WORKING WITH WORDS: LESSON 2
Instructions:
(1) Give the part of speech of each of these word forms. Notice that some of the words are used in
different forms than they appeared on the original list. (2) Fill in the blank with the appropriate word.
(3) Finally, match the words with their synonyms.
WORD BANK
(PART 1)
LETHARGIC __________
MAUDLIN __________
EGREGIOUS __________
OSTRACIZED ________
LABYRINTH __________
TANTALIZED __________
LACONIC _________
GREGARIOUS ________
MACHIAVELLIAN ___________
GALVANIZE ___________
(PART 2: Each word must be used only once.)
It was awful trying to get through the (1) ________________________ of registration for my freshman
year. I was (2) _____________________ by the prospect of taking exciting courses but could not enroll
because my name was missing from the computer printout through some (3) ____________________
error. For a moment, I thought I was the victim of a (4) __________________________ scheme to
exclude me from college. I tried to explain the situation to a university officer but received a brief,
(5)________________________ reply to go elsewhere for help. The next officer I met was more
talkative but was extremely slow moving and (6) _______________________. I thought that nothing at
all could (7) ________________________ him to action. Fortunately, I am not shy but
(8)____________________; I confront people quite well. I continued to explain that I felt
(9)_______________________ by the very college from which my parents graduated. Upon learning
that my parents were alumni, the official introduced me to the president himself. At the risk of sounding
(10) ____________________, I must admit that I still get a lump in my throat when I recall how the
president kindly rectified the situation and then recounted how he had been my father’s roommate and
had introduced my parents to each other.
(PART 3)
_____1. LACONIC
a. entice, tempt
_____2. GALVANIZE
b. sluggish, drowsy
_____3. TANTALIZE
c. deceitful, crafty
_____4. GREGARIOUS
d. brief, concise
_____5. OSTRACIZE
e. electrify, stimulate
_____6. LABYRINTH
f. tear-jerking, sentimental
_____7. MAUDLIN
g. sociable, social
_____8. EGREGIOUS
h. shun, reject
_____9. LETHARGIC
i. shocking, outrageous
_____10. MACHIAVELLIAN
j. conundrum, maze
(PART 5: BONUS WORDS FOR QUIZ—You can receive up to 105% on the quiz.)
SPEC—look, see
1. SPECIOUS (ADJ.)—seemingly true or genuine but actually false; synonym-misleading
2. RETROSPECTIVE (ADJ.)—looking back at the past; synonym-reflective
3. INTROSPECTIVE (ADJ.)—looking inward at one’s own thoughts and feelings; synonym-meditative
4. CIRCUMSPECT (ADJ.)—careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences; synonymcautious
5. PROSPECTIVE (ADJ.)—likely or expected to happen; synonym-potential