120
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Definitions
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Things Fall Apart
Definitions
1.
2.
adherent
ad HEER unt
a follower of something such as a leader, party, philosophy, or profession
,<<adherentad
Synonyms >>
disciple, follower, partisan
Antonym >> dissenter
He is an adherent of the Democratic party.
Derivatives >>
adhere, adherer, adherence, adherently
appease
,<<appeaseuh
Synonyms >>
uh PEES
to pacify, to be conciliatory in a manner that sacrifices principles
conciliate, mollify, placate, propitiate
Antonym >> to incense
The woman tried to appease her husband when he became so angry.
3.
Derivatives >>
appeased, appeasing, appeasement, appeasable, appeaser
approbation
,<<approbation
Synonyms >>
ap row BAY shun
official approval, praise, commendation
Antonym >> disapprobation, disapproval
We initiated the attack with the approbation of the general.
4.
Derivatives >>
approbate, approbated, approbating, approbative, approbatory, approbativeness
arduous
AR jew us
very difficult to accomplish or to achieve, very demanding (task)
Antonym >> easy; not difficult
Synonyms >>
Training to be a gymnast is an arduous activity.
5.
Derivatives >>
arduously, arduousness
atone
uh TONE
to make amends
Antonym >> to offend
Synonyms >>
He atoned for his theft by repaying his victims.
6.
Derivatives >>
atoned, atoning, atoner, atonement
audacity
aw DAS uh tee
Synonyms >>
excessive boldness, rashness, daring
cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, temerity
Antonym >> meekness
I was surprised that he had the audacity to approach the Queen.
Derivatives >>
7.
benevolence
buh NEV uh lunz
kindness, generosity, charity
,<<benevolence
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> antagonism; avarice; malevolence
His benevolence was shown when he set up soup kitchens for the poor.
Derivatives >>
8.
benevolent, benevolently
blasphemous
BLAS fuh mus
irreverent, profane
,<<blasphemou
Synonyms >>
Telling that sacrilegious joke is blasphemous.
Derivatives >>
9.
audacious, audaciousness, audaciously
Antonym >> sacred; reverent
blaspheme, blasphemed, blaspheming, blaspemer, blasphemousness, blasphemously, blasphemy
calamity
kuh LAM uh tee
,<<calamitykuh
Synonyms >>
cataclysm, catastrophe
a serious event causing distress or misfortune
Antonym >> good fortune
The earthquake in Mexico was a calamity.
10.
Derivatives >>
calamitous, calamitously, calamitousness
callow
,<<callowKAL
Synonyms >>
KAL oh
immature, inexperienced
Antonym >> mature; experienced
Rash and hasty decisions are the mark of impetuous, callow youth.
Derivatives >>
11.
callowness
capricious
kuh PRISH us
changing suddenly, fickle
,<<capriciousk
Synonyms >>
inconstant, mercurial, unstable
Antonym >> stable
Her capricious moods are difficult to anticipate.
Derivatives >>
caprice, capriciously, capriciousness
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
12.
13.
14.
communal
kuh MYOON ul
pertaining to a group or community
,<<communalk
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> individual
A hermit does not enjoy communal situations.
Derivatives >>
commune, communed, communing, communally, communalism, communalist, communalization,
Derivatives >>
contemptible, contemptuous
copious
,<<copiousKO
Synonyms >>
KO pee us
communalizer
contempt
kun TEMPT
scorn, extreme dislike or disdain
,<<contemptku
Synonyms >>
despicableness, pitiableness, scurviness
Antonym >> respect
The man treated the gossiping woman with contempt; talking about other people was beneath his dignity.
ample
abundant
Antonym >> sparse
I always take copious notes in my history class.
15.
Derivatives >>
copiousness, copiously
deft
,<<deftDEFTde
Synonyms >>
DEFT
skillful, adroit
clever, cunning, dexterous, ingenious
Antonym >> clumsy
He was very deft in handling the questions from the reporter.
Derivatives >>
16.
deftness, deftly
degeneration
dee gen er A shun
,<<degeneratio
Synonyms >>
decadence, decline
a state of decline
Antonym >> progress
The priest was called after the degeneration of the man's condition.
17.
Derivatives >>
degeneracy, degenerately, degenerateness, degenerative, degenerous
derision
deh REH zhun
scoffing at, mockery, ridicule
Antonym >> applause
Synonyms >>
The boy received much derision for his plaid gym shorts.
18.
Derivatives >>
derisive, derisiveness, derisively, derisory
desecrate
DES uh krate
to violate the sanctity of something, to profane, to adulterate
Antonym >> to consecrate; to laud; to praise
Synonyms >>
The hoodlums desecrated the cemetery by painting on the tombstones.
Derivatives >>
19.
Derivatives >>
20.
22.
desolately, desolateness, desolater, desolating, desolation
despairing
deh SPARE ing
hopeless, despondent, discouraged
,<<despairingd
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> hopeful
The woman's despairing tears touched the hearts of many.
Derivatives >>
21.
desecrater, desecration
desolate
DES uh lit
deserted, without inhabitants, barren
,<<desolateDE
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> populous
Some of the western states have large areas that are desolate.
despair, despaired, despairful, despairfully, despairingly, despairingness
discern
deh SURN
to differentiate between two or more things
,<<discerndeh
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> to ignore; to be oblivious; to
confuse
Because of the fog, I was barely able to discern the landing strip.
Derivatives >>
discerner, discernible, discernable, discernibleness, discernibly, discernably, discerningly, discernment
discord
,<<discordDIS
Synonyms >>
DIS kord
lack of agreement, tension, strife
contention, dissension, variance
Antonym >> harmony; agreement
There is a lot of discord in the nation over the issue of abortion.
Derivatives >>
23.
discordance, discordancy, discordant, discordantly, discordantness
dispatch
deh SPATCH
,<<dispatchdeh
Synonyms >>
haste, expediency
to send away with promptness or speed; speed, quickness
Antonym >> to delay; slowness, inefficiency
The officer dispatched his troops to the scene of conflict.
24.
Derivatives >>
dispatched, dispatching, dispatches
enthralling
en THROL ing
captivating, spellbinding
Antonym >> boring
Synonyms >>
Because the book was so enthralling, I stayed awake all night reading it.
25.
Derivatives >>
enthrall, enthralled, enthrallingly, enthrallment
esoteric
es uh TER ik
Synonyms >>
understood only by a small group or a select few
Antonym >> obvious
The English teachers were having an esoteric discussion about the correct usage of some obscure word.
Derivatives >>
esoterical, esoterically, esotericism, esotericist, esoterism, esotery
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
26.
exacting
ig ZAK ting
demanding, requiring great care
,<<exactingig
Synonyms >>
burdensome, onerous, oppressive
Antonym >> indulgent
Concerning the form of the outline, the teacher was very exacting.
Derivatives >>
27.
28.
exact, exactable, exactingly, exactingness
expedient
ik SPEE dee unt
appropriate for a purpose but not necessarily moral, right, or just
,<<expedientik
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> disadvantageous
In trying to increase political support, the candidate found it expedient to change his stand on taxation.
Derivatives >>
expediate, expedience, expediency, expediential, expedientist, expediently
feint
,<<feintFAYN
Synonyms >>
FAYNT
a false appearance, a fake punch to occupy defenses allowing a real blow.
artifice, ruse, stratagem, trick, wile
Antonym >>
Fooled by his opponent's feint, the boxer dropped his guard and was knocked down.
29.
Derivatives >>
feign, feigned, feigning, feignedly, feigner
ferment
,<<fermentFU
Synonyms >>
FUR ment
state of agitation, commotion
Antonym >> peace; calm
During the Civil War, much of the country was in a state of ferment.
30.
Derivatives >>
fermentability, fermentable, fermental, fermentation, fermentative, fermenter
ferocity
,<<ferocityfuh
Synonyms >>
fuh ROS eh tee
savagery
Antonym >> mildness
A tiger is an animal that has ferocity.
31.
Derivatives >>
ferocious, ferociously, ferociousness
flourish
FLUR ish
to thrive, to grow well
Antonym >> to wither
Synonyms >>
The company flourished after a new board of directors took control.
32.
Derivatives >>
flourisher, flourishing, flourishingly, flourishy
fugitive
FYOO jeh tiv
Synonyms >>
a person who is elusive or hard to find, wandering
ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, transient, transitory
Antonym >> firmly established
The criminal became a fugitive who spent his life running from the law.
Derivatives >>
33.
Derivatives >>
34.
36.
grievously, grievousness
harbingers
HAR bin jers
things that precede and forecast
,<<harbingers
Synonyms >>
forerunners, heralds, precursors
Antonym >>
Thick fur on a wooly worm is a harbinger of a cold winter.
Derivatives >>
35.
fugitate, fugitation, fugitives, fugitively, fugitiveness, fugitivity
grievous
GREE vus
characterized by severe suffering or sorrow, serious or grave
,<<grievousGR
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> minor
You made a grievous error when you spoke to your parents in such a horrible fashion.
harbinger
idolatry
eye DOLL uh tree
worship of idols, excessive devotion
,<<idolatryeye
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> irreverence; indifference
The idolatry of rock stars by some teenagers can be dangerous.
Derivatives >>
idolatrous, idolatrize, idolatrously, idolatrousness, idolater
imperious
,<<imperiousi
Synonyms >>
im PEER ee us
extremely overbearing
domineering, imperative, masterful, preemptory
Antonym >> meek
The imperious behavior of the dictator led to his overthrow.
37.
Derivatives >>
imperiously, imperiousness
improvidence
,<<improviden
Synonyms >>
im PROV eh dunz
not providing for the future, not thrifty
Antonym >> foresight
The improvidence of immediately spending one's paycheck could be costly in an emergency.
38.
Derivatives >>
improvident, improvidently, improvidentially
impudent
IM pyuh dunt
disrespectful, characterized by improper bold behavior
Antonym >> respectful
Synonyms >>
The student's impudent act of using profanity toward Mrs. Dove caused him to be expelled.
39.
Derivatives >>
impudence, impudency, impudently, impudentness, impudicity
incipient
in SIP ee unt
beginning to come into being, the early stage of something
Antonym >> waning
Synonyms >>
He is not able to recognize his own incipient drug problem.
Derivatives >>
incipiative, incipiency, incipience, incipiently
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
40.
kindle
KIN dul
,<<kindleKIN
Synonyms >>
The boys were taught to kindle a fire.
Derivatives >>
41.
Antonym >> to douse
kindled, kindling, kindles
luxuriant
lug ZHOOR ee unt
abundant in growth, very fertile
,<<luxuriantlug
Synonyms >>
lavish, lush, prodigal, profuse
Antonym >> scanty
The luxuriant farmland of Iowa provides an abundant amount of food.
Derivatives >>
42.
to start a fire, to stir up
luxuriance, luxurancy, luxuriantly, luxuriate, luxurious, luxuriously, luxuriousness, luxury
malevolence
muh LEV uh lens
ill will or evil intentions
,<<malevolence
Synonyms >>
malice, malignity, spite, spleen
Antonym >> benevolence
The old man's malevolence was obvious when he removed the girl from his will.
Derivatives >>
43.
malevolent, malevolently
malicious
muh LISH us
,<<maliciousm
Synonyms >>
motivated by hate or deliberate intent to harm
Antonym >> kind
The malicious boy burned down the school.
44.
Derivatives >>
maliciousness, malice, maliciously, maliceful
mirth
,<<mirthMUR
Synonyms >>
MURTH
glee, hilarity, jollity
gladness and merriment usually accompanied by laughter
Antonym >> sadness
The party was a source of mirth and gaiety.
Derivatives >>
45.
mirthful, mirthfully, mirthfulness, mirthless, mirthlessly, mirthlessness
OM uh nus
ominous
Synonyms >>
fateful, portentous
threatening
Antonym >> harmless; non-threatening
The ominous clouds were harbingers of the tornado.
46.
Derivatives >>
ominously, ominousness
pacifistic
pas uh FIS tik
Synonyms >>
opposed to war or use of force
appeased, conciliated, mollified, placated, propitiated
Antonym >> martial
The man refused to fight because of his pacifistic beliefs.
Derivatives >>
47.
Derivatives >>
48.
plaintively, plaintiveness
plumage
PLOO mij
,<<plumagePL
Synonyms >>
The plumage of the peacock is beautiful.
Derivatives >>
50.
perpetuation, perpetuator, perpetuity, perpetual, perpetually
plaintive
PLANE tiv
mournful and expressing sorrow
,<<plaintivePL
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> joyful
The dog moaned in a plaintive manner when her puppies were taken.
Derivatives >>
49.
pacifist, pacifier, pacifism, pacifistically, pacify
perpetuate
pur PECH oo ate
to prolong the existence of something
,<<perpetuatep
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> to destroy
The Audubon Society works to perpetuate the species of many threatened birds.
feathers of a bird
Antonym >>
plumages, plumaged, plumassier, plumate, plume
poignant
POIN yunt
,<<poignantPO
Synonyms >>
piquant, pungent, racy
piercing, incisive, and keen
Antonym >> dull
The man's poignant words struck the very heart of the matter.
51.
Derivatives >>
poignance, poignancy, poignantly
potent
,<<potentPOT
Synonyms >>
POTE unt
powerful, having a strong effect
Antonym >> ineffectual
They gave me a potent pain killer to stop the throbbing sensation in my leg.
52.
Derivatives >>
potence, potency
profane
pruh FANE
showing contempt toward sacred things
Antonym >> holy
Synonyms >>
Profane language will not be tolerated on the tennis court.
53.
Derivatives >>
profanation, profanatory, profanely, profaneness, profaner, profanity
refuge
REF yooj
shelter or place of protection
Antonym >> dangerous place
Synonyms >>
Reservations were supposed to be places of refuge for Indians.
Derivatives >>
refuges
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
54.
rend
REND
to tear violently, to split
,<<rendRENDr
Synonyms >>
cleave, rive
He tried to rend the flag as a protest against the war.
Derivatives >>
55.
56.
Antonym >> to unify
rent, rended, rending, rends
resilient
reh ZIL yunt
ability to return to a former state
,<<resilientreh
Synonyms >>
supple
Antonym >> static
There is a need for more resilient bump ers on cars that can withstand minor accidents.
Derivatives >>
resiliency, resiliently
resolute
,<<resoluteRE
Synonyms >>
REZ uh loot
characterized by a decided purpose
staunch, steadfast, determined, resolved, faithful, firm
Antonym >>
The business was run by a resolute man who set his mind on a goal and followed through with it.
57.
Derivati ves >>
resoluter, resolutest, resolutely, resoluteness, resolution, resolutionary, resolutioner, resolutive
revere
,<<reverereh
Synonyms >>
reh VERE
adore, venerate, worship
to honor, to regard with respect
Antonym >> to despise
Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope.
Derivatives >>
58.
reverence, reverent, reverentness, reverential, reverentiality, reverentially
sonorous
suh NOR us, SAN uh
,<<sonoroussuh
Synonyms >>
rus
resonant, producing a full and rich sound
Antonym >>
Orson Wells was known for his sonorous voice.
59.
Derivatives >>
sonorant, sonoriferous, sonoriferously, sonority, sonorization, sonorously, sonorousness
succulent
SUK yuh lunt
very juicy
Antonym >> dry
Synonyms >>
An orange is an example of a succulent fruit.
60.
Derivatives >>
succulency, succulence
superfluous
soo PUR floo us
beyond what is needed or required, an overflow
Antonym >> necessary
Synonyms >>
The meeting lasted so long because of many superfluous comments by some of the speakers.
Derivatives >>
61.
Derivatives >>
62.
Antonym >> lifeless
vibrance, vibrancy, vibrantly
vivid
VIV id
bright, distinct, and clear
,<<vividVIV
Synonyms >>
graphic
I have vivid memories of my trip to Europe.
Derivatives >>
64.
tentatively, tentativeness
vibrant
VIE brunt
full of life
,<<vibrantVIE
Synonyms >>
She was a vibrant young woman before she went into a coma.
Derivatives >>
63.
superfluously, superfluousness, superfluent, superfluity
tentative
TEN tuh tiv
not fully worked out, provisional, uncertain
,<<tentativeTE
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> permanent
We have a tentative arms -control agreement, but we hope to have a signed agreement by the end of the year.
Antonym >> lackluster
vividly, vividness, vividity, vivific, vivificate, vivification, vivifier, vivify
voluble
VOL yuh bul
,<<volubleVOL
Synonyms >>
garrulous, loquacious
ability to use words easily, fluent and glib
Antonym >> taciturn
A disc jockey needs to be a voluble speaker.
65.
Derivatives >>
volubility, volubleness, volubly
wily
,<<wilyWILE
Synonyms >>
WILE ee
cunning, crafty
Antonym >>
"Wily as a fox" is an expression that means a person is very crafty at some activity.
66.
Derivatives >>
wile, wiled, wiling, wilier, wiliest
woe
WOE
great sorrow, grief, or misfortune
Antonym >> happiness
Synonyms >>
The woe she suffered at his death continued through months of depression.
67.
Derivatives >>
woes, woebegone, woeful, woebegoneness, woefully, woefulness
zeal
ZEEL
enthusiasm, fervor
Antonym >> lack of enthusiasm
Synonyms >>
To the delight of his students, he brought great zeal to the teaching profession.
Derivatives >>
zeals, zealless, zealot, zealotic, zealotism, zealotry
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
68.
zealot
ZEL ot
one who embraces a cause and supports it with vigor
,<<zealotZEL
Synonyms >>
enthusiast
Antonym >> one without enthusiasm or passion
The man was known as a religious zealot, as he never stopped trying to convert others to his beliefs.
Derivatives >>
zealotic, zealotism, zealotry, zealous, zealously
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
120
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
These words which appear in Things Fall Apart have been identified as words or derivatives of words that
have appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in alphabetical order.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
adherents
appease
approbation
arduous
atonement
audacity
benevolent
blaspheme
calamity
callow
capricious
communal
contemptible
copiously
deft
degenerate
derisive
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
desecrated
desolate
despair
discern
discordant
dispatched
enthralled
esoteric
exacting
expedient
feign
fermenting
ferociously
flourish
fugitives
grievously
harbingers
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
idolatrous
imperious
improvident
impudent
incipient
kindle
luxuriant
malevolence
malicious
mirth
ominous
pacified
perpetual
plaintive
plumage
poignant
potent
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
profane
refuge
rent
resilient
resolute
revered
sonorous
succulent
superfluous
tentative
vibrant
vividly
voluble
wily
woeful
zeal
zealots
These words which appear in Things Fall Apart have been identified as words or derivatives of words that
have appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in the order in which they appear in the novel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
wily
improvident
plaintive
mirth
discern
vibrant
dispatched
imperious
perpetual
capricious
malevolence
incipient
contemptible
tentative
malicious
luxuriant
despair
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
kindle
benevolent
communal
exacting
arduous
poignant
vividly
deft
feign
harbingers
copiously
succulent
audacity
esoteric
approbation
voluble
plumage
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
potent
rent
calamity
refuge
grievously
fugitives
woeful
ominous
derisive
callow
impudent
degenerate
adherents
atonement
revered
zeal
blaspheme
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
fermenting
flourish
resilient
idolatrous
expedient
zealots
desecrated
profane
desolate
discordant
pacified
sonorous
superfluous
appease
resolute
ferociously
enthralled
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Vocabulary Test 1
Directions: Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
Exercise A
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
adherent
appease
approbation
arduous
atone
audacity
benevolence
blasphemous
calamity
callow
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
immature; inexperienced
very difficult to accomplish; demanding
a serious event causing distress or misfortune
to pacify; to be conciliatory and sacrifice principles
irreverent; profane
official approval; praise; commendation
kindness; generosity; charity
a follower of something such as a philosophy
excessive boldness; rashness; daring
to make amends
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
scoffing at; mockery; ridicule
to violate the sanctity of something; to profane
changing suddenly; fickle
a state of decline
pertaining to a group or community
skillful; adroit
deserted; without inhabitants
scorn; extreme dislike or disdain
abundant
hopeless; feeling futility
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
demanding; requiring great care
appropriate for a purpose but not necessarily right
a false appearance
lack of agreement; tension; strife
state of agitation; commotion
savagery
to differentiate between two or more things
to send away with promptness or speed
understood only by a small group or a select few
captivating; spellbinding
Exercise B
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
capricious
communal
contempt
copious
deft
degeneration
derision
desecrate
desolate
despairing
Exercise C
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
discern
discord
dispatch
enthralling
esoteric
exacting
expedient
feint
ferment
ferocity
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Vocabulary Test 2
Directions: Choose the letter of the definition that best fits the meaning of the word in bold type.
________
1.
________
2.
________
3.
________
4.
________
5.
________
6.
________
7.
________
8.
________
9.
________
10.
________
11.
________
12.
________
13.
________
14.
________
15.
________
16.
________
17.
________
18.
________
19.
________
20.
to have a business flourish
a. go bankrupt
b. begin
c. thrive
d. incorporate
a pursue a fugitive
a. fleeting idea
b. intricate debate
c. elusive person
d. career
a grievous occasion
a. festive
b. serious or grave
c. mysterious
d. formal
harbingers of the future
a. predictors
b. influences
c. recorders
d. planners
the practice of idolatry
a. exercising
b. intense studying
c. toymaking
d. worshipping idols
an imperious ruler
a. unfair
b. elected
c. extremely overbearing
d. uneducated
the result of one's improvidence
a. ignorance
b. conceit
c. not providing for the future
d. poverty
an impudent child
a. disrespectful
b. wealthy
c. evil
d. sick
an incipient problem
a. mishandled
b. beginning
c. easily solved
d. popular
to kindle a riot
a. try to stop
b. stir up
c. analzye
d. report to the press
a luxuriant setting
a. depressing
b. studious
c. impoverished
d. fertile and lavish
to be a victim of malevolence
a. foul-play
b. evil intentions
c. deceit
d. unreturned love
a malicious remark
a. religious
b. intellectual
c. hateful
d. simple
to feel mirth
a. anger
b. merriment
c. annoyance
d. love
an ominous sign
a. misunderstood
b. warning
c. threatening
d. bold
a pacifistic group
a. opposed to war
b. communal
c. water sports
d. angry
to perpetuate a situation
a. understand
b. ignore
c. suffer from
d. prolong
a plaintive remark
a. simple
b. planned
c. mournful
d. sarcastic
the plumage of a bird
a. beak
b. feathers
c. feet
d.
eyes
a poignant letter
a. piercing
b. love
c. hateful
d. threatening
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Things Fall Apart
By Chinua Achebe
Vocabulary Test 3
Directions: Select the word that best completes the following sentences.
potent
profane
refuge
rending
resilient
resolute
revere
vivid
sonorous
voluble
succulent
wily
superfluous
woe
tentative
zeal
vibrant
zealot
1.
The rebellious group of made ______________________ plans to _____________________
the flag by _____________________ it in two; but because their ideas were not fully worked
out, they were not able to show such contempt for the flag by tearing it.
2.
The luxurious party had ____________________ guests who consumed _________________
drinks that were powerful enough to intoxicate them and _____________________ fruits that
dripped with juice; it was no wonder the guests were so full of life.
3.
The _____________________ embraced his cause with such _________________ that
followers of his found it easy to honor and __________________ him for his enthusiasm and
fervor.
4.
The men of the village were ____________________ about their decision to provide a place of
___________________ for the victims of the war; they were steadfast in their decision to
provide shelter and protection for these people.
5.
I still have ____________________ memories of the ___________________woman; I can see
her clearly and distinctly in my mind, and I can hear her fluent and glib speech that that
flowed so easily.
6.
The ____________________ bells of the church produced a resonant, full, and rich sound;
but it was one of ____________________ , full of grief and sorrow because it announced the
death of our friend.
7.
The fisherman never could catch the _________________ fish; the thing was so crafty and
cunning, it had evaded the hook for ten years.
8.
Your essay is marred by all these __________________________ comments; since they are
not really needed, you should eliminate them.
9.
Some trees remain standing after severe storms because they are so __________________;
they bend with the wind, but are able to return to their former state.
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Answer Key
Vocabulary Test 1
1.
8.
15.
22.
29.
h
e
f
d
e
2.
9.
16.
23.
30.
d
c
d
h
f
3.
10.
17.
24.
f
a
a
j
4.
11.
18.
25.
b
c
b
i
5.
12.
19.
26.
j
e
g
a
6.
13.
20.
27.
i
h
j
b
7.
14.
21.
28.
g
i
g
c
Vocabulary Test 2
1.
8.
15.
c
a
c
2.
9.
16.
c
b
a
3. b
10. b
17. d
4. a
11. d
18. c
5. d
12. b
19. b
6. c
13. c
20. a
Vocabulary Test 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
tentative, profane, rending
vibrant, potent, succulent
zealot, zeal, revere
resolute, refuge
vivid, voluble
sonorous, woe
wily
superfluous
vibrant
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
7. c
14. b
