6th Grade Semester Exam Study Guide
Mr. Gieson, January 2007
Vocabulary
Usage, synonyms and spelling: selected words from lessons 1 through 7
Lesson 1
Brawny (adj.) having well-developed muscles; strong,
sinewy
Candid (adj.) open and honest in what one says or does;
frank, outspoken
Chide (adj.) express mild disapproval of; scold, reprove
Defraud (v.) deprive someone of something by deception or
fraud; cheat, bilk
Goad (v.) prod, as with a pointed stick; spur, urge, impel
Novice (n.) a person who is new at something; neophyte,
tyro
Obstinate (adj.) unyielding, unreasonable determined to
have one’s way; stubborn
Peer (n.) person of the same standing or ability as another;
equal
Proficient (adj.) highly competent; adept
Wrath (n.) intense anger; ire, rage
Lesson 2
Antagonistic (adj.) showing opposition or ill will; hostile,
inimical
Botch (v.) do clumsily; foul up; bungle
Dearth (n.) inadequate supply; scarcity, lack
Dire (adj.) arousing dread or deep distress; dreadful,
ominous
Glut (n.) supply that exceeds demand; oversupply,
superabundance
Parch (v.) make dry with heat; scorch, dehydrate
Rue (v.) wish undone; feel remorse for; regret, deplore
Teem (v.) be abundant; swarm
Tractable (adj.) easy to manage or control; compliant
Trite (adj.) so overused that it no longer has any interest;
stale, commonplace
Lesson 3
Abate (v.) diminish in force or intensity; subside, moderate
Cower (v.) crouch in fear; cringe, quail
Entreat (v.) ask earnestly; plead, beg
Feasible (adj.) capable of being done; possible, viable
Loom (v.) come into view; appear, emerge
Patron (n.) regular customer; supporter
Prone (adj.) having a natural tendency; inclined, apt
Prudent (adj.) showing sound judgment; wise, sensible
Spurn (v.) reject disdainfully; refuse, scorn
Unkempt (adj.) not neat or orderly; disheveled, slovenly
Lesson 4
Culpable (adj.) deserving blame; guilty
Delectable (adj.) very pleasing; delightful, delicious
Garrulous (adj.) inclined to excessive chatter; talkative,
loquacious
Insolent (adj.) boldly disrespectful; impudent, rude
Irk (v.) annoy; disgust
Literate (adj.) able to read and write
Obliging (adj.) ready to do favors; accommodating
Prevail (v.) be victorious; triumph
Quell (v.) put an end to; suppress, extinguish
Whim (n.) sudden odd idea or desire
Lesson 5
Abet (v.) encourage with aid or approval
Astute (adj.) shrewd; sagacious
Deter (v.) restrain from acting; discourage
Exonerate (v.) free from blame or responsibility; absolve,
exculpate
Expedient (adj.) suitable under the circumstances;
advantageous
Maim (v.) wound seriously; cripple, disfigure
Mediocre (adj.) neither good nor bad; barely adequate;
average
Obsolete (adj.) no longer n use; old-fashioned, out-of-date
Thrive (v.) be fortunate; be successful; prosper, flourish
Wane (v.) decrease in power, size or extent; abate, subside
Lesson 6
Adamant (adj.) unyielding in attitude or opinion; inflexible
Concede (v.) admit grudgingly
Foreboding (n.) strong inner conviction of a coming
misfortune; premonition
Immaterial (adj.) of no essential consequence; unimportant,
irrelevant
Impetus (n.) driving force; stimulus
Notorious (adj.) widely but unfavorably known; infamous
Plummet (v.) drop or fall sharply and abruptly; plunge,
nosedive
Repulse (v.) drive back; beat back; repel
Subjugate (v.) bring under complete control; conquer,
vanquish
Unwavering (adj.) not fluctuating or hesitant; firm, steady
Lesson 7
Affluent (adj.) having abundant goods or riches; wealthy
Aloof (adj.) distant in feeling or interest; unconcerned,
indifferent
Bolster (v.) prop up; support, reinforce
Crestfallen (adj.) dejected, disheartened
Infer (v.) reach a conclusion by reasoning from facts;
conclude, deduce
Mar (v.) detract from the perfectness of; spoil, tarnish
Obliterate (v.) destroy utterly; erase, efface
Rile (v.) make angry or resentful; irritate, peeve
Robust (adj.) strong and healthy; hardy, vigorous
Vestige (n.) visible mark left by something vanished; trace
Grammar and Punctuation (page numbers refer to grammar workbook)
Punctuation –
comma rules for introductory prepositional phrases and compound sentences (p. 21-22)
capital letters (class handouts & notes)
Parts of speech –
Prepositions, Prepositional Phrases and Objects of Prepositions (OP’s) (p. 5-10)
Nouns (p. 12)
Pronouns (p. 14-19)
Verbs: Helping vs. Main, Single-word Verbs vs. Verb Phrases (p. 22-30)
Linking vs. Action (p. 33-35)
Adjectives (p. 47-49)
Conjunctions (with compound sentences) (p. 44-45)
Sentence Diagramming –
Locating and Charting Subjects, Verbs and Predicate Adjectives/Nominatives (PA’s & PN’s)
Locating and Charting Adjectives and Adjective Phrases (from class handouts & notes)
Sentence Parts –
Subjects (p. 37-39)
Complements: Predicate Adjectives and Predicate Nominatives (p. 49-51)
Usage –
Using Personal Pronouns as OP’s, Subjects and Predicate Nominatives (p. 15-16, p. 41, p. 53)
Reading –
Gods and Heroes – major characters, conflicts and resolutions of the stories covered
The Adventures of Ulysses (reading guides and notes)
Types of conflicts (class notes)
Elements of the plot: setting, characterization, central conflict, climax, and resolution
(class notes)
Writing –
Word choice: interesting words, do not overuse words, avoid the well-worn and ordinary when
possible
Organization: logical order, paragraphs, clear intro, body and conclusion
Ideas: imagery through figurative language and action verbs, specific (concrete) detail
Sentence fluency: sentences are clear in meaning and vary in length
Voice: tone is appropriate, personality evident
Attention to Detail: punctuation, spelling, neatness
See class notes and “writing sample grading rubric” (available on mrgieson.com)