Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 1: Vocabulary Words
1.
Admonish
– (Ad`män´ish)
2.
Breach
– (brēch)
3.
Brigand
– (brĭg´әnd)
4.
Circumspect
– ('sәr kәm spekt)
5.
Commandeer
– (käm әn`dēr)
6.
Cumbersome
– (cum´ber`some)
7.
Deadlock
– (dead´lock`)
8.
Debris
– (De`bris´)
9.
Diffuse
– (Dif`fuse´)
10. Dilemma
– (Di`lem´ma)
11. Efface
– (Ef`face´)
12. Muddle
– (Mud´dle)
13. Opinionated
– (O`pin´ion`a`ted)
14. Perennial
– (Per`en´ni`al)
15. Predispose
– (Pre`dis`pose´)
16. Relinquish
– (Re`lin´quish)
17. Salvage
– (Sal´vage)
18. Spasmodic
– (Spas`mod´ic)
19. Spurious
– (Spu´ri`ous)
20. Unbridled
– (Un`bri´dled)
(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly;
to remind of a duty.
______________ the noisy students
(n.) an opening, gap; a violation or infraction
(v.) to create an opening, break through
______________ the enemy’s lines
(n.) a bandit
Assaulted on the way by a __________________
(adj.) careful, cautious
Try to behave in a _________________ fashion
(v.) to seize for military or official use
The right to _______________ private property
(adj.) clumsy, hard to handle; slow-moving
A _________________ package
(n.) a complete standstill;
(v.) to bring to a standstill
A 3-to-3 ___________________ after 15 innings
(n.) scattered fragments, wreckage
________________ resulting from the explosion
(v.) to spread or scatter freely or widely;
(adj.) wordy, long-winded, or unfocused; scattered or widely spread
Slowly _________________ through the room
(n.) a difficult or perplexing situation or problem
Caught in a painful ____________________
(v.) to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed
________________ all signs of the struggle
(v.) to make a mess of; muddle through; to get by;
(n.) a hopeless mess
A _________ caused by failure to obey my directions
(adj.) stubborn and often unreasonable in holding to one’s own
ideas, having a closed mind
Too ______________ to listen to her proposal
(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent;
(n.) a plant that lives for many years
A ________________ favorite of the young
(v.) to incline to beforehand
__________________ me to colds
(v.) to let go, give up
__________________ his role in the class show
(v.) to save from fire or shipwreck;
(n.) property thus saved
__________________ a few things from the fire
(adj.) sudden and violent but brief; fitful, intermittent
_________________ rifle fire from the woods
(adj.) not genuine, not true, not valid
Reject the __________________ will
(adj.) uncontrolled, lacking in restraint
The ____________ enthusiasm of the fans
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 2: Vocabulary Words
1.
Adjourn
– (Ad`journ´)
2.
Alien
– (Al´ien)
(v.) to stop proceedings for a time; to move to another place
____________ the session until the next day
(n.) a citizen of another country;
(adj.) foreign, strange
Customs _______________ to our way of life
(adj.) having a pleasing appearance
A ____________ child
(v.) to make up for; to repay for services
_________________ him for his losses
(adj.) loose in one’s morals or behavior
A group of __________________ “men-about-town”
3.
Comely
– (kŭm´lŷ)
4.
Compensate
– (Com´pen`sate)
5.
Dissolute
– (Dis so`lute)
6.
Erratic
– (Er`rat´ic)
7.
Expulsion
– (Ex`pul´sion)
8.
Feint
– (fānt)
(n.) a deliberately deceptive movement; a pretense;
(v.) to make a deceptive movement; to make a pretense of
The boxer’s extraordinary ability to counter and ____________
9.
Fodder
– (fǒd´dẽr)
(n.) food for horses or cattle; raw material for a designated purpose
Stored ______________ in the silo
(v.) to strengthen, build up
_________________ the city against attack
(adj.) difficult or impossible to read
An _________________ note
(adj.) not regular or consistent; different from what is ordinarily expected;
Undependable
Upset by his ________________ behavior
(n.) the process of driving or forcing out
Order the ___________________ of aliens
10. Fortify
– (For ti`fy)
11. Illegible
– (Il`lej ә`ble)
12. Jeer
– (jēr)
(v.) to make fun or rudely or unkindly
(n.) a rude remark of derision
___________________ at strangers
13. Lucrative
– (lu´cra`tive)
14. Mediocre
– (mē dē ´ō kәr)
15. Proliferate
– (prō´lif ә rāt)
16. Subjugate
– (sәb jü gāt)
17. Sully
– (sәl ē)
18. Tantalize
– (tan tә līz)
19. Terse
– (tәrs)
20. Unflinching
– (әn flin chiŋ)
(adj.) bringing in money, profitable
Establish a __________________ business
(adj.) average, ordinary, undistinguished
A ________________ player rather than a star
(v.) to reproduce, increase, or spread rapidly
Since some cells ______________ more quickly than others
(v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control
A campaign to _________________ the rebels
(v.) to soil, stain, tarnish, defile, besmirch
A reputation _________________ by scandal
(v.) to tease, torment by teasing
_________________ by goodies in the window
(adj.) brief and to the point
A _________________ remark
(adj.) firm, showing no signs of fear, not drawing back
Faced danger with _______________ courage
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 3: Vocabulary Words
1.
Abridge
-- (ә brij)
(v.) to make shorter
To _______________ a 1000-page novel
2.
Adherent
-- (ad hēr әnt)
(n.) a follower, supporter;
(adj.) attached, sticking to
Has attracted many ___________________
3.
Altercation
-- (ȏl tәr kā shәn)
(n.) an angry argument
Involved in a noisy ___________________
4.
Cherubic
-- (che rü bik)
(adj.) resembling an angel portrayed as a little child with a beautiful, round,
or chubby face; sweet and innocent
The _______________ smile of a newborn baby
5.
Condone
-- (kәn dōn)
(v.) to pardon or overlook
Refuse to ___________________ bad behavior
6.
Dissent
-- (di sent)
(v.) to disagree;
(n.) disagreement
__________________ from the majority view
7.
Eminent
-- (em ә nәnt)
(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished, projecting
An ________________ member of the bar
8.
Exorcise
-- (ek sȏr sīz)
(v.) to drive out by magic; to dispose of something troublesome, menacing,
or oppressive
To _______________ an evil spirit
9.
Fabricate
-- (fab rә kāt)
(v.) to make, manufacture; to make up, invent
Learned how to _____________ steel
10. Irate
-- (ī rāt)
(adj.) angry
Try to calm an _________________ parent
11. Marauder
-- (mә rȏd әr)
(n.) a raider, plunderer
A village raided by _____________________
12. Obesity
-- (ō bē sә tē)
(n.) extreme fatness
Suffering from _____________________
13. Pauper
-- (pȏ pәr)
(n.) an extremely poor person
Help for the _______________ in our community
14. Pilfer
-- (pil fәr)
(v.) to steal in small quantities
__________________ stamps from the cash box
15. Rift
-- (rift)
(n.) a split, break, breach
An unfortunate __________________ in their friendship
16. Semblance
-- (sem blәns)
(n.) a likeness, an outward appearance; an apparition
Tried to create a __________________ of order
17. Surmount
-- (sәr maůnt)
(v.) to overcome, rise above
Struggle to ______________________ all obstacles
18. Terminate
-- (tәr mә nāt)
(v.) to bring to an end
____________________ my employment
19. Trite
-- (trīt)
(adj.) commonplace; overused, stale
Full of clichés and ___________________phrases
20. Usurp
-- (yü sәrp)
(v.) to seize and hold a position by force or without right
Plot to ___________________power
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 4: Vocabulary Words
1.
Abscond
– (ab skänd)
(v.) to run off and hide
________________ with the stolen money
2.
Access
– (ak ses)
(n.) approach or admittance to places, persons, things, an increase
(v.) to get at, obtain
Gain _________________ to the secret files
3.
Anarchy
– (an әr kē)
(n.) a lack of government and law, confusion
A country suffering from ____________________
4.
Arduous
– (är jü әs)
(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort
_________________ chores
5.
Auspicious
– (ȏ spish әs)
(adj.) favorable; fortunate
Under _____________________ circumstances
6.
Biased
– (bī әst)
(adj.) favoring one side unduly; prejudiced
A __________________ decision
7.
Daunt
– (dôn’t)
(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage
Not _____________________ by their threats
8.
Disentangled
– (dis en taŋ gәl)
(v.) to free from tangles or complications
______________________ the fishing net
9.
Fated
– (fā tid)
(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune
_______________ to rise to the top
10. Hoodwink
– (hůd wiŋk)
(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive
Attempt to __________________ the child
11. Inanimate
– (in an ә mit)
(adj.) not having life, without energy or spirit
Stones and other _______________ objects
12. Incinerate
– (in sin әr āt)
(v.) to burn to ashes
_________________ the garbage
13. Intrepid
– (in trep id)
(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable
_________________ explorers of the ocean
14. Larceny
– (lār sә nē)
(n.) theft
Found guilty of _____________________
15. Plaint
– (plī әnt)
(adj.) bending readily, easily influenced
A sapling’s ___________________ branches
16. Pompous
– (pām pәs)
(adj.) overly self-important in speech or manner; excessively stately
or ceremonious
A ____________________ and conceited fool
17. Precipice
– (pres ә pis)
(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster
Peer cautiously over a ______________________
18. Rectify
– (rek tә fi)
(v.) to make right, correct
__________________ a false impression
19. Reprieve
– (ri prēv)
(n.) a temporary relief or delay;
(v.) to grant a postponement
Receive a _____________________from the Governor
20. Revile
– (ri vīl)
(v.) to attack with words, call bad names
__________________ their enemies
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 5: Vocabulary Words
1.
Accomplice
– (ә käm plis)
2.
Annihilate
– (ә nī ә lāt)
3.
Arbitrary
– (är bә trer ē)
4.
Brazen
– (brā zәn)
5.
Catalyst
– (kat әl ist)
6.
Exodus
– (ek sә dәs)
7.
Facilitate
– (fә sil ә tāt)
8.
Incorrigible
– (in kä rә jә bәl)
9.
Latent
– (lāt әnt)
(adj.) hidden, present but not realized
A____________________, unexpressed hostility
10. Militant
– (mil ә tәnt)
(adj.) given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause
(n.) activist
A____________________ campaign against drugs
11. Morose
– (mә rōs)
(adj.) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable
Found him in a ____________________ mood
12. Opaque
– (ō pāk)
(adj.) not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense, stupid
Windows that were __________________ with grime
13. Paramount
– (par ә maůnt)
14. Prattle
– (prat әl)
(adj.) chief in importance, above all others
The __________________ issue in the election
(v.) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way;
(n.) baby talk
The _____________________ of the child in her crib
15. Rebut
– (ri bәt)
(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradict an assertion, to refute
Easy to ______________________ his shaky case
16. Reprimand
– (rep rә mand)
17. Servitude
– (sәr vә tüd)
18. Slapdash
– (slap dash)
19. Stagnant
– (stag nәnt)
20. Succumb
– (sә kәm)
(v.) to scold, find fault with;
(n.) a rebuke
__________________________ the unruly student
(n.) slavery, forced labor
Penal _______________________
(adj.) careless and hasty
Did a _______________ job on the repairs
(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive, sluggish, dull
Bred in ____________________ pools of water
(v.) to give way to superior force, yield
_______________________ to pressure
(n.) a person who takes part in a crime
An_____________________ in the holdup
(v.) to destroy completely
____________________ the enemy forces
(adj.) unreasonable; based on one’s own wishes or whims without regard for
reason or fairness
An_______________________ and high-handed ruler
(adj.) made of brass; shameless, impudent
A _________________ liar
(n.) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction;
any agent that causes change
Act as a _____________________ in the process
(n.) a large-scale departure or flight
A mass __________________ of refugees
(v.) to make easier, assist
_______________ the efforts of the rescue team
(adj.) not able to be corrected, beyond control
An___________________ optimist
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 6: Vocabulary Words
1.
Atone
– (ә tōn)
(v.) to make up for
____________________ for their mistakes
2.
Bondage
– (bän dij)
(n.) slavery; any state of being bound or held down
Release a slave from _____________________
3.
Credible
– (kred ә bәl)
(adj.) believable
A ___________________ excuse for being late
4.
Defray
– (dē frā)
(v.) to pay for
___________________ the shipping charges
5.
Diligent
– (dil ә jәnt)
(adj.) hardworking, industrious, not lazy
A __________________ worker
6.
Doleful
– (dōl fәl)
(adj.) sad, dreary
The losers’ ___________________ faces
7.
Ghastly
– (gast lē)
(adj.) frightful, horrible, deathly pale
Shocked by her ___________________ appearance
8.
Hamper
– (ham pәr)
(v.) to hold back
________________ our efforts
9.
Hew
– (hyü)
(v.) to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to
________________ down the mighty tree
10. Impoverished
– (im päv risht)
(adj.) poor, in a state of poverty; depleted
__________________ by the war
11. Incessant
– (in ses әnt)
(adj.) never stopping, going on all the time
The ____________________ crying of the sick baby
12. Intricate
– (in trә kәt)
(adj.) complicated, difficult to understand
Unable to follow his ___________________ directions
13. Lucid
– (lü sid)
(adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane
A ____________________ explanation
14. Posthumous
–(päs chә mәs)
(adj.) occurring or published after death
Emily Dickinson’s ______________________ fame
15. Prim
–(prim)
(adj.) overly neat, precise, proper, or formal; prudish
In a ________________ bonnet and gloves
16. Sardonic
– (sär dän ik)
(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic
The satirist’s ___________________ laughter
17. Superfluous
– (sü pәr flü wәs)
(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess
Just so much _________________ verbiage
18. Supplant
– (sә plant)
(v.) to take the place of, supersede
Quickly _____________________ by a rival
19. Taunt
– (tȏnt)
(v.) to jeer at, mock
(n.) an insulting or mocking remark
____________________ by the bully
20. Tenacious
– (tә nā shәs)
(adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent
The bulldog’s _______________ grasp
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 7: Vocabulary Words
1.
Adieu
– (ә dū; a dyü)
(int., n.) “Farewell!”; a farewell
Offered his __________________ before leaving
2.
Advent
– (ad vent)
(n.) an arrival; a coming into place or view
Pleased by the ________________ of spring
3.
Apex
– (ā peks)
(n.) the highest point, tip
The ___________________ of a triangle
4.
Assimilate
– (ә sim ә lāt)
(v.) to absorb fully or make one’s own; to adopt as one’s own; to adapt fully
__________________ the customs of his new country
5.
Bogus
– (bō gәs)
(adj.) false, counterfeit
Tried to pass ____________________ bogus
6.
Exorbitant
– (eg zȏr bә tәnt)
(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive
Charge an ___________________ fee
7.
Interim
– (in tәr әm)
(n.) the time between;
(adj.) temporary, coming between two points in time
Suspended all activities in the _____________________
8.
Inundate
– (in әn dāt)
(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size
____________________ the valley to a depth of three feet
9.
Malign
– (mә līn)
(v.) to speak evil of, slander
(adj.) evil
____________________ her good name
10. Meander
– (mē an dәr)
(v.) to wander about, wind about;
(n.) a sharp turn or twist
Streams that ___________________
11. Metropolis
– (mә träp ә lәs)
(n.) a large city; the chief city of an area
Highways leading to a major ______________________
12. Momentous
– (mō men tәs)
(adj.) very important
Make a ____________________ decision
13. Obstreperous
– (әb strep әr әs)
(adj.) noisy; unruly, disorderly
Try to discipline the _____________________ child
14. Pensive
– (pen siv)
(adj.) thoughtful; melancholy
A _____________________ gaze
15. Perilous
– (per ә lәs)
(adj.) dangerous
Find his way out of a _____________________ situation
16. Shoddy
– (shäd ē)
(adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior, dishonest workmanship
Reject the ___________________ goods
17. Sprightly
– (sprīt lē)
(adj.) lively, full of life; spicy, flavorful
Play with the ___________________ kitten
18. Surly
– (sәr lē)
(adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude
Lose patience with the _____________________ waiter
19. Tirade
– (tī rād)
(n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical
A ________________________ against his enemies
20. Vagrant
– (vā grәnt)
(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp;
(adj.) wandering aimlessly
Asked for a handout by a _____________________
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 8: Vocabulary Words
1.
Assurance – (ә shůr әns)
(n.) a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence
Speak with _______________________ on various topics
2.
Asylum – (ә sī lәm)
(n.) an institution for care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety
Offer _____________________ to the oppressed
3.
Console – ( kәn sōl;
kän sōl)
(v.) to comfort
(n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device
Tried to ______________________ the grieving child
4.
Dilate – (dī lāt)
(v.) to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon
_____________________ the pupil of the injured eye
5.
Dross – (drȏs)
(n.) refuse, waste products
Throw away the ______________________
6.
Dwindle – (dwin dәl)
(v.) to lessen, diminish
__________________ in size
7.
Flippant – (flip әnt)
(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy
Resent their __________________ attitude
8.
Immunity – (i myü nә tē)
(n.) resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation
Build up an _________________ to the flu
9.
Institute – (in stә tüt)
(v.) to establish, set up;
(n.) an organization for the promotion of learning
_________________ a new policy
10. Liability – (lī ә bil ә tē)
(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous
Became a __________________ to the company
11. Preposterous – (prē päs tәr әs)
(adj.) ridiculous, senseless
A _________________________ notion
12. Pugnacious – (pәg nā shәs)
(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting
Put off by his ___________________ attitude
13. Rabid – (rab id)
(adj.) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies
A ___________________ baseball fan
14. Realm – (relm)
(n.) a kingdom; a region or field or study
In the ____________________ of science
15. Rejuvenate – (ri jü vә nāt)
(v.) to make young again; to renew
___________________ one’s flagging spirits
16. Remunerate – (ri myü nә rāt)
(v.) to reward, pay, reimburse
______________________ him handsomely for his work
17. Sparse – (spärs)
(adj.) meager, scant; scattered
An area with a _____________________ population
18. Sterling – (stәr liŋ)
(adj.) genuine, excellent; of standard quality
Man of ____________________character
19. Venture – (ven chәr)
(n.) a risky or daring undertaking;
(v.) to expose to danger; to dare
______________________ forth at night
(v.) to twist out of shape;
(n.) an abnormality
A _____________________ mind
20. Warp – (wȏrp)
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 9: Vocabulary Words
1.
Auxiliary – (ȃg zil yә rē)
(adj.)
(n.)
2.
Candid – (kan did)
(adj.)
3.
Cubicle – (kyü bә kәl)
(n.)
4.
Drudgery – (drәj ә rē)
(n.)
5.
Envoy – (en voi)
(n.)
6.
Escalate – (es kә lāt)
(v.)
7.
Expedient – (ek spē dē әnt)
(n.)
(adj.)
8.
Feign – (fān)
(v.)
9.
Flair – (flȃr)
(n.)
10. Grievous – (grē vәs)
(adj.)
11. Heterogeneous – (het ә rә jē nē әs)
(adj.)
12. Horde – (hȏrd)
(n.)
13. Impel – (im pәl)
(v.)
14. Incredulous – (in krej ә lәs)
(adj.)
15. Inscribe – (in skrīb)
(v.)
16. Monologue – (män ә läg)
(n.)
17. Prognosis – (präg nō sәs)
(n.)
18. Rasping – (ras piŋ)
(adj.)
(n.)
19. Repugnant – (rē pәg nәnt)
(adj.)
20. Scuttle – (skәt әl)
(v.)
(n.)
giving assistance or support;
a helper, aid
Turn on the ____________________ motor
frank, sincere; impartial; unposed
Be _______________ with one’s friends
a small room or compartment
Worked in a tiny _______________________
work that is hard and tiresome
Wearied by the endless ____________________
a representative or messenger (as of a government)
A special ______________ to the UN (United Nations)
to elevate; to increase in intensity
________________ into a major conflict
a means to an end;
advantageous, useful
Do whatever is ______________________
to pretend
_____________________ an illness
a natural quality, talent, or skill; a distinctive style
A __________________ for the dramatic
causing sorrow or pain; serious
Avoid making a ________________ error
composed of different kinds, diverse
_____________________ group of students
a vast number (as of people); a throng
Attacked by a __________________ of warriors
to force, drive forward
________________ by hunger
disbelieving, skeptical
An _________________ stare
to write or engrave; to enter a name on a list
_____________________ his name on the watch
a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person
One of Hamlet’s famous _________________
a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation
A ____________________ of a speedy recovery
with a harsh, grating sound;
a harsh sound
Unable to stand his ________________ tone
offensive, disagreeable, distasteful
Their _________________ lack of cleanliness
to sink a ship by cutting holes in it; to get rid of something in a
decisive way
a pail
____________________ the captured galleon
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 10: Vocabulary Words
1.
Adept – (ә dept)
(a dept)
(adj.)
(n.)
thoroughly skilled
an expert
An _______________ musician
2.
Aspire – (ә spīr)
(v.)
to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal,
desire earnestly; to ascend
_________________ to be an honors student
3.
Bleak – (blēk)
(adj.)
bare, dreary, dismal
Depressed by the ___________________ landscape
4.
Chide – (chīd)
(v.)
to blame, scold
_________________ the student for his rudeness
5.
Despicable – (di spik ә eәl)
(adj.)
worthy of scorn, contemptible
Shocked by his _________________ selfishness
6.
Diminutive – (dә min yә tiv)
(adj.)
small, smaller than most others of the same type
The ___________________ lapdog
7.
Emancipate – (ē man sә pāt)
(v.)
to free from slavery; to release or liberate
__________________ from superstitions
8.
Erroneous – (e rō nē әs)
(adj.)
incorrect, containing mistakes
Prove his statement to be ____________________
9.
Exploit – (ek sploit)
(ej sploit)
(v.)
(n.)
to make use of, develop; to make improper use of for personal profit;
a feat, deed
___________________ the mineral deposits
10. Extemporaneous – (ek stem pә rā nē әs)
(adj.)
made or delivered on the spur of the moment
An ____________________ speech
11. Impair – (im pȃr)
(v.)
to make imperfect, damage, harm
____________________ his confidence
12. Invincible – (in vin sә bәl)
(adj.)
not able to be defeated, unbeatable
Cheered the _________________ champion
13. Languid – (laŋ gwid)
(adj.)
drooping; without energy, sluggish
Felt _________________ late in the afternoon
14. Mire – (mīr)
(n.)
(v.)
mud; wet, swampy ground; a tough situation
to get stuck
Sink into the __________________
15. Obtrusive – (әb trü siv)
(adj.)
forward; undesirable prominent; thrust out
Put off by his _____________________ behavior
16. Preamble – (prē am bәl)
(n.)
an introduction to a speech or piece of writing
The ___________________ to the Constitution
17. Render – (ren dәr)
(v.)
to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially
Wait for the jury to ________________ the verdict
18. Rugged – (rәg әd)
(adj.)
rough, irregular; severe, stern; strong, stormy
Climbed some ____________________ mountains
19. Skeptical – (skep tә kәl)
(adj.)
inclined to doubt, slow to accept something as true
_____________________ of the rumors
20. Slipshod – (slip shad)
(adj.)
untidy in dress, personal habits, etc.; careless, sloppy
________________ construction methods
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 11: Vocabulary Words
1.
Brevity – (brev ә tē)
(n.)
shortness
Admire the _____________ of the speech
2.
Comport – (kәm pȏrt)
(v.)
to conduct or bear oneself, behave; to be in agreement
__________ themselves with dignity
3.
Concise – (kәn sīs)
(adj.)
expressing much in a few words
Put your ideas into a ________ statement
4.
Demure – (di myůr)
(adj.)
sober or serious in manner, modest
Attracted by her ________________
5.
Depreciation – (di prē shē ā shәn)
(n.)
a lessening in value; a belittling
Computed the annual ________ in value of the property
6.
Deteriorate – (di tir ē ә rāt)
(v.)
to lower in quality or value; to wear away
Watched his health ____________
7.
Divulge – (di vәlj)
(adj.)
to tell, reveal; to make public
____________ our secret formula to no one
8.
Enlightened – (en līt әnd)
(adj.)
free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding
An ______________ attitude
9.
Forestall – (fōr stȏl)
(v.)
to prevent by acting first
_______________ an argument
10. Garble – (gär bәl)
(v.)
to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible
Confuse us with a _____________ report
11. Proponent – (prō pō nәnt)
(n.)
one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief
A ______________ of tax reform
12. Quaver – (kwā vәr)
(v.)
13. Recoil – (ri koil)
(rē koil)
(v.)
(n.)
to shake, tremble; to trill
A voice that ___________ with anger
to spring back, shrink;
the act of springing back
____________ at the sound of the shot
14. Recoup – (ri kūp)
(v.)
to make up for, regain
A scheme to ____________ his lost fortune
15. Reek – (rēk)
(n.)
(v.)
an unpleasant smell
to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression
Clothes that ________________ of tobacco
16. Relentless – (ri lent lәs)
(adj.)
unyielding, harsh, without pity
A ______________ pursuit of excellence
17. Rivulet – (riv yü lәt)
(n.)
a small stream
Dipped my toe in the ________________
18. Squander – (skwān eәr)
(v.)
to spend foolishly, waste
_______________ a fortune on gambling
19. Staccato – (stә kät ō)
(adj.)
detached or disconnected in sound or style
_______________ bursts from a machine gun
20. Statute – (stach üt)
(n.)
a law
A _________________ passed by the legislature
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 12: Vocabulary Words
1.
Appreciable – (ә prē shә bәl)
(adj.)
sufficient to be noticed or measured
Lost an ____________________amount of blood
2.
Autocratic – (ȏ tә krat ik)
(adj.)
absolute in power or authority
A dictator’s ____________________ control
3.
Blanch – (blanch)
(v.)
to remove the color from; to make or turn pale; to parboil
___________________ at the awful sight
4.
Blasphemy – (blas fә mē)
(n.)
an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred
Accused of _____________________
5.
Brawny – (brȏ nē)
(adj.)
strong, muscular
Admire his _____________________ build
6.
Concerted – (kәn sәr tid)
(adj.)
planned or performed in cooperation with others
A __________________ drive to register new voters
7.
Contend – (kәn tend)
(v.)
to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue
___________________ for first prize
8.
Humane – (hyü mān)
(adj.)
kind, merciful
___________________ treatment of animals
9.
Illustrious – (i lәs trē әs)
(adj.)
very famous, distinguished
Meet the _____________________ statesman
10. Intolerable – (in täl әr ә bәl)
(adj.)
unbearable
Refuse to put up with such ________________ behavior
11. Irreverent – (i rev әr әnt)
(adj.)
disrespectful
Resent his ___________________comments
12. Laborious – (lә bȏr ē әs)
(adj.)
not easy, requiring hard work; hardworking
Find it to be a most ____________________ task
13. Lithe – (lī th)
(adj.)
bending easily, limber
As ________________ and agile as a ballet dancer
14. Maltreat – (mal trēt)
(v.)
to abuse, use roughly or cruelly
___________________ the puppy
15. Ponder – (pän dәr)
(v.)
to consider carefully, reflect on
___________________ over the recent events
16. Subversive – (sәb vәr siv)
(adj.)
(n.)
intended to undermine or overthrow
one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system
Confiscate the _________________ pamphlets
17. Synthetic – (sin thet ik)
(adj.)
(n.)
made or put together by people
something artificial
Rayon, one of the first ____________________ fabrics
18. Temperate – (tem pәr әt)
(adj.)
mild, moderate
A _____________________ disposition
19. Venomous – (ven ә mәs)
(adj.)
poisonous; spiteful, mean
Bitten by a ___________________ spider
20. Wily – (wī lē)
(adj.)
sly, shrewd, cunning
A ____________________ trader
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Unit 13: Vocabulary Words
1.
Ad infinitum – (ad in fә nī tәm)
(adv.)
endlessly
Repeat a story _____________________
2.
Apportion – (ә pȏr shәn)
(v.)
to divide and give out in shares
________________ the chores
3.
Bona fide – (bō nә fīd)
(adj.)
genuine; sincere
A ______________________ masterpiece
4.
Buoyant – (boi әnt)
(adj.)
able to float easily; able to hold things up; cheerful, hopeful
__________________ kayaks bobbing down the rapids
5.
Clique – (klik)
(n.)
a small, exclusive group of people
The ruling ____________________
6.
Concede – (kәn sēd)
(v.)
to admit as true; to yield, submit
Refuse to ___________________ that she was right
7.
Congenial – (kәn jēn yәl)
(adj.)
getting on well with others; agreeable, pleasant
______________________ companions
8.
Lofty – (lȏf tē)
(adj.)
very high; noble
__________________ ideas
9.
Migration – (mī grā shәn)
(n.)
a movement from one country or region to another
The great ___________________ to the west
10. Perceive – (pәr sēv)
(v.)
to be aware of through the senses, observe; to grasp mentally
____________________ a change in her attitude
11. Perverse – (pәr vәrs)
(adj.)
inclined to go against what is expected; stubborn; turned away
from what is good or proper
angered by his __________________ attitude
12. Prelude – (pre lüd)
(n.)
an introduction; that which comes before or leads off
Played the __________________ to the opera
13. Rancid – (ran sid)
(adj.)
stale, spoiled
The sour odor of _________________ butter
14. Rustic – (rәs tik)
(adj.)
(n.)
country-like; simple, plain; awkward
one who lives in the country
__________________ cabins in the woods
15. Sever – (sev әr)
(v.)
to separate, divide into parts
__________________ all ties with them
16. Sordid – (sȏr did)
(adj.)
wretchedly poor; run-down; mean or selfish
The ___________________ conditions in the slum
17. Untenable – (әn ten ә bәl)
(adj.)
not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain
Realized their arguments were ____________________
18. Versatile – (vәr sә tәl)
(adj.)
able to do many things well; capable of many uses
Proved to be a __________________ musician
19. Vindicate – (vin dә kāt)
(v.)
to clear from hint or charge of wrongdoing; to defend successfully
against opposition; to justify
__________________ his honor
20. Wane – (wān)
(v.)
to lose size, strength, or power
Watch the moon ___________________
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Review Units 1-3
Definitions: In each of the following groups, encircle the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the introductory
expression.
1. Careful to consider all possibilities
cumbersome
circumspect
spurious
2. Seize for military purposes
sully
pilfer
commandeer
3. Rescue property in danger
proliferate
salvage
abridge
4. One who lives by plunder or robbery
commandeer
debris
adherent
5. Loose in one’s morals or behavior
spasmodic
dissolute
comely
6. Rise superior to
usurp
surmount
fabricate
7. Owing allegiance to another government
eminent
debris
deadlock
8. Something to be consumed
breach
expulsion
fodder
9. Make indistinct by wearing away
fabricate
breach
efface
10. Choice between two undesirable course of action
salvage
brigand
obesity
11. Distract attention from the intended point of attack
condone
admonish
feint
12. Bring to a conclusion
terminate
relinquish
compensate
13. Holding stubbornly to one’s own judgment
cherubic
opinionated
trite
14. Without unnecessary words
unbridled
terse
lucrative
15. Wink at
muddle
abridge
condone
16. One who invades the territory of another
marauder
alien
fodder
17. Differ in opinion
tantalize
fortify
compensate
18. Noisy, heated quarrel
semblance
altercation
muddle
19. Characterized by anger
illegible
unflinching
irate
20. Bring to a standstill
proliferate
dissent
deadlock
perennial
diffuse
usurp
brigand
erratic
exorcise
alien
pauper
adjourn
dilemma
tantalize
jeer
predisposed
mediocre
subjugate
rift
dissent
expulsion
terse
subjugate
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement below the sentence.
1.
In some parts of the world, to decline a dish served at a banquet is considered an unpardonable breach of etiquette.
The word breach most nearly means:
a. opening
b. assault
c. violation
d. breakthrough
2.
As its name suggests, Frank Lloyd Wright’s cantilevered “Falling water” house stands eminent above a waterfall.
The word eminent is best defined as:
a. jutting out
b. distinguished
c. illustrious
d. outstanding
3.
In contrast with the economy of expression that so distinguished the author’s early works, the later novels are woefully diffuse.
The word diffuse is used to mean:
a. uneven
b. spread out
c. dispersed
d. rambling
4.
Some see in TV’s power to abridge the distances separating the world’s peoples the means of making the earth a “global village.”
The word abridge most nearly means:
a. curb
b. reduce
c. explore
d. erase
5.
The cumbersome wagon trains that plied the Oregon Trail often took weeks just to cross the prairies of Kansas and Nebraska.
The word cumbersome is best defined as:
a. crude
b. swift
c. unprotected
d. slow-moving
Antonyms: In each of the following groups, encircle the word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in
boldface type.
1.
Expulsion:
A.
compulsion
B.
farewell
C.
admission
D.
breathing out
2.
Obesity:
thinness
starvation
overeating
disease
3.
Fortify:
undermine
strengthen
narrate
listen
4.
Muddle:
filth
confusion
clarity
infirmity
5.
Diffuse:
scatter
accept
concentrate
originate
6.
Cherubic:
friendly
impish
angelic
beautiful
7.
Trite:
original
foolish
meaningless
stale
8.
Erratic:
angry
inconsistent
pleasing
constant
9.
Relinquish:
fade
follow
keep
try
10.
Unflinching:
novel
shaky
angry
proud
11.
Lucrative:
unsaid
unheard
understood
unprofitable
12.
Unbridled:
restrained
checkered
interrupted
prolonged
13.
Condone:
commend
cooperate
create
condemn
14.
Tantalize:
ridicule
gratify
lure
simmer
15.
Salvage:
abandon
tame
save
injure
Completing the Sentence From the words listed below choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences. Write
the word in the space provided.
Group A:
deadlock
efface
rift
adjourn
sully
debris
surmount
feint
salvage
relinquish
fortify
compensate
1. With heavy hearts we searched among the ___________________________ of our wrecked apartment building.
2. With faith in the rightness of his cause, he was able to ________________________ the difficulties that would have discouraged
most other men.
3. Harold’s agreement to let us try our plan finally broke the ___________________________ that had kept us inactive for several
weeks.
4. The disagreement eventually caused the ____________________________ that broke up our friendship.
5. All that I was able to _____________________________ from that humiliating experience was a small measure of self-respect.
Group B:
illegible
terse
trite
opinionated
pilfer
mediocre
usurp
proliferate
abridge
muddle
alien
eminent
1. The chaplain emphasized that hatred is _________________________ to the spirit of all religions.
2. She seems to think that her handwriting is terribly “interesting” and “distinguished,” but to me it is merely _________________.
3. In spite of long hours of practice at kicking field goals, his performance during the season was only ______________________.
4. The old adage that “Brevity is the soul of wit” seems to have had a profound influence on the humorist’s __________________,
almost epigrammatic style.
5. I found the television program very boring because of its extremely _________________________ plot and dialogue.
Word Families: On the line provided, write a noun form of each of the following words.
Example: adjourn – adjournment
1. Admonish
_____________________________
8. Compensate ______________________________
2. Terminate
_____________________________
9. Illegible
______________________________
3. Eminent
_____________________________
10. Mediocre
______________________________
4. Subjugate
_____________________________
11. Predispose
______________________________
5. Circumspect
_____________________________
12. Usurp
______________________________
6. Comely
_____________________________
13. Exorcise
______________________________
7. Proliferate
______________________________
14. Diffuse
______________________________
Word Families: On the line provided, write a verb form for each of the following words.
Example: termination – terminate
1. expulsion
______________________________
6. dissension
______________________________
2. adherent
______________________________
7. abridgment
______________________________
3. cumbersome
______________________________
8. fortification
______________________________
4. alien
______________________________
9. admonition
______________________________
5. compensation ______________________________
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best complete the meaning of each of the following passages.
1. The earthquake had more or less reduced our house to a pile of worthless rubble. Nevertheless, we picked carefully through
the __________________ trying to ____________________ items of value. Unfortunately, very little could be saved.
a. deadlock … relinquish
c. debris … salvage
b. muddle … efface
d. dilemma … condone
2. Minor squabbles may cause temporary _________________ in our friendship, but such ________________________,
however heated and noisy, have never resulted in a permanent breach.
a. feints … dilemmas
c. deadlocks … abridgments
b. rifts … altercations
d. dissents … semblances
3. Though he began life little better than a(n) ______________________, with only his hands in his pockets, his highly
_________________________ business deals turned him into a multimillionaire before the age of forty.
a. adherent … cumbersome
c. brigand … mediocre
b. usurper … spurious
d. pauper … lucrative
4. “If you always act cautiously, you should be able to ____________________ many of life’s obstacles,” Dad told me. “Still,
some difficulties cannot be overcome, even by the most _________________________ behavior.”
a. surmount … circumspect
c. commandeer … erratic
b. abridge … alien
d. relinquish … mediocre
5. Although the auditorium was packed with the candidate’s supporters, who greeted his remarks with thunderous cheers and
applause, there were a few ____________________ in the crowd who seemed inclined only to boo and ________________.
a. brigands … feint
c. paupers … condone
b. dissenters … jeer
d. adherents … admonish
6. Though I am prepared to wink at an occasional petty offense against my moral code, I absolutely refuse to _______________
behavior that is consistently wicked or _______________________.
a. condone … dissolute
c. abridge … unbridled
b. efface … erratic
d. exorcise … circumspect
7. He was thrown out of the club for constantly ___________________ small items from the supply room. According to club
rules, that type of petty theft constitutes valid grounds for ____________________.
a. tantalizing … termination
c. fabricating … admonishment
b. sullying … subjugation
d. pilfering … expulsion
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Review Units 4 - 6
Definitions: In each of the following groups, encircle the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the introductory
expression
1. give relief for a time
disentangle
reprieve
2. first and foremost
daunt
inanimate
3. unlawful taking away of another’s personal property
accomplice
hamper
4. excessively elevated or ornate
sardonic
pompous
5. hard to achieve
arduous
ghastly
6. controlled by destiny
doleful
fated
7. off to a good start
biased
pliant
8. intensely unpleasant
arduous
incorrigible
9. not much fun to be around
paramount
morose
10. correct by removing errors
facilitate
annihilate
11. slap on the wrist
access
reprimand
12. deceive by a false appearance
revile
hoodwink
13. lessen the labor of
facilitate
succumb
14. quickly and carelessly done
brazen
intrepid
15. expressing sorrow or grief
doleful
lucid
16. absence of a controlling authority
bondage
anarchy
17. yield to force
hamper
rebut
18. make amends
prattle
atone
19. severe or formal rebuke
bondage
reprimand
20. occurring published after death
incessant
posthumous
incinerate
revile
paramount
servitude
larceny
latent
diligent
impoverished
credible
tenacious
lucid
incessant
arbitrary
auspicious
ghastly
latent
stagnant
opaque
hew
rectify
exodus
catalyst
prattle
supplant
taunt
defray
slapdash
intricate
prim
militant
precipice
reprimand
disentangle
succumb
annihilate
abscond
reprieve
larceny
superfluous
ghastly
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement below the sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
After a period of servitude in a penal colony, he became an evangelical minister and died in the odor of sanctity.
The word servitude most nearly means:
a. service
b. forced labor
c. illness
d. slavery
Far from being the pliant figurehead that many politicians expected, Lincoln as president firmly proved himself his own man.
The word pliant is best defined as:
a. elastic
b. flexible
c. weak
d. easily influenced
Is he really so opaque, I wondered, or is he merely pretending ignorance, the better to dupe me?
The best definition for the word opaque is:
a. obtuse
b. transparent
c. murky
d. unclear
Environmentalists expressed concern that unchecked development would leave the region impoverished or wildlife.
The word impoverished most nearly means:
a. indigent
b. rich
c. depleted
d. unpopulated
The young playwright was overwhelmed by the sudden access of fame occasioned by the phenomenal success of her second
play.
The word access is best defined as:
a. passage
b. increase
c. approach
d. entry
Antonyms: In each of the following groups, encircle the word of phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word
in boldface type.
A.
B.
C.
D.
1. exodus
exit
entrance
movement
home
2. doleful
cheerful
facile
sad
angry
3. reprimand
compliment
answer
find fault with
punish
4. arbitrary
lazy
reasonable
correct
dull
5. disentangle
clarify
declare
enmesh
reject
6. morose
dark
happy
frozen
kind
7. intrepid
fat
timid
nasty
ignorant
8. diligent
worried
painstaking
careless
concerned
9. superfluous
inglorious
indispensable
insufficient
incapable
10. succumb
release
conquer
sicken
resign
11. revile
hide
praise
find
harden
12. pompous
unreal
unpretentious
unsophisticated
unbalanced
13. prim
sloppy
empty
tidy
lonely
14. rectify
salute
explain
correct
bungle
15. servitude
bondage
liberty
poverty
cowardice
16. annihilate
destroy
repeat
foster
argue
Complete the Sentence: From the following list of words choose the one that best completes each of the
sentences below. Write the word in the space provided.
Group A:
abscond
catalyst
doleful
revile
precipice
accomplice
ghastly
access
intricate
latent
hoodwink
atone
1. By pretending to be my friend, she gained _____________________________ to my innermost thoughts.
2. Unless he is willing to tell us who his ____________________________ were, he will have to bear the
full weight of the punishment himself.
3. “Without the help of a good road map,” Sue confessed, “we could have followed the
________________________ route to the picnic area.”
4. Some people are deceived fairly easily, but you will find it is pretty difficult to
________________________ me.
5. That _________________________ sight will come back to me in nightmares for the rest of my life.
Group B:
brazen
anarchy
paramount
arbitrary
reprimand
bondage
reprieve
auspicious
stagnant
incinerate
intrepid
pliant
1. For long ages, mankind has been in a state of _________________________ to irrational superstitions.
2. I resented her eagerness to ___________________________ me severely, even for minor offenses.
3. The flames of the furnace soon __________________________ all the old letters that had once been so
dear to me.
4. Unless a person finds the world around him interesting and diverse, his life will become
________________________ and dull.
5. The news that I would not have to take the examination again came as a last-minute
________________________________.
Word Families: On the line provided, write a noun form of each of the following words.
Example: atone – atonement
1. intrepid
________________________
10. annihilate
_____________________
2.
incinerate
________________________
11. incorrigible
_____________________
3.
superfluous
________________________
12. latent
_____________________
4.
diligent
________________________
13. opaque
_____________________
5.
tenacious
________________________
14. intricate
_____________________
6.
biased
________________________
15. stagnant
_____________________
7.
pompous
________________________
16. militant
_____________________
8.
credible
________________________
17. lucid
_____________________
9.
rectify
________________________
Word Families: On the line provided, write the verb for of each of the following words.
Example: facility – facilitate
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
rebuttal
biased
bondage
impoverished
stagnant
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best complete the meaning of each of the following
passages.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Though learning a foreign language never comes easily for me, I’ve found that I can ___________ the process if I imitate the
ant in the old fable and apply myself to the task as ____________ as possible.
a. defray … credibly
c. hamper … tenaciously
b. rectify … brazenly
d. facilitate … diligently
“I’m trying to help you, not __________ you,” I said. “I want to make your task easier, not more _________________.”
a. reprieve … slapdash
c. revile … pliant
b. hamper … arduous
d. supplant … latent
They could not long sit idly by while a gross injustice went uncorrected. For that reason, they joined a group of
______________ reformers actively trying to get the government to _______________ the situation.
a. militant … rectify
c. biased … taunt
b. incorrigible … disentangle
d. morose … defray
His lies sounded so much like the truth that I was completely taken in by them. If they hadn’t seemed so _______________,
I don’t think I would have been _________________ quite so easily.
a. intrepid … impoverished
c. credible … hoodwinked
b. intricate … disentangled
d. ghastly … annihilated
A(n) _________________is supposed to _________________ the commission of a crime,” the burglar growled at his
sidekick. (The latter had just set off the alarm system to the bank the pair were robbing.) “But all you can seem to do,” the
burglar continued, “is make this job more difficult!”
a. catalyst … revile
c. rebuttal … incinerate
b. accomplice … facilitate
d. precipice … reprimand
Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens is a bitter misanthrope who spends much of his time on stage _______________ the world
and those in it with _______________ taunts and caustic jests.
a. reviling … sardonic
c. rebutting … prim
b. reprimanding … posthumous
d. daunting … lucid
Tourists always gasp in amazement when ________________ Mexican daredevils climb to the top of a lofty
________________ in Acapulco and dive fearlessly into the sea hundreds of feet below.
a. brazen … access
c. prim … catalyst
b. intrepid … precipice
d. pliant … exodus
Name: ____________________________
Date: _________________ Period: _____
Cumulative Review Units 1 -6
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement below the
sentence.
1.
The author’s prim style is poorly matched to the story of overwrought passions it recounts.
The best definition for the word prim is:
a. precise
2.
b. relative
c. façade
d. apparition
b. untimely
c. unexpected
d. expensive
Fearing that readers would not grasp what he was up to with his “whale” story, some friends admonished Melville against
publishing Moby Dick.
The word admonished most nearly means:
a. scolded
5.
d. fussy
Rather than trust in an increasingly erratic public transportation system, some commuters have turned to private bus service.
The word erratic is best defined as:
a. undependable
4.
c. crisp
In the first act of Hamlet the Prince is visited by the semblance of his murdered father.
The word semblance most nearly means:
a. memory
3.
b. exacting
b. reminded
c. cautioned
d. prevented
“Why be content just to muddle through the course,” my math teacher asked, “when you might excel if you only put your
mind to it?”
The phrase muddle through is used to mean:
a. mess up
b. get by
c. drop
d. fail dismally
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best complete the meaning of each of the following sentences.
1.
In a society that is totally free of prejudice and bigotry, the demons of racial and religious ______________ have forever been
totally ________________ from the minds and the hearts of the people.
2.
a. anarchy… reprieved
c. debris … salvaged
b. bias … exorcised
d. larceny … annihilated
I regarded the rival who had _________________ me in my true love’s affections with as much displeasure and dismay as a
legitimate heir would look upon the upstart ___________________ who had stolen his throne.
3.
a. fortified … brigand
c. supplanted … usurper
b. terminated … cherub
d. condoned … marauder
Though some of our most ________________ writers and artists became famous while they were alive, to others such renown
was accorded only ___________________.
4.
a. eminent … posthumously
c. intrepid … superfluously
b. lucrative … incorrigibly
d. opaque … illegibly
When the negotiations for a new contract become ________________ the representatives of labor and management in some
cases attempt to __________________ a settlement by calling on the services of an impartial outside mediator.
5.
a. disentangled … hamper
c. rectified … commandeer
b. defrayed … fabricate
d. deadlocked … facilitate
Though we had no difficulty __________________ small valuables from the old wreck, our efforts to raise the hull itself were
_________________ by swift currents and heavy seas.
a. accessing … compensated
c. salvaging … hampered
b. breaching … tantalized
d. foddering … predisposed
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Review Units 7 - 9
Definitions: In each of the following groups, encircle the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the introductory
expression
1. bend out of shape
inundate
warp
assimilate
2. freedom from doubt
asylum
metropolis
vagrant
3. farewell
interim
immunity
prognosis
4. person who represents one government in dealings with another
dross
envoy
liability
5. contrary to common sense
pensive
sparse
sterling
6. the very summit
auxiliary
console
cubicle
7. area of control
monologue
cubicle
flair
8. causing severe pain or suffering
candid
heterogeneous
momentous
9. provide payment
dwindle
remunerate
assimilate
10. involving danger
flippant
sterling
perilous
11. urge forward
impel
rejuvenate
warp
12. enter on a list
escalate
scuttle
impel
13. long, violently critical speech
advent
tirade
dross
14. having no fixed course
rasping
vagrant
bogus
15. undertaking involving risk or danger
institute
auxiliary
venture
16. place of protection
scuttle
institute
asylum
17. suitable for achieving a desired end
flippant
expedient
exorbitant
18. hastily or poorly done
rabid
obstreperous
surly
19. utter false reports about
feign
dilate
malign
20. extremely unpleasant
candid
sprightly
repugnant
meander
assurance
adieu
console
preposterous
apex
realm
grievous
institute
incredulous
venture
inscribe
horde
pugnacious
envoy
drudgery
pensive
shoddy
meander
expedient
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the
statement below the sentence.
1. Scouts came upon a Pawnee hunting party encamped near a meander of the Platte River.
The word meander most nearly means:
a. ramble
b. turn
c. rapids
d. wandering
2. As a longtime friend of one of the participants, I don’t think I can be an entirely candid judge of the
debate.
The word candid is used to mean:
a. forthright
b. sincere
c. unopposed
d. impartial
3. Though the few defenders remaining fought bravely and well, they were inundated by wave upon wave
of shock troops.
The word inundated is best defines as:
a. overwhelmed
b. saturated
c. relieved
d. harried
4. “I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.” (T.S. Eliot)
The word scuttling most nearly means:
a. slinking
b. scraping
c. scurrying
d. salvaging
5. The rich flavor of the fish was heightened by the sprightly sauce with which it was served.
The word sprightly is best defined as:
a. spicy
b. secret
c. animated
d. frisky
Antonyms: In each of the following groups, encircle the word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in
meaning to the word in boldface type.
1. flippant
A.
respectful
B.
long
C.
puzzling
D.
clever
2. bogus
mandatory
homemade
machine-made
genuine
3. drudgery
dull work
hard work
fun
artistry
4. repugnant
peaceful
brief
attractive
expensive
5. pensive
thoughtful
sad
carefree
pleased
6. sparse
lasting
first
plentiful
important
7. rabid
slow
tepid
extreme
foolish
8. rasping
loud
hysterical
mellow
hushed
9. momentous
long-lasting
brief
inconsequential
tremendous
10. surly
clean
clear
clever
polite
11. malign
hide
pretend
praise
repulse
12. dwindle
ape
mushroom
pine
hog
13. incredulous
skeptical
gullible
faithful
disloyal
14. liability
truth
advantage
impossibility
drawback
15. scuttle
sink
rescue
torpedo
drift
16. advent
preparation
arrival
interim
departure
Complete the Sentence: From the following list of words choose the one that best completes each of the
sentences below. Write the word in the space provided.
Group A
advent
candid
momentous
immunity
metropolis
dilate
vagrant
adieu
warp
apex
interim
realm
1. His eyes _______________________ with surprise when we walked into the room so unexpectedly.
2. The ______________________ of the flu season is often marked by a sharp increase in the number of
students absent from school.
3. Education and experience should provide _______________________ against the poison of racial
prejudice.
4. When the President spoke of Mrs. Thomas’s achievements in a nationwide television address, she felt she
had reached the _______________________ of her career.
5. In the ______________________ between the end of the fall term and the beginning of the spring term,
we plan to take a trip to Washington.
Group B
institute
dwindle
assimilate
rejuvenate
sparse
heterogeneous
flippant
escalate
repugnant
pensive
meander
inundate
1. As the hair on his head became more and more ___________________, he began to use all kinds of
tonics and lotions.
2. The local planning commission has ___________________ strict regulations governing development in
the city’s historic district.
3. The union contract has a clause that pay rates are to ______________________ automatically whenever
the cost of living rises.
4. Although she seems to learn very rapidly, the fact is that she does not really _______________________
the material.
5. I think the phrase “people coming from all walks of life” aptly describes the _____________________
group of individuals attending the conference.
Word Families: On the line provided, write a noun form of each of the following words.
Example: dilate – dilation
1.
sprightly
__________________________
9. inundate
_____________________________
2.
surly
__________________________
10. console
_____________________________
3.
escalate
__________________________
11. flippant
_____________________________
4.
expedient
__________________________
12. institute
_____________________________
5.
assimilate
__________________________
13. rejuvenate
_____________________________
6.
candid
__________________________
14. repugnant
_____________________________
7.
remunerate __________________________
15. inscribe
_____________________________
8.
exorbitant
__________________________
Word Families: On the line provided, write a verb form of each of the following words.
Example: expedient – expedite
1.
immunity
__________________________
4. grievous
____________________________
2.
prognosis
__________________________
5. perilous
____________________________
3.
assurance
__________________________
6. rasping
____________________________
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best completes the meaning of each of the following passages.
1.
Some people really enjoy doing all the tiresome and time-consuming chores associated with housework, but to me such
_______________ is truly _____________.
a. drudgery … repugnant
c. liability … boorish
b. immunity … obstreperous
2.
“They’re asking far too much for this ______________ merchandise,” I remarked. “I’d be a fool to pay such an
________________ price for goods that so badly made.”
a. bogus … rasping
c. shoddy … exorbitant
b. sterling … expedient
3.
d. assimilated … inundated
After fighting my way all year along the noisy, crowded streets of a bustling modern __________ like Tokyo or New York, I
find it quite a pleasure to ___________ aimlessly along a winding country road.
a. realm … dilate
c. asylum … impel
b. metropolis … meander
7.
d. flair … consoled
Does the old saying, “Nothing ________, nothing gained,” mean that someone who expects to be ____________ well for his
or her efforts must be prepared to take some risks?
a. scuttled … maligned
c. ventured … remunerated
b. feigned … impelled
6.
d. dwindled … escalate
As soon as the robins and the crocuses herald the ________of spring, our personnel department is __________ with a veritable
deluge of letters from college students asking about summer employment.
a. interim … impelled
c. prognosis … rejuvenated
b. advent … inundated
5.
d. grievous … auxiliary
“Over the years, consumer prices have soared, while the real purchasing power of the dollar has ___________,” the speaker
said. “If the cost of living continues to ______________, the value of our money must surely shrink even more.
a. dwindled … dwindle
c. escalated … escalate
b. escalated … dwindle
4.
d. assurance … pensive
d. cubicle … venture
Roman governors had at their command both regular legionary troops and ________________ units drawn from the native
population to repel the ___________ of savage barbarians that from time to time swarmed into the provinces of the Empire
like an invasion of locusts.
a. pugnacious … tirades
c. vagrant … realms
b. heterogeneous … envoys
d. auxiliary … hordes
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement
below the sentence.
1. Consumer advocates demanded that the manufacturer either retract or substantiate the exorbitant claims
advanced for the product.
The word exorbitant most nearly means:
a. overpriced
b. unproven
c. excessive
d. modest
2. Scholars and students alike now use computers to access vast stores of information housed in libraries all
over the world.
The best definition for the word access is:
a. approach
b. gain entry to
c. admit
d. communicate
3. After a decade of neglect the once splendid hotel had taken on a decidedly shoddy appearance.
The word shoddy is best defined as:
a. flimsy
b. tacky
c. mediocre
d. run-down
4. In her talk the psychiatrist described the brain as the “console of human perception.”
The word console most nearly means:
a. monitor
b. comfort
c. origin
d. solace
5. It was not his behavior so much as the rabid nature of his talk that gave his away as a madman.
The word rabid is used to mean:
a. furious
b. diseased
c. insane
d. odd
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best completes the meaning of each of the following
sentences.
1. In a famous _______ towards the end of the play, the deposed and incarcerated king laments the fact that
the vast _______ over which he once ruled has shrunk to the dimensions of a narrow prison cell.
a. tirade … precipice
c. monologue … realm
b. interim … rift
d. catalyst … debris
2. After the beauty pageant was over, _____ of reporters swarmed into the backstage area hoping to get a
few words with the _____ winner of the contest.
a. dilemmas … surly
c. muddles … prim
b. hordes … comely
d. deadlocks … sprightly
3. As order gave way to _____ in that strife-torn country, the stream of refugees seeking _____ from the
turbulence of the times swelled to a mighty torrent.
a. liability … immunity
c. deadlock … assurance
b. bondage … access
d. anarchy … asylum
4. Though he has no real _____ for teaching, he’s a very hard worker whose _____ and persistence make up
handsomely for what he lacks in talent.
a. repugnance … tenacity
c. bias … obesity
b. flair … diligence
d. predisposition … mediocrity
5. Instead of giving me the gist of his complaint in a few _____ and pithy sentences, he launched into a long
and bitterly abusive _____ against all the people he claimed were “out to get him.”
a. lucid … venture
c. terse … tirade
b. erratic … feint
d. opaque … altercation
Name: _______________________
Date: _____________ Period: ____
Review Units 10 - 12
Definitions: In each of the following groups, encircle the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as the introductory
expression.
1. free from the power of another
demure
emancipate
2. projecting out or in the way
obtrusive
adept
3. voice disapproval of
squander
ponder
4. showing disrespect for something sacred
brevity
reek
5. think deeply
preamble
ponder
6. flexible and graceful
lithe
erroneous
7. having sensible ideas
despicable
demure
8. disposed to doubt
appreciable
skeptical
9. contempt for something held sacred by others
rivulet
recoil
10. abuse cruelly
maltreat
forestall
11. small stream
proponent
rivulet
12. introduction to a formal statement
mire
preamble
13. of considerable size or quantity
slipshod
skeptical
14. take advantage of
exploit
squander
15. performed or carried out together
brawny
concise
16. harm of damage the value or effectiveness of
recoup
impair
17. extremely small
diminutive
laborious
18. spiteful or poisonous
extemporaneous
temperate
19. dictatorial despotic
humane
slipshod
20. degenerate in quality, character, or value
deteriorate
aspire
render
divulge
staccato
quavering
blanch
chide
blasphemy
statute
maltreat
contend
invincible
wily
enlightened
illustrious
relentless
bleak
blasphemy
proponent
squander
garble
depreciation
subversive
brevity
statue
appreciable
rugged
ponder
aspire
concerted
irreverent
contend
comport
synthetic
intolerable
languid
venomous
autocratic
rugged
contend
reek
Shades of Meaning: Read each sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement below the sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In the arts, as in any field of endeavor, the laurels usually go to those who are as laborious as they are naturally gifted.
The word laborious is used to mean:
a. difficult
b. wearisome
c. industrious
d. arduous
The naturalist produced an old wooden birdcall and with it expertly imitated the quaver of a meadowlark.
The best definition for the word quaver is:
a. tremble
b. trill
c. shiver
d. cackle
Some scientists contend it is possible – even probable – that intelligent life not unlike our own exists elsewhere in the
universe.
The word contend most nearly means:
a. deny
b. struggle
c. vie
d. maintain
Before its mass production in the 1800’s, soap was commonly made at home by a process that involved rendering animal fat.
The word rendering is best defined as:
a. delivering
b. adding
c. submitting
d. extracting
When Boss Tweed ruled New York City in the 1860’s, government floundered in a mire of corruption and graft.
The word mire most nearly means:
a. tangle
b. mud slide
c. assortment
d. swamp
Antonyms: In each of the following groups, encircle the word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in
boldface type.
1. quavering
low-pitched
shaking
steady
high-pitched
2. synthetic
scientific
natural
sincere
artificial
3. recoup
gain
avenge
lose
reveal
4. irreverent
droll
respectful
lowly
honored
5. invincible
brave
vulnerable
peaceful
victorious
6. laborious
easy
difficult
long
brief
7. demure
cultured
strange
trite
bold
8. forestall
win
lose
prevent
bring about
9. garble
clog
medicate
clarify
injure
10. proponent
supporter
legislator
component
opponent
11. bleak
inviting
pale
abrupt
huge
12. relentless
empty
poor
merciful
noisy
13. brawny
nasty
husky
puny
tricky
14. erroneous
correct
pleasant
slippery
mistaken
15. impair
combine
disable
relate
improve
16. despicable
praiseworthy
cowardly
detestable
imaginary
Complete the Sentence: From the following list of words choose the one that best completes each of the
sentences below. Write the word in the space provided.
Group A
illustrious
despicable
comport
demure
adept
render
slipshod
autocratic
quaver
appreciable
brawny
divulge
1. Because of his _________________________ way of keeping records, he was never sure of which bills
he had already paid.
2. How was I to know that he is the ________________________ scientist who the Nobel Prize last year?
3. He refused to __________________________ how he had been able to enter our room without a key.
4. The boy’s rowdy behavior did not __________________________ well with the solemnity of the
occasion.
5. In Dickens’s Oliver Twist we meet a band of young pickpockets and thieves, who, though tender in years,
are already ________________________ in the art of larceny.
Group B
venomous
chide
recoil
skeptical
relentless
mire
rugged
despicable
garble
proponent
lithe
invincible
1. If looks could kill, the __________________________ glance she sent in my direction would have
proved fatal.
2. In the pandemonium of the battle, sailors manning the cramped gun decks of men-of-war were often
injured by the __________________________ of their own cannon.
3. The physical fitness expert was a strong __________________________ of regular daily exercise.
4. Since I have been disappointed so often, I tend to be ______________________ about any plan that
Victor proposes.
5. After visiting the concentration camp in 1945, she became a dedicated and _______________________
pursuer of Nazi war criminals.
Word Families: On the line provided, write a noun form of each of the following words.
Example: venomous – venom
1. languid
__________________________
11. skeptical
_______________________
2. bleak
__________________________
12. irreverent
_______________________
3. diminutive
__________________________
13. concise
_______________________
4. emancipate
__________________________
14. brawny
_______________________
5. contend
__________________________
15. aspire
_______________________
6. wily
__________________________
16. autocratic
_______________________
7. erroneous
__________________________
17. maltreat
_______________________
8. impair
__________________________
18. deteriorate _______________________
9. invincible
__________________________
19. humane
_______________________
__________________________
20. obtrusive
_______________________
10. rugged
Word Families: On the line provided, write a verb related to each of the following words:
Example: synthetic – synthesize
1. concerted
__________________________
14. intolerable __________________________
2. despicable
__________________________
15. irreverent __________________________
3. subversive
__________________________
4. proponent
__________________________
5. laborious
__________________________
6. temperate
__________________________
7. enlightened
__________________________
8. depreciation
__________________________
9. blasphemy
__________________________
10. appreciable
__________________________
11. obtrusive
__________________________
12. extemporaneous
__________________________
13. relentless
__________________________
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best complete the meaning of each of the following
passages.
1. I did everything I could to ___________ his cunning attempts to undermine my authority in the
company; unfortunately, he proved too ______________ and persistent for me to anticipate all the time.
a. chide … impair
c. divulge … slipshod
b. forestall … wily
d. subvert … demure
2. Though a(n) ______________ master might deal kindly and generously with the slaves, a cruel one
would ___________ and abuse them.
a. autocratic … impair
c. humane … maltreat
b. enlightened … emancipate
d. relentless … exploit
3. Her talents are just average, but she has _____________ them to the fullest. On the other hand, he was
given great natural abilities, but he has ____________ them on trifles.
a. exploited … squandered
c. divulged … recouped
b. pondered … impaired
d. contended … forestalled
4. The ______________ statistics cited in the magazine article certainly ______________ it effectiveness.
If the author has made sure that his figures were correct, his argument might have been more convincing.
a. bleak … quavered
c. slipshod … rendered
b. laborious … enlightened
d. erroneous … impaired
5. A ballerina’s ______________ and graceful figure contrasts sharply with a weight lifter’s massively
_______________ physique.
a. demure … languid
c. diminutive … concise
b. lithe … brawny
d. slipshod … rugged
Name: __________________________
Date: _________________ Period: ____
Cumulative Review Units 1 – 12
Shades of Meaning: Read the sentence carefully. Then encircle the item that best completes the statement below the sentence.
1.
Students have for generations memorized and recited the pensive lines of Walt Whitman’s great elegy “O Captain! My
Captain!”
The word pensive most nearly means:
a. formal
2.
b. thoughtful
c. melancholy
d. reflective
“Love is a spirit all compact of fire. Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.” (Shakespeare)
The word aspire is used to mean:
a. soar
3.
b. yearn
c. seek
d. desire
Rugged weather had kept the fishing boats at their harbor moorings for the better part of a week.
The best definition for the word rugged is :
a. irregular
4.
b. rocky
c. blunt
d. stormy
Fresh spinach must be blanched before it is sautéed for such dishes as eggs Florentine.
The word blanched is best defined as:
a. whitened
5.
b. discolored
c. seasoned
d. boiled briefly
That fortune hunters catch scent of her so quickly may be due to the fact that the heiress fairly reeks of money.
The word reeks most nearly means:
a. spends huge amounts
b. smells unpleasantly
c. gives the impression
d. saves a great deal
Filling the Blanks: Encircle the pair of words that best completes the meaning of each of the following sentences.
1.
At the end of the grim novel, the spendthrift hero, who has recklessly _______ his entire fortune on riotous living, is buried in
a _________ grave.
2.
a. rejuvenated … vagrant’s
c. relinquished … accomplice’s
b. impoverished … envoy’s
d. squandered … pauper’s
Although the disastrous crash of 1929 did ___________ many of those who had sunk money into the stock market, a few wily
investors did eventually manage to ____________ some or all of their losses.
3.
a. impair … render
c. reprieve … salvage
b. impoverish … recoup
d. forestall … surmount
In verses that have resounded through the centuries, Homer recounts the daring _____________ of the _____________ heroes
who fought so fearlessly beneath the walls of Troy.
4.
a. exploits … intrepid
c. statues … subversive
b. tirades … dissolute
d. hordes … militant
Reporters who are willing to tell a jury what they have learned but refuse to _____________ their sources are ____________
to be brought up on charges of contempt of court.
5.
a. sully … immune
c. console … fated
b. maltreat … concerted
d. divulged … liable
Though I’m perfectly willing to put up with the occasional hour or two of _______________ that my job involves, the
prospect of spending my entire day on menial or unpleasant tasks is _____ __________.
a. larceny … daunting
c. drudgery … intolerable
b. fodder … repugnant
d. mire … despicable