Vocabulary Unit Five Test: American Literature/Rhetoric
PART I. PRONUNCIATION
Directions: Each of the following words has been divided into syllables. Choose the letter of the choice
that correctly identifies the syllable that is properly accented when the word is pronounced.
1. chiv al rous
a. chiv’ al rous
b. chiv al’ rous
c. chiv al rous’
2. dis crep an cy
a. dis’ crep an cy
b. dis crep’ an cy
c. dis crep an’ cy
3. ben e fac tor
a. ben’ e fac tor
b. ben e’ fac tor
c. ben e fac’ tor
d. dis crep an cy’
d. ben e fac tor’
PART II. PARTS OF SPEECH
Directions: In each of the following groups, choose the item that indicates the part of speech of the
bold word.
4. indomitable courage in the face of danger
a) adjective
b) verb
c) adverb
d) noun
5. embark on a perilous journey
a) verb
b) adjective
c) noun
d) adverb
6. plod through the thick snow
a) verb
b) adverb
c) adjective
d) noun
7. without the help of his benefactor
a) noun
b) adjective c) adverb
d) verb
8. the temerity to answer
a) adjective
b) verb
d) adverb
c) noun
PART III. DEFINITIONS
Directions: Match each of the following vocabulary words with its corresponding definition.
a) altruistic
b) chivalrous
c) diffident
d) facile
9. easily done or attained
10. concerned with the welfare of others
11. absolutely dependable
12. marked by courtesy and honor
13. lacking self-confidence
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e) infallible
PART IV. SYNONYMS
Directions: In each of the following groups, choose the item that means the same as the boldface word
in the introductory phrase.
14. a truculent band of hardened criminals
a) large
b) incarcerated
c) savage
d) unthreatening
15. the spreading of virulent rumors
a) venial
b) benign
c) spiteful
d) false
16. discrepancy between fact and fiction
a) consistency
b) convergence
c) difference
d) line
17. unfeigned emotions of children
a) sincere
b) simulated
c) fake
d) inconsistent
18. remiss in paying their taxes
a) dutiful
b) lax
c) early
d) punctual
PART V. ANTONYMS
Directions: In each of the following groups, choose the item that means the opposite of the boldface
word.
19. made a chivalrous apology for his behavior
a) gallant
b) quick
c) crude
d) sincere
20. wrote a diffident letter to the person in charge
a) bold
b) apologetic
c) formal
d) lengthy
21. will force management to assent with their demands
a) accede
b) concur
c) differ
d) vote
22. plod through the deep snowdrifts
a) lumber
b) plunge
c) prance
d) skulk
23. the pungent aroma of the soup
a) spicy
b) overwhelming
c) faint
d) unappetizing
24. to show clemency to the first offenders
a) gentleness
b) severity
c) flexibility
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d) attention
PART VI. IMPROVING SENTENCES
Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each
sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the
underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you
think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select choice A; if not,
select one of the other choices.
25. Everyone on the roller coaster, including Matt and Chris, hopes that the hot dogs, cotton candy, and
french fries will stay down during the twisting ride to come.
a) hopes that the hot dogs, cotton candy, and french fries will stay down during the twisting ride to
come.
b) hope that the hot dogs, cotton candy, and french fries will stay down during the twisting ride to come.
c) hopes that the hot dogs, cotton candy, and french fries would stay down during the twisting ride to
come.
d) hopes that the hot dogs, the cotton candy, and the french fries will stay down during the twisting ride
to come.
26. Mr. Walker said that the exam would include questions testing the students’ ability to think logically,
vocabulary skills, and analogies.
a) testing the students’ ability to think logically, vocabulary skills, and analogies.
b) testing the students’ ability to think logically, use vocabulary skills, and analogies.
c) testing the students’ ability to think logically, to use vocabulary skills, and to understand analogies.
d) testing the students’ ability to think logically, vocabulary skills, and to understand analogies.
PART VII. IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS
Directions: The following sentences test your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. Each
sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. No sentence contains more than one error.
The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains an error, choose the one
underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select
choice E. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.
27. Last January, Sam’s resolutions for the New Year included managing their time better and going
A
B
C
on a strict diet with the goal of losing twenty pounds. No error
D
E
28. Along with the rapidly accelerating pace of technological progress, the field of intellectual property
A
B
rights have emerged as an increasingly prominent legal specialty. No error
C
D
E
29. The nineteenth-century French author Guy de Maupassant, who’s style was profoundly influenced
A
B
by the realism of Gustave Flaubert, wrote many short stories with ironic surprise endings. No error
C
D
E
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30. Neither the broken windshield wiper nor the squeaky breaks annoys Beth as much as the broken
A
B
C
D
radio in her old car. No error.
E
PART VIII. COMPLETING THE SENTENCE
Directions: Using Unit 5’s vocabulary words, choose the best answer. No word is repeated.
31. By 1781, George Washington’s green recruits of a few years earlier had been forged into a(n)
___________________ army.
a) infallible
b) indomitable
c) facile
d) diffident
32. Charles Dickens’s Pip moves to London after his ____________ arranges for his formal education
managed by Mr. Jaggers.
a) embarkment
b) dearth
c) benefactor
d) assent
33. Utterly exhausted by their daylong hike through the park, the troop of scouts __________ back to
the camp.
a) reposed
b) plodded
c) assented
d) embarked
34. Rather than punish the defeated rebels, President Lincoln planned to treat the people of the South
with _______.
a) clemency
b) dearth
c) temerity
d) repose
35. Many doctors fear that the future will bring outbreaks of ___________ infectious diseases for which
there are no treatments.
a) indomitable
b) truculent
c) virulent
d) pungent
36. Before you ___________ on this rash course of action, why don’t you take a moment to consider
the pitfalls into which it might lead you.
a) embark
b) repose
c) plod
d) assent
37. The auditors began to suspect the treasurer of embezzlement when they came across several
major ___________ in the financial records.
a) temerity
b) discrepancies
c) benefactors
d) assents
38. It was gratifying to find him in error since he has always set himself up as a(n) _________ authority
on the subject.
a) infallible
b) indomitable
c) chivalrous
d) altruistic
39. It is with ____________ appreciation that the family thanks the community for its generosity after
the loss of the family home.
a) pungent
b) remiss
c) truculent
d) unfeigned
40. What good are the ____________ principles if no real attempt is made to help people by putting
those principles into practice?
a) altruistic
b) facile
c) remiss
d) truculent
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41. The ______________ of anyone to propose something that so negatively affects us without
notifying us is appalling.
a) temerity
b) discrepancy
c) dearth
d) assent
42. As the world has seen, _____________ appeals to organ donation have not yielded enough
organs for transplantation.
a) altruistic
b) chivalrous
c) diffident
d) facile
43. The city has a ___________ of public swimming pools, though there are quite a few privately
owned ones.
a) dearth
b) diffident
c) discrepancy
d) repose
44. The plant's strong, ______________ odor predominates in many regions after a rain.
a) pungent
b) truculent
c) unfeigned
d) virulent
45. Your silence is being read as not only permission but also _____________.
a) discrepancy
b) clemency
c) temerity
d) assent
46. We were all impressed by your ____________ use of unusual words and expressions that you had
learned only a few hours before.
a) altruistic
b) diffident
c) facile
d) remiss
47. His __________ criticism of her work was not appropriate, and the manager spoke to him about his
harsh words.
a) pungent
b) remiss
c) truculent
d) unfeigned
48. It's a grim reminder that castles were not all for ___________ knights and beautiful princesses.
a) altruistic
b) chivalrous
c) diffident
d) indomitable
49. Emphasizing the youth of the convicted man, the defense attorney pleaded for ____________.
a) assent
b) clemency
c) remiss
d) repose
50. We would be _________ if this publication didn't recognize and report on it.
a) facile
b) diffident
c) repose
d) remiss
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