with a sideways or indirect look. Looking
askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
askew ADJ. crookedly; slanted; at an angle. Judy constantly straightened the doilies on her furniture: she couldn’t
stand seeing them askew.
assent V. agree; accept. It gives me great pleasure to
assent to your request.
assert V. declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly. Malcolm asserted that if Reese quit acting like
a wimp and asserted himself a bit more, he’d improve his
chances of getting a date. assertion, N.
assessment N. evaluation; judgment. Your high school
record plays an important part in the admission committee’s
assessment of you as an applicant.
• assiduous
ADJ. diligent. He was assiduous, working at this
task for weeks before he felt satisfied with his results.
assiduity, N.
assimilate V. absorb; cause to become homogeneous. The
manner in which the United States was able to assimilate
the hordes of immigrants during the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries will always be a source of pride to
Americans. The immigrants eagerly assimilated new ideas
and customs; they soaked them up, the way plants soak up
water.
• assuage
V. ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe
(anger). Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache
by indulging in ice cream. One gallon later, he had
assuaged his appetite but not his grief.
assumption N. something taken for granted; taking over or
taking possession of. The young princess made the foolish
assumption that the regent would not object to her assumption of power. assume, V.
assurance N . promise or pledge; certainty; self-confidence. When Guthrie gave Guinness his assurance that
rehearsals were going well, he spoke with such assurance
that Guinness felt relieved. assure, V.
asteroid N. small planet. Most asteroids are found in the
region of space located between Mars and Jupiter, commonly known as the asteroid belt.
astigmatism N. eye defect that prevents proper focus. As
soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from
astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective
glasses.
156 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 5
astral-barb
astral ADJ. relating to the stars. She was amazed at the
number of astral bodies the new telescope revealed.
astringent ADJ. binding; causing contraction. The astringent quality of the unsweetened lemon juice made swallowing difficult. also N.
astronomical ADJ. enormously large or extensive. The government seems willing to spend astronomical sums on
weapons development.
ADJ. wise; shrewd; keen. John Jacob Astor made
astute investments in land, shrewdly purchasing valuable
plots throughout New York City.
■ astute
asunder ADV. into parts; apart. A fierce quarrel split the
partnership asunder : the two partners finally sundered
their connections because their points of view were poles
asunder.
asylum N . place of refuge or shelter; protection. The
refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new
land.
asymmetric ADJ. not identical on both sides of a dividing
central line. Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher
than the other, William’s face had a particularly asymmetric
appearance.
atavism N. reversion to an earlier type; throwback. In his
love for gardening, Martin seemed an atavism to his Tuscan
forebears, who lavished great care on their small plots of
soil.
V. ascribe; explain. I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
■ attribute
attrition N . gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in
the work force without firing employees; wearing away of
opposition by means of harassment. In the 1960s urban
churches suffered from attrition as members moved from
the cities to the suburbs. Rather than fire staff members,
church leaders followed a policy of attrition, allowing elderly
workers to retire without replacing them.
atypical ADJ. not normal. The child psychiatrist reassured
Mrs. Keaton that playing doctor was not atypical behavior
for a child of young Alex’s age. “Yes,” she replied, “but not
charging for house calls!”
• audacious
ADJ. daring; bold. Audiences cheered as Luke
Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, deathdefying leap to freedom, escaping Darth Vader’s troops.
audacity, N.
audit N. examination of accounts. When the bank examiners arrived to hold their annual audit, they discovered the
embezzlements of the chief cashier. also V.
auditory ADJ. pertaining to the sense of hearing. Audrey suffered from auditory hallucinations: she thought Elvis was
speaking to her from the Great Beyond.
V. increase; add to. Armies augment their forces
by calling up reinforcements; teachers augment their
salaries by taking odd jobs.
■ augment
atheistic ADJ. denying the existence of God. His atheistic
remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
augury N. omen; prophecy. He interpreted the departure
of the birds as an augury of evil. augur, V.
atlas N. a bound volume of maps, charts, or tables. Embarrassed at being unable to distinguish Slovenia from Slovakia, George W. finally consulted an atlas.
august ADJ. impressive; majestic. Visiting the palace at
Versailles, she was impressed by the august surroundings
in which she found herself.
atone V. make amends for; pay for. He knew no way in
which he could atone for his brutal crime.
aureole N. sun’s corona; halo. Many medieval paintings
depict saintly characters with aureoles around their heads.
atrocity N. brutal deed. In time of war, many atrocities are
committed by invading armies.
auroral ADJ. pertaining to the aurora borealis. The auroral
display was particularly spectacular that evening.
V. waste away. After three months in a cast, your
calf muscles are bound to atrophy; you’ll need physical
therapy to get back in shape. also N.
auspicious ADJ. favoring success. With favorable weather
conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail. Thomas,
however, had doubts about sailing: a paranoid, he became
suspicious whenever conditions seemed auspicious.
• atrophy
attain V . achieve or accomplish; gain. The scarecrow
sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain.
attentive ADJ. alert and watchful; considerate; thoughtful.
Spellbound, the attentive audience watched the final game
of the tennis match, never taking their eyes from the ball. A
cold wind sprang up; Stan’s attentive daughter slipped a
sweater over his shoulders without distracting his attention
from the game.
attenuate V . make thin; weaken. By withdrawing their
forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
attest V. testify, bear witness. Having served as a member
of the Grand Jury, I can attest that our system of indicting
individuals is in need of improvement.
attribute N. essential quality. His outstanding attribute was
his kindness.
ADJ. forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented. The headmaster’s austere demeanor tended to
scare off the more timid students, who never visited his
study willingly. The room reflected the man, austere and
bare, like a monk’s cell, with no touches of luxury to moderate its austerity.
■ austere
authenticate V . confirm as genuine. After a thorough
chemical analysis of the pigments and canvas, the experts
were prepared to authenticate the painting as an original
Rembrandt.
ADJ. subordinating the individual to the state;
completely dominating another’s will. The leaders of the
authoritarian regime ordered the suppression of the democratic protest movement. After years of submitting to the will
■ authoritarian
Basic Word List 157
of her authoritarian father, Elizabeth Barrett ran away from
home with the poet Robert Browning.
authoritative ADJ. having the weight of authority; peremptory and dictatorial. Impressed by the young researcher’s
well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of
the experiment as authoritative.
autocratic ADJ. having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial. Someone accustomed to exercising authority may
become autocratic if his or her power is unchecked. Dictators by definition are autocrats. Bosses who dictate behavior as well as letters can be autocrats too.
automaton N. robot; person performing a task mechanically. The assembly line job called for no initiative or intelligence on Homer’s part; on automatic pilot, he pushed
button after button like an automaton.
■ autonomous
ADJ. self-governing. Although the University
of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, in many ways Cal Berkeley is autonomous, for it
runs several programs that are not subject to outside control. autonomy, N.
autopsy N. examination of a dead body; post-mortem. The
medical examiner ordered an autopsy to determine the
cause of death. also V.
auxiliary ADJ. helper, additional or subsidiary. To prepare
for the emergency, they built an auxiliary power station.
also N.
avalanche N. great mass of falling snow and ice. The park
ranger warned the skiers to stay on the main trails, where
they would be in no danger of being buried beneath a sudden avalanche.
• avarice
N. greediness for wealth. King Midas is a perfect
example of avarice, for he was so greedy that he wished
everything he touched would turn to gold.
avenge V. take vengeance for something (or on behalf of
someone). Hamlet vowed he would avenge his father’s murder and punish Claudius for his horrible crime.
aver V. assert confidently; affirm. Despite overwhelming
popular skepticism about his voyage, Columbus averred he
would succeed in finding a direct sea route to the Far East.
averse ADJ. reluctant; disinclined. The reporter was averse
to revealing the sources of his information.
N. firm dislike. Bert had an aversion to yuppies;
Alex had an aversion to punks. Their mutual aversion was
so great that they refused to speak to one another.
■ aversion
• avert
V. prevent; turn away. She averted her eyes from the
dead cat on the highway.
• aviary
N. enclosure for birds. The aviary at the zoo held
nearly 300 birds.
avid ADJ. greedy; eager for. Avid for pleasure, Abner partied with great avidity. avidity, N.
avocation N. secondary or minor occupation. His hobby
proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he
abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his
avocation.
avow V . declare openly. Lana avowed that she never
meant to steal Debbie’s boyfriend, but no one believed her
avowal of innocence.
avuncular ADJ. Iike an uncle. Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew’s shortcomings.
awe N. solemn wonder. The tourists gazed with awe at the
tremendous expanse of the Grand Canyon.
awry ADV . crooked; wrong; amiss. Noticing that the
groom’s tie was slightly awry, the bride reached over to set
it straight. A careful organizer, she hated to have anything
go awry with her plans.
axiom N. self-evident truth requiring no proof. Before a
student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean
geometry, he must accept certain principles or axioms.
azure ADJ. sky blue. Azure skies are indicative of good
weather.
babble
also N.
V. chatter idly. The little girl babbled about her doll.
bacchanalian ADJ. drunken. Emperor Nero attended the
bacchanalian orgy.
badger V. pester; annoy. She was forced to change her
telephone number because she was badgered by obscene
phone calls.
badinage N. teasing conversation. Her friends at work
greeted the news of her engagement with cheerful badinage.
baffle V . frustrate; perplex. The new code baffled the
enemy agents.
bait V. harass; tease. The school bully baited the smaller
children, terrorizing them.
baleful ADJ. deadly; having a malign influence; ominous.
The fortune teller made baleful predictions of terrible things
to come.
balk V. foil or thwart; stop short; refuse to go on. When the
warden learned that several inmates were planning to
escape, he took steps to balk their attempt. However, he
balked at punishing them by shackling them to the walls of
their cells.
ballast N. heavy substance used to add stability or weight.
The ship was listing badly to one side; it was necessary to
shift the ballast in the hold to get her back on an even keel.
also V.
balm N. something that relieves pain. Friendship is the
finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.
balmy ADJ. mild; fragrant. A balmy breeze refreshed us
after the sultry blast.
banal ADJ. hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality. The hack writer’s worn-out clichés made his comic
sketch seem banal. He even resorted to the banality of having someone slip on a banana peel!
bandy V. discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly. While the president was happy to bandy patriotic generalizations with anyone who would listen to him, he refused
to bandy words with unfriendly reporters at the press conference.
158 Build Your Vocabulary
bane N. cause of ruin; curse. Lucy’s little brother was the
bane of her existence: his attempts to make her life miserable worked so well that she could have poisoned him with
ratsbane for having such a baneful effect.
bantering ADJ. good-natured ridiculing. They resented his
bantering remarks because they thought he was being
sarcastic.
Word List 6
bard
barb N. sharp projection from fishhook, etc.; openly cutting remark. If you were a politician, which would you prefer, being caught on the barb of a fishhook or being
subjected to malicious verbal barbs? Who can blame the
president if he’s happier fishing than back in the capitol listening to his critics’ barbed remarks?
bard-bluff
N. poet. The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
baroque ADJ. highly ornate. Accustomed to the severe
lines of contemporary buildings, the architecture students
found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing.
They simply didn’t go for baroque.
barrage N. barrier laid down by artillery fire. The company
was forced to retreat through the barrage of heavy cannons.
barren ADJ. desolate; fruitless and unproductive; lacking.
Looking out at the trackless, barren desert, Indiana Jones
feared that his search for the missing expedition would
prove barren.
barricade N. hastily put together defensive barrier; obstacle. Marius and his fellow students hurriedly improvised a
rough barricade to block police access to the students’
quarter. Malcolm and his brothers barricaded themselves in
their bedroom to keep their mother from seeing the hole in
the bedroom floor. also V.
barterer N. trader. The barterer exchanged trinkets for the
natives’ furs. It seemed smarter to barter than to pay cash.
beeline N. direct, quick route. As soon as the movie was
over, Jim made a beeline for the exit.
befuddle V. confuse thoroughly. His attempts to clarify the
situation succeeded only in befuddling her further.
beget V. father; produce; give rise to. One good turn may
deserve another; it does not necessarily beget another.
begrudge V. resent. I begrudge every minute I have to
spend attending meetings; they’re a complete waste of
time.
• beguile
V. mislead or delude; pass time. With flattery and
big talk of easy money, the con men beguiled Kyle into betting his allowance on the shell game. Broke, he beguiled
himself during the long hours by playing solitaire.
behemoth N. huge creature; monstrous animal. Sportscasters nicknamed the linebacker “The Behemoth.”
belabor V. explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous
degree; attack verbally. The debate coach warned her student not to bore the audience by belaboring her point.
bask V. Iuxuriate; take pleasure in warmth. Basking on the
beach, she relaxed so completely that she fell asleep.
belated ADJ. delayed. He apologized for his belated note
of condolence to the widow of his friend and explained that
he had just learned of her husband’s untimely death.
bastion N. fortress; defense. The villagers fortified the town
hall, hoping this improvised bastion could protect them
from the guerillas’ raids.
beleaguer V. besiege or attack; harassed. The babysitter
was surrounded by a crowd of unmanageable brats who
relentlessly beleaguered her.
bate V. Iet down; restrain. Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity. bated, ADJ.
bauble N. trinket; trifle. The child was delighted with the
bauble she had won in the grab bag.
bawdy ADJ. indecent; obscene. Jack took offense at Jill’s
bawdy remarks. What kind of young man did she think he
was?
beam N. ray of light; long piece of metal or wood; course of
a radio signal. V. smile radiantly. If a beam of light falls on
you, it illuminates you; if a beam of iron falls on you, it eliminates you. (No one feels like beaming when crushed by an
iron beam.)
beatific ADJ. giving bliss; blissful. The beatific smile on the
child’s face made us very happy.
beatitude N. blessedness; state of bliss. Growing closer to
God each day, the mystic achieved a state of indescribable
beatitude.
bedizen V. dress with vulgar finery. The witch doctors
were bedizened in all their gaudiest costumes.
bedraggle V. wet thoroughly; stain with mud. We were so
bedraggled by the severe storm that we had to change into
dry clothing. bedraggled, ADJ.
V. contradict; give a false impression. His coarse,
hard-bitten exterior belied his inner sensitivity.
■ belie
belittle V. disparage or depreciate; put down. Parents should
not belittle their children’s early attempts at drawing, but
should encourage their efforts. Barry was a put-down artist: he
was a genius at belittling people and making them feel small.
bellicose ADJ. warlike. His bellicose disposition alienated
his friends.
belligerent ADJ. quarrelsome. Whenever he had too much
to drink, he became belligerent and tried to pick fights with
strangers. belligerence, N.
bemoan V. lament; express disapproval of. The widow
bemoaned the death of her beloved husband. Although
critics bemoaned the serious flaws in the author’s novels,
each year his latest book topped the best-seller list.
bemused ADJ. confused; lost in thought; preoccupied. Jill
studied the garbled instructions with a bemused look on her
face.
benediction N. blessing. The appearance of the sun after
the many rainy days was like a benediction.
benefactor N. gift giver; patron. Scrooge later became
Tiny Tim’s benefactor and gave him gifts.
Basic Word List 159
beneficial ADJ. helpful; useful. Tiny Tim’s cheerful good
nature had a beneficial influence on Scrooge’s onceuncharitable disposition.
betroth V. become engaged to marry. The announcement
that they had become betrothed surprised their friends who
had not suspected any romance. betrothal, N.
beneficiary N. person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an
insurance policy or will. In Scrooge’s will, he made Tiny Tim
his beneficiary: everything he left would go to young Tim.
bevy N. Iarge group. The movie actor was surrounded by
a bevy of starlets.
■ benevolent
ADJ. generous; charitable. Mr. Fezziwig was a
benevolent employer, who wished to make Christmas merrier for young Scrooge and his other employees.
benign ADJ. kindly; favorable; not malignant. Though her
benign smile and gentle bearing made Miss Marple seem a
sweet little old lady, in reality she was a tough-minded,
shrewd observer of human nature. benignity, N.
bent ADJ; N. determined; natural talent or inclination. Bent
on advancing in the business world, the secretary-heroine
of Working Girl has a true bent for high finance.
• bequeath
V . Ieave to someone by a will; hand down.
Though Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to
her nephew, she died before changing her will. bequest, N.
berate V. scold strongly. He feared she would berate him
for his forgetfulness.
bereavement N . state of being deprived of something
valuable or beloved. His friends gathered to console him
upon his sudden bereavement.
bereft ADJ. deprived of; lacking; desolate because of a
loss. The foolish gambler soon found himself bereft of
funds.
berserk ADV . frenzied. Angered, he went berserk and
began to wreck the room.
beseech V. beg; plead with. The workaholic executive’s
wife beseeched him to spend more time with their son.
beset V. harass or trouble; hem in. Many vexing problems
beset the American public school system. Sleeping
Beauty’s castle was beset on all sides by dense thickets
that hid it from view.
besiege V . surround with armed forces; harass (with
requests). When the bandits besieged the village, the villagers holed up in the town hall and prepared to withstand
a long siege. Members of the new administration were
besieged with job applications from people who had
worked on the campaign.
besmirch V. soil, defile. The scandalous remarks in the
newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of
the society.
bestial ADJ. beastlike; brutal. According to legend, the
werewolf was able to abandon its human shape and take
on a bestial form.
bestow V. give. He wished to bestow great honors upon
the hero.
betoken V. signify; indicate. The well-equipped docks, tall
piles of cargo containers, and numerous vessels being
loaded all betoken Oakland’s importance as a port.
betray V. be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly). The spy betrayed his country by selling military
secrets to the enemy. When he was taken in for questioning, the tightness of his lips betrayed his fear of being
caught.
biased ADJ. slanted; prejudiced. Because the judge played
golf regularly with the district attorney’s father, we feared he
might be biased in the prosecution’s favor. bias, N.
bicameral ADJ. two-chambered, as a legislative body. The
United States Congress is a bicameral body.
bicker V. quarrel. The children bickered morning, noon,
and night, exasperating their parents.
biennial ADJ. every two years. Seeing no need to meet
more frequently, the group held biennial meetings instead
of annual ones. Plants that bear flowers biennially are
known as biennials.
bigotry N. stubborn intolerance. Brought up in a democratic atmosphere, the student was shocked by the bigotry
and narrowness expressed by several of his classmates.
bilious ADJ. suffering from indigestion; irritable. His bilious
temperament was apparent to all who heard him rant about
his difficulties.
bilk V. swindle; cheat. The con man specialized in bilking
insurance companies.
billowing ADJ. swelling out in waves; surging. Standing
over the air vent, Marilyn Monroe tried vainly to control her
billowing skirts.
bivouac N. temporary encampment. While in bivouac, we
spent the night in our sleeping bags under the stars. also V.
bizarre ADJ. fantastic; violently contrasting. The plot of the
novel was too bizarre to be believed.
blanch V. bleach; whiten. Although age had blanched his
hair, he was still vigorous and energetic.
bland ADJ. soothing or mild; agreeable. Jill tried a bland
ointment for her sunburn. However, when Jack absentmindedly patted her on the sunburned shoulder, she
couldn’t maintain a bland disposition.
blandishment N. flattery. Despite the salesperson’s blandishments, the customer did not buy the outfit.
blare N. loud, harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of
light. I don’t know which is worse: the steady blare of a
boom box deafening your ears or a sudden blare of flashbulbs dazzling your eyes.
blasé ADJ. bored with pleasure or dissipation. Although
Beth was as thrilled with the idea of a trip to Paris as her
classmates were, she tried to act super cool and blasé, as
if she’d been abroad hundreds of times.
blasphemy N . irreverence; sacrilege; cursing. In my
father’s house, the Dodgers were the holiest of holies; to
cheer for another team was to utter words of blasphemy.
blasphemous, ADJ.
blatant ADJ. flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive. To the unemployed youth from Dublin, the “No Irish
Need Apply” placard in the shop window was a blatant
mark of prejudice.
160 Build Your Vocabulary
• bleak
ADJ. cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable. The
frigid, inhospitable Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. It’s no wonder that soldiers assigned there have a
bleak attitude toward their posting.
• blighted
ADJ . suffering from a disease; destroyed. The
extent of the blighted areas could be seen only when
viewed from the air.
blithe ADJ. gay; joyous; carefree. Without a care in the
world, Beth went her blithe, lighthearted way.
bloated ADJ. swollen or puffed as with water or air. Her
bloated stomach came from drinking so much water.
Word List 7
bludgeon N. club; heavy-headed weapon. Attacked by Dr.
Moriarty, Holmes used his walking stick as a bludgeon to
defend himself. “Watson,” he said, “I fear I may have bludgeoned Moriarty to death.”
bluff ADJ. rough but good-natured. Jack had a bluff and
hearty manner that belied his actual sensitivity; he never let
people know how thin-skinned he really was.
bluff N. pretense (of strength); deception; high cliff. Claire
thought Lord Byron’s boast that he would swim the Hellespont was just a bluff; she was astounded when he dove
from the high bluff into the waters below. also V.
blunder-canter
blunder N. error. The criminal’s fatal blunder led to his
capture. also V.
ing voice. Cheerfully he boomed out that, thanks to him, the
city’s economy was booming. boom, V.
blurt V. utter impulsively. Before she could stop him, he
blurted out the news.
boon N. blessing; benefit. The recent rains that filled our
empty reservoirs were a boon to the whole community.
bluster V. blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully. “Let
the stormy winds bluster,” cried Jack, “we’ll set sail tonight.”
Jill let Jack bluster: she wasn’t going anywhere, no matter
what he said.
boorish ADJ. rude; insensitive. Though Mr. Collins constantly interrupted his wife, she ignored his boorish behavior, for she had lost hope of teaching him courtesy.
bode V. foreshadow; portend. The gloomy skies and the
sulphurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode
evil to those who settled in the area.
bogus ADJ. counterfeit; not authentic. The police quickly
found the distributors of the bogus twenty-dollar bills.
bohemian ADJ . unconventional (in an artistic way).
Gertrude Stein ran off to Paris to live an eccentric,
bohemian life with her writer friends. Oakland was not
bohemian: it was too bourgeois, too middle-class.
boisterous ADJ. violent; rough; noisy. The unruly crowd
became even more boisterous when he tried to quiet them.
■ bolster
V. support; reinforce. The debaters amassed file
boxes full of evidence to bolster their arguments.
bolt N. door bar; fastening pin or screw; length of fabric. The
carpenter shut the workshop door, sliding the heavy metal
bolt into place. He sorted through his toolbox for the nuts and
bolts and nails he would need. Before he cut into the bolt of
canvas, he measured how much fabric he would need.
bolt V. dash or dart off; fasten (a door); gobble down. Jack
was set to bolt out the front door, but Jill bolted the door.
“Eat your breakfast,” she said, “don’t bolt your food.”
bombardment N. attack with missiles. The enemy bombardment demolished the town. Members of the opposition
party bombarded the prime minister with questions about
the enemy attack.
bombastic ADJ. pompous; using inflated language. Puffed
up with conceit, the orator spoke in such a bombastic manner that we longed to deflate him. bombast, N.
booming ADJ . deep and resonant; flourishing, thriving.
“Who needs a microphone?” cried the mayor in his boom-
boundless ADJ. unlimited; vast. Mike’s energy was boundless: the greater the challenge, the more vigorously he tackled the job.
bountiful ADJ. abundant; graciously generous. Thanks to
the good harvest, we had a bountiful supply of food and we
could be as bountiful as we liked in distributing food to the
needy.
bourgeois ADJ. middle class; selfishly materialistic; dully
conventional. Technically, anyone who belongs to the middle class is bourgeois, but, given the word’s connotations,
most people resent it if you call them that.
bovine ADJ . cowlike; placid and dull. Nothing excites
Esther; even when she won the state lottery, she still preserved her air of bovine calm.
bowdlerize V. expurgate. After the film editors had bowdlerized the language in the script, the motion picture’s rating was changed from “R” to “PG.”
boycott V. refrain from buying or using. To put pressure on
grape growers to stop using pesticides that harmed the
farm workers’ health, Cesar Chavez called for consumers to
boycott grapes.
N. boaster. Modest by nature, she was no braggart, preferring to let her accomplishments speak for themselves.
■ braggart
brandish V. wave around; flourish. Alarmed, Doctor Watson wildly brandished his gun until Holmes told him to put
the thing away before he shot himself.
bravado N . swagger; assumed air of defiance. The
bravado of the young criminal disappeared when he was
confronted by the victims of his brutal attack.
Basic Word List 161
brawn N. muscular strength; sturdiness. It takes brawn to
become a champion weightlifter. brawny, ADJ.
bullion N. gold and silver in the form of bars. Much bullion
is stored in the vaults at Fort Knox.
brazen ADJ. insolent. Her brazen contempt for authority
angered the officials.
bulwark N. earthwork or other strong defense; person who
defends. The navy is our principal bulwark against invasion.
breach N. breaking of contract or duty; fissure or gap. Jill
sued Jack for breach of promise, claiming he had broken
his promise to marry her. They found a breach in the
enemy’s fortifications and penetrated their lines. also V.
bumptious ADJ. self-assertive. His classmates called him a
show-off because of his bumptious airs.
breadth N . width; extent. We were impressed by the
breadth of her knowledge.
■ brevity
N. conciseness. Brevity is essential when you send
a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
brindled ADJ. tawny or grayish with streaks or spots. He
was disappointed in the litter because the puppies were
brindled; he had hoped for animals of a uniform color.
bristling ADJ. rising like bristles; showing irritation. The dog
stood there, bristling with anger.
brittle ADJ. easily broken; difficult. My employer’s self-control was as brittle as an egg-shell. Her brittle personality
made it difficult for me to get along with her.
bungalow N. small cottage. Every summer we rent a bungalow on Cape Cod for our vacation home. The rent is high,
the roof is low—it’s a basic bungalow.
bungle V. mismanage; blunder. Don’t botch this assignment, Bumstead; if you bungle the job, you’re fired!
buoyant ADJ. able to float; cheerful and optimistic. When
the boat capsized, her buoyant life jacket kept Jody afloat.
Scrambling back on board, she was still in a buoyant mood,
certain that despite the delay she’d win the race.
bureaucracy N . over-regulated administrative system
marked by red tape. The Internal Revenue Service is the
ultimate bureaucracy: taxpayers wasted so much paper filling out IRS forms that the IRS bureaucrats printed up a new
set of rules requiring taxpayers to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
broach V. introduce; open up. Jack did not even try to
broach the subject of religion with his in-laws. If you broach
a touchy subject, it may cause a breach.
burgeon V. grow forth; send out buds. In the spring, the
plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to
come.
brochure N . pamphlet. This brochure on farming was
issued by the Department of Agriculture.
burlesque V. give an imitation that ridicules. In Spaceballs,
Rick Moranis burlesques Darth Vader of Star Wars, outrageously parodying Vader’s stiff walk and hollow voice.
brooch N. ornamental clasp. She treasured the brooch
because it was an heirloom.
browbeat V. bully; intimidate. Billy resisted Ted’s attempts
browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
browse V. graze; skim or glance at casually. “How now,
brown cow, browsing in the green, green grass.” I remember lines of verse that I came across while browsing
through the poetry section of the local bookstore.
brunt N. main impact or shock. Tom Sawyer claimed credit
for painting the fence, but the brunt of the work fell on others. However, he bore the brunt of Aunt Polly’s complaints
when the paint began to peel.
burly ADJ . husky; muscular. The burly mover lifted the
packing crate with ease.
burnish V. make shiny by rubbing; polish. The maid burnished the brass fixtures until they reflected the lamplight.
bustle V. move about energetically; teem. David and the
children bustled about the house getting in each other’s
way as they tried to pack for the camping trip. The whole
house bustled with activity.
• buttress
V. support; prop up. The attorney came up with
several far-fetched arguments in a vain attempt to buttress
his weak case. also N.
brusque ADJ. blunt; abrupt. Was Bruce too brusque when
he brushed off Bob’s request with a curt “Not now!”?
buxom ADJ. plump; full-bosomed. Fashion models are usually slim and willowy rather than buxom.
buccaneer N . pirate. At Disneyland the Pirates of the
Caribbean sing a song about their lives as bloody buccaneers.
cabal N. small group of persons secretly united to promote
their own interests. The cabal was defeated when their
scheme was discovered.
bucolic ADJ. rustic; pastoral. Filled with browsing cows and
bleating sheep, the meadow was a charmingly bucolic
sight.
cache N. hiding place. The detectives followed the suspect until he led them to the cache where he had stored his
loot. He had cached the cash in a bag for trash: it was a
hefty sum.
buffet N. table with food set out for people to serve themselves; meal at which people help themselves to food that’s
been set out. Please convey the soufflé on the tray to the
buffet. (Buffet rhymes with tray.)
buffet V. slap; batter; knock about. To buffet something is
to rough it up. (Buffet rhymes with Muffett.) Was Miss Muffett buffeted by the crowd on the way to the buffet tray?
buffoonery N. clowning. In the Ace Ventura movies, Jim
Carrey’s buffoonery was hilarious: like Bozo the Clown, he’s
a natural buffoon.
• cacophonous
ADJ. discordant; inharmonious. Do the students in the orchestra enjoy the cacophonous sounds they
make when they’re tuning up? I don’t know how they can
stand the racket. cacophony, N.
cadaver N. corpse. In some states, it is illegal to dissect
cadavers.
cadaverous ADJ. Iike a corpse; pale. By his cadaverous
appearance, we could see how the disease had ravaged
him.
162 Build Your Vocabulary
cadence N. rhythmic rise and fall (of words or sounds);
beat. Marching down the road, the troops sang out, following the cadence set by the sergeant.
camaraderie N . good-fellowship. What he loved best
about his job was the sense of camaraderie he and his coworkers shared.
V. coax; wheedle. Diane tried to cajole her father
into letting her drive the family car. cajolery, N.
cameo N. shell or jewel carved in relief; star’s special
appearance in a minor role in a film. Don’t buy cameos from
the street peddlers in Rome: the workmanship is wretched.
Did you catch Bill Murray’s cameo in Little Shop of Horrors?
He was on-screen so briefly that if you blinked you missed
him.
■ cajole
calamity N . disaster; misery. As news of the calamity
spread, offers of relief poured in to the stricken community.
ADJ. deliberately planned; likely. Lexy’s choice
of clothes to wear to the debate tournament was carefully
calculated. Her conventional suit was one calculated to
appeal to the conservative judges.
■ calculated
caldron N. large kettle. “Why, Mr. Crusoe,” said the savage heating the giant caldron, “we’d love to have you for
dinner!”
caliber N . ability; quality. The scholarship committee
searched for students of high caliber, ones with the intelligence and ability to be a credit to the school.
calligraphy N. beautiful writing; excellent penmanship. As
we examine ancient manuscripts, we become impressed
with the calligraphy of the scribes.
callous ADJ. hardened; unfeeling. He had worked in the
hospital for so many years that he was callous to the suffering in the wards. callus, N.
callow ADJ. youthful; immature; inexperienced. As a freshman, Jack was sure he was a man of the world; as a sophomore, he made fun of freshmen as callow youths. In both
cases, his judgment showed just how callow he was.
calorific ADJ. heat-producing. Coal is much more calorific
than green wood.
calumny N . malicious misrepresentation; slander. He
could endure his financial failure, but he could not bear the
calumny that his foes heaped upon him.
Word List 8
camouflage V. disguise; conceal. In order to rescue Han
Solo, Princess Leia camouflaged herself in the helmet and
cloak of a space bandit.
N. frankness; open honesty. Jack can carry candor too far: when he told Jill his honest opinion of her, she
nearly slapped his face. candid, ADJ.
■ candor
canine ADJ . related to dogs; dog-like. Some days the
canine population of Berkeley seems almost to outnumber
the human population.
canny ADJ. shrewd; thrifty. The canny Scotsman was more
than a match for the swindlers.
cant N. insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves.
Shocked by news of the minister’s extramarital love affairs,
the worshippers dismissed his talk about the sacredness of
marriage as mere cant. Cant is a form of hypocrisy: those
who can, pray; those who cant, pretend.
cantankerous ADJ. ill humored; irritable. Constantly complaining about his treatment and refusing to cooperate with
the hospital staff, he was a cantankerous patient.
cantata N. story set to music, to be sung by a chorus. The
choral society sang the new cantata composed by its leader.
canter N. slow gallop. Because the racehorse had outdistanced its competition so easily, the reporter wrote that the
race was won in a canter. also V.
canto-chameleon
canto N. division of a long poem. Dante’s poetic masterpiece The Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
canvass V. determine votes, etc. After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident
that he represented the majority opinion of his district. also N.
capacious ADJ. spacious. In the capacious rotunda of the
railroad terminal, thousands of travelers lingered while waiting
for their train.
capacity N . mental or physical ability; role; ability to
accommodate. Mike had the capacity to handle several
jobs at once. In his capacity as president of SelecTronics
he marketed an electronic dictionary with a capacity of
200,000 words.
capitulate V. surrender. The enemy was warned to capitulate or face annihilation.
caprice N . sudden, unexpected fancy; whim. On a
caprice, Jack tried drag-racing, but paid the price—his
father took his Chevy Caprice away from him.
ADJ. unpredictable; fickle. The storm was capricious: it changed course constantly. Jill was capricious,
too: she changed boyfriends almost as often as she
changed clothes.
■ capricious
caption N. title; chapter heading; text under illustration.
The captions that accompany The Far Side cartoons are
almost as funny as the pictures. also V.
captivate V. charm or enthrall. Bart and Lisa were captivated by their new nanny’s winning manner.
carat N. unit of weight for precious stones; measure of
fineness of gold. He gave her a three- carat diamond
mounted in an eighteen-carat gold band.
cardinal ADJ . chief. If you want to increase your word
power, the cardinal rule of vocabulary-building is to read.
• cardiologist
N. doctor specializing in the heart. When the
pediatrician noticed Philip had a slight heart murmur, she
referred him to a cardiologist for further tests.
Basic Word List 163
careen V . Iurch; sway from side to side. The taxicab
careened wildly as it rounded the corner.
caricature N. exaggerated picture or description; distortion. The cartoonist’s caricature of President Bush grossly
exaggerated the size of the president’s ears. also V.
carnage N. destruction of life. The film The Killing Fields
vividly depicts the carnage wreaked by Pol Pot’s followers
in Cambodia.
carnal ADJ. fleshly. Is the public more interested in carnal
pleasures than in spiritual matters? Compare the number of
people who read Playboy daily to the number of those who
read the Bible or Koran every day.
carnivorous ADJ. meat-eating. The lion’s a carnivorous
beast. A hunk of meat makes up his feast. A cow is not a
carnivore. She likes the taste of grain, not gore.
• carping
ADJ. finding fault. A carping critic is a nit-picker:
he loves to point out flaws. If you don’t like this definition,
feel free to carp.
cater to V. supply something desired (whether good or
bad). The chef was happy to cater to the tastes of his highly
sophisticated clientele. Critics condemned the movie
industry for catering to the public’s ever-increasing appetite
for violence.
catharsis N. purging or cleansing of any passage of the
body. Aristotle maintained that tragedy created a catharsis
by purging the soul of base concepts.
catholic A DJ . broadly sympathetic; liberal. He was
extremely catholic in his taste and read everything he could
find in the library.
caucus N. private meeting of members of a party to select
officers or determine policy. At the opening of Congress,
the members of the Democratic Party held a caucus to
elect the Majority Leader of the House and the Party Whip.
caulk V. make watertight by filling in cracks. Jack had to
caulk the tiles in the shower stall to stop the leak into the
basement below.
cartographer N. map-maker. Though not a professional
cartographer, Tolkien was able to construct a map of his
fictional world.
causal ADJ. implying a cause-and-effect relationship. The
psychologist maintained there was a causal relationship
between the nature of one’s early childhood experiences
and one’s adult personality. causality, N.
cascade N. small waterfall. On such a hot day, the hikers
felt refreshed by the spray from the series of cascades
pouring down the side of the cliff.
caustic ADJ. burning; sarcastically biting. The critic’s caustic comments angered the actors, who resented his cutting
remarks.
castigate V. criticize severely; punish. When the teacher
threatened that she would castigate the mischievous boys if
they didn’t behave, they shaped up in a hurry.
cavalcade N . procession; parade. As described by
Chaucer, the cavalcade of Canterbury pilgrims was a motley group.
casualty N. serious or fatal accident. The number of automotive casualties on this holiday weekend was high.
cavalier ADJ. offhand or casual; haughty. The disguised
prince resented the cavalier way in which the palace
guards treated him. How dared they handle a member of
the royal family so unceremoniously!
cataclysm N. violent upheaval; deluge. The Russian Revolution was a political and social cataclysm that overturned
czarist society. cataclysmic, ADJ.
catalyst N. agent which brings about a chemical change
while it remains unaffected and unchanged. Many chemical
reactions cannot take place without the presence of a
catalyst.
catapult N. slingshot; a hurling machine. Airplanes are
sometimes launched from battleships by catapults. also V.
cataract N. great waterfall; eye abnormality. She gazed
with awe at the mighty cataract known as Niagara Falls.
catastrophe N. calamity; disaster. The 1906 San Francisco
earthquake was a catastrophe that destroyed most of the
city. A similar earthquake striking today could have even
more catastrophic results.
catcall N. shout of disapproval; boo. Every major league
pitcher has off days during which he must learn to ignore
the catcalls and angry hisses from the crowd.
cavil V. make frivolous objections. It’s fine when you make
sensible criticisms, but it really bugs me when you cavil
about unimportant details. also N.
cede V. yield (title, territory) to; surrender formally. Eventually the descendants of England’s Henry II were forced to
cede their French territories to the King of France.
celebrated ADJ. famous; well-known. Thanks to their race to
break Roger Maris’s home-run record, Sammy Sosa and
Mark McGwire are two of America’s most celebrated baseball players. celebrity, N.
celerity N. speed; rapidity. Hamlet resented his mother’s
celerity in remarrying within a month after his father’s death.
celestial ADJ. heavenly; relating to the sky. Pointing his
primitive telescope at the heavens, Galileo explored the
celestial mysteries.
catechism N. book for religious instruction; instruction by
question and answer. He taught by engaging his pupils in a
catechism until they gave him the correct answer.
celibate ADJ . unmarried; abstaining from sexual intercourse. Though Havelock Ellis wrote extensively about sexual practices, recent studies maintain he was celibate
throughout his life. celibacy, N.
categorical ADJ. without exceptions; unqualified; absolute.
Though the captain claimed he was never, never sick at
sea, he finally had to qualify his categorical denial: he was
“hardly ever” sick at sea.
censor N. overseer of morals; person who reads to eliminate inappropriate remarks. Soldiers dislike having their
mail read by a censor but understand the need for this precaution. also V.
■ censorious
ing blame.
ADJ. critical. Censorious people delight in cast-
164 Build Your Vocabulary
V . blame; criticize. The senator was censured
for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress.
also N.
cessation N. stoppage. The airline’s employees threatened a cessation of all work if management failed to meet
their demands. cease, V.
centigrade ADJ. measure of temperature used widely in
Europe. On the centigrade thermometer, the freezing point
of water is zero degrees.
cession N. yielding to another; ceding. The cession of
Alaska to the United States is discussed in this chapter.
■ censure
centrifugal ADJ. radiating; departing from the center. Many
automatic drying machines remove excess moisture from
clothing by centrifugal force.
chafe V . warm by rubbing; make sore (by rubbing).
Chilled, he chafed his hands before the fire. The collar of
his school uniform chafed Tom’s neck, but not as much the
school’s strict rules chafed his spirit. also N.
centripetal ADJ . tending toward the center. Does centripetal force or the force of gravity bring orbiting bodies to
the earth’s surface?
chaff N. worthless products of an endeavor. When you
separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out
the chaff.
centurion N. Roman army officer. Because he was in command of a company of one hundred soldiers, he was called
a centurion.
chaffing ADJ. bantering; joking. Sometimes Chad’s flippant, chaffing remarks annoy us. Still, Chad’s chaffing
keeps us laughing. also N.
cerebral ADJ . pertaining to the brain or intellect. The
heroes of Dumb and Dumber were poorly equipped for
cerebral pursuits.
chagrin N . vexation (caused by humiliation or injured
pride); disappointment. Embarrassed by his parents’
shabby, working-class appearance, Doug felt their visit to
his school would bring him nothing but chagrin. Someone
filled with chagrin doesn’t grin: he’s too mortified.
cerebration N. thought. Mathematics problems sometimes
require much cerebration.
ceremonious ADJ. marked by formality. Ordinary dress
would be inappropriate at so ceremonious an affair.
• certitude
N. certainty. Though there was no certitude of
his getting the job, Lou thought he had a good chance of
doing so.
Word List 9
chalice N. goblet; consecrated cup. In a small room adjoining the cathedral, many ornately decorated chalices made
by the most famous European goldsmiths were on display.
chameleon N. Iizard that changes color in different situations. Like the chameleon, he assumed the political thinking
of every group he met.
champion-colander
champion V. support militantly. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
won the Nobel Peace Prize because he championed the
oppressed in their struggle for equality.
chaotic ADJ. in utter disorder. He tried to bring order into
the chaotic state of affairs. chaos, N.
charisma N. divine gift; great popular charm or appeal of a
political leader Political commentators have deplored the
importance of a candidate’s charisma in these days of television campaigning.
• charlatan
N. quack; pretender to knowledge. When they
realized that the Wizard didn’t know how to get them back
to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant
that they’d been duped by a charlatan.
chary ADJ. cautious; sparing or restrained about giving. A
prudent, thrifty, New Englander, DeWitt was as chary of
investing money in junk bonds as he was chary of paying
people unnecessary compliments.
chasm N. abyss. Looking down from the Cliffs of Doom, Frodo
and his companions could not see the bottom of the chasm.
chassis N. framework and working parts of an automobile.
Examining the car after the accident, the owner discovered
that the body had been ruined but that the chassis was
unharmed.
chaste ADJ . pure; virginal; modest. To ensure that his
bride would stay chaste while he was off to the wars, the
crusader had her fitted out with a chastity belt. chastity, N.
chasten V. discipline; punish in order to correct. Whom
God loves, God chastens.
chastise V. punish. “Spare the rod and spoil the child” was
Miss Watson’s motto: she relished whipping Huck with a
birch rod to chastise him.
chauvinist N. blindly devoted patriot. A chauvinist cannot
recognize any faults in his country, no matter how flagrant
they may be. Likewise, a male chauvinist cannot recognize
his bias in favor of his own sex, no matter how flagrant that
may be. chauvinistic, ADJ.
check V. stop motion; curb or restrain. Thrusting out her
arm, Grandma checked Bobby’s lunge at his sister. “Young
man,” she said, “you’d better check your temper.” (secondary meaning)
checkered ADJ. marked by changes in fortune. During his
checkered career he had lived in palatial mansions and in
dreary boardinghouses.
cherubic ADJ. angelic; innocent-looking. With her cheerful
smile and rosy cheeks, she was a particularly cherubic
child.
chicanery N. trickery; deception. Those sneaky lawyers
misrepresented what occurred, made up all sorts of implausible alternative scenarios to confuse the jurors, and in general depended on chicanery to win the case.
chide
Iying.
V. scold. Grandma began to chide Steven for his
Basic Word List 165
chimerical ADJ. fantastically improbable; highly unrealistic;
imaginative. As everyone expected, Ted’s chimerical
scheme to make a fortune by raising ermines in his back
yard proved a dismal failure.
civil ADJ. having to do with citizens or the state; courteous
and polite. Although Internal Revenue Service agents are
civil servants, they are not always civil to suspected tax
cheats.
chisel N. wedgelike tool for cutting. With his hammer and
chisel, the sculptor chipped away at the block of marble.
clairvoyant ADJ., N. having foresight; fortuneteller. Cassandra’s clairvoyant warning was not heeded by the Trojans.
clairvoyance, N.
chisel V. swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel. That crook
chiseled me out of a hundred dollars when he sold me that
“marble” statue he’d chiseled out of some cheap hunk of
rock.
V. climb by crawling. She clambered over the wall.
clamor N. noise. The clamor of the children at play outside
made it impossible for her to take a nap. also V.
chivalrous ADJ . courteous; faithful; brave. Chivalrous
behavior involves noble words and good deeds.
clandestine ADJ. secret. After avoiding their chaperon, the
lovers had a clandestine meeting.
choleric ADJ. hot-tempered. His flushed, angry face indicated a choleric nature.
clangor N. Ioud, resounding noise. The blacksmith was
accustomed to the clangor of hammers on steel.
choreography N . art of representing dances in written
symbols; arrangement of dances. Merce Cunningham uses
a computer in designing choreography: a software program
allows him to compose sequences of possible moves and
immediately view them on-screen.
clapper N. striker (tongue) of a bell. Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper
to muffle the noise of its striking.
chortle V. chuckle with delight. When she heard that her
rival had just been jailed for embezzlement, she chortled
with joy. She was not a nice lady.
chronic ADJ. Iong established as a disease. The doctors
were finally able to attribute his chronic headaches and
nausea to traces of formaldehyde gas in his apartment.
chronicle V. report; record (in chronological order). The
gossip columnist was paid to chronicle the latest
escapades of the socially prominent celebrities. also N.
churlish ADJ. boorish; rude. Dismayed by his churlish manners at the party, the girls vowed never to invite him again.
cipher N. secret code. Lacking his code book, the spy
was unable to decode the message sent to him in cipher.
cipher N . nonentity; worthless person or thing. She
claimed her ex-husband was a total cipher and wondered
why she had ever married him.
•
clamber
circuitous ADJ. roundabout. To avoid the traffic congestion
on the main highways, she took a circuitous route. circuit, N.
circumlocution N. indirect or roundabout expression. He
was afraid to call a spade a spade and resorted to circumlocutions to avoid direct reference to his subject.
circumscribe V. Iimit; confine. School regulations circumscribed Elle’s social life: she hated having to follow rules
that limited her activities.
circumspect ADJ. prudent; cautious. Investigating before
acting, she tried always to be circumspect.
circumvent V. outwit; baffle. In order to circumvent the
enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.
cistern N. reservoir or water tank. The farmers were able to
withstand the dry season by using rainwater they had
stored in an underground cistern.
citadel N. fortress. The citadel overlooked the city like a
protecting angel.
cite V. quote; command. She could cite passages in the
Bible from memory. citation, N.
clasp N. fastening device; firm grip. When the clasp on
Judy’s bracelet broke, Fred repaired it, bending the hook
back into shape. He then helped her slip on the bracelet,
holding it firm in the sure clasp of his hand.
claustrophobia N. fear of being locked in. His fellow classmates laughed at his claustrophobia and often threatened
to lock him in his room.
cleave V. split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to. With her
heavy cleaver, Julia Child can cleave a whole roast duck in
two. Soaked through, the soldier tugged at the uniform that
cleaved annoyingly to his body. He would cleave to his
post, come rain or shine.
cleft N. split. Trying for a fresh handhold, the mountainclimber grasped the edge of a cleft in the sheer rockface.
also ADJ.
clemency N. disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the
weather. The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent
to Judge Smith’s chambers because Smith was noted for
her clemency toward first offenders.
clench V. close tightly; grasp. “Open wide,” said the dentist, but Clint clenched his teeth even more tightly than
before.
• cliché
N . phrase dulled in meaning by repetition. High
school compositions are often marred by such clichés as
“strong as an ox.”
clientele N. body of customers. The rock club attracted a
young, stylish clientele.
climactic ADJ . relating to the highest point. When he
reached the climactic portions of the book, he could not
stop reading. climax, N.
clime N. region; climate. His doctor advised him to move
to a milder clime.
clip N. section of filmed material. Phil’s job at Fox Sports
involved selecting clips of the day’s sporting highlights for
later broadcast. also V.
clique N. small exclusive group. Fitzgerald wished that he
belonged to the clique of popular athletes and big men on
campus who seemed to run Princeton’s social life.
166 Build Your Vocabulary
cloister N . monastery or convent. The nuns lived a
secluded life in the cloister.
case with such cogency that the jury had to decide in favor
of her client.
clout N. great influence (especially political or social).
Gatsby wondered whether he had enough clout to be
admitted to the exclusive club.
cogitate V. think over. Cogitate on this problem; the solution will come.
cloying ADJ. distasteful (because excessive); excessively
sweet or sentimental. Disliking the cloying sweetness of
standard wedding cakes, Jody and Tom chose to have
homemade carrot cake at the reception. cloy, V.
clump N. cluster or close group (of bushes, trees); mass;
sound of heavy treading. Hiding behind the clump of
bushes, the fugitives waited for the heavy clump of the soldiers’ feet to fade away.
coagulate V. thicken; congeal; clot. Even after you remove
the pudding from the burner, it will continue to coagulate as
it stands; therefore, do not overcook the pudding, lest it
become too thick.
• coalesce
V. combine; fuse. The brooks coalesce into one
large river. When minor political parties coalesce, their coalescence may create a major coalition.
coalition N . partnership; league; union. The Rainbow
Coalition united people of all races in a common cause.
coddle V. to treat gently. Don’t coddle the children so
much; they need a taste of discipline.
codicil N. supplement to the body of a will. Miss Havisham
kept her lawyers busy drawing up codicils to add to her
already complicated will.
codify V. arrange (laws, rules) as a code; classify. We need
to take the varying rules and regulations of the different
health agencies and codify them into a national health code.
N . use of force to get someone to obey. The
inquisitors used both physical and psychological coercion
to force Joan of Arc to deny that her visions were sent by
God. coerce, V.
■ coercion
cogent ADJ. convincing. It was inevitable that David chose
to go to Harvard: he had several cogent reasons for doing
so, including a full-tuition scholarship. Katya argued her
cognate ADJ. related linguistically: allied by blood: similar
or akin in nature. The English word “mother” is cognate to
the Latin word “mater,” whose influence is visible in the
words “maternal” and “maternity.” also N.
cognitive ADJ. having to do with knowing or perceiving;
related to the mental processes. Though Jack was emotionally immature, his cognitive development was admirable; he
was very advanced intellectually.
cognizance N. knowledge. During the election campaign,
the two candidates were kept in full cognizance of the international situation.
cohere V. stick together. Solids have a greater tendency
to cohere than liquids.
cohesion N. tendency to keep together. A firm believer in
the maxim “Divide and conquer,” the evil emperor, by
means of lies and trickery, sought to disrupt the cohesion of
the federation of free nations.
coiffure N . hairstyle. You can make a statement with
your choice of coiffure : in the sixties many AfricanAmericans affirmed their racial heritage by wearing their
hair in Afros.
coin V. make coins; invent or fabricate. Mints coin good
money; counterfeiters coin fakes. Slanderers coin nasty
rumors; writers coin words. A neologism is an expression
that’s been newly-coined.
coincidence N. two or more things occurring at the same
time by chance. Was it just a coincidence that John and
she had chanced to meet at the market for three days running, or was he deliberately trying to seek her out? coincidental, ADJ.
colander N. utensil with perforated bottom used for straining. Before serving the spaghetti, place it in a colander to
drain it.
Word List 10 collaborate-congenital
collaborate V. work together. Two writers collaborated in
preparing this book.
collusion N . conspiring in a fraudulent scheme. The
swindlers were found guilty of collusion.
collage N. work of art put together from fragments. Scraps
of cloth, paper doilies, and old photographs all went into
her collage.
colossal
stage.
collate V. examine in order to verify authenticity; arrange in
order. They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age.
collateral N. security given for loan. The sum you wish to
borrow is so large that it must be secured by collateral.
• colloquial
ADJ . pertaining to conversational or common
speech. Some of the new, less formal reading passages on
the SAT have a colloquial tone that is intended to make
them more appealing to students.
ADJ. huge. Radio City Music Hall has a colossal
comatose ADJ. in a coma; extremely sleepy. The longwinded orator soon had his audience in a comatose state.
• combustible
ADJ. easily burned. After the recent outbreak
of fires in private homes, the fire commissioner ordered
that all combustible materials be kept in safe containers.
also N.
comely ADJ. attractive; agreeable. I would rather have a
poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one.
comeuppance N. rebuke; deserts. After his earlier rudeness, we were delighted to see him get his comeuppance.
Basic Word List 167
commandeer V. to draft for military purposes; to take for
public use. The policeman commandeered the first car that
approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest
hospital.
■ commemorate
V. honor the memory of. The statue of the
Minute Man commemorates the valiant soldiers who fought
in the Revolutionary War.
commensurate ADJ. equal in extent. Your reward will be
commensurate with your effort.
commiserate V. feel or express pity or sympathy for. Her
friends commiserated with the widow.
commodious ADJ. spacious and comfortable. After sleeping in small roadside cabins, they found their hotel suite
commodious.
communal ADJ. held in common; of a group of people.
When they were divorced, they had trouble dividing their
communal property.
compact N . agreement; contract. The signers of the
Mayflower Compact were establishing a form of government.
compact ADJ. tightly packed; firm; brief. His short, compact body was better suited to wrestling than to basketball.
comparable ADJ. similar. People whose jobs are comparable in difficulty should receive comparable pay.
compatible ADJ. harmonious; in harmony with. They were
compatible neighbors, never quarreling over unimportant
matters. compatibility, N.
compelling ADJ. overpowering; irresistible in effect. The
prosecutor presented a well-reasoned case, but the
defense attorney’s compelling arguments for leniency won
over the jury.
compensatory ADJ. making up for; repaying. Can a compensatory education program make up for the inadequate
schooling he received in earlier years?
■ compile
V. assemble; gather; accumulate. We planned to
compile a list of the words most frequently used on SAT
examinations.
N. self-satisfaction; smugness. Full of complacency about his latest victories, he looked smugly at the
row of trophies on his mantelpiece. complacent, ADJ.
■ complacency
complaisant ADJ. trying to please; obliging. Always ready
to accede to his noble patron’s wishes, Mr. Collins was a
complaisant, even obsequious, character.
complement V. complete; consummate; make perfect. The
waiter recommended a glass of port to complement the
cheese. also N.
• complementary
ADJ. serving to complete something. John
and Lisa’s skills are complementary: he’s good at following
a daily routine, while she’s great at improvising and handling emergencies. Together they make a great team.
N. readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling
requirements. Bullheaded Bill was not noted for easy compliance with the demands of others. As an architect, however, Bill recognized that his design for the new school had
to be in compliance with the local building code.
■ compliance
compliant ADJ. yielding. Because Joel usually gave in and
went along with whatever his friends desired, his mother
worried that he might be too compliant.
complicity N. participation; involvement. You cannot keep
your complicity in this affair secret very long; you would be
wise to admit your involvement immediately.
component N. element; ingredient. I wish all the components of my stereo system were working at the same time.
N. mental calmness. Even the latest work crisis
failed to shake her composure.
■ composure
compound V. combine; constitute; pay interest; increase.
The makers of the popular cold remedy compounded a
nasal decongestant with an antihistamine. also N.
ADJ. thorough; inclusive. This book provides a comprehensive review of verbal and math skills for
the SAT.
■ comprehensive
compress V. close; squeeze; contract. She compressed
the package under her arm.
comprise V. include; consist of. If the District of Columbia
were to be granted statehood, the United States of America
would comprise fifty-one states, not just fifty.
compromise V. adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of. Sometimes
the presence of a neutral third party can help adversaries
compromise their differences. Unfortunately, you’re not neutral; therefore, your presence here compromises our
chances of reaching an agreement. also N.
compunction N. remorse. The judge was especially severe
in his sentencing because he felt that the criminal had
shown no compunction for his heinous crime.
compute V. reckon; calculate. He failed to compute the interest, so his bank balance was not accurate. computation, N.
concave ADJ. hollow. The back-packers found partial shelter from the storm by huddling against the concave wall of
the cliff.
V. admit; yield. Despite all the evidence Monica
had assembled, Mark refused to concede that she was right.
■ concede
conceit N. vanity or self-love; whimsical idea; extravagant
metaphor. Although Jack was smug and puffed up with
conceit , he was an entertaining companion, always
expressing himself in amusing conceits and witty turns of
phrase.
concentric ADJ. having a common center. The target was
made of concentric circles.
conception N. beginning; forming of an idea. At the first
conception of the work, he was consulted. conceive, V.
concerted ADJ. mutually agreed on; done together. All the
Girl Scouts made a concerted effort to raise funds for their
annual outing. When the movie star appeared, his fans let
out a concerted sigh.
concession N. an act of yielding. Before they could reach
an agreement, both sides had to make certain concessions.
ADJ. reconciling; soothing. She was still angry
despite his conciliatory words. conciliate, V.
■ conciliatory
ADJ. brief and compact. When you define a new
word, be concise: the shorter the definition, the easier it is
to remember.
■ concise
conclusive ADJ. decisive; ending all debate. When the
stolen books turned up in John’s locker, we finally had conclusive evidence of the identity of the mysterious thief.
168 Build Your Vocabulary
concoct V. prepare by combining; make up in concert.
How did the inventive chef ever concoct such a strange
dish? concoction, N.
conducive ADJ. contributive; tending to. Rest and proper
diet are conducive to good health.
conduit N. aqueduct; passageway for fluids. Water was
brought to the army in the desert by an improvised conduit
from the adjoining mountain.
concomitant N. that which accompanies. Culture is not
always a concomitant of wealth. also ADJ.
confidant N . trusted friend. He had no confidants with
whom he could discuss his problems at home.
concord N . harmony; agreement between people or
things. Watching Tweedledum and Tweedledee battle,
Alice wondered at their lack of concord.
■ concur
confine V. shut in; restrict. The terrorists had confined their
prisoner in a small room. However, they had not chained
him to the wall or done anything else to confine his movements further. confinement, N.
V. agree. Did you concur with the decision of the
court or did you find it unfair?
concurrent ADJ. happening at the same time. In America,
the colonists were resisting the demands of the mother
country; at the concurrent moment in France, the middle
class was sowing the seeds of rebellion.
condemn V. censure; sentence; force or limit to a particular state. In My Cousin Vinnie, Vinnie’s fiancée condemned
Vinnie for mishandling his cousin Tony’s defense. If Vinnie
didn’t do a better job defending Tony, the judge would condemn Tony to death, and Vinnie would be condemned to
cleaning toilets for a living.
condense V. make more compact or dense; shorten or
abridge; reduce into a denser form. If you squeeze a slice
of Wonder Bread, taking out the extra air, you can condense it into a pellet the size of a sugar cube. If you cut out
the unnecessary words from your essay, you can condense
it to a paragraph. As the bathroom cooled down, the steam
from the shower condensed into droplets of water.
confirm V. corroborate; verify; support. I have several witnesses who will confirm my account of what happened.
confiscate V. seize; commandeer. The army confiscated
all available supplies of uranium.
N. great fire. In the conflagration that followed the 1906 earthquake, much of San Francisco was
destroyed.
■ conflagration
• confluence N. flowing together; crowd. They built the city
at the confluence of two rivers.
conformity N. harmony; agreement. In conformity with our
rules and regulations, I am calling a meeting of our organization.
V. confuse; puzzle. No mystery could confound
Sherlock Holmes for long.
■ confound
condescend V. act conscious of descending to a lower
level; patronize. Though Jill had been a star softball player
in college, when she played a pickup game at the park she
never condescended to her less experienced teammates.
condescension, N.
condiments N. seasonings; spices. The chef seasoned the
dish with so much garlic that we could hardly taste the
other condiments.
condole V. express sympathetic sorrow. His friends gathered to condole with him over his loss. condolence, N.
V. overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse.
Unlike Widow Douglass, who condoned Huck’s minor
offenses, Miss Watson did nothing but scold.
■ condone
confrontation N . act of facing someone or something;
encounter, often hostile. Morris hoped to avoid any confrontations with his ex-wife, but he kept on running into her
at the health club. How would you like to confront someone
who can bench press 200 pounds? confront, V., confrontational, ADJ.
congeal V. freeze; coagulate. His blood congealed in his
veins as he saw the dread monster rush toward him.
congenial ADJ. pleasant; friendly. My father loved to go out
for a meal with congenial companions.
congenital ADJ. existing at birth. Were you born stupid, or
did you just turn out this way? In other words, is your idiocy
acquired or congenital? Doctors are able to cure some congenital deformities such as cleft palates by performing
operations on infants.
Word List 11 conglomeration-countermand
conglomeration N. mass of material sticking together. In
such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was
impossible to find a single area of analysis.
congruent ADJ. in agreement; corresponding. In formulating
a hypothesis, we must keep it congruent with what we know
of the real world; it cannot disagree with our experience.
conifer N. pine tree; cone-bearing tree. According to geologists, the conifers were the first plants to bear flowers.
• conjecture V. surmise; guess. Although there was no official count, the organizers conjectured that more than
10,000 marchers took part in the March for Peace. also N.
conjugal ADJ. pertaining to marriage. Their dreams of conjugal
bliss were shattered as soon as their temperaments clashed.
conjure V. summon a devil; practice magic; imagine or
invent. Sorcerers conjure devils to appear. Magicians conjure white rabbits out of hats. Political candidates conjure
up images of reformed cities and a world at peace.
connivance N . assistance; pretense of ignorance of
something wrong; permission to offend. With the connivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher.
connive, V.
Basic Word List 169
connoisseur N. person competent to act as a judge of art,
etc.; a lover of an art. She had developed into a connoisseur of fine china.
consummate ADJ. complete. I have never seen anyone
who makes as many stupid errors as you do; what a consummate idiot you are! also V.
connotation N . suggested or implied meaning of an
expression. Foreigners frequently are unaware of the connotations of the words they use.
contagion N. infection. Fearing contagion, they took great
steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
connubial ADJ. pertaining to marriage or the matrimonial
state. In his telegram, he wished the newlyweds a lifetime of
connubial bliss.
conscientious ADJ. scrupulous; careful. A conscientious
editor, she checked every definition for its accuracy.
consecrate V. dedicate; sanctify. We shall consecrate our
lives to this noble purpose.
N. general agreement. Every time the garden
club members had nearly reached a consensus about what
to plant, Mistress Mary, quite contrary, disagreed.
■ consensus
consequential ADJ. pompous; important; self-important.
Convinced of his own importance, the actor strutted about
the dressing room with a consequential air.
conservatory N. school of the fine arts (especially music or
drama). A gifted violinist, Marya was selected to study at
the conservatory.
consign V. deliver officially; entrust; set apart. The court
consigned the child to her paternal grandmother’s care.
consignment, N.
consistency N. absence of contradictions; dependability;
uniformity; degree of thickness. Holmes judged puddings
and explanations on their consistency: he liked his puddings without lumps and his explanations without improbabilities.
console V. Iessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort. When her father died, Marius did his best to console
Cosette.
consolidation N. unification; process of becoming firmer or
stronger. The recent consolidation of several small airlines
into one major company has left observers of the industry
wondering whether room still exists for the “little guy” in aviation. consolidate, V.
consonance N . harmony; agreement. Her agitation
seemed out of consonance with her usual calm.
consort V. associate with. We frequently judge people by
the company with whom they consort.
consort N. husband or wife. The search for a consort for
the young Queen Victoria ended happily.
contaminate V. pollute. The sewage system of the city so
contaminated the water that swimming was forbidden.
contemporary N. person belonging to the same period.
Though Charlotte Brontë and George Eliot were contemporaries, the two novelists depicted their Victorian world in
markedly different ways. also ADJ.
contempt N. scorn; disdain. The heavyweight boxer looked
on ordinary people with contempt, scorning them as weaklings who couldn’t hurt a fly. We thought it was contemptible
of him to be contemptuous of people for being weak.
V. struggle; compete; assert earnestly. Sociologist Harry Edwards contends that young black athletes are
exploited by some college recruiters.
■ contend
contention N. claim; thesis. It is our contention that, if you
follow our tactics, you will boost your score on the SAT.
contend, V.
ADJ. quarrelsome. Disagreeing violently with
the referees’ ruling, the coach became so contentious that
they threw him out of the game.
■ contentious
contest V. dispute. The defeated candidate attempted to
contest the election results.
context N. writings preceding and following the passage
quoted. Because these lines are taken out of context, they
do not convey the message the author intended.
contiguous ADJ. adjacent to; touching upon. The two countries are contiguous for a few miles; then they are separated
by the gulf.
continence N. self-restraint; sexual chastity. At the convent, Connie vowed to lead a life of continence. The question was, could Connie be content with always being
continent ?
contingent ADJ . dependent on; conditional. Caroline’s
father informed her that any raise in her allowance was contingent on the quality of her final grades. contingency, N.
contingent N. group that makes up part of a gathering. The
New York contingent of delegates at the Democratic
National Convention was a boisterous, sometimes rowdy lot.
conspicuous ADJ. easily seen; noticeable; striking. Janet
was conspicuous both for her red hair and for her height.
contortions N. twistings; distortions. As the effects of the
opiate wore away, the contortions of the patient became
more violent and demonstrated how much pain she was
enduring.
conspiracy N. treacherous plot. Brutus and Cassius joined
in the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar. conspire, V.
contraband N. ADJ. illegal trade; smuggling. The Coast
Guard tries to prevent traffic in contraband goods.
constituent N. supporter. The congressman received hundreds of letters from angry constituents after the Equal
Rights Amendment failed to pass.
■ constraint
N . compulsion; repression of feelings. There
was a feeling of constraint in the room because no one
dared to criticize the speaker. constrain, V.
construe V. explain; interpret. If I construe your remarks
correctly, you disagree with the theory already advanced.
V. compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a
disease. Warm metal expands; cold metal contracts.
■ contract
contravene V. contradict; oppose; infringe on or transgress. Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth
to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.
contrite ADJ. penitent. Her contrite tears did not influence
the judge when he imposed sentence. contrition, N.
170 Build Your Vocabulary
contrived ADJ. forced; artificial; not spontaneous. Feeling ill
at ease with his new in-laws, James made a few contrived
attempts at conversation and then retreated into silence.
controvert V. oppose with arguments; attempt to refute;
contradict. The witness’s testimony was so clear and her
reputation for honesty so well-established that the defense
attorney decided it was wiser to make no attempt to controvert what she said.
contusion N. bruise. Black and blue after her fall, Sue was
treated for contusions and abrasions.
conundrum N . riddle. During the long car ride, she
invented conundrums to entertain the children.
convene V. assemble. Because much needed legislation
had to be enacted, the governor ordered the legislature to
convene in special session by January 15.
coquette N . flirt. Because she refused to give him an
answer to his proposal of marriage, he called her a
coquette. also V.
ADJ. gracious; heartfelt. Our hosts greeted us at
the airport with a cordial welcome and a hearty hug.
■ cordial
cordon N. extended line of men or fortifications to prevent
access or egress. The police cordon was so tight that the
criminals could not leave the area. also V.
cornucopia N. horn overflowing with fruit and grain; symbol
of abundance. The encyclopedia salesman claimed the
new edition was a veritable cornucopia of information, an
inexhaustible source of knowledge for the entire family.
corollary N. consequence; accompaniment. Brotherly love
is a complex emotion, with sibling rivalry its natural corollary.
convention N. social or moral custom; established practice. Flying in the face of convention, George Sand shocked
society by taking lovers and wearing men’s clothes.
coronation N . ceremony of crowning a queen or king.
When the witches told Macbeth he would be king, they
failed to warn him he would lose his crown soon after his
coronation.
conventional ADJ . ordinary; typical. His conventional
upbringing left him wholly unprepared for his wife’s eccentric family.
corporeal ADJ . bodily; material. The doctor had no
patience with spiritual matters: his job was to attend to his
patients’ corporeal problems, not to minister to their souls.
V . approach; tend to meet; come together.
African-American men from all over the United States converged on Washington to take part in the historic Million
Men march.
corpulent ADJ. very fat. The corpulent man resolved to
reduce. corpulence, N.
• converge
conversant ADJ. familiar with. The lawyer is conversant
with all the evidence.
converse N. opposite. The inevitable converse of peace is
not war but annihilation.
converse V. chat; talk informally. Eva was all ears while
Lulu and Lola conversed. Wasn’t it rude of her to eavesdrop
on their conversation? conversation, N.
convert N. one who has adopted a different religion or
opinion. On his trip to Japan, though the President spoke at
length about the virtues of American automobiles, he made
few converts to his beliefs. also V.
convex ADJ. curving outward. He polished the convex lens
of his telescope.
conveyance N. vehicle; transfer. During the transit strike,
commuters used various kinds of conveyances.
N. judgment that someone is guilty of a crime;
strongly held belief. Even her conviction for murder did not
shake Peter’s conviction that Harriet was innocent of the
crime.
■ conviction
correlation N. mutual relationship. He sought to determine
the correlation that existed between ability in algebra and
ability to interpret reading exercises. correlate, V., N.
V. confirm; support. Though Huck was quite
willing to corroborate Tom’s story, Aunt Polly knew better
than to believe either of them.
■ corroborate
• corrode V. destroy by chemical action. The girders supporting the bridge corroded so gradually that no one suspected
any danger until the bridge suddenly collapsed. corrosion, N.
corrosive ADJ. eating away by chemicals or disease. Stainless steel is able to withstand the effects of corrosive chemicals. corrode, V.
corrugated
. wrinkled; ridged. She wished she could
• smooth
away the wrinkles from his corrugated brow.
ADJ
cosmic ADJ. pertaining to the universe; vast. Cosmic rays
derive their name from the fact that they bombard the
earth’s atmosphere from outer space. cosmos, N.
cosmopolitan ADJ. sophisticated. Her years in the capitol
had transformed her into a cosmopolitan young woman
highly aware of international affairs.
convivial ADJ. festive; gay; characterized by joviality. The
convivial celebrators of the victory sang their college songs.
coterie N. group that meets socially; select circle. After his
book had been published, he was invited to join the literary
coterie that lunched daily at the hotel.
convoke V. call together. Congress was convoked at the
outbreak of the emergency. convocation, N.
countenance V. approve; tolerate. He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.
convoluted ADJ. coiled around; involved; intricate. The new
tax regulations are so convoluted that even accountants
have trouble following their twists and turns.
countenance N. face. When Jose saw his newborn daughter, a proud smile spread across his countenance.
copious ADJ. plentiful. She had copious reasons for rejecting the proposal.
countermand V . cancel; revoke. The general countermanded the orders issued in his absence.
Basic Word List 171
Word List 12 counterpart-decelerate
counterpart N. a thing that completes another; things very
much alike. Night and day are counterparts, complementing one another.
coup N. highly successful action or sudden attack. As the
news of his coup spread throughout Wall Street, his fellow
brokers dropped by to congratulate him.
couple V. join; unite. The Flying Karamazovs couple expert
juggling and amateur joking in their nightclub act.
courier N. messenger. The publisher sent a special courier
to pick up the manuscript.
covenant N. agreement. We must comply with the terms of
the covenant.
covert ADJ . secret; hidden; implied. Investigations of
the Central Intelligence Agency and other secret service
networks reveal that such covert operations can get out of
control.
covetous ADJ. avaricious; eagerly desirous of. The child
was covetous by nature and wanted to take the toys
belonging to his classmates. covet, V.
cow V. terrorize; intimidate. The little boy was so cowed by
the hulking bully that he gave up his lunch money without a
word of protest.
creed N. system of religious or ethical belief. Any loyal
American’s creed must emphasize love of democracy.
crescendo N. increase in the volume or intensity, as in a
musical passage; climax. The music suddenly shifted its
mood, dramatically switching from a muted, contemplative
passage to a crescendo with blaring trumpets and clashing
cymbals.
crest N. highest point of a hill; foamy top of a wave. Fleeing the tidal wave, the islanders scrambled to reach the
crest of Mount Lucinda. With relief, they watched the crest
of the wave break well below their vantage point.
crestfallen ADJ. dejected; dispirited. We were surprised at
his reaction to the failure of his project; instead of being
crestfallen, he was busily engaged in planning new activities.
crevice N. crack; fissure. The mountain climbers found
footholds in the tiny crevices in the mountainside.
cringe V . shrink back, as if in fear. The dog cringed ,
expecting a blow.
N. standard used in judging. What criterion did
you use when you selected this essay as the prizewinner?
criteria, PL.
■ criterion
cower V. shrink quivering, as from fear. The frightened
child cowered in the corner of the room.
crop V. cut off unwanted parts of a photograph; graze.
With care, David cropped the picture until its edges neatly
framed the flock of sheep cropping the grass.
coy ADJ. shy; modest; coquettish. Reluctant to commit herself so early in the game, Kay was coy in her answers to
Ken’s offer.
crotchety ADJ . eccentric; whimsical. Although he was
reputed to be a crotchety old gentleman, I found his ideas
substantially sound and sensible.
cozen V. cheat; hoodwink; swindle. He was the kind of
individual who would cozen his friends in a cheap card
game but remain eminently ethical in all business dealings.
crux N. crucial point. This is the crux of the entire problem:
everything centers on its being resolved.
crabbed ADJ. sour; peevish. The crabbed old man was
avoided by the children because he scolded them when
they made noise.
craftiness N. slyness; trickiness. In many Native American
legends, the coyote is the clever trickster, the embodiment
of craftiness. crafty, N.
crass ADJ. very unrefined; grossly insensible. The film critic
deplored the crass commercialism of movie-makers who
abandon artistic standards in order to make a quick buck.
craven ADJ. cowardly. Lillian’s craven refusal to join the
protest was criticized by her comrades, who had expected
her to be brave enough to stand up for her beliefs.
credence
promises.
N . belief. Do not place any credence in his
credibility N . believability. Because the candidate had
made some pretty unbelievable promises, we began to
question the credibility of everything she said.
credo N. creed. I believe we may best describe his credo
by saying that it approximates the Golden Rule.
N. belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete. Con
artists take advantage of the credulity of inexperienced
investors to swindle them out of their savings. credulous, ADJ.
■ credulity
crypt N. secret recess or vault, usually used for burial.
Until recently, only bodies of rulers and leading statesmen
were interred in this crypt.
ADJ. mysterious; hidden; secret. Thoroughly baffled by
Holmes’s cryptic remarks, Watson wondered whether Holmes
was intentionally concealing his thoughts about the crime.
■ cryptic
cubicle N. small compartment partitioned off; small bedchamber. Hoping to personalize their workspace, the staff
members decorated their tiny identical cubicles in markedly
individual ways.
cuisine N. style of cooking. French cuisine is noted for its
use of sauces and wines.
culinary ADJ. relating to cooking. Many chefs attribute their
culinary skill to the wise use of spices.
cull V. pick out; reject. Every month the farmer culls the
nonlaying hens from his flock and sells them to the local
butcher. also N.
culminate V . attain the highest point; climax. George
Bush’s years of service to the Republican Party culminated
in his being chosen as the Republican candidate for the
presidency. His subsequent inauguration as President of the
United States marked the culmination of his political career.
• culpable
ADJ. deserving blame. Corrupt politicians who
condone the activities of the gamblers are equally culpable.
172 Build Your Vocabulary
culvert N. artificial channel for water. If we build a culvert
under the road at this point, we will reduce the possibility of
the road’s being flooded during the rainy season.
daunt V. intimidate; frighten. “Boast all you like of your
prowess. Mere words cannot daunt me,” the hero answered
the villain.
cumbersome ADJ. heavy; hard to manage. He was burdened down with cumbersome parcels.
dauntless ADJ. bold. Despite the dangerous nature of the
undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the
assignment.
cumulative ADJ. growing by addition. Vocabulary building
is a cumulative process: as you go through your flash cards,
you will add new words to your vocabulary, one by one.
dawdle V. loiter; waste time. We have to meet a deadline
so don’t dawdle; just get down to work.
cupidity N. greed. The defeated people could not satisfy
the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive
tribute.
deadlock N. standstill; stalemate. Because negotiations
had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun
to mutter about breaking off the talks. also V.
curator N. superintendent; manager. The members of the
board of trustees of the museum expected the new curator
to plan events and exhibitions that would make the museum
more popular.
deadpan ADJ. wooden; impersonal. We wanted to see how
long he could maintain his deadpan expression.
curmudgeon N. churlish, miserly individual. Although he
was regarded by many as a curmudgeon, a few of us were
aware of the many kindnesses and acts of charity that he
secretly performed.
debacle N. sudden downfall; complete disaster. In the Airplane movies, every flight turns into a debacle, with passengers and crew members collapsing, engines falling apart,
and carry-on baggage popping out of the overhead bins.
cursive ADJ. flowing, running. In normal writing we run our
letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the
letters.
debase V. reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem;
degrade. In The King and I, Anna refuses to kneel down
and prostrate herself before the king, for she feels that to do
so would debase her position, and she will not submit to
such debasement.
ADJ . casual; hastily done. Because a cursory
examination of the ruins indicates the possibility of arson,
we believe the insurance agency should undertake a more
extensive investigation of the fire’s cause.
■ cursory
V. shorten; reduce. When Herb asked Diane for a
date, she said she was really sorry she couldn’t go out with
him, but her dad had ordered her to curtail her social life.
■ curtail
cynical ADJ. skeptical or distrustful of human motives. Cynical from birth, Sidney was suspicious whenever anyone
gave him a gift “with no strings attached.” cynic, N.
cynosure N. the object of general attention. As soon as the
movie star entered the room, she became the cynosure of
all eyes.
dabble V. work at in a non-serious fashion; splash around.
The amateur painter dabbled at art, but seldom produced a
finished piece. The children dabbled their hands in the bird
bath, splashing one another gleefully.
dais N . raised platform for guests of honor. When he
approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the
people who had come to honor him.
dank
slimy.
ADJ. damp. The walls of the dungeon were dank and
dapper ADJ. neat and trim. In “The Odd Couple” TV show,
Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper
soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place.
dappled ADJ. spotted. The sunlight filtering through the
screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
daub V. smear (as with paint). From the way he daubed his
paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils. also N.
dearth N. scarcity. The dearth of skilled labor compelled
the employers to open trade schools.
debauch V. corrupt; seduce from virtue. Did Socrates’
teachings lead the young men of Athens to be virtuous citizens, or did they debauch the young men, causing them to
question the customs of their fathers? Clearly, Socrates’
philosophical talks were nothing like the wild debauchery of
the toga parties in Animal House.
• debilitate V. weaken; enfeeble. Michael’s severe bout of
the flu debilitated him so much that he was too tired to go to
work for a week.
debonair ADJ. friendly; aiming to please. The debonair
youth was liked by all who met him, because of his cheerful
and obliging manner.
debris N. rubble. A full year after the earthquake in Mexico
City, they were still carting away the debris.
• debunk V. expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc;
ridicule. Pointing out that he consistently had voted against
strengthening anti-pollution legislation, reporters debunked
the candidate’s claim that he was a fervent environmentalist.
debutante N. young woman making formal entrance into
society. As a debutante, she was often mentioned in the
society columns of the newspapers.
decadence N. decay. The moral decadence of the people
was reflected in the lewd literature of the period.
decapitate V. behead. They did not hang Lady Jane Grey;
they decapitated her. “Off with her head!” cried the
Duchess, eager to decapitate poor Alice.
decelerate V. slow down. Seeing the emergency blinkers
in the road ahead, he decelerated quickly.
Basic Word List 173
Word List 13 deciduous-dermatologist
deciduous ADJ. falling off as of leaves. The oak is a deciduous tree; in winter it looks quite bare.
decimate V. kill, usually one out of ten. We do more to
decimate our population in automobile accidents than we
do in war.
decipher V. interpret secret code. Lacking his code book,
the spy was unable to decipher the scrambled message
sent to him from the KGB.
declivity N. downward slope. The children loved to ski
down the declivity.
decolleté ADJ. having a low-necked dress. Current fashion
decrees that evening gowns be decolleté this season; bare
shoulders are again the vogue.
decomposition N. decay. Despite the body’s advanced
state of decomposition, the police were able to identify the
murdered man.
defer making plans until they hear from their draft boards.
During the Vietnam War, many young men, hoping to be
deferred, requested student deferments.
defer V. give in respectfully; submit. When it comes to
making decisions about purchasing software, we must
defer to Michael, our computer guru; he gets the final word.
Michael, however, can defer these questions to no one;
only he can decide.
N. courteous regard for another’s wish. In deference to the minister’s request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service.
■ deference
defiance N . refusal to yield; resistance. When John
reached the “terrible two’s,” he responded to every parental
request with howls of defiance. defy, V.
defile V. pollute; profane. The hoodlums defiled the church
with their scurrilous writing.
ners. Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school. decorous, ADJ.
definitive ADJ. final; complete. Carl Sandburg’s Abraham
Lincoln may be regarded as the definitive work on the life of
the Great Emancipator.
decoy N. Iure or bait. The wild ducks were not fooled by
the decoy. also V.
deflect V. turn aside. His life was saved when his cigarette
case deflected the bullet.
decrepit ADJ. worn out by age. The decrepit car blocked
traffic on the highway.
defoliate V. destroy leaves. In Vietnam the army made
extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
decrepitude N. state of collapse caused by illness or old
age. I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which
I had found my old friend; he seemed to have aged twenty
years in six months.
defray V. pay the costs of. Her employer offered to defray
the costs of her postgraduate education.
decry V. express strong disapproval of; disparage. The
founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright
Edelman, strongly decries the lack of financial and moral
support for children in America today.
defunct ADJ. dead; no longer in use or existence. The
lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
■ decorum
N. propriety; orderliness and good taste in man-
deducible ADJ. derived by reasoning. If we accept your
premise, your conclusions are easily deducible.
deface V. mar; disfigure. If you deface a library book, you
will have to pay a hefty fine.
defame V. harm someone’s reputation; malign; slander. If
you try to defame my good name, my lawyers will see you
in court. If rival candidates persist in defaming one another,
the voters may conclude that all politicians are crooks.
defamation, N.
default N. failure to act. When the visiting team failed to
show up for the big game, they lost the game by default.
When Jack failed to make the payments on his Jaguar, the
dealership took back the car because he had defaulted on
his debt.
defeatist ADJ. attitude of one who is ready to accept defeat
as a natural outcome. If you maintain your defeatist attitude,
you will never succeed. also N.
deft ADJ. neat; skillful. The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
defuse V. remove the fuse of a bomb; reduce or eliminate
a threat. Police negotiators are trained to defuse dangerous situations by avoiding confrontational language and
behavior.
degenerate V. become worse; deteriorate. As the fight
dragged on, the champion’s style degenerated until he
could barely keep on his feet.
N . humiliation; debasement; degeneration.
Some secretaries object to fetching the boss a cup of coffee because they resent the degradation of being made to
do such lowly tasks. degrade, V.
■ degradation
• dehydrate V. remove water from; dry out. Running under a
hot sun quickly dehydrates the body; joggers soon learn to
carry water bottles and to drink from them frequently.
deify V. turn into a god; idolize. Admire Elvis Presley all
you want; just don’t deify him.
defection N. desertion. The children, who had made him
an idol, were hurt most by his defection from our cause.
deign V . condescend; stoop. The celebrated fashion
designer would not deign to speak to a mere seamstress;
his overburdened assistant had to convey the master’s
wishes to the lowly workers assembling his great designs.
defer V. delay till later; exempt temporarily. In wartime,
some young men immediately volunteer to serve; others
delectable ADJ. delightful; delicious. We thanked our host
for a most delectable meal.
174 Build Your Vocabulary
delete V. erase; strike out. Less is more: if you delete this
paragraph, your whole essay will have greater appeal.
• deleterious
ADJ. harmful. If you believe that smoking is
deleterious to your health (and the Surgeon General certainly does), then quit!
deliberate V. consider; ponder. Offered the new job, she
asked for time to deliberate before she told them her decision.
■ delineate
V . portray; depict; sketch. Using only a few
descriptive phrases, Austen delineates the character of Mr.
Collins so well that we can predict his every move. delineation, N.
delirium N. mental disorder marked by confusion. In his
delirium, the drunkard saw pink panthers and talking pigs.
Perhaps he wasn’t delirious: he might just have wandered
into a movie.
delude V. deceive. His mistress may have deluded herself
into believing that he would leave his wife and marry her.
deluge N. flood; rush. When we advertised the position,
we received a deluge of applications.
delusion N. false belief; hallucination. Don suffers from
delusions of grandeur: he thinks he’s a world-famous author
when he’s published just one paperback book.
delve V. dig; investigate. Delving into old books and manuscripts is part of a researcher’s job.
demagogue N. person who appeals to people’s prejudice;
false leader of people. He was accused of being a demagogue because he made promises that aroused futile
hopes in his listeners.
demean V. degrade; humiliate. Standing on his dignity, he
refused to demean himself by replying to the offensive letter. If you truly believed in the dignity of labor, you would
not think it would demean you to work as a janitor.
demeanor N. behavior; bearing. His sober demeanor quieted the noisy revelers.
demented ADJ . insane. Doctor Demento was a lunatic
radio personality who liked to act as if he were truly
demented. If you’re demented, your mental state is out of
whack; in other words, you’re wacky.
demise N. death. Upon the demise of the dictator, a bitter
dispute about succession to power developed.
demolition N. destruction. One of the major aims of the air
force was the complete demolition of all means of transportation by bombing of rail lines and terminals. demolish, V.
demoniac ADJ. fiendish. The Spanish Inquisition devised
many demoniac means of torture. demon, N.
demur V. object (because of doubts, scruples); hesitate.
When offered a post on the board of directors, David
demurred : he had scruples about taking on the job
because he was unsure he could handle it in addition to his
other responsibilities.
demure ADJ. grave; serious; coy. She was demure and
reserved, a nice modest girl whom any young man would
be proud to take home to his mother.
demystify V. clarify; free from mystery or obscurity. Helpful doctors demystify medical procedures by describing
them in everyday language, explaining that a myringotomy,
for example, is an operation involving making a small hole
in one’s eardrum.
denigrate V. blacken. All attempts to denigrate the character of our late president have failed; the people still love him
and cherish his memory.
denizen N. inhabitant or resident; regular visitor. In The
Untouchables, Eliot Ness fights Al Capone and the other
denizens of Chicago’s underworld. Ness’s fight against corruption was the talk of all the denizens of the local bars.
denotation N. meaning; distinguishing by name. A dictionary will always give us the denotation of a word; frequently, it will also give us the connotations. denote, V.
denouement N. outcome; final development of the plot of
a play. The play was childishly written; the denouement was
obvious to sophisticated theatergoers as early as the middle of the first act.
V . condemn; criticize. The reform candidate
denounced the corrupt city officers for having betrayed the
public’s trust. denunciation, N.
■ denounce
depict V. portray. In this sensational exposé, the author
depicts Beatle John Lennon as a drug-crazed neurotic. Do
you question the accuracy of this depiction of Lennon?
deplete V. reduce; exhaust. We must wait until we deplete
our present inventory before we order replacements.
V. regret; disapprove of. Although I deplore the
vulgarity of your language, I defend your right to express
yourself freely.
■ deplore
deploy V. spread out [troops] in an extended though shallow battle line. The general ordered the battalion to deploy
in order to meet the enemy offensive.
• depose
V . dethrone; remove from office. The army
attempted to depose the king and set up a military government.
deposition N. testimony under oath. He made his deposition in the judge’s chamber.
N. extreme corruption; wickedness. The depravity of Caligula’s behavior came to sicken even those who
had willingly participated in his earlier, comparatively innocent orgies.
■ depravity
V. express disapproval of; protest against; belittle. A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post
deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names. deprecatory, ADJ.
■ deprecate
depreciate V. Iessen in value. If you neglect this property,
it will depreciate.
depredation N. plundering. After the depredations of the
invaders, the people were penniless.
derange V. make insane; disarrange. Hamlet’s cruel rejection deranged poor Ophelia; in her madness, she drowned
herself.
derelict ADJ. abandoned; negligent. The derelict craft was
a menace to navigation. Whoever abandoned it in the middle of the harbor was derelict in living up to his responsibilities as a boat owner. also N.
Basic Word List 175
V. ridicule; make fun of. The critics derided his pretentious dialogue and refused to consider his play seriously. derision, N.
■ deride
■ derivative
ADJ. unoriginal; derived from another source.
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature,
the critics thought she had promise and eventually would
find her own voice.
dermatologist N. physician who studies the skin and its diseases. I advise you to consult a dermatologist about your
acne.
Word List 14 derogatory-disgruntle
derogatory ADJ. expressing a low opinion. I resent your
derogatory remarks.
detergent N. cleansing agent. Many new detergents have
replaced soap.
descant V. discuss fully. He was willing to descant upon
any topic of conversation, even when he knew very little
about the subject under discussion. also N.
determination N . resolve; measurement or calculation;
decision. Nothing could shake his determination that his
children would get the best education that money could
buy. Thanks to my pocket calculator, my determination of
the answer to the problem took only seconds of my time.
descry V. catch sight of. In the distance, we could barely
descry the enemy vessels.
desecrate V. profane; violate the sanctity of. Shattering the
altar and trampling the holy objects underfoot, the invaders
desecrated the sanctuary.
• desiccate V. dry up. A tour of this smokehouse will give
you an idea of how the pioneers used to desiccate food in
order to preserve it.
desolate ADJ . unpopulated. After six months in the
crowded, bustling metropolis, David was so sick of people
that he was ready to head for the most desolate patch of
wilderness he could find.
desolate V. rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake. The bandits
desolated the countryside, burning farms and carrying off
the harvest.
despise V. look on with scorn; regard as worthless or
distasteful. Mr. Bond, I despise spies; I look down on
them as mean, despicable , honorless men, whom I
would wipe from the face of the earth with as little concern as I would scrape dog droppings from the bottom of
my shoe.
despoil V. strip of valuables; rob. Seeking plunder, the
raiders despoiled the village, carrying off any valuables
they found.
ADJ. depressed; gloomy. To the dismay of his
parents, William became seriously despondent after he
broke up with Jan; they despaired of finding a cure for his
gloom. despondency, N.
■ despondent
despot N. tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler. How could a
benevolent king turn overnight into a despot ?
destitute ADJ. extremely poor. Because they had no health
insurance, the father’s costly illness left the family destitute.
desultory ADJ. aimless; haphazard; digressing at random.
In prison Malcolm X set himself the task of reading straight
through the dictionary; to him, reading was purposeful, not
desultory.
ADJ. emotionally removed; calm and objective;
physically unconnected. A psychoanalyst must maintain a
detached point of view and stay uninvolved with his or her
patients’ personal lives. To a child growing up in an apartment or a row house, to live in a detached house was an
unattainable dream.
■ detached
N. something that discourages; hindrance. Does
the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to
potential killers? deter, V.
■ deterrent
detonation N . explosion. The detonation of the bomb
could be heard miles away.
detraction N. slandering; aspersion. He is offended by
your frequent detractions of his ability as a leader.
ADJ . harmful; damaging. The candidate’s
acceptance of major financial contributions from a wellknown racist ultimately proved detrimental to his campaign,
for he lost the backing of many of his early grassroots supporters. detriment, N.
■ detrimental
deviate V . turn away from (a principle, norm); depart;
diverge. Richard never deviated from his daily routine:
every day he set off for work at eight o’clock, had his sack
lunch (peanut butter on whole wheat) at 12:15, and headed
home at the stroke of five.
ADJ. roundabout; erratic; not straightforward. The
Joker’s plan was so devious that it was only with great difficulty we could follow its shifts and dodges.
■ devious
V. think up; invent; plan. How clever he must be to
have devised such a devious plan! What ingenious inventions might he have devised if he had turned his mind to
science and not to crime.
■ devise
devoid ADJ. lacking. You may think her mind is a total void,
but she’s actually not devoid of intelligence. She just
sounds like an airhead.
devotee N. enthusiastic follower. A devotee of the opera,
he bought season tickets every year.
devout
ADJ. pious. The devout man prayed daily.
dexterous ADJ. skillful. The magician was so dexterous
that we could not follow him as he performed his tricks.
diabolical ADJ. devilish. “What a fiend I am, to devise such
a diabolical scheme to destroy Gotham City,” chortled the
Joker gleefully.
diagnosis N. art of identifying a disease; analysis of a condition. In medical school Margaret developed her skill at
diagnosis, learning how to read volumes from a rapid pulse
or a hacking cough. diagnose, V.; diagnostic, ADJ.
176 Build Your Vocabulary
dialectical ADJ. relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal. The debate coach’s students grew to develop great
forensic and dialectical skill. Teaching, however, is inherently a dialectical situation: the coach learned at least as
much from her students as they learned from her. dialectics, N.
N. lessening; reduction in size. Old Jack was
as sharp at eighty as he had been at fifty; increasing age
led to no diminution of his mental acuity.
■ diminution
din N. continued loud noise. The din of the jackhammers
outside the classroom window drowned out the lecturer’s
voice. also V.
diaphanous A D J . sheer; transparent. Through the
diaphanous curtains, the burglar could clearly see the large
jewelry box on the dressing table.
dinghy N. small ship’s boat. In the film Lifeboat, an illassorted group of passengers from a sunken ocean liner
are marooned at sea in a dinghy.
diatribe N. bitter scolding; invective. During the lengthy
diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm and
self-controlled.
dingy ADJ . dull; not fresh; cheerless. Refusing to be
depressed by her dingy studio apartment, Bea spent the
weekend polishing the floors and windows and hanging
bright posters on the walls.
dichotomy N. split; branching into two parts (especially
contradictory ones). Willie didn’t know how to resolve the
dichotomy between his ambition to go to college and his
childhood longing to run away and join the circus. Then he
heard about Ringling Brothers Circus College, and he knew
he’d found the perfect school.
dictum N. authoritative and weighty statement; saying;
maxim. University administrations still follow the old dictum
of “Publish or perish.” They don’t care how good a teacher
you are; if you don’t publish enough papers, you’re out of a
job.
didactic ADJ. teaching; instructional. Pope’s lengthy poem
An Essay on Man is too didactic for my taste: I dislike it
when poets turn preachy and moralize.
differentiate V. distinguish; perceive a difference between.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee were like two peas in a pod;
not even Mother Tweedle could differentiate the one from
the other.
• diffidence N. shyness. You must overcome your diffidence
if you intend to become a salesperson.
ADJ. wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas). If
you pay authors by the word, you tempt them to produce
diffuse manuscripts rather than brief ones. diffusion, N.
■ diffuse
N. wandering away from the subject. Nobody
minded when Professor Renoir’s lectures wandered away
from their official theme; his digressions were always more
fascinating than the topic of the day. digress, V.
■ digression
dilapidated ADJ. ruined because of neglect. The dilapidated old building needed far more work than just a new
coat of paint. dilapidation, N.
dilate
V. expand. In the dark, the pupils of your eyes dilate.
• dilatory ADJ. delaying. If you are dilatory in paying bills,
your credit rating may suffer.
dilemma N. problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives. In this dilemma, he knew no one to whom he could
turn for advice.
dilettante N. aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler.
He was not serious in his painting; he was rather a dilettante.
N. steadiness of effort; persistent hard work. Her
employers were greatly impressed by her diligence and
offered her a partnership in the firm. diligent, ADJ.
■ diligence
dilute V. make less concentrated; reduce in strength. She
preferred to dilute her coffee with milk.
dint N. means; effort. By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to place the raging forest fire under control.
diorama N. life-size three-dimensional scene from nature
or history. Because they dramatically pose actual stuffed
animals against realistic painted landscapes, the dioramas
at the Museum of Natural History particularly impress high
school biology students.
dire ADJ. disastrous. People ignored her dire predictions
of an approaching depression.
dirge
tears.
N. lament with music. The funeral dirge stirred us to
disabuse V. correct a false impression; undeceive. I will
attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my client’s
guilt; I know he is innocent.
disaffected ADJ . disloyal. Once the most loyal of Gorbachev’s supporters, Sheverdnaze found himself becoming
increasingly disaffected.
disapprobation N. disapproval; condemnation. The conservative father viewed his daughter’s radical boyfriend with
disapprobation.
disarray N . a disorderly or untidy state. After the New
Year’s party, the once orderly house was in total disarray.
disavowal N. denial; disclaiming. His disavowal of his part
in the conspiracy was not believed by the jury. disavow, V.
disband V. dissolve; disperse. The chess club disbanded
after its disastrous initial season.
disburse V. pay out. When you disburse money on the
company’s behalf, be sure to get a receipt.
discernible ADJ. distinguishable; perceivable. The ships in
the harbor were not discernible in the fog. discern, V.
ADJ . mentally quick and observant; having
insight. Though no genius, the star was sufficiently discerning to tell her true friends from the countless phonies who
flattered her.
■ discerning
disclaim V. disown; renounce claim to. If I grant you this
privilege, will you disclaim all other rights?
V . reveal. Although competitors offered him
bribes, he refused to disclose any information about his
company’s forthcoming product. disclosure, N.
■ disclose
discombobulated ADJ . confused; discomposed. The
novice square dancer became so discombobulated that he
wandered into the wrong set.
Basic Word List 177
discomfit V. put to rout; defeat; disconcert. This ruse will
discomfit the enemy. discomfiture, N. discomfited, ADJ.
discomposure N . agitation; loss of poise. Perpetually
poised, Agent 007 never exhibited a moment’s discomposure.
disconcert V. confuse; upset; embarrass. The lawyer was
disconcerted by the evidence produced by her adversary.
disconsolate
consolate.
ADJ. sad. The death of his wife left him dis-
discord N. conflict; lack of harmony. Watching Tweedledum battle Tweedledee, Alice wondered what had caused
this pointless discord.
ADJ . not harmonious; conflicting. Nothing is
quite so discordant as the sound of a junior high school
orchestra tuning up.
■ discordant
V. disregard; dismiss. Be prepared to discount
what he has to say about his ex-wife.
■ discount
• discourse N. formal discussion; conversation. The young
Plato was drawn to the Agora to hear the philosophical discourse of Socrates and his followers. also V.
discredit V. defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve. The
campaign was highly negative in tone; each candidate tried
to discredit the other.
• discrepancy N. lack of consistency; difference. The police
noticed some discrepancies in his description of the crime
and did not believe him.
discrete ADJ. separate; unconnected. The universe is composed of discrete bodies.
discretion N. prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances. Use your discretion in this matter and do not discuss it with anyone. discreet, ADJ.
ADJ. able to see differences; prejudiced. A
superb interpreter of Picasso, she was sufficiently discriminating to judge the most complex works of modern art.
(secondary meaning) discrimination, N.
■ discriminating
discursive ADJ. digressing; rambling. As the lecturer wandered from topic to topic, we wondered what if any point
there was to his discursive remarks.
V. view with scorn or contempt. In the film Funny
Face, the bookish heroine disdained fashion models for
their lack of intellectual interests. also N.
■ disdain
disembark V. go ashore; unload cargo from a ship. Before
the passengers could disembark, they had to pick up their
passports from the ship’s purser.
disenfranchise V. deprive of a civil right. The imposition of
the poll tax effectively disenfranchised poor Southern
blacks, who lost their right to vote.
disengage V. uncouple; separate; disconnect. A standard
movie routine involves the hero’s desperate attempt to disengage a railroad car from a moving train.
disfigure V. mar in beauty; spoil. An ugly frown disfigured
his normally pleasant face.
disgorge V. surrender something; eject; vomit. Unwilling to
disgorge the cash he had stolen from the pension fund, the
embezzler tried to run away.
disgruntle V. make discontented. The passengers were
disgruntled by the numerous delays.
Word List 15 dishearten-duplicity
dishearten V. discourage; cause to lose courage or hope.
His failure to pass the bar exam disheartened him.
dismantle V. take apart. When the show closed, they dismantled the scenery before storing it.
disheveled ADJ. untidy. Your disheveled appearance will
hurt your chances in this interview.
dismay V. discourage; frighten. The huge amount of work
she had left to do dismayed her. also N.
N . unwillingness. Some mornings I feel a
great disinclination to get out of bed.
dismember V . cut into small parts. When the Austrian
Empire was dismembered, several new countries were
established.
■ disinclination
disingenuous ADJ . lacking genuine candor; insincere.
Now that we know the mayor and his wife are engaged in a
bitter divorce fight, we find their earlier remarks regretting
their lack of time together remarkably disingenuous.
disinter V. dig up; unearth. They disinterred the body and
held an autopsy.
disinterested ADJ. unprejudiced. Given the judge’s political
ambitions and the lawyers’ financial interest in the case, the
only disinterested person in the courtroom may have been
the court reporter.
disjointed ADJ. disconnected. His remarks were so disjointed that we could not follow his reasoning.
dislodge V. remove (forcibly). Thrusting her fist up under
the choking man’s lower ribs, Margaret used the Heimlich
maneuver to dislodge the food caught in his throat.
V. put away from consideration; reject. Believing
in John’s love for her, she dismissed the notion that he
might be unfaithful. (secondary meaning)
■ dismiss
V. belittle. A doting mother, Emma was more
likely to praise her son’s crude attempts at art than to disparage them.
■ disparage
disparate ADJ. basically different; unrelated. Unfortunately,
Tony and Tina have disparate notions of marriage: Tony
sees it as a carefree extended love affair, while Tina sees it
as a solemn commitment to build a family and a home.
N. difference; condition of inequality. Their disparity in rank made no difference at all to the prince and
Cinderella.
■ disparity
dispassionate ADJ. calm; impartial. Known in the company
for his cool judgment, Bill could impartially examine the
causes of a problem, giving a dispassionate analysis of
178 Build Your Vocabulary
what had gone wrong, and go on to suggest how to correct
the mess.
dispatch N. speediness; prompt execution; message sent
with all due speed. Young Napoleon defeated the enemy
with all possible dispatch; he then sent a dispatch to headquarters informing his commander of the great victory. also V.
dispel V. scatter; drive away; cause to vanish. The bright
sunlight eventually dispelled the morning mist.
V . scatter. The police fired tear gas into the
crowd to disperse the protesters. dispersion, N.
■ disperse
dispirited ADJ. Iacking in spirit. The coach used all the tricks
at his command to buoy up the enthusiasm of his team,
which had become dispirited at the loss of the star player.
ADJ . argumentative; fond of arguing. Convinced he knew more than his lawyers, Alan was a disputatious client, ready to argue about the best way to conduct
the case. disputant, N.
■ disputatious
disquiet V. make uneasy or anxious. Holmes’s absence for
a day, slightly disquieted Watson; after a week with no word,
however, Watson’s uneasiness about his missing friend had
grown into a deep fear for his safety. disquietude, N.
dissection N. analysis; cutting apart in order to examine.
The dissection of frogs in the laboratory is particularly
unpleasant to some students.
dissemble V. disguise; pretend. Even though John tried to
dissemble his motive for taking modern dance, we all knew
he was there not to dance but to meet girls.
V. distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds). By
their use of the Internet, propagandists have been able to
disseminate their pet doctrines to new audiences around
the globe.
■ disseminate
■ dissent
V. disagree. In the recent Supreme Court decision,
Justice O’Connor dissented from the majority opinion. also N.
dissertation N. formal essay. In order to earn a graduate
degree from many of our universities, a candidate is frequently required to prepare a dissertation on some scholarly subject.
dissident ADJ. dissenting; rebellious. In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tiananmen Square,
the government hunted down the dissident students and
their supporters. also N.
dissuade V. persuade not to do; discourage. Since Tom
could not dissuade Huck from running away from home, he
decided to run away with him. dissuasion, N.
distant ADJ. reserved or aloof; cold in manner. His distant
greeting made me feel unwelcome from the start. (secondary meaning)
• distend V. expand; swell out. I can tell when he is under
stress by the way the veins distend on his forehead.
distill V. extract the essence; purify; refine. A moonshiner
distills mash into whiskey; an epigrammatist distills thoughts
into quips.
distinction N. honor; contrast; discrimination. A holder of
the Medal of Honor, George served with great distinction in
World War II. He made a distinction, however, between
World War II and Vietnam, which he considered an immoral
conflict.
distort V. twist out of shape. It is difficult to believe the
newspaper accounts of the riots because of the way some
reporters distort and exaggerate the actual events. distortion, N.
distraught ADJ . upset; distracted by anxiety. The distraught parents frantically searched the ravine for their lost
child.
diurnal ADJ. daily. A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks
at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly.
diva N . operatic singer; prima donna. Although world
famous as a diva, she did not indulge in fits of temperament.
diverge V. vary; go in different directions from the same
point. The spokes of the wheel diverge from the hub.
ADJ. differing; deviating. Since graduating from
medical school, the two doctors have taken divergent
paths, one going on to become a nationally prominent surgeon, the other dedicating himself to a small family practice
in his home town. divergence, N.
■ divergent
diverse ADJ. differing in some characteristics; various. The
professor suggested diverse ways of approaching the
assignment and recommended that we choose one of
them. diversity, N.
diversion N. act of turning aside; pastime. After studying for
several hours, he needed a diversion from work. divert, V.
dissimulate V. pretend; conceal by feigning. Although the
governor tried to dissimulate his feelings about the opposing candidate, we all knew he despised his rival.
diversity N. variety; dissimilitude. The diversity of colleges
in this country indicates that many levels of ability are being
cared for.
dissipate V. squander; waste; scatter. He is a fine artist,
but I fear he may dissipate his gifts if he keeps wasting his
time playing games.
divest V. strip; deprive. He was divested of his power to
act and could no longer govern. divestiture, N.
dissolute ADJ. Ioose in morals. The dissolute life led by the
ancient Romans is indeed shocking.
dissolution N. breaking of a union; decay; termination.
Which caused King Lear more suffering: the dissolution of
his kingdom into warring factions, or the dissolution of his
aged, failing body?
dissonance N. discord. Composer Charles Ives often used
dissonance—clashing or unresolved chords—for special
effects in his musical works.
divine V. perceive intuitively; foresee the future. Nothing
infuriated Tom more than Aunt Polly’s ability to divine when
he was telling the truth.
divulge V . reveal. No lover of gossip, Charlotte would
never divulge anything that a friend told her in confidence.
docile ADJ. obedient; easily managed. As docile as he
seems today, that old lion was once a ferocious, snarling
beast. docility, N.
Basic Word List 179
doctrinaire ADJ. unable to compromise about points of
doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding. Weng had hoped that the
student-led democracy movement might bring about
change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy.
■ doctrine
N. teachings, in general; particular principle (reli-
gious, legal, etc.) taught. He was so committed to the doctrines of his faith that he was unable to evaluate them
impartially.
V. provide written evidence. She kept all the
receipts from her business trip in order to document her
expenses for the firm. also N.
■ document
doff
V. take off. A gentleman used to doff his hat to a lady.
dogged ADJ. determined; stubborn. Les Miserables tells of
Inspector Javert’s long, dogged pursuit of the criminal Jean
Valjean.
doggerel N . poor verse. Although we find occasional
snatches of genuine poetry in her work, most of her writing
is mere doggerel.
rascals, too. Poor old Alf clearly doted: the senile old dotard
was past it; in fact, he was in his dotage.
douse V . plunge into water; drench; extinguish. They
doused each other with hoses and water balloons.
dowdy ADJ . slovenly; untidy. She tried to change her
dowdy image by buying a new fashionable wardrobe.
downcast ADJ. disheartened; sad. Cheerful and optimistic
by nature, Beth was never downcast despite the difficulties
she faced.
drab ADJ . dull; lacking color; cheerless. The Dutch
woman’s drab winter coat contrasted with the distinctive,
colorful native costume she wore beneath it.
draconian ADJ. extremely severe. When the principal canceled the senior prom because some seniors had been
late to school that week, we thought the draconian punishment was far too harsh for such a minor violation of the
rules.
dregs N. sediment; worthless residue. David poured the
wine carefully to avoid stirring up the dregs.
ADJ. opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal. We tried to
discourage Doug from being so dogmatic, but never could
convince him that his opinions might be wrong.
drivel N. nonsense; foolishness. Why do I have to spend
my days listening to such idiotic drivel ? Drivel is related to
dribble: think of a dribbling, driveling idiot.
doldrums N. blues; listlessness; slack period. Once the
excitement of meeting her deadline was over, she found
herself in the doldrums.
droll ADJ. queer and amusing. He was a popular guest
because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
■ dogmatic
doleful ADJ. sorrowful. He found the doleful lamentations of
the bereaved family emotionally disturbing and he left as
quickly as he could.
drone N. idle person; male bee. Content to let his wife
support him, the would-be writer was in reality nothing but a
drone.
dolt N. stupid person. The heroes of Dumb and Dumber
are, as the title suggests, a classic pair of dolts.
drone V. talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee. On a gorgeous day, who wants to be stuck in a classroom listening
to the teacher drone?
domicile N. home. Although his legal domicile was in New
York City, his work kept him away from his residence for
many years. also V.
dross N. waste matter; worthless impurities. Many methods have been devised to separate the valuable metal from
the dross.
domineer V. rule over tyrannically. Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer.
drudgery N. menial work. Cinderella’s fairy godmother rescued her from a life of drudgery.
don V. put on. When Clark Kent has to don his Superman
outfit, he changes clothes in a convenient phone booth.
doodle V. scribble or draw aimlessly; waste time. Art’s
teachers scolded him when he doodled all over the margins
of his papers.
dormant ADJ. sleeping; lethargic; latent. At fifty her longdormant ambition to write flared up once more; within a year
she had completed the first of her great historical novels.
dormer N. window projecting from roof. In remodeling
the attic into a bedroom, we decided that we needed to
put in dormers to provide sufficient ventilation for the new
room.
ADJ. questionable; filled with doubt. Many critics
of the SAT contend the test is of dubious worth. Jay claimed
he could get a perfect 2400 on the new SAT, but Ellen was
dubious: she knew he hadn’t cracked a book in three years.
■ dubious
ductile ADJ . malleable; flexible; pliable. Copper is an
extremely ductile material: you can stretch it into the
thinnest of wires, bend it, even wind it into loops.
dulcet ADJ . sweet sounding. The dulcet sounds of the
birds at dawn were soon drowned out by the roar of traffic
passing our motel.
dumbfound V. astonish. Egbert’s perfect 2400 on his SAT
exam dumbfounded his classmates, who had always found
him to be perfectly dumb.
dossier N. file of documents on a subject. Ordered by J.
Edgar Hoover to investigate the senator, the FBI compiled a
complete dossier on him.
• dupe N. someone easily fooled. While the gullible Watson
dote V . be excessively fond of; show signs of mental
decline. Not only grandmothers bore you with stories about
their brilliant grandchildren; grandfathers dote on the little
■ duplicity
often was made a dupe by unscrupulous parties, Sherlock
Holmes was far more difficult to fool. also V.
N . double-dealing; hypocrisy. When Tanya
learned that Mark had been two-timing her, she was furious
at his duplicity.
180 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 16 duration-encroachment
duration N. length of time something lasts. Because she
wanted the children to make a good impression on the dinner guests, Mother promised them a treat if they’d behave
for the duration of the meal.
duress N . forcible restraint, especially unlawfully. The
hostages were held under duress until the prisoners’
demands were met.
dutiful ADJ. respectful; obedient. When Mother told Billy to
kiss Great-Aunt Hattie, the boy obediently gave the old
woman a dutiful peck on her cheek.
dwarf V. cause to seem small. The giant redwoods and
high cliffs dwarfed the elegant Ahwahnee Hotel, making it
appear a modest lodge rather than an imposing hostelry.
dwindle V. shrink; reduce. The food in the life boat gradually dwindled away to nothing; in the end, they ate the
ship’s cook.
dynamic ADJ. energetic; vigorously active. The dynamic
aerobics instructor kept her students on the run; she was a
little dynamo.
earthy ADJ. unrefined; coarse. His earthy remarks often
embarrassed the women in his audience.
ebb V. recede; lessen. Sitting on the beach, Mrs. Dalloway
watched the tide ebb: the waters receded, drawing away
from her as she sat there all alone. also N.
• ebullient ADJ. showing excitement; overflowing with enthu-
siasm. Amy’s ebullient nature could not be repressed; she
was always bubbling over with excitement. ebullience, N.
eccentric ADJ . irregular; odd; whimsical; bizarre. The
comet veered dangerously close to the earth in its eccentric
orbit. People came up with some eccentric ideas for dealing with the emergency: someone even suggested tieing a
knot in the comet’s tail!
eccentricity N. oddity; idiosyncrasy. Some of his friends
tried to account for his rudeness to strangers as the eccentricity of genius.
ecclesiastic ADJ. pertaining to the church. The minister
donned his ecclesiastic garb and walked to the pulpit. also N.
■ eclectic
ADJ . composed of elements drawn from dis-
parate sources. His style of interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent
periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique decor.
eclecticism, N.
eclipse V . darken; extinguish; surpass. The new stock
market high eclipsed the previous record set in 1995.
ecologist N. a person concerned with the interrelationship
between living organisms and their environment. The ecologist was concerned that the new dam would upset the natural balance of the creatures living in Glen Canyon.
economy N. efficiency or conciseness in using something.
Reading the epigrams of Pope, I admire the economy of his
verse: in few words he conveys worlds of meaning. (secondary meaning)
ecstasy N. rapture; joy; any overpowering emotion. When
Allison received her long-hoped-for letter of acceptance
from Harvard, she was in ecstasy. ecstatic, ADJ.
eddy N. swirling current of water, air, etc. The water in the
tide pool was still, except for an occasional eddy.
edict N. decree (especially issued by a sovereign); official
command. The emperor issued an edict decreeing that
everyone should come see him model his magnificent new
clothes.
• edify
V . instruct; correct morally. Although his purpose
was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his
listeners were amused rather than enlightened.
eerie ADJ . weird. In that eerie setting, it was easy to
believe in ghosts and other supernatural beings.
• efface
V. rub out. The coin had been handled so many
times that its date had been effaced.
effectual ADJ . able to produce a desired effect; valid.
Medical researchers are concerned because of the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria; many once
useful antibiotics are no longer effectual in curing bacterial
infections.
• effervescence
N. inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation. Nothing depressed
Sue for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted
itself. Soda that loses its effervescence goes flat. effervescent, ADJ. effervesce, V.
effete ADJ. lacking vigor; worn out; sterile. Is the Democratic Party still a vital political force, or is it an effete ,
powerless faction, wedded to outmoded liberal policies?
efficacy N. power to produce desired effect. The efficacy
of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage. efficacious, ADJ.
effigy N. dummy. The mob showed its irritation by hanging
the judge in effigy.
effrontery N. shameless boldness. She had the effrontery
to insult the guest.
effusive ADJ. pouring forth; gushing. Her effusive manner
of greeting her friends finally began to irritate them. effusion, N.
egoism N. excessive interest in one’s self; belief that one
should be interested in one’s self rather than in others. His
egoism prevented him from seeing the needs of his colleagues.
ADJ. excessively self-centered; self-important;
conceited. Typical egotistical remark: “But enough of this
chit-chat about you and your little problems. Let’s talk about
what’s really important: Me!”
■ egotistical
egregious ADJ. notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking.
She was an egregious liar; we all knew better than to
believe a word she said. Ed’s housekeeping was
egregious: he let his dirty dishes pile up so long that they
were stuck together with last week’s food.
Basic Word List 181
egress N. exit. Barnum’s sign “To the Egress” fooled many
people who thought they were going to see an animal and
instead found themselves in the street.
ejaculation N. exclamation. He could not repress an ejaculation of surprise when he heard the news.
elaboration N. addition of details; intricacy. Tell what happened simply, without any elaboration. elaborate, V.
Maris’s home run record, Sammy Sosa embodied the spirit
of true sportsmanship.
embrace V. hug; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include. Clasping Maid Marian in his arms, Robin Hood
embraced her lovingly. In joining the outlaws in Sherwood
Forest, she had openly embraced their cause.
• elegy
embroider V. decorate with needlework; ornament with
fancy or fictitious details. For her mother’s birthday, Beth
embroidered a lovely design on a handkerchief. When
asked what made her late getting home, Jo embroidered
her account with tales of runaway horses and rescuing people from a ditch. embroidery, N.
• elicit
embroil V. throw into confusion; involve in strife; entangle.
He became embroiled in the heated discussion when he
tried to arbitrate the dispute.
■ elated
ADJ. overjoyed; in high spirits. Grinning from ear to
ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her fifth Olympic
gold medal. elation, N.
N. poem or song expressing lamentation. On the
death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy “Lycidas.” elegiacal, ADJ.
V. draw out by discussion. The detectives tried to
elicit where he had hidden his loot.
elixir N. cure-all; something invigorating. The news of her
chance to go abroad acted on her like an elixir.
ellipsis N. omission of words from a text. Sometimes an
ellipsis can lead to a dangling modifier, as in the sentence
“Once dressed, you should refrigerate the potato salad.”
elliptical ADJ . oval; ambiguous, either purposely or
because key words have been left out. An elliptical billiard
ball wobbles because it is not perfectly round; an elliptical
remark baffles because it is not perfectly clear.
■ eloquence
N . expressiveness; persuasive speech. The
crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King’s eloquence. eloquent, ADJ.
• elucidate V. explain; enlighten. He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
ADJ. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp. Trying to pin
down exactly when the contractors would be finished
remodeling the house, Nancy was frustrated by their elusive
replies. elude, V.
■ elusive
• emaciated
ADJ. thin and wasted. Many severe illnesses
leave their victims so emaciated that they must gain back
their lost weight before they can fully recover.
emanate V. issue forth. A strong odor of sulphur emanated
from the spring.
emancipate V. set free. At first, the attempts of the Abolitionists to emancipate the slaves were unpopular in New
England as well as in the South.
embargo N. ban on commerce or other activity. As a result
of the embargo, trade with the colonies was at a standstill.
embark V. commence; go on board a boat or airplane;
begin a journey. In devoting herself to the study of gorillas,
Dian Fossey embarked on a course of action that was to
cost her her life.
embed V. enclose; place in something. Tales of actual historical figures like King Alfred have become embedded in
legends.
V . adorn; ornament. The costume designer
embellished the leading lady’s ball gown with yards and
yards of ribbon and lace.
■ embellish
embezzlement N. stealing. The bank teller confessed his
embezzlement of the funds.
embody V. personify; make concrete; incorporate. Cheering on his rival Mark McGwire’s efforts to break Roger
embryonic ADJ. undeveloped; rudimentary. The CEO reminisced about the good old days when the computer industry was still in its embryonic stage and start-up companies
were founded in family garages.
• emend V. correct; correct by a critic. The critic emended
the book by selecting the passages which he thought most
appropriate to the text.
emendation N. correction of errors; improvement. Please
initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
eminent ADJ. high; lofty. After his appointment to this eminent position, he seldom had time for his former friends.
emissary N. agent; messenger. The secretary of state was
sent as the president’s special emissary to the conference
on disarmament.
emollient N . soothing or softening remedy. The nurse
applied an emollient to the inflamed area. also ADJ.
empathy N. ability to identify with another’s feelings, ideas,
etc. What made Ann such a fine counselor was her empathy, her ability to put herself in her client’s place and feel his
emotions as if they were her own. empathize, V.
empirical ADJ . based on experience. He distrusted
hunches and intuitive flashes; he placed his reliance
entirely on empirical data.
V. imitate; rival. In a brief essay, describe a person
you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate.
■ emulate
enamored ADJ. in love. Narcissus became enamored of
his own beauty.
encipher V. encode; convert a message into code. One of
Bond’s first lessons was how to encipher the messages he
sent to Miss Moneypenny so that none of his other lady
friends could decipher them.
enclave N. territory enclosed within an alien land. The Vatican is an independent enclave in Italy.
encomium N . high praise; eulogy. Uneasy with the
encomiums expressed by his supporters, Tolkien felt
unworthy of such high praise.
encompass V . surround. A moat, or deep water-filled
trench, encompassed the castle, protecting it from attack.
encroachment N. gradual intrusion. The encroachment of
the factories upon the neighborhood lowered the value of
the real estate.
182 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 17 encumber-etymology
encumber V. burden. Some people encumber themselves
with too much luggage when they take short trips.
endearment N. fond statement. Your gifts and endearments cannot make me forget your earlier insolence.
endemic ADJ. prevailing among a specific group of people
or in a specific area or country. This disease is endemic in
this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it.
V. approve; support. Everyone waited to see which
one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor
would endorse. (secondary meaning) endorsement, N.
■ endorse
enduring ADJ . Iasting; surviving. Keats believed in the
enduring power of great art, which would outlast its creators’ brief lives.
energize V. invigorate; make forceful and active. Rather
than exhausting Maggie, dancing energized her.
enervate V. weaken. She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window would enervate her.
enfranchise V. to admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote). Although Blacks were enfranchised
shortly after the Civil War, women did not receive the right
to vote until 1920.
engage V. attract; hire; pledge oneself; confront. “Your
case has engaged my interest, my lord,” said Holmes. “You
may engage my services.”
engaging ADJ . charming; attractive. Everyone liked
Nancy’s pleasant manners and engaging personality.
engender V. cause; produce. To receive praise for real
accomplishments engenders self-confidence in a child.
engross V. occupy fully. John was so engrossed in his
studies that he did not hear his mother call.
V . increase; improve. You can enhance your
chances of being admitted to the college of your choice by
learning to write well; an excellent essay can enhance any
application.
■ enhance
N . puzzle; mystery. “What do women want?”
asked Dr. Sigmund Freud. Their behavior was an enigma to
him.
■ enigma
ensconce V. settle comfortably. Now that their children
were ensconced safely in the private school, the jet-setting
parents decided to leave for Europe.
ensemble N. group of (supporting) players; organic unity;
costume. As a dancer with the Oakland Ballet, Benjamin
enjoyed being part of the ensemble. Having acted with one
another for well over a decade, the cast members have
developed a true sense of ensemble: they work together
seamlessly. Mitzi wore a charming two-piece ensemble
designed by Donna Karan.
entail V. require; necessitate; involve. Building a collegelevel vocabulary will entail some work on your part.
enterprising ADJ. full of initiative. By coming up with fresh
ways to market the company’s products, Mike proved himself to be an enterprising businessman.
enthrall V. capture; enslave. From the moment he saw her
picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
entice V. Iure; attract; tempt. She always tried to entice her
baby brother into mischief.
entitlement N. right to claim something; right to benefits.
While Bill was entitled to use a company car while he
worked for the firm, the company’s lawyers questioned his
entitlement to the vehicle once he’d quit his job.
entity N. real being. As soon as the Charter was adopted,
the United Nations became an entity and had to be considered as a factor in world diplomacy.
entomology N. study of insects. Kent found entomology
the most annoying part of his biology course; studying
insects bugged him.
entourage N. group of attendants; retinue. Surrounded by
the members of his entourage, the mayor hurried into city
hall, shouting a brusque “No comment!” to the reporters lining the steps.
entrance V. put under a spell; carry away with emotion.
Shafts of sunlight on a wall could entrance her and leave
her spellbound.
entreat V. plead; ask earnestly. She entreated her father to
let her stay out till midnight.
enigmatic ADJ. obscure; puzzling. Many have sought to
fathom the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa.
entrepreneur N. businessman; contractor. Opponents of
our present tax program argue that it discourages entrepreneurs from trying new fields of business activity.
N. ill will; hatred. At Camp David, President Carter
labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented the
peaceful coexistence of Egypt and Israel.
enumerate V. Iist; mention one by one. Huck hung his
head in shame as Miss Watson enumerated his many flaws.
■ enmity
ennui N. boredom. The monotonous routine of hospital
life induced a feeling of ennui that made him moody and
irritable.
enormity N. hugeness (in a bad sense). He did not realize
the enormity of his crime until he saw what suffering he had
caused.
enrapture V. please intensely. The audience was enraptured by the freshness of the voices and the excellent
orchestration.
enunciate V. speak distinctly. Stop mumbling! How will
people understand you if you do not enunciate?
eon N. Iong period of time; an age. It has taken eons for
our civilization to develop.
ADJ . short-lived; fleeting. The mayfly is an
ephemeral creature: its adult life lasts little more than a day.
■ ephemeral
epic N. Iong heroic poem, or similar work of art. Kurosawa’s film Seven Samurai is an epic portraying the struggle of seven warriors to destroy a band of robbers. also ADJ.
Basic Word List 183
epicure N. connoisseur of food and drink. Epicures frequent this restaurant because it features exotic wines and
dishes. epicurean, ADJ.
equivocate V. lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth. No
matter how bad the news is, give it to us straight. Above all,
don’t equivocate.
epigram N. witty thought or saying, usually short. Poor
Richard’s epigrams made Benjamin Franklin famous.
erode V. eat away. The limestone was eroded by the dripping water until only a thin shell remained. erosion, N.
epilogue N. short speech at conclusion of dramatic work.
The audience was so disappointed in the play that many
did not remain to hear the epilogue.
erotic ADJ. arousing sexual desire; pertaining to sexual
love. Films with significant erotic content are rated R; pornographic films are rated X.
episodic ADJ. loosely connected; divided into incidents.
Though he tried to follow the plot of Gravity’s Rainbow, John
found the novel too episodic; he enjoyed individual passages, but had trouble following the work as a whole.
erratic ADJ. odd; unpredictable. Investors become anxious
when the stock market appears erratic.
epistolary ADJ. consisting of letters. Mark Harris’s Wake
Up, Stupid! is a modern epistolary novel that uses letters,
telegrams, and newspaper clippings to tell the hero’s story.
The movie You’ve Got Mail tells a story using e-mail; does
that make it an e-pistolary movie? epistle, N.
epitaph N. inscription in memory of a dead person. In his
will, he dictated the epitaph he wanted placed on his tombstone.
epithet N . word or phrase characteristically used to
describe a person or thing. So many kings of France were
named Charles that you could tell them apart only by their
epithets: Charles the Wise was someone far different from
Charles the Fat.
epitome N. perfect example or embodiment. Singing “I am
the very model of a modern Major-General,” in The Pirates
of Penzance, Major-General Stanley proclaimed himself the
epitome of an officer and a gentleman.
epoch N. period of time. The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
equable ADJ. tranquil; steady; uniform. After the hot summers and cold winters of New England, he found the climate of the West Indies equable and pleasant.
• equanimity
N . calmness of temperament; composure.
Even the inevitable strains of caring for an ailing mother did
not disturb Bea’s equanimity.
ADJ. mistaken; wrong. I thought my answer was
correct, but it was erroneous.
■ erroneous
ADJ. learned; scholarly. Unlike much scholarly writing, Huizinga’s prose was entertaining as well as erudite,
lively as well as learned.
■ erudite
escapade N . prank; flighty conduct. The headmaster
could not regard this latest escapade as a boyish joke and
expelled the young man.
escapism N . avoiding reality by diverting oneself with
amusements. Before you criticize her constant reading as
mere escapism , note how greatly her vocabulary has
improved since she began spending her days buried in
books.
eschew V. avoid. Hoping to present himself to his girlfriend
as a totally reformed character, he tried to eschew all the
vices, especially chewing tobacco and drinking bathtub gin.
ADJ. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few. The New Yorker short stories often include esoteric
allusions to obscure people and events: the implication is, if
you are in the in-crowd, you’ll get the reference; if you come
from Cleveland, you won’t.
■ esoteric
espionage N. spying. In order to maintain its power, the
government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every household.
espouse V . adopt; support. She was always ready to
espouse a worthy cause.
equestrian N. rider on horseback. These paths in the park
are reserved for equestrians and their steeds. also ADJ.
esteem V. respect; value. Jill esteemed Jack’s taste in
music, but she deplored his taste in clothes.
equilibrium N. balance. After the divorce, he needed some
time to regain his equilibrium.
estranged ADJ. separated; alienated. The estranged wife
sought a divorce. estrangement, N.
equine ADJ. resembling a horse. His long, bony face had
an equine look to it.
ethereal ADJ. light; heavenly; unusually refined. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the spirit Ariel is an ethereal creature, too airy and unearthly for our mortal world.
equinox N. period of equal days and nights; the beginning
of Spring and Autumn. The vernal equinox is usually
marked by heavy rainstorms.
• equitable
ADJ. fair; impartial. I am seeking an equitable
solution to this dispute, one that will be fair and acceptable
to both sides.
equity
all.
N. fairness; justice. Our courts guarantee equity to
■ equivocal
ADJ . ambiguous; intentionally misleading.
Rejecting the candidate’s equivocal comments on tax
reform, the reporters pressed him to state clearly where he
stood on the issue. equivocate, V.
ethnic ADJ. relating to races. Intolerance between ethnic
groups is deplorable and usually is based on lack of information.
ethos N. underlying character of a culture, group, etc.
Seeing how tenderly ordinary Spaniards treated her small
daughter made author Barbara Kingsolver aware of how
greatly children were valued in the Spanish ethos.
etymology N. study of word parts. A knowledge of etymology can help you on many English tests: if you know what
the roots and prefixes mean, you can determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
184 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 18 eulogy-faculty
N. expression of praise, often on the occasion of
someone’s death. Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at
Genny’s memorial service, Jeff sang a song he had written
in her honor.
■ eulogy
N. mild expression in place of an unpleasant
one. The expression “he passed away” is a euphemism for
“he died.”
■ euphemism
euphonious ADJ . pleasing in sound. Euphonious even
when spoken, the Italian language is particularly pleasing to
the ear when sung. euphony. N.
euphoria N. feeling of great happiness and well-being
(sometimes exaggerated). Delighted with her SAT scores,
sure that the university would accept her, Allison was filled
with euphoria. euphoric, ADJ.
• evanescent ADJ. fleeting; vanishing. Brandon’s satisfaction
in his new job was evanescent, for he immediately began to
notice its many drawbacks. evanescence, N.
evasive ADJ. not frank; eluding. Your evasive answers convinced the judge that you were withholding important evidence. evade, V.
evenhanded ADJ . impartial; fair. Do men and women
receive evenhanded treatment from their teachers, or, as
recent studies suggest, do teachers pay more attention to
male students than to females?
evince V. show clearly. When he tried to answer the questions, he evinced his ignorance of the subject matter.
evocative ADJ. tending to call up (emotions, memories).
Scent can be remarkably evocative : the aroma of pipe
tobacco evokes the memory of my father; a whiff of talcum
powder calls up images of my daughter as a child.
ewe N. female sheep. The flock of sheep was made up of
dozens of ewes, together with only a handful of rams.
V. worsen; embitter. The latest bombing exacerbated England’s already existing bitterness against the
IRA, causing the prime minister to break off the peace talks
abruptly.
■ exacerbate
exacting ADJ. extremely demanding. Cleaning the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel was an exacting task, one that
demanded extremely meticulous care on the part of the
restorers. exaction, N.
■ exalt
V. raise in rank or dignity; praise. The actor Alec
Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the
queen.
exasperate V. vex. Johnny often exasperates his mother
with his pranks.
exceptionable ADJ. objectionable. Do you find the punk
rock band Green Day a highly exceptionable, thoroughly
distasteful group, or do you think they are exceptionally talented performers?
• excerpt N. selected passage (written or musical). The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a
film. also V.
excise V. cut away; cut out. When you excise the dead
and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appear-
ance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit. excision. N.
exclaim V . cry out suddenly. “Watson! Behind you!”
Holmes exclaimed, seeing the assassin hurl himself on his
friend.
excoriate V. scold with biting harshness; strip the skin off.
Seeing the holes in Bill’s new pants, his mother furiously
excoriated him for ruining his good clothes. The tight,
starched collar chafed and excoriated his neck, rubbing it
raw.
exculpate V. clear from blame. He was exculpated of the
crime when the real criminal confessed.
execrable ADJ. very bad. The anecdote was in such execrable taste that it revolted the audience.
V. put into effect; carry out. The choreographer
wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette. (secondary meaning) execution, N.
■ execute
exegesis N. explanation; interpretation, especially of a biblical text. The minister based her sermon on her exegesis
of a difficult passage from the book of Job. exegetical, ADJ.
ADJ. serving as a model; outstanding. At commencement the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary
behavior as class president.
■ exemplary
V. serve as an example of; embody. For a generation of balletgoers, Rudolf Nureyev exemplified the ideal
of masculine grace.
■ exemplify
exempt ADJ. not subject to a duty, obligation. Because of
his flat feet, Foster was exempt from serving in the armed
forces. also V.
exertion N. effort; expenditure of much physical work. The
exertion spent in unscrewing the rusty bolt left her
exhausted.
ADJ. thorough; comprehensive. We have made
an exhaustive study of all published SAT tests and are
happy to share our research with you.
■ exhaustive
ADJ . invigorating and refreshing; cheering.
Though some of the hikers found tramping through the
snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold, crisp day
exhilarating.
■ exhilarating
exhort V. urge. The evangelist exhorted all the sinners in
his audience to repent. exhortation, N.
exhume V. dig out of the ground; remove from the grave.
Could evidence that might identify the serial killer have
been buried with his victim? To answer this question, the
police asked the authorities for permission to exhume the
victim’s body.
exigency N. urgent situation. In this exigency, we must
look for aid from our allies.
exodus N. departure. The exodus from the hot and stuffy
city was particularly noticeable on Friday evenings.
V. acquit; exculpate. The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their
client.
■ exonerate
Basic Word List 185
exorbitant ADJ. excessive. The people grumbled at his exorbitant prices but paid them because he had a monopoly.
exorcise V. drive out evil spirits. By incantation and prayer,
the medicine man sought to exorcise the evil spirits which
had taken possession of the young warrior.
exotic ADJ . not native; strange. Because of his exotic
headdress, he was followed in the streets by small children
who laughed at his strange appearance.
expansive ADJ. outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size. Mr. Fezziwig was in an expansive humor, cheerfully urging his guests to join in the
Christmas feast. Looking down on his expansive paunch,
he sighed: if his belly expanded any further, he’d need an
expansive waistline for his pants.
expatriate N. exile; someone who has withdrawn from his
native land. Henry James was an American expatriate who
settled in England.
ADJ . suitable; practical; politic. A pragmatic
politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather
than by what was ethical. expediency, N.
■ expedient
V. hasten. Because we are on a tight schedule,
we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our
order. The more expeditious your response is, the happier
we’ll be.
■ expedite
expenditure N. payment or expense; output. When you are
operating on an expense account, you must keep receipts
for all your expenditures. If you don’t save your receipts,
you won’t get repaid without the expenditure of a lot of
energy arguing with the firm’s accountants.
expertise N. specialized knowledge; expert skill. Although
she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was
hired for her particular expertise in computer programming.
expiate V. make amends for (a sin). Jean Valjean tried to
expiate his crimes by performing acts of charity.
expletive N . interjection; profane oath. The sergeant’s
remarks were filled with expletives that offended the new
recruits.
explicate V. explain; interpret; clarify. Harry Levin explicated James Joyce’s often bewildering novels with such
clarity that even Finnegan’s Wake seemed comprehensible
to his students.
ADJ. totally clear; definite; outspoken. Don’t just
hint around that you’re dissatisfied: be explicit about what’s
bugging you.
■ explicit
exploit N. deed or action, particularly a brave deed. Raoul
Wallenberg was noted for his exploits in rescuing Jews from
Hitler’s forces.
V. make use of, sometimes unjustly. Cesar Chavez
fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California.
exploitation, N. exploitative, ADJ.
■ exploit
open. Exposure to sun and wind had dried out her hair and
weathered her face. She looked so changed that she no
longer feared exposure as the notorious Irene Adler, onetime antagonist of Sherlock Holmes.
expropriate V. take possession of. He questioned the government’s right to expropriate his land to create a wildlife
preserve.
expunge V. cancel; remove. If you behave, I will expunge
this notation from your record.
expurgate V. clean; remove offensive parts of a book. The
editors felt that certain passages in the book had to be
expurgated before it could be used in the classroom.
extant ADJ. still in existence. Although the book is out of
print, some copies are still extant. Unfortunately, all of them
are in libraries or private collections; none are for sale.
extent N. degree; magnitude; scope. What is the extent of
the patient’s injuries? If they are not too extensive, we can
treat him on an outpatient basis.
extenuate V. weaken; mitigate. It is easier for us to extenuate our own shortcomings than those of others.
V. praise; glorify. The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Space Age.
■ extol
extort V. wring from; get money by threats, etc. The blackmailer extorted money from his victim.
extradition N . surrender of prisoner by one state to
another. The lawyers opposed the extradition of their client
on the grounds that for more than five years he had been a
model citizen.
ADJ . not essential; superfluous. No wonder
Ted can’t think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with
extraneous trivia, he can’t concentrate on the essentials.
■ extraneous
extrapolation N. projection; conjecture. Based on their
extrapolation from the results of the primaries on Super
Tuesday, the networks predicted that Bob Dole would be
the Republican candidate for the presidency. extrapolate, V.
V. free; disentangle. Icebreakers were needed to
extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed
them in.
■ extricate
extrinsic ADJ. external; not essential; extraneous. A critically acclaimed extrinsic feature of the Chrysler Building is
its ornate spire. The judge would not admit the testimony,
ruling that it was extrinsic to the matter at hand.
extrovert N. person interested mostly in external objects
and actions. A good salesman is usually an extrovert, who
likes to mingle with people.
extrude V. force or push out. Much pressure is required to
extrude these plastics.
N. overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm;
flamboyance; lavishness. I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy’s welcome. What an enthusiastic greeting!
■ exuberance
expository ADJ. explanatory; serving to explain. The manual that came with my VCR was no masterpiece of expository prose: its explanations were so garbled that I couldn’t
even figure out how to rewind a tape. exposition, N.
exude V. discharge; give forth. We get maple syrup from the
sap that exudes from the trees in early spring. exudation, N.
exposure N. risk, particularly of being exposed to disease
or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something
fabricate V. build; lie. If we fabricate the buildings in this
project out of standardized sections, we can reduce con-
exult
V. rejoice. We exulted when our team won the victory.
186 Build Your Vocabulary
struction costs considerably. Because of Jack’s tendency
to fabricate, Jill had trouble believing a word he said.
facade N. front (of building); superficial or false appearance.
The ornate facade of the church was often photographed by
tourists, who never bothered to walk around the building to
view its other sides. Susan seemed super-confident, but that
was just a facade she put on to hide her insecurity.
facet N. small plane surface (of a gem); a side. The stonecutter decided to improve the rough diamond by providing
it with several facets.
facetious ADJ. joking (often inappropriately); humorous. I’m
serious about this project; I don’t need any facetious, smartalecky cracks about do-gooder little rich girls.
facile ADJ. easily accomplished; ready or fluent; superficial. Words came easily to Jonathan: he was a facile
speaker and prided himself on being ready to make a
speech at a moment’s notice.
V. help bring about; make less difficult. Rest and
proper nourishment should facilitate the patient’s recovery.
■ facilitate
facsimile N. copy. Many museums sell facsimiles of the
works of art on display.
faction N. party; clique; dissension. The quarrels and bickering of the two small factions within the club disturbed the
majority of the members.
faculty N. mental or bodily powers; teaching staff. As he
grew old, Professor Twiggly feared he might lose his faculties and become unfit to teach. However, he had tenure:
whether or not he was in full possession of his faculties, the
school couldn’t kick him off the faculty.
Word List 19 fallacious-flinch
■ fallacious
ADJ. false; misleading. Paradoxically, fallacious
reasoning does not always yield erroneous results: even
though your logic may be faulty, the answer you get may
nevertheless be correct. fallacy, N.
fallible ADJ. Iiable to err. I know I am fallible, but I feel confident that I am right this time.
• fallow ADJ. plowed but not sowed; uncultivated. Farmers
have learned that it is advisable to permit land to lie fallow
every few years.
• falter V. hesitate. When told to dive off the high board, she
did not falter, but proceeded at once.
N. excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief
or cause. When Islamic fundamentalists demanded the
death of Salman Rushdie because his novel questioned
their faith, world opinion condemned them for their fanaticism.
■ fanaticism
fancy N. notion; whim; inclination. Martin took a fancy to
paint his toenails purple. Assuming he would outgrow such
fanciful behavior, his parents ignored his fancy feet. also ADJ.
fanfare N. call by bugles or trumpets. The exposition was
opened with a fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
farce N. broad comedy; mockery. Nothing went right; the
entire interview degenerated into a farce. farcical, ADJ.
ADJ. difficult to please; squeamish. Bobby was
such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if
his mother first cut off every scrap of crust.
■ fastidious
fatalism N. belief that events are determined by forces
beyond one’s control. With fatalism, he accepted the hardships that beset him. fatalistic, ADJ.
• fathom
V . comprehend; investigate. I find his motives
impossible to fathom; in fact, I’m totally clueless about what
goes on in his mind.
fatuous ADJ. foolish; inane. He is far too intelligent to utter
such fatuous remarks.
fauna N. animals of a period or region. The scientist could
visualize the fauna of the period by examining the skeletal
remains and the fossils.
fawning ADJ. courting favor by cringing and flattering. She
was constantly surrounded by a group of fawning admirers
who hoped to win some favor. fawn, V.
faze V . disconcert; dismay. No crisis could faze the
resourceful hotel manager.
ADJ. practical. Is it feasible to build a new stadium
for the Yankees on New York’s West Side? Without additional funding, the project is clearly unrealistic.
■ feasible
fecundity N. fertility; fruitfulness. The fecundity of his mind
is illustrated by the many vivid images in his poems.
feign V. pretend. Bobby feigned illness, hoping that his
mother would let him stay home from school.
feint N. trick; shift; sham blow. The boxer was fooled by
his opponent’s feint and dropped his guard. also V.
felicitous ADJ. apt; suitably expressed; well chosen. He was
famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to
serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet. felicity, N.
felicity N . happiness; appropriateness (of a remark,
choice, etc.). She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing
them great felicity in their wedded life.
fell ADJ. cruel; deadly. Newspaper reports of the SARS
epidemic told of the tragic spread of the fell disease.
• fell V. cut or knock down; bring down (with a missile). Crying “Timber!” Paul Bunyan felled the mighty redwood tree.
Robin Hood loosed his arrow and felled the king’s deer.
felon N. person convicted of a grave crime. A convicted
felon loses the right to vote.
feral ADJ. not domestic; wild. Abandoned by their owners,
dogs may revert to their feral state, roaming the woods in
packs.
Basic Word List 187
ferment N. agitation; commotion. With the breakup of the
Soviet Union, much of Eastern Europe was in a state of ferment.
ferret V. drive or hunt out of hiding. She ferreted out their
secret.
fervent ADJ. ardent; hot. She felt that the fervent praise
was excessive and somewhat undeserved.
fervid ADJ. ardent. Her fervid enthusiasm inspired all of us
to undertake the dangerous mission.
N. glowing ardor; intensity of feeling. At the protest
rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean
with equal fervor.
■ fervor
fester V. rankle; produce irritation or resentment. Joe’s
insult festered in Anne’s mind for days, and made her too
angry to speak to him.
festive ADJ. joyous; celebratory. Their wedding in the park
was a festive occasion.
fetid
ADJ. malodorous. The neglected wound became fetid.
fetter
V. shackle. The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
fiasco N. total failure. Tanya’s attempt to look sophisticated by taking up smoking was a fiasco: she lit the filter,
choked when she tried to inhale, and burned a hole in her
boyfriend’s couch.
fickle ADJ. changeable; faithless. As soon as Romeo saw
Juliet, he forgot all about his old girlfriend Rosaline. Was
Romeo fickle?
fictitious ADJ. imaginary. Although this book purports to be
a biography of George Washington, many of the incidents
are fictitious.
fidelity N . Ioyalty. Iago wickedly manipulates Othello,
arousing his jealousy and causing him to question his wife’s
fidelity.
figment N . invention; imaginary thing. Was he hearing
real voices in the night, or were they just a figment of his
imagination?
figurative ADJ. not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure
of speech. “To lose one’s marbles” is a figurative expression; if you’re told that Jack has lost his marbles, no one
expects you to rush out to buy him a replacement set.
figurine N. small ornamental statuette. In The Maltese Falcon, Sam Spade was hired to trace the missing figurine of a
black bird.
filament N. fine thread or fiber; threadlike structure within a
lightbulb. A ray of sunlight illuminated the filaments of the
spider web, turning the web into a net of gold.
filch
V. steal. The boys filched apples from the fruit stand.
filial ADJ. pertaining to a son or daughter. Many children
forget their filial obligations and disregard the wishes of
their parents.
filibuster V. to block legislation by making long speeches.
Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn’s political
goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote.
finale N. conclusion. It is not until we reach the finale of
this play that we can understand the author’s message.
finesse N. delicate skill. The finesse and adroitness with
which the surgeon wielded her scalpel impressed all the
observers in the operating room.
finicky ADJ. too particular; fussy. The little girl was finicky
about her food, leaving over anything that wasn’t to her
taste.
firebrand N. hothead: troublemaker. The police tried to
keep track of all the local firebrands when the President
came to town.
fissure N . crevice. The mountain climbers secured
footholds in tiny fissures in the rock.
• fitful
ADJ . spasmodic; intermittent. After several fitful
attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project
until he felt more energetic.
flabbergasted ADJ. astounded; astonished; overcome with
surprise. In the film Flubber, the hero invents a remarkable
substance whose amazing properties leave his coworkers
flabbergasted. flabbergast, V.
flaccid ADJ. flabby. His sedentary life had left him with flaccid muscles.
flag V. droop; grow feeble. When the opposing hockey
team scored its third goal only minutes into the first quarter,
the home team’s spirits flagged. flagging, ADJ.
ADJ. conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous.
The governor’s appointment of his brother-in-law to the
State Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state
laws against nepotism (favoritism based on kinship).
■ flagrant
flair N. talent. She has an uncanny flair for discovering
new artists before the public has become aware of their
existence.
flamboyant ADJ . ornate. Modern architecture has discarded the flamboyant trimming on buildings and emphasizes simplicity of line.
flaunt V. display ostentatiously. Mae West saw nothing
wrong with showing off her considerable physical charms,
saying, “Honey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it!”
fleck V. spot. Her cheeks, flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
fledgling ADJ. inexperienced. The folk dance club set up
an apprentice program to allow fledgling dance callers a
chance to polish their skills. also N.
fleece N. wool coat of a sheep. They shear sheep of their
fleece, which they then comb into separate strands of wool.
fleece V. rob; plunder. The tricksters fleeced him of his
inheritance.
flick N. Iight stroke as with a whip. The horse needed no
encouragement; one flick of the whip was all the jockey had
to apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
flinch V. hesitate, shrink. He did not flinch in the face of
danger but fought back bravely.
188 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 20 flippant-gaffe
flippant ADJ. lacking proper seriousness. When Mark told
Mona he loved her, she dismissed his earnest declaration
with a flippant “Oh, you say that to all the girls!” flippancy, N.
flit V. fly; dart lightly; pass swiftly by. Like a bee flitting from
flower to flower, Rose flitted from one boyfriend to the next.
floe N. mass of floating ice. The ship made slow progress
as it battered its way through the ice floes.
•
flora N . plants of a region or era. Because she was a
botanist, she spent most of her time studying the flora of the
desert.
florid ADJ. ruddy; reddish; flowery. If you go to Florida and
get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid. If your postcards about the trip praise Florida in flowery words, your
prose sounds florid.
flounder V. struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or
falter. Up to his knees in the bog, Floyd floundered about,
trying to regain his footing. Bewildered by the new software,
Flo floundered until Jan showed her how to get started.
flourish V. grow well; prosper; decorate with ornaments.
The orange trees flourished in the sun.
fop N . dandy; man excessively concerned with his
clothes. People who dismissed young Mizrahi as a fop felt
chagrined when he turned into one of the top fashion
designers of his day. foppish, ADJ.
forbearance N. patience. Be patient with John. Treat him
with forbearance: he is still weak from his illness.
ford N. place where a river can be crossed on foot. Rather
than risk using the shaky rope bridge, David walked a halfmile downstream until he came to the nearest ford. also V.
forebears N. ancestors. Reverence for one’s forebears
(sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an
important part in many Oriental cultures.
foreboding N. premonition of evil. Suspecting no conspiracies against him, Caesar gently ridiculed his wife’s forebodings about the Ides of March.
forensic ADJ. suitable to debate or courts of law. In her
best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury. forensics, N.
flout V. reject; mock. The headstrong youth flouted all
authority; he refused to be curbed.
foreshadow V. give an indication beforehand; portend; prefigure. In retrospect, political analysts realized that Yeltsin’s
defiance of the attempted coup foreshadowed his emergence as the dominant figure of the new Russian republic.
fluctuate V. waver; shift. The water pressure in our shower
fluctuates wildly; you start rinsing yourself off with a trickle, and,
two minutes later, a blast of water nearly knocks you down.
foresight N . ability to foresee future happenings; prudence. A wise investor, she had the foresight to buy land
just before the current real estate boom.
fluency N. smoothness of speech. He spoke French with
fluency and ease.
forestall V. prevent by taking action in advance. By setting
up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and
groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about
money in the event of a divorce.
fluke N. unlikely occurrence; stroke of fortune. When Douglas defeated Tyson for the heavyweight championship,
some sportscasters dismissed his victory as a fluke.
fluster V. confuse. The teacher’s sudden question flustered him and he stammered his reply.
flux N. flowing; series of changes. While conditions are in
such a state of flux, I do not wish to commit myself too
deeply in this affair.
fodder N . coarse food for cattle, horses, etc. One of
Nancy’s chores at the ranch was to put fresh supplies of
fodder in the horses’ stalls.
foible N . weakness; slight fault. We can overlook the
foibles of our friends; no one is perfect.
foil N. contrast. In Star Wars, dark, evil Darth Vader is a
perfect foil for fair-haired, naive Luke Skywalker.
forgo V. give up; do without. Determined to lose weight for
the summer, Ida decided to forgo dessert until she could fit
into a size eight again.
forlorn ADJ. sad and lonely; wretched. Deserted by her big
sisters and her friends, the forlorn child sat sadly on the
steps awaiting their return.
formality N. ceremonious quality; something done just for
form’s sake. The president received the visiting heads of
state with due formality : flags waving, honor guards standing at attention, anthems sounding at full blast. Signing this
petition is a mere formality ; it does not obligate you in any
way.
foil V. defeat; frustrate. In the end, Skywalker is able to foil
Vader’s diabolical schemes.
formidable ADJ. inspiring fear or apprehension; difficult;
awe-inspiring. In the film Meet the Parents, the hero is
understandably nervous around his fiancee’s father, a formidable CIA agent.
foliage N . masses of leaves. Every autumn before the
leaves fell he promised himself he would drive through New
England to admire the colorful fall foliage.
forsake V. desert; abandon; renounce. No one expected
Foster to forsake his wife and children and run off with
another woman.
foment V. stir up; instigate. Cheryl’s archenemy Heather
spread some nasty rumors that fomented trouble in the club.
Do you think Cheryl’s foe meant to foment such discord?
forswear V . renounce; abandon. The captured knight
could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith.
experienced people before undertaking this venture.
forte N. strong point or special talent. I am not eager to
play this rather serious role, for my forte is comedy.
• foolhardy ADJ. rash. Don’t be foolhardy. Get the advice of
Basic Word List 189
forthright ADJ. outspoken; straightforward; frank. Never
afraid to call a spade a spade, she was perhaps too forthright to be a successful party politician.
friction N. clash in opinion; rubbing against. At this time
when harmony is essential, we cannot afford to have any
friction in our group.
fortitude N. bravery; courage. He was awarded the medal
for his fortitude in the battle.
frigid
fortuitous ADJ. accidental; by chance. Though he pretended their encounter was fortuitous, he’d actually been
hanging around her usual haunts for the past two weeks,
hoping she’d turn up.
forum N. place of assembly to discuss public concerns;
meeting for discussion. The film opens with a shot of the
ancient Forum in Rome, where several senators are discussing the strange new sect known as Christians. At the
end of the movie, its director presided over a forum examining new fashions in filmmaking.
foster V. rear; encourage. According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were fostered by a she-wolf who raised the
abandoned infants with her own cubs. also ADJ.
founder V . fail completely; sink. After hitting the submerged iceberg, the Titanic started taking in water rapidly
and soon foundered.
founder N. person who establishes (an organization, business). Among those drowned when the Titanic sank was
the founder of the Abraham & Straus department store.
fracas N. brawl, melee. The military police stopped the fracas in the bar and arrested the belligerents.
fractious ADJ. unruly; disobedient; irritable. Bucking and
kicking, the fractious horse unseated its rider.
frail ADJ. weak. The delicate child seemed too frail to lift
the heavy carton. frailty, N.
franchise N. right granted by authority; right to vote; business licensed to sell a product in a particular territory. The
city issued a franchise to the company to operate surface
transit lines on the streets for ninety-nine years. For most of
American history women lacked the right to vote: not until the
early twentieth century was the franchise granted to women.
Stan owns a Carvel’s ice cream franchise in Chinatown.
frantic ADJ. wild. At the time of the collision, many people
became frantic with fear.
fraternize V. associate in a friendly way. After the game,
the members of the two teams fraternized as cheerfully as if
they had never been rivals.
fraudulent ADJ. cheating; deceitful. The government seeks
to prevent fraudulent and misleading advertising.
fraught ADJ. filled. Since this enterprise is fraught with danger,
I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
fray N. brawl. The three musketeers were in the thick of
the fray.
frenetic ADJ. frenzied; frantic. His frenetic activities convinced us that he had no organized plan of operation.
frenzied ADJ . madly excited. As soon as they smelled
smoke, the frenzied animals milled about in their cages.
fresco N. painting on plaster (usually fresh). The cathedral
is visited by many tourists who wish to admire the frescoes
by Giotto.
fret V. to be annoyed or vexed. To fret over your poor
grades is foolish; instead, decide to work harder in the future.
ADJ. intensely cold. Alaska is in the frigid zone.
■ frivolous
ADJ. lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant. Though Nancy enjoyed Bill’s
frivolous, lighthearted companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious. frivolity, N.
frolicsome ADJ. prankish; gay. The frolicsome puppy tried
to lick the face of its master.
frond N. fern leaf; palm or banana leaf. After the storm the
beach was littered with the fronds of palm trees.
■ frugality N. thrift; economy. In economically hard times,
anyone who doesn’t learn to practice frugality risks bankruptcy. frugal, ADJ.
fruition N. bearing of fruit; fulfillment; realization. After years
of saving and scrimping, her dream of owning her own
home finally came to fruition.
frustrate V. thwart; defeat. Constant partisan bickering
frustrated the governor’s efforts to convince the legislature
to approve his proposed budget.
fugitive ADJ. fleeting or transitory; roving. The film brought
a few fugitive images to her mind, but on the whole it made
no lasting impression upon her.
fulcrum N. support on which a lever rests. If we use this
stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be
able to move this boulder.
fulsome ADJ. disgustingly excessive. Disgusted by her
fans’ fulsome admiration, the movie star retreated from the
public, crying, “I want to be alone!”
fundamental V. basic; primary; essential. The committee
discussed all sorts of side issues without ever getting down
to addressing the fundamental problem.
furlough N. leave of absence; vacation granted a soldier
or civil servant. Dreaming of her loved ones back in the
States, the young soldier could hardly wait for her upcoming furlough.
furor N. frenzy; great excitement. The story of her embezzlement of the funds created a furor on the Stock Exchange.
ADJ. stealthy; sneaky. Noticing the furtive glance
the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter,
the jeweler wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter
on his hands.
■ furtive
fusion N. union; blending; synthesis. So-called rockabilly
music represents a fusion of country music and blues that
became rock and roll.
futile ADJ. useless; hopeless; ineffectual. It is futile for me
to try to get any work done around here while the telephone
is ringing every thirty seconds. futility, N.
gadfly N. animal-biting fly; an irritating person. Like a gadfly, he irritated all the guests at the hotel; within forty-eight
hours, everyone regarded him as an annoying busybody.
gaffe N. social blunder. According to Miss Manners, to call
your husband by your lover’s name is worse than a mere
gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
190 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 21 gainsay-gory
gainsay V. deny. Even though it reflected badly upon him,
he was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report.
gait N. manner of walking or running; speed. The lame
man walked with an uneven gait.
galaxy N. large, isolated system of stars, such as the Milky
Way; any collection of brilliant personalities. Science fiction
stories speculate about the possible existence of life in
other galaxies. The deaths of such famous actors as John
Candy and George Burns tells us that the galaxy of Hollywood superstars is rapidly disappearing.
gale N . windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst
(laughter, tears). The Weather Channel warned viewers
about a rising gale, with winds of up to sixty miles per hour.
gall N. bitterness; nerve. The knowledge of his failure filled
him with gall.
gall
V. annoy; chafe. Their taunts galled him.
galleon N. Iarge sailing ship. The Spaniards pinned their
hopes on the galleon, the large warship; the British, on the
smaller and faster pinnace.
galvanize V. stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalize. News
that the prince was almost at their door galvanized the ugly
stepsisters into a frenzy of combing and primping.
gambit N. opening in chess in which a piece is sacrificed.
The player was afraid to accept his opponent’s gambit
because he feared a trap which as yet he could not see.
gambol V. skip; leap playfully. Watching the children gambol in the park, Betty marveled at their youthful energy and
spirit.
gamely ADV. bravely; with spirit. Because he had fought
gamely against a much superior boxer, the crowd gave him
a standing ovation when he left the arena.
gamut N. entire range. In a classic put-down of actress
Katharine Hepburn, the critic Dorothy Parker wrote that the
actress ran the gamut of emotion from A to B.
gape V. open widely; stare open-mouthed. The huge pit
gaped before him; if he stumbled, he would fall in. Slackjawed in wonder, Huck gaped at the huge stalactites hanging down from the ceiling of the limestone cavern.
garbled ADJ. mixed up; jumbled; distorted. A favorite party
game involves passing a whispered message from one person to another until, by the time it reaches the last player,
the message is totally garbled.
gargantuan A D J . huge; enormous. The gargantuan
wrestler was terrified of mice.
garish ADJ. over-bright in color; gaudy. She wore a gaudy
rhinestone necklace with an excessively garish gold lamé
dress.
garner V . gather; store up. In her long career as an
actress, Katharine Hepburn garnered many awards, including the coveted Oscar.
garnish V. decorate. The chef garnished the boiled potatoes with a sprinkling of parsley. also N.
■ garrulous
ADJ . loquacious; wordy; talkative. My Uncle
Henry is the most garrulous person in Cayuga County: he
can outtalk anyone I know. garrulity, N.
gauche ADJ. clumsy; coarse and uncouth. Compared to
the sophisticated young ladies in their elegant gowns,
tomboyish Jo felt gauche and out of place.
gaudy ADJ. flashy; showy. The newest Trump skyscraper
is typically gaudy, covered in gilded panels that gleam in
the sun.
gaunt ADJ. Iean and angular; barren. His once round face
looked surprisingly gaunt after he had lost weight.
gavel N. hammerlike tool; mallet. “Sold!” cried the auctioneer, banging her gavel on the table to indicate she’d
accepted the final bid.
gawk V. stare foolishly; look in open-mouthed awe. The
country boy gawked at the skyscrapers and neon lights of
the big city.
genealogy N. record of descent; lineage. He was proud of
his genealogy and constantly referred to the achievements
of his ancestors.
generality N. vague statement. This report is filled with
generalities; be more specific in your statements.
generate V. cause; produce; create. In his first days in
office, President Clinton managed to generate a new
mood of optimism; we just hoped he could generate some
new jobs.
generic ADJ. characteristic of an entire class or species.
Sue knew so many computer programmers who spent their
spare time playing fantasy games that she began to think
that playing Dungeons & Dragons was a generic trait.
genesis N. beginning; origin. Tracing the genesis of a family is the theme of Roots.
geniality N . cheerfulness; kindliness; sympathy. This
restaurant is famous and popular because of the geniality
of the proprietor who tries to make everyone happy.
genre N. particular variety of art or literature. Both a short
story writer and a poet, Langston Hughes proved himself
equally skilled in either genre.
genteel ADJ. well-bred; elegant. We are looking for a man
with a genteel appearance who can inspire confidence by
his cultivated manner.
gentility N. those of gentle birth; refinement. Her family
was proud of its gentility and elegance.
gentry N. people of standing; class of people just below
nobility. The local gentry did not welcome the visits of the
summer tourists and tried to ignore their presence in the
community.
germane ADJ. pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand.
The judge refused to allow the testimony to be heard by the
jury because it was not germane to the case.
germinal ADJ. pertaining to a germ; creative. Such an idea
is germinal; I am certain that it will influence thinkers and
philosophers for many generations.
germinate V. cause to sprout; sprout. After the seeds germinate and develop their permanent leaves, the plants may
be removed from the cold frames and transplanted to the
garden.
Basic Word List 191
gesticulation N. motion; gesture. We were still too far off to
make out what Mother was shouting, but from her animated
gesticulations we could tell she wanted us to hurry home
instantly.
gloat V. express evil satisfaction; view malevolently. As
you gloat over your ill-gotten wealth, do you think of the
many victims you have defrauded?
ADJ. horrible. The murdered man was a ghastly
glossary N. brief explanation of words used in the text. I
have found the glossary in this book very useful; it has eliminated many trips to the dictionary.
gibberish N. nonsense; babbling. Did you hear that fool
boy spouting gibberish about monsters from outer space?
gibber, V.
gloss over V. explain away. No matter how hard he tried to
talk around the issue, President Bush could not gloss over
the fact that he had raised taxes after all.
gibe V. mock; taunt; scoff at. The ugly stepsisters constantly gibed at Cinderella, taunting her about her ragged
clothes.
glossy ADJ. smooth and shining. I want this photograph
printed on glossy paper, not matte.
gingerly ADV. very carefully. To separate egg whites, first
crack the egg gingerly.
glut V. overstock; fill to excess. The many manufacturers
glutted the market and could not find purchasers for the
excess articles they had produced. also N.
ghastly
sight.
girth N. distance around something; circumference. It took
an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew
Carnegie’s considerable girth.
gist N. essence. She was asked to give the gist of the
essay in two sentences.
• glacial ADJ. Iike a glacier; extremely cold. Never a warm
person, when offended John could seem positively glacial.
glaring ADJ. highly conspicuous; harshly bright. Glaring
spelling or grammatical errors in your resumé will unfavorably impress potential employers.
glower
V. scowl. The angry boy glowered at his father.
N. someone who eats too much. When Mother saw
that Bobby had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little
glutton. gluttonous, ADJ.
■ glutton
gnarled ADJ. twisted. The weather-beaten old sailor was as
gnarled and bent as an old oak tree.
gnome N. dwarf; underground spirit. In medieval mythology, gnomes were the special guardians and inhabitants of
subterranean mines.
glaze V. cover with a thin and shiny surface. The freezing
rain glazed the streets and made driving hazardous. also N.
goad V. urge on; spur; incite. Mother was afraid that Ben’s
wild friends would goad him into doing something that
would get him into trouble with the law. also N.
glib ADJ. fluent; facile; slick. Keeping up a steady patter to
entertain his customers, the kitchen gadget salesman was a
glib speaker, never at a loss for a word.
gorge N. small, steep-walled canyon. The white-water rafting guide warned us about the rapids farther downstream,
where the river cut through a narrow gorge.
glimmer V. shine erratically; twinkle. In the darkness of the
cavern, the glowworms hanging from the cavern roof glimmered like distant stars.
gorge V. stuff oneself. The gluttonous guest gorged himself with food as though he had not eaten for days.
gory ADJ. bloody. The audience shuddered as they listened to the details of the gory massacre.
Word List 22 gouge-hiatus
gouge V. tear out. In that fight, all the rules were forgotten;
the adversaries bit, kicked, and tried to gouge each other’s
eyes out.
gourmand N. epicure; person who takes excessive pleasure in food and drink. Gourmands lack self-restraint; if they
enjoy a particular cuisine, they eat far too much of it.
gourmet N. connoisseur of food and drink. The gourmet
stated that this was the best onion soup she had ever
tasted.
graduated ADJ. arranged by degrees (of height, difficulty,
etc.). Margaret loved her graduated set of Russian hollow
wooden dolls; she spent hours happily putting the smaller
dolls into their larger counterparts.
graft N . piece of transplanted tissue; portion of plant
inserted in another plant. After the fire, Greg required skin
grafts to replace the badly damaged areas on his forearms.
also V.
grandeur N. impressiveness; stateliness; majesty. No matter how often he hiked through the mountains, David never
failed to be struck by the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada
range.
grandiloquent ADJ . pompous; bombastic; using highsounding language. The politician could never speak simply; she was always grandiloquent.
grandiose ADJ. pretentious; high-flown; ridiculously exaggerated; impressive. The aged matinee idol still had
grandiose notions of his supposed importance in the theatrical world.
granulate V. form into grains. Sugar that has been granulated dissolves more readily than lump sugar. granule, N.
graphic ADJ. pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly
described. The description of the winter storm was so
graphic that you could almost feel the hailstones.
grapple V. wrestle; come to grips with. He grappled with
the burglar and overpowered him.
192 Build Your Vocabulary
grate V. make a harsh noise; have an unpleasant effect;
shred. The screams of the quarreling children grated on her
nerves.
V. please. Lori’s parents were gratified by her suc-
■ gratify
cessful performance on the SAT.
gratis ADJ. free. The company offered to give one package
gratis to every purchaser of one of their products. also ADJ.
ADJ . given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for.
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving; no one
asked you for your opinion.
■ gratuitous
N. seriousness. We could tell we were in serious
trouble from the gravity of the principal’s expression. (secondary meaning) grave, ADJ.
■ gravity
ADJ. sociable. Typically, partygoers are gregarious; hermits are not.
■ gregarious
grievance N. cause of complaint. When her supervisor
ignored her complaint, she took her grievance to the union.
grill V. question severely. In violation of the Miranda law,
the police grilled the suspect for several hours before reading him his rights. (secondary meaning)
grimace N. a facial distortion to show feeling such as pain,
disgust, etc. Even though he remained silent, his grimace
indicated his displeasure. also V.
grisly
ADJ. ghastly. She shuddered at the grisly sight.
guileless ADJ. without deceit. He is naive, simple, and
guileless; he cannot be guilty of fraud.
guise N. appearance; costume. In the guise of a plumber,
the detective investigated the murder case.
ADJ. easily deceived. Overly gullible people have
only themselves to blame if they fall for con artists repeatedly. As the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.”
■ gullible
gustatory ADJ . affecting the sense of taste. The Thai
restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for
those used to a bland cuisine.
gusto N. enjoyment; enthusiasm. He accepted the assignment with such gusto that I feel he would have been satisfied with a smaller salary.
gusty
ADJ. windy. The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
• hackneyed
ADJ. commonplace; trite. When the reviewer
criticized the movie for its hackneyed plot, we agreed; we
had seen similar stories hundreds of times before.
haggard ADJ. wasted away; gaunt. After his long illness,
he was pale and haggard.
haggle V. argue about prices. I prefer to shop in a store
that has a one-price policy because, whenever I haggle
with a shopkeeper, I am never certain that I paid a fair price
for the articles I purchased.
grouse V. complain; fuss. Students traditionally grouse
about the abysmal quality of “mystery meat” and similar
dormitory food.
hallowed ADJ. blessed; consecrated. Although the dead
girl’s parents had never been active churchgoers, they
insisted that their daughter be buried in hallowed ground.
grotesque ADJ. fantastic; comically hideous. On Halloween
people enjoy wearing grotesque costumes.
hallucination N. delusion. I think you were frightened by a
hallucination you created in your own mind.
grove N. group of trees (smaller than a forest); orchard. To
the child, the small grove of oaks was as vast as Sherwood
Forest, in which he played that legendary hero, Robin Hood.
halting ADJ. hesitant; faltering. Novice extemporaneous
speakers often talk in a halting fashion as they grope for the
right words.
grovel V. crawl or creep on ground; remain prostrate. Mr.
Wickfield was never harsh to his employees; he could not
understand why Uriah would always cringe and grovel as if
he expected a beating.
grudging ADJ. unwilling; reluctant; stingy. We received only
grudging support from the mayor despite his earlier
promises of aid.
gruel V. Iiquid food made by boiling oatmeal, etc., in milk
or water. Our daily allotment of gruel made the meal not
only monotonous but also unpalatable.
grueling
ADJ. exhausting. The marathon is a grueling race.
gruesome ADJ. grisly; horrible. His face was the stuff of
nightmares: all the children in the audience screamed when
Freddy Kruger’s gruesome countenance was flashed on the
screen.
gruff ADJ. rough-mannered. Although he was blunt and
gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
guffaw N. boisterous laughter. The loud guffaws that came
from the closed room indicated that the members of the committee had not yet settled down to serious business. also V.
N . deceit; duplicity; wiliness; cunning. Iago uses
considerable guile to trick Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
■ guile
V. obstruct. The new mother didn’t realize how
much the effort of caring for an infant would hamper her
ability to keep an immaculate house.
■ hamper
haphazard ADJ. random; unsystematic; aimless. In place
of a systematic family policy, America has a haphazard
patchwork of institutions and programs created in response
to immediate crises.
harangue N. noisy speech. In her lengthy harangue, the
principal berated the offenders. also V.
harass V. to annoy by repeated attacks. When he could
not pay his bills as quickly as he had promised, he was
harassed by his creditors.
harbinger
of spring.
N. forerunner. The crocus is an early harbinger
harbor V. provide a refuge for; hide. The church harbored
illegal aliens who were political refugees.
ADJ . sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement
weather. We asked the gardening expert to recommend
particularly hardy plants that could withstand our harsh
New England winters.
■ hardy
harrowing ADJ. agonizing; distressing; traumatic. At first
the former prisoner did not wish to discuss his harrowing
months of captivity as a political hostage.
Basic Word List 193
N. pride; arrogance. When she realized that
Darcy believed himself too good to dance with his inferiors,
Elizabeth took great offense at his haughtiness.
■ haughtiness
hazardous ADJ. dangerous. Your occupation is too hazardous for insurance companies to consider your application.
hazy ADJ. slightly obscure. In hazy weather, you cannot
see the top of this mountain.
headlong ADJ. hasty; rash. The slave seized the unexpected chance to make a headlong dash across the border
to freedom.
headstrong ADJ. stubborn; willful; unyielding. Because she
refused to marry the man her parents had chosen for her,
everyone scolded Minna and called her a foolish, headstrong girl.
heckler N. person who harasses others. The heckler kept
interrupting the speaker with rude remarks. heckle, V.
■ hedonist
N. one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim
in life. A thoroughgoing hedonist, he considered only his
own pleasure and ignored any claims others had on his
money or time.
heed V. pay attention to; consider. We hope you heed our
advice and get a good night’s sleep before the test. also N.
heedless ADJ. not noticing; disregarding. He drove on,
heedless of the danger warnings placed at the side of the
road.
heinous ADJ . atrocious; hatefully bad. Hitler’s heinous
crimes will never be forgotten.
herbivorous ADJ. grain-eating. Some herbivorous animals
have two stomachs for digesting their food.
N. opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion. Galileo’s assertion that the earth
moved around the sun directly contradicted the religious
teachings of his day; as a result, he was tried for heresy.
heretic, N.
■ heresy
hermetic ADJ. sealed by fusion so as to be airtight. After
you sterilize the bandages, place them in a container and
seal it with a hermetic seal to protect them from contamination by airborne bacteria.
hermitage N. home of a hermit. Even in his remote hermitage he could not escape completely from the world.
heterodox ADJ. unorthodox; unconventional. To those who
upheld the belief that the earth did not move, Galileo’s theory that the earth circled the sun was disturbingly heterodox.
heterogeneous ADJ. dissimilar; mixed. This year’s entering
class is a remarkably heterogeneous body: it includes students from forty different states and twenty-six foreign
countries, some the children of billionaires, others the offspring of welfare families. heterogeneity, N.
heyday N. time of greatest success; prime. In their heyday, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won the Super Bowl
two years running.
hiatus N. gap; interruption in duration or continuity; pause.
During the summer hiatus , many students try to
earn enough money to pay their tuition for the next school
year.
Word List 23 hibernal-imbibe
hibernal ADJ. wintry. Bears prepare for their long hibernal
sleep by overeating.
hibernate V. sleep throughout the winter. Bears are one of
the many species of animals that hibernate. hibernation, N.
■ hierarchy
N. arrangement by rank or standing; authoritar-
ian body divided into ranks. To be low man on the totem
pole is to have an inferior place in the hierarchy.
hilarity N. boisterous mirth. No longer able to contain their
hilarity , they broke into great guffaws and whoops of
laughter.
hindrance N. block; obstacle. Stalled cars along the highway are a hindrance to traffic that tow trucks should remove
without delay. hinder, V.
histrionic ADJ. theatrical. He was proud of his histrionic
ability and wanted to play the role of Hamlet. histrionics, N.
hoard V. stockpile; accumulate for future use. Whenever
there are rumors of a food shortage, many people are
tempted to hoard food. also N.
hoary ADJ. white with age. Old Father Time was hoary and
wrinkled with age.
hoax N. trick; deception; fraud. In the case of Piltdown man,
a scientific forgery managed to fool the experts for nearly half
a century, when the hoax was finally unmasked. also V.
hodgepodge N. jumble; mixture of ill-suited elements. The
reviewer roundly condemned the play as a hodgepodge of
random and purposeless encounters carried out by a cast
lacking any uniformity of accent or style.
holster N. pistol case. Even when he was not in uniform,
he carried a holster and pistol under his arm.
homage N. honor; tribute. In her speech she tried to pay
homage to a great man.
ADJ. of the same kind. Because the student
body at Elite Prep was so homogeneous, Sara and James
decided to send their daughter to a school that offered
greater cultural diversity. homogenize, V.
■ homogeneous
hone V. sharpen. To make shaving easier, he honed his
razor with great care.
hoodwink V. deceive; delude. Having been hoodwinked
once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car.
horde N. crowd. Just before Christmas the stores are filled
with hordes of shoppers.
horticultural ADJ . pertaining to cultivation of gardens.
When he bought his house, he began to look for flowers
and decorative shrubs, and began to read books dealing
with horticultural matters.
194 Build Your Vocabulary
host N. great number; person entertaining guests; animal
or plant from which a parasite gets its nourishment. You
must attend to a host of details if you wish to succeed as
host of a formal dinner party. Leeches are parasites that
cling to their hosts and drink their hosts’ blood.
Remember, this is only a hypothetical situation. hypothesis, N.
hostility N. unfriendliness; hatred. A child who has been
the sole object of his parents’ affection often feels hostility
toward a new baby in the family, resenting the newcomer
who has taken his place.
icon N. religious image; idol. The icons on the walls of the
church were painted in the 13th century.
hovel N. shack; small, wretched house. He wondered how
poor people could stand living in such a hovel.
hover V. hang about; wait nearby. The police helicopter
hovered above the accident.
hue N. color; aspect. The aviary contained birds of every
possible hue.
hulking ADJ. massive; bulky; great in size. Despite his
hulking build, the heavyweight boxing champion was surprisingly light on his feet. hulk, N.
humane ADJ. marked by kindness or consideration. It is
ironic that the Humane Society sometimes must show its
compassion toward mistreated animals by killing them to
put them out of their misery.
humdrum ADJ. dull; monotonous. After his years of adventure, he could not settle down to a humdrum existence.
ichthyology N . study of fish. Jacques Cousteau’s programs about sea life have advanced the cause of ichthyology.
• iconoclastic
ADJ. attacking cherished traditions. Deeply
iconoclastic, Jean Genet deliberately set out to shock conventional theatergoers with his radical plays.
ideology N. system of ideas of a group. For people who
had grown up believing in the communist ideology, it was
hard to adjust to capitalism.
idiom N. expression whose meaning as a whole differs
from the meanings of its individual words; distinctive style.
The phrase “to lose one’s marbles” is an idiom: if I say that
Joe’s lost his marbles, I’m not asking you to find some for
him. I’m telling you idiomatically that he’s crazy.
N . individual trait, usually odd in nature;
eccentricity. One of Richard Nixon’s little idiosyncrasies was
his liking for ketchup on cottage cheese. One of Hannibal
Lecter’s little idiosyncrasies was his liking for human flesh.
idiosyncratic, ADJ.
■ idiosyncrasy
humid ADJ. damp. Oakland’s humid climate aggravated
Richard’s asthma, so he decided to move to a drier area.
idolatry N. worship of idols; excessive admiration. Such
idolatry of singers of country music is typical of the excessive enthusiasm of youth.
humility N. humbleness of spirit. Despite his fame as a Nobel
Prize winner, Bishop Tutu spoke with a humility and lack of
self-importance that immediately won over his listeners.
ignite V. kindle; light. When Desi crooned, “Baby, light my
fire,” literal-minded Lucy looked around for some paper to
ignite.
V. crash; rush. The runaway train hurtled toward dis-
ignoble ADJ. unworthy; base in nature; not noble. Sir Galahad was so pure in heart that he could never stoop to perform an ignoble deed.
hurtle
aster.
husband V. use sparingly; conserve; save. Marathon runners must husband their energy so that they can keep
going for the entire distance.
• ignominy N. deep disgrace; shame or dishonor. To lose
hybrid N . mongrel; mixed breed. Mendel’s formula
explains the appearance of hybrids and pure species in
breeding. also ADJ.
• illicit ADJ. illegal. The defense attorney maintained that his
hydrophobia N. rabies; fear of water. A dog that bites a
human being must be observed for symptoms of hydrophobia.
illimitable ADJ . infinite. Man, having explored the far
corners of the earth, is now reaching out into illimitable
space.
hyperbole N. exaggeration; overstatement. As far as I’m
concerned, Apple’s claims about the new computer are
pure hyperbole: no machine is that good!
hypercritical ADJ. excessively exacting. You are hypercritical in your demands for perfection; we all make mistakes.
hypochondriac N. person unduly worried about his health;
worrier without cause about illness. The doctor prescribed
chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypochondriac.
ADJ. pretending to be virtuous; deceiving. It
was hypocritical of Martha to say nice things about my
poetry to me and then make fun of my verses behind my
back. hypocrisy, N.
■ hypocritical
ADJ. based on assumptions or hypotheses;
supposed. Suppose you are accepted by Harvard, Stanford, and Brown. Which one would you choose to attend?
■ hypothetical
the Ping-Pong match to a trained chimpanzee! How could
Rollo stand the ignominy of his defeat? ignominious, ADJ.
client had never performed any illicit action.
illuminate V. brighten; clear up or make understandable;
enlighten. Just as a lamp can illuminate a dark room, a perceptive comment can illuminate a knotty problem.
illusion N. misleading vision. It is easy to create an optical
illusion in which lines of equal length appear different.
ADJ. deceptive; not real. Unfortunately, the costs of
running the lemonade stand were so high that Tom’s profits
proved illusory.
■ illusory
imbalance N. lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion.
To correct racial imbalance in the schools, school boards
have bussed black children into white neighborhoods and
white children into black ones.
imbibe
V. drink in. The dry soil imbibed the rain quickly.
Basic Word List 195
Word List 24 immaculate-incessant
immaculate ADJ. spotless; flawless; absolutely clean. Ken
and Jessica were wonderful tenants and left the apartment
in immaculate condition when they moved out.
imminent ADJ. near at hand; impending. Rosa was such a
last-minute worker that she could never start writing a paper
till the deadline was imminent.
immobility N. state of being unable to move. Peter’s fear of
snakes shocked him into immobility; then the use of his
limbs returned to him, and he bolted from the room.
immune ADJ. resistant to; free or exempt from. Fortunately,
Florence had contracted chicken pox as a child and was
immune to it when her baby broke out in spots.
ADJ . unchangeable. All things change over
time; nothing is immutable.
■ immutable
■ impair
V. injure; hurt. Drinking alcohol can impair your abil-
ity to drive safely; if you’re going to drink, don’t drive.
impale V. pierce. He was impaled by the spear hurled by
his adversary.
impalpable ADJ. imperceptible; intangible. The ash is so
fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a
fine layer covering the window ledge.
impart V. reveal or tell; grant. Polly begged Grandma to
impart her recipe for rugeleh, but her grandmother wouldn’t
say a word.
impartial ADJ. not biased; fair. Knowing she could not be
impartial about her own child, Jo refused to judge any
match in which Billy was competing.
impassable ADJ. not able to be traveled or crossed. A
giant redwood had fallen across the highway, blocking all
four lanes: the road was impassable.
impasse N. predicament from which there is no escape;
deadlock. The negotiators reported they had reached an
impasse in their talks and had little hope of resolving the
deadlock swiftly.
impassive ADJ . without feeling; imperturbable; stoical.
Refusing to let the enemy see how deeply shaken he was
by his capture, the prisoner kept his face impassive.
impeach V. charge with crime in office; indict. The angry
congressman wanted to impeach the president for his misdeeds.
■ impeccable
ADJ. faultless. The uncrowned queen of the fash-
ion industry, Diana was acclaimed for her impeccable taste.
• impecunious
ADJ . without money. Though Scrooge
claimed he was too impecunious to give alms, he easily
could have afforded to be charitable.
V . hinder; block; delay. A series of accidents
impeded the launching of the space shuttle.
■ impede
impediment N . hindrance; stumbling-block. She had a
speech impediment that prevented her speaking clearly.
impel V. drive or force onward. A strong feeling of urgency
impelled her; if she failed to finish the project right then, she
knew that she would never get it done.
impenetrable ADJ . not able to be pierced or entered;
beyond understanding. How could the murderer have got-
ten into the locked room? To Watson, the mystery, like the
room, was impenetrable.
impending ADJ. nearing; approaching. The entire country
was saddened by the news of his impending death.
impenitent ADJ . not repentant. We could see from his
tough guy attitude that he was impenitent.
imperative ADJ. absolutely necessary; critically important.
It is imperative that you be extremely agreeable to GreatAunt Maud when she comes to tea: otherwise she might not
leave you that million dollars in her will. also N.
imperceptible ADJ . unnoticeable; undetectable. Fortunately, the stain on the blouse was imperceptible after the
blouse had gone through the wash.
imperial ADJ. Iike an emperor; related to an empire. When
hotel owner Leona Helmsley appeared in ads as Queen
Leona standing guard over the Palace Hotel, her critics
mocked her imperial fancies.
imperious ADJ. domineering; haughty. Jane rather liked a
man to be masterful, but Mr. Rochester seemed so bent on
getting his own way that he was actually imperious!
impermeable ADJ . impervious; not permitting passage
through its substance. Sue chose a raincoat made of GoreTex because the material is impermeable to liquids.
impertinent ADJ. insolent; rude. His neighbors’ impertinent
curiosity about his lack of dates angered Ted. It was downright rude of them to ask him such personal questions.
imperturbable ADJ. calm; placid; composed. In the midst
of the battle, the Duke of Wellington remained imperturbable and in full command of the situation despite the
hysteria and panic all around him. imperturbability, N.
impervious ADJ. impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed. The carpet salesman told Simone that
his most expensive brand of floor covering was warranted to
be impervious to ordinary wear and tear. Having read so
many negative reviews of his acting, the movie star had
learned to ignore them, and was now impervious to criticism.
impetuous ADJ. violent; hasty; rash. “Leap before you look”
was the motto suggested by one particularly impetuous
young man.
impetus N. incentive; stimulus; moving force. A new federal highway program would create jobs and give added
impetus to our economic recovery.
impiety N . irreverence; lack of respect for God. When
members of the youth group draped the church in toilet
paper one Halloween, the minister reprimanded them for
their impiety.
impinge V. infringe; touch; collide with. How could they be
married without impinging on one another’s freedom?
impious ADJ. irreverent. The congregation was offended
by her impious remarks.
implacable ADJ . incapable of being pacified. Madame
Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
ADJ. unlikely; unbelievable. Though her alibi
seemed implausible, it in fact turned out to be true.
■ implausible
196 Build Your Vocabulary
V. put into effect; supply with tools. The mayor
was unwilling to implement the plan until she was sure it
had the governor’s backing. also N.
■ implement
implicate V. incriminate; show to be involved. Here’s the
deal: if you agree to take the witness stand and implicate
your partners in crime, the prosecution will recommend that
the judge go easy in sentencing you.
implication N. something hinted at or suggested. When
Miss Watson said she hadn’t seen her purse since the last
time Jim was in the house, the implication was that she suspected Jim had taken it. imply, V.
implicit ADJ. understood but not stated. Jack never told Jill
he adored her; he believed his love was implicit in his actions.
implore
V. beg. He implored her to give him a second chance.
imply V. suggest a meaning not expressed; signify. When
Aunt Millie said, “My! That’s a big piece of pie, young man!”
was she implying that Bobby was being a glutton in helping
himself to such a huge piece?
imponderable ADJ. not able to be determined precisely.
Psychology is not a precise science; far too many imponderable factors play a part in determining human behavior.
import N. importance; meaning. To Miss Manners, proper
etiquette was a matter of great import. Because Tom knew
so little about medical matters, it took a while for the full
import of the doctor’s words to sink in.
importunate ADJ. urging; demanding. He tried to hide from
his importunate creditors until his allowance arrived.
importune V. beg persistently. Democratic and Republican phone solicitors importuned her for contributions so frequently that she decided to give nothing to either party.
impostor N. someone who assumes a false identity. “This
man is no doctor! He is a fraud!” cried Holmes, exposing
the impostor.
impotent ADJ. weak; ineffective. Although he wished to
break the nicotine habit, he found himself impotent to resist
the craving for a cigarette.
impoverished ADJ. poor. The loss of their farm left the family impoverished and without hope.
• impregnable ADJ. invulnerable. Until the development of
the airplane as a military weapon, the fort was considered
impregnable.
impromptu ADJ. without previous preparation; off the cuff;
on the spur of the moment. The judges were amazed that
she could make such a thorough, well-supported presentation in an impromptu speech.
impropriety N. improperness; unsuitableness. Because of
the impropriety of the punk rocker’s slashed T-shirt and
jeans, the management refused to admit him to the hotel’s
very formal dining room.
all the nerve! Young man, I should have you horse-whipped
for your impudence.”
impugn V. dispute or contradict (often in an insulting way);
challenge; gainsay. Our treasurer was furious when the
finance committee’s report impugned the accuracy of his
financial records and recommended that he should take
bonehead math.
impunity N . freedom from punishment or harm. A 98pound weakling can’t attack a beachfront bully with
impunity: the poor, puny guy is sure to get mashed.
imputation N. accusation; charge; reproach. Paradoxically, the guiltier he was of the offense with which he was
charged, the more he resented the imputation.
ADV . unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly. Judy’s great fear was that she might inadvertently
omit a question on the exam and mismark her whole
answer sheet.
■ inadvertently
inalienable ADJ. not to be taken away; nontransferable.
The Declaration of Independence asserts that all people
possess certain inalienable human rights that no powers on
earth can take away.
ADJ. silly; senseless. There’s no point to what you’re
saying. Why are you bothering to make such inane remarks?
■ inane
inanimate ADJ. Iifeless. She was asked to identify the still
and inanimate body.
inarticulate ADJ. speechless; producing indistinct speech.
He became inarticulate with rage and uttered sounds without meaning.
inaugurate V. start; initiate; install in office. The airline
decided to inaugurate its new route to the Far East with a
special reduced fare offer. inaugural, ADJ.
incandescent ADJ. strikingly bright; shining with intense
heat. If you leave on an incandescent light bulb, it quickly
grows too hot to touch.
incantation N. singing or chanting of magic spells; magical
formula. Uttering incantations to make the brew more
potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
incapacitate V. disable. During the winter, many people
were incapacitated by respiratory ailments.
incarcerate V. imprison. The civil rights workers were willing to be arrested and even incarcerated if by their imprisonment they could serve the cause.
incarnation N. act of assuming a human body and human
nature. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a basic tenet of
Christian theology.
incendiary N. arsonist. The fire spread in such an unusual
manner that the fire department chiefs were certain that it
had been set by an incendiary. also ADJ.
improvident ADJ . thriftless. He was constantly being
warned to mend his improvident ways and begin to “save
for a rainy day.” improvidence, N.
incense V. enrage; infuriate. Cruelty to defenseless animals incensed Kit: the very idea brought tears of anger to
her eyes.
improvise V. compose on the spur of the moment. She
would sit at the piano and improvise for hours on themes
from Bach and Handel.
incentive N. spur; motive. Mike’s strong desire to outshine
his big sister was all the incentive he needed to do well in
school.
imprudent ADJ. Iacking caution; injudicious. It is imprudent
to exercise vigorously and become overheated when you
are unwell.
inception N. start; beginning. She was involved with the
project from its inception.
N . impertinence; insolence. Kissed on the
cheek by a perfect stranger, Lady Catherine exclaimed, “Of
■ impudence
incessant ADJ. uninterrupted; unceasing. In a famous TV
commercial, the frogs’ incessant croaking goes on and on
until eventually it turns into a single word: “Bud-weis-er.”
Basic Word List 197
Word List 25 inchoate-ingenious
inchoate ADJ. recently begun; rudimentary; elementary.
Before the Creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
incidence N. rate of occurrence; particular occurrence.
Health professionals expressed great concern over the high
incidence of infant mortality in major urban areas.
• incidental ADJ. not essential; minor. The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.
incipient ADJ. beginning; in an early stage. I will go to
sleep early for I want to break an incipient cold.
ADJ. cutting; sharp. His incisive remarks made us
see the fallacy in our plans.
■ incisive
V. arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist. In
a fiery speech, Mario incited his fellow students to go out on
strike to protest the university’s anti-affirmative action stand.
■ incite
inclement ADJ. stormy; unkind. In inclement weather, I like
to curl up on the sofa with a good book and listen to the
storm blowing outside.
incline N. slope; slant. The architect recommended that
the nursing home’s ramp be rebuilt because its incline was
too steep for wheelchairs.
inclined ADJ. tending or leaning toward; bent. Though I am
inclined to be skeptical, the witness’s manner inclines me to
believe his story. also V.
ADJ. tending to include all. The comedian turned
down the invitation to join the Players’ Club, saying any club
that would let him in was too inclusive for him.
■ inclusive
incoherence N. unintelligibility; lack of logic or relevance.
“This essay makes no sense at all,” commented the
teacher, giving it an F because of its incoherence.
incompatible ADJ . inharmonious. The married couple
argued incessantly and finally decided to separate
because they were incompatible. incompatibility, N.
ADJ. not fitting; absurd. Dave saw nothing
incongruous about wearing sneakers with his tuxedo; he
couldn’t understand why his date took one look at him and
started to laugh. incongruity, N.
■ incongruous
ADJ. insignificant; unimportant. Brushing
off Ali’s apologies for having broken the wineglass, Tamara
said, “Don’t worry about it; it’s inconsequential.”
■ inconsequential
incorporate V. introduce something into a larger whole;
combine; unite. Breaking with precedent, President Truman
ordered the military to incorporate blacks into every branch
of the armed services. also ADJ.
incorporeal ADJ. lacking a material body; insubstantial.
While Casper the friendly ghost is an incorporeal being,
nevertheless he and his fellow ghosts make quite an impact
on the physical world.
ADJ. not correctable. Though Widow Douglass
hoped to reform Huck, Miss Watson called him incorrigible
and said he would come to no good end.
■ incorrigible
incredulous ADJ. withholding belief; skeptical. When Jack
claimed he hadn’t eaten the jelly doughnut, Jill took an
incredulous look at his smeared face and laughed.
incredulity, N.
increment N. increase. The new contract calls for a 10
percent increment in salary for each employee for the next
two years.
incriminate V. accuse. The evidence gathered against the
racketeers incriminates some high public officials as well.
incrustation N . hard coating or crust. In dry dock, we
scraped off the incrustation of dirt and barnacles that covered the hull of the ship.
incubate V. hatch; scheme. Because our supply of electricity has been cut off, we shall have to rely on the hens to
incubate these eggs.
inculcate V. teach; instill. In an effort to inculcate religious
devotion, the officials ordered that the school day begin
with the singing of a hymn.
incumbent ADJ. obligatory; currently holding an office. It is
incumbent upon all incumbent elected officials to keep
accurate records of expenses incurred in office. also N.
incur V. bring upon oneself. His parents refused to pay
any future debts he might incur.
incursion N. temporary invasion. The nightly incursions
and hit-and-run raids of our neighbors across the border
tried the patience of the country to the point where we
decided to retaliate in force.
• indefatigable ADJ. tireless. Although the effort of taking out
the garbage tired Wayne out for the entire morning, when it
came to partying, he was indefatigable.
inconsistency N. state of being self-contradictory; lack of
uniformity or steadiness. How are lawyers different from
agricultural inspectors? While lawyers check inconsistencies in witnesses’ statements, agricultural inspectors check
inconsistencies in Grade A eggs. inconsistent, ADJ.
indelible ADJ. not able to be erased. The indelible ink left a
permanent mark on my shirt. Young Bill Clinton’s meeting
with President Kennedy made an indelible impression on
the youth.
incontinent ADJ. lacking self-restraint; licentious. His incontinent behavior off stage so shocked many people that they
refused to attend the plays and movies in which he
appeared.
indentation N. notch; deep recess. You can tell one tree
from another by examining their leaves and noting the differences in the indentations along the edges of the leaves.
indent, V.
ADJ. indisputable; not open to question.
Unless you find the evidence against my client absolutely
incontrovertible , you must declare her not guilty of this
charge.
indenture V . bind as servant or apprentice to master.
Many immigrants could come to America only after they
had indentured themselves for several years. also N.
• incontrovertible
198 Build Your Vocabulary
indeterminate ADJ. uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite.
That interest rates shall rise appears certain; when they will
do so, however, remains indeterminate.
indicative ADJ. suggestive; implying. A lack of appetite
may be indicative of a major mental or physical disorder.
indices N. PL. signs; indications. Many college admissions
officers believe that SAT scores and high school grades are
the best indices of a student’s potential to succeed in college. N. SG. index.
■ indict
V. charge. The district attorney didn’t want to indict
the suspect until she was sure she had a strong enough
case to convince a jury. indictment, N.
ADJ. unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre.
Because Ann felt no desire to marry, she was indifferent to
Carl’s constant proposals. Not only was she indifferent to
him personally, but she felt that, given his general silliness,
he would make an indifferent husband.
■ indifferent
indigenous ADJ. native. Cigarettes are made of tobacco, a
plant indigenous to the New World.
indigent ADJ. poor; destitute. Someone who is truly indigent can’t even afford to buy a pack of cigarettes. [Don’t
mix up indigent and indigenous. See previous sentence.]
indignation N. anger at an injustice. He felt indignation at
the ill-treatment of helpless animals.
indignity N. offensive or insulting treatment. Although he
seemed to accept cheerfully the indignities heaped upon
him, he was inwardly very angry.
indiscretion N. lack of tactfulness or sound judgment. Terrified that the least indiscretion could jeopardize his political
career, the novice politician never uttered an unguarded
word. indiscreet, ADJ.
ADJ. choosing at random; confused. She
disapproved of her son’s indiscriminate television viewing
and decided to restrict him to educational programs.
■ indiscriminate
indisputable ADJ. too certain to be disputed. In the face of
these indisputable statements, I withdraw my complaint.
indissoluble ADJ. permanent. The indissoluble bonds of
marriage are all too often being dissolved.
indoctrinate V. instruct in a doctrine or ideology. CubanAmericans resisted sending Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba
because he would be indoctrinated there with Communist
principles.
• indolent
tridge and video game on the market. She indulged Jay so
much, she spoiled him rotten.
industrious ADJ. diligent; hard-working. Look busy when
the boss walks by your desk; it never hurts to appear industrious. industry, N.
inebriated ADJ. habitually intoxicated; drunk. Abe was inebriated more often than he was sober. Because of his inebriety, he was discharged from his job as a bus driver.
• ineffable
ADJ . unutterable; cannot be expressed in
speech. Looking down at her newborn daughter, Ruth felt
such ineffable joy that, for the first time in her adult life, she
had no words to convey what was in her heart.
ineffectual ADJ. not effective; weak. Because the candidate failed to get across his message to the public, his
campaign was ineffectual.
inefficacious ADJ . not effective; unable to produce a
desired result. All Lois’s coaxing and urging was inefficacious: Clark still refused to join her and Superman for dinner. inefficacy, N.
inept ADJ. lacking skill; unsuited; incompetent. The inept
glovemaker was all thumbs.
inequity N. unfairness. In demanding equal pay for equal
work, women protest the basic inequity of a system that
gives greater financial rewards to men.
ADJ. inactive; lacking power to move. “Get up, you
lazybones,” she cried to her husband, who lay in bed inert.
inertia, N.
■ inert
inevitable ADJ. unavoidable. Though death and taxes are
both supposedly inevitable , some people avoid paying
taxes for years.
• inexorable
ADJ. relentless; unyielding; implacable. After
listening to the pleas for clemency, the judge was inexorable and gave the convicted man the maximum punishment allowed by law.
infallible ADJ. unerring. Jane refused to believe the pope
was infallible, reasoning, “All human beings are capable of
error. The pope is a human being. Therefore, the pope is
capable of error.”
infamous ADJ. notoriously bad. Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer are both infamous killers.
infantile ADJ. childish. When will he outgrow such infantile
behavior?
lying back on their Lazyboy recliners watching TV. indolence, N.
infer V . deduce; conclude. From the students’ glazed
looks, it was easy for me to infer that they were bored out of
their minds. inference, N.
indomitable ADJ. unconquerable; unyielding. Focusing on
her game despite all her personal problems, tennis champion Steffi Graf proved she had an indomitable will to win.
infernal ADJ. pertaining to hell; devilish. Batman was baffled: he could think of no way to hinder the Joker’s infernal
scheme to destroy the city.
indubitable ADJ. unable to be doubted; unquestionable.
Auditioning for the chorus line, Molly was an indubitable hit:
the director fired the leading lady and hired Molly in her place!
infidel N. unbeliever. The Saracens made war against the
infidels.
ADJ. lazy. Couch potatoes lead an indolent life
said nothing could induce her to talk to Tony again. inducement, N.
infiltrate V. pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily. In order to be able to infiltrate enemy lines at
night without being seen, the scouts darkened their faces
and wore black coveralls. infiltrator, N.
indulgent ADJ. humoring; yielding; lenient. Jay’s mom was
excessively indulgent: she bought him every Nintendo car-
infinitesimal ADJ. exceedingly small; so small as to be
almost nonexistent. Making sure everyone was aware she
■ induce
V. persuade; bring about. After the quarrel, Tina
Basic Word List 199
was on an extremely strict diet, Melanie said she would
have only an infinitesimal sliver of pie.
infirmity N. weakness. Her greatest infirmity was lack of
willpower.
inflated ADJ. exaggerated; pompous; enlarged (with air or
gas). His claims about the new product were inflated; it did
not work as well as he had promised.
influx N. flowing into. The influx of refugees into the country has taxed the relief agencies severely.
informal ADJ. absence of ceremony; casual. The English
teacher preferred informal discussions to prepared lectures.
infraction N. violation (of a rule or regulation); breach.
When Dennis Rodman butted heads with that referee, he
committed a clear infraction of NBA rules.
infuriate V . enrage; anger. Her big brother’s teasing
always infuriated Margaret; no matter how hard she tried to
keep her temper, he always got her goat.
infusion N. act of introducing or instilling a quality; liquid
solution. The rookie quarterback brought an infusion of new
life and vigor to the tired team. infuse, V.
ADJ. clever; resourceful. Kit admired the ingenious way that her computer keyboard opened up to reveal
the built-in CD-ROM below. ingenuity, N.
■ ingenious
Word List 26 ingenue-invigorate
ingenue N . an artless girl; an actress who plays such
parts. Although she was forty, she still insisted that she be
cast as an ingenue and refused to play more mature roles.
ingenuous ADJ . naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated. The woodsman had not realized how ingenuous Little Red Riding Hood was until he heard that she had gone
off for a walk in the woods with the Big Bad Wolf.
ingrained ADJ. deeply established; firmly rooted. Try as
they would, the missionaries were unable to uproot the
ingrained superstitions of the natives.
ingrate N. ungrateful person. That ingrate Bob sneered at
the tie I gave him.
ingratiate V. make an effort to become popular with. In All
About Eve, the heroine, an aspiring actress, wages a clever
campaign to ingratiate herself with Margo Channing, an
established star.
■ inherent ADJ. firmly established by nature or habit. Katya’s
inherent love of justice caused her to champion anyone she
considered treated unfairly by society.
inhibit V. restrain; retard or prevent. Only two things inhibited him from taking a punch at Mike Tyson: Tyson’s left
hook, and Tyson’s right jab. The protective undercoating on
my car inhibits the formation of rust.
inimical ADJ. unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental. I’ve
always been friendly to Martha. Why is she so inimical to me?
inimitable ADJ . matchless; not able to be imitated. We
admire Auden for his inimitable use of language; he is one
of a kind.
inkling N. hint. This came as a complete surprise to me as
I did not have the slightest inkling of your plans.
ADJ . inborn. Mozart’s parents soon recognized
young Wolfgang’s innate talent for music.
■ innate
ADJ. harmless. An occasional glass of wine with
dinner is relatively innocuous and should have no ill effect
on you.
■ innocuous
N . change; introduction of something new.
Although Richard liked to keep up with all the latest technological innovations, he didn’t always abandon tried and true
techniques in favor of something new. innovate, V.
■ innovation
innovative ADJ. novel; introducing a change. The establishment of our SAT computer data base has enabled us to
come up with some innovative tactics for doing well on the
SAT.
innuendo N. hint; insinuation. I can defend myself against
direct accusations; innuendos and oblique attacks on my
character are what trouble me.
inopportune ADJ. untimely; poorly chosen. A rock concert
is an inopportune setting for a quiet conversation.
inordinate ADJ. unrestrained; excessive. She had an inordinate fondness for candy, eating two or three boxes in a
single day.
inquisitor N. questioner (especially harsh); investigator.
Fearing being grilled ruthlessly by the secret police, Masha
faced her inquisitors with trepidation.
insalubrious ADJ. unwholesome; not healthful. The mosquito-ridden swamp was an insalubrious place, a breeding
ground for malarial contagion.
iniquitous ADJ. wicked; immoral; unrighteous. Whether or
not King Richard III was responsible for the murder of the
two young princes in the Tower, it was an iniquitous deed.
iniquity, N.
insatiable ADJ. not easily satisfied; unquenchable; greedy.
David’s appetite for oysters was insatiable: he could easily
eat four dozen at a single sitting.
initiate V. begin; originate; receive into a group. The college is about to initiate a program in reducing math anxiety
among students.
inscrutable ADJ . impenetrable; not readily understood;
mysterious. Experienced poker players try to keep their
expressions inscrutable, hiding their reactions to the cards
behind a so-called “poker face.”
injurious ADJ. harmful. Smoking cigarettes can be injurious
to your health.
insensible ADJ. unconscious; unresponsive. Sherry and I
are very different; at times when I would be covered with
embarrassment, she seems insensible to shame.
200 Build Your Vocabulary
insidious ADJ. treacherous; stealthy; sly. The fifth column is
insidious because it works secretly within our territory for
our defeat.
integral ADJ. complete; necessary for completeness. Physical education is an integral part of our curriculum; a sound
mind and a sound body are complementary.
insightful ADJ. discerning; perceptive. Sol thought he was
very insightful about human behavior, but he was actually
clueless as to why people acted the way they did.
integrate V. make whole; combine; make into one unit. We
hope to integrate the French, Spanish, and Italian programs
into a combined Romance languages department.
insinuate V. hint; imply; creep in. When you said I looked
robust, did you mean to insinuate that I’m getting fat?
ADJ. lacking in flavor; dull. Flat prose and flat ginger ale are equally insipid: both lack sparkle.
■ insipid
insolence N. impudent disrespect; haughtiness. How dare
you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear of your insolence. insolent, ADJ.
• insolvent
ADJ . bankrupt; unable to repay one’s debts.
Although young Lord Widgeon was insolvent, he had no
fear of being thrown into debtors’ prison, for he was sure
that if his creditors pressed him for payment his wealthy
parents would repay what he owed. insolvency, N.
insomnia N. wakefulness; inability to sleep. He refused to
join us in a midnight cup of coffee because he claimed it
gave him insomnia.
V. urge; start; provoke. Rumors of police corruption led the mayor to instigate an investigation into the
department’s activities.
■ instigate
insubordination N. disobedience; rebelliousness. At the
slightest hint of insubordination from the sailors of the
Bounty , Captain Bligh had them flogged; finally, they
mutinied.
N. uprightness; wholeness. Lincoln, whose personal integrity has inspired millions, fought a civil war to
maintain the integrity of the Republic, that these United
States might remain undivided for all time.
■ integrity
intellect N. higher mental powers. If you wish to develop
your intellect, read the great books.
intelligentsia N. the intelligent and educated classes [often
used derogatorily]. She preferred discussions about sports
and politics to the literary conversations of the intelligentsia.
intemperate ADJ. immoderate; excessive; extreme. In a
temper, Tony refused to tone down his intemperate remarks.
inter V. bury. They are going to inter the body tomorrow at
Broadlawn Cemetery.
interim N. meantime. The company will not consider our
proposal until next week; in the interim, let us proceed as
we have in the past.
interloper N. intruder; unwanted meddler. The merchant
thought of his competitors as interlopers who were stealing
away his trade.
interment N. burial. Interment will take place in the church
cemetery at 2 P.M. Wednesday.
insubstantial ADJ. lacking substance; insignificant; frail.
His hopes for a career in acting proved insubstantial; no
one would cast him, even in an insubstantial role.
interminable ADJ. endless. Although his speech lasted for
only twenty minutes, it seemed interminable to his bored
audience.
N. narrow-mindedness; isolation. The insularity of
the islanders manifested itself in their suspicion of anything
foreign. insular, ADJ.
intermittent ADJ. periodic; on and off. The outdoor wedding reception had to be moved indoors to avoid the intermittent showers that fell on and off all afternoon.
insulated ADJ. set apart; isolated. A well-to-do bachelor,
James spent his money freely, insulated from the cares of
his friends, who had families to support.
interrogate V. question closely; cross-examine. Knowing
that the Nazis would interrogate him about his background,
the secret agent invented a cover story that would help him
meet their questions.
■ insularity
• insuperable ADJ. insurmountable; unbeatable. Though the
odds against their survival seemed insuperable, the Apollo
13 astronauts reached earth safely.
insurgent ADJ. rebellious. Because the insurgent forces
had occupied the capital and had gained control of the railway lines, several of the war correspondents covering the
uprising predicted a rebel victory.
insurmountable ADJ. overwhelming; unbeatable; insuperable. Faced by almost insurmountable obstacles, the members of the underground maintained their courage and will
to resist.
insurrection N. rebellion; uprising. In retrospect, given how
badly the British treated the American colonists, the eventual insurrection seems inevitable.
intangible ADJ. not able to be perceived by touch; vague.
Though the financial benefits of his Oxford post were meager, Lewis was drawn to it by its intangible rewards: prestige, intellectual freedom, the fellowship of his peers.
V. come between. When two close friends get
into a fight, be careful if you try to intervene; they may join
forces to gang up on you.
■ intervene
intimacy N. closeness, often affectionate; privacy; familiarity. In a moment of rare intimacy, the mayor allowed the
reporters a glimpse of his personal feelings about his family. intimate, ADJ.
intimate V. hint; suggest. Was Dick intimating that Jane
had bad breath when he asked if she’d like a breath mint?
V. frighten. I’ll learn karate and then those big
bullies won’t be able to intimidate me any more.
■ intimidate
• intractable
ADJ . unruly; stubborn; unyielding. Charlie
Brown’s friend Pigpen was intractable : he absolutely
refused to take a bath.
intransigence N. refusal of any compromise; stubbornness. The negotiating team had not expected such intransigence from the striking workers, who rejected any hint of a
compromise. intransigent, ADJ.
Basic Word List 201
ADJ. fearless. For her intrepid conduct nursing the
wounded during the war, Florence Nightingale was honored
by Queen Victoria.
■ intrepid
intricate ADJ. complex; knotty; tangled. Philip spent many
hours designing mazes so intricate that none of his classmates could solve them. intricacy, N.
intrinsic ADJ . essential; inherent; built-in. Although my
grandmother’s china has little intrinsic value, I shall always
cherish it for the memories it evokes.
introspective ADJ. looking within oneself. Though young
Francis of Assisi led a wild and worldly life, even then he had
introspective moments during which he examined his soul.
introvert N. one who is introspective; inclined to think more
about oneself. Uncommunicative by nature and disinclined
to look outside himself, he was a classic introvert.
intrude V. trespass; enter as an uninvited person. She hesitated to intrude on their conversation.
intuition N. immediate insight; power of knowing without
reasoning. Even though Tony denied that anything was
wrong, Tina trusted her intuition that something was bothering him. intuitive, ADJ.
V. overwhelm; flood; submerge. This semester I
am inundated with work: You should see the piles of paperwork flooding my desk. Until the great dam was built, the
waters of the Nile used to inundate the river valley like
clockwork every year.
■ inundate
inured ADJ. accustomed; hardened. She became inured to
the Alaskan cold.
invalidate V. weaken; destroy. The relatives who received
little or nothing sought to invalidate the will by claiming that
the deceased had not been in his right mind when he had
signed the document.
invasive ADJ. tending to spread aggressively; intrusive.
Giving up our war with the invasive blackberry vines that
had taken over the back yard, we covered the lawn with
concrete. invade, V.
invective N. abuse. He had expected criticism but not the
invective that greeted his proposal. inveigh, V.
inveigle V. entice; persuade; wheedle. Flattering Adam
about his good taste in food, Eve inveigled him into taking a
bite of her apple pie.
inverse ADJ. opposite. There is an inverse ratio between
the strength of light and its distance.
V. turn upside down or inside out. When he inverted
his body in a handstand, he felt the blood rush to his head.
■ invert
inveterate ADJ . deep-rooted; habitual. An inveterate
smoker, Bob cannot seem to break the habit, no matter how
hard he tries.
invidious ADJ. designed to create ill will or envy. We disregarded her invidious remarks because we realized how
jealous she was.
invigorate V. energize; stimulate. A quick dip in the pool
invigorated Meg, and with renewed energy she got back to
work.
Word List 27 invincible-laggard
invincible
ADJ. unconquerable. Superman is invincible.
inviolable ADJ. secure from corruption, attack, or violation;
unassailable. Batman considered his oath to keep the people of Gotham City safe inviolable: nothing on earth could
make him break this promise.
invocation N. prayer for help; calling upon as a reference
or support. The service of Morning Prayer opens with an
invocation during which we ask God to hear our prayers.
invoke V. call upon; ask for. She invoked her advisor’s aid
in filling out her financial aid forms.
invulnerable ADJ. incapable of injury. Achilles was invulnerable except in his heel.
iota N. very small quantity. She hadn’t an iota of common
sense.
irascible ADJ. irritable; easily angered. Miss Minchin’s irascible temper intimidated the younger schoolgirls, who
feared she’d burst into a rage at any moment.
irksome ADJ. annoying; tedious. He found working on the
assembly line irksome because of the monotony of the
operation he had to perform. irk, V.
ADJ. resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome. It is ironic that his success came when he least
wanted it.
■ ironic
irony N. hidden sarcasm or satire; use of words that seem
to mean the opposite of what they actually mean. Gradually
his listeners began to realize that the excessive praise he
was lavishing on his opponent was actually irony; he was in
fact ridiculing the poor fool.
irrational ADJ. illogical; lacking reason; insane. Many people have such an irrational fear of snakes that they panic at
the sight of a harmless garter snake.
irreconcilable ADJ. incompatible; not able to be resolved.
Because the separated couple were irreconcilable, the
marriage counselor recommended a divorce.
irate ADJ. angry. When John’s mother found out he had
overdrawn his checking account for the third month in a
row, she was so irate she could scarcely speak to him.
irrefutable ADJ. indisputable; incontrovertible; undeniable.
No matter how hard I tried to find a good comeback for her
argument, I couldn’t think of one: her logic was irrefutable.
ire N. anger. The waiter tried unsuccessfully to placate the
ire of the diner who had found a cockroach in her soup.
irrelevant ADJ. not applicable; unrelated. No matter how
irrelevant the patient’s mumblings may seem, they give us
some indications of what he has on his mind.
iridescent ADJ. exhibiting rainbowlike colors. She admired
the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of
the water.
irremediable ADJ. incurable; uncorrectable. The error she
made was irremediable; she could see no way to repair it.
202 Build Your Vocabulary
irreparable ADJ. not able to be corrected or repaired. Your
apology cannot atone for the irreparable damage you have
done to her reputation.
irrepressible ADJ. unable to be restrained or held back. My
friend Kitty’s curiosity was irrepressible: she poked her
nose into everybody’s business and just laughed when I
warned her that curiosity killed the cat.
• irreproachable ADJ. blameless; impeccable. Homer’s conduct at the office party was irreproachable; even Marge
didn’t have anything bad to say about how he behaved.
irresolute ADJ. uncertain how to act; weak. Once you have
made your decision, don’t waver; a leader should never
appear irresolute.
irretrievable ADJ. impossible to recover or regain; irreparable. The left fielder tried to retrieve the ball, but it flew over
the fence, bounced off a wall, and fell into the sewer: it was
irretrievable.
irreverence N. lack of proper respect. Some audience
members were amused by the irreverence of the comedian’s jokes about the Pope; others felt offended by his lack
of respect for their faith. irreverent, ADJ.
irrevocable ADJ. unalterable; irreversible. As Sue dropped
the “Dear John” letter into the mailbox, she suddenly had
second thoughts and wanted to take it back, but she could
not: her action was irrevocable.
itinerant ADJ. wandering; traveling. He was an itinerant
peddler and traveled through Pennsylvania and Virginia
selling his wares. also N.
itinerary N. plan of a trip. Disliking sudden changes in
plans when she traveled abroad, Ethel refused to make any
alterations in her itinerary.
jabber V. chatter rapidly or unintelligibly. Why does the fellow insist on jabbering away in French when I can’t understand a word he says?
jaded ADJ. fatigued; surfeited. He looked for exotic foods
to stimulate his jaded appetite.
jargon N. language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibberish. The computer salesmen at the store
used a jargon of their own that we simply couldn’t follow; we
had no idea what they were jabbering about.
jaundiced ADJ. prejudiced (envious, hostile or resentful);
yellowed. Because Sue disliked Carolyn, she looked at Carolyn’s paintings with a jaundiced eye, calling them formless
smears. Newborn infants afflicted with jaundice look slightly
yellow: they have jaundiced skin.
jaunt N . trip; short journey. He took a quick jaunt to
Atlantic City.
jaunty ADJ. lighthearted; animated; easy and carefree. In
An American in Paris, Gene Kelly sang and danced his way
through “I Got Rhythm” in a properly jaunty style.
jeopardize V. endanger; imperil; put at risk. You can’t give
me a D in chemistry: you’ll jeopardize my chances of getting into M.I.T. jeopardy, N.
jettison V. throw overboard. In order to enable the ship to
ride safely through the storm, the captain had to jettison
much of his cargo.
jingoist N . extremely aggressive and militant patriot;
warlike chauvinist. Always bellowing “America first!,”
the congressman was such a jingoist you could almost
hear the sabers rattling as he marched down the halls.
jingoism, N.
jocose ADJ. given to joking. The salesman was so jocose
that many of his customers suggested that he become a
“stand-up” comic.
• jocular ADJ. said or done in jest. Although Bill knew the
boss hated jokes, he couldn’t resist making one jocular
remark.
jollity N. gaiety; cheerfulness. The festive Christmas dinner
was a merry one, and old and young alike joined in the general jollity.
jostle V. shove; bump. In the subway he was jostled by the
crowds.
jovial ADJ. good-natured; merry. A frown seemed out of
place on his invariably jovial face.
jubilation N. rejoicing. There was great jubilation when the
armistice was announced. jubilant, ADJ.
judicious ADJ. sound in judgment; wise. At a key moment
in his life, he made a judicious investment that was the
foundation of his later wealth.
juncture N. crisis; joining point. At this critical juncture, let
us think carefully before determining the course we shall
follow.
junta N. group of men joined in political intrigue; cabal. As
soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the
execution of all of the members of the junta.
jurisprudence N. science of law. He was more a student of
jurisprudence than a practitioner of the law.
justification N. good or just reason; defense; excuse. The
jury found him guilty of the more serious charge because
they could see no possible justification for his actions.
kaleidoscope N . tube in which patterns made by the
reflection in mirrors of colored pieces of glass, etc., produce interesting symmetrical effects. People found a new
source of entertainment while peering through the kaleidoscope; they found the ever-changing patterns fascinating.
kernel N. central or vital part; whole seed (as of corn).
“Watson, buried within this tissue of lies there is a kernel of
truth; when I find it, the mystery will be solved.”
killjoy N. grouch; spoilsport. At breakfast we had all been
enjoying our bacon and eggs until that killjoy John started
talking about how bad animal fats were for our health.
kindle V. start a fire; inspire. One of the first things Ben
learned in the Boy Scouts was how to kindle a fire by rubbing two dry sticks together. Her teacher’s praise for her
poetry kindled a spark of hope inside Maya.
kindred ADJ. related; belonging to the same family. Tom
Sawyer and Huck Finn were kindred spirits, born mischief
makers who were always up to some new tomfoolery.
kinetic ADJ. producing motion. Designers of the electric
automobile find that their greatest obstacle lies in the development of light and efficient storage batteries, the source of
the kinetic energy needed to propel the vehicle.
Basic Word List 203
kleptomaniac N. person who has a compulsive desire to
steal. They discovered that the wealthy customer was a kleptomaniac when they caught her stealing some cheap trinkets.
• labyrinth N. maze. Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky
knave N . untrustworthy person; rogue; scoundrel. Any
politician nicknamed Tricky Dick clearly has the reputation
of a knave. knavery, N.
laceration N. torn, ragged wound. The stock car driver
needed stitches to close up the lacerations he received in
the car crash.
knit V. contract into wrinkles; grow together. Whenever
David worries, his brow knits in a frown. When he broke his
leg, he sat around the house all day waiting for the bones to
knit.
lachrymose ADJ. producing tears. His voice has a lachrymose quality more appropriate to a funeral than a class
reunion.
soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground
caves. labyrinthine, ADJ.
knoll N. little round hill. Robert Louis Stevenson’s grave is
on a knoll in Samoa; to reach the grave site, you must climb
uphill and walk a short distance along a marked path.
lackadaisical ADJ. lacking purpose or zest; halfhearted;
languid. Because Gatsby had his mind more on his love life
than on his finances, he did a very lackadaisical job of managing his money.
knotty ADJ. intricate; difficult; tangled. What to Watson had
been a knotty problem, to Sherlock Holmes was simplicity
itself.
lackluster ADJ. dull. We were disappointed by the lackluster performance.
kudos N. honor; glory; praise. The singer complacently
received kudos from his entourage on his performance.
laborious ADJ. demanding much work or care; tedious. In
putting together his dictionary of the English language,
Doctor Johnson undertook a laborious task.
• laconic ADJ. brief and to the point. Many of the characters
portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men
of few words.
• laggard ADJ. slow; sluggish. The sailor had been taught
not to be laggard in carrying out orders. also N. lag, N., V.
Word List 28 lament-low
V. grieve; express sorrow. Even advocates of the
war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat. also N.
Iamentation, N.
latent ADJ. potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden.
Polaroid pictures are popular at parties, because you can
see the latent photographic image gradually appear before
your eyes.
of some movie moguls. also N.
Iateral ADJ. coming from the side. In order to get good
plant growth, the gardener must pinch off all lateral shoots.
■ lament
• Iampoon V. ridicule. This article lampoons the pretensions
Ianguid ADJ. weary; sluggish; listless. Her siege of illness
left her languid and pallid.
languish V . lose animation; lose strength. Left at Miss
Minchin’s school for girls while her father went off to war,
Sarah Crewe refused to languish; instead, she hid her grief
and actively befriended her less fortunate classmates.
Ianguor N. Iassitude; depression. His friends tried to overcome the languor into which he had fallen by taking him to
parties and to the theater.
lap V. take in food or drink with one’s tongue; splash gently. The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly
lapped against the pier.
Iarceny N. theft. Because of the prisoner’s record, the district attorney refused to reduce the charge from grand larceny to petty larceny.
larder N. pantry; place where food is kept. The first thing
Bill did on returning home from school was to check what
snacks his mother had in the larder.
Iargess N . generous gift. Lady Bountiful distributed
largess to the poor.
• lassitude N. languor; weariness. After a massage and a
long soak in the hot tub, I gave in to my growing lassitude
and lay down for a nap.
latitude N. freedom from narrow limitations. I think you
have permitted your son too much latitude in this matter.
V. praise. The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason’s efforts
to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis. laudable, laudatory, ADJ.
■ laud
ADJ. generous; openhanded; extravagant; wasteful.
Her wealthy suitors wooed her with lavish gifts. also V.
■ Iavish
Iax ADJ. careless. We dislike restaurants where the service
is lax and inattentive.
leaven V. cause to rise or grow lighter; enliven. As bread
dough is leavened, it puffs up, expanding in volume.
Iecherous ADJ. lustful; impure in thought and deed. The
villain of the play, a lecherous old banker, lusted after the
poor farmer’s beautiful daughter.
leery ADJ. suspicious; cautious. Don’t eat the sushi at this
restaurant; I’m a bit leery about how fresh the raw fish is.
legacy N. a gift made by a will. Part of my legacy from my
parents is an album of family photographs.
Iegend N. explanatory list of symbols on a map. The legend at the bottom of the map made it clear which symbols
stood for rest areas along the highway and which stood for
public camp sites. (secondary meaning)
204 Build Your Vocabulary
legerdemain N. sleight of hand. The magician demonstrated his renowned legerdemain.
Ieniency N. mildness; permissiveness. Considering the
gravity of the offense, we were surprised by the leniency of
the sentence.
Iethal ADJ. deadly. It is unwise to leave lethal weapons
where children may find them.
ADJ . drowsy; dull. The stuffy room made her
lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off.
■ lethargic
levitate V. float in the air (especially by magical means).
As the magician passed his hands over the recumbent
body of his assistant, she appeared to rise and levitate
about three feet above the table.
■ levity
N. lack of seriousness; lightness. Stop giggling and
wriggling around in the pew: such levity is improper in
church.
levy V. impose (a fine); collect (a payment). Crying “No
taxation without representation,” the colonists demonstrated
against England’s power to levy taxes.
Iewd
ADJ. Iustful. They found his lewd stories objectionable.
Iexicographer N. compiler of a dictionary. The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years
compiling and editing the work.
Iexicon N. dictionary. I cannot find this word in any lexicon
in the library.
liability N. drawback; debts. Her lack of an extensive vocabulary was a liability that she was eventually able to overcome.
liaison N. contact keeping parts of an organization in communication; go-between; secret love affair. As the liaison
between the American and British forces during World War
II, the colonel had to ease tensions between the leaders of
the two armies. Romeo’s romantic liaison with Juliet ended
in tragedy.
libel N. defamatory statement; act of writing something
that smears a person’s character. If Batman wrote that the
Joker was a dirty, rotten, mass-murdering criminal, could
the Joker sue Batman for libel ?
liberator N. one who sets free. Simon Bolivar, who led the
South American colonies in their rebellion against Spanish
rule, is known as the great liberator. liberate, V.
Iibretto N. text of an opera. The composer of an opera’s
music is remembered more frequently than the author of its
libretto.
linchpin N . something that holds or links various parts
together. The linchpin in the district attorney’s case was a
photograph showing the defendant shaking hands with the
hired killer.
lineage N. descent; ancestry. He traced his lineage back
to Mayflower days.
V. loiter or dawdle; continue or persist. Hoping to
see Juliet pass by, Romeo lingered outside the Capulet
house for hours. Though Mother made stuffed cabbage on
Monday, the smell lingered around the house for days.
■ linger
Iinguistic ADJ. pertaining to language. Exposed to most
modern European languages in childhood, she grew up to
be a linguistic prodigy.
liniment N. ointment; lotion; salve. The trainer carefully
applied the liniment to the quarterback’s bruise, gently rubbing it into the skin.
lionize V. treat as a celebrity. She enjoyed being lionized
and adored by the public.
liquidate V. settle accounts; clear up. He was able to liquidate all his debts in a short period of time.
Iist V. tilt; lean over. That flagpole should be absolutely
vertical; instead, it lists to one side. (secondary meaning)
ADJ. Iacking in spirit or energy. We had expected
him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
■ listless
Iitany N. supplicatory prayer. On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the
litany with fervor and intensity.
• Iithe ADJ. flexible; supple. Her figure was lithe and willowy.
Iitigation N. Iawsuit. Try to settle this without involving any
lawyers; I do not want to become bogged down in litigation.
Iitigant, N.
Iivid ADJ. Iead-colored; black and blue; enraged. His face
was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might
have an attack of apoplexy.
loath ADJ. reluctant; disinclined. Fearing for their son’s
safety, the overprotective parents were loath to let him go
on the class trip.
loathe V . detest. Booing and hissing, the audience
showed how much they loathed the wicked villain.
ADJ. very high. Though Barbara Jordan’s fellow students used to tease her about her lofty ambitions, she rose
to hold one of the highest positions in the land.
■ lofty
licentious ADJ. amoral; lewd and lascivious; unrestrained.
Unscrupulously seducing the daughter of his host, Don
Juan felt no qualms about the immorality of his licentious
behavior.
log N. record of a voyage or flight; record of day to day
activities. “Flogged two seamen today for insubordination”
wrote Captain Bligh in the Bounty’s log. To see how much
work I’ve accomplished recently, just take a look at the
number of new files listed on my computer log.
lilliputian ADJ . extremely small. Tiny and delicate, the
model was built on a lilliputian scale. also N.
Ioiter V. hang around; linger. The policeman told him not
to loiter in the alley.
ADJ. flexible. Hours of ballet classes kept him limber.
Ioll V. Iounge about. They lolled around in their chairs
watching television.
Iimber
limerick N. humorous short verse. The limerick form is the
best; its meter is pure anapest. A limerick’s fun for most
everyone, and the word may occur on your test.
Iimpid ADJ. clear; transparent; lucid. We could see swarms
of colorful tropical fish in the limpid waters of the peaceful
cove.
Iongevity N. Iong life. When he reached ninety, the old
man was proud of his longevity.
loom V. appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged or
distorted form). The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly above the small boy.
Basic Word List 205
Iope V. gallop slowly. As the horses loped along, we had
an opportunity to admire the ever-changing scenery.
Iout N. clumsy person. That awkward lout dropped my
priceless vase!
loquacious ADJ . talkative. Though our daughter barely
says a word to us these days, put a phone in her hand and
see how loquacious she can be: our phone bills are out of
sight! loquacity, N.
low V. moo. From the hilltop, they could see the herd like
ants in the distance; they could barely hear the cattle low.
Word List 29 lucid-maul
lucid ADJ . easily understood; clear; intelligible. Ellen
makes an excellent teacher: her explanations of technical
points are lucid enough for a child to grasp.
lucrative ADJ. profitable. He turned his hobby into a lucrative profession.
ludicrous ADJ. ridiculous; laughable; absurd. Gwen tried to
keep a straight face, but Bill’s suggestion was so ludicrous
that she finally had to laugh.
lugubrious ADJ . mournful. Gloomy Gus walked around
town with a lugubrious expression on his face.
lull N. moment of calm. Not wanting to get wet, they waited
under the awning for a lull in the rain.
lull V. soothe; cause one to relax one’s guard; subside.
The mother’s gentle song lulled the child to sleep. Malcolm
tried to come up with a plausible story to lull his mother’s
suspicions, but she didn’t believe a word he said.
lumber V. move heavily or clumsily. Still somewhat torpid after
its long hibernation, the bear lumbered through the woods.
luminary N . celebrity; dignitary. A leading light of the
American stage, Ethel Barrymore was a theatrical luminary
whose name lives on.
luminous
body.
ADJ. shining; issuing light. The sun is a luminous
machinations N. evil schemes or plots. Fortunately, Batman saw through the wily machinations of the Riddler
and saved Gotham City from destruction by the forces of
evil.
madrigal N . pastoral song. His program of folk songs
included several madrigals which he sang to the accompaniment of a lute.
maelstrom N. whirlpool. The canoe was tossed about in
the maelstrom.
magnanimous ADJ . generous; great-hearted. Philanthropists by definition are magnanimous; misers, by definition, are not. Cordelia was too magnanimous to resent her
father’s unkindness to her; instead, she generously forgave
him. magnanimity, N.
magnate N. person of prominence or influence. Growing
up in Pittsburgh, Annie Dillard was surrounded by the mansions of the great steel and coal magnates who set their
mark on that city.
magnitude N. greatness; extent. It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of his crime.
maim V. mutilate; injure. The hospital could not take care
of all who had been wounded or maimed in the railroad
accident.
lummox N. big, clumsy, often stupid person. Because he
was highly overweight and looked ungainly, John Candy
often was cast as a slow-witted lummox.
maladroit ADJ. clumsy; bungling. “Oh! My stupid tongue!”
exclaimed Jane, embarrassed at having said anything so
maladroit.
lunar ADJ. pertaining to the moon. Lunar craters can be
plainly seen with the aid of a small telescope.
malady N. illness. A mysterious malady swept the country, filling doctors’ offices with feverish, purple-spotted
patients.
lunge V. quickly dive forward; thrust. The wide receiver
lunged forward to grab the football. With his sword, Dartagnan lunged at his adversary.
• lurid
ADJ. wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome. Do the
lurid cover stories in the Enquirer actually attract people to
buy that trashy tabloid?
lurk V. stealthily lie in waiting; slink; exist unperceived.
“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The
Shadow knows.”
luscious ADJ. pleasing to taste or smell. The ripe peach
was luscious.
luster N. shine; gloss. The soft luster of the silk in the dim
light was pleasing.
lustrous ADJ. shining. Her large and lustrous eyes lent a
touch of beauty to an otherwise plain face.
• luxuriant
ADJ. abundant; rich and splendid; fertile. Lady
Godiva was completely covered by her luxuriant hair.
malaise N. uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health. Feeling
slightly queasy before going onstage, Carol realized that
this touch of malaise was merely stage fright.
malapropism N. comic misuse of a word. When Mrs. Malaprop accuses Lydia of being “as headstrong as an allegory
on the banks of the Nile,” she confuses “allegory” and “alligator” in a typical malapropism.
malcontent N. person dissatisfied with existing state of
affairs. One of the few malcontents in Congress, he constantly voiced his objections to the presidential program.
also ADJ.
malediction N. curse. When the magic mirror revealed that
Snow White was still alive, the wicked queen cried out in
rage and uttered dreadful maledictions.
malefactor N. evildoer; criminal. Mighty Mouse will save the
day, hunting down malefactors and rescuing innocent mice
from peril.
206 Build Your Vocabulary
malevolent ADJ. wishing evil. Iago is a malevolent villain
who takes pleasure in ruining Othello.
malfeasance N. wrongdoing. The authorities did not discover the campaign manager’s malfeasance until after he had
spent most of the money he had embezzled.
■ malicious
ADJ . hateful; spiteful. Jealous of Cinderella’s
beauty, her malicious stepsisters expressed their spite by
forcing her to do menial tasks. malice, N.
malign V. speak evil of; bad-mouth; defame. Putting her
hands over her ears, Rose refused to listen to Betty malign her
friend Susan.
marked ADJ . noticeable or pronounced; targeted for
vengeance. He walked with a marked limp, a souvenir of an old
I.R.A. attack. As British ambassador, he knew he was a marked
man, for he knew the Irish Republican Army wanted him dead.
marquee N. canopy above an entrance, under which one
can take shelter; rooflike shelter above a theater entrance. On
stormy days, the hotel doorman keeps dry by standing
directly beneath the marquee. The title of Arthur Kopit’s play
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Momma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m
Feeling So Sad was too long to fit on the marquee.
ADJ. damaged; disfigured. She had to refinish the
marred surface of the table. mar, V.
■ marred
malignant ADJ. injurious; tending to cause death; aggressively malevolent. Though many tumors are benign, some are
malignant, growing out of control and endangering the life of
the patient.
marshal V. put in order. At a debate tournament, extemporaneous speakers have only a minute or two to marshal their
thoughts before they address their audience.
malingerer N. one who feigns illness to escape duty. The
captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and
force them to work. malinger, V.
marsupial N. one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch. The most common marsupial in North
America is the opossum.
malleable ADJ. capable of being shaped by pounding;
impressionable. Gold is a malleable metal, easily shaped into
bracelets and rings. Fagin hoped Oliver was a malleable lad,
easily shaped into a thief.
martial ADJ. warlike. The sound of martial music inspired the
young cadet with dreams of military glory.
malodorous ADJ. foul-smelling. The compost heap was most
malodorous in summer.
mammal N. a vertebrate animal whose female suckles its
young. Many people regard the whale as a fish and do not
realize that it is a mammal.
mammoth ADJ. gigantic; enormous. To try to memorize every
word on this vocabulary list would be a mammoth undertaking; take on projects that are more manageable in size.
mandate N. order; charge. In his inaugural address, the
president stated that he had a mandate from the people to
seek an end to social evils such as poverty. also V.
mandatory ADJ. obligatory; compulsory. It is mandatory that,
before graduation, all students must pass the swimming test.
maniacal ADJ. raging mad; insane. Though Mr. Rochester
had locked his mad wife in the attic, he could still hear her
maniacal laughter echoing throughout the house.
manifest ADJ. evident; visible; obvious. Digby’s embarrassment when he met Madonna was manifest: his ears turned
bright pink, he kept scuffing one shoe in the dirt, and he
couldn’t look her in the eye.
manifesto N. declaration; statement of policy. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels proclaimed the principles
of modern communism.
martinet N. strict disciplinarian. No talking at meals! No mingling with the servants! Miss Minchin was a martinet who
insisted that the schoolgirls in her charge observe each regulation to the letter.
martyr N. one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer. By burning her at the stake, the
English made Joan of Arc a martyr for her faith. Mother played
the martyr by staying home cleaning the house while the rest
of the family went off to the beach.
masochist N. person who enjoys his own pain. The masochist
begs, “Hit me.” The sadist smiles and says, “I won’t.”
material ADJ. made of physical matter; unspiritual; important.
Probing the mysteries of this material world has always fascinated physicist George Whitesides. Reporters nicknamed
Madonna the Material Girl because, despite her name, she
seemed wholly uninterested in spiritual values. Lexy’s active
participation made a material difference to the success of the
fund-raiser.
N. preoccupation with physical comforts and
things. By its nature, materialism is opposed to idealism, for
where the materialist emphasizes the needs of the body, the
idealist emphasizes the needs of the soul.
■ materialism
maternal ADJ. motherly. Many animals display maternal
instincts only while their offspring are young and helpless.
matriarch N. woman who rules a family or larger social
group. The matriarch ruled her gypsy tribe with a firm hand.
manipulate V. operate with one’s hands; control or play upon
(people, forces, etc.) artfully. Jim Henson understood how to
manipulate the Muppets. Madonna understands how to
manipulate men (and publicity).
matriculate V. enroll (in college or graduate school). Incoming students formally matriculate at our college in a special
ceremony during which they sign the official register of students.
mannered ADJ. affected; not natural. Attempting to copy the
style of his wealthy neighbors, Gatsby adopted a mannered,
artificial way of speech.
matrix N. point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die. Some historians claim the Nile Valley was
the matrix of Western civilization.
marital ADJ. pertaining to marriage. After the publication of
her book of marital advice, she was often consulted by married couples on the verge of divorce.
maudlin ADJ. effusively sentimental. Whenever a particularly
maudlin tearjerker was playing at the movies, Marvin would
embarrass himself by weeping copiously.
maritime ADJ. bordering on the sea; nautical. The Maritime
Provinces depend on the sea for their wealth.
maul V. handle roughly. The rock star was mauled by his
over-excited fans.
Basic Word List 207
Word List 30 maverick-misrepresent
maverick N. rebel; nonconformist. To the masculine literary
establishment, George Sand with her insistence on wearing
trousers and smoking cigars was clearly a maverick who
fought her proper womanly role.
mawkish ADJ. mushy and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental;
maudlin. Whenever Gigi and her boyfriend would sigh and
get all lovey-dovey, her little brother would shout, “Yuck!”
protesting their mawkish behavior.
mendicant N. beggar. “O noble sir, give alms to the poor,”
cried Aladdin, playing the mendicant.
menial ADJ. suitable for servants; lowly; mean. Her wicked
stepmother forced Cinderella to do menial tasks around the
house while her ugly stepsisters lolled around painting their
toenails.
mentor N . teacher. During this very trying period, she
could not have had a better mentor, for the teacher was
sympathetic and understanding.
maxim N. proverb; a truth pithily stated. Aesop’s story of
the hare and the tortoise illustrates the maxim “Slow and
steady wins the race.”
• mercenary ADJ. interested in money or gain. Andy’s every
meager ADJ . scanty; inadequate. Still hungry after his
meager serving of porridge, Oliver Twist asked for a second helping.
• mercurial
• meander
V. wind or turn in its course. Needing to stay
close to a source of water, he followed every twist and turn
of the stream as it meandered through the countryside.
meddlesome ADJ. interfering. He felt his marriage was suffering because of his meddlesome mother-in-law.
mediate V. settle a dispute through the services of an outsider. King Solomon was asked to mediate a dispute
between two women, each of whom claimed to be the
mother of the same child.
mediocre ADJ. ordinary; commonplace. We were disappointed because he gave a rather mediocre performance in
this role.
act was prompted by mercenary motives: his first question
was always “What’s in it for me?”
ADJ . capricious; changing; fickle. Quick as
quicksilver to change, he was mercurial in nature and therefore unreliable.
merger N. combination (of two business corporations).
When the firm’s president married the director of financial
planning, the office joke was that it wasn’t a marriage, it was
a merger.
mesmerize V. hypnotize. The incessant drone seemed to
mesmerize him and place him in a trance.
metallurgical ADJ. pertaining to the art of removing metals
from ores. During the course of his metallurgical research,
the scientist developed a steel alloy of tremendous
strength.
meditation N. reflection; thought. She reached her decision only after much meditation.
metamorphosis N. change of form; major transformation.
The metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly is typical of
many such changes in animal life. metamorphose, V.
medley N. mixture. To avoid boring dancers by playing
any one tune for too long, bands may combine three or four
tunes into a medley.
metaphor N . implied comparison. “He soared like an
eagle” is an example of a simile; “He is an eagle in flight,” a
metaphor.
meek ADJ. quiet and obedient; spiritless. Can Lois Lane
see through Superman’s disguise and spot the superhero
hiding behind the guise of meek, timorous Clark Kent? Mr.
Barrett never expected his meek daughter would dare to
defy him by eloping with her suitor.
metaphysical ADJ. pertaining to speculative philosophy.
The modern poets have gone back to the fanciful poems of
the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century for many
of their images. metaphysics, N.
melancholy ADJ. gloomy; morose; blue. To Eugene, stuck
in his small town, a train whistle was a melancholy sound,
for it made him think of all the places he would never get to
see.
mellifluous ADJ. sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious. Italian is a mellifluous language, especially suited to being sung.
membrane N. thin soft sheet of animal or vegetable tissue.
Each individual section of an orange is covered with a thin,
transparent membrane. membranous, ADJ.
memento N . token; reminder. Take this book as a
memento of your visit.
menagerie N. collection of wild animals. Whenever the
children run wild around the house, Mom shouts, “Calm
down! I’m not running a menagerie!”
mendacious ADJ. lying; habitually dishonest. Distrusting
Huck from the start, Miss Watson assumed he was mendacious and refused to believe a word he said.
ADJ . systematic. An accountant must be
methodical and maintain order among his financial records.
■ methodical
ADJ. excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous. Martha Stewart was a meticulous housekeeper, fussing about each and every detail that went into making up
her perfect home.
■ meticulous
metropolis N. Iarge city. Every evening the terminal is filled
with thousands of commuters going from this metropolis to
their homes in the suburbs.
mettle N. courage; spirit. When challenged by the other
horses in the race, the thoroughbred proved its mettle by its
determination to hold the lead.
miasma N . swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere,
often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting
influence. The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark
cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma.
microcosm N . small world; the world in miniature. The
small village community that Jane Austen depicts serves as
208 Build Your Vocabulary
a microcosm of English society in her time, for in this small
world we see all the social classes meeting and mingling.
degraded beasts; for this reason, various critics consider
him a misanthrope.
migrant ADJ . changing its habitat; wandering. Migrant
workers return to the Central Valley each year at harvest
time. also N.
misapprehension N. error; misunderstanding. To avoid
misapprehension, I am going to ask all of you to repeat the
instructions I have given.
migratory ADJ . wandering. The return of the migratory
birds to the northern sections of this country is a harbinger
of spring. migrate, V.
miscellany N. mixture of writings on various subjects. This
is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and
poetry.
milieu N. environment; means of expression. Surrounded
by smooth preppies and arty bohemians, the country boy
from Smalltown, USA, felt out of his milieu. Although he has
produced excellent oil paintings and lithographs, his proper
milieu is watercolor.
mischance
salary.
militant ADJ. combative; bellicose. Although at this time he
was advocating a policy of neutrality, one could usually find
him adopting a more militant attitude. also N.
mimicry N. imitation. Her gift for mimicry was so great that
her friends said that she should be in the theater.
mincing ADJ. affectedly dainty. Yum-Yum walked across
the stage with mincing steps.
minuscule ADJ. extremely small. Why should I involve myself
with a project with so minuscule a chance for success?
minute ADJ. extremely small. The twins resembled one
another closely; only minute differences set them apart.
minutiae N. petty details. She would have liked to ignore
the minutiae of daily living.
mirage N . unreal reflection; optical illusion. The lost
prospector was fooled by a mirage in the desert.
mire V . entangle; stick in swampy ground. Their rear
wheels became mired in mud. also N.
• mirth
N . merriment; laughter. Sober Malvolio found Sir
Toby’s mirth improper.
• misanthrope
N . one who hates mankind. In Gulliver’s
Travels , Swift portrays an image of humanity as vile,
N. ill luck. By mischance, he lost his week’s
misconception N. mistaken idea. “Sir, you are suffering from
a misconception. I do not wish to marry you in the least!”
misconstrue V. interpret incorrectly; misjudge. She took
the passage seriously rather than humorously because she
misconstrued the author’s ironic tone.
misdemeanor N. minor crime. The culprit pleaded guilty to
a misdemeanor rather than face trial for a felony.
ADJ. stingy; mean. Transformed by his vision on
Christmas Eve, mean old Scrooge ceased being miserly
and became a generous, kind old man.
■ miserly
misgivings N. doubts. Hamlet described his misgivings to
Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil.
mishap N . accident. With a little care you could have
avoided this mishap.
• misnomer
N . wrong name; incorrect designation. His
tyrannical conduct proved to all that his nickname, King
Eric the Just, was a misnomer.
misrepresent V. give a false or incorrect impression, often
deliberately; serve unsatisfactorily as a representative. In
his job application, Milton misrepresented his academic
background; he was fired when his employers discovered
the truth. The reformers accused Senator Gunbucks of misrepresenting his constituents and claimed he took bribes
from the NRA.
Word List 31 missile-natty
missile N. object to be thrown or projected. After carefully
folding his book report into a paper airplane, Beavis threw
the missile across the classroom at Butthead. Rocket scientists are building guided missiles; Beavis and Butthead can
barely make unguided ones.
missive N. Ietter. The ambassador received a missive from
the secretary of state.
mite N. very small object or creature; small coin. Gnats are
annoying mites that sting.
V. appease; moderate. Nothing Jason did could
mitigate Medea’s anger; she refused to forgive him for
betraying her.
■ mitigate
mnemonic ADJ. pertaining to memory. He used mnemonic
tricks to master new words.
mobile ADJ. movable; not fixed. The mobile blood bank
operated by the Red Cross visited our neighborhood today.
mobility, N.
mock V. ridicule; imitate, often in derision. It is unkind to
mock anyone; it is stupid to mock anyone significantly bigger than you. mockery, N.
mode N. prevailing style; manner; way of doing something. The rock star had to have her hair done in the latest
mode: frizzed, with occasional moussed spikes for variety.
Henry plans to adopt a simpler mode of life: he is going to
become a mushroom hunter and live off the land.
modicum N. Iimited quantity. Although his story is based
on a modicum of truth, most of the events he describes are
fictitious.
modulate V. tone down in intensity; regulate; change from
one key to another. Always singing at the top of her lungs,
the budding Brunhilde never learned to modulate her voice.
molecule N. the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a
substance, having all the properties of that substance. In
Basic Word List 209
chemistry, we study how atoms and molecules react to form
new substances.
• mollify V. soothe. The airline customer service representative tried to mollify the angry passenger by offering her a
seat in first class.
molt V. shed or cast off hair or feathers. When Molly’s
canary molted, he shed feathers all over the house.
molten ADJ. melted. The city of Pompeii was destroyed by
volcanic ash rather than by molten lava flowing from Mount
Vesuvius.
momentous ADJ. very important. When Marie and Pierre
Curie discovered radium, they had no idea of the momentous impact their discovery would have upon society.
momentum N . quantity of motion of a moving body;
impetus. The car lost momentum as it tried to ascend the
steep hill.
monarchy N. government under a single ruler. Though
England today is a monarchy , there is some question
whether it will be one in twenty years, given the present discontent at the prospect of Prince Charles as king.
monastic ADJ. related to monks or monasteries; removed
from worldly concerns. Withdrawing from the world, Thomas
Merton joined a contemplative religious order and adopted
the monastic life.
monetary ADJ. pertaining to money. Jane held the family
purse strings: she made all monetary decisions affecting
the household.
monochromatic ADJ. having only one color. Most people
who are color blind actually can distinguish several colors;
some, however, have a truly monochromatic view of a world
all in shades of gray.
monolithic ADJ. solidly uniform; unyielding. Knowing the
importance of appearing resolute, the patriots sought to
present a monolithic front.
monosyllabic ADJ . having only one syllable. No matter
what he was asked, the taciturn New Englander answered
with a monosyllabic “Yep” or “Nope.” monosyllable, N.
monotony N. sameness leading to boredom. What could
be more deadly dull than the monotony of punching numbers into a computer hour after hour?
montage N . photographic composition combining elements from different sources. In one early montage ,
Beauchamp brought together pictures of broken mannequins and newspaper clippings about the Vietnam War.
monumental
mental task.
ADJ. massive. Writing a dictionary is a monu-
moodiness N. fits of depression or gloom. Her recurrent
moodiness left her feeling as if she had fallen into a black
hole.
moratorium N. Iegal delay of payment. If we declare a
moratorium and delay collection of debts for six months, I
am sure the farmers will be able to meet their bills.
morbid ADJ. given to unwholesome thought; moody; characteristic of disease. People who come to disaster sites just
to peer at the grisly wreckage are indulging their morbid
curiosity.
mores N . conventions; moral standards; customs. In
America, Benazir Bhutto dressed as Western women did; in
Pakistan, however, she followed the mores of her people,
dressing in traditional veil and robes.
moribund ADJ . dying. Hearst took a moribund , failing
weekly newspaper and transformed it into one of the liveliest, most profitable daily papers around.
ADJ. ill-humored; sullen; melancholy. Forced to
take early retirement, Bill acted morose for months; then, all
of a sudden, he shook off his sullen mood and was his
usual cheerful self.
■ morose
mortician N . undertaker. The mortician prepared the
corpse for burial.
mortify V. humiliate; punish the flesh. She was so mortified
by her blunder that she ran to her room in tears.
• mosaic N. picture made of colorful small inlaid tiles. The
mayor compared the city to a beautiful mosaic made up of
people of every race and religion on earth.
mote N. small speck. The tiniest mote in the eye is very
painful.
motif N . theme. This simple motif runs throughout the
entire score.
motley ADJ. multi-colored; mixed. The jester wore a motley
tunic, red and green and blue and gold all patched
together haphazardly. Captain Ahab had gathered a motley
crew to sail the vessel: old sea dogs and runaway boys, pillars of the church and drunkards, even a tattooed islander
who terrified the rest of the crew.
mottled ADJ. blotched in coloring; spotted. When old Falstaff blushed, his face was mottled with embarrassment, all
pink and purple and red.
muddle V. confuse; mix up. His thoughts were muddled
and chaotic. also N.
muggy ADJ. warm and damp. August in New York City is
often muggy.
multifaceted ADJ. having many aspects. A multifaceted
composer, Roger Davidson has recorded original pieces
that range from ragtime tangos to choral masses.
multifarious ADJ . varied; greatly diversified. A career
woman and mother, she was constantly busy with the multifarious activities of her daily life.
multiform ADJ. having many forms. Snowflakes are multiform but always hexagonal.
multilingual ADJ . having many languages. Because
Switzerland is surrounded by France, Germany, Italy, and
Austria, many Swiss people are multilingual.
multiplicity N. state of being numerous. He was appalled
by the multiplicity of details he had to complete before setting out on his mission.
ADJ. worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday.
Uninterested in philosophical or spiritual discussions, Tom
talked only of mundane matters such as the daily weather
forecast or the latest basketball results.
■ mundane
• munificent ADJ. very generous. Shamelessly fawning over
a particularly generous donor, the dean kept on referring to
her as “our munificent benefactor.” munificence, N.
210 Build Your Vocabulary
mural N. wall painting. The walls of the Chicano Community Center are covered with murals painted in the style of
Diego Rivera, the great Mexican artist.
nearsighted Mr. Magoo is markedly myopic. In playing all
summer long and ignoring to store up food for winter, the
grasshopper in Aesop’s fable was myopic as well.
murky ADJ. dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague. The
murky depths of the swamp were so dark that one couldn’t
tell the vines and branches from the snakes.
myriad N. very large number. Myriads of mosquitoes from
the swamps invaded our village every twilight. also ADJ.
muse V . ponder. For a moment he mused about the
beauty of the scene, but his thoughts soon changed as he
recalled his own personal problems. also N.
mushroom V. expand or grow rapidly. Between 1990 and
1999, the population of Silicon Valley mushroomed; with the
rapidly increasing demand for housing, home prices skyrocketed as well.
mystify V. bewilder purposely. When doctors speak in
medical jargon, they often mystify their patients, who have
little knowledge of medical terminology.
nadir N. Iowest point. Although few people realized it, the
Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would
soon begin an upward surge.
musky ADJ. having the odor of musk. She left a trace of
musky perfume behind her.
naiveté N. quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility. Touched by the naiveté of sweet, convent-trained Cosette, Marius pledges himself to protect her
innocence. naive, ADJ.
muster V. gather; assemble. Washington mustered his
forces at Trenton. also N.
narcissist N. conceited person; someone in love with his
own image. A narcissist is her own best friend.
ADJ. stale; spoiled by age. The attic was dark and
narrative ADJ. related to telling a story. A born teller of
tales, Tillie Olsen used her impressive narrative skills to
advantage in her story “I Stand Here Ironing.” narrate, V.
musty
musty.
mutability N. ability to change in form; fickleness. Going
from rags to riches, and then back to rags again, the bankrupt financier was a victim of the mutability of fortune.
muted ADJ. silent; muffled; toned down. Thanks to the
thick, sound-absorbing walls of the cathedral, only muted
traffic noise reached the worshippers within.
mutinous ADJ. unruly; rebellious. The captain had to use
force to quiet his mutinous crew. mutiny, N.
nascent ADJ . incipient; coming into being. If we could
identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent
state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later
years.
natty ADJ. neatly or smartly dressed. Priding himself on
being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected
a wardrobe of imported suits and ties.
myopic ADJ. nearsighted; lacking foresight. Stumbling into
doors despite the coke bottle lenses on his glasses, the
Word List 32 nauseate-obsessive
nauseate V. cause to become sick; fill with disgust. The
foul smells began to nauseate him.
fetched his pail of water; because of his negligence, Kitty
fell in.
nautical ADJ. pertaining to ships or navigation. The Maritime Museum contains many models of clipper ships, logbooks, anchors and many other items of a nautical nature.
negligible ADJ. so small, trifling, or unimportant that it may
be easily disregarded. Because the damage to his car had
been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn’t bother to
report the matter to his insurance company.
navigable ADJ. wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass
through; able to be steered. So much sand had built up at the
bottom of the canal that the waterway was barely navigable.
nebulous ADJ. vague; hazy; cloudy. Phil and Dave tried to
come up with a clear, intelligible business plan, not some
hazy, nebulous proposal.
necromancy N. black magic; dealings with the dead. The
evil sorceror performed feats of necromancy, calling on the
spirits of the dead to tell the future.
• nefarious
ADJ. very wicked. The villain’s crimes, though
various, were one and all nefarious.
nemesis N. someone seeking revenge. Abandoned at sea
in a small boat, the vengeful Captain Bligh vowed to be the
nemesis of Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers.
neologism N. new or newly coined word or phrase. As we
invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent
neologisms such as “microcomputer” and “astronaut” to
describe them.
neophyte N . recent convert; beginner. This mountain
slope contains slides that will challenge experts as well as
neophytes.
adrenalin can negate the effects of fatigue: there’s nothing
like a good shock to wake you up.
nepotism N. favoritism (to a relative). John left his position
with the company because he felt that advancement was
based on nepotism rather than ability.
negligence N. neglect; failure to take reasonable care.
Tommy failed to put back the cover on the well after he
nettle V. annoy; vex. Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks.
■ negate
V . cancel out; nullify; deny. A sudden surge of
Basic Word List 211
neutral ADJ . impartial; not supporting one side over
another. Reluctant to get mixed up in someone else’s quarrel, Bobby tried to remain neutral, but eventually he had to
take sides.
nicety N. subtlety; precision; minute distinction; fine point.
This word list provides illustrative sentences for each entry
word; it cannot, however, explain all the niceties of current
English usage.
nihilist N . one who believes traditional beliefs to be
groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic;
revolutionary terrorist. In his final days, Hitler revealed himself a power-mad nihilist, ready to annihilate all of Western
Europe, even to destroy Germany itself, in order that his will
might prevail. The root of the word nihilist is nihil, Latin for
nothing. nihilism, N.
nip V. stop something’s growth or development; snip off; bite;
make numb with cold. The twins were plotting mischief, but
Mother intervened and nipped that plan in the bud. The gardener nipped off a lovely rose and gave it to me. Last week a
guard dog nipped the postman in the leg; this week the extreme
chill nipped his fingers till he could barely hold the mail.
nirvana N. in Buddhist teachings, the ideal state in which
the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude. Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the
young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could
distract him from his meditation.
nocturnal ADJ. done at night. Mr. Jones obtained a watchdog to prevent the nocturnal raids on his chicken coops.
noisome ADJ. foul-smelling; unwholesome. The noisome
atmosphere downwind of the oil refinery not only stank, it
damaged the lungs of everyone living in the area.
nomadic ADJ. wandering. Several nomadic tribes of Indians would hunt in this area each year.
nomenclature N. terminology; system of names. Sharon
found Latin word parts useful in translating medical nomenclature: when her son had to have a bilateral myringotomy,
she figured out that he just needed a hole in each of his
eardrums to end the earaches he had.
nominal ADJ. in name only; trifling. He offered to drive her
to the airport for only a nominal fee.
N. indifference; lack of concern; composure.
Cool, calm, and collected under fire, James Bond shows
remarkable nonchalance in the face of danger.
■ nonchalance
noncommittal ADJ. neutral; unpledged; undecided. We
were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been
led to expect definite assurances of his approval.
nondescript ADJ. undistinctive; ordinary. The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no outstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd.
nonentity N . person of no importance; nonexistence.
Because the two older princes dismissed their youngest
brother as a nonentity, they did not realize that he was quietly plotting to seize the throne.
nonplus V . bring to halt by confusion; perplex. Jack’s
uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her
uncertain how to react.
nostalgia N . homesickness; longing for the past. My
grandfather seldom spoke of life in the old country; he had
little patience with nostalgia. nostalgic, ADJ.
notable ADJ. conspicuous; important; distinguished. Normally notable for his calm in the kitchen, today the head
cook was shaking, for the notable chef Julia Child was coming to dinner.
N. disrepute; ill fame. To the starlet, any publicity
was good publicity: if she couldn’t have a good reputation,
she’d settle for notoriety. notorious, ADJ.
■ notoriety
N. something new; newness. The computer is no
longer a novelty at work; every desk in our office has one.
novel, ADJ.
■ novelty
novice N. beginner. Even a novice at working with computers can install Barron’s Computer Study Program for the SAT
by following the easy steps outlined in the user’s manual.
noxious ADJ. harmful. We must trace the source of these
noxious gases before they asphyxiate us.
• nuance N. shade of difference in meaning or color; subtle
distinction. Jody gazed at the Monet landscape for an hour,
appreciating every subtle nuance of color in the painting.
nullify V. to make invalid. Once the contract was nullified,
it no longer had any legal force.
numismatist N. person who collects coins. The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.
nuptial ADJ. related to marriage. Reluctant to be married in
a traditional setting, they decided to hold their nuptial ceremony at the carousel in Golden Gate Park.
V. nourish; educate; foster. The Head Start program attempts to nurture pre-kindergarten children so that
they will do well when they enter public school. also N.
■ nurture
nutrient N. nourishing substance. As a budding nutritionist, Kim has learned to design diets that contain foods rich
in important basic nutrients.
oaf N. stupid, awkward person. “Watch what you’re doing,
you clumsy oaf !” Bill shouted at the waiter who had
drenched him with iced coffee.
• obdurate ADJ. stubborn. He was obdurate in his refusal to
listen to our complaints.
obese ADJ. fat. It is advisable that obese people try to lose
weight.
obfuscate V. confuse; muddle; cause confusion; make
needlessly complex. Was the president’s spokesman trying
to clarify the hidden weapons mystery, or was he trying to
obfuscate the issue so the voters would never figure out
what had gone on?
obituary ADJ . death notice. I first learned of her death
when I read the obituary column in the newspaper. also N.
objective ADJ . not influenced by emotions; fair. Even
though he was her son, she tried to be objective about his
behavior.
objective N. goal; aim. A degree in medicine was her ultimate objective.
212 Build Your Vocabulary
obligatory ADJ . binding; required. It is obligatory that
books borrowed from the library be returned within two
weeks.
oblique ADJ. indirect; slanting (deviating from the perpendicular or from a straight line). Casting a quick, oblique
glance at the reviewing stand, the sergeant ordered the
company to march “Oblique Right.”
V. destroy completely. The tidal wave obliterated
several island villages.
■ obliterate
■ oblivion
N. obscurity; forgetfulness. After a decade of pop-
ularity, Hurston’s works had fallen into oblivion ; no one
bothered to read them anymore.
oblivious ADJ. inattentive or unmindful; wholly absorbed.
Deep in her book, Nancy was oblivious to the noisy squabbles of her brother and his friends.
obnoxious ADJ. offensive; objectionable. A sneak and a
tattletale, Sid was an obnoxious little brat.
obscure ADJ. dark; vague; unclear. Even after I read the
poem a fourth time, its meaning was still obscure. obscurity, N.
V . darken; make unclear. At times he seemed
purposely to obscure his meaning, preferring mystery to
clarity.
■ obscure
obsequious ADJ. slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic.
Helen liked to be served by people who behaved as if they
respected themselves; nothing irritated her more than an
excessively obsequious waiter or a fawning salesclerk.
obsessive ADJ. related to thinking about something constantly; preoccupying. Ballet, which had been a hobby,
began to dominate his life: his love of dancing became
obsessive. obsession, N.
Word List 33 obsolete-pacifist
obsolete ADJ. no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated. The
invention of the pocket calculator made the slide rule used
by generations of engineers obsolete.
obstetrician N. physician specializing in delivery of babies.
Unlike midwives, who care for women giving birth at home,
obstetricians generally work in a hospital setting.
ADJ. stubborn; hard to control or treat. We tried
to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate
and refused to change. Blackberry stickers are the most
obstinate weeds I know: once established in a yard, they’re
extremely hard to root out. obstinacy, N.
■ obstinate
obstreperous ADJ. boisterous; noisy. What do you do when
an obstreperous horde of drunken policemen goes carousing through your hotel, crashing into potted plants and
singing vulgar songs?
obtrude V . push (oneself or one’s ideas) forward or
intrude; butt in; stick out or extrude. Because Fanny was
reluctant to obtrude her opinions about child-raising upon
her daughter-in-law, she kept a close watch on her tongue.
obtrusive, ADJ.
obtuse ADJ. blunt; stupid. Because Mr. Collins was too
obtuse to take a hint, Elizabeth finally had to tell him that
she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man on earth.
obviate V. prevent; make unnecessary. In the twentieth
century, people believed electronic communications would
obviate the need for hard copy; they envisioned a paperless society.
• odious ADJ. hateful; vile. Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters had
the odious habit of popping their zits in public.
odium N. strong dislike or contempt; hatefulness; disrepute. Unable to bear the odium attached to their family
name, the killer’s parents changed their name and moved
away from their hometown.
odorous ADJ. having an odor. This variety of hybrid tea
rose is more odorous than the one you have in your garden.
odyssey N. Iong, eventful journey. The refugee’s journey
from Cambodia was a terrifying odyssey.
offensive ADJ. attacking; insulting; distasteful. Getting into
street brawls is no minor matter for professional boxers,
who are required by law to restrict their offensive impulses
to the ring.
offhand ADJ. casual; done without prior thought. Expecting
to be treated with due propriety by her hosts, Great-Aunt
Maud was offended by their offhand manner.
officious ADJ. meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering
one’s services. Judy wanted to look over the new computer
models on her own, but the officious salesman kept on
butting in with “helpful” advice until she was ready to walk
out of the store.
ogle V. look at amorously; make eyes at. At the coffee
house, Walter was too shy to ogle the pretty girls openly;
instead, he peeked out at them from behind a rubber plant.
olfactory ADJ. concerning the sense of smell. A wine taster
must have a discriminating palate and a keen olfactory
sense, for a good wine appeals both to the taste buds and
to the nose.
oligarchy N. government by a privileged few. One small
clique ran the student council: what had been intended as
a democratic governing body had turned into an oligarchy.
ADJ. threatening. Those clouds are ominous; they
suggest a severe storm is on the way.
■ ominous
omnipotent ADJ. all-powerful. Under Stalin, the Soviet government seemed omnipotent: no one dared defy the allpowerful State.
omnipresent ADJ. universally present; ubiquitous. The Beatles are a major musical force, whose influence is
omnipresent in all contemporary popular music.
omniscient ADJ. all-knowing. I may not be omniscient, but I
know a bit more than you do, young man!
omnivorous ADJ . eating both plant and animal food;
devouring everything. Some animals, including man, are
omnivorous and eat both meat and vegetables; others are
either carnivorous or herbivorous.
Basic Word List 213
onerous ADJ . burdensome. He asked for an assistant
because his work load was too onerous.
onset N. beginning; attack. Caught unprepared by the
sudden onset of the storm, we rushed around the house
closing windows and bringing the garden furniture into
shelter. Caught unprepared by the enemy onset, the troops
scrambled to take shelter.
onus N. burden; responsibility. The emperor was spared
the onus of signing the surrender papers; instead, he relegated the assignment to his generals.
opalescent ADJ. iridescent; lustrous. The oil slick on the
water had an opalescent, rainbow-like sheen.
ADJ. dark; not transparent. The opaque window
shade kept the sunlight out of the room. opacity, N.
■ opaque
opiate N. medicine to induce sleep or deaden pain; something that relieves emotions or causes inaction. To say that
religion is the opiate of the people is to condemn religion as
a drug that keeps the people quiet and submissive to those
in power.
opportune ADJ. timely; well-chosen. Sally looked at her
father struggling to balance his checkbook; clearly this
would not be an opportune moment to ask him for a raise in
her allowance.
N . individual who sacrifices principles for
expediency by taking advantage of circumstances. Joe is
such an opportunist that he tripled the price of bottled water
at his store as soon as the earthquake struck. Because it
can break water pipes, an earthquake is, to most people, a
disaster; to Joe, it was an opportunity.
■ opportunist
optician N. maker and seller of eyeglasses. The patient
took the prescription given him by his oculist to the optician.
N. person who looks on the good side. The pessimist says the glass is half-empty; the optimist says it is
half-full.
■ optimist
optimum ADJ. most favorable. If you wait for the optimum
moment to act, you may never begin your project. also N.
optional ADJ. not obligatory; left to one’s choice. Most colleges require applicants to submit SAT scores; at some colleges, however, submitting SAT scores is optional.
N. extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance.
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella’s
breath away. opulent, ADJ.
■ opulence
opus N. work. Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony as his major work, he did not regard it as his major
opus.
oracular ADJ. prophetic; uttered as if with divine authority;
mysterious or ambiguous. Like many others who sought
divine guidance from the oracle at Delphi, Oedipus could
not understand the enigmatic oracular warning he received.
N. public speaker. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass was a brilliant orator whose speeches brought home
to his audience the evils of slavery.
■ orator
ordain V. decree or command; grant holy orders; predestine. The king ordained that no foreigner should be allowed
to enter the city. The Bishop of Michigan ordained David a
deacon in the Episcopal Church. The young lovers felt that
fate had ordained their meeting.
ordeal N. severe trial or affliction. June was so painfully
shy that it was an ordeal for her to speak up when the
teacher called on her in class.
ordinance N. decree. Passing a red light is a violation of a
city ordinance.
ordination N. ceremony making someone a minister. At the
young priest’s ordination, the members of the congregation
presented him with a set of vestments. ordain, V.
orgy N. wild, drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in a
tendency. The Roman emperor’s orgies were far wilder than
the toga party in the movie Animal House. When her income
tax refund check finally arrived, Sally indulged in an orgy of
shopping.
orient V. get one’s bearings; adjust. Philip spent his first
day in Denver orienting himself to the city.
orientation N. act of finding oneself in society. Freshman orientation provides the incoming students with an opportunity
to learn about their new environment and their place in it.
• ornate ADJ. excessively or elaborately decorated. With its
elaborately carved, convoluted lines, furniture of the
Baroque period was highly ornate.
ornithologist N . scientific student of birds. Audubon’s
drawings of American bird life have been of interest not
only to ornithologists but also to the general public.
ornithology N. study of birds. Audubon’s studies of American birds greatly influenced the course of ornithology.
orthodox ADJ. traditional; conservative in belief. Faced with
a problem, he preferred to take an orthodox approach
rather than shock anyone. orthodoxy, N.
oscillate V. vibrate pendulumlike; waver. It is interesting to
note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of
optimism and pessimism.
ossify V. change or harden into bone. When he called his
opponent a “bonehead,” he implied that his adversary’s
brain had ossified to the point that he was incapable of
clear thinking.
ostensible ADJ. apparent; professed; pretended. Although
the ostensible purpose of this expedition is to discover new
lands, we are really interested in finding new markets for
our products.
ADJ . showy; pretentious; trying to attract
attention. Donald Trump’s latest casino in Atlantic City is the
most ostentatious gambling palace in the East: it easily outglitters its competitors. ostentation, N.
■ ostentatious
ostracize V. exclude from public favor; ban. As soon as
the newspapers carried the story of his connection with the
criminals, his friends began to ostracize him. ostracism, N.
oust V. expel; drive out. The world wondered if Aquino
would be able to oust Marcos from office. ouster, N.
outlandish ADJ . bizarre; peculiar; unconventional. The
eccentric professor who engages in markedly outlandish
behavior is a stock figure in novels with an academic setting.
outmoded ADJ. no longer stylish; old-fashioned. Unconcerned about keeping in style, Lenore was perfectly happy
to wear outmoded clothes as long as they were clean and
unfrayed.
214 Build Your Vocabulary
outskirts N. fringes; outer borders. We lived, not in central
London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring
up on the outskirts of a great city.
outspoken ADJ. candid; blunt. The candidate was too outspoken to be a successful politician; he had not yet learned
to weigh his words carefully.
outstrip V . surpass; outdo. Jesse Owens easily outstripped his white competitors to win the gold medal at the
Olympic Games.
outwit V. outsmart; trick. By disguising himself as an old
woman, Holmes was able to outwit his pursuers and
escape capture.
ovation N. enthusiastic applause. When the popular tenor
Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La
Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation.
overbearing ADJ. bossy and arrogant; decisively important. Certain of her own importance, and of the unimpor-
tance of everyone else, Lady Bracknell was intolerably
overbearing in her manner. “In choosing a husband,” she
said, “good birth is of overbearing importance; compared
to that, neither wealth nor talent signifies.”
overt ADJ. open to view. According to the United States
Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he
may be tried for treason.
overwrought ADJ. extremely agitated; hysterical. When
Kate heard the news of the sudden tragedy, she became
too overwrought to work and had to leave the office early.
pachyderm N. thick-skinned animal. The elephant is probably the best-known pachyderm.
N. one opposed to force; antimilitarist. During the
war, though the pacifists refused to bear arms, they nevertheless served in the front lines as ambulance drivers and
medical corpsmen.
■ pacifist
Word List 34 pacify-peccadillo
pacify V. soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue. Dentists
criticize the practice of giving fussy children sweets to
pacify them.
paltry ADJ. insignificant; petty; trifling. One hundred dollars
for a genuine imitation Rolex watch! Lady, this is a paltry
sum to pay for such a high-class piece of jewelry.
pact N. agreement; treaty. Tweedledum and Tweedledee
made a pact not to quarrel anymore.
pan V. criticize harshly. Hoping for a rave review of his
new show, the playwright was miserable when the critics
panned it unanimously.
paean N. song of praise or joy. Paeans celebrating the
victory filled the air.
painstaking ADJ. showing hard work; taking great care.
The new high-frequency word list is the result of painstaking
efforts on the part of our research staff.
palatable ADJ. agreeable; pleasing to the taste. Neither
Jack’s underbaked opinions nor his overcooked casseroles
were palatable to Jill.
paleontology N. study of prehistoric life. The paleontology
instructor had a superb collection of fossils.
palette N. flat surface on which painter mixes pigments;
range of colors commonly used by a particular artist. The
artist’s apprentices had the messy job of cleaning his
brushes and palette. Through chromatic analysis, the forgers were able to match all the colors in Monet’s palette.
pall V. grow tiresome. The study of word lists can eventually pall and put one to sleep.
palliate V. lessen the violence of (a disease); alleviate;
moderate intensity; gloss over with excuses. Not content
merely to palliate the patient’s sores and cankers, the
researcher sought a means of wiping out the disease. palliative, ADJ.
pallid ADJ. pale; wan. Because his job required that he
work at night and sleep during the day, he had an exceptionally pallid complexion.
palpable ADJ. tangible; easily perceptible; unmistakable.
The patient’s enlarged spleen was palpable: even the first
year medical student could feel it.
palpitate V. throb; flutter. As he became excited, his heart
began to palpitate more and more erratically.
panacea N. cure-all; remedy for all diseases. The rich
youth cynically declared that the panacea for all speeding
tickets was a big enough bribe.
panache N. flair; flamboyance. Many performers imitate
Noel Coward, but few have his panache and sense of style.
pandemic ADJ . widespread; affecting the majority of
people. They feared the AIDS epidemic would soon reach
pandemic proportions.
pandemonium N. wild tumult. When the ships collided in
the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
pander V. cater to the low desires of others. The reviewer
accused the makers of Lethal Weapon of pandering to the
masses’ taste for violence.
panegyric N . formal praise. Blushing at all the praise
heaped upon him by the speakers, the modest hero said, “I
don’t deserve such panegyrics.”
panoramic ADJ. related to an unobstructed and comprehensive view. From Inspiration Point we had a magnificent
panoramic view of the Marin headlands and San Francisco
Bay. panorama, N.
pantomime N . acting without dialogue. Artists in pantomime need no words to communicate with their audience;
their only language is gesture. also V.
papyrus N. ancient paper made from stem of papyrus
plant. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to write
on papyrus.
parable N. short, simple story teaching a moral. Let us
apply to our own conduct the lesson that this parable
teaches.
Basic Word List 215
paradigm N. model; example; pattern. Pavlov’s experiment
in which he trains a dog to salivate on hearing a bell is a
paradigm of the conditioned-response experiment in
behavioral psychology. Barron’s How to Prepare for College
Entrance Examinations was a paradigm for all the SAT-prep
books that followed.
paradox N. something apparently contradictory in nature;
statement that looks false but is actually correct. Richard
presents a bit of a paradox, for he is a card-carrying member of both the National Rifle Association and the relatively
pacifist American Civil Liberties Union.
paragon N. model of perfection. Her fellow students disliked Lavinia because Miss Minchin always pointed her out
as a paragon of virtue.
Hepburn and Spencer Tracy parry each other’s verbal
thrusts in their classic screwball comedies!
• parsimony
N . stinginess; excessive frugality. Furious
because her father wouldn’t let her buy out the clothing
store, Annie accused him of parsimony.
partial ADJ. incomplete; having a liking for something. In
this issue we have published only a partial list of contributors because we lack space to acknowledge everyone. I
am extremely partial to chocolate eclairs.
partiality N. inclination; bias. As a judge, not only must I be
unbiased, but I must also avoid any evidence of partiality
when I award the prize.
parallelism N. state of being parallel; similarity. Although the
twins were separated at birth and grew up in different adoptive families, a striking parallelism exists between their lives.
ADJ. one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party.
On certain issues of principle, she refused to take a partisan
stand, but let her conscience be her guide. Rather than joining forces to solve our nation’s problems, the Democrats and
Republicans spend their time on partisan struggles. also N.
parameter N . boundary; limiting factor; distinguishing
characteristic. According to feminist Andrea Dworkin, men
have defined the parameters of every subject; now women
must redefine the limits of each field.
partition V. divide into parts. Before their second daughter
was born, Jason and Lizzie decided each child needed a
room of her own, and so they partitioned a large bedroom
into two small but separate rooms. also N.
paramount ADJ. foremost in importance; supreme. Proper
nutrition and hygiene are of paramount importance in adolescent development and growth.
passive ADJ. not active; acted upon. Mahatma Gandhi
urged his followers to pursue a program of passive resistance as he felt that it was more effective than violence and
acts of terrorism.
paranoia N. psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur
or persecution. Suffering from paranoia, Don claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate:
even paranoids have enemies.
paraphernalia N. equipment; odds and ends. His desk
was cluttered with paper, pen, ink, dictionary and other
paraphernalia of the writing craft.
paraphrase V. restate a passage in one’s own words while
retaining thought of author. In 250 words or less, paraphrase this article. also N.
parasite N. animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant. The tapeworm is an example of the kind of parasite
that may infest the human body.
parched ADJ . extremely dry; very thirsty. The parched
desert landscape seemed hostile to life.
• pariah
N . social outcast. If everyone ostracized singer
Mariah Carey, would she then be Mariah the pariah?
parity N. equality in status or amount; close resemblance.
Unfortunately, some doubt exists whether women’s salaries
will ever achieve parity with men’s.
■ partisan
passport N. legal document identifying the bearer as a citizen of a country and allowing him or her to travel abroad. In
arranging your first trip abroad, be sure to allow yourself
enough time to apply for and receive your passport: you
won’t be allowed to travel without one.
pastiche N. piece of writing or music made up of borrowed
bits and pieces; hodgepodge. Her essay was a pastiche of
fragments of articles she had found on the Internet.
pastoral ADJ. rural; simple and peaceful; idyllic; related to
shepherds. Tired of the stress of life in the city, Dana dreamed
of moving to the country and enjoying a simple pastoral life.
patent ADJ. open for the public to read; obvious. It was
patent to everyone that the witness spoke the truth. also N.
pathetic ADJ. causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching. Everyone in the auditorium was weeping by the time he
finished his pathetic tale about the orphaned boy.
pathological ADJ. related to the study of disease; diseased
or markedly abnormal. Jerome’s pathological fear of germs
led him to wash his hands a hundred times a day. pathology, N.
parochial ADJ . narrow in outlook; provincial; related to
parishes. Although Jane Austen sets her novels in small
rural communities, her concerns are universal, not parochial.
pathos N. tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that
produces these feelings. The quiet tone of pathos that ran
through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or
the overly sentimental.
show Forbidden Broadway presents parodies spoofing the
year’s new productions playing on Broadway.
patina N. green crust on old bronze works; tone slowly
taken by varnished painting. Judging by the patina on this
bronze statue, we can conclude that this is the work of a
medieval artist.
• parody N. humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty. The
paroxysm N. fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage. When he
heard of his son’s misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm
of rage.
parry V. ward off a blow; deflect. Unwilling to injure his
opponent in such a pointless clash, Dartagnan simply tried
to parry his rival’s thrusts. What fun it was to watch Katharine
patriarch N. father and ruler of a family or tribe. In many
primitive tribes, the leader and lawmaker was the patriarch.
patrician ADJ. noble; aristocratic. We greatly admired her
well-bred, patrician elegance. also N.
216 Build Your Vocabulary
patronize V. support; act superior toward; be a customer
of. Penniless artists hope to find some wealthy art-lover who
will patronize them. If some condescending wine steward
patronized me because he saw I knew nothing about fine
wine, I’d refuse to patronize his restaurant.
• paucity N. scarcity. They closed the restaurant because
pauper N. very poor person. Though Widow Brown was
living on a reduced income, she was by no means a
pauper.
peccadillo N. slight offense. When Peter Piper picked a
peck of Polly Potter’s pickles, did Pete commit a major
crime or just a peccadillo?
the paucity of customers made it uneconomical to operate.
Word List 35 pecuniary-philanderer
pecuniary ADJ . pertaining to money. Seldom earning
enough to cover their expenses, folk dance teachers work
because they love dancing, not because they expect any
pecuniary reward.
pedagogy N. teaching; art of education. Though Maria
Montessori gained fame for her innovations in pedagogy, it
took years before her teaching techniques were common
practice in American schools.
pedant N. scholar who overemphasizes book learning or
technicalities. Her insistence that the book be memorized
marked the teacher as a pedant rather than a scholar.
pedantic ADJ. showing off learning; bookish. Leavening his
decisions with humorous, down-to-earth anecdotes, Judge
Walker was not at all the pedantic legal scholar. pedant,
pedantry, N.
pedestrian ADJ. ordinary; unimaginative. Unintentionally
boring, he wrote page after page of pedestrian prose.
pediatrician N. expert in children’s diseases. The family
doctor advised the parents to consult a pediatrician about
their child’s ailment.
peerless ADJ. having no equal; incomparable. The reigning operatic tenor of his generation, to his admirers
Luciano Pavarotti was peerless: no one could compare
with him.
perceptive ADJ. insightful; aware; wise. Although Maud
was a generally perceptive critic, she had her blind spots:
she could never see flaws in the work of her friends.
percussion ADJ . striking one object against another
sharply. The drum is a percussion instrument. also N.
perdition N. damnation; complete ruin. Praying for salvation, young Steven Daedalus feared he was damned to
eternal perdition.
peregrination N. journey. Auntie Mame was a world traveler
whose peregrinations took her from Tiajuana to Timbuctoo.
peremptory ADJ. demanding and leaving no choice. From
Jack’s peremptory knock on the door, Jill could tell he
would not give up until she let him in.
perennial N. something that is continuing or recurrent.
These plants are hardy perennials and will bloom for many
years. also ADJ.
perfidious ADJ. treacherous; disloyal. When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend. perfidy, N.
perforate V. pierce; put a hole through. Before you can
open the aspirin bottle, you must first perforate the plastic
safety seal that covers the cap.
• perfunctory ADJ. superficial; not thorough; lacking interest,
pejorative ADJ. negative in connotation; having a belittling
effect. Instead of criticizing Schwarzenegger’s policies, the
Democrats made pejorative comments about his character.
care, or enthusiasm. The auditor’s perfunctory inspection of
the books overlooked many errors. Giving the tabletop only
a perfunctory swipe with her dust cloth, Betty promised herself she’d clean it more thoroughly tomorrow.
pellucid ADJ. transparent; limpid; easy to understand. After
reading these stodgy philosophers, I find Bertrand Russell’s
pellucid style very enjoyable.
perimeter N. outer boundary. To find the perimeter of any
quadrilateral, we add the lengths of the four sides.
penchant N. strong inclination; liking. Dave has a penchant
for taking risks: one semester he went steady with three
girls, two of whom were stars on the school karate team.
pendant N. ornament (hanging from a necklace, etc.) The
grateful team presented the coach with a silver chain and
pendant engraved with the school’s motto.
penitent ADJ. repentant. When he realized the enormity of
his crime, he became remorseful and penitent. also N.
pensive ADJ. dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of
sadness; contemplative. The pensive lover gazed at the
portrait of his beloved and deeply sighed.
• penury N. severe poverty; stinginess. When his pension
fund failed, George feared he would end his days in
penury. He became such a penny pincher that he turned
into a closefisted, penurious miser.
ADJ. marginal; outer. We lived, not in central
London, but in one of those peripheral suburbs that spring
up on the outskirts of a great city.
■ peripheral
periphery N . edge, especially of a round surface. He
sensed that there was something just beyond the periphery
of his vision.
perjury N. false testimony while under oath. Rather than lie
under oath and perhaps be indicted for perjury, the witness
chose to take the Fifth Amendment, refusing to answer any
questions on the grounds that he might incriminate himself.
permeable ADJ. penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or
gas to pass through. If your jogging clothes weren’t made
out of permeable fabric, you’d drown in your own perspiration (figuratively speaking).
permeate V . pass through; spread. The odor of frying
onions permeated the air.
Basic Word List 217
• pernicious ADJ. very destructive. Crack cocaine has had a
pernicious effect on urban society: it has destroyed families, turned children into drug dealers, and increased the
spread of violent crimes.
perpetrate V. commit an offense. Only an insane person
could perpetrate such a horrible crime.
perpetual ADJ. everlasting. Ponce de Leon hoped to find
the legendary fountain of perpetual youth.
V. make something last; preserve from extinction. Some critics attack The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn because they believe Twain’s book perpetuates a false
image of Blacks in this country.
■ perpetuate
perquisite N . any gain above stipulated salary. The
perquisites attached to this job make it even more attractive
than the salary indicates.
persevere V. persist; endure; strive. Despite the church’s
threats to excommunicate him for heresy, Galileo persevered in his belief that the earth moved around the sun.
persona N. public personality or facade. Offstage the
comedian was a sullen, irritable grumbler, a far cry from his
ever-cheerful adopted stage persona.
personable ADJ. attractive. Though not as strikingly handsome as a movie star, James was nonetheless a personable young man.
perspicacious ADJ . having insight; penetrating; astute.
“Absolutely brilliant, Holmes!” cried Watson, as Holmes
made yet another perspicacious deduction. perspicacity, N.
pert ADJ. impertinent; forward. The matron in charge of the
orphanage thought Annie was pert and disrespectful.
pertinacious ADJ. stubborn; persistent. He is bound to
succeed because his pertinacious nature will not permit
him to quit.
pertinent ADJ. to the point; relevant. Virginia Woolf’s words
on women’s rights are as pertinent today as they were when
she wrote them nearly a century ago.
perturb V. disturb greatly. The thought that electricity might
be leaking out of the empty lightbulb sockets perturbed my
aunt so much that at night she crept about the house screwing fresh bulbs in the vacant spots. perturbation, N.
peruse V . read with care. After the conflagration that
burned down her house, Joan closely perused her home
insurance policy to discover exactly what benefits her coverage provided her. perusal, N.
ADJ. pervading; spread throughout every part.
Despite airing them for several hours, Martha could not rid
her clothes of the pervasive odor of mothballs that clung to
them. pervade, V.
■ pervasive
perverse ADJ. stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and perverted. When Jack was in a perverse mood, he would do the
opposite of whatever Jill asked him. When Hannibal Lecter
was in a perverse mood, he ate the flesh of his victims. Jack
acted out of perversity. Hannibal’s act proved his perversion.
N . belief that life is basically bad or evil;
gloominess. Considering how well you have done in the
course so far, you have no real reason for such pessimism
about your final grade.
■ pessimism
petrify V. turn to stone. His sudden, unexpected appearance shocked her into immobility: she was petrified.
petty ADJ . trivial; unimportant; very small. She had no
major complaints to make about his work, only a few petty
quibbles that were almost too minor to state.
petulant ADJ. touchy; peevish. If you’d had hardly any
sleep for three nights and people kept phoning and waking
you up, you’d sound pretty petulant, too.
N . observable facts; subjects of scientific
investigation. We kept careful records of the phenomena
we noted in the course of these experiments.
■ phenomena
philanderer N. faithless lover; flirt. Swearing he had never
so much as looked at another woman, Ralph assured Alice
he was no philanderer.
Word List 36 philanthropist-precedent
N. lover of mankind; doer of good. In his role
as philanthropist and public benefactor, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., donated millions to charity; as an individual, however, he was a tight-fisted old man.
■ philanthropist
philistine N. narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain. A philistine knows the
price of everything, but the value of nothing.
philology N. study of language. The professor of philology
advocated the use of Esperanto as an international language.
phlegmatic ADJ. calm; not easily disturbed. The nurse was
a cheerful but phlegmatic person, unexcited in the face of
sudden emergencies.
phobia N. morbid fear. Her fear of flying was more than
mere nervousness; it was a real phobia.
phoenix N . symbol of immortality or rebirth. Like the
legendary phoenix rising from its ashes, the city of San
Francisco rose again after its destruction during the 1906
earthquake.
phylum N. major class of plants; primary branch of animal
kingdom; division. In sorting out her hundreds of packets of
seeds, Katya decided to file them by phylum.
physiological ADJ. pertaining to the science of the function
of living organisms. To understand this disease fully, we
must examine not only its physiological aspects but also its
psychological elements.
picaresque ADJ. pertaining to rogues in literature. Tom
Jones has been hailed as one of the best picaresque novels in the English language.
piebald ADJ. mottled; spotted. You should be able to identify
Polka Dot in this race; it is the only piebald horse running.
piecemeal ADV. one piece at a time; gradually. Tolstoy’s
War and Peace is too huge to finish in one sitting; I’ll have
to read it piecemeal.
218 Build Your Vocabulary
pied ADJ . variegated; multicolored. The Pied Piper of
Hamelin got his name from the multicolored clothing he
wore.
giarized parts of his essay; she could recognize whole
paragraphs straight from Barron’s Book Notes.
N. religious devotion; godliness. The nuns in the con-
plaintive ADJ . mournful. The dove has a plaintive and
melancholy call.
vent were noted for their piety; they spent their days in worship and prayer. pious, ADJ.
plasticity N. ability to be molded. When clay dries out, it
loses its plasticity and becomes less malleable.
pigment N. coloring matter. Van Gogh mixed various pigments with linseed oil to create his paints.
platitude N. trite remark; commonplace statement. In giving
advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in
platitudes; every word out of his mouth was a commonplace.
■ piety
pillage V. plunder. The enemy pillaged the quiet village
and left it in ruins.
pine V. languish, decline; long for, yearn. Though she tried
to be happy living with Clara in the city, Heidi pined for the
mountains and for her gruff but loving grandfather.
pinnacle N. peak. We could see the morning sunlight illuminate the pinnacle while the rest of the mountain lay in
shadow.
pious ADJ. devout; religious. The challenge for church
people today is how to be pious in the best sense, that is, to
be devout without becoming hypocritical or sanctimonious.
piety, N.
piquant ADJ . pleasantly tart-tasting; stimulating. The
piquant sauce added to our enjoyment of the meal.
piquancy, N.
pique N. irritation; resentment. She showed her pique at
her loss by refusing to appear with the other contestants at
the end of the competition. also V.
pique V. provoke or arouse; annoy. “I know something you
don’t know,” said Lucy, trying to pique Ethel’s interest.
• pitfall
N . hidden danger; concealed trap. Her parents
warned young Sophie against the many pitfalls that lay in
wait for her in the dangerous big city.
• pithy ADJ. concise; meaningful; substantial; meaty. While
other girls might have gone on and on about how uncool
Elton was, Liz summed it up in one pithy remark: “He’s
bogus!”
pittance N. a small allowance or wage. He could not live
on the pittance he received as a pension and had to look
for an additional source of revenue.
pivotal ADJ. crucial; key; vital. The new “smart weapons”
technology played a pivotal role in the quick resolution of
the war with Iraq.
V. pacify; conciliate. The store manager tried to
placate the angry customer, offering to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money right away.
■ placate
placebo N. harmless substance prescribed as a dummy
pill. In a controlled experiment, fifty volunteers were given
aspirin tablets; the control group received only placebos.
placid ADJ. peaceful; calm. Looking at the storm-tossed
waters of the lake, Bob wondered how people had ever
come to call it Lake Placid.
plagiarism N. theft of another’s ideas or writings passed off
as original. The editor recognized the plagiarism and
rebuked the culprit who had presented the manuscript as
original.
plagiarize V. steal another’s ideas and pass them off as
one’s own. The teacher could tell that the student had pla-
plaudit N . enthusiastically worded approval; round of
applause. The theatrical company reprinted the plaudits of
the critics in its advertisements. plauditory, ADJ.
plausible ADJ. having a show of truth but open to doubt;
specious. Your mother made you stay home from school
because she needed you to program the VCR? I’m sorry,
you’ll have to come up with a more plausible excuse than
that.
plenitude N. abundance; completeness. Looking in the
pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we
had preserved during the summer.
plethora N . excess; overabundance. She offered a
plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
pliable ADJ. flexible; yielding; adaptable. In remodeling the
bathroom, we have replaced all the old, rigid lead pipes
with new, pliable copper tubing.
pliant ADJ. flexible; easily influenced. Pinocchio’s disposition was pliant; he was like putty in his tempters’ hands.
plight N. condition, state (especially a bad state or condition); predicament. Many people feel that the federal government should do more to alleviate the plight of the
homeless. Loggers, unmoved by the plight of the spotted
owl, plan to continue logging whether or not they ruin the
owl’s habitat.
plumage N. feathers of a bird. Bird watchers identify different species of bird by their characteristic songs and distinctive plumage.
plumb ADJ . checking perpendicularity; vertical. Before
hanging wallpaper it is advisable to drop a plumb line from
the ceiling as a guide. also N. and V.
plumb V. examine critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding). Try as he would, Watson could
never fully plumb the depths of Holmes’s thought
processes.
plummet V. fall sharply. Stock prices plummeted as Wall
Street reacted to the crisis in the economy.
plutocracy N. society ruled by the wealthy. From the way
the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy.
podiatrist N. doctor who treats ailments of the feet. He
consulted a podiatrist about his fallen arches.
podium N . pedestal; raised platform. The audience
applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium.
poignancy N. quality of being deeply moving; keenness of
emotion. Watching the tearful reunion of the long-separated
mother and child, the social worker was touched by the
poignancy of the scene. poignant, ADJ.
Basic Word List 219
polarize V. split into opposite extremes or camps. The
abortion issue has polarized the country into pro-choice
and anti-abortion camps. polarization, N.
potable ADJ. suitable for drinking. The recent drought in the
Middle Atlantic states has emphasized the need for extensive research in ways of making sea water potable. also N.
Lexy was a master of polemical rhetoric; she should have
worn a T-shirt with the slogan “Born to Debate.”
potent ADJ. powerful; persuasive; greatly influential. Looking at the expiration date on the cough syrup bottle, we
wondered whether the medication would still be potent.
potency, N.
• polemical ADJ. aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious.
politic ADJ. expedient; prudent; well advised. Even though
he was disappointed by the size of the bonus he was
offered, he did not think it politic to refuse it.
polygamist N. one who has more than one spouse at a
time. He was arrested as a polygamist when his two wives
filed complaints about him.
polyglot ADJ. speaking several languages. New York City
is a polyglot community because of the thousands of immigrants who settle there.
pomposity N. self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed
shirt. Although the commencement speaker had some
good things to say, we had to laugh at his pomposity and
general air of parading his own dignity. pompous, ADJ.
■ ponderous
ADJ. weighty; unwieldy. His humor lacked the
light touch; his jokes were always ponderous.
pontifical ADJ. pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or
pretentious. From his earliest days at the seminary, John
seemed destined for a high pontifical office. However, he
sounded so pompous when he pontificated that he never
was chosen pontiff after all.
pore V . study industriously; ponder; scrutinize. Determined to become a physician, Beth spent hours poring over
her anatomy text.
porous ADJ. full of pores; like a sieve. Dancers like to wear
porous clothing because it allows the ready passage of
water and air.
portend V. foretell; presage. The king did not know what
these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to
interpret them.
portent N. sign; omen; forewarning. He regarded the black
cloud as a portent of evil.
portly ADJ. stately; stout. The overweight gentleman was
referred to as portly by the polite salesclerk.
poseur N. person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others. Some thought Salvador Dali
was a brilliant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.
posterity N. descendants; future generations. We hope to
leave a better world to posterity.
posthumous ADJ. after death (as of child born after father’s
death or book published after author’s death). The critics
ignored his works during his lifetime; it was only after the
posthumous publication of his last novel that they recognized his great talent.
postulate N. essential premise; underlying assumption.
The basic postulate of democracy, set forth in the Declaration of Independence, is that all men are created equal.
potentate N. monarch; sovereign. The potentate spent
more time at Monte Carlo than he did at home on his
throne.
potential ADJ . expressing possibility; latent. The cello
teacher viewed every new pupil as a potential Yo-Yo Ma.
also N.
potion N. dose (of liquid). Tristan and Isolde drink a love
potion in the first act of the opera.
practicable ADJ. feasible. The board of directors decided
that the plan was practicable and agreed to undertake the
project.
practical ADJ . based on experience; useful. He was a
practical man, opposed to theory.
practitioner N. someone engaged in a profession (law,
medicine). In need of a hip replacement, Carl sought a
practitioner with considerable experience performing this
particular surgery.
ADJ. practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something. This
coming trip to France should provide me with a pragmatic
test of the value of my conversational French class.
■ pragmatic
pragmatist N . practical person. No pragmatist enjoys
becoming involved in a game he can never win.
prank N. mischievous trick. Is tipping over garbage cans
on Halloween merely a childish prank, or is it vandalism?
prate V. speak foolishly; boast idly. Despite Elizabeth’s
obvious disinclination for the topic, Mr. Collins prated on
and on about his wonderful prospects as a husband,
thanks to his noble patron, Lady Catherine de Burgh.
• prattle V. babble. Baby John prattled on and on about the
cats and his ball and the Cookie Monster.
preamble N. introductory statement. In the Preamble to the
Constitution, the purpose of the document is set forth.
• precarious ADJ. uncertain; risky. Saying the stock would
be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client
against purchasing it.
precedent N. something preceding in time that may be
used as an authority or guide for future action. If I buy you a
car for your sixteenth birthday, your brothers will want me to
buy them cars when they turn sixteen, too; I can’t afford to
set such an expensive precedent. The law professor asked
Jill to state which famous case served as a precedent for
the court’s decision in Brown II.
220 Build Your Vocabulary
Word List 37 precept-propitiate
precept N. practical rule guiding conduct. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is a worthwhile precept.
precinct N. district or division of a city. Ed McBain’s detective novels set in the 87th precinct provide an exciting picture
of police work.
precipice N. cliff; dangerous position. Suddenly Indiana
Jones found himself dangling from the edge of a precipice.
precipitate ADJ. rash; premature; hasty; sudden. Though I
was angry enough to resign on the spot, I had enough
sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion.
precipitate V . throw headlong; hasten. The removal of
American political support appears to have precipitated the
downfall of the Marcos regime.
precipitous ADJ. steep; overhasty. This hill is difficult to
climb because it is so precipitous ; one slip, and our
descent will be precipitous as well.
précis N. concise summing up of main points. Before making her presentation at the conference, Ellen wrote up a
neat précis of the major elements she would cover.
precise ADJ. exact. If you don’t give me precise directions
and a map, I’ll never find your place.
V. make impossible; eliminate. The fact that the
band was already booked to play in Hollywood on New
Year’s Eve precluded their accepting the New Year’s Eve
gig in London they were offered.
■ preclude
■ precocious
ADJ. advanced in development. Listening to the
grown-up way the child discussed serious topics, we couldn’t
help remarking how precocious she was. precocity, N.
precursor N. forerunner. Though Gray and Burns share
many traits with the Romantic poets who followed them,
most critics consider them precursors of the Romantic
Movement, not true Romantics.
N. creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others. Not just cats, but a
wide variety of predators—owls, hawks, weasels, foxes—
catch mice for dinner. A carnivore is by definition predatory,
for he preys on weaker creatures.
■ predator
N. former occupant of a post. I hope I can
live up to the fine example set by my late predecessor in
this office.
■ predecessor
predetermine V. predestine; settle or decide beforehand;
influence markedly. Romeo and Juliet believed that Fate
had predetermined their meeting. Bea gathered estimates
from caterers, florists, and stationers so that she could predetermine the costs of holding a catered buffet. Philip’s love
of athletics predetermined his choice of a career in sports
marketing.
predicament N. tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma. Tied
to the railroad tracks by the villain, Pauline strained against her
bonds. How would she escape from this terrible predicament?
predilection N . partiality; preference. Although Ogden
Nash wrote all sorts of poetry over the years, he had a definite predilection for limericks.
predispose V. give an inclination toward; make susceptible to. Oleg’s love of dressing up his big sister’s Barbie doll
may have predisposed him to become a fashion designer.
Genetic influences apparently predispose people to certain
forms of cancer.
preeminent ADJ. outstanding; superior. The king traveled
to Boston because he wanted the preeminent surgeon in
the field to perform the operation.
preempt V. head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate
for oneself; supplant. Hoping to preempt any attempts by
the opposition to make educational reform a hot political
issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the
public schools. preemptive, ADJ.
preen V. make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction. As Kitty preened before the mirror, carefully
smoothing her shining hair, she couldn’t help preening over
how pretty she looked.
prehensile ADJ. capable of grasping or holding. Monkeys
use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile
tails in traveling through the trees.
prelate N. church dignitary. The archbishop of Moscow
and other high-ranking prelates visited the Russian Orthodox seminary.
prelude N. introduction; forerunner. I am afraid that this
border raid is the prelude to more serious attacks.
premeditate V. plan in advance. She had premeditated the
murder for months, reading about common poisons and
buying weed killer that contained arsenic.
premise N. assumption; postulate. Based on the premise
that there’s no fool like an old fool, P. T. Barnum hired a
ninety-year-old clown for his circus.
premonition N. forewarning. In horror movies, the hero
often has a premonition of danger, yet he foolishly ignores it.
preposterous ADJ. absurd; ridiculous. When he tried to
downplay his youthful experiments with marijuana by saying
he hadn’t inhaled, we all thought, “What a preposterous
excuse!”
prerogative N. privilege; unquestionable right. The president cannot levy taxes; that is the prerogative of the legislative branch of government.
presage V. foretell. The vultures flying overhead presaged
the discovery of the corpse in the desert.
prescience N. ability to foretell the future. Given the current
wave of Japan-bashing, it does not take prescience for me
to foresee problems in our future trade relations with Japan.
presentiment N. feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition. Saying goodbye at the airport, Jack
had a sudden presentiment that this was the last time he
would see Jill.
Basic Word List 221
prestige N. impression produced by achievements or reputation. Many students want to go to Harvard College not for
the education offered but for the prestige of Harvard’s name.
■ presumptuous
ADJ. overconfident; impertinently bold; tak-
ing liberties. Matilda thought it was somewhat presumptuous of the young man to have addressed her without first
having been introduced. Perhaps manners were freer here
in the New World.
ADJ. ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitious. None of the other prize winners are wearing their medals; isn’t it a bit pretentious of
you to wear yours?
■ pretentious
preternatural ADJ. beyond what is normal in nature. Malcolm’s mother’s total ability to tell when he was Iying struck
him as almost preternatural.
pretext N. excuse. He looked for a good pretext to get out
of paying a visit to his aunt.
prevail V. induce; triumph over. He tried to prevail on her
to type his essay for him.
prod V. poke; stir up; urge. If you prod him hard enough,
he’ll eventually clean his room.
ADJ. wasteful; reckless with money. Don’t be so
prodigal spending my money; when you’ve earned some
money yourself, you can waste it as much as you want!
also N.
■ prodigal
prodigious ADJ . marvelous; enormous. Watching the
champion weight lifter heave the weighty barbell to shoulder height and then boost it overhead, we marveled at his
prodigious strength.
prodigy N . marvel; highly gifted child. Menuhin was a
prodigy, performing wonders on his violin when he was
barely eight years old.
V. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily. The members of the mysterious Far Eastern cult sought to kill the
British explorer because he had profaned the sanctity of
their holy goblet by using it as an ashtray. also ADJ.
■ profane
• profligate
ADJ . dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral.
Although surrounded by wild and profligate companions,
she nevertheless managed to retain some sense of
decency.
ADJ. widespread; generally accepted. A radical
committed to social change, Reed had no patience with the
conservative views prevalent in the America of his day.
■ profound
prevaricate V. Iie. Some people believe that to prevaricate
in a good cause is justifiable and regard such a statement
as a “white lie.”
■ profusion
■ prevalent
prey N . target of a hunt; victim. In Stalking the Wild
Asparagus, Euell Gibbons has as his prey not wild beasts
but wild plants. also V.
prim ADJ. very precise and formal; exceedingly proper.
Never having worked as a governess before, Jane thought
it best to assume a very prim and proper manner so that
her charges would not take liberties with her.
primordial ADJ. existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary. The Neanderthal Man is one of our primordial
ancestors.
primp V . groom oneself with care; adorn oneself. The
groom stood by idly while his nervous bride-to-be primped
one last time before the mirror.
pristine ADJ . characteristic of earlier times; primitive;
unspoiled. This area has been preserved in all its pristine
wildness.
privation N. hardship; want. In his youth, he knew hunger
and privation.
probe V . explore with tools. The surgeon probed the
wound for foreign matter before suturing it. also N.
problematic ADJ. doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing. Given the way building costs have exceeded estimates for the job, whether the arena will ever be completed
is problematic.
proclivity N. inclination; natural tendency. Watching the
two-year-old voluntarily put away his toys, I was amazed by
his proclivity for neatness.
procrastinate V. postpone; delay or put off. Looking at four
years of receipts and checks he still had to sort through,
Bob was truly sorry he had procrastinated for so long and
not finished filing his taxes long ago.
ADJ . deep; not superficial; complete. Freud’s
remarkable insights into human behavior caused his fellow
scientists to honor him as a profound thinker. profundity, N.
N. overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess.
Freddy was so overwhelmed by the profusion of choices on
the menu that he knocked over his wine glass and soaked
his host. He made profuse apologies to his host, the waiter,
the bus boy, the people at the next table, and the attendant
handing out paper towels.
progenitor N. ancestor. The Roth family, whose progenitors emigrated from Germany early in the nineteenth century, settled in Peru, Illinois.
progeny N. children; offspring. He was proud of his progeny in general, but regarded George as the most promising
of all his children.
prognosis N. forecasted course of a disease; prediction. If
the doctor’s prognosis is correct, the patient will be in a
coma for at least twenty-four hours.
projectile N. missile. Man has always hurled projectiles at
his enemy, whether in the form of stones or of highly explosive shells.
proletarian N. member of the working class; blue collar
person. “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to
lose but your chains” is addressed to proletarians , not
preppies. So is Blue Collar Holler. proletariat, N.
■ proliferation
N. rapid growth; spread; multiplication. Times
of economic hardship inevitably encourage the proliferation
of countless get-rich-quick schemes. proliferate, V.
■ prolific
ADJ. abundantly fruitful. My editors must assume
I’m a prolific writer: they expect me to revise six books this
year!
prolixity N. tedious wordiness; verbosity. A writer who suffers from prolixity tells his readers everything they never
wanted to know about his subject (or were too bored to
ask). prolix, ADJ.
222 Build Your Vocabulary
prologue N. introduction (to a poem or play). In the prologue to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare introduces the
audience to the feud between the Montagues and the
Capulets.
prolong V. make longer; draw out; lengthen. In their determination to discover ways to prolong human life, doctors
fail to take into account that longer lives are not always
happier ones.
promulgate V. proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by
official publication. When Moses came down from the
mountaintop all set to promulgate God’s commandments,
he freaked out on discovering his followers worshipping a
golden calf.
prone ADJ. inclined to; prostrate. She was prone to sudden
fits of anger during which she would lie prone on the floor,
screaming and kicking her heels.
prominent ADJ. conspicuous; notable; sticking out. Have
you ever noticed that Prince Charles’s prominent ears make
him look like the big-eared character in Mad comics?
propagate V. multiply; spread. Since bacteria propagate
more quickly in unsanitary environments, it is important to
keep hospital rooms clean.
promiscuous ADJ . mixed indiscriminately; haphazard;
irregular, particularly sexually. In the opera La Bohème, we
get a picture of the promiscuous life led by the young artists
of Paris.
propellants N. substances that propel or drive forward.
The development of our missile program has forced our scientists to seek more powerful propellants.
promontory N. headland. They erected a lighthouse on the
promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to
the shore.
promote V. help to flourish; advance in rank; publicize.
Founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright
Edelman ceaselessly promotes the welfare of young people
everywhere.
prompt V. cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor.
Whatever prompted you to ask for such a big piece of cake
when you’re on a diet?
propensity N. natural inclination. Convinced of his own talent, Sol has an unfortunate propensity to belittle the talents
of others.
prophetic ADJ. foretelling the future. I have no magical
prophetic powers; when I predict what will happen, I base
my predictions on common sense. prophesy, V.
propinquity N. nearness; kinship. Their relationship could
not be explained as being based on mere propinquity; they
were more than relatives, they were true friends.
propitiate V. appease. The natives offered sacrifices to
propitiate the gods.
Word List 38 propitious-quarry
propitious ADJ. favorable; fortunate; advantageous. Chloe
consulted her horoscope to see whether Tuesday would be
a propitious day to dump her boyfriend.
proponent N. supporter; backer; opposite of opponent. In
the Senate, proponents of the universal health care measure lobbied to gain additional support for the controversial
legislation.
propound V. put forth for analysis. In your discussion, you
have propounded several questions; let us consider each
one separately.
propriety N. fitness; correct conduct. Miss Manners counsels her readers so that they may behave with due propriety
in any social situation and not embarrass themselves.
propulsive A D J . driving forward. The jet plane has
a greater propulsive power than the engine-driven
plane.
prosaic ADJ. dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual.
Though the ad writers came up with an original way to publicize the product, the head office rejected it for a more prosaic, ordinary slogan.
proscribe V. ostracize; banish; outlaw. Antony, Octavius,
and Lepidus proscribed all those who had conspired
against Julius Caesar.
proselytize V. convert to a religion or belief. In these interfaith meetings, there must be no attempt to proselytize; we
must respect all points of view.
prosperity N. good fortune; financial success; physical
well-being. Promising to stay together “for richer, for
poorer,” the newlyweds vowed to be true to one another in
prosperity and hardship alike.
prostrate V. stretch out full on ground. He prostrated himself before the idol. also ADJ.
protean ADJ. versatile; able to take on many shapes. A
remarkably protean actor, Alec Guinness could take on any
role.
protégé N. person receiving protection and support from a
patron. Born with an independent spirit, Cyrano de Bergerac refused to be a protégé of Cardinal Richelieu.
protocol N. diplomatic etiquette. We must run this state
dinner according to protocol if we are to avoid offending
any of our guests.
prototype N. original work used as a model by others. The
National Air and Space Museum displays the Wright brothers’ first plane, the prototype of all the American aircraft that
came after.
protract V. prolong. Seeking to delay the union members’
vote, the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly.
protrude V. stick out. His fingers protruded from the holes
in his gloves. protrusion, N.
protuberance N. protrusion; bulge. A ganglionic cyst is a
fluid-filled tumor that develops near a joint membrane or
tendon sheath, and that bulges beneath the skin, forming a
protuberance.
Basic Word List 223
provident ADJ. displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for
emergencies. In his usual provident manner, he had
insured himself against this type of loss.
pulverize V. crush or grind into dust. Before sprinkling the
dried herbs into the stew, Michael first pulverized them into
a fine powder.
ADJ. pertaining to a province; limited in outlook;
unsophisticated. As provincial governor, Sir Henry administered the Queen’s law in his remote corner of Canada.
Caught up in local problems, out of touch with London
news, he became sadly provincial.
pummel V. beat or pound with fists. Swinging wildly, Pam
pummeled her brother around the head and shoulders.
■ provincial
provisional ADJ. tentative. Kim’s acceptance as an American Express card holder was provisional: before issuing her
a card, American Express wanted to check her employment
record and credit history.
provocative ADJ. arousing anger or interest; annoying. In a
typically provocative act, the bully kicked sand into the
weaker man’s face.
provoke V. stir to anger; cause retaliation. In order to prevent a sudden outbreak of hostilities, we must not provoke
our foe. provocation, N.; provocative, ADJ.
prowess N. extraordinary ability; military bravery. Performing triple axels and double lutzes at the age of six, the
young figure skater was world famous for her prowess on
the ice.
N. nearness. Blind people sometimes develop a
compensatory ability to sense the proximity of objects
around them.
■ proximity
proxy N. authorized agent. Please act as my proxy and
vote for this slate of candidates in my absence.
prude N. excessively modest person. The X-rated film was
definitely not for prudes. prudish, ADJ.
■ prudent
ADJ . cautious; careful. A miser hoards money
not because he is prudent but because he is greedy.
prudence, N.
prune V. cut away; trim. With the help of her editor, she was
able to prune her overlong manuscript into publishable form.
prurient ADJ . having or causing lustful thoughts and
desires. Aroused by his prurient impulses, the dirty old man
leered at the sweet young thing and offered to give her a
sample of his “prowess.”
pseudonym N. pen name. Samuel Clemens’ pseudonym
was Mark Twain.
psyche N. soul; mind. It is difficult to delve into the psyche
of a human being.
pterodactyl N. extinct flying reptile. The remains of pterodactyls indicate that these flying reptiles had a wingspan of
as much as twenty feet.
puerile ADJ. childish; immature. Throwing tantrums! You
should have outgrown such puerile behavior years ago.
pugilist N . boxer. The famous pugilist Cassius Clay
changed his name to Muhammed Ali.
pugnacity N. combativeness; disposition to fight. “Put up
your dukes!” he cried, making a fist to show his pugnacity.
pugnacious, ADJ.
pulchritude N . beauty; comeliness. I do not envy the
judges who have to select this year’s Miss America from
this collection of female pulchritude.
punctilious ADJ. laying stress on niceties of conduct or
form; minutely attentive to fine points (perhaps too much
so). Percy is punctilious about observing the rules of etiquette whenever Miss Manners invites him to stay. punctiliousness, N.
pundit N. authority on a subject; learned person; expert.
Some authors who write about SAT I as if they are pundits
actually know very little about the test.
pungent ADJ. stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic. The
pungent odor of ripe Limburger cheese appealed to
Simone but made Stanley gag.
punitive ADJ. punishing. He asked for punitive measures
against the offender.
puny ADJ. insignificant; tiny; weak. Our puny efforts to stop
the flood were futile.
purchase N. firm grasp or footing. The mountaineer struggled to get a proper purchase on the slippery rock. (secondary meaning)
purge V. remove or get rid of something unwanted; free
from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify. When the Communist
government purged the party to get rid of members suspected of capitalist sympathies, they sent the disloyal members to labor camps in Siberia.
purported ADJ. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored. The
purported Satanists sacrificing live roosters in the park turned
out to be a party of Shriners holding a chicken barbecue.
purse V . pucker; contract into wrinkles. Miss Watson
pursed her lips to show her disapproval of Huck’s bedraggled appearance.
purveyor N. furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer. As purveyor of
rare wines and viands, he traveled through France and Italy
every year in search of new products to sell.
pusillanimous ADJ. cowardly; fainthearted. In The Wizard
of Oz, Dorothy’s friend the Cowardly Lion wishes he were
brave and not pusillanimous.
putrid ADJ. foul; rotten; decayed. When we removed the
bandage, we could tell from the putrid smell that the wound
had turned gangrenous. putrescence, N.
pyromaniac N. person with an insane desire to set things
on fire. The detectives searched the area for the pyromaniac who had set these costly fires.
quack N. charlatan; impostor. Don’t let that quack fool you
with his extravagant claims; he can’t cure you.
quadruped N . four-footed animal. Most mammals are
quadrupeds.
quaff V. drink with relish. As we quaffed our ale, we listened to the lively songs of the students in the tavern.
• quagmire N. soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous
situation from which it is difficult to free oneself. Up to her
knees in mud, Myra wondered how on earth she was going
to extricate herself from this quagmire.
224 Build Your Vocabulary
quail V. cower; lose heart. The Cowardly Lion was afraid
that he would quail in the face of danger.
quaint ADJ. odd; old-fashioned; picturesque. Her quaint
clothes and old-fashioned language marked her as an
eccentric.
■ qualified
ADJ. limited; restricted. Unable to give the candidate full support, the mayor gave him only a qualified
endorsement. (secondary meaning)
qualms N. misgivings; uneasy fears, especially about matters of conscience. I have no qualms about giving this
assignment to Helen; I know she will handle it admirably.
N. dilemma. When both Harvard and Stanford
accepted Laura, she was in a quandary as to which school
she should attend.
■ quandary
quarantine N. isolation of person or ship to prevent spread
of infection. We will have to place this house under quarantine until we determine the exact nature of the disease. also V.
quarry N. victim; object of a hunt. The police closed in on
their quarry.
quarry V. dig into. They quarried blocks of marble out of
the hillside. also N.
Word List 39 quay-recurrent
quay N. dock; landing place. Because of the captain’s
carelessness, the ship crashed into the quay.
queasy ADJ. easily nauseated; squeamish. Remember that
great chase movie, the one with the carsick passenger?
That’s right: Queasy Rider!
quixotic ADJ. idealistic but impractical. Constantly coming
up with quixotic, unworkable schemes to save the world,
Simon has his heart in the right place, but his head somewhere in the clouds.
V . extinguish; put down; quiet. Miss Minchin’s
demeanor was so stern and forbidding that she could quell
any unrest among her students with one intimidating glance.
quizzical ADJ. teasing; bantering; mocking; curious. When the
skinny teenager tripped over his own feet stepping into the
bullpen, Coach raised one quizzical eyebrow, shook his head,
and said, “Okay, kid. You’re here, let’s see what you’ve got.”
quench V. douse or extinguish; assuage or satisfy. No
matter how much water the hiker drank, she could not
quench her thirst.
quorum N. number of members necessary to conduct a
meeting. The senator asked for a roll call to determine
whether a quorum was present.
toddlers can begin to act querulous if they miss their nap.
rabid ADJ. like a fanatic; furious. He was a rabid follower of
the Dodgers and watched them play whenever he could go
to the ballpark.
• quell
• querulous ADJ. fretful; whining. Even the most agreeable
query N. inquiry; question. In her column “Ask Beth,” the
columnist invites young readers to send her their queries
about life and love.
quibble N. minor objection or complaint. Aside from a few
hundred teensy-weensy quibbles about the set, the script,
the actors, the director, the costumes, the lighting, and the
props, the hypercritical critic loved the play. also V.
• quiescent ADJ. at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive. After
the massive eruption, fear of Mount Etna was great; people
did not return to cultivate the rich hillside lands until the volcano had been quiescent for a full two years. quiescence, N.
quietude N. tranquility. He was impressed by the air of quietude and peace that pervaded the valley.
quintessence N. purest and highest embodiment. Gandhi
maintained that to befriend someone who regards himself
as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion.
quip N. taunt. You are unpopular because you are too free
with your quips and sarcastic comments. also V.
quirk N. startling twist; caprice. By a quirk of fate, he found
himself working for the man whom he had discharged years
before.
quiver V. tremble; shake. The bird dog’s nose twitched
and his whiskers quivered as he strained eagerly against
the leash. also N.
quiver N. case for arrows. Robin Hood reached back and
plucked one last arrow from his quiver. (secondary meaning)
raconteur N. storyteller. My father was a gifted raconteur
with an unlimited supply of anecdotes.
rail V. scold; rant. You may rail at him all you want; you will
never change him.
raiment N. clothing. “How can I go to the ball?” asked Cinderella. “I have no raiment fit to wear.”
rally V. call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.);
revive or recuperate. Washington quickly rallied his troops
to fight off the British attack. The patient had been sinking
throughout the night, but at dawn she rallied and made a
complete recovery.
V. wander aimlessly (physically or mentally). Listening to the teacher ramble, Judy wondered whether he’d
ever get to his point.
■ ramble
ramification N. branching out; subdivision. We must examine all the ramifications of this problem.
ramify V. divide into branches or subdivisions. When the
plant begins to ramify, it is advisable to nip off most of the
new branches.
ramp N. slope; inclined plane. The house was built with
ramps instead of stairs in order to enable the man in the
wheelchair to move easily from room to room and floor to floor.
rampant ADJ. growing in profusion; unrestrained. The rampant weeds in the garden choked the flowers until they died.
ramshackle ADJ. rickety; falling apart. The boys propped
up the ramshackle clubhouse with a couple of boards.
Basic Word List 225
rancid ADJ. having the odor of stale fat. The rancid odor
filling the ship’s galley nauseated the crew.
N. bitterness; hatred. Thirty years after the war, she
could not let go of the past but was still consumed with rancor against the foe.
■ rancor
random ADJ. without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard. Although the sponsor of the raffle claimed all winners were chosen at random, people had their suspicions
when the grand prize went to the sponsor’s brother-in-law.
reactionary ADJ. recoiling from progress; politically ultraconservative. Opposing the use of English in worship services, reactionary forces in the church fought to reinstate
the mass in Latin.
realm N. kingdom; field or sphere. In the animal realm, the
lion is the king of beasts.
reaper N . one who harvests grain. Death, the Grim
Reaper, cuts down mortal men and women, just as a farmer
cuts down the ripened grain. reap, V.
rankle V. irritate; fester. The memory of having been jilted
rankled him for years.
rebuff V . snub; beat back. She rebuffed his invitation
so smoothly that he did not realize he had been snubbed.
also N.
speech. When he heard that I’d totaled the family car, Dad
began to rant at me like a complete madman.
rebuke V. scold harshly; criticize severely. No matter how
sharply Miss Watson rebuked Huck for his misconduct, he
never talked back but just stood there like a stump. also N.
• rant V. rave; talk excitedly; scold; make a grandiloquent
rapacious ADJ. excessively greedy; predatory. The rapacious brigands stripped the villagers of all their possessions. rapacity, N.
rapport N. emotional closeness; harmony. In team teaching, it is important that all teachers in the group have good
rapport with one another.
rapt ADJ. absorbed; enchanted. Caught up in the wonder
of the storyteller’s tale, the rapt listeners sat motionless,
hanging on his every word.
rarefied ADJ. made less dense [of a gas]. The mountain
climbers had difficulty breathing in the rarefied atmosphere.
rarefy, V.
raspy ADJ . grating; harsh. The sergeant’s raspy voice
grated on the recruits’ ears.
■ ratify
V. approve formally; confirm; verify. Party leaders
doubted that they had enough votes in both houses of Congress to ratify the constitutional amendment.
ratiocination N . reasoning; act of drawing conclusions
from premises. While Watson was a man of average intelligence, Holmes was a genius, whose gift for ratiocination
made him a superb detective.
rationale N. fundamental reason or justification; grounds
for an action. Her need to have someplace to hang her earring collection was Dora’s rationale for piercing fifteen holes
in each ear.
N. refutation; response with contrary evidence.
The defense lawyer confidently listened to the prosecutor
sum up his case, sure that she could answer his arguments
in her rebuttal.
■ rebuttal
recalcitrant ADJ. obstinately stubborn; determined to resist
authority; unruly. Which animal do you think is more recalcitrant, a pig or a mule?
• recant V. disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement;
openly confess error. Those who can, keep true to their faith;
those who can’t, recant. Hoping to make Joan of Arc recant
her sworn testimony, her English captors tried to convince
her that her visions had been sent to her by the Devil.
recapitulate V. summarize. Let us recapitulate what has
been said thus far before going ahead.
recast V. reconstruct (a sentence, story, etc.); fashion
again. Let me recast this sentence in terms your feeble
brain can grasp: in words of one syllable, you are a fool.
receptive ADJ. quick or willing to receive ideas, suggestions, etc. Adventure-loving Huck Finn proved a receptive
audience for Tom’s tales of buried treasure and piracy.
recession N. withdrawal; retreat; time of low economic
activity. The slow recession of the flood waters created
problems for the crews working to restore power to the
area. recede, V.
rationalize V. give a plausible reason for an action in place
of a true, less admirable one; offer an excuse. When David
told gabby Gabrielle he couldn’t give her a ride to the
dance because he had no room in the car, he was rationalizing; actually, he couldn’t stand being cooped up in a car
with anyone who talked as much as she did.
recidivism N. habitual return to crime. Prison reformers in
the United States are disturbed by the high rate of recidivism;
the number of men serving second and third terms in prison
indicates the failure of prisons to rehabilitate the inmates.
The raucous crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers got progressively noisier as midnight drew near.
reciprocal ADJ. mutual; exchangeable; interacting. The two
nations signed a reciprocal trade agreement.
rave N. overwhelmingly favorable review. Though critic
John Simon seldom has a good word to say about most
contemporary plays, his review of All in the Timing was a
total rave.
reciprocate V. repay in kind. If they attack us, we shall be
compelled to reciprocate and bomb their territory. reciprocity, N.
• raucous ADJ. harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous.
ravel V. fall apart into tangles; unravel or untwist; entangle.
A single thread pulled loose, and the entire scarf started to
ravel.
• ravenous ADJ. extremely hungry. The ravenous dog upset
several garbage pails in its search for food.
• raze V. destroy completely. Spelling is important: to raise
a building is to put it up; to raze a building is to tear it down.
recipient N. receiver. Although he had been the recipient
of many favors, he was not grateful to his benefactor.
N. hermit; loner. Disappointed in love, Miss Emily
became a recluse; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul. reclusive, ADJ.
■ recluse
reconcile V . correct inconsistencies; become friendly
after a quarrel. Each month when we try to reconcile our
checkbook with the bank statement, we quarrel. However,
despite these monthly lovers’ quarrels, we always manage
to reconcile.
226 Build Your Vocabulary
reconnaissance N. survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering. If you encounter any enemy soldiers during your
reconnaissance, capture them for questioning.
■ recount
V. narrate or tell; count over again. A born story-
teller, my father loved to recount anecdotes about his early
years in New York.
recourse N. resorting to help when in trouble. The boy’s
only recourse was to appeal to his father for aid.
recrimination N. countercharges. Loud and angry recriminations were her answer to his accusations.
V. set right; correct. You had better send a check to
rectify your account before American Express cancels your
credit card.
■ rectify
rectitude N. uprightness; moral virtue; correctness of judgment. The Eagle Scout was a model of rectitude.
recumbent ADJ. reclining; lying down completely or in part.
The command “AT EASE” does not permit you to take a
recumbent position.
recuperate V. recover. The doctors were worried because
the patient did not recuperate as rapidly as they had
expected.
recurrent ADJ . occurring again and again. Richard’s
recurrent asthma attacks disturbed us and we consulted a
physician.
Word List 40 redolent-rescind
redolent ADJ. fragrant; odorous; suggestive of an odor.
Even though it is February, the air is redolent of spring.
redoubtable ADJ . formidable; causing fear. During the
Cold War period, neighboring countries tried not to offend
the Russians because they could be redoubtable foes.
regime N. method or system of government. When the
French mention the Old Regime, they refer to the government existing before the revolution.
regimen N. prescribed diet and habits. I doubt whether
the results warrant our living under such a strict regimen.
redress N. remedy; compensation. Do you mean to tell me
that I can get no redress for my injuries? also V.
rehabilitate V. restore to proper condition. We must rehabilitate those whom we send to prison.
ADJ . superfluous; repetitious; excessively
wordy. The bottle of wine I brought to Bob’s was certainly
redundant: how was I to know Bob owned a winery? In your
essay, you repeat several points unnecessarily; try to be
less redundant in the future. redundancy, N.
reimburse V. repay. Let me know what you have spent
and I will reimburse you.
■ redundant
reiterate V. repeat. He reiterated the warning to make sure
everyone understood it.
reek V. emit (odor). The room reeked of stale tobacco
smoke. also N.
rejoinder N. retort; comeback; reply. When someone has
been rude to me, I find it particularly satisfying to come up
with a quick rejoinder.
refraction N. bending of a ray of light. When you look at a
stick inserted in water, it looks bent because of the refraction of the light by the water.
rejuvenate V. make young again. The charlatan claimed
that his elixir would rejuvenate the aged and weary.
refractory ADJ . stubborn; unmanageable. Though his
jockey whipped him, the refractory horse stubbornly
refused to enter the starting gate.
refrain V. abstain from; resist. N. chorus. Whenever he
heard a song with a lively chorus, Sol could never refrain
from joining in on the refrain.
refurbish V. renovate; make bright by polishing. The furniture in the lobby was worn, the paint faded; clearly, it was
time to refurbish the lobby.
V. disprove. The defense called several respectable
witnesses who were able to refute the false testimony of the
prosecution’s sole witness. refutation, N.
■ refute
regal
ADJ. royal. Prince Albert had a regal manner.
regale v. entertain. John regaled us with tales of his
adventures in Africa.
regeneration N. renewal or restoration (of a bodily part);
spiritual rebirth. Hoping for insights into healing human
injuries, biologists study the process of regeneration in
lizards that regrow lost tails.
V. banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign.
After Ralph dropped his second tray of drinks that week,
the manager swiftly relegated him to a minor post cleaning
up behind the bar.
■ relegate
relent V. give in. When her stern father would not relent
and allow her to marry Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
eloped with her suitor. relentless, ADJ.
relevant ADJ. pertinent; referring to the case in hand. How
relevant Virginia Woolf’s essays are to women writers today!
It’s as if Woolf in the 1930s foresaw our current literary
struggles. relevancy, N.
relic N. surviving remnant; memento. Egypt’s Department
of Antiquities prohibits tourists from taking mummies and
other ancient relics out of the country. Mike keeps his photos
of his trip to Egypt in a box with other relics of his travels.
relinquish V. give up something with reluctance; yield.
Denise never realized how hard it would be for her to
relinquish her newborn son to the care of his adoptive parents. Once you get used to fringe benefits like expense
Basic Word List 227
account meals and a company car, it’s very hard to relinquish them.
relish V . savor; enjoy. Watching Peter enthusiastically
chow down, I thought, “Now there’s a man who relishes a
good dinner!” also N.
remediable ADJ . reparable. Let us be grateful that the
damage is remediable.
remedial ADJ. curative; corrective. Because he was a slow
reader, he decided to take a course in remedial reading.
reminiscence N. recollection. Her reminiscences of her
experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
reparation N. amends; compensation. At the peace conference, the defeated country promised to pay reparations
to the victors.
repast N. meal; feast; banquet. The caterers prepared a
delicious repast for Fred and Judy’s wedding day.
repeal V. revoke; annul. What would the effect on our society be if we decriminalized drug use by repealing the laws
against the possession and sale of narcotics?
V. drive away; disgust. At first, the Beast’s ferocious
appearance repelled Beauty, but she came to love the tender heart hidden behind that beastly exterior.
■ repel
remiss ADJ. negligent. The guard was accused of being
remiss in his duty when the prisoner escaped.
repellent ADJ. driving away; unattractive. Mosquitoes find
the odor so repellent that they leave any spot where this liquid has been sprayed. also N.
cancellation of a debt; forgiveness or pardon. Though the
senator had been treated for cancer, his symptoms were in
remission, and he was considered fit enough to handle the
strains of a presidential race.
repercussion N . result or impact (of an event, etc.);
rebound; reverberation. The brothers’ quarrel had serious
repercussions, for it led to their estrangement.
• remission N. temporary moderation of disease symptoms;
remnant N. remainder. I suggest that you wait until the
store places the remnants of these goods on sale.
remonstrance N. protest; objection. The authorities were
deaf to the pastor’s remonstrances about the lack of police
protection in the area. remonstrate, V.
N . guilt; self-reproach. The murderer felt no
remorse for his crime.
■ remorse
remunerative ADJ. compensating; rewarding. I find my
new work so remunerative that I may not return to my previous employment. remuneration, N.
rend V. split; tear apart. In his grief, he tried to rend his
garments. rent, N.
render V. deliver; provide; represent. He rendered aid to
the needy and indigent.
rendition N. translation; artistic interpretation of a song,
etc. The audience cheered enthusiastically as she completed her rendition of the aria.
renegade N. deserter; traitor. Because he had abandoned
his post and joined forces with the Indians, his fellow officers considered the hero of Dances with Wolves a renegade. also ADJ.
renege
debt.
V. deny; go back on. He reneged on paying off his
V . abandon; disown; repudiate. Even though
she knew she would be burned at the stake as a witch,
Joan of Arc refused to renounce her belief that her voices
came from God. renunciation, N.
■ renounce
renovate V. restore to good condition; renew. We renovated our kitchen, replacing the old cabinets and countertop and installing new appliances.
renown N . fame. For many years an unheralded
researcher, Barbara McClintock gained international
renown when she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and
Medicine. renowned, ADJ.
repertoire N. list of works of music, drama, etc., a performer is prepared to present. The opera company decided
to include Madame Butterfly in its repertoire for the following season.
replenish V. fill up again. Before she could take another
backpacking trip, Carla had to replenish her stock of
freeze-dried foods.
• replete
ADJ . filled to the brim or to the point of being
stuffed; abundantly supplied. The movie star’s memoir
was replete with juicy details about the love life of half of
Hollywood.
replica N. copy. Are you going to hang this replica of the
Declaration of Independence in the classroom or in the
auditorium?
replicate V. reproduce; duplicate. Because he had always
wanted a palace, Donald decided to replicate the Taj Mahal
in miniature on his estate.
repository N. storehouse. Libraries are repositories of the
world’s best thoughts.
ADJ . deserving blame. Shocked by the
viciousness of the bombing, politicians of every party uniformly condemned the terrorists’ reprehensible deed.
■ reprehensible
repress V. restrain; crush; oppress. Anne’s parents tried to
curb her impetuosity without repressing her boundless high
spirits.
reprieve N. temporary stay. During the twenty-four-hour
reprieve, the lawyers sought to make the stay of execution
permanent. also V.
V. reprove severely; rebuke. Every time Ermengarde made a mistake in class, she was afraid that Miss
Minchin would reprimand her and tell her father how badly
she was doing in school. also N.
■ reprimand
reprisal N. retaliation. I am confident that we are ready for
any reprisals the enemy may undertake.
rent N. rip; split. Kit did an excellent job of mending the
rent in the lining of her coat.
reprise N. musical repetition; repeat performance; recurrent action. We enjoyed the soprano’s solo in Act I so much
that we were delighted by its reprise in the finale.
reparable ADJ. capable of being repaired. Fortunately, the
damage to our car was reparable, and after two weeks in
the shop it looks brand new.
reproach V. express disapproval or disappointment. He
never could do anything wrong without imagining how the
228 Build Your Vocabulary
look on his mother’s face would reproach him afterwards.
reproachful, ADJ.
tles distressed her, for the repulsion of enemy forces is
never accomplished bloodlessly.
reprobate N. person hardened in sin, devoid of a sense of
decency. I cannot understand why he has so many admirers if he is the reprobate you say he is.
reputable ADJ. respectable. If you want to buy antiques,
look for a reputable dealer; far too many dealers today pass
off fakes as genuine antiques.
V. censure; rebuke. Though Aunt Bea at times
had to reprove Opie for inattention in church, she believed
he was at heart a God-fearing lad.
reputed ADJ. supposed. Though he is the reputed father of
the child, no one can be sure. repute, N.
■ reprove
■ repudiate
V. disown; disavow. On separating from Tony,
requiem N . mass for the dead; dirge. They played
Mozart’s Requiem at the funeral.
Tina announced that she would repudiate all debts incurred
by her soon-to-be ex-husband.
requisite N. necessary requirement. Many colleges state
that a student must offer three years of a language as a
requisite for admission.
like earthworms, others find them repugnant and view them
with disgust.
requite V. repay; revenge. The wretch requited his benefactors by betraying them.
• repugnant ADJ. Ioathsome; hateful. Whereas some people
repulsion N. distaste; act of driving back. Hating bloodshed, she viewed war with repulsion. Even defensive bat-
• rescind V. cancel. Because of the public outcry against
the new taxes, the senator proposed a bill to rescind the
unpopular financial measure.
Word List 41 resentment-sacrosanct
resentment N. indignation; bitterness; displeasure. Not
wanting to appear a sore loser, Bill tried to hide his resentment of Barry’s success.
■ reserve
N . self-control; formal but distant manner.
Although some girls were attracted by Mark’s air of reserve,
Judy was put off by it, for she felt his aloofness indicated a
lack of openness. reserved, ADJ.
residue N. remainder; balance. In his will, he requested
that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses,
the residue be given to his wife. residual, ADJ.
tioning in New Zealand were a delightful respite from the
pressures of his job.
• resplendent ADJ. dazzling; glorious; brilliant. While all the
adults were commenting how glorious the emperor looked
in his resplendent new clothes, one little boy was heard to
say, “But he’s naked!”
responsiveness N. state of reacting readily to appeals,
orders, etc. The audience cheered and applauded, delighting the performers by its responsiveness.
ADJ. accepting one’s fate; unresisting; patiently
restitution N. reparation; indemnification. He offered to
make restitution for the window broken by his son.
submissive. Resigned to his downtrodden existence, Bob
Cratchit was too meek to protest Scrooge’s bullying. resignation, N.
restive ADJ. restlessly impatient; obstinately resisting control. Waiting impatiently in line to see Santa Claus, even the
best-behaved children grow restive and start to fidget.
■ resigned
resilient ADJ. elastic; having the power of springing back.
Highly resilient , steel makes excellent bedsprings.
resilience, N.
N. determination; resolve. Nothing could shake
his resolution that his children would get the best education
that money could buy. resolute, ADJ.
■ resolution
N. determination; firmness of purpose. How dare
you question my resolve to take up sky-diving! Of course I
haven’t changed my mind!
■ resolve
resolve V. decide; settle; solve. Holmes resolved to travel
to Bohemia to resolve the dispute between Irene Adler and
the king.
resonant ADJ . echoing; resounding; deep and full in
sound. The deep, resonant voice of the actor James Earl
Jones makes him particularly effective when he appears on
stage.
respiration N. breathing; exhalation. The doctor found that
the patient’s years of smoking had adversely affected both
his lung capacity and his rate of respiration.
• respite N. interval of relief; time for rest; delay in punish-
ment. After working nonstop on this project for three straight
months, I need a respite! For David, the two weeks vaca-
N. moderation or self-control; controlling force;
restriction. Control yourself, young lady! Show some
restraint!
■ restraint
resumption N. taking up again; recommencement. During
summer break, Don had not realized how much he missed
university life; at the resumption of classes, however, he felt
marked excitement and pleasure. resume, V.
resurge V. rise again; flow to and fro. It was startling to see
the spirit of nationalism resurge as the Soviet Union disintegrated into a loose federation of ethnic and national groups.
resurgence, N.
retain V. keep; employ. Fighting to retain his seat in Congress, Senator Foghorn retained a new manager to head
his reelection campaign.
retaliation N . repayment in kind (usually for bad treatment). Because everyone knew the Princeton Band had
stolen Brown’s mascot, the whole Princeton student body
expected some sort of retaliation from Brown. retaliate, V.
retentive ADJ. able to retain or keep; able to remember.
Priding herself on her retentive memory, she claimed she
never forgot a face.
Basic Word List 229
N. reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to
silence. Fearing his competitors might get advance word
about his plans from talkative staff members, Hughes preferred reticence from his employees to loquacity. reticent,
ADJ.
■ reticence
retinue N. following; attendants. The queen’s retinue followed her down the aisle.
retiring ADJ. modest; shy. Given Susan’s retiring personality, no one expected her to take up public speaking; surprisingly enough, she became a star of the school debate team.
retort N. quick sharp reply. Even when it was advisable for
her to keep her mouth shut, she was always ready with a
quick retort. also V.
V. withdraw; take back. When I saw how Fred and
his fraternity brothers had trashed the frat house, I decided
to retract my offer to let them use our summer cottage for
the weekend. retraction, N.
■ retract
retrench V. cut down; economize. In order to be able to
afford to send their children to college, they would have to
retrench. retrenchment, N.
retribution N. vengeance; compensation; punishment for
offenses. The evangelist maintained that an angry deity
would exact retribution from the sinners.
retrieve V. recover; find and bring in. The dog was intelligent
and quickly learned to retrieve the game killed by the hunter.
retroactive ADJ. taking effect before its enactment (as a
law) or imposition (as a tax). Because the new pension law
was retroactive to the first of the year, even though Martha
had retired in February she was eligible for the pension.
retrograde V . go backwards; degenerate. instead of
advancing, our civilization seems to have retrograded in
ethics and culture. also ADJ.
rhapsodize V. to speak or write in an exaggeratedly enthusiastic manner. She greatly enjoyed her Hawaiian vacation
and rhapsodized about it for weeks.
rhetoric N. art of effective communication; insincere language. All writers, by necessity, must be skilled in rhetoric.
ADJ . pertaining to effective communication;
insincere in language. To win his audience, the speaker
used every rhetorical trick in the book.
■ rhetorical
ribald ADJ. wanton; profane. He sang a ribald song that
offended many of the more prudish listeners.
riddle V. pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout. With his machine gun, Tracy riddled the car with bullets
till it looked like a slice of Swiss cheese. During the proofreaders’ strike, the newspaper was riddled with typos.
rider N. amendment or clause added to a legislative bill.
Senator Foghorn said he would support Senator Filibuster’s
tax reform bill only if Filibuster agreed to add an antipollution rider to the bill.
rife ADJ. abundant; current. Discontent was rife among the
early settlers, who had not foreseen the harshness of life in
the New World.
rift N. opening; break. The plane was lost in the stormy sky
until the pilot saw the city through a rift in the clouds.
rig V. fix or manipulate. The ward boss was able to rig the
election by bribing people to stuff the ballot boxes with ballots marked in his candidate’s favor.
rigid ADJ. stiff and unyielding; strict; hard and unbending.
By living with a man to whom she was not married, George
Eliot broke Victorian society’s most rigid rule of respectable
behavior.
N. severity. Many settlers could not stand the rigors
of the New England winters.
■ rigor
retrospective ADJ. looking back on the past. The Museum
of Graphic Arts is holding a retrospective showing of the
paintings of Michael Whelan over the past two decades.
rigorous ADJ. severe; harsh; demanding; exact. Disliked by
his superiors, the officer candidate in An Officer and a Gentleman endured an extremely rigorous training program.
revelry N. boisterous merrymaking. New Year’s Eve is a
night of revelry
rile V. vex; irritate; muddy. Red had a hair-trigger temper:
he was an easy man to rile.
ADJ . respectful; worshipful. Though I bow my
head in church and recite the prayers, sometimes I don’t
feel properly reverent. revere, V.
riveting A D J . absorbing; engrossing. The reviewer
described Byatt’s novel Possession as a riveting tale, one
so absorbing that he had finished it in a single night.
reverie N. daydream; musing. He was awakened from his
reverie by the teacher’s question.
rivulet N. small stream. As the rains continued, the small
trickle of water running down the hillside grew into a rivulet
that threatened to wash away a portion of the slope.
■ reverent
revert V. relapse; backslide; turn back to. Most of the time
Andy seemed sensitive and mature, but occasionally he
would revert to his smart-alecky, macho, adolescent self.
revile V. attack with abusive language; vilify. Though most
of his contemporaries reviled Captain Kidd as a notorious,
bloody-handed pirate, some of his fellow merchant-captains believed him innocent of his alleged crimes.
revoke V. cancel; retract. Repeat offenders who continue
to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver’s licenses permanently revoked.
revulsion N. sudden violent change of feeling; reaction.
Many people in this country who admired dictatorships
underwent a revulsion when they realized what Hitler and
Mussolini were trying to do.
ADJ. vigorous; strong. After pumping iron and taking karate for six months, the little old lady was so robust
that she could break a plank with her fist.
■ robust
roil V. to make liquids murky by stirring up sediment. Be
careful when you pour not to roil the wine; if you stir up the
sediment you’ll destroy the flavor.
roster N. Iist. They print the roster of players in the season’s program.
rostrum N. platform for speech-making; pulpit. The crowd
murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.
230 Build Your Vocabulary
rote N. repetition. He recited the passage by rote and
gave no indication he understood what he was saying.
rotundity N. roundness; sonorousness of speech. Short,
squat, and round as a bowling ball, he was the very model
of rotundity.
rousing ADJ. lively; stirring. “And now, let’s have a rousing
welcome for TV’s own Roseanne Barr, who’ll lead us in a
rousing rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’”
rout V. stampede; drive out. The reinforcements were able
to rout the enemy. also N.
rubble N. broken fragments. Ten years after World War II,
some of the rubble left by enemy bombings could still be
seen.
ruddy ADJ. reddish; healthy-looking. Santa Claus’s ruddy
cheeks nicely complement Rudolph the Reindeer’s bright
red nose.
rudimentary ADJ . not developed; elementary; crude.
Although my grandmother’s English vocabulary was limited
to a few rudimentary phrases, she always could make herself understood.
rue V . regret; lament; mourn. Tina rued the night she
met Tony and wondered how she ever fell for such a jerk.
rueful, ADJ.
ruffian
police.
N. bully; scoundrel. The ruffians threw stones at the
ruminate V. chew over and over (mentally, or, like cows,
physically); mull over; ponder. Unable to digest quickly the
baffling events of the day, Reuben ruminated about them till
four in the morning.
rummage V. ransack; thoroughly search. When we rummaged through the trunks in the attic, we found many souvenirs of our childhood days. also N.
ruse N. trick; stratagem. You will not be able to fool your
friends with such an obvious ruse.
rustic ADJ . pertaining to country people; uncouth. The
backwoodsman looked out of place in his rustic attire.
ruthless ADJ. pitiless; cruel. Captain Hook was a dangerous, ruthless villain who would stop at nothing to destroy
Peter Pan.
saboteur N . one who commits sabotage; destroyer of
property. Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs,
blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the
Nazi army.
saccharine ADJ. cloyingly sweet. She tried to ingratiate
herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.
sacrilegious ADJ. desecrating; profane. His stealing of the
altar cloth was a very sacrilegious act.
sacrosanct ADJ. most sacred; inviolable. The brash insurance salesman invaded the sacrosanct privacy of the office
of the president of the company.
Word List 42 sadistic-sentinel
sadistic ADJ. inclined to cruelty. If we are to improve conditions in this prison, we must first get rid of the sadistic warden.
saga N. Scandinavian myth; any legend. This is a saga of
the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
sagacious ADJ. perceptive; shrewd; having insight. My
father was a sagacious judge of character: he could spot a
phony a mile away. sagacity, N.
■ sage
N. person celebrated for wisdom. Hearing tales of a
mysterious Master of All Knowledge who lived in the hills of
Tibet, Sandy was possessed with a burning desire to consult the legendary sage. also ADJ.
salacious ADJ . lascivious; lustful. Chaucer’s monk is
not pious but salacious, a teller of lewd tales and ribald jests.
salient ADJ. protruding; strikingly conspicuous; jumping.
Good readers quickly grasp the salient and significant
points of a passage; indeed, the ideas almost leap out at
them, demanding their attention.
sanctimonious ADJ. falsely holy; feigning piety. Mark Twain
mocked pious hypocrites, calling one a sanctimonious old
iceberg who looked like he was waiting for a vacancy in the
Trinity.
V. approve; ratify. Nothing will convince me to
sanction the engagement of my daughter to such a worthless young man.
■ sanction
sanctuary N. refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place. The tiny
attic was Helen’s sanctuary to which she fled when she had
to get away from the rest of her family.
sanguine ADJ. cheerful; hopeful. Let’s not be too sanguine
about the outcome of the election; we may still lose.
sap V. diminish; undermine. The element kryptonite has an
unhealthy effect on Superman: it saps his strength.
sarcasm N. scornful remarks; stinging rebuke. Though
Ralph pretended to ignore the mocking comments of his
supposed friends, their sarcasm wounded him deeply.
salubrious ADJ . promoting good health; healthful. The
health resort advertised the salubrious properties of the
waters of its famous hot springs.
sardonic ADJ . cynically mocking; sarcastic. Dorothy
Parker’s wry couplet, “Men seldom make passes at girls
who wear glasses,” epitomizes her sardonic wit.
salutary ADJ. tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome.
The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy, as he
became a model student.
sartorial ADJ. pertaining to tailors. GQ Magazine provides
sartorial advice for the not-so-well-dressed man.
salvage V. rescue from loss. All attempts to salvage the
wrecked ship failed. also N.
salvo N. discharge of firearms; military salute. The boom of
the enemy’s opening salvo made the petrified private jump.
sate V. satisfy to the full; cloy. Its hunger sated, the lion
dozed.
satellite N. small body revolving around a larger one. During the first few years of the Space Age, hundreds of satellites were launched by Russia and the United States.
Basic Word List 231
satiate V. satisfy fully. Having stuffed themselves until
they were satiated, the guests were so full they were ready
for a nap.
satire N. form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and
ridicule are employed to attack vice and folly. Gulliver’s
Travels, which is regarded by many as a tale for children, is
actually a bitter satire attacking man’s folly.
ADJ . mocking. The humor of cartoonist Gary
Trudeau often is satirical; through the comments of the
Doonesbury characters, Trudeau ridicules political corruption and folly.
■ satirical
V. soak thoroughly. Saturate your sponge with
water until it can’t hold any more.
■ saturate
saturnine ADJ. gloomy. Do not be misled by his saturnine
countenance; he is not as gloomy as he looks.
saunter V. stroll slowly. As we sauntered through the park,
we stopped frequently to admire the spring flowers.
savant N. learned scholar. Despite all her academic honors, Dr. Diamond disliked being classed as a savant: considering herself a simple researcher, she refused to
describe herself in such grandiose terms.
savor V. enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality.
Relishing his triumph, the actor especially savored the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.
• savory ADJ. tasty; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable. Julia
Child’s recipes enable amateur chefs to create savory delicacies for their guests.
scabbard N. case for a sword blade; sheath. The drill master told the recruit to wipe the blood from his sword before
slipping it back into the scabbard.
scad N. a great quantity. Refusing Dave’s offer to lend him
a shirt, Phil replied, “No, thanks, I’ve got scads of clothes.”
scaffold N. temporary platform for workers; bracing framework; platform for execution. Before painting the house, the
workers put up a scaffold to allow them to work on the second story.
scale V. climb up; ascend. In order to locate a book on the
top shelf of the stacks, Lee had to scale an exceptionally
rickety ladder.
scamp N. rascal. Despite his mischievous behavior, Malcolm was such an engaging scamp that his mother almost
lacked the heart to punish him.
■ scanty
ADJ. meager; insufficient. Thinking his helping of
food was scanty, Oliver Twist asked for more.
scapegoat N. someone who bears the blame for others.
After the Challenger disaster, NASA searched for scapegoats on whom they could cast the blame.
scavenge V. hunt through discarded materials for usable
items; search, especially for food. If you need car parts that
the dealers no longer stock, try scavenging for odd bits and
pieces at the auto wreckers’ yards. scavenger, N.
puzzle, you may find it helpful to construct a simple
schematic diagram outlining the order of events.
schism N. division; split. His reforms led to a schism in the
church and the establishment of a new sect opposing the
old order.
scintillate V. sparkle; flash. I enjoy her dinner parties because
the food is excellent and the conversation scintillates.
scoff V. mock; ridicule. He scoffed at dentists until he had
his first toothache.
scourge N. cause of widespread devastation; severe punishment; whip. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Fondly do we
hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war
speedily may pass away.” also V.
scruple V. fret about; hesitate, for ethical reasons. Fearing
that her husband had become involved in an affair, she did
not scruple to read his diary. also N.
ADJ . conscientious; extremely thorough.
Though Alfred is scrupulous in fulfilling his duties at work,
he is less conscientious about his obligations to his family
and friends.
■ scrupulous
V. examine closely and critically. Searching for
flaws, the sergeant scrutinized every detail of the private’s
uniform.
■ scrutinize
scuffle V. struggle confusedly; move off in a confused
hurry. The twins briefly scuffled, wrestling to see which of
them would get the toy. When their big brother yelled, “Let
go of my Gameboy!” they scuffled off down the hall.
scurrilous ADJ. vulgar; coarse; foul-mouthed; obscene.
Politicians often face scurrilous attacks from angry constituents.
scurry V. move briskly. The White Rabbit had to scurry to
get to his appointment on time.
scurvy ADJ. despicable; contemptible. Peter Pan sneered
at Captain Hook and his scurvy crew.
scuttle V. scurry; run with short, rapid steps. The bug scuttled rapidly across the floor.
scuttle V. sink. The sailors decided to scuttle their vessel
rather than surrender it to the enemy.
seamy ADJ . sordid; unwholesome. In The Godfather ,
Michael Corleone is unwilling to expose his wife and children to the seamy side of his life as the son of a Mafia don.
sear V. char or burn; brand. Accidentally brushing against
the hot grill, she seared her hand badly.
seasoned ADJ. experienced. Though pleased with her new
batch of rookies, the basketball coach wished she had a
few more seasoned players on the team.
secession N. withdrawal. The secession of the Southern
states provided Lincoln with his first major problem after his
inauguration. secede, V.
N. isolation; solitude. One moment she loved
crowds; the next, she sought seclusion. seclude, V.
■ seclusion
scenario N. plot outline; screenplay; opera libretto. Scaramouche startled the other actors in the commedia troupe
when he suddenly departed from their customary scenario
and began to improvise.
secrete V. hide away; produce and release a substance into
an organism. The pack rat secretes odds and ends in its nest;
the pancreas secretes insulin in the islets of Langerhans.
schematic ADJ. relating to an outline or diagram; using a
system of symbols. In working out the solution to this logic
sect N . separate religious body; faction. As university
chaplain, she sought to address universal religious issues
and not limit herself to concerns of any one sect.
232 Build Your Vocabulary
sectarian ADJ. relating to a religious faction or subgroup;
narrow-minded; limited. Far from being broad-minded, the
religious leader was intolerant of new ideas, paying attention only to purely sectarian interests. sect. N.
secular ADJ. worldly; not pertaining to church matters;
temporal. The church leaders decided not to interfere in
secular matters.
sedate ADJ. calm and composed; dignified. To calm the
agitated pony, we teamed him with a sedate mare who easily accepted the harness.
• sedentary ADJ. requiring sitting. Sitting all day at the computer, Sharon grew to resent the sedentary nature of her job.
sedition N. resistance to authority; insubordination. His
words, though not treasonous in themselves, were calculated to arouse thoughts of sedition.
sedulous ADJ. diligent; hardworking. After weeks of patient
and sedulous labor, we completed our detailed analysis of
every published SAT examination.
seedy ADJ . run-down; decrepit; disreputable. I would
rather stay in dormitory lodgings in a decent youth hostel
than have a room of my own in a seedy downtown hotel.
seemly ADJ. proper; appropriate. Lady Bracknell did not
think it was seemly for Ernest to lack a proper family: no
baby abandoned on a doorstep could grow up to be a fit
match for her daughter.
seep V. ooze; trickle. During the rainstorm, water seeped
through the crack in the basement wall and damaged the
floor boards. seepage, N.
seethe V. be disturbed; boil. The nation was seething with
discontent as the noblemen continued their arrogant ways.
seismic ADJ. pertaining to earthquakes. The Richter scale
is a measurement of seismic disturbances.
seminary N. school for training future ministers; academy
for young women. Sure of his priestly vocation, Terrence
planned to pursue his theological training at the local
Roman Catholic seminary.
sensual ADJ. devoted to the pleasures of the senses; carnal; voluptuous. Giving in to his sensual appetites, he sampled the carnal delights of the fleshpots.
sententious ADJ. terse; concise; aphoristic. After reading
so many redundant speeches, I find his sententious style
particularly pleasing.
sentinel N. sentry; lookout. Though camped in enemy territory, Bledsoe ignored the elementary precaution of posting
sentinels around the encampment.
Word List 43 sequester-solvent
sequester V. isolate; retire from public life; segregate;
seclude. Banished from his kingdom, the wizard Prospero
sequestered himself on a desert island. To prevent the
jurors from hearing news broadcasts about the case, the
judge decided to sequester the jury.
serendipity N. gift for finding valuable or desirable things
by accident; accidental good fortune or luck. Many scientific discoveries are a matter of serendipity: Newton was not
sitting under a tree thinking about gravity when the apple
dropped on his head.
serenity N. calmness; placidity. The sound of air raid sirens
pierced the serenity of the quiet village of Pearl Harbor.
serpentine ADJ . winding; twisting. The car swerved at
every curve in the serpentine road.
serrated ADJ. having a sawtoothed edge. I cut my finger
on the serrated edge of the bread knife.
ADJ. slavish; cringing. Constantly fawning on his
employer, humble Uriah Heap was a servile creature.
■ servile
servitude N. slavery; compulsory labor. Born a slave, Frederick Douglass resented his life of servitude and plotted to
escape to the North.
sever V. cut; separate. The released prisoner wanted to
begin a new life and sever all connections with his criminal
past. Dr. Guillotin invented a machine that could neatly sever
an aristocratic head from its equally aristocratic body. Unfortunately, he couldn’t collect any severance pay. severance, N.
severity N. harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity. The
severity of Jane’s migraine attack was so great that she
took to her bed for a week.
shackle V. chain; fetter. In a chain gang, convicts are
shackled together to prevent their escape. also N.
sham V . pretend. He shammed sickness to get out of
going to school. also N.
shambles N. wreck; mess. After the hurricane, the Carolina coast was a shambles. After the New Year’s Eve party,
the apartment was a shambles.
shard N. fragment, generally of pottery. The archaeologist
assigned several students the task of reassembling earthenware vessels from the shards he had brought back from
the expedition.
sheaf N. bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things
tied together. The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he
rose to question the witness.
shear V. cut or clip (hair, fleece); strip of something. You
may not care to cut a sheep’s hair, but Sarah shears sheep
for Little Bo Peep.
sheathe V. place into a case. As soon as he recognized
the approaching men, he sheathed his dagger and hailed
them as friends.
sheer ADJ. very thin or transparent; very steep; absolute.
Wearing nothing but an almost sheer robe, Delilah draped herself against the sheer temple wall. Beholding her, Samson was
overcome by her sheer beauty. Then she sheared his hair.
shimmer V. glimmer intermittently. The moonlight shimmered on the water as the moon broke through the clouds
for a moment. also N.
shirk V. avoid (responsibility, work, etc.); malinger. Brian
has a strong sense of duty; he would never shirk any
responsibility.
Basic Word List 233
shoddy ADJ . inferior; trashy; cheap. Grumbling, “They
don’t make things the way they used to,” Grandpa complained about the shoddy workmanship nowadays.
skirmish N. minor fight. Custer’s troops expected they
might run into a skirmish or two on maneuvers; they did not
expect to face a major battle. also V.
shrewd ADJ. clever; astute. A shrewd investor, he took
clever advantage of the fluctuations of the stock market.
skulk V. move furtively and secretly. He skulked through
the less fashionable sections of the city in order to avoid
meeting any of his former friends.
shroud V. hide from view; wrap for burial. Fog shrouded
Dracula’s castle, hiding the ruined tower beneath sheets of
mist.
shun V . keep away from. Cherishing his solitude, the
recluse shunned the company of other human beings.
shyster N. lawyer using questionable methods. On L.A.
Law, Brackman was horrified to learn that his newly-discovered half brother was nothing but a cheap shyster.
sibling N. brother or sister. We may not enjoy being siblings, but we cannot forget that we still belong to the same
family.
simian ADJ. monkeylike. Lemurs are nocturnal mammals
and have many simian characteristics, although they are
less intelligent than monkeys.
simile N. comparison of one thing with another, using the
word like or as. “My love is like a red, red rose” is a simile.
simper V. smirk; smile affectedly. Complimented on her
appearance, Stella self-consciously simpered.
simplistic ADJ . oversimplified. Though Jack’s solution
dealt adequately with one aspect of the problem, it was
simplistic in failing to consider various complications that
might arise.
simulate V. feign. He simulated insanity in order to avoid
punishment for his crime.
sinecure N. well-paid position with little responsibility. My
job is no sinecure ; I work long hours and have much
responsibility.
sinewy ADJ. tough; strong and firm. The steak was too
sinewy to chew.
singular ADJ . unique; extraordinary; odd. Though the
young man tried to understand Father William’s singular
behavior, he still found it odd that the old man incessantly
stood on his head. singularity, N.
sinister ADJ. evil; conveying a sense of ill omen. Aware of
the Penguin’s sinister purpose, Batman wondered how he
could save Gotham City from the ravages of his evil enemy.
sinuous ADJ. winding; bending in and out; not morally honest. The snake moved in a sinuous manner.
N. doubter; person who suspends judgment until
the evidence supporting a point of view has been examined. I am a skeptic about the new health plan; I want some
proof that it can work. skepticism, N.
■ skeptic
skiff N. small, light sailboat or rowboat. Tom dreamed of
owning an ocean-going yacht but had to settle for a skiff he
could sail in the bay.
skimp V. provide scantily; live very economically. They
were forced to skimp on necessities in order to make their
limited supplies last the winter.
skinflint N. stingy person; miser. Scrooge was an ungenerous old skinflint until he reformed his ways and became a
notable philanthropist.
slacken V. slow up; loosen. As they passed the finish line,
the runners slackened their pace.
slag N. residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter.
The blast furnace had a special opening at the bottom to
allow the workers to remove the worthless slag.
slake V. quench; sate. When we reached the oasis, we
were able to slake our thirst.
slander N. defamation; utterance of false and malicious
statements. Considering the negative comments politicians
make about each other, it’s a wonder that more of them
aren’t sued for slander. also V.
slapdash ADJ . haphazard; careless; sloppy. From the
number of typos and misspellings I’ve found in it, it’s clear
that Mario proofread the report in a remarkably slapdash
fashion.
sleeper N. something originally of little value or importance
that in time becomes very valuable. Unnoticed by the critics
at its publication, the eventual Pulitzer Prize winner was a
classic sleeper.
sleight N. dexterity. The magician amazed the audience
with his sleight of hand.
slight N. insult to one’s dignity; snub. Hypersensitive and
ready to take offense at any discourtesy, Bertha was always
on the lookout for real or imaginary slights. also V.
slipshod ADJ . untidy or slovenly; shabby. As a master
craftsman, the carpenter prided himself on not doing slipshod work.
slither V . slip or slide. During the recent ice storm,
many people slithered down this hill as they walked to the
station.
slothful ADJ . lazy. Lying idly on the sofa while others
worked, Reggie denied he was slothful: “I just supervise
better lying down.”
slough
skin.
V. cast off. Each spring, the snake sloughs off its
slovenly ADJ. untidy; careless in work habits. Unshaven,
sitting around in his bathrobe all afternoon, Gus didn’t seem
to care about the slovenly appearance he presented. The
dark ring around the bathtub and the spider webs hanging
from the beams proved what a slovenly housekeeper she
was.
sluggard N. Iazy person. Someone who leaps happily out
of bed first thing in the morning and cheerfully sets off to
work is no sluggard.
ADJ. slow; lazy; lethargic. After two nights without
sleep, she felt sluggish and incapable of exertion.
■ sluggish
slur V. speak indistinctly; mumble. When Sol has too much
to drink, he starts to slur his words: “Washamatter? Cansh
you undershtand what I shay?”
234 Build Your Vocabulary
slur N. insult to one’s character or reputation; slander.
Polls revealed that the front-runner’s standing had been
badly damaged by the slurs and innuendoes circulated by
his opponent’s staff. also V. (secondary meaning)
smelt V. melt or blend ores, changing their chemical composition. The furnaceman smelts tin with copper to create a
special alloy used in making bells.
smirk
also V.
N. conceited smile. Wipe that smirk off your face!
smolder V. burn without flame; be liable to break out at
any moment. The rags smoldered for hours before they
burst into flame.
snicker N. half-stifled laugh. The boy could not suppress a
snicker when the teacher sat on the tack. also V.
solecism N. construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically. I must give this paper a failing mark because it
contains many solecisms.
solemnity N. seriousness; gravity. The minister was concerned that nothing should disturb the solemnity of the marriage service. solemn, ADJ.
solicit V. request earnestly; seek. Knowing she needed to
have a solid majority for the budget to pass, the mayor telephoned all the members of the city council to solicit their
votes.
solicitous ADJ. worried; concerned. Dora was delicate,
David knew, and he was very solicitous about her health
during her pregnancy.
snivel V. run at the nose; snuffle; whine. Don’t you come
sniveling to me complaining about your big brother.
soliloquy N. talking to oneself. Dramatists use the soliloquy
as a device to reveal a character’s innermost thoughts and
emotions.
sobriety N. moderation (especially regarding indulgence
in alcohol); seriousness. Neither falling-down drunks nor
stand-up comics are noted for sobriety. sober, ADJ.
solitude N. state of being alone; seclusion. Much depends
on how much you like your own company. What to one person seems fearful isolation to another is blessed solitude.
sodden ADJ. soaked; dull, as if from drink. He set his sodden overcoat near the radiator to dry.
sojourn N. temporary stay. After his sojourn in Florida, he
began to long for the colder climate of his native New England home.
solace N. comfort in trouble. I hope you will find solace in
the thought that all of us share your loss.
solder V. repair or make whole by using a metal alloy. The
plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of
joints from which water had been oozing.
soluble ADJ. able to be dissolved; able to be explained.
Sugar is soluble in water; put a sugar cube in water and it
will quickly dissolve.
solvent ADJ. able to pay all debts. By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
solvent N. substance that dissolves another. Dip a cube of
sugar into a cup of water; note how the water acts as a solvent, causing the cube to break down.
Word List 44 somber-sublime
ADJ. gloomy; depressing; dark; drab. From the
doctor’s grim expression, I could tell he had somber news.
Dull brown and charcoal gray are pretty somber colors;
can’t you wear something bright?
■ somber
somnambulist N. sleepwalker. The most famous somnambulist in literature is Lady Macbeth; her monologue in the
sleepwalking scene is one of the highlights of Shakespeare’s play.
somnolent ADJ. half asleep. The heavy meal and the overheated room made us all somnolent and indifferent to the
speaker.
sonorous ADJ. resonant. His sonorous voice resounded
through the hall.
sophisticated ADJ . worldly-wise and urbane; complex.
When Sophie makes wisecracks, she thinks she sounds
sophisticated, but instead she sounds sophomoric. A few
years ago the new IBM laptop with the butterfly keyboard
and the built-in quadspeed fax modem seemed the height
of computer sophistication.
sophistry N. seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning.
Instead of advancing valid arguments, he tried to overwhelm his audience with a flood of sophistries.
sophomoric ADJ. immature; half-baked, like a sophomore.
Even if you’re only a freshman, it’s no compliment to be told
your humor is sophomoric . The humor in Dumb and
Dumber is sophomoric at best.
• soporific ADJ. sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness. Professor Pringle’s lectures were so soporific that even he fell
asleep in class. also N.
sordid ADJ. vile; filthy; wretched; mean. Talk show hosts
seem willing to discuss any topic, no matter how sordid and
disgusting it may be.
sovereign ADJ. efficacious; supreme or paramount; selfgoverning. Professor Pennywhistle claimed his panacea
was a sovereign cure for all chronic complaints. In medicine the sovereign task of the doctor is to do no harm.
Rebelling against the mother country, the onetime colony
now proclaimed itself a sovereign state. also N.
spangle N. small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation. The thousands of spangles on her dress
sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
sparse ADJ. not thick; thinly scattered; scanty. No matter
how carefully Albert combed his hair to make it look as full
as possible, it still looked sparse.
Basic Word List 235
spartan ADJ. avoiding luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined. Looking over the bare, unheated room, with its hard
cot, he wondered what he was doing in such spartan quarters. Only his spartan sense of duty kept him at his post.
spasmodic ADJ. fitful; periodic. The spasmodic coughing
in the auditorium annoyed the performers.
spat N. squabble; minor dispute. What had started out as
a mere spat escalated into a full-blown argument.
spate N. sudden flood or strong outburst; a large number
or amount. After the spate of angry words that came pouring out of him, Mary was sure they would never be reconciled.
spatial ADJ. relating to space. NASA is engaged in an
ongoing program of spatial exploration. Certain exercises
test your sense of spatial relations by asking you to identify
two views of an object seen from different points in space.
spatula N. broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or
mixing. The manufacturers of this frying pan recommend
the use of a rubber spatula to avoid scratching the specially
treated surface.
spawn V. Iay eggs. Fish ladders had to be built in the
dams to assist the salmon returning to spawn in their native
streams. also N.
specious ADJ. seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally). To claim that, because houses
and birds both have wings, both can fly, is extremely specious reasoning.
spectrum N. colored band produced when beam of light
passes through a prism. The visible portion of the spectrum
includes red at one end and violet at the other.
spendthrift N. someone who wastes money. Easy access
to credit encourages people to turn into spendthrifts who
shop till they drop.
sphinx-like ADJ. enigmatic; mysterious. The Mona Lisa’s
sphinx-like expression has intrigued and mystified art lovers
for centuries.
splice V. fasten together; unite. Before you splice two strips
of tape together, be sure to line them up evenly. also N.
spontaneity N. lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom
from constraint. When Anne and Amy met, Amy impulsively
hugged her new colleague, but Anne drew back, unprepared for such spontaneity. The cast over-rehearsed the
play so much that the eventual performance lacked any
spontaneity. spontaneous, ADJ.
ADJ. occurring irregularly. Although you can still
hear sporadic outbursts of laughter and singing outside, the
big Halloween parade has passed; the party’s over till next
year.
■ sporadic
sportive ADJ. playful. Half man, half goat, the mischievous,
sportive fauns gamboled on the green.
spry ADJ. vigorously active; nimble. She was eighty years
old, yet still spry and alert.
• spurious
ADJ . false; counterfeit; forged; illogical. The
antique dealer hero of Jonathan Gash’s mystery novels
gives the reader tips on how to tell spurious antiques from
the real thing. Natasha’s claim to be the lost heir of the
Romanoffs was spurious: the only thing Russian about her
was the vodka she drank!
• spurn V. reject; scorn. The heroine spurned the villain’s
advances.
squabble N. minor quarrel; bickering. Children invariably get
involved in petty squabbles; wise parents know when to interfere and when to let the children work things out on their own.
squalor N . filth; degradation; dirty, neglected state.
Rusted, broken-down cars in its yard, trash piled up on the
porch, tar paper peeling from the roof, the shack was the
picture of squalor. squalid, ADJ.
V. waste. If you squander your allowance on
candy and comic books, you won’t have any money left to
buy the new box of crayons you want.
■ squander
squat ADJ. stocky; short and thick. Tolkien’s hobbits are
somewhat squat, sturdy little creatures, fond of good ale,
good music, and good mushrooms.
staccato ADJ . played in an abrupt manner; marked by
abrupt sharp sound. His staccato speech reminded one of
the sound of a machine gun.
ADJ . motionless; stale; dull. Mosquitoes commonly breed in ponds of stagnant water. Mike’s career was
stagnant; it wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he!
stagnate, V.
■ stagnant
staid ADJ. sober; sedate. The wild parties at the fraternity
house appealed to the jocks and slackers, but appalled the
more staid and serious students on campus.
stalemate N. deadlock. Negotiations between the union
and the employers have reached a stalemate; neither side
is willing to budge from previously stated positions.
stalwart ADJ. strong and vigorous; unwaveringly dependable. We thought the congressman was a stalwart Republican until he voted against President Bush’s Medicare
reform bill. also N.
stamina N. strength; staying power. I doubt that she has
the stamina to run the full distance of the marathon race.
stanch V. check flow of blood. It is imperative that we
stanch the gushing wound before we attend to the other
injuries.
stanza N. division of a poem. Do you know the last stanza
of “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
ADJ. unchanging; lacking development. Why watch
chess on TV? I like watching a game with action, not something static where nothing seems to be going on.
■ static
statute N. law enacted by the legislature. The statute of
limitations sets the limits on how long you have to take legal
action in specific cases.
• steadfast ADJ. loyal; unswerving. Penelope was steadfast
in her affections, faithfully waiting for Ulysses to return from
his wanderings.
stealth N . slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness. Fearing
detection by the sentries on duty, the scout inched his way
toward the enemy camp with great stealth.
steep V. soak; saturate. Be sure to steep the fabric in the
dyebath for the full time prescribed.
236 Build Your Vocabulary
stellar ADJ . pertaining to the stars. He was the stellar
attraction of the entire performance.
stem V. check the flow. The paramedic used a tourniquet
to stem the bleeding from the slashed artery.
stem from V . arise from. Milton’s problems in school
stemmed from his poor study habits.
stereotype N. fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture, often reflecting prejudice. Critics
object to the character of Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because he seems to reflect the stereotype of
the happy, ignorant slave.
stifle V. suppress; extinguish; inhibit. Halfway through the
boring lecture, Laura gave up trying to stifle her yawns.
stigma N. token of disgrace; brand. I do not attach any
stigma to the fact that you were accused of this crime; the
fact that you were acquitted clears you completely.
stigmatize V. brand; mark as wicked. I do not want to stigmatize this young offender for life by sending her to prison.
stilted ADJ. bombastic; inflated. His stilted rhetoric did not
impress the college audience; they were immune to bombastic utterances.
stint N . supply; allotted amount; assigned portion of
work. He performed his daily stint cheerfully and willingly.
also V.
stint V . be thrifty; set limits. “Spare no expense,” the
bride’s father said, refusing to stint on the wedding arrangements.
stipend N. pay for services. There is a nominal stipend for
this position.
stipulate V . make express conditions; specify. Before
agreeing to reduce American military forces in Europe, the
president stipulated that NATO inspection teams be
allowed to inspect Soviet bases.
strew V. spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter. Preceding the
bride to the altar, the flower girl will strew rose petals along
the aisle.
striated ADJ. marked with parallel bands; grooved. The
glacier left many striated rocks. striate, V.
stricture N. restriction; adverse criticism. Huck regularly
disobeyed Miss Watson’s rules and strictures upon his
behavior: he wouldn’t wear shoes, no matter what she said.
• strident
ADJ . loud and harsh; insistent. Whenever Sue
became angry, she tried not to raise her voice; she had no
desire to appear strident.
stringent ADJ. severe; rigid; constricted. Fearing the rapid
spread of the SARS virus, the Canadian government
imposed stringent quarantine measures.
strut N . pompous walk; swagger. Looking at his selfimportant strut as he swaggered about the parade ground,
I could tell Colonel Blimp thought highly of himself. also V.
strut N. supporting bar. The engineer calculated that the
strut supporting the rafter needed to be reinforced. (secondary meaning)
studied ADJ . not spontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful.
Given Jill’s previous slights, Jack felt that the omission of
his name from the guest list was a studied insult.
stultify V. cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; frustrate or hinder. His long hours in the blacking factory left young Dickens numb and incurious, as if the menial
labor had stultified his brain.
• stupefy
V . make numb; stun; amaze. Disapproving of
drugs in general, Laura refused to take sleeping pills or any
other medicine that might stupefy her. stupefaction, N.
stupor N. state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness. The
paramedics shook the unconscious man but could not
rouse him from his stupor.
stodgy ADJ. stuffy; boringly conservative. For a young person, Winston seems remarkably stodgy : you’d expect
someone his age to show a little more life.
stymie V. present an obstacle; stump. The detective was
stymied by the contradictory evidence in the robbery investigation. also N.
stoic ADJ. impassive; unmoved by joy or grief. I wasn’t particularly stoic when I had my flu shot; I squealed like a stuck
pig. also N.
suavity N. urbanity; polish. The elegant actor is particularly
good in roles that require suavity and sophistication.
stoke V. stir up a fire; feed plentifully. As a Scout Marisa
learned how to light a fire, how to stoke it if it started to die
down, and how to extinguish it completely.
• stolid ADJ. unruffled; impassive; dull. Marianne wanted a
romantic, passionate suitor like Willoughby, not a stolid,
unimaginative one like Colonel Brandon.
stratagem N . deceptive scheme. Though Wellington’s
forces seemed in full retreat, in reality their withdrawal was
a stratagem intended to lure the enemy away from its sheltered position.
stratify V. divide into classes; be arranged into strata. As
the economic gap between the rich and the poor
increased, Roman society grew increasingly stratified.
stratum N. Iayer of earth’s surface; layer of society. Neither
an elitist nor a reverse snob, Mitch had friends from every
social stratum.
subdued ADJ. less intense; quieter. Bob liked the subdued
lighting at the restaurant because he thought it was romantic. I just thought it was dimly lit.
subjective ADJ. occurring or taking place within the subject;
unreal. Your analysis is highly subjective; you have permitted your emotions and your opinions to color your thinking.
subjugate V. conquer; bring under control. Alexander the
Great conquered most of the known world of his time, first
subjugating the Persians under Darius, then defeating the
armies of India’s King Porus.
sublime ADJ. exalted or noble and uplifting; utter. Lucy
was in awe of Desi’s sublime musicianship, while he was in
awe of her sublime naiveté.
Basic Word List 237
Word List 45 subliminal-tantamount
subliminal ADJ. below conscious awareness. The pulse of
the music began to work on the crowd in a subliminal way:
they rocked to the rhythm unconsciously.
■ submissive
ADJ. yielding; timid. When he refused to permit
Elizabeth to marry her poet, Mr. Barrett expected her to be
properly submissive; instead, she eloped!
ADJ. occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive. Bishop Proudie’s wife expected all the subordinate
clergy to behave with great deference to the wife of their
superior.
■ subordinate
suborn V. persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit
perjury). In The Godfather , the mobsters used bribery
and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael
Corleone.
subpoena N. writ summoning a witness to appear. The
prosecutor’s office was ready to serve a subpoena on the
reluctant witness. also V.
subsequent ADJ. following; later. In subsequent lessons,
we shall take up more difficult problems.
subservient ADJ . behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious. He was proud and dignified; he refused to be subservient to anyone.
V. settle down; descend; grow quiet. The doctor
assured us that the fever would eventually subside.
■ subside
subsidiary N. something secondary in importance or subordinate; auxiliary. The Turner Broadcasting System is a wholly
owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner. First deal with the
critical issues, then with the subsidiary ones. also ADJ.
subsidy N. direct financial aid by government, etc. Without
this subsidy, American ship operators would not be able to
compete in world markets.
subsistence N. means needed to support life; existence.
Farming those barren, depleted fields, he raised barely
enough food for his family’s subsistence.
substantial ADJ. ample; solid; in essentials. The generous
scholarship represented a substantial sum of money.
■ substantiate
V . establish by evidence; verify; support.
These endorsements from satisfied customers substantiate
our claim that Barron’s How to Prepare for the SAT is the
best SAT-prep book on the market.
substantive ADJ. real, as opposed to imaginary; essential;
solidly based; substantial. Bishop Tutu received the Nobel
Peace Prize in recognition of his substantive contributions
to the peace movement in South Africa.
subterfuge N. deceitful stratagem; trick; pretense. Hiding
from his pursuers, the fugitive used every subterfuge he
could think of to get them off his track.
subtlety N . perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy. Never
obvious, she expressed herself with such subtlety that her
remarks went right over the heads of most of her audience.
subtle, ADJ.
subversive ADJ. tending to overthrow; destructive. At first
glance, the notion that styrofoam cups may actually be
more ecologically sound than paper cups strikes most environmentalists as subversive.
ADJ. brief; terse; compact. Don’t bore your audience with excess verbiage: be succinct.
■ succinct
succor V. aid; assist; comfort. If you believe that con man
has come here to succor you in your hour of need, you’re
an even bigger sucker than I thought. also N.
succulent ADJ. juicy; full of richness. To some people,
Florida citrus fruits are more succulent than those from California. also N.
succumb V. yield; give in; die. I succumb to temptation
whenever I see chocolate.
suffragist N . advocate of voting rights (for women). In
recognition of her efforts to win the vote for women, Congress authorized coining a silver dollar honoring the suffragist Susan B. Anthony
sully V. tarnish; soil. He felt that it was beneath his dignity
to sully his hands in such menial labor.
sultry ADJ. sweltering. He could not adjust himself to the
sultry climate of the tropics.
summation N. act of finding the total; summary. In his
summation, the lawyer emphasized the testimony given by
the two witnesses.
summit N. utmost height or pinnacle; highest point (of a
mountain, etc.) The summit of the amateur mountain
climber’s aspirations was someday to reach the summit of
Mount Everest.
sumptuous ADJ. Iavish; rich. I cannot recall when I have
had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.
sunder V. separate; part. Northern and southern Ireland
are politically and religiously sundered.
supercilious ADJ. arrogant; condescending; patronizing.
The supercilious headwaiter sneered at customers whom
he thought did not fit in at a restaurant catering to an ultrafashionable crowd.
ADJ. trivial; shallow. Since your report gave only
a superficial analysis of the problem, I cannot give you
more than a passing grade.
■ superficial
ADJ. unnecessary; excessive; overabundant.
Betsy lacked the heart to tell June that the wedding present
she brought was superfluous; she and Bob had already
received five toasters. Please try not to include so many
superfluous details in your report; just give me the facts.
superfluity, N.
■ superfluous
superimpose V. place over something else. The filmmakers
superimposed the credits over the movie’s opening scene.
supersede V. cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete. The new bulk mailing postal regulation supersedes the
old one. If you continue to follow the old regulation, your
bulk mailing will be returned to you.
• supplant V. replace; usurp. Bolingbroke, later to be known
as King Henry IV, fought to supplant his cousin, Richard III,
as King of England.
238 Build Your Vocabulary
supple ADJ. flexible; pliant. Years of yoga exercises made
Grace’s body supple.
supplicate V. petition humbly; pray to grant a favor. We
supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
supposition N. hypothesis; the act of supposing. I based
my decision to confide in him on the supposition that he
would be discreet. suppose, V.
suppress V. stifle; overwhelm; subdue; inhibit. Too polite
to laugh in anyone’s face, Roy did his best to suppress his
amusement at Ed’s inane remark.
swelter V. be oppressed by heat. I am going to buy an air
conditioning unit for my apartment as I do not intend to
swelter through another hot and humid summer.
swerve V. deviate; turn aside sharply. The car swerved
wildly as the driver struggled to regain control of the wheel.
swill V. drink greedily. Singing “Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of
rum,” Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
swindler N. cheat. She was gullible and trusting, an easy
victim for the first swindler who came along.
V . satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything.
sybarite N. Iover of luxury. Rich people are not always
sybarites; some of them have little taste for a life of luxury.
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats. also N.
• sycophant N. servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man. Fed up
• surfeit
surly ADJ. rude; cross. Because of his surly attitude, many
people avoided his company.
surmise V . suspect; guess; imagine. I surmise that
Suzanne will be late for this meeting; I’ve never known her
to be on time. also N.
surmount V. overcome. Could Helen Keller, blind and deaf
since childhood, surmount her physical disabilities and lead
a productive life?
■ surpass
V. exceed. Her SAT scores surpassed our expec-
tations.
■ surreptitious
ADJ. secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden. Hoping
to discover where his mom had hidden the Christmas presents, Timmy took a surreptitious peek into the master bedroom closet.
with the toadies and flunkies who made up his entourage,
the star cried, “Get out, all of you! I’m sick of sycophants!”
sycophancy, N.
symbiosis N . interdependent relationship (between
groups, species), often mutually beneficial. Both the crocodile bird and the crocodile derive benefit from their symbiosis : pecking away at food particles embedded in the
crocodile’s teeth, the bird receives nourishment; the crocodile, meanwhile, receives proper dental hygiene. symbiotic,
ADJ.
symmetry N . arrangement of parts so that balance is
obtained; congruity. Something lopsided by definition lacks
symmetry.
surrogate N . substitute. For a fatherless child, a male
teacher may become a father surrogate.
synoptic ADJ. providing a general overview; summary. The
professor turned to the latest issue of Dissertation Abstracts
for a synoptic account of what was new in the field. synopsis, N.
surveillance N . watching; guarding. The FBI kept the
house under constant surveillance in the hope of capturing
all the criminals at one time.
synthesis N. combining parts into a whole. Now that we
have succeeded in isolating this drug, our next problem is
to plan its synthesis in the laboratory. synthesize, V.
ADJ. impressionable; easily influenced; having
little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to. Said the
patent medicine man to his very susceptible customer:
“Buy this new miracle drug, and you will no longer be susceptible to the common cold.”
table V. set aside a resolution or proposal for future consideration. Because we seem unable to agree on this issue
at the moment, let us table the motion for now and come
back to it at a later date.
■ susceptible
■ sustain
V . experience; support; nourish. He sustained
such a severe injury that the doctors feared he would be
unable to work to sustain his growing family.
sustenance N. means of support, food, nourishment. In
the tropics, the natives find sustenance easy to obtain, due
to all the fruit trees.
suture N. stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound
or incision; material used in sewing. We will remove the
sutures as soon as the wound heals. also V.
swagger V. behave arrogantly or pompously; strut or walk
proudly. The conquering hero didn’t simply stride down the
street; he swaggered. also N.
swarm N. dense moving crowd; large group of honeybees. At the height of the city hall scandals, a constant
swarm of reporters followed the mayor everywhere. also V.
swarthy ADJ. dark; dusky. Despite the stereotypes, not all
Italians are swarthy; many are fair and blond.
swathe V. wrap around; bandage. When I visited him in
the hospital, I found him swathed in bandages.
tacit ADJ. understood; not put into words. We have a tacit
agreement based on only a handshake.
ADJ. habitually silent; talking little. The stereotypical cowboy is a taciturn soul, answering lengthy questions
with “Yep” or “Nope.”
■ taciturn
tactile ADJ. pertaining to the organs or sense of touch. His
callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.
taint V. contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace
of something bad. One speck of dirt on your utensils may
contain enough germs to taint an entire batch of preserves.
talisman N. charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune.
Joe believed the carved pendant he found in Vietnam
served him as a talisman and brought him safely through
the war.
talon N. claw of bird. The falconer wore a leather gauntlet
to avoid being clawed by the hawk’s talons.
tangential ADJ . peripheral; only slightly connected;
digressing. Despite Clark’s attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main
Basic Word List 239
question: why couldn’t he come out to dinner with Superman and her?
tangible ADJ. able to be touched; real; palpable. Although
Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets—a
car, a television, a PC—that he could sell if he needed cash.
tanner N . person who turns animal hides into leather.
Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide,
transforming it into supple leather.
tantalize V. tease; torture with disappointment. Tom tantalized his younger brother, holding the ball just too high for
Jimmy to reach.
• tantamount ADJ. equivalent in effect or value. Because so
few Southern blacks could afford to pay the poll tax, the
imposition of this tax on prospective voters was tantamount
to disenfranchisement for black voters.
Word List 46 tantrum-tonic
tantrum N. fit of petulance; caprice. The child learned that
he could have almost anything if he had a tantrum.
tarantula N. venomous spider. We need an antitoxin to
counteract the bite of the tarantula.
tarry V. delay; dawdle. We can’t tarry if we want to get to
the airport on time.
taut ADJ. tight; ready. The captain maintained that he ran a
taut ship.
tautological ADJ. needlessly repetitious. In the sentence “It
was visible to the eye,” the phrase “to the eye” is tautological.
tautology N. unnecessary repetition. “Joyful happiness” is
an illustration of tautology.
tawdry ADJ. cheap and gaudy. He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
tedious ADJ. boring; tiring. The repetitious nature of work on
the assembly line made Martin’s job very tedious. tedium, N.
temerity N. boldness; rashness. Do you have the temerity
to argue with me?
■ temper
V . moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen
(steel). Not even her supervisor’s grumpiness could temper
Nancy’s enthusiasm for her new job.
temperament N. characteristic frame of mind; disposition;
emotional excess. Although the twins look alike, they differ
markedly in temperament : Todd is calm, but Rod is
excitable.
temperate ADJ . restrained; self-controlled; moderate in
respect to temperature. Try to be temperate in your eating
this holiday season; if you control your appetite, you won’t
gain too much weight.
tempestuous ADJ. stormy; impassioned; violent. Racketthrowing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament.
tempo N. speed of music. I find the band’s tempo too slow
for such a lively dance.
temporal ADJ. not lasting forever; limited by time; secular.
At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they
had been given their thrones by divine right.
temporize V. act evasively to gain time; avoid committing
oneself. Ordered by King John to drive Robin Hood out of
Sherwood Forest, the sheriff temporized, hoping to put off
any confrontation with the outlaw band.
tenacious ADJ. holding fast. I had to struggle to break his
tenacious hold on my arm.
• tenacity N. firmness; persistence. Jean Valjean could not
believe the tenacity of Inspector Javert. Here all Valjean had
done was to steal a loaf of bread, and the inspector had
pursued him doggedly for twenty years!
tendentious ADJ. having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause. The editorials in this periodical are tendentious
rather than truth-seeking.
tender V. offer; extend. Although no formal charges had
been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal
the mayor felt he should tender his resignation.
tenet N. doctrine; dogma. The agnostic did not accept the
tenets of their faith.
tensile ADJ. capable of being stretched. Mountain climbers
must know the tensile strength of their ropes.
ADJ. hesitant; not fully worked out or developed;
experimental; not definite or positive. Unsure of his welcome
at the Christmas party, Scrooge took a tentative step into his
nephew’s drawing room.
■ tentative
tenuous ADJ. thin; rare; slim. The allegiance of our allies is
based on such tenuous ties that we have little hope they will
remain loyal.
tenure N. holding of an office; time during which such an
office is held. A special recall election put a sudden end to
Gray Davis’s tenure in office as governor of California.
tepid ADJ. Iukewarm. To avoid scalding the baby, make
sure the bath water is tepid, not hot.
termination N. end. Though the time for termination of the
project was near, we still had a lot of work to finish before
we shut up shop. terminate, V.
terminology N. terms used in a science or art. In talking to
patients, doctors should either avoid medical terminology altogether or take time to explain the technical terms they use.
terminus N. Iast stop of railroad. After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness
on saddle horses.
• terrestrial ADJ. earthly (as opposed to celestial); pertaining
to the land. In many science fiction films, alien invaders
from outer space plan to destroy all terrestrial life.
ADJ . concise; abrupt; pithy. There is a fine line
between speech that is terse and to the point and speech
that is too abrupt.
■ terse
testy ADJ. irritable; short-tempered. My advice is to avoid
discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy
and may shout at you.
240 Build Your Vocabulary
tether V. tie with a rope. Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the
night.
thwart V. prevent; frustrate; oppose and defeat. Batman
searched for a way to thwart the Joker’s evil plan to destroy
Gotham City.
thematic ADJ. relating to a unifying motif or idea. Those
who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about
whaling miss its underlying thematic import.
tightwad N. excessively frugal person; miser. Jill called
Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the
check.
theocracy N. government run by religious leaders. Though
some Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England, many of their fellow
voyagers preferred a nonreligious form of government.
tiller N . handle used to move boat’s rudder (to steer).
Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff,
Tom kept one hand on the tiller at all times.
theoretical ADJ. not practical or applied; hypothetical. Bob
was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I
can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan,
you’ve convinced me of its basic soundness.
therapeutic ADJ. curative. Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous “healing waters.” therapy, N.
thermal ADJ . pertaining to heat. On cold, wintry days,
Jack dresses for warmth, putting on his thermal underwear.
also N.
thespian ADJ. pertaining to drama. Her success in the
school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian
career. also N.
• threadbare
ADJ . worn through till the threads show;
shabby and poor. The poor adjunct professor hid the
threadbare spots on his jacket by sewing leather patches
on his sleeves.
thrifty ADJ . careful about money; economical. A thrifty
shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
timidity N. Iack of self-confidence or courage. If you are to
succeed as a salesman, you must first lose your timidity
and fear of failure.
timorous ADJ. fearful; demonstrating fear. His timorous
manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.
• tirade N. extended scolding; denunciation; harangue. The
cigar smoker went into a bitter tirade, denouncing the antismoking forces that had succeeded in banning smoking
from most planes and restaurants.
titanic ADJ. gigantic. Titanic waves beat against the majestic S.S. Titanic, driving it against the concealed iceberg.
title N. right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of
a book, film, etc.). Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort
no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his
title as head of one of England’s oldest families.
titter N. nervous laugh. Her aunt’s constant titter nearly
drove her mad. also V.
titular ADJ. nominal holding of title without obligations.
Although he was the titular head of the company, the real
decisions were made by his general manager.
sion on the restaurant trade, Philip’s cafe thrived.
toady N. servile flatterer; yes man. Never tell the boss anything he doesn’t wish to hear: he doesn’t want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady. also V.
throes N. violent anguish. The throes of despair can be as
devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.
tome N. Iarge volume. He spent much time in the libraries
poring over ancient tomes.
N. crowd. Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles.
tonic ADJ. invigorating; refreshing. The tart homemade
ginger ale had a tonic effect on Kit: she perked right up.
also N.
■ thrive
throng
also V.
V. prosper; flourish. Despite the impact of the reces-
Word List 47 topography-ubiquitous
topography N. physical features of a region. Before the
generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete
study of the topography of the region.
tortuous ADJ. winding; full of curves. Because this road is
so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an
hour on it.
the winter, nothing aroused the bear from his torpor: he
would not emerge from hibernation until spring. torpid, ADJ.
totter V. move unsteadily; sway, as if about to fall. On
unsteady feet, the drunk tottered down the hill to the nearest bar.
torrent N. rushing stream; flood. Day after day of heavy
rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents. torrential, ADJ.
touchstone N . stone used to test the fineness of gold
alloys; criterion. What touchstone can be used to measure
the character of a person?
torrid ADJ . passionate; hot or scorching. Harlequin
Romances publish torrid tales of love affairs, some set in
torrid climates.
touchy ADJ. sensitive; irascible. Do not mention his bald
spot; he’s very touchy about it.
• torpor N. lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy. Throughout
torso N . trunk of statue with head and limbs missing;
human trunk. This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is
now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.
tout V. publicize; praise excessively. I lost confidence in
my broker after he touted some junk bonds to me that
turned out to be a bad investment.
toxic ADJ. poisonous. We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten. toxicity, N.
Basic Word List 241
tract N. region of land (often imprecisely described); pamphlet. The king granted William Penn a tract of land in the
New World. Penn then printed a tract in which he encouraged settlers to join his colony.
tractable ADJ. docile; easily managed. Although Susan
seemed a tractable young woman, she had a stubborn
streak of independence that occasionally led her to defy the
powers-that-be when she felt they were in the wrong.
traduce V. expose to slander. His opponents tried to traduce the candidate’s reputation by spreading rumors about
his past.
trajectory N. path taken by a projectile. The police tried to
locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal
shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet.
■ tranquillity N. calmness; peace. After the commotion and
excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these
fields and forests.
transcendent ADJ. surpassing; exceeding ordinary limits;
superior. For the amateur chef, dining at the four-star
restaurant was a transcendent experience: the meal surpassed his wildest dreams.
transcribe V . copy. When you transcribe your notes,
please send a copy to Mr. Smith and keep the original for
our files. transcription, N.
traverse V. go through or across. When you traverse this
field, be careful of the bull.
travesty N. harshly distorted imitation; parody; debased
likeness. Phillips’s translation of Don Quixote is so inadequate and clumsy that it seems a travesty of the original.
treacly ADJ. sticky sweet; cloyingly sentimental. Irritatingly
cheerful, always looking on the bright side, Pollyanna
speaks nothing but treacly sentimentalities. treacle, N.
treatise N. article treating a subject systematically and
thoroughly. He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan
playwrights for his graduate degree.
trek N. travel; journey. The tribe made their trek farther
north that summer in search of game. also V.
tremor N . trembling; slight quiver. She had a nervous
tremor in her right hand.
tremulous ADJ. trembling; wavering. She was tremulous
more from excitement than from fear.
trenchant ADJ. forceful and vigorous; cutting. With his trenchant wit, Rich cuts straight to the heart of the matter, panning a truly dreadful play.
• trepidation N. fear; nervous apprehension. As she entered
the office of the dean of admissions, Sharon felt some trepidation about how she would do in her interview.
transgression N. violation of a law; sin. Although Widow
Douglass was willing to overlook Huck’s transgressions,
Miss Watson refused to forgive and forget.
trespass V. unlawfully enter the boundaries of some else’s
property. The wicked baron flogged any poacher who trespassed on his private hunting grounds. also N.
ADJ. momentary; temporary; staying for a short
time. Lexy’s joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil
was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins
and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to
a largely transient trade. transience, N.
tribute N . tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect. The
colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.
■ transient
transition N. going from one state of action to another.
During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the
furnace will have to be shut off.
transitory ADJ. impermanent; fleeting. Fame is transitory:
today’s rising star is all too soon tomorrow’s washed-up
has-been. transitoriness, N.
translucent ADJ. partly transparent. We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent
curtains that separated us.
transmute V. change; convert to something different. He
was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.
• trifling ADJ. trivial; unimportant. Why bother going to see a
doctor for such a trifling, everyday cold?
trigger V . set off. John is touchy today; say one word
wrong and you’ll trigger an explosion.
trinket N . knickknack; bauble. Whenever she traveled
abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.
ADJ . hackneyed; commonplace. The trite and predictable situations in many television programs turn off
many viewers, who, in turn, turn off their sets.
■ trite
trivial ADJ. unimportant; trifling. Too many magazines ignore
newsworthy subjects and feature trivial affairs. trivia, N.
transparent ADJ. easily detected; permitting light to pass
through freely. John’s pride in his son is transparent; no one
who sees the two of them together can miss it.
trough N. container for feeding farm animals; lowest point
(of a wave, business cycle, etc.) The hungry pigs struggled
to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her
board, coasting along in the trough between two waves.
transport N . strong emotion. Margo was a creature of
extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid
sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a
dying bird. also V. (secondary meaning)
truculence N. aggressiveness; ferocity. Tynan’s reviews
were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence. truculent, ADJ.
trappings N. outward decorations; ornaments. He loved
the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options,
the company jet.
traumatic ADJ. pertaining to an injury caused by violence.
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
travail N. painful physical or mental labor; drudgery; torment. Like every other high school student she knew, Sherry
hated the yearlong travail of cramming for the SAT. also V.
truism N. self-evident truth. Many a truism is summed up
in a proverb; for example, “Marry in haste, repent at
leisure.”
• truncate V. cut the top off. The top of a cone that has been
truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.
tryst N. meeting. The lovers kept their tryst even though
they realized their danger.
tumult N. commotion; riot; noise. She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.
242 Build Your Vocabulary
tundra N. rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North
America. Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to
discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.
tutelage N. guardianship; training. Under the tutelage of
such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress
as a virtuoso.
turbid ADJ. muddy; having the sediment disturbed. The
water was turbid after the children had waded through it.
tycoon N . wealthy leader. John D. Rockefeller was a
prominent tycoon.
N . state of violent agitation. Warned of
approaching turbulence in the atmosphere, the pilot told
the passengers to fasten their seat belts.
typhoon N . tropical hurricane or cyclone. If you liked
Twister, you’ll love Typhoon!
■ turbulence
turgid ADJ. swollen; distended. The turgid river threatened
to overflow the levees and flood the countryside.
N. great commotion and confusion. Lydia running
off with a soldier! Mother fainting at the news! The Bennet
household was in turmoil.
■ turmoil
turncoat N. traitor. The British considered Benedict Arnold
a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat.
tyranny N. oppression; cruel government. Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his
life.
tyro N. beginner; novice. For a mere tyro, you have produced some wonderfully expert results.
ubiquitous ADJ . being everywhere; omnipresent. That
Christmas “The Little Drummer Boy” seemed ubiquitous;
David heard the tune everywhere.
turpitude N. depravity. A visitor may be denied admittance
to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.
Word List 48 ulterior-vehement
ulterior ADJ. unstated; hidden; more remote. Suspicious of
altruistic gestures, he looked for an ulterior motive behind
every charitable deed.
ultimate ADJ. final; not susceptible to further analysis. Scientists are searching for ultimate truths.
unaccountable ADJ. inexplicable; unreasonable or mysterious. I have taken an unaccountable dislike to my doctor: “I
do not love thee, Doctor Fell. The reason why, I cannot tell.”
unanimity N. complete agreement. We were surprised by
the unanimity with which members of both parties accepted
our proposals. unanimous, ADJ.
unassailable ADJ . not subject to question; not open to
attack. Penelope’s virtue was unassailable ; while she
waited for her husband to come back from the war, no other
man had a chance.
unassuming ADJ. modest. He is so unassuming that some
people fail to realize how great a man he really is.
old lady at first, but there’s an iron will underlying that soft
and fluffy facade.
V. weaken; sap. The recent corruption scandals have undermined many people’s faith in the city
government. The recent torrential rains have washed
away much of the cliffside; the deluge threatens to undermine the pillars supporting several houses at the edge of
the cliff.
■ undermine
underscore V. emphasize. Addressing the jogging class,
Kim underscored the importance to runners of good nutrition.
undulating ADJ. moving with a wavelike motion. The Hilo
Hula Festival was an undulating sea of grass skirts.
unearth V . dig up. When they unearthed the city, the
archeologists found many relics of an ancient civilization.
unequivocal ADJ. plain; obvious; unmistakable. My answer
to your proposal is an unequivocal and absolute “No.”
ADJ. violent. She had a sudden fit of unbridled
unerringly ADJ. infallibly. My teacher unerringly pounced
on the one typographical error in my essay.
uncanny ADJ. strange; mysterious. You have the uncanny
knack of reading my innermost thoughts.
unfathomable ADJ . incomprehensible; impenetrable.
Unable to get to the bottom of the mystery, Watson
declared it was unfathomable.
unconscionable ADJ. unscrupulous; excessive. She found
the loan shark’s demands unconscionable and impossible
to meet.
unfetter V. liberate; free from chains. Chained to the wall
for months on end, the hostage despaired that he would
ever be unfettered.
uncouth ADJ. outlandish; clumsy; boorish. Most biographers portray Lincoln as an uncouth and ungainly young
man.
unfrock V. to strip a priest or minister of church authority.
To disbar a lawyer, to unfrock a priest, to suspend a
doctor’s license to practice—these are extreme steps
that the authorities should take only after careful consideration.
unbridled
rage.
unctuous ADJ. oily; bland; insincerely suave. Uriah Heep
disguised his nefarious actions by unctuous protestations of
his “humility.”
underlying ADJ. fundamental; lying below. The underlying
cause of the student riot was not the strict curfew rule but
the moldy cafeteria food. Miss Marple seems a sweet little
ungainly ADJ. awkward; clumsy; unwieldy. “If you want to
know whether Nick’s an ungainly dancer, check out my
bruised feet,” said Nora. Anyone who has ever tried to carry
a bass fiddle knows it’s an ungainly instrument.
Basic Word List 243
N. sameness; monotony. At Persons magazine,
we strive for uniformity of style; as a result, all our writers
wind up sounding exactly alike.
■ uniformity
unimpeachable ADJ. blameless and exemplary. Her conduct in office was unimpeachable and her record is spotless.
uninhibited ADJ . unrepressed. The congregation was
shocked by her uninhibited laughter during the sermon.
unintimidating ADJ . unfrightening. Though Phil had
expected to feel overawed when he met Steve Young, he
found the famous quarterback friendly and unintimidating.
unique ADJ. without an equal; single in kind. You have the
unique distinction of being the only student whom I have
had to fail in this course.
universal ADJ. characterizing or affecting all; present everywhere. At first, no one shared Christopher’s opinions; his theory that the world was round was met with universal disdain.
• unkempt
ADJ . disheveled; uncared for in appearance.
Jeremy hated his neighbor’s unkempt lawn: he thought its
neglected appearance had a detrimental effect on neighborhood property values.
unmitigated ADJ. unrelieved or immoderate; absolute. After
four days of unmitigated heat, I was ready to collapse from
heat prostration. The congresswoman’s husband was an
unmitigated jerk: not only did he abandon her, he took her
campaign funds, too!
unobtrusive ADJ. inconspicuous; not blatant. Reluctant to
attract notice, the governess took a chair in a far corner of
the room and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
unpalatable ADJ. distasteful; disagreeable. “I refuse to
swallow your conclusion,” said she, finding his logic
unpalatable.
• unprecedented ADJ. novel; unparalleled. For a first novel,
Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind was an
unprecedented success.
unprepossessing ADJ. unattractive. During adolescence
many attractive young people somehow acquire the false
notion that their appearance is unprepossessing.
unravel V . disentangle; solve. With equal ease Miss
Marple unraveled tangled balls of yarn and baffling murder
mysteries.
unrequited ADJ . not reciprocated. Suffering the pangs
of unrequited love, Olivia rebukes Cesario for his hardheartedness.
untenable ADJ. indefensible; not able to be maintained.
Wayne is so contrary that, the more untenable a position is,
the harder he’ll try to defend it.
ADJ . unjustified; groundless; undeserved.
Your assumption that I would accept your proposal is
unwarranted, sir; I do not want to marry you at all. We could
not understand Martin’s unwarranted rudeness to his
mother’s guests.
■ unwarranted
unwieldy ADJ . awkward; cumbersome; unmanageable.
The large carton was so unwieldy that the movers had trouble getting it up the stairs.
unwitting ADJ. unintentional; not knowing. She was the
unwitting tool of the swindlers.
upbraid V. severely scold; reprimand. Not only did Miss
Minchin upbraid Ermengarde for her disobedience, but she
hung her up by her braids from a coat rack in the classroom.
uproarious ADJ. marked by commotion; extremely funny;
very noisy. The uproarious comedy hit Ace Ventura: Pet
Detective starred Jim Carrey, whose comic mugging provoked gales of uproarious laughter from audiences coast to
coast.
upshot N. outcome. The upshot of the rematch was that
the former champion proved that he still possessed all the
skills of his youth.
urbane ADJ . suave; refined; elegant. The courtier was
urbane and sophisticated. urbanity, N.
■ usurp V . seize another’s power or rank. The revolution
ended when the victorious rebel general succeeded in his
attempt to usurp the throne.
utopia N. ideal place, state, or society. Fed up with this
imperfect universe, Don would have liked to run off to
Shangri-la or some other imaginary utopia. utopian, ADJ.
■ vacillate V. waver; fluctuate. Uncertain which suitor she
ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one,
now the other. The big boss likes his people to be decisive:
when he asks you for your opinion, whatever you do, don’t
vacillate. vacillation, N.
vacuous ADJ. empty; inane. The vacuous remarks of the
politician annoyed the audience, who had hoped to hear
more than empty platitudes.
vagabond N. wanderer; tramp. In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds.
also ADJ.
unruly ADJ. disobedient; lawless. The only way to curb this
unruly mob is to use tear gas.
vagrant N . a homeless wanderer. Because he was a
stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin
feared he would be jailed as a vagrant. vagrancy, N.
unscathed ADJ. unharmed. They prayed he would come
back from the war unscathed.
valedictory ADJ. pertaining to farewell. I found the valedictory address too long; leave-taking should be brief.
unseemly ADJ. unbecoming; indecent; in poor taste. When
he put whoopie cushions on all the seats in the funeral parlor, his conduct was most unseemly.
valid ADJ. Iogically convincing; sound; legally acceptable.
You’re going to have to come up with a better argument if
you want to convince me that your reasoning is valid.
unsightly ADJ. ugly. Although James was an experienced
emergency room nurse, he occasionally became queasy
when faced with a particularly unsightly injury.
validate V. confirm; ratify. I will not publish my findings
until I validate my results.
unstinting ADJ. giving generously; not holding back. The
dean praised the donor of the new science building for her
unstinting generosity.
valor N. bravery. He received the Medal of Honor for his
valor in battle.
244 Build Your Vocabulary
vampire N. ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living.
Children were afraid to go to sleep because of the many
legends of vampires roaming at night.
• vaporize V. turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.). “Zap!”
vanguard N. advance guard of a military force; forefront of
a movement. When no enemy was in sight, the Duke of
Plaza Toro marched in the vanguard of his troops, but once
the bullets flew above, he headed for the rear.
variegated ADJ . many-colored. Without her glasses,
Gretchen saw the fields of tulips as a variegated blur.
vantage N. position giving an advantage. They fired upon
the enemy from behind trees, walls and any other point of
vantage they could find.
vapid ADJ. dull and unimaginative; insipid and flavorless.
“Bor-ing!” said Jessica, as she suffered through yet another
vapid lecture about Dead White Male Poets.
went Super Mario’s atomic ray gun as he vaporized another
deadly foe.
veer V. change in direction. After what seemed an eternity, the wind veered to the east and the storm abated.
vehement ADJ. forceful; intensely emotional; with marked
vigor. Alfred became so vehement in describing what
was wrong with the Internal Revenue Service that he
began jumping up and down and frothing at the mouth.
vehemence, N.
Word List 49 velocity-vogue
N . speed. The train went by at considerable
verbalize V. put into words. I know you don’t like to talk
about these things, but please try to verbalize your feelings.
venal ADJ. capable of being bribed. The venal policeman
cheerfully accepted the bribe offered him by the speeding
motorist whom he had stopped.
verbatim ADV . word for word. Blessed with a retentive
memory, he could repeat lengthy messages verbatim. also
ADJ.
vendetta N. blood feud. Hoping to stop the street warfare
disrupting his city, the Duke ordered the Capulet and Montague families to end their bitter vendetta.
verbiage N. pompous array of words. After we had waded
through all the verbiage, we discovered that the writer had
said very little.
velocity
velocity.
vendor N. seller. The fruit vendor sold her wares from a
stall on the sidewalk.
veneer N. thin layer; cover. Casual acquaintances were
deceived by his veneer of sophistication and failed to recognize his fundamental shallowness.
venerable ADJ. deserving high respect. We do not mean to
be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our
venerable leader.
V. revere. In Tibet today, the common people
still venerate their traditional spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
■ venerate
venial ADJ. forgivable; trivial. When Jean Valjean stole a
loaf of bread to feed his starving sister, he committed a
venial offense.
venom N. poison; hatred. Bitten by a rattlesnake on his
ankle, the cowboy contortionist curled up like a pretzel and
sucked the venom out of the wound.
vent N . a small opening; outlet. The wine did not flow
because the air vent in the barrel was clogged.
vent V. express; utter. The angry teacher vented his wrath
on his class.
ventriloquist N. someone who can make his or her voice
seem to come from another person or thing. In the classic
movie Dead of Night, the ventriloquist is possessed by his
wooden dummy, which torments its master, driving him to
madness and murder.
venturesome ADJ. bold. A group of venturesome women
were the first to scale Mt. Annapurna.
veracity N . truthfulness. Asserting his veracity , young
George Washington proclaimed, “Father, I cannot tell a lie!”
ADJ. wordy. Someone mute can’t talk; someone
verbose can hardly stop talking.
■ verbose
verdant ADJ. green; lush in vegetation. Monet’s paintings
of the verdant meadows were symphonies in green.
verge N. border; edge. Madame Curie knew she was on
the verge of discovering the secrets of radioactive elements. also V.
verisimilitude N. appearance of truth; likelihood. Critics
praised her for the verisimilitude of her performance as
Lady Macbeth. She was completely believable.
verity N. quality of being true; lasting truth or principle. Did
you question the verity of Kato Kaelin’s testimony about
what he heard the night Nicole Brown Simpson was slain?
To the skeptic, everything was relative: there were no eternal verities in which one could believe.
vernacular N. Iiving language; natural style. Cut out those
old-fashioned thee’s and thou’s and write in the vernacular.
also ADJ.
versatile ADJ. having many talents; capable of working in
many fields. She was a versatile athlete, earning varsity letters in basketball, hockey, and track.
vertex N. summit. Let us drop a perpendicular line from
the vertex of the triangle to the base.
vertigo N. severe dizziness. When you test potential airplane pilots for susceptibility to spells of vertigo, be sure to
hand out air-sickness bags.
verve N. energy in expressing ideas, especially artistically;
liveliness. In his rhymes, Seuss writes with such verve and
good humor that adults as well as children delight in the
adventures of The Cat in the Hat.
Basic Word List 245
vestige N. trace; remains. We discovered vestiges of early
Indian life in the cave. vestigial, ADJ.
vex N. annoy; distress. Please try not to vex your mother;
she is doing the best she can.
• viable ADJ. practical or workable; capable of maintaining
life. That idea won’t work. Let me see whether I can come
up with a viable alternative.
virtue N. goodness, moral excellence; good quality. Virtue
carried to extremes can turn into vice: humility, for example,
can degenerate into servility and spinelessness.
N. highly skilled artist. The promising young cellist
Yo-Yo Ma grew into a virtuoso whose performances thrilled
audiences throughout the world. virtuosity, N.
■ virtuoso
• virulent ADJ. extremely poisonous; hostile; bitter. Laid up
vicarious ADJ. acting as a substitute; done by a deputy.
Though Violet was too meek to talk back to anybody, she
got a vicarious kick out of Rita’s sharp retorts.
with a virulent case of measles, Vera blamed her doctors
because her recovery took so long. In fact, she became quite
virulent on the subject of the quality of modern medical care.
vicissitude N. change of fortune. Humbled by life’s vicissitudes, the last emperor of China worked as a lowly gardener in the palace over which he had once ruled.
virus N. disease communicator. The doctors are looking for
a specific medicine to control this virus.
vie V. contend; compete. Politicians vie with one another,
competing for donations and votes.
visceral ADJ. felt in one’s inner organs. She disliked the visceral sensations she had whenever she rode the roller
coaster.
N. watchfulness. Eternal vigilance is the price of
viscid ADJ. adhesive; gluey. The trunk of the maple tree was
viscid with sap.
vignette N. picture; short literary sketch. The New Yorker
published her latest vignette.
viscous ADJ. sticky; gluey. Melted tar is a viscous substance. viscosity, N.
N. active strength. Although he was over seventy
years old, Jack had the vigor of a man in his prime. vigorous, ADJ.
vise N. tool for holding work in place. Before filing its edges,
the locksmith took the blank key and fixed it firmly between
the jaws of a vise.
V. slander. Waging a highly negative campaign, the
candidate attempted to vilify his opponent’s reputation. vilification, N.
visionary ADJ. produced by imagination; fanciful; mystical.
She was given to visionary schemes that never materialized.
also N.
V. clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support. The lawyer’s goal was to vindicate her client and
prove him innocent on all charges. The critics’ extremely
favorable reviews vindicate my opinion that The Madness of
King George is a brilliant movie.
vital ADJ. vibrant and lively; critical; living, breathing. The
vital, highly energetic first aid instructor stressed that it was
vital in examining accident victims to note their vital signs.
vigilance
liberty.
■ vigor
■ vilify
■ vindicate
vindictive ADJ. out for revenge; malicious. I think it’s unworthy of Martha to be so vindictive; she shouldn’t stoop to
such petty acts of revenge.
viper N. poisonous snake. The habitat of the horned viper,
a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the
Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
virile ADJ. manly. I do not accept the premise that a man
proves he’s virile by being belligerent.
virtual ADJ. in essence; for practical purposes. She is a virtual financial wizard when it comes to money matters.
vitriolic ADJ. corrosive; sarcastic. Oil of vitriol, or sulfuric
acid, leaves scars on the flesh; vitriolic criticism leaves
scars on the soul.
vituperative ADJ. abusive; scolding. He became more vituperative as he realized that we were not going to grant him
his wish.
vivacious ADJ. animated; lively. She had always been vivacious and sparkling.
vociferous ADJ. clamorous; noisy. The crowd grew vociferous in its anger and threatened to take the law into its own
hands.
vogue N. popular fashion. Jeans are the vogue on college
campuses.
Word List 50 volatile-zephyr
voluminous ADJ. bulky; large. A caftan is a voluminous
garment; most people wearing one look as if they’re draped
in a small tent.
ADJ. changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly.
The political climate today is extremely volatile: no one can
predict what the electorate will do next. Maria Callas’s temper was extremely volatile: the only thing you could predict
was that she was sure to blow up. Acetone is an extremely
volatile liquid: it evaporates instantly.
voluptuous ADJ. suggesting sensual delights; sensuously
pleasing. Renoir’s paintings of nude women accent his subjects’ rosy-tinted flesh and full, voluptuous figures.
volition N. act of making a conscious choice. She selected
this dress of her own volition.
voracious ADJ. ravenous. The wolf is a voracious animal,
its hunger never satisfied.
• voluble ADJ. fluent; glib; talkative. The excessively voluble
vortex N . whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence;
predicament into which one is inexorably plunged. Sucked
■ volatile
speaker suffers from logorrhea: he runs off at the mouth a lot!
246 Build Your Vocabulary
into the vortex of the tornado, Dorothy and Toto were carried from Kansas to Oz.
wary ADJ. very cautious. The spies grew wary as they
approached the sentry.
vouchsafe V. grant; choose to give in reply; permit. Occasionally the rock star would drift out onto the balcony
and vouchsafe the crowd below a glimpse of her celebrated features. The professor vouchsafed not a word to
the students’ questions about what would be covered on
the test.
wastrel N. profligate. His neighbors denounced him as a
wastrel who had dissipated his inheritance.
voyeur N . Peeping Tom. Nancy called her brother a
voyeur when she caught him aiming his binoculars at an
upstairs window of the house of the newlyweds next door.
vulnerable ADJ. susceptible to wounds. His opponents
could not harm Achilles, who was vulnerable only in his
heel.
waffle V. speak equivocally about an issue. When asked
directly about the governor’s involvement in the savings
and loan scandal, the press secretary waffled, talking all
around the issue.
waft V. moved gently by wind or waves. Daydreaming, he
gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
waggish ADJ. mischievous; humorous; tricky. He was a
prankster who, unfortunately, often overlooked the damage
he could cause with his waggish tricks. wag, N.
waif N. homeless child or animal. Although he already had
eight cats, he could not resist adopting yet another feline waif.
waive V. give up a claim or right voluntarily; refrain from
enforcing; postpone considering. Although, technically,
prospective students had to live in Piedmont to attend high
school there, occasionally the school waived the residence
requirement in order to enroll promising athletes.
wake N. trail of ship or other object through water; path of
something that has gone before. The wake of the swan gliding through the water glistened in the moonlight. Reporters
and photographers converged on South Carolina in the
wake of the hurricane that devastated much of the eastern
seaboard.
wallow V. roll in; indulge in; become helpless. The hippopotamus loves to wallow in the mud.
wan ADJ. having a pale or sickly color; pallid. The convalescent looked frail and wan, her skin almost as white as the
sheets on her sickbed.
wane V. decrease in size or strength; draw gradually to an
end. The verb wax, which means to grow in size, is an
antonym for wane. As it burns, does a wax candle wane?
wanton ADJ. unrestrained; willfully malicious; unchaste.
Pointing to the stack of bills, Sheldon criticized Sarah for
her wanton expenditures. In response, Sarah accused Sheldon of making an unfounded, wanton attack.
warble V. sing; babble. Every morning the birds warbled
outside her window. also N.
warrant V. justify; authorize. Before the judge issues the
injunction, you must convince her this action is warranted.
warranty N . guarantee; assurance by seller. The purchaser of this automobile is protected by the manufacturer’s warranty that the company will replace any defective
part for five years or 50,000 miles.
watershed N. crucial dividing point. The invention of the
personal computer proved a historic watershed, for it
opened the way to today’s Information Age.
wax V. increase; grow. With proper handling, his fortunes
waxed and he became rich.
waylay V. ambush; lie in wait. They agreed to waylay their
victim as he passed through the dark alley going home.
wean V. accustom a baby to not nurse; give up a cherished activity. He decided he would wean himself away
from eating junk food and stick to fruits and vegetables.
weather V. endure the effects of weather or other forces.
Reporters wondered whether Governor Gray Davis would
weather his latest political challenge and remain in office, or
whether he would be California’s first governor to be
recalled.
welter N. turmoil; bewildering jumble. The existing welter
of overlapping federal and state programs cries out for
immediate reform.
wheedle V. cajole; coax; deceive by flattery. She knows
she can wheedle almost anything she wants from her father.
whelp N. young wolf, dog, tiger, etc. This collie whelp
won’t do for breeding, but he’d make a fine pet.
whet V. sharpen; stimulate. The odors from the kitchen are
whetting my appetite; I will be ravenous by the time the
meal is served.
whiff N. puff or gust (of air, scent, etc.); hint. The slightest
whiff of Old Spice cologne brought memories of George to
her mind.
ADJ. capricious; fanciful. In Mrs. Doubtfire, the
hero is a playful, whimsical man who takes a notion to dress
up as a woman so that he can look after his children, who
are in the custody of his ex-wife. whimsy, N.
■ whimsical
whinny V. neigh like a horse. When he laughed through
his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
whittle V. pare; cut off bits. As a present for Aunt Polly,
Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
willful ADJ. intentional; headstrong. Donald had planned to
kill his wife for months; clearly, her death was a case of
deliberate, willful murder, not a crime of passion committed
by a hasty, willful youth unable to foresee the consequences of his deeds.
wily ADJ. cunning; artful. If coyotes are supposed to be
such sneaky, wily creatures, how does Road Runner always
manage to outwit Wile E. Coyote?
wince V. shrink back; flinch. The screech of the chalk on
the blackboard made her wince.
windfall N. unexpected lucky event. This huge tax refund
is quite a windfall.
winnow V. sift; separate good parts from bad. This test will
winnow out the students who study from those who don’t
bother.
Basic Word List 247
winsome ADJ. agreeable; gracious; engaging. By her winsome manner, she made herself liked by everyone who met
her.
wispy ADJ. thin; slight; barely discernible. Worried about
preserving his few wispy tufts of hair, Walter carefully massaged his scalp and applied hair restorer every night.
wistful ADJ. vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful. With a last
wistful glance at the happy couples dancing in the hall, Sue
headed back to her room to study for her exam.
withdrawn ADJ. introverted; remote. Rebuffed by his colleagues, the initially outgoing young researcher became
increasingly withdrawn.
wither V. shrivel; decay. Cut flowers are beautiful for a
day, but all too soon they wither.
withhold V. refuse to give; hold back. The tenants decided
to withhold a portion of the rent until the landlord kept his
promise to renovate the building.
wrench V. pull; strain; twist. She wrenched free of her
attacker and landed a powerful kick to his kneecap.
writhe V. twist in coils; contort in pain. In Dances with
Snakes, the snake dancer wriggled sinuously as her boa
constrictor writhed around her torso.
wry ADJ. twisted; with a humorous twist. We enjoy Dorothy
Parker’s verse for its wry wit.
xenophobia N. fear or hatred of foreigners. Xenophobia is
directed against foreign people, not necessarily against foreign products: even xenophobes patronize Chinese restaurants and buy Japanese TVs.
yen N. Ionging; urge. She had a yen to get away and live
on her own for a while.
yield V. give in; surrender. The wounded knight refused to
yield to his foe.
yield N. amount produced; crop; income on investment.
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual yield of his
acres with surprising accuracy. also V.
withstand V. stand up against; successfully resist. If you
can withstand all the peer pressure in high school to cut
classes and goof off, you should survive college just fine.
yoke V. join together, unite. I don’t wish to be yoked to him
in marriage, as if we were cattle pulling a plow. also N.
witless ADJ. foolish; idiotic. If Beavis is a half-wit, then
Butthead is totally witless.
yore N. time past. He dreamed of the elegant homes of
yore, but gave no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
cism, but that last witticism totally hurt my feelings.
zany ADJ. crazy; comic. I can watch the Marx brothers’
zany antics for hours.
• witticism N. witty saying; wisecrack. I don’t mean any critiwizardry N. sorcery; magic. Merlin the Magician amazed
the knights with his wizardry.
woe N. deep, inconsolable grief; affliction; suffering. Pale
and wan with grief, Wanda was bowed down beneath the
burden of her woes.
worldly ADJ. engrossed in matters of this earth; not spiritual. You must leave your worldly goods behind you when
you go to meet your Maker.
wrath N. anger; fury. She turned to him, full of wrath, and
said, “What makes you think I’ll accept lower pay for this job
than you get?”
zeal N. eager enthusiasm. Katya’s zeal was contagious;
soon all her fellow students were busily making
posters, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
zealous, ADJ.
N . fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal.
Though Glenn was devout, he was no zealot; he never tried
to force his beliefs on his friends.
■ zealot
zenith N. point directly overhead in the sky; summit. When
the sun was at its zenith, the glare was not as strong as at
sunrise and sunset.
zephyr N. gentle breeze; west wind. When these zephyrs
blow, it is good to be in an open boat under a full sail.
248 Build Your Vocabulary
Basic Word Parts
In addition to reviewing the SAT High-Frequency Word
List, what other quick vocabulary-building tactics can you
follow when you face an SAT deadline?
One good approach is to learn how to build up (and
tear apart) words. You know that words are made
up of other words: the room in which you store
things is the storeroom; the person whose job is to
keep the books is the bookkeeper.
Just as words are made up of other words, words
are also made up of word parts: prefixes, suffixes,
and roots. A knowledge of these word parts and
their meanings can help you determine the
meanings of unfamiliar words.
Most modern English words are derived from AngloSaxon (Old English), Latin, and Greek. Because few
students nowadays study Latin and Greek (and even
fewer study Anglo-Saxon!), the majority of high
school juniors and seniors lack a vital tool for
unlocking the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Build your vocabulary by mastering basic
word parts. Learning thirty key word parts can help you
unlock the meaning of over 10,000 words. Learning
fifty key word parts can help you unlock the meaning of over 100,000!
Common Prefixes
Prefixes are syllables that precede the root
or stem of a word and change or refine its
meaning.
Prefix
Meaning
Illustration
ab, abs
from, away from
abduct lead away, kidnap
abjure renounce
abject degraded, cast down
ad, ac, af, ag, an,
ap, ar, as, at
to, forward
adit entrance
adjure request earnestly
admit allow entrance
accord agreement, harmony
affliction distress
aggregation collection
annexation add to
apparition ghost
arraignment indictment
assumption arrogance, the taking for granted
attendance presence, the persons present
ambi
both
ambidextrous skilled with both hands
ambiguous of double meaning
ambivalent having two conflicting emotions
an, a
without
anarchy lack of government
anemia lack of blood
amoral without moral sense
ante
before
antecedent preceding event or word
antediluvian ancient (before the flood)
ante-nuptial before the wedding
anti
against, opposite
antipathy hatred
antiseptic against infection
antithetical exactly opposite
Common Prefixes 249
Prefix
Meaning
Illustration
arch
chief, first
archetype original
archbishop chief bishop
archeology study of first or ancient times
be
over, thoroughly
bedaub smear over
befuddle confuse thoroughly
beguile deceive, charm thoroughly
bi
two
bicameral composed of two houses (Congress)
biennial every two years
bicycle two-wheeled vehicle
cata
down
catastrophe disaster
cataract waterfall
catapult hurl (throw down)
circum
around
circumnavigate sail around (the globe)
circumspect cautious (looking around)
circumscribe limit (place a circle around)
com, co, col, con,
cor
with, together
combine merge with
commerce trade with
communicate correspond with
coeditor joint editor
collateral subordinate, connected
conference meeting
corroborate confirm
contra, contro
against
contravene conflict with
controversy dispute
de
down, away
debase lower in value
decadence deterioration
decant pour off
demi
partly, half
demigod partly divine being
di
two
dichotomy division into two parts
dilemma choice between two bad alternatives
dia
across
diagonal across a figure
diameter distance across a circle
diagram outline drawing
dis, dif
not, apart
discord lack of harmony
differ disagree (carry apart)
disparity condition of inequality; difference
dys
faulty, bad
dyslexia faulty ability to read
dyspepsia indigestion
ex, e
out
expel drive out
extirpate root out
eject throw out
250 Build Your Vocabulary
Prefix
Meaning
Illustration
extra, extro
beyond, outside
extracurricular beyond the curriculum
extraterritorial beyond a nation’s bounds
extrovert person interested chiefly in external
objects and actions
hyper
above; excessively
hyperbole exaggeration
hyperventilate breathe at an excessive rate
hypo
beneath; lower
hypoglycemia low blood sugar
in, il, im, ir
not
inefficient not efficient
inarticulate not clear or distinct
illegible not readable
impeccable not capable of sinning; flawless
irrevocable not able to be called back
in, iI, im, ir
in, on, upon
invite call in
illustration something that makes clear
impression effect upon mind or feelings
irradiate shine upon
inter
between, among
intervene come between
international between nations
interjection a statement thrown in
intra, intro
within
intramural within a school
introvert person who turns within himself
macro
large, long
macrobiotic tending to prolong life
macrocosm the great world (the entire universe)
mega
great, million
megalomania delusions of grandeur
megaton explosive force of a million tons of TNT
meta
involving change
metamorphosis change of form
micro
small
microcosm miniature universe
microbe minute organism
microscopic extremely small
mis
bad, improper
misdemeanor minor crime; bad conduct
mischance unfortunate accident
misnomer wrong name
mis
hatred
misanthrope person who hates mankind
misogynist woman-hater
mono
one
monarchy government by one ruler
monotheism belief in one god
multi
many
multifarious having many parts
multitudinous numerous
neo
new
neologism newly coined word
neophyte beginner; novice
Common Prefixes 251
Prefix
Meaning
Illustration
non
not
noncommittal undecided
nonentity person of no importance
ob, oc, of, op
against
obloquy infamy; disgrace
obtrude push into prominence
occlude close; block out
offend insult
opponent someone who struggles against; foe
olig
few
oligarchy government by a few
pan
all, every
panacea cure-all
panorama unobstructed view in all directions
para
beyond, related
parallel similar
paraphrase restate; translate
per
through, completely
permeable allowing passage through
pervade spread throughout
peri
around, near
perimeter outer boundary
periphery edge
periphrastic stated in a roundabout way
poly
many
polygamist person with several spouses
polyglot speaking several languages
post
after
postpone delay
posterity generations that follow
posthumous after death
pre
before
preamble introductory statement
prefix word part placed before a root/stem
premonition forewarning
prim
first
primordial existing at the dawn of time
primogeniture state of being the first born
pro
forward, in favor of
propulsive driving forward
proponent supporter
proto
first
prototype first of its kind
pseudo
false
pseudonym pen name
re
again, back
reiterate repeat
reimburse pay back
retro
backward
retrospect looking back
retroactive effective as of a past date
se
away, aside
secede withdraw
seclude shut away
seduce lead astray
252 Build Your Vocabulary
Prefix
Meaning
Illustration
semi
half, partly
semiannual every six months
semiconscious partly conscious
sub, suc, suf, sug,
sup, sus
under, less
subway underground road
subjugate bring under control
succumb yield; cease to resist
suffuse spread through
suggest hint
suppress put down by force
suspend delay
super, sur
over, above
supernatural above natural things
supervise oversee
surtax additional tax
syn, sym, syl, sys
with, together
synchronize time together
synthesize combine together
sympathize pity; identify with
syllogism explanation of how ideas relate
system network
tele
far
telemetry measurement from a distance
telegraphic communicated over a distance
trans
across
transport carry across
transpose reverse, move across
ultra
beyond, excessive
ultramodern excessively modern
ultracritical exceedingly critical
un
not
unfeigned not pretended; real
unkempt not combed; disheveled
unwitting not knowing; unintentional
under
below
undergird strengthen underneath
underling someone inferior
uni
one
unison oneness of pitch; complete accord
unicycle one-wheeled vehicle
vice
in place of
vicarious acting as a substitute
viceroy governor acting in place of a king
with
away, against
withhold hold back; keep
withstand stand up against; resist
Common Roots and Stems 253
Common Roots and Stems
Roots are basic word elements that have
been carried over into English. Stems are
variations of roots brought about by
changes in declension or conjugation.
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
ac, acr
sharp
acrimonious bitter; caustic
acerbity bitterness of temper
acidulate to make somewhat acid or sour
aev, ev
age, era
primeval of the first age
coeval of the same age or era
medieval or mediaeval of the middle ages
ag, act
do
act deed
agent doer
agog
leader
demagogue false leader of people
pedagogue teacher (leader of children)
agri, agrari
field
agrarian one who works in the field
agriculture cultivation of fields
peregrination wandering (through fields)
ali
another
alias assumed (another) name
alienate estrange (turn away from another)
alt
high
altitude height
altimeter instrument for measuring height
alter
other
altruistic unselfish, considering others
alter ego a second self
am
love
amorous loving, especially sexually
amity friendship
amicable friendly
anim
mind, soul
animadvert cast criticism upon
unanimous of one mind
magnanimity greatness of mind or spirit
ann, enn
year
annuity yearly remittance
biennial every two years
perennial present all year; persisting for several years
anthrop
man
anthropology study of man
misanthrope hater of mankind
philanthropy love of mankind; charity
apt
fit
aptitude skill
adapt make suitable or fit
254 Build Your Vocabulary
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
aqua
water
aqueduct passageway for conducting water
aquatic living in water
aqua fortis nitric acid (strong water)
arch
ruler, first
archaeology study of antiquities (study of first
things)
monarch sole ruler
anarchy lack of government
aster
star
astronomy study of the stars
asterisk star-like type character (*)
disaster catastrophe (contrary star)
aud, audit
hear
audible able to be heard
auditorium place where people may be heard
audience hearers
auto
self
autocracy rule by one person (self)
automobile vehicle that moves by itself
autobiography story of one’s own life
belli
war
bellicose inclined to fight
belligerent inclined to wage war
rebellious resisting authority
ben, bon
good
benefactor one who does good deeds
benevolence charity (wishing good)
bonus something extra above regular pay
biblio
book
bibliography list of books
bibliophile lover of books
Bible The Book
bio
life
biography writing about a person’s life
biology study of living things
biochemist student of the chemistry of living things
breve
short
brevity briefness
abbreviate shorten
breviloquent marked by brevity of speech
cad, cas
to fall
decadent deteriorating
cadence intonation, musical movement
cascade waterfall
cap, capt, cept,
cip
to take
capture seize
participate take part
precept wise saying (originally a command)
capit, capt
head
decapitate remove (cut off) someone’s head
captain chief
carn
flesh
carnivorous flesh-eating
carnage destruction of life
carnal fleshly
Common Roots and Stems 255
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
ced, cess
to yield, to go
recede go back, withdraw
antecedent that which goes before
process go forward
celer
swift
celerity swiftness
decelerate reduce swiftness
accelerate increase swiftness
cent
one hundred
century one hundred years
centennial hundredth anniversary
centipede many-footed, wingless animal
chron
time
chronology timetable of events
anachronism a thing out of time sequence
chronicle register events in order of time
cid, cis
to cut, to kill
incision a cut (surgical)
homicide killing of a man
fratricide killing of a brother
cit, citat
to call, to start
incite stir up, start up
excite stir up
recitation a recalling (or repeating) aloud
civi
citizen
civilization society of citizens, culture
civilian member of community
civil courteous
clam, clamat
to cry out
clamorous loud
declamation speech
acclamation shouted approval
claud, claus,
clos,clud
to close
claustrophobia fear of close places
enclose close in
conclude finish
cognosc, cognit
to learn
agnostic lacking knowledge, skeptical
incognito traveling under assumed name
cognition knowledge
compl
to fill
complete filled out
complement that which completes something
comply fulfill
cord
heart
accord agreement (from the heart)
cordial friendly
discord lack of harmony
corpor
body
incorporate organize into a body
corporeal pertaining to the body, fleshly
corpse dead body
cred, credit
to believe
incredulous not believing, skeptical
credulity gullibility
credence belief
256 Build Your Vocabulary
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
cur
to care
curator person who has the care of something
sinecure position without responsibility
secure safe
curr, curs
to run
excursion journey
cursory brief
precursor forerunner
da, dat
to give
data facts, statistics
mandate command
date given time
deb, debit
to owe
debt something owed
indebtedness debt
debenture bond
dem
people
democracy rule of the people
demagogue (false) leader of the people
epidemic widespread (among the people)
derm
skin
epidermis skin
pachyderm thick-skinned quadruped
dermatology study of skin and its disorders
di, diurn
day
diary a daily record of activities, feelings, etc.
diurnal pertaining to daytime
dic, dict
to say
abdicate renounce
diction speech
verdict statement of jury
doc, doct
to teach
docile obedient; easily taught
document something that provides evidence
doctor learned person (originally, teacher)
domin
to rule
dominate have power over
domain land under rule
dominant prevailing
duc, duct
to lead
viaduct arched roadway
aqueduct artificial waterway
dynam
power, strength
dynamic powerful
dynamite powerful explosive
dynamo engine making electrical power
ego
I
egoist person who is self-interested
egotist selfish person
egocentric revolving about self
erg, urg
work
energy power
ergatocracy rule of the workers
metallurgy science and technology of metals
Common Roots and Stems 257
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
err
to wander
error mistake
erratic not reliable, wandering
knight-errant wandering knight
eu
good, well, beautiful
eupeptic having good digestion
eulogize praise
euphemism substitution of pleasant way of saying
something blunt
fac, fic, fec, fect
to make, to do
factory place where things are made
fiction manufactured story
affect cause to change
fall, fals
to deceive
fallacious misleading
infallible not prone to error, perfect
falsify lie
fer, lat
to bring, to bear
transfer bring from one place to another
translate bring from one language to another
conifer bearing cones, as pine trees
fid
belief, faith
infidel nonbeliever, heathen
confidence assurance, belief
fin
end, limit
confine keep within limits
finite having definite limits
flect, flex
bend
flexible able to bend
deflect bend away, turn aside
fort
luck, chance
fortuitous accidental, occurring by chance
fortunate lucky
fort
strong
fortitude strength, firmness of mind
fortification strengthening
fortress stronghold
frag, fract
break
fragile easily broken
infraction breaking of a rule
fractious unruly, tending to break rules
fug
flee
fugitive someone who flees
refuge shelter, home for someone fleeing
fus
pour
effusive gushing, pouring out
diffuse widespread (poured in many directions)
gam
marriage
monogamy marriage to one person
bigamy marriage to two people at the same time
polygamy having many wives or husbands at the
same time
gen, gener
class, race
genus group of animals with similar traits
generic characteristic of a class
gender class organized by sex
258 Build Your Vocabulary
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
grad, gress
go, step
digress go astray (from the main point)
regress go backwards
gradual step by step, by degrees
graph, gram
writing
epigram pithy statement
telegram instantaneous message over great distance
stenography shorthand (writing narrowly)
greg
flock, herd
gregarious tending to group together as in a herd
aggregate group, total
egregious conspicuously bad; shocking
helio
sun
heliotrope flower that faces the sun
heliograph instrument that uses the sun’s rays to
send signals
it, itiner
journey, road
exit way out
itinerary plan of journey
jac, jact, jec
to throw
projectile missile; something thrown forward
trajectory path taken by thrown object
ejaculatory casting or throwing out
jur, jurat
to swear
perjure testify falsely
jury group of men and women sworn to seek the truth
adjuration solemn urging
labor, laborat
to work
laboratory place where work is done
collaborate work together with others
laborious difficult
leg, lect, lig
to choose, to read
election choice
legible able to be read
eligible able to be selected
leg
law
legislature law-making body
legitimate lawful
legal lawful
liber, libr
book
library collection of books
libretto the “book” of a musical play
libel slander (originally found in a little book)
liber
free
liberation the fact of setting free
liberal generous (giving freely); tolerant
log
word, study
entomology study of insects
etymology study of word parts and derivations
monologue speech by one person
loqu, locut
to talk
soliloquy speech by one individual
loquacious talkative
elocution speech
Common Roots and Stems 259
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
luc
light
elucidate enlighten
lucid clear
translucent allowing some light to pass through
magn
great
magnify enlarge
magnanimity generosity, greatness of soul
magnitude greatness, extent
mal
bad
malevolent wishing evil
malediction curse
malefactor evil-doer
man
hand
manufacture create (make by hand)
manuscript written by hand
emancipate free (let go from the hand)
mar
sea
maritime connected with seafaring
submarine undersea craft
mariner seaman
mater, matr
mother
maternal pertaining to motherhood
matriarch female ruler of a family, group, or state
matrilineal descended on the mother’s side
mit, miss
to send
missile projectile
dismiss send away
transmit send across
mob, mot, mov
move
mobilize cause to move
motility ability to move
immovable not able to be moved
mon, monit
to warn
admonish warn
premonition foreboding
monitor watcher (warner)
mori, mort
to die
mortuary funeral parlor
moribund dying
immortal not dying
morph
shape, form
amorphous formless, lacking shape
metamorphosis change of shape
anthropomorphic in the shape of man
mut
change
immutable not able to be changed
mutate undergo a great change
mutability changeableness, inconstancy
nat
born
innate from birth
prenatal before birth
nativity birth
nav
ship
navigate sail a ship
circumnavigate sail around the world
naval pertaining to ships
260 Build Your Vocabulary
Root or Stem
Meaning
Illustration
neg
deny
negation denial
renege deny, go back on one’s word
renegade turncoat, traitor
nomen
name
nomenclature act of naming, terminology
nominal in name only (as opposed to actual)
cognomen surname, distinguishing nickname
nov
new
novice beginner
renovate make new again
novelty newness
omni
all
omniscient all knowing
omnipotent all powerful
omnivorous eating everything
oper
to work
operate work
cooperation working together
pac
peace
pacify make peaceful
pacific peaceful
pacifist person opposed to war
pass
feel
dispassionate free of emotion
impassioned emotion-filled
impassive showing no feeling
pater, patr
father
patriotism love of one’s country (fatherland)
patriarch male ruler of a family, group, or state
paternity fatherhood
path
disease, feeling
pathology study of diseased tissue
apathetic lacking feeling; indifferent
antipathy hostile feeling
ped, pod
foot
impediment stumbling-block; hindrance
tripod three-footed stand
quadruped four-footed animal
ped
child
pedagogue teacher of children
pediatrician children’s doctor
pel, puls
to drive
compulsion a forcing to do
repel drive back
expel drive out, banish
pet, petit
to seek
petition request
appetite craving, desire
compete vie with others
phil
love
philanthropist benefactor, lover of humanity
Anglophile lover of everything English
philanderer one involved