Peterson’s
MASTER
TOEFL
VOCABULARY
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Portions of this book were previously published in Reading and Vocabulary Workbook for the TOEFL Exam
and Ultimate Word Success.
© 2006 by Elizabeth Davy and Karen Davy
TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS). This book is not endorsed or
approved by ETS.
Editor: Wallie Walker Hammond; Manufacturing Manager: Ray Golaszewski
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ISBN-13: 978-0-7689-2328-5
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OTHER TITLES IN SERIES:
Peterson’s Master TOEFL Reading
Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills
Contents
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Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
How This Book Is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Special Study Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
You’re Well on Your Way to Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Give Us Your Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Top 10 Strategies to Raise Your Score . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
PART I: TOEFL VOCABULARY BASICS
1
All About TOEFL Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vocabulary on the TOEFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Strategies for Learning and Remembering New Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PART II: DIAGNOSING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
2
Practice Test 1: Diagnostic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Answer Key and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
PART III: TOEFL VOCABULARY REVIEW
3
Words in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Strategies for Defining Words from Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4
Everyday and Specific Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Strategies for Learning Related Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
How Thoughts Are Related . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
5
All About Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Word Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Strategies for Learning Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
How Roots Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
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vi
Contents
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Learning Words with Greek Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
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Learning Words with Latin Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
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Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
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Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
6
All About Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
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Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
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Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
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Strategies for Learning Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
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How Prefixes Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
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Learning Words with Greek Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
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Learning Words with Latin Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
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Prefixes for Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
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Anglo-Saxon Prefixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
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Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
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Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
7
All About Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Strategies for Learning Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
How Suffixes Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Suffixes That Describe State of Being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Suffixes That Indicate Occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Suffixes That Show Resemblance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Suffixes That Show Amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Twelve Useful Suffixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
PART IV: TWO PRACTICE TESTS
Practice Test 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Answer Key and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Practice Test 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Answer Key and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
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Summing It Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
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www.petersons.com
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Before You Begin
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HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED
If you are preparing for any version of the TOEFL, you are not alone. Almost a
million people all over the world took the TOEFL last year. A high score on this
test is an essential step in being admitted to undergraduate or graduate
programs at almost all colleges and universities in North America. But preparing for this test can be a difficult, often frustrating, experience.
Peterson’s Master TOEFL Vocabulary, used as a self-tutor, will help you improve
your vocabulary skills. You’ll learn many of the “right” words—words you don’t
already know but that are likely to appear on your test.
•
•
Top 10 Strategies to Raise Your Score gives you test-taking strategies.
Part I provides TOEFL vocabulary basics, including strategies for learning
and remembering new words.
•
Part II provides a diagnostic test to determine your strengths and weaknesses.
•
Part III provides the basic vocabulary review. The words you’ll encounter
start with those that are relatively simple. They become relatively difficult
as you continue through the book. Various learning strategies, such as
learning root words, are reviewed.
•
Part IV consists of two additional practice vocabulary tests. They will show
you how well you have mastered the vocabulary skills presented in this book.
SPECIAL STUDY FEATURES
Peterson’s Master TOEFL Vocabulary is designed to be user-friendly. To this
end, it includes features to make your preparation much more efficient.
Overview
The review chapters begin with a bulleted overview, listing the topics to be
covered in the chapter. This will allow you to quickly target the areas in which
you are most interested.
vii
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viii
Before You Begin
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Bonus Information
As you work your way through the book, keep your eyes on the margins to find the following:
NOTE
Notes highlight critical information about improving your vocabulary.
TIP
Tips draw your attention to valuable concepts, advice, and shortcuts for tackling the
harder vocabulary words.
Summing It Up
The review chapter ends with a point-by-point summary that captures the most
important concepts. They are a convenient way to review the chapter’s key points.
Practice Tests
The three practice tests, including the diagnostic test, are designed to help you prepare
with little anxiety.
YOU’RE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
The TOEFL tests your vocabulary with “vocabulary-in-context” questions in which you
must determine the meaning of words as used in a specific sentence, as well as indirectly
through the use of reading comprehension passages and questions. The more words you
know, the better your chances of narrowing down the choices to the correct one.
Peterson’s Master TOEFL Vocabulary will help you to fine tune your vocabulary skills.
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
Peterson’s publishes a full line of resources to help guide international students through
the college admission process.
We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about this publication and
invite you to complete our online survey at www.petersons.com/booksurvey. Or you can
fill out the survey at the back of this book, tear it out, and mail it to us at:
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Your feedback will help us to provide personalized solutions for your educational
advancement.
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Publishing Department
Peterson’s
2000 Lenox Drive
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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www.petersons.com
Before You Begin
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TOP 10 STRATEGIES TO RAISE YOUR SCORE
1.
As with other sections of the TOEFL, be familiar with the directions and examples
so you can begin work immediately.
2.
For each passage, begin by briefly looking over the questions (but not the answer
choices). Try to keep these questions in mind during your reading.
3.
Scan passages to find and highlight the important facts and information.
4.
Read each passage at a comfortable speed.
5.
Answer the questions, referring to the passage when necessary.
6.
Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong or do not answer the question. If more
than one option remains, guess.
7.
Mark difficult or time-consuming answers so that you can come back to them later
if you have time.
8.
Timing is an important factor. Don't spend more than 10 minutes on any one reading
and the questions about it.
9.
Concentration is another important factor. The reading section is one of the longer
sections of the test. Your practice and hard work will help you.
10. Relax the night before the exam.
www.petersons.com
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PART I
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TOEFL VOCABULARY
BASICS
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CHAPTER 1
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All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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All About TOEFL
Vocabulary
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• Vocabulary on the TOEFL
• Strategies for learning and remembering new words
• Summing it up
VOCABULARY ON THE TOEFL
TOEFL vobabulary questions ask you to identify the meanings of words and phrases
that appear in the reading passages. The words and phrases that are tested are
important to understanding the entire passage, and, for the most part, you will have
to figure out their meanings. On the TOEFL iBT, however, if there are technical or
unusual words in the passage, you will see the definition presented in a box.
STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING AND REMEMBERING NEW
WORDS
Read
Reading is probably the single best way to improve your vocabulary. When you’re
preparing for the TOEFL, read materials that contain the words that you are
most likely to encounter.
Use a Dictionary and Thesaurus
If you’re serious about improving your testworthy vocabulary, you must have
(and use!) a good dictionary. (A good thesaurus also helps a lot, but more on that
later.) A dictionary is an alphabetical reference list of the words in the language.
3
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chapter 1
OVERVIEW
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4
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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A dictionary entry always includes the following components:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spelling
Pronunciation
Part(s) of speech
Irregular forms of the word
Definition
Etymology (the derivation and development of words)
An entry may also contain synonyms and antonyms of the word; prefixes, suffixes, and
other elements in word formation; and abbreviations.
Most people think that all dictionaries are the same. After all, all dictionaries are chock
full of words listed in alphabetical order. They all have pronunciation guides, word
definitions, and word histories. However, all dictionaries are not the same. Different
types of dictionaries fit different needs.
For example, dictionaries have been written just for scholars who research the history
of language. The most famous scholarly dictionary is The Oxford English Dictionary. An
unabridged dictionary, the OED (as it’s often called) contains more than 500,000
entries. Don’t rush right out to buy one to stash in your bookcase, however, because the
OED now contains about 60 million words in 20 volumes. If shelf space is an issue and
you simply can’t live without an OED, however, online and CD-ROM versions are
available from www.oed.com.
Dictionaries have been created just for adults, college students, high school students,
and elementary school students, too. The following list includes the bestselling general
dictionaries and the Web addresses for the online versions, when available:
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The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Houghton Mifflin Co.:
www.bartleby.com/61)
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Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Inc.: www.m-w.com/
dictionary.htm)
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Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary (Merriam-Webster, Inc.)
The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press, Inc.)
The Random House College Dictionary (Random House, Inc.)
Webster’s New World College Dictionary (Hungry Minds, Inc.)
Which dictionary should you purchase and use? Since more than 30,000 dictionaries are
currently offered for sale online, you’ve got some shopping to do. Here’s what you need:
•
A dictionary that contains all the words that you are likely to encounter on
standardized tests. This will most likely be the same dictionary that you can use
in college, in your personal life, and in your professional life.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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5
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The words explained in terms that you can understand.
•
An online dictionary can’t fulfill all your needs, unless you like to tote around your
laptop and fire it up all the time. Always have a print dictionary to use, even if you
have an online version.
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When you’re trying to find a word in the dictionary, always begin by making an educated
guess as to its spelling. The odds are in your favor. However, the more spelling patterns
you know for a sound, the better your chances of finding the word quickly. You can find
a pronunciation chart in the beginning of any dictionary. Once you’ve narrowed down
your search and you’re flipping through the pages, use the guide words, located on the
upper-corners of the pages, to guide your search. Then, follow strict alphabetical order.
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A size that fits your needs. You might wish to buy a hardbound dictionary to use
at home when you study and a smaller paperback to keep in your backpack or
briefcase for immediate reference.
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•
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definitions
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plural
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part of speech
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etymology
(word history)
can-dy (kan’de), n. pl. -dies, v., -died, -dying. —n. 1. any
of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc.
combined with other ingredients. 2. a single piece of such a
confection. —vt: 3. to cook in sugar or syrup, as sweet
potatoes or carrots. 4. to cook in heavy syrup until transparent, as fruit, fruit peel, or ginger. 5. to reduce (sugar, syrup,
etc.) to a crystalline form, usually by boiling down. vi: to
become candied. see vt. [ME sugre candy candied sugar
< MF sucre candi; candi << Ar qandi or sugar = qand sugar
(< Pers; perh. orig. piece of sugar candy; if so, akin to Skt
khanda piece)]
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spelling,
pronunciation
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The following diagram shows how to read a sample entry.
The part of speech is indicated by the n. It’s an abbreviation for “noun.” Look at the
third entry. The vt: right before the 3. shows that the word can be used as a
transitive verb (a verb that must be followed by a direct object). The vi: at the end
of the fifth entry shows that the word can also be used as an intransitive verb (a verb
that does not need a direct object to make sense in a sentence).
•
The pl. at the beginning of the entry shows how you can make the word plural (more
than one). Here, the singular “candy” becomes the plural “candies.”
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Notice the pronunciation comes right after the entry word. It’s in parentheses—
(kan’de).
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www.petersons.com
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Let’s look a little closer at the entry:
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6
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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•
The definitions follow the plural forms of the word. The word “candy” has several
different meanings. They are arranged by the part of speech: the first definitions
show what “candy” means when used as a noun; the second group shows what
“candy” means when used as a verb.
•
The information at the very end of the entry is the etymology or history of the word.
This shows how the word was formed and came into English.
A thesaurus is a reference book that contains synonyms and antonyms. The word
thesaurus comes from a Greek word that means “collection” or “treasure.” A thesaurus
is especially helpful when you’re trying to express an idea but you don’t know how to
phrase it. It is also a helpful reference book when you are trying to find a better word
than the one you’ve been using. This helps you state exact shades of meaning rather
than approximations. As a result, your vocabulary increases by heaps and heaps of
words. This is clearly a big advantage when it comes to preparing for a standardized
test.
In a thesaurus, words with similar meanings are grouped together. To find a synonym
for a word in a traditional print thesaurus, you must use the index at the back of the
book. However, new editions and online versions of a thesaurus are arranged like a
dictionary in alphabetical order.
If you look up the word exciting in a print thesaurus, you would find this entry:
excitement [n] enthusiasm; incitement
action, activity, ado, adventure, agitation, animation, bother,
buzz*, commotion, confusion, discomposure, disturbance, dither*,
drama, elation, emotion, excitation, feeling, ferment, fever, flurry,
frenzy, furor, fuss, heat*, hubbub*, hullabaloo, hurry, hysteria,
impulse, instigation, intoxication, kicks*, melodrama, motivation, motive, movement, passion, perturbation, provocation, rage,
stimulation, stimulus, stir, thrill, titillation, to-do, trepidation,
tumult, turmoil, urge, warmth, wildness. SEE CONCEPTS 38,
410, 633.
SEE CONCEPTS in the print thesaurus takes you to the Concept Index, which helps you
link different related ideas. In this way, you can find the exact shade of meaning you
need. Use the key in the beginning of the print thesaurus to understand different
symbols. In this entry, for example, the * shows that a word is colloquial or the slang
level of usage.
Online thesaurus programs are especially useful for distinguishing among homonyms.
If you intended to type “whether” but instead keyboarded “weather,” the thesaurus will
give you synonyms like atmospheric conditions, climate, meteorology, and the elements.
This can help you keep your homonyms straight.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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7
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While both a print and an online thesaurus unquestionably will help you beef up your
vocabulary, in general, a print thesaurus will give you more options than an online
thesaurus. That’s because the print versions have more words in them. Therefore, you’ll
need a print thesaurus even if you have an online version. Use a print thesaurus when
you need a wider variety of choices.
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www.petersons.com
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How well do you pronounce testworthy words? Take the following self-test to see. Cover
the third column with a piece of paper. Then read each word and its definition.
Pronounce each word. Last, check the third column to see how well you did.
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The most effective way to learn how to pronounce new words is by using a dictionary.
Get a reliable desk or pocket dictionary. It’s the best source for the words you need to
get you where you want to go.
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Even the lowly word picture can get warped as pitcher. As a result, no one knows what
anyone else is talking about. Incorrect pronunciations can make it impossible to define
the word, too.
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In addition, people often insert an extra letter or two, which can make the word
unrecognizable. For instance, ambidextrous (able to use either hand) has four syllables
and is correctly pronounced am-bi-deks-trus. But sometimes speakers add an extra
syllable to get am-bi-deks-tree-us or am-bi-deks-tru-us.
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The pronunciation problem is especially acute with words that can function as more
than one part of speech. The word ally is a case in point. As a noun, it’s pronounced aleye. As a verb, it’s pronounced uh-lie.
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People have also been known to drop letters. For instance, the food poisoning known as
salmonella is correctly pronounced sal-muh-nel-uh. Dropping the L results in sam-uhnel-uh.
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Knowing the meaning of a word is only half the battle; you also have to know how to
pronounce it. It’s astonishing how many words are misunderstood simply because they
are mispronounced. Words get mangled in surprisingly inventive ways. For example,
people often switch letters. For example, abhor (hate) becomes uh-bor rather than ab-hor.
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Pronounce Words Correctly
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8
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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Word
Meaning
Pronunciation
Amish
Pennsylvania Dutch
ah-mish
aplomb
assurance
uh-plahm
awry
wrong, crooked
uh-ry
banquet
feast
bang-kwit
buffet
self-service meal
buh-fay
buoy
floating marker
boo-ee
Celtic
Irish
kel-tik
denouement
conclusion
day-noo-mah
entrepreneur
business person
ahn-truh-pruh-nur
fracas
noisy fight
fray-kis
hegemony
leadership
hi-jem-uh-nee
insouciant
carefree
in-soo-see-int
khaki
light brown
kak-ee
larynx
voice box
lar-ingks
mausoleum
tomb
maw-suh-lee-um
niche
corner
nich (rhymes with “itch”)
penchant
inclination
pen-chint
posthumous
after death
pahs-chuu-mus
quagmire
swamp
kwag-myr
remuneration
payment
ri-myoo-nuh-ray-shin
shallot
onion
shal-it or shuh-laht
toupee
hairpiece
too-pay
vehement
fiery, passionate
vee-uh-mint
verbiage
wordy
vur-bee-ij
worsted
yarn
wuus-tid
Use Word Cards
One of the most effective ways to make a word your own is through repetition. Going over
the word can help you master its meaning as well as pronunciation and usage. Try this
idea: buy a stack of 3 × 5 index cards.
As you read through the following chapters, write each difficult word on the front of an
index card, one word per card. Then, write the definition on the back. Here’s a sample:
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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9
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FRONT:
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matriarch
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BACK:
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the female head of
a family or tribe
Synonym
Antonym
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_________________________
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1. adapt
2. authentic
3. chronic
4. conquer
5. frustrate
6. indulge
7. naïve
8. punish
9. relinquish
10. sullen
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Word
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Complete the following chart by writing at least one synonym and antonym for each
word. Then, see how many more synonyms and antonyms you can brainstorm. Possible
answers follow.
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Synonyms are words that are nearly the same in meaning as other words. Antonyms are
words that are opposites. Learning different synonyms and antonyms can help you
swell your vocabulary. Go ahead and try it now.
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Learn Synonyms and Antonyms
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10
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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Suggested answers:
Word
Synonyms
Antonyms
1. adapt
adjust, accustom, accommodate
disarrange, dislocate
2. authentic
genuine, real, legitimate
fake, counterfeit, bogus,
imitation
3. chronic
habitual, ongoing, constant
one time, single
4. conquer
defeat, vanquish, overwhelm
surrender, yield, forfeit, give up
5. frustrate
baffle, beat, disappoint
facilitate, encourage
6. indulge
tolerate, humor, allow, permit
prohibit, deter, restrain, enjoin
7. naïve
innocent, ingenuous
worldly, urbane, suave
8. punish
discipline, castigate
reward, compensate,
remunerate
9. relinquish
quit, renounce
perpetuate, keep
10. sullen
irritable, morose, moody
cheerful, jolly, blithe, happy
Understand a Word’s Unstated Meanings
Every word has a denotation, its dictionary meaning. In addition, some words have
connotations, their understood meanings or emotional overtones. For example, both
house and home have the same denotation, a shelter. Home, however, carries a
connotation of warmtl!and love not present in house.
Use Word Parts
A surprisingly large number of words can be divided into parts that you can figure out
easily. If you can define the parts, then you can often decode the entire word. This is a
crucial skill on standardized tests, when you’re under time constraints.
There are three main word parts to know: roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
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A root is a base or stem form of many words. Roots are covered in depth in Chapter 5.
A prefix is a letter or a group of letters placed at the beginning of a word to change
its meaning. Prefixes are covered in depth in Chapter 6.
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A suffix is a letter or a group of letters placed at the end of a word to change its
meaning. Suffixes are covered in depth in Chapter 7.
For example, if you know the Latin root ami means “like” or “love,” you can easily figure
out that amiable means “pleasant and friendly.” Similarly, you could deduce that
amorous means “loving.” Even if you can’t define a word exactly, recognizing the
different parts of the word still will give you a general idea of the word’s meaning.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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Create your own mnemonics to help you remember the easily confused words that you
are most likely to encounter on standardized tests.
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Likewise, stationary means “standing still” (both words stationary and standing
contain an “a”) while stationery is paper used for writing letters (both words stationery
and letter contain “er”). Desert and dessert become easier to define when you remember
that dessert has a double “s,” like strawberry shortcake.
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Mnemonics are memory tricks that help you remember everything from the order of the
planets to your grocery list. Mnemonics are another technique you can use to help you
distinguish between easily confused words. For example, to remember that principal means
“main” (as in the principal of a school), look at the last three letters: the principal is your pal.
To remember that principle means “rule,” remember that both words end in le.
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Use Mnemonics
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How can you figure out that maritime must mean “related to the sea, nautical”? Use
context clues:
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Just after midnight on April 15, 1912, one of the most dramatic and famous of all
maritime disasters occurred, the sinking of the Titanic. The Titanic was the most
luxurious ship afloat at the time, with its beautifully decorated staterooms,
glittering crystal chandeliers, and elaborate food service.
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When you take standardized tests, you’ll be expected to define unfamiliar words. You can
often get clues to the meaning of unfamiliar words by the information surrounding the
word, its context. When you use context and context clues, you interpret a word’s specific
meaning by examining its relationship to other words in the sentence. To figure out the
meaning of the unfamiliar word, you make inferences based on what you already know
and the details that you are given in the sentence or paragraph. Here’s an example:
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Use Context Clues
The Titanic was an oceanliner.
Sentence details
“The Titanic was the most luxurious ship afloat. . .”
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Restatement context clues
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Inferential context clues
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Contrast context clues
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Context clues come in different forms. The most common types of context clues include:
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The “unsinkable” Titanic vanished under the water at 2:20 a.m., April 15. There
were about 2,200 passengers aboard, and all but about 700 died. The tragedy was
made even worse by the crew’s futile rescue attempts. Since there were not enough
lifeboats, hundreds of people died who could have survived.
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Try it yourself by defining futile as it is used in the following passage:
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What you already know
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Let’s look at each type.
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12
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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Restatement Context Clues
Here’s how one writer defined the word levee right in the passage:
The Army Corps of Engineers distributed 26 million plastic bags throughout the
region. Volunteers filled each bag with 35 pounds of sand and then stacked them
to create levees, makeshift barriers against the floodwaters.
Right after the word levee, readers get the definition: “makeshift barriers against the
floodwaters.”
You can also use an entire passage to get a general sense of difficult words. For example,
define epidemic as it is used in the following sentence: “Nearly 40 million Americans are
overweight; obesity has become an epidemic.” Since the sentence describes the epidemic
as affecting “40 million people,” odds are good that epidemic means “something that
happens to a large group of people.” Sometimes you won’t be able to pinpoint the precise
meaning. Here, for instance, you might infer that an epidemic indicates a widespread
threat, but you might miss the subtle connection between epidemic and disease.
Nonetheless, this clue might be just enough to help you define a new word that you
encounter on a standardized test.
Each of the following sentences contains a restatement context clue. The unfamiliar
word is in italics and the definition is in parentheses. As you read, cover the answer in
parentheses and see if you can figure it out.
1. Fatty deposits on artery walls combine with calcium compounds to cause
arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis means (“hardening of the arteries”)
2. The upper part of the heart on the left side, the left atrium, receives blood
returning from circulation.
Atrium means (“the upper part of the heart”)
3. In many Native American tribes, the shaman, or medicine man, acted as a
ceremonial priest.
Shaman means (“medicine man”)
4. I believe that life is short, so we should enjoy what we eat. As a result, I consume
mass quantities of confectioneries, candies, and keep my dentist on retainer.
Confectioneries means (“candies”)
5. She jumped into the fray and enjoyed every minute of the fight.
Fray means (“fight”)
6. As with all electric currents or discharges, lightning will follow the path of least
resistance. This means that it will take the route that is easiest for it to travel on.
Current means (“discharges”)
the path of least resistance means (“the route that is easiest for it to
travel on”)
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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7. Many settlers on the vast American plains in the late nineteenth century used
sod, or earth, as a building material for their houses.
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8. Then, arrange a handful of mulch, dead leaves, on the top of the soil.
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Sod means (“earth”)
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Patent medicines means (“homemade medicines that were sold without
a prescription”)
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10. To make a living, he created so-called patent medicines, homemade medicines
that were sold without a prescription.
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Pharmacist means (“someone who dispenses medical drugs”)
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9. Born in 1831, John Styth Pemberton was a pharmacist, someone who dispenses
medical drugs, who moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1869.
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Mulch means (“dead leaves”)
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When you make an inference, you combine what you already know with spoken or
textual clues to discover the unstated information. You may have heard this referred to
as “reading between the lines” or “putting two and two together.” In graphical form, the
process of making an inference looks like this:
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As you have just read, sometimes the unfamiliar word may be defined right in the text.
Other times, however, you will have to infer the meaning from what you already know
and from details you heard or read. This takes a bit of detective work.
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Inferential Context Clues
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Text Clues + What I Know = Inference
What I Know
=
Inference
was a forerunner
+
fore means “before”
or “precede”
=
forerunner means
“before”
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Context Clue
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In 1862, in order to support the Civil War effort, Congress enacted the nation’s
first income tax law. It was a forerunner of our modern income tax in that it was
based on the principles of graduated, or progressive, taxation and of withholding
income at the source.
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Try the following example:
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It is hard to use literal language when talking about nature because people tend
to talk about nature using figurative language.
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You can also figure out an unknown word when an opposite or contrast is presented.
When you do this, you’re making an inference. For example, you can define literal by
finding its contrast in the sentence:
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Contrast Context Clues
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14
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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Literal language must be the opposite of “figurative language”. If you know that
figurative language is words and expressions not meant to be taken at face value, you
can infer that “literal” must mean the strict or exact meaning. Other synonyms would
include verbatim or word-for-word.
Use contrast clues to infer the meaning of menace in the following sentence:
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Menace means “threat.” You can infer this from the contrast between “menace” and
“peacemaker.”
The following words express contrast. Watch for them as you read passages on
standardized tests.
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I was afraid that my latest mother-in-law would be a menace to our already
cranky family, but she turned out to be a great peacemaker.
but
conversely
however
in contrast
on the other hand
still
nevertheless
yet
Using context is an important way to define unfamiliar words on the TOEFL. Use all
the different types of context clues as you decode these unfamiliar words in italics.
Most natural hazards can be detected before their threat matures. But seisms
(from the Greek seismos, earthquake) have no known precursors, so they come
without warning, like the vengeance of an ancient warrior. For this reason, they
continue to kill in some areas at a level usually reserved for wars and epidemics—
11,000 people in northeastern Iran died on August 31, 1968, not in the ancient
past. Nor is the horror of the lethal earthquake completed with the heavy death
toll. The homeless still living are left to cope with fire, looting, pestilence, fear, and
the burden of rebuilding what the planet so easily shrugs away.
Word
Pronunciation
Definition
seisms
si-zums
earthquakes
precursors
pre-cuhr-zurs
warnings, forerunners
vengeance
ven-gehnce
revenge, retribution
lethal
lee-thal
deadly
pestilence
pes-til-ence
a deadly widespread disease,
like the plague
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Expressions That Show Contrast
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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Definition
metamorphosed
meh-tah-mor-fozd
changed
transition
tran-si-shun
development or change
phenomenon
fe-nahm-ih-nan
event, occurrence
illustrious
ih-lus-tree-us
distinguished, celebrated
eminent
eh-min-ent
famous
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Pronunciation
Pronunciation
Definition
economic
eek-a-nom-ik
having to do with money
initially
in-ih-shall-ee
at first
elaborate
i-lab-or-it
complex
desperation
des-per-a-shun
extreme need
craze
crayz
fad, fashion
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www.petersons.com
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When you read, you often come across a word that you think you know but that doesn’t
make sense in the sentence you’re reading. That’s your clue that the word has more than
one meaning. In this case, you must choose the meaning that fits the context.
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Context clues are especially crucial when you encounter words with more than one
meaning. The word favor, for example, has many different meanings. Here are six of
them: a kind act, friendly regard, being approved, a gift, to support, and to resemble.
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A worldwide economic Depression in the 1930s left many people unemployed.
One such person was Charles Darrow of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who had lost
his job as a heating engineer. To try to make a living, Darrow invented a board
game he called “Monopoly.” Initially, Darrow tried to sell his idea to the leading
game manufacturer in America, but Parker Brothers turned the game down
because it felt the game was too elaborate to play. In desperation, Darrow used his
own money to have 5,000 games made by a small company. He sold the games
himself, and the craze spread. Seeing the success of the game, Parker Brothers
changed its mind and purchased the game for manufacturing and distribution. In
1975, twice as much Monopoly money was printed in the United States as real
money. All told, nearly 100 million Monopoly sets have been sold since 1935.
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The film industry metamorphosed from silent films to the “talkies” in the late
1920s, after the success in 1927 of The Jazz Singer. Mickey Mouse was one of the
few “stars” who made a smooth transition from silent films to talkies with his
1928 cartoon Steamboat Willie. Within a year, hundreds of Mickey Mouse clubs
had sprung up all across the United States. By 1931, more than a million people
belonged to a Mickey Mouse club. The phenomenon was not confined to America.
In London, Madame Tussaud’s illustrious wax museum placed a wax figure of
Mickey alongside its statues of other eminent film stars. In 1933, according to
Disney Studios, Mickey received 800,000 fan letters—an average of more than
2,000 letters a day. To date, no “star” has ever received as much fan mail as
Mickey Mouse.
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16
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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Follow these three simple steps:
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1. Read the sentence and find the word with multiple meanings.
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2. Look for context clues that tell you which meaning fits.
For example: Nico was resigned to working overtime on Friday night.
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3. Substitute a synonym for the word and see if it makes sense. If not, try another
meaning for the word. Continue until you find the right meaning.
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1. Resigned has multiple meanings. Resigned means “quitting a job.” It also means
“giving in unhappily but without resistance.’
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2. Since Nico is working overtime, he is not quitting his job. Therefore, the second
meaning of resigned should fit.
Here are some examples of multiple-meaning words:
Word
Example
Meaning
Example
Meaning
address
home address
residence
graduation address
speech
game
play a game
sport
have a game leg
injured
catholic
catholic tastes
universal, wide
Catholic religion
of the Roman
church
rash
have a rash
skin problem
rash action
hasty
Learn Word Histories
In the 1600s, people believed that toads were poisonous, and anyone who mistakenly ate
a toad’s leg instead of a frog’s leg would die. Rather than swearing off frog’s legs, people
sought a cure for the “fatal” food poisoning. Performing in public, “quack” healers would
sometimes hire an accomplice who would pretend to eat a toad, at which point his
employer would whip out an instant remedy and “save” his helper’s life. For his duties,
the helper came to be called a “toad-eater.” Since anyone who would consume anything
as disgusting as a live toad must be completely under his master’s thumb, “toad-eater”
or “toady” became the term for a bootlicking, fawning flatterer.
And that’s how the word toady came to be. English is a living language. From its
Germanic beginnings, English absorbed influences from a wide variety of sources,
including classical Greek and Latin to Italian, French, Spanish, and Arabic languages.
English continues to absorb new words as our culture changes. In addition, a significant
part of our vocabulary is artificially created to meet new situations. Exploring the
history of these words, their etymology, can help you learn many useful everyday words.
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3. Using the synonym agreeable for resigned: Nico was agreeable to working
overtime on Friday night. The sentence makes sense, so you have found the
correct meaning for resigned.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 1: All About TOEFL Vocabulary
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Saying words aloud or hearing somebody else say them helps you to recall them later.
Try reading sample sentences and definitions aloud as well.
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Vocalize as You Learn
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It’s not enough to “learn” a word once. Unless you review it, the word will soon vanish
from your memory banks. This book is packed with quizzes and word games to help
refresh your memory.
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Review, Review, Review
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18
PART I: TOEFL Vocabulary Basics
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•
Vocabulary questions on the TOEFL ask you to identify the meanings of words and
phrases as they appear in the reading passages.
•
The strategies for learning and remembering new words are:
Read.
Use a dictionary or thesaurus.
Pronounce words correctly.
Use word cards.
Learn synonyms and antonyms.
Understand a word’s unstated meanings.
Use word parts.
Use mnemonics.
Use context clues.
Learn word histories.
Vocalize as you learn.
Review, review, review.
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SUMMING IT UP
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www.petersons.com
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PART II
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DIAGNOSING STRENGTHS
AND WEAKNESSES
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CHAPTER 2
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Practice Test 1: Diagnostic
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Chapter 2: Practice Test 1: Diagnostic
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www.petersons.com
answer sheet
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✁
ANSWER SHEET PRACTICE TEST 1: DIAGNOSTIC
Chapter 2: Practice Test 1: Diagnostic
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(C) idiotic
(D) challenging
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5. The actress had to raise her voice in order
to be audible in the balcony.
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(A) musical
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(B) dramatic
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The correct answer is (C). The
sentence, “His students think he
is strange,” is closest in meaning
to, “His students think he is odd.”
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(D) humorous
(B) brilliant
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(C) strange
(A) useless
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(B) friendly
4. It is futile to go shopping when you don’t
have any money.
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His students think he is odd.
(A) dangerous
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Directions: In questions 1–15 each sentence has a word or phrase underlined.
Below each sentence there are four other words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and
(D). You are to choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the
original sentence if it is substituted for the underlined word or phrase.
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PRACTICE TEST 1: DIAGNOSTIC
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(C) heard
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(D) appreciated
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7. Earthquakes occur frequently in parts of
California.
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(D) most popular
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(B) most important
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(C) justify
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(B) permit
(A) most expensive
(C) most difficult
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(A) understand
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1. Oil is one of the principal sources of energy.
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6. Dictators do not tolerate opposition of any
kind.
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As soon as you understand the
directions, begin work on the
problems.
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(D) often
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(A) integration
(B) education
(B) summary
(C) separation
(C) critique
(D) torture
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(A) evaluation
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3. The assignment was to write a synopsis of
our favorite novel.
8. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King fought
to put an end to racial segregation in the
United States.
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(D) exist
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(C) spontaneously
(B) prosper
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(B) annually
(A) reproduce
(C) transcend
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(A) instantly
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2. No one can survive for very long without
water.
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(D) dramatization
diagnostic test
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24
PART II: Diagnosing Strengths and Weaknesses
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9. The number of illiterate young people in
her country continues to rise.
13. A familiar adage says that the early bird
gets the worm.
(A) unable to read and write
(A) proverb
(B) without children
(B) lady
(C) sports participants
(C) gentleman
(D) wealthy
(D) book
10. Since his wound was superficial, only a
small bandage was required.
(A) frivolous
(A) a baking mixture
(C) deep
(B) more customers
(D) supercilious
(C) money
(A) snowstorm
(B) hurricane
(C) tornado
(D) thunderstorm
(A) illegal
(B) circumstantial
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12. Tennis wear has become a very lucrative
business for both manufacturers and tennis stars.
(C) expansive
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(D) bread
15. At every faculty meeting, Ms. Volatile
always manages to put her foot in her
mouth.
(A) trip over her big feet
(B) say the wrong thing
(C) move rapidly
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11. The main road will be closed until the
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(D) profitable
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14. A television ad shows a busy baker with a
new computer that the advertiser claims
will help him “make dough.”
(B) on the surface
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(D) fall asleep
Chapter 2: Practice Test 1: Diagnostic
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ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS
B
6.
B
11.
A
2.
D
7.
D
12.
D
3.
B
8.
C
13.
A
4.
A
9.
A
14.
C
5.
C
10.
B
15.
B
The correct answer is (B). If your
answer is wrong, write the word on a 3 ×
5-inch card. Include the synonyms main,
chief, and major. As you continue to study
in this book, add to your file all words
that you discover you do not know. Keep
the cards in alphabetical order for easy
reference.
6.
The correct answer is (B). The key
words in this sentence are dictators and
opposition. You know that dictators by
nature do not (B), permit opposition, so
the other three alternatives will not fit
with what you know about dictators.
7.
The correct answer is (D). The word
frequently is commonly used, so you
should know its meaning.
8.
The correct answer is (C). Knowing
about Martin Luther King will help you
answer this item correctly. The fact that
segregation and separation both begin
with se may lead you to the correct answer here. However, there is no guarantee that all words that begin with the
same syllable will mean the same thing.
9.
The correct answer is (A). The word
illiterate is composed of two parts—il,
which is a prefix meaning not, and literate, which means able to read and write.
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www.petersons.com
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11. The correct answer is (A). All four
alternatives relate to a serious weather
disturbance. You would have to know that
only a blizzard creates the hazard of snow.
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The correct answer is (C). All of the
alternatives relate to an actress’s experience on stage. The key word in this sentence is balcony. What would be necessary
for an actress if there are people in the
balcony? She would have to be (C), heard,
not musical, dramatic, or appreciated.
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5.
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The correct answer is (A). Neither
brilliant nor challenging would describe
the experience of shopping with no money.
Idiotic is not a word used to describe the
shopping experience.
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4.
10. The correct answer is (B). The prefix
super means above. Another clue is that
only a small bandage is needed, so the
wound must not be deep. It is true that a
frivolous person is superficial, but the
word applies to people not to inanimate
things. Supercilious might be the correct
answer, since it begins with the same
prefix. You would have to know that
supercilious means haughty and therefore applies only to people.
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The correct answer is (B). If you know
that critique and evaluation have approximately the same meaning, critical
writing, then you can assume that neither is the correct answer. Dramatization of a novel would certainly not be an
assignment a teacher would give. By
elimination and using your good sense,
you get the correct answer.
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3.
The correct answer is (D). All four
choices can be used to make a meaningful sentence. Therefore, you had to know
that survive is the same as (D), exist. If
you do not know the meaning of the
words given as alternatives, add them to
your card list.
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2.
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1.
answers diagnostic test
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PART II: Diagnosing Strengths and Weaknesses
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12. The correct answer is (D).
13. The correct answer is (A). Familiarity
with old sayings such as the one given in
this sentence—the early bird gets the
worm—will give you answer (A), proverb. The other alternatives are senseless
in the context of this sentence.
14. The correct answer is (C). This is a
difficult item because the word dough is
a slang expression for (C), money. The
advertiser is making a play on words to
get a humorous effect, since a baker necessarily makes dough, a mixture of flour
and water. The computer will help the
baker make more money, not more baking mix.
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15. The correct answer is (B). To put your
foot in your mouth is an idiomatic expression that means (B), to say the wrong
thing. Like most such expressions, this
would be impossible to translate literally
into another language. It has simply become a frequently used expression that is
generally understood by native speakers. Another such expression is to have a
heart, which means to be sympathetic.
PART III
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TOEFL VOCABULARY
REVIEW
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CHAPTER 3
Words in Context
Chapter 4
Everyday and Specific
Vocabulary
Chapter 5
All About Roots
Chapter 6
All About Prefixes
Chapter 7
All About Suffixes
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Words in Context
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OVERVIEW
• Strategies for defining words from context
At some point, there may be a word you do not know the meaning of and
there may be no prefix or root to help you. In this case, you must look at the
context of the word.
The context of a word is the setting in which the word occurs in speech or in
written materials. You usually learn words by hearing or seeing them in
context, and developing this ability will help you learn more words.
The following includes exercises for words in context. These passages and
vocabulary exercises are not as difficult as those you might find on the
TOEFL since the purpose of this book is to teach vocabulary.
STRATEGIES FOR DEFINING WORDS FROM CONTEXT
•
In some cases, if you come across an unusual word, the definition of the word
is close to it. Try to understand the definition and apply it to the word in
context.
•
•
Look for another word or phrase in the context that has the same meaning.
•
Every time you read, practice looking for contextual clues. This will
encourage you to analyze the meaning of what you read and will also train
you to think about words and their meanings.
In some contexts, direct clues are not given but are implied. In this case, you
must think about the context and guess what the meaning of the word can
be. Even if you cannot determine its exact meaning, you will be able to
determine its general meaning.
29
chapter 3
• Summing it up
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30
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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As you read the following passage, see if you can get the meaning of the underlined
words from the context in which they appear. Then, do the vocabulary builders that
follow.
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Vocabulary Builder 1
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To the Editor:
Your article on plans for aiding the elderly to pay their housing costs was not quite
clear in several aspects. I would like to clarify the requirements and exemptions
available for those who qualify.
In the first place, a tenant 62 years old or older must live in a rent-controlled or
rent-stabilized dwelling, pay more than one third of his or her income for rent, and
have a yearly income of $8,000 or less. Such a tenant must apply for exemption from
rent increases and must reapply each year thereafter. Once is not enough. It is
understood, however, that should the landlord make a major improvement, a new
furnace for example, all tenants must accept rent raises to pay for increased comfort.
The elderly, poor tenant is not excluded from such a rent increase.
Landlords receive tax exemptions as reimbursement for the money they lose in not
increasing rent for the elderly. In New York City, the cost of these tax reductions is
$41 million a year, a tremendous figure, but likely to be higher if more of the poor
elderly learn they may apply for exemptions. The city is so slow in processing
applications that some tenants have paid the full rent. They ought not to have done
so. They are fully protected by the law and, once they have applied for exemption,
they do not have to pay rent increases.
I appeal to you to clarify this issue so that the elderly poor of our city may become
aware of the housing benefits for which they qualify.
Clara Torres
Office of Housing for the Elderly
1.
Tenants over 62 can apply for benefits at the Office of Housing for the
Elderly.
(A) poor
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Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the underlined word.
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(B) people over 62
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(C) people who need aid
2.
If you don’t get that furnace repaired before winter, we will freeze to death.
(A) fire escape
(B) heater
(C) water container
(D) staircase
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(D) people who need housing
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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Since landlords get reimbursements, they shouldn’t complain about losing
money.
(A) bills
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(B) increases
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(C) payments
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The elderly are not excluded from rent raises that all tenants have to pay
when the landlord makes a major improvement.
(A) obliged
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(D) housing benefits
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(B) included
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(C) excited
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When their rent increased from $200 to $400 a month, they protested
against such a tremendous increase.
(A) light
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(D) eliminated
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(B) difficult
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(C) huge
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Because the city is slow in processing applications, many of the elderly do
not get housing benefits.
(A) providing
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(D) tiring
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(B) working on
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(C) raising
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The landlord notified his tenants that their rent would be increased the
following month.
(A) janitors
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(D) trying
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(B) friends
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(C) occupants
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Reading a daily newspaper will make you aware of what is going on in the
world.
(A) knowledgeable
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(D) dependent
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(D) poor people
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32
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 1 Answers
1. The correct answer is (B).
2. The correct answer is (B).
3. The correct answer is (C).
4. The correct answer is (D).
5. The correct answer is (C).
6. The correct answer is (B).
7. The correct answer is (C).
8. The correct answer is (A).
Vocabulary Builder 2
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1.
It is inevitable that smoking will damage your health.
(A) invading
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Directions: Try to get the meaning of the underlined word from its context
in the following sentences. Choose the correct synonym. If you cannot figure
it out, look the word up in your dictionary.
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(B) unhealthy
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(C) unavoidable
2.
What you need after a hard week’s work is a little frivolity over the weekend.
(A) luxury
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(D) intriguing
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(B) harmony
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(C) fireworks
3.
The general planned a new stratagem to conquer the rebel forces.
(A) strafing
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(D) triviality
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(B) scheme
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(C) bomb
4.
Only a quack would recommend a lettuce diet to an athlete.
(A) charlatan
(B) duck
(C) coach
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(D) headquarters
(D) doctor
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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The expression “out of the frying pan and into the fire” means to go from one
dilemma to a worse one.
(A) situation
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(B) predicament
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(C) embarrassment
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He made one last futile effort to convince her and left the house.
(A) difficult
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(D) aura
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(B) favorable
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(C) firm
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After climbing to the zenith, he slowly worked his way down the mountain.
(A) zero
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(D) ineffectual
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(B) top
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(C) cabin
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(D) mountain
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A glib answer will not serve for a serious question.
(A) gross
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(B) capable
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(C) facile
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Mary set off on her vacation with the intention of finding a tall, dark,
handsome, debonair companion.
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(D) ignorant
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(A) doleful
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(B) decent
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(C) urbane
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10. Ponce de Leon searched in vain for a means of rejuvenating the aged.
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(D) mercenary
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(A) making young again
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(B) making weary again
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(C) making wealthy again
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(D) making merry again
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34
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 2 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (C).
2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (B).
4.
The correct answer is (A).
5.
The correct answer is (B).
6.
The correct answer is (D).
7.
The correct answer is (B).
8.
The correct answer is (C).
9.
The correct answer is (C).
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Many English words are made up of a combination of word elements. A root is a word
element, often taken from Latin or Greek, that serves as a base to which other elements
are added to modify the root itself. A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning
of a root, and a suffix is attached to the end of a root or word. Both prefixes and suffixes
change the meaning of the root and form a new word.
Recognizing and understanding word elements provide a valuable system of analyzing
words, figuring out their meaning, and comparing them to find relationships with words
you already know. Using this system, you will also be able to organize and learn words
in groups rather than individually.
Here are some common Latin and Greek prefixes. Study them and look up the meanings
of the words you do not know in the Example column.
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ab, a
away from
abduct, amoral
ad, ac, ag, at
to
advent, accrue, aggressive, attracts
ante
before
antedated
anti
against
antipathy
bene
well
benefit
circum
around
circumnavigate
com, con, col
together
compliant, conducive, collate
contra
against
contrary
de
from, down
delete, descend
dis, di
apart
disperse, dilate
ex, e
out
exit, elicit
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10. The correct answer is (A).
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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Meaning
Example
extra
beyond
extracurricular
hyper
excessively
hypertension, hyperactive
in, im, il, ir, un
no
intrepid, impossible, illicit, irreparable, unlikely
inter
between
intercultural
intra, intro, in
within
intramural, introduction, inside
mal
bad
malediction
per
through
permeate
peri
around
perimeter
post
after
postoperative
pre
before
precedence, predecessor
pro
forward, for
propose, proponents
re
again
review
semi
half
semicolon
sub
under
submarine
super
above
supervisor
trans
across
transport
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1. The men had to __________ their canoe through the woods to the river’s edge.
carry across
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Directions: Use the words in the Example column, above, to complete these
sentences.
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Vocabulary Builder 3
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2. That sentence requires a(n) __________.
half colon
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4. The law requires that there be a(n) _______ from the second floor apartment.
way out
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3. His _______________ condition was excellent.
after the operation
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6. Our new president is much more popular than his ___________________.
one who came before
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5. Magellan ___________ the world.
sailed around
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7. After the protest march, the crowd __________.
split apart
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36
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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8. In the evolution of animals, plants ___________ insects.
came before
9. We never agree; his opinions are always _______ to mine.
against
10. There seems to be a natural _____________ between cats and dogs.
feeling against
11. Workmen at the refinery find that the smell of oil ___________ their clothing.
goes through
12. Students engage in many ____________________ activities.
beyond the curriculum
13. The Greek and Turkish students had a(n) ____________ exchange.
between two cultures
14. It is __________ for him to see you today.
not possible
15. Living in a(n) _________________ is most confining.
underwater vehicle
16. He got a job as a(n) ____________ in a dress manufacturing company.
person above
17. The chairman of the board takes ____________ over the other board members.
right to come before
18. The __________ of conservation protested against strip-mining.
people for
19. Cutting your salt consumption will __________ your health.
do well for
20. The professor has to ____________ his test papers.
put together
21. Let’s ____________ our algebra for the exam tomorrow.
go over again
22. The terrorists planned to __________ the American general.
take away
23. Some students give more of their time to ______________ sports than to their
assignments.
within the school
24. What is the _______________ of this triangle?
distance around
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25. A magnet _____________ iron and its alloys.
draws to itself
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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The correct answer is semicolon.
3.
The correct answer is postoperative.
4.
The correct answer is exit.
5.
The correct answer is circumnavigated.
6.
The correct answer is predecessor.
7.
The correct answer is dispersed.
8.
The correct answer is antedated.
9.
The correct answer is contrary.
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The correct answer is transport.
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Vocabulary Builder 3 Answers
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10. The correct answer is antipathy.
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11. The correct answer is permeates.
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12. The correct answer is extracurricular.
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13. The correct answer is intercultural.
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14. The correct answer is impossible.
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15. The correct answer is submarine.
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16. The correct answer is supervisor.
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17. The correct answer is precedence.
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18. The correct answer is proponents.
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19. The correct answer is benefit.
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20. The correct answer is collate.
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21. The correct answer is review.
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22. The correct answer is abduct.
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23. The correct answer is intramural.
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24. The correct answer is perimeter.
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25. The correct answer is attracts.
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38
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Study these suffixes. Be sure that you understand what each of the words in the
Example column means before you do the exercise.
Suffix
Meaning
Example
able, ible
capable of being
expendable, comprehendible
al
relating to
traditional
ance
relating to
alliance
ary
relating to
aviary
ation
action
provocation
cy
quality
potency
ence
relating to
complacence
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one who
worker
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make
beautify
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pertaining to
atmospheric
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full of
gracious
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person who practices
psychiatrist
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condition
complexity
ize
to make like
stabilize
less
without
penniless
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result, state
contentment
Vocabulary Builder 4
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1.
A person with no money is _______________.
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Something that is potent has _______________.
3.
The state of being content is called _______________.
4.
Something capable of being comprehended is _______________.
5.
A person full of grace is _______________.
6.
A celebration that has become a tradition is considered _______________.
7.
Two countries that are allied form a(n) _______________.
8.
The area where birds (avi) are kept is called a(n) _______________.
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Directions: From the Example column above, choose a word that best fits
the following definitions.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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Something capable of being expended is considered _______________.
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11. A person who practices psychiatry is a(n) _______________.
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10. When weather forecasters talk about the pressure of the atmosphere, they
refer to _______________ pressure.
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9.
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16. A complacent person is noted for his or her _______________.
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15. When you make something stable, you _______________ it.
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14. When someone provokes you, we can say he or she has given you ________.
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13. If something is described as complex, we can say it has _______________.
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12. Someone who works is a(n) _______________.
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17. To make a house beautiful is to _______________ it.
2.
The correct answer is potency.
3.
The correct answer is contentment.
4.
The correct answer is comprehendible.
5.
The correct answer is gracious.
6.
The correct answer is traditional.
7.
The correct answer is alliance.
8.
The correct answer is aviary.
9.
The correct answer is expendable.
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The correct answer is penniless.
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10. The correct answer is atmospheric.
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11. The correct answer is psychiatrist.
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12. The correct answer is worker.
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13. The correct answer is complexity.
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14. The correct answer is provocation.
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15. The correct answer is stabilize.
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16. The correct answer is complacence.
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17. The correct answer is beautify.
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40
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 5
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1.
Someone who employs others is a(n) _______________.
2.
A person who favors conservation is a(n) _______________.
3.
The condition of being sane is _______________.
4.
Something giving comfort is _______________.
5.
Something full of infection is _______________.
6.
The result of adjusting is _______________.
7.
A person without sense is _______________.
8.
A person with ideals is a(n) _______________. We can say he or she is
_______________.
9.
A lenient judge is noted for his _______________.
10. To commit something to memory is to _______________ it.
11. A turbulent sea is characterized by its _______________.
12. To excite intensely as if by an electric shock is to _______________ another
person.
Vocabulary Builder 5 Answers
1.
The correct answer is employer.
2.
The correct answer is conservationist.
3.
The correct answer is sanity.
4.
The correct answer is comfortable.
5.
The correct answer is infectious.
6.
The correct answer is adjustment.
7.
The correct answer is senseless.
8.
The correct answer is idealist/idealistic.
9.
The correct answer is leniency.
10. The correct answer is memorize.
11. The correct answer is turbulence.
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Directions: See if you can use the suffixes given in the previous exercise to
form new words. When you have finished, check your dictionary to make sure
you spelled all the words correctly.
12. The correct answer is electrify.
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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Directions: Here are ten groups of words that are frequently confused and
misused. Look at the definitions; then fill in the correct word in the sentences.
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Vocabulary Builder 6
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adapt, adopt
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Adapt means to adjust.
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(B) It is difficult to _______________ to a new environment.
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(A) The committee decided to _______________ the new regulations.
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Adopt means to take by choice.
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adverse, averse
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2.
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Adverse means acting against.
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(A) The jury made an _______________ decision, so he was hanged.
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Averse means having a strong dislike.
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(B) An anorexic is _______________ to food.
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allusion, delusion, illusion
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Allusion means an implied or indirect reference.
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Delusion means a false belief.
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(C) A good painter can give you the _______________ of broad space in his works.
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(B) I am not familiar enough with mythology to understand all the
_______________ s to it in this poem.
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(A) That poor man is under the _______________ that he is the president.
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Illusion means an unreal image.
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complement, compliment
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4.
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Complement means to complete or make perfect.
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council, counsel
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Council means an elected group to make decisions.
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(B) The group was famous for its good _______________.
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(A) The _______________ advised the president to raise taxes.
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Counsel means advice.
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5.
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(B) They are just the right flowers to _______________ the table setting.
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(A) I must _______________ you on your choice of flowers for the party.
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Compliment means to praise.
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elicit, illicit
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Elicit means to draw out.
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(A) The detective attempted to _______________ information about the
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Illicit means against a law or rule.
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(B) _______________ drug ring.
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42
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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7.
explicit, implicit
Explicit means clear and fully expressed.
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Implicit means meant though not plainly expressed.
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(A) The manual gives ___________ instructions on how to repair a bicycle.
8.
ingenious, ingenuous
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(B) There was definitely an ___________ threat in the way he glared at her.
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Ingenious means clever at inventing things.
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Ingenuous means simple, naive, and inexperienced.
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(A) An _______________ high school student invented a video game.
9.
infer, imply
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(B) Katy is so _______________ she will believe anything you tell her.
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Infer means to draw the meaning from.
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Imply means to suggest.
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(A) I _______________ from what you just said that the engagement is over.
10. immigrate, emigrate
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(B) Did you mean to _______________ that you don’t love me anymore?
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Immigrate means to come into a country to make one’s home there.
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Emigrate means to leave one’s country to go and live in another.
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(A) Many venturesome people _______________ from England to Australia.
Vocabulary Builder 6 Answers
1.
A. adopt
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(B) If you _______________ to this country, you will have to learn the
language.
2.
A. adverse
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B. adapt
3.
A. delusion
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B. averse
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B. allusion
4.
A. compliment
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C. illusion
5.
A. council
B. counsel
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B. complement
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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A. elicit
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A. explicit
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B. illicit
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B. implicit
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A. ingenious
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B. ingenuous
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A. infer
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B. imply
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10. A. emigrate
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B. immigrate
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Directions: Write the word next to the definition. Your answers are words
used in this chapter.
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Vocabulary Builder 7
A one-room apartment ______________________________
2.
Occupant of a building ______________________________
3.
Advanced in years ______________________________
4.
Repayment ______________________________
5.
Machine for heating a building ______________________________
6.
Hint ______________________________
7.
A clever trick to obtain an end ______________________________
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1.
The correct answer is studio.
2.
The correct answer is tenant.
3.
The correct answer is elderly.
4.
The correct answer is reimbursement.
5.
The correct answer is furnace.
6.
The correct answer is imply.
7.
The correct answer is stratagem.
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Vocabulary Builder 7 Answers
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44
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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When a word has more than one meaning, the dictionary will number each separate
definition; the first meaning given is usually the most common use of the word. When
looking up a word in the dictionary, you should know which definition provides the
meaning of the word as it is used in the particular context.
Vocabulary Builder 8
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1.
(1) on the surface; not deep
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Directions: Choose the appropriate definitions for the underlined words.
Write the number in the space provided.
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(2) not serious; not complete
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____ The article gave a superficial analysis of the country’s economic woes.
2.
(1) working very well; sharp
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____ The parachutist was treated for superficial cuts and bruises.
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(2) severe; strong
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____ She suffered from acute back pain after the accident.
3.
(1) thoroughly planned
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____ Most animals have an acute sense of smell.
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(2) intentional; on purpose
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____ It was an accident; she didn’t break the vase deliberately.
4.
(1) merciful in judgment
(2) allowing less than the highest standards
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____ The President is taking deliberate steps to balance the federal budget.
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____ Some people felt that the jury was too lenient with the man who shot
the senator.
5.
(1) concerning people who have a close relationship
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____ It is believed that lenient teachers produce mediocre students.
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(2) personal; private
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____ The two women are intimate friends.
6.
(1) to become or make strong
(2) to combine into fewer or one
____ The two major labor unions consolidated to form one large powerful
union.
____ The United States is attempting to consolidate its position in the
Caribbean.
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____ They share even their most intimate thoughts.
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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(1) to eat or drink
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(2) to use up
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(3) to destroy
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____ Typing his boss’s correspondence consumed most of the secretary’s time.
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____ The tennis player contracted hepatitis after consuming tainted fish.
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____ The entire apartment was consumed by fire.
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7.
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(1) a particular government
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____ The nation is sure to prosper under the new regime.
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____ After following a strict regime, the injured gymnast returned to competition.
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(2) a plan to improve one’s health
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(1) causing a feeling of pity
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____ The supervisor is so pathetic that his entire staff is threatening to resign.
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(2) worthless; unsuccessful
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____ We were awakened by the kitten’s pathetic cries.
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10. (1) to cause to have no effect
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(2) to disprove; deny
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____ The governor issued a statement in an attempt to negate the accusations against him.
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____ Thermal insulation negates the effect of the cold.
The correct answer is 2/1.
2.
The correct answer is 2/1.
3.
The correct answer is 2/1.
4.
The correct answer is 1/2.
5.
The correct answer is 1/2.
6.
The correct answer is 2/1.
7.
The correct answer is 3/1/2.
8.
The correct answer is 2/1.
9.
The correct answer is 2/1.
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Vocabulary Builder 8 Answers
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www.petersons.com
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10. The correct answer is 1/2.
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Directions: Select the one word from the choices given that best completes
each of these sentences. Write it in the space provided.
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(B) nonchalant
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A rule for the nega-
The dying man’s speech was so _______________ that no one was able to
interpret his last request.
(A) indiscreet
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m, or p; ir before r;
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Due to many years of _______________, the Smiths had nothing to fall back
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(A) illiteracy
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Certain pessimists feel that a nuclear war in our time is _______________.
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(D) impossible
The personnel manager could not even consider her for the position
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(C) unkempt
5.
We received the _______________ news today that there would be no raises
this year.
(A) disreputable
(B) uncanny
(C) incongruous
(D) disconcerting
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It was truly miraculous that the child was _______________ after falling six
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Modern architecture often seems _______________ in a city rich in history.
(A) unlikely
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Serpico is known for his _______________ efforts to expose fellow police
officers who accepted bribes.
(A) incalculable
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Barbara’s parents received a report from her teacher that said, “Barbara is an
excellent student, but she talks to her friends _______________ during class.”
(A) ineptly
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(C) unerringly
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10. A civil war pits brother against brother and causes _______________ harm
to a nation’s morale.
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(B) incalculable
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(C) invariable
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(D) infallible
The correct answer is (C).
2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (A).
4.
The correct answer is (C).
5.
The correct answer is (D).
6.
The correct answer is (A).
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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7.
The correct answer is (C).
8.
The correct answer is (B).
9.
The correct answer is (D).
10. The correct answer is (B).
Vocabulary Builder 10
Directions: Write the number of the word in Column B that has the same
meaning as the word in Column A. Put the number on the line provided.
A
B
_____ a. sure
1. inexorable
_____ b. unable to do things
2. imprudent
_____ c. unharmed
3. incoherent
_____ d. inflexible
4. incongruous
_____ e. unwise, not careful
5. disreputable
_____ f. forbidden
6. infallible
_____ g. disjointed, garbled
7. incessant
_____ h. not neat
8. illiterate
_____ i. very great
9. incalculable
_____ j. of bad character
10. disconcerted
_____ k. unable to read and write
11. illicit
_____ l. inappropriate
12. inept
_____ m. constant
13. unscathed
_____ n. upset
14. inevitable
_____ o. unavoidable
15. unkempt
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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The correct answer is 6.
b.
The correct answer is 12.
c.
The correct answer is 13.
d.
The correct answer is 1.
e.
The correct answer is 2.
f.
The correct answer is 11.
g.
The correct answer is 3.
h.
The correct answer is 15.
i.
The correct answer is 9.
j.
The correct answer is 5.
k.
The correct answer is 8.
l.
The correct answer is 4.
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a.
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Vocabulary Builder 10 Answers
The correct answer is 10.
o.
The correct answer is 14.
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m. The correct answer is 7.
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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EXERCISES: ANTONYMS
Directions: Choose the word among the four alternatives that is the opposite
(antonym) of the underlined word.
1. I ate lunch with a most convivial group of
my friends.
6. The convicted robber hoped the judge
would give him a lenient sentence.
(A) lively
(A) easy
(B) large
(B) unmerciful
(C) unsociable
(C) acute
(D) old
(D) frightening
2. I prefer muted colors in my living room.
(A) changeable
(A) large and brightly lit
(C) dull
(B) quiet
(D) mauve
(C) noisy
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3. She came for Christmas laden with gifts
for everyone.
(D) dark
8. As he lay dying, his speech was incoherent.
(A) later
(A) inaudible
(B) provided
(B) organized
(C) unloaded
(C) interesting
(D) lifted
(D) indecent
4. She had a cozy little apartment in Boston.
(A) uncomfortable
(B) dirty
(C) lazy
(D) warm
(A) superior
(B) deep
(C) attractive
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5. She was a very superficial person with a
large group of frivolous friends.
(D) horrible
(A) discreet
(B) uncanny
(D) neat
10. His career in the illicit drug trade ended
with the police raid this morning.
(A) irregular
(B) legal
(C) elicited
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9. If you want to make a good impression on
my father, you will have to be less unkempt
than you are now.
(C) literate
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7. Hector takes his dates to intimate restaurants where there is candlelight.
(B) bright
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(D) secret
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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14. I cannot stand professors who think they
are infallible.
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(A) imperfect
(B) inexorable
(B) activating
(C) inept
(C) refreshing
(D) inflexible
(B) able to enjoy intramural sports
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(A) indiscreetly
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(B) inevitably
(C) seldom
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(A) able to read and write
15. My brother-in-law talks incessantly.
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12. A frightening number of illiterate students are graduating from college.
(D) sensibly
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(A) pleasing
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11. Having planned our weekends to watch
football, we found the news of the players’
strike most disconcerting.
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(C) unable to pass an examination in
reading and writing
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(D) inflexible
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13. John was so insubordinate that he lost his
job within a week.
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(D) obedient
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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EXERCISES: MEANING FROM CONTEXT
Directions: Select a word from the list below that best completes the following
sentences.
compete
vast
chagrin
affluent
innovation
lucrative
amenities
rejuvenated
apathy
stereotype
1. The use of audiovisual materials in foreign language teaching was one of the
most important __________s in recent
years.
2. __________ Middle Easterners have been
buying some of England’s ancient estates.
3. Wearing his ten-gallon hat, the Texan
has become the __________ of the American Westerner.
4. Doing volunteer work at the hospital is
not a very __________ pastime.
5. You have made a(n) __________ improvement in your handwriting since you took
that calligraphy course.
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6. In order to __________ in today’s market,
we are going to lower our prices.
7. Mrs. Golightly had cosmetic surgery and
appears much __________.
8. Imagine his __________ when he discovered he had forgotten to pay his electric
bill and the company turned off his power.
9. The automatic washing machine is one of
the __________ without which I cannot
live.
10. Many a crime has gone unpunished because of the __________ of bystanders.
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
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6. The doctor warned her that adequate diet
was of paramount importance in effecting
a cure.
(A) moving
(B) poverty
(B) chief
(C) embarrassment
(C) healing
(D) challenge
(D) saving
(B) stand together
(D) hard
(C) work together
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(C) salespeople
(D) test
(D) contact
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(C) inner part
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(B) customers
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(B) change
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(A) clinic
(A) conveniences
(C) delay
(B) friends
(D) register
(C) expenses
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(B) compare
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(A) contend
9. I’d rather stay in a hotel with all the
amenities than camp in the woods.
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4. She plans to compete in the marathon.
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(A) entrance
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8. Peter advised his clientele that he would
be on vacation for the month of January.
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(D) get together
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3. Dr. Jones suggested that final examinations be discontinued, an innovation I
heartily support.
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(A) very
7. Occasionally, the most unlikely people
manage to collaborate successfully.
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2. The space shuttle covered vast distances.
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(A) anger
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1. She was overcome by chagrin at the checkout counter when she discovered she had
left her wallet at home.
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Directions: Choose the best synonym for the underlined word.
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(A) scoff
(C) large
(B) save
(D) expensive
(C) yield
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(B) showy
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10. The night before this exam I tried not to
succumb to sleep.
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(D) try
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(A) ossified
(D) sports
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5. His new yacht is certainly an ostentacious
display of his wealth.
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11. He inherited a lucrative business from
his father.
16. Although he knew she had work to do, he
tried to entice her to go to the beach.
(A) lucid
(A) trace
(B) wealthy
(B) enervate
(C) losing
(C) tempt
(D) profitable
(D) thrice
12. Apathy toward his studies prevented his
graduation.
(A) indirection
(A) destitute
(C) indecision
(B) arrogant
(D) indication
(C) wealthy
(A) slimmed again
(C) made young again
(B) fixed conception
(D) made comfortable again
(C) disagreeable type
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18. A domineering husband, he is the stereotype of a male chauvinist.
(A) musician
14. Her early skill with numbers was indicative of a genius in mathematics.
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(D) afraid
(B) subjugated again
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13. Her large weight loss has rejuvenated
her.
(A) giving direction
(D) opposite
19. The senator formerly supported the
president’s budget plans ardently.
(B) giving indication
(A) expertly
(C) giving assistance
(B) zealously
(D) giving approval
(C) arduously
15. Do you think your question is pertinent to
the matter we are discussing?
(A) perceptive
(D) entirely
20. The hurricane caused great havoc in the
islands.
(B) appropriate
(A) winds
(C) discriminating
(B) treatment
(D) apparent
(C) destruction
(D) immersion
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17. Having spent all my money on tuition, I
am not affluent enough even to go to the
movies.
(B) indifference
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 3: Words in Context
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Down
Powerful
1.
Suffix meaning after
5.
Adjust
2.
Very bad
10. Eager
3.
Make longer, increase
14. Prefix meaning out
4.
Prefix meaning three
15. Praise
5.
Severe
17. Either/_____
6.
Auxiliary verb
18. Synonym for kind, type
7.
Neither moral nor immoral
20. Prefix meaning nine
8.
Afternoon
21. Suffix meaning person who
9.
Deca
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Across
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Directions: This crossword puzzle is a review of the vocabulary used in this
chapter.
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EXERCISES: PUTTING IT TOGETHER
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10. Acting against
11. Musical piece for two
23. Neuter pronoun
12. Antonym of yes
24. Abbrev. for Rhode Island
13. Speaking three languages
26. Camper’s “house”
16. Someone illiterate is _____ literate.
27. Abbreviation for place
19. Exclamation
28. Prefix meaning not
23. Negative prefix used with coherent
29. Cause to have no effect
25. _____ rained last night.
32. Prefix meaning three
27. Prefix meaning for
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22. Triplets
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does something
exercises
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56
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Down
33. Abbreviation for small bedroom
30. Alcoholic drink
35. Prefix meaning not
31. _____tire, whole
36. Negatives
32. Rise and fall of the sea
38. Fierce animal
33. Condition of being sane
39. Preposition: _____ Monday
34. Abbreviation for mister
40. Abbreviation for advertisement
37. Opposite of subtle
41. Very poor
38. Loaded
45. Exist
39. Full of oil
46. Prefix meaning from
42. Latin for and
47. Neuter pronoun
43. First word in letter salutation
48. Work together
44. Ruin, destruction
52. Advanced degree
45. Employer
53. Delicious
48. Eat or drink
54. Huge
49. See 17 across
55. Article
50. Antonym of front
56. Abbreviation for elevation
51. Spoil
57. Possessive adjective
52. British spelling of meters
58. Slang for doctors
53. Prefix meaning above
59. Prefix meaning two
58. Someone who does things
60. Preposition: _____ home
59. Another definition for 29 across
61. _____ soon _____ possible
60. Suffix meaning relating to
62. Foot covering
62. Hurt your toe
63. Decade
63. _____ the truth
64. Abbreviation for near
65. Antonym of lose
65. Troubles
66. Use the eyes
67. Tempt
68. Preposition: _____ January
69. Pay back
70. Abbreviation for Social Security
72. Adverb suffix
71. Abbreviation for extra-terrestrial
73. Where a bird lives
74. Someone who is penniless
has _____ money
75. Abbreviation for street
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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ANSWER KEY
C
6.
B
11.
A
2.
B
7.
A
12.
A
3.
C
8.
B
13.
D
4.
A
9.
D
14.
A
5.
B
10.
B
15.
C
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Antonyms
innovation
6.
compete
2.
Affluent
7.
rejuvenated
3.
stereotype
8.
chagrin
4.
lucrative
9.
amenities
5.
vast
10.
apathy
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Meaning from Context
C
8.
B
15.
B
2.
B
9.
A
16.
C
3.
B
10.
C
17.
C
4.
A
11.
D
18.
B
5.
B
12.
B
19.
B
6.
B
13.
C
20.
C
7.
C
14.
B
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1.
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Synonyms
answers
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58
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Putting It Together
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 3: Words in Context
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• Every time you read, practice looking for contextual clues.
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• Try to understand the definition and apply it to the word in context.
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be close to it.
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• If you come across an unusual word, the definition of the word may
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SUMMING IT UP
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Everyday and Specific
Vocabulary
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• Strategies for learning related words
• How thoughts are related
• Summing it up
STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING RELATED WORDS
Learning vocabulary in sets of words that are related to each other makes it
easier for you to learn the words. It makes your study more structured than
learning words in a random way. It also gives you a clue to the meaning of an
unknown word. For example, when you see the term “check out” under the
subject “library,” you will realize it is something you do when you are in a library.
•
You should make lists of words that are related to one subject to help you
remember them. Keep adding to the list as you learn another word that’s
related to that area.
•
Use a technique that will help you remember the words. You may memorize
them or use visual or other clues to help you remember.
•
Words related to people and places are tested in the short dialogues and also
appear in the longer conversations in the Listening Comprehension section
of the TOEFL.
•
In the TOEFL short dialogues, you should listen for the word that will be a
clue to either the person’s occupation or the location.
HOW THOUGHTS ARE RELATED
In addition to providing you with a thorough review, this section of readings will
concentrate on thought relations within sentences, paragraphs, and longer
passages. It is important to be able to recognize and understand signal words or
connectives, which introduce, connect, order, and relate individual ideas to
larger and often more general concepts.
61
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chapter 4
OVERVIEW
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62
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Study these connectives, paying close attention to their function.
Connectives
Function
and, also, as well as, besides, finally, furthermore,
in addition to, in conclusion, moreover
more information will follow
examples, for example, kinds, types, sorts,
ordinal numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.), others, several,
some, such as, the following, ways
examples will follow
even if, however, in spite of, instead of,
nevertheless, on the other hand, rather,
still, yet, despite
an opposite idea will follow
all but, except
exceptions will follow
as a result of, because, due to,
in order to, on account of, since
cause
as a consequence, as a result, consequently,
so, so as to, so that, therefore
effect
after, as soon as, before, if, provided that,
should, while, without, unless, until, following
conditions to be met
as, before. . .after, like some. . .other,
than, once. . .now
comparison
Look at the following example. Note that the connectives are underlined and the ideas
connected are circled. Can you determine the function of each connective? If necessary,
refer back to the table.
Mr. Green had sent his secretary to pick up his car, which he had taken to the
garage in order to have the brakes repaired. While returning with Mr. Green’s
car, the secretary, driving on Main Street, entered the intersection at Elm after
the light changed from green to red. She sounded her horn but nevertheless
collided with a car that had entered the intersection from Elm Street after the
light had turned green.
As you read the following passage, underline the signal words and circle the related
ideas. Then give the function of each.
When a death occurs, the family has religious, social, and legal responsibilities.
If the deceased has left an explicit set of papers in an accessible file, arrangements
will be much easier for the family to make. For example, such papers should
include the deed for a burial plot (if there is one), a statement as to whether
cremation or burial is desired, a copy of the birth certificate, and the names and
addresses of all family members and friends who should be notified. Furthermore,
the papers should include information on bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, and
insurance policies, as well as the will. The person in charge of the funeral will need
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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to know how much money is available in order to determine the expenses he or she
may reasonably incur for the family.
If feasible, the person who makes the funeral arrangements should not be one of
the bereaved. A melancholy widow may not be able to make objective decisions
regarding expenses, such as for a coffin. Whoever makes the funeral arrangements
realizes that he or she is deputized to make legally binding contracts with a funeral
director and others, which will probably be honored some months later when funds
from the estate are released.
One of the duties of the person in charge of the funeral is to prepare a death notice
for the newspapers. Often the mortician arranges for the insertion of the notice.
Included in the information should be the date of death, the names of the family
members, and the time and place of the forthcoming interment.
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Directions: Choose the correct synonym for the following underlined words.
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Vocabulary Builder 1
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The deceased left you all of her jewelry.
(A) missing person
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(B) dead person
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(C) wealthy person
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(D) relative
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She left explicit instructions regarding her burial.
(A) vague
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(B) exciting
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(C) irregular
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Because the information was easily accessible, we found it immediately.
(A) acceptable
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(D) clear
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(B) accessory
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(C) reachable
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Property deeds belong in a safe-deposit box.
(A) actions
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(B) legal papers
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(C) wills
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(D) addresses
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(D) probable
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64
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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5.
He was careful not to incur too many bills for the widow to pay.
(A) inquire
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(B) pay
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(C) acquire
6.
A funeral is a melancholy event.
(A) meaningful
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(D) change
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(B) medical
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(C) expensive
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(D) sorrowful
The family deputized a close friend to make the funeral arrangements.
(A) disputed
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(B) deprived
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(C) delegated
8.
The funeral director gave the death notice to the local newspaper.
(A) obituary
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(D) dispatched
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(B) funeral
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(C) burial
9.
The undertaker waited three months after the funeral for his bill to
be paid.
(A) tax collector
(B) beginner
(C) mortician
(D) priest
10. In tropical countries, the interment takes place within 24 hours of
a death.
(A) intermittent
(B) burial
(C) mourning period
(D) interruption
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(D) biography
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (C).
4.
The correct answer is (B).
5.
The correct answer is (C).
6.
The correct answer is (D).
7.
The correct answer is (C).
8.
The correct answer is (A).
9.
The correct answer is (C).
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The correct answer is (B).
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Vocabulary Builder 1 Answers
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The Central Park Conservancy raised $39,000 in private donations to employ twenty-five high school students from the New
York area. With commendable zeal, the participants are embellishing the park, as well as weeding and cleaning unkempt
areas. Although their employment is merely interim work over
the summer, the youths share an affinity for horticulture.
Collaboration with the Conservancy only whets their appetites
for further endeavors with nature and ecology.
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Now try to find the signal words and their functions in the following paragraph.
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10. The correct answer is (B).
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John and Mary _______________ on all their books; she writes the text and
he does the artwork.
(A) study
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1.
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Directions: Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
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Vocabulary Builder 2
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(B) collaborate
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(C) discuss
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His efforts to keep the peace were so _______________ that he was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize.
(A) lucrative
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(B) mercenary
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(C) commendable
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(D) heavy
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2.
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(D) divide
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66
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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3.
They worked from dawn to dusk with such _______________ that they were
exhausted.
(A) boredom
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(B) detraction
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(C) debility
4.
Before they sold their house, they spent two months _______________ it.
(A) trying
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(D) zeal
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(B) embellishing
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(C) sifting
5.
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(D) planting
The _______________ in the program were high school students.
(A) donations
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(B) endeavors
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(C) gardens
6.
In the _______________ between shows, the actress went to Paris.
(A) rush
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(D) participants
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(B) closing
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(C) interim
7.
He felt such a close ____________ for animals that he became a veterinarian.
(A) distaste
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(D) practice
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(B) affinity
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(C) approach
8.
A bite of chocolate cake only _______________ my desire for more.
(A) spares
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(D) likeness
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(B) lets
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(C) changes
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(D) whets
9.
Working in the park stimulates his interest in _______________.
(A) archaeology
(B) horticulture
(C) zoology
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(D) biology
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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10. We’ll have to clean up this _______________ yard before the guests arrive.
(A) tired
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(B) unlikely
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(C) undone
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(D) unkempt
The correct answer is (B).
2.
The correct answer is (C).
3.
The correct answer is (D).
4.
The correct answer is (B).
5.
The correct answer is (D).
6.
The correct answer is (C).
7.
The correct answer is (B).
8.
The correct answer is (D).
9.
The correct answer is (B).
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Vocabulary Builder 2 Answers
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Divorce settlements attempt to make an equitable distribution of a couple’s
assets. Wrangles are common over who gets the car, the furniture, or the dog, but
people overlook future needs and income. Two important issues will have to be
decided by the courts. Can the divorced wife continue to have health coverage
under her former husband’s policy? Is the divorced wife entitled to a share of her
ex-husband’s pension?
So far the subject of health insurance has created much dissension. Most
insurance companies exclude former wives from their definition of a worker’s
dependents. In order to circumvent his ex-wife’s exclusion from his health plan,
many a husband has concealed his divorce from his employer. Divorced spouses of
military men anticipate that a newly approved bill will allow them 180 days’
medical coverage and continued coverage for serious ailments if they were married
for at least 20 years during their husbands’ service career.
Ex-wives are faring better in the pension-sharing dilemma than they are in
obtaining health coverage. The courts have set a precedent in awarding pension
funds to divorced women, particularly if there are defaults in alimony and childsupport payments. Nevertheless, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
prohibits the payment of a pension to anyone other than the worker. Litigation of
ex-wives seeking a share in their former husbands’ pensions contends that the
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Before you do the vocabulary builder that follows the reading, locate all the signal words
and determine their functions. You will probably find that this will help you achieve a
better understanding of the information included here.
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Here is a longer passage. Look at the first sentence. Can you guess what the article is
about?
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10. The correct answer is (D).
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68
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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ERISA was passed for the purpose of protecting workers from creditors’ attempts
to attach pensions, not from their ex-wives. In a recent decision, the Supreme
Court gave exclusive pension rights to the military retiree whose retirement plan
is not under the jurisdiction of state property laws. On the other hand, the former
wives of retired foreign service personnel are legally entitled to a share of these
retirees’ pensions in proportion to the length of their marriage.
Obviously, there is no panacea for the ills besetting the legal system. Divorced
women can only pray for significant benefits from future legislation.
Vocabulary Builder 3
Directions: In this exercise, put the number of the synonym in Column B
beside the word in Column A.
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B
_____ a. equitable
1. illness
_____ b. assets
2. example
_____ c. wrangle
3. cure
_____ d. ailment
4. quarrel
_____ e. fare
5. succeed
_____ f. dilemma
6. impartial
_____ g. precedent
7. property
_____ h. default
8. fail
_____ i. panacea
9. predicament
Answers
a. The correct answer is 6.
b. The correct answer is 7.
c. The correct answer is 4.
d. The correct answer is 1.
e. The correct answer is 5.
f. The correct answer is 9.
g. The correct answer is 2.
h. The correct answer is 8.
i. The correct answer is 3.
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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In this group of words, the noun is formed by adding ion to the verb. Note the spelling
change in some of them.
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Vocabulary Builder 4
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Noun
anticipation
celebrate
celebration
circumvent
circumvention
direct
direction
donate
donation
exhilarate
exhilaration
insert
insertion
intimidate
intimidation
legislate
legislation
litigate
litigation
object
objection
participate
participation
select
selection
Recent _______________ has raised taxes on luxury items.
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1.
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If there are any words that you do not understand from the list above, look them up in
your dictionary. Then, select the word from the four choices that best completes the
sentence. Write the correct form in the space provided.
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anticipate
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Verb
legislate
donate
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celebrate
direct
object
anticipate
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Unless a will is written clearly, _______________ among family members
may be inevitable.
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3.
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insert
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Half the enjoyment of a vacation is the _______________ of it.
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object
celebrate
select
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litigate
circumvent
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participate
object
Americans _______________ the Fourth of July with a bang.
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5.
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intimidate
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I hope you don’t _______________ to my smoking.
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4.
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legislate
direct
legislate
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celebrate
We were surprised by the _______________ of candidates for the legislature.
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donate
direct
select
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anticipate
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circumvent
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participate
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anticipate
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object
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The police department _______________ trouble at the antinuclear demonstration this afternoon.
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insert
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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8.
It is difficult to _______________ additional material in a manuscript once
it has been prepared for the printer.
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direct
donate
celebrate
9.
He gave a generous _______________ to the public television station.
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insert
celebrate
participate
direct
10. Thousands of runners _______________ in the annual Boston Marathon.
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donate
exhilarate
intimidate
participate
Vocabulary Builder 4 Answers
1.
The correct answer is legislation.
2.
The correct answer is anticipation.
3.
The correct answer is litigation.
4.
The correct answer is object.
5.
The correct answer is celebrate.
6.
The correct answer is selection.
7.
The correct answer is anticipates.
8.
The correct answer is insert.
9.
The correct answer is donation.
10. The correct answer is participate.
Vocabulary Builder 5
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celebrate
1.
Tom insisted upon a fair share of the partnership’s profits.
(A) spare
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Directions: Choose the correct synonym for the underlined word in the
following sentences. Use your dictionary if you need to.
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(B) division
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(C) merit
2.
The president held a brief press conference.
(A) documented
(B) long
(C) pleasant
(D) short
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(D) help
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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In spite of his rude behavior on the tennis court, John has many ardent
admirers.
(A) arduous
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(B) eager
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(C) wild
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(D) fabulous
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An affable response frequently turns away wrath.
(A) pleasant
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(B) loud
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(C) polite
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It is extremely hazardous to try to break up a fierce dog fight.
(A) cross
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(D) angry
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(B) ravenous
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(C) noisy
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(D) violent
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Superstition may easily lead you astray.
(A) irrational belief
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(B) succession
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(C) logic
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Queen Victoria’s palatial country home draws many visitors to the Isle
of Wight.
(A) palatine
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(D) misdirection
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(B) paltry
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(C) palace-like
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(D) partial
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The little boy certainly has distinguished godparents.
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(A) mother and father
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(B) sponsors at the baptism
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(C) religious supporters
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(D) loving relatives
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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9.
The principal threatened to expel him from school if he didn’t behave better.
(A) excise
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(B) exert
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(C) send out
10. He sang the hymn to the accompaniment of the church choir.
(A) voices
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(D) try out
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(B) support
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(C) meter
Vocabulary Builder 5 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (B).
2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (B).
4.
The correct answer is (A).
5.
The correct answer is (D).
6.
The correct answer is (A).
7.
The correct answer is (C).
8.
The correct answer is (B).
9.
The correct answer is (C).
10. The correct answer is (B).
Vocabulary Builder 6
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(D) music
1.
The spy was hanged for ________________ with the enemy.
working together
2.
I spend my weekends at my beach house, far from the noise and
_______________ of the big city.
overcrowding
3.
The defense attorney could not find a witness whose version of the
incident ________ with that of the accused.
agreed
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Directions: Now use the vocabulary words to complete these sentences. Be
sure to use the correct form.
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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The children are making so much noise that I can’t ___________________
on my work.
give complete attention
6.
Reading is an essential __________ of any language course.
part
7.
How did you ever come up with that unappetizing ___________?
mixture
8.
The priest promised to __________ evil and help those in need.
fight
9.
If only we had made sure that we were truly ____________________
before we made our nuptial vows!
able to live together
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Certain drugs have been blamed for _______________ defects and should not be
prescribed for pregnant women.
before birth
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15. Only my older sister knows my secrets; she and I have _______________
in each other since we were children.
talked freely
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14. Thousands of athletes from around the world ___________ in the Olympic
Games.
try to win
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13. White wine is a _____________________ to a good seafood dinner.
something that completes
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12. If he is serious about a career in journalism, he ought to develop a more
________________ style of writing.
short and clear
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11. Every morning at nine the boss and her secretary _____________ on the
work plan for the day.
talk together
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10. The decision concerning the withdrawal of troops was made at a
___________ between the Attorney General and the President.
meeting
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4.
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2.
The correct answer is congestion.
3.
The correct answer is concurred.
4.
The correct answer is congenital.
5.
The correct answer is concentrate.
6.
The correct answer is component.
7.
The correct answer is concoction.
8.
The correct answer is combat.
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The correct answer is collaborating.
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Vocabulary Builder 6 Answers
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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9.
The correct answer is compatible.
10. The correct answer is conclave.
11. The correct answer is confer.
12. The correct answer is concise.
13. The correct answer is complement.
14. The correct answer is compete.
15. The correct answer is confided.
Vocabulary Builder 7
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1.
He reads periodicals that are pertinent to his profession.
(A) appropriate
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Directions: Choose the alternative that has the same meaning as the
underlined word.
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(B) apparent
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(C) perceptive
2.
I like chocolate as well as licorice.
(A) but the opposite
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(D) discriminating
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(B) in spite of
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(C) and
3.
Before Smith went on vacation, he left explicit instructions for the painting
of his apartment.
(A) colorful
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(D) rather than
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(B) clear
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(C) verbal
4.
I’m looking for a little cabin in the woods where I won’t be accessible to my
relatives.
(A) acceptable
(B) probable
(C) reachable
(D) accessory
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(D) written
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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John and Mary worked on their garden with such zeal this summer that
they grew more tomatoes than they could eat.
(A) fertilizers
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(B) garden tools
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(C) unwillingness
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No one could decide whether she married him for mercenary motives or she
loved him in spite of his millions.
(A) money-loving
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(D) enthusiasm
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(B) mercurial
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(C) unknown
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Because he had defaulted in his car payments, the bank repossessed the
car.
(A) erred
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7.
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(D) lucrative
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(B) deprived
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(C) failed
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Because he had invited two girls to the dance, he found himself in a terrible
dilemma.
(A) predicament
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(D) delayed
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(B) romance
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(C) argument
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No matter how hard we try, there is no way to circumvent taxes.
(A) pay in installments
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(D) discussion
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(B) get around
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(C) travel around
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10. Because their birthdays occurred in the same month, they shared a
birthday party.
(A) celebrated
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(D) round up
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(B) spared
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(C) merited
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(D) experienced together
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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11. He’s such an affable fellow that people sometimes take advantage of him.
(A) accessible
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(B) good-natured
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(C) wealthy
12. A recent bride enjoys concocting special dinners for her husband.
(A) putting together
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(D) weak
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(B) inventing
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(C) coordinating
13. Married couples can get a divorce if they find they are not compatible.
(A) able to budget their money
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(D) cooperating
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(B) capable of having children
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(C) capable of living harmoniously
14. The consensus among his sisters was that he ought to get married.
(A) agreement
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(D) able to share an apartment or house
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(B) survey
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(C) statistics
15. The newscaster gave a concise account of the tragedy.
(A) long and detailed
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(D) concentration
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(B) sad and depressing
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(C) complicated and intricate
Vocabulary Builder 7 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (A).
2.
The correct answer is (C).
3.
The correct answer is (B).
4.
The correct answer is (C).
5.
The correct answer is (D).
6.
The correct answer is (A).
7.
The correct answer is (C).
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(D) short and clear
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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9.
The correct answer is (B).
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The correct answer is (A).
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8.
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10. The correct answer is (D).
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11. The correct answer is (B).
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12. The correct answer is (A).
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13. The correct answer is (C).
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14. The correct answer is (A).
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15. The correct answer is (D).
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Directions: Put the number of the definition or synonym in Column B beside
the appropriate word in Column A.
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Vocabulary Builder 8
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B
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A
1. move slowly and aimlessly
_____ b. meander
2. increase
_____ c. pilfer
3. elementary, initial
_____ d. complement
4. jubilant song
_____ e. amenity
5. draw out
_____ f. augment
6. steal
_____ g. paean
7. pleasantness
_____ h. rudimentary
8. fixed pattern representing a type of person
_____ i. habitat
9. natural locality of plant or animal
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_____ a. stereotype
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10. make complete
2.
Comprehending calculus is impossible if you have only a __________
knowledge of mathematics.
3.
Wildlife sanctuaries protect the __________ of birds and the plants on which
they feed.
4.
Absent-minded and thoughtful, Dr. James is the __________ of a college
professor.
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On Sundays, I love to __________ through the woods and bird watch.
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Directions: Use the words above to complete the following sentences.
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_____ j. elicit
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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5.
He will have to find a second job to __________ his income.
6.
Vocabulary exercises __________ the work required for reading comprehension.
7.
The detective tried to __________ the truth from the captured felon.
8.
The superintendent was trying to catch the person who had __________
from the children’s desks.
9.
The hotel we stayed in last weekend didn’t have a single __________ , so we
left after one night.
10. At the Thanksgiving service, the congregation sang a __________ .
Vocabulary Builder 8 Answers
a.
The correct answer is 8.
b.
The correct answer is 1.
c.
The correct answer is 6.
d.
The correct answer is 10.
e.
The correct answer is 7.
f.
The correct answer is 2.
g.
The correct answer is 4.
h.
The correct answer is 3.
i.
The correct answer is 9.
j.
The correct answer is 5.
1.
The correct answer is meander.
2.
The correct answer is rudimentary.
3.
The correct answer is habitats.
4.
The correct answer is stereotype.
5.
The correct answer is augment.
6.
The correct answer is complement.
7.
The correct answer is elicit.
8.
The correct answer is pilferred.
9.
The correct answer is amenity.
10. The correct answer is paean.
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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11. élite
21. non sequitor
2. alumnus, alumna
12. ennui
22. nouveau riche
3. bête noire
13. rapport
23. par excellence
4. carte blanche
14. faux pas
24. parvenu
5. cliché
15. forte
25. pecadillo
6. connoisseur
16. gourmet
26. potpourri
7. coquette
17. macabre
25. savoir faire
8. coup de grace
18. magnum opus
28. suave
9. dilettante
19. misanthrope
29. tyro
10. double entendre
20. misogynist
30. virtuoso
She talked about her troubles ad infinitum, so we all went home early.
2.
He is an alumnus of Boston University, and she is an alumna of Princeton.
3.
My bête noire has always been spelling.
4.
The Queen was given carte blanche wherever she went.
5.
The speaker’s lecture was full of clichés, which annoyed his audience greatly.
6.
As a connoisseur of modern art, he was invited to all of the gallery openings.
7.
Carmen was a coquette whom no man could resist.
8.
As far as he was concerned, the coup de grace in the divorce settlement was
his wife’s getting the dog.
9.
He will never be anything more than a dilettante in art.
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10. At the bachelors’ party, everything that was said seemed to have a double
entendre.
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1.
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Now study these sentences that give you examples of how these words are generally
used in English sentences.
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1. ad infinitum
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When reading in English, you will come across foreign words that have been incorporated into the language. Below is a list of some of the most commonly used foreign words.
Find out what they mean, add them to your cards, then do the exercises that follow.
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14. Not thanking the hostess for dinner was a faux pas on my part.
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13. It is important for teachers to establish a good rapport with their students.
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12. That movie was so bad that I nearly passed out from ennui.
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11. Only the élite were invited to the royal wedding.
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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15. Mathematics is definitely John’s forte.
16. Charlie’s Chophouse is not for gourmets.
17. The children were frightened by the macabre Halloween decorations.
18. After thirty years of intense work on his magnum opus, he found a publisher.
19. His denunciation of just about everyone and everything earned him the
reputation of a misanthrope.
20. He was so old when he got married that his friends had begun to think that
he was a misogynist.
21. Helen’s conversation is so full of non sequitors that we cannot understand her.
22. The neighbors are obviously nouveau riche and don’t have the vaguest
notion of good taste.
23. Perlman is a violinist par excellence.
24. A parvenue, he was not accepted by the old families of Bar Harbor.
25. His wife was used to his pecadillos and forgave them.
26. Stew is a potpourri of meat and vegetables.
27. She showed a great deal of savoir faire for such a young girl.
28. A suave gentleman never lacks invitations to dinner.
29. A tyro in the business world usually earns very little money.
30. Wynton Marsalis is a virtuoso in the music world.
Vocabulary Builder 9
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1.
Students beguile their leisure hours in computer stores.
(A) cause time to pass unnoticed
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Directions: Determine the meaning of the underlined word from the context.
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(B) begin
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(C) waste regrettably
2.
He devised a computer game and sold it to Atari.
(A) played
(B) bought
(C) invented
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(D) fool around
(D) divided
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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Manufacturers are donating computers to schools.
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(A) giving
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(B) going
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(C) dedicating
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(D) deducting
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I am not ingenious enough to invent a video game.
(A) studious
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(B) clever
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(C) glorious
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Currently, students appear to be learning and having fun simultaneously.
(A) electrically
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(D) indigenous
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(B) concurrently
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(C) sometimes
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It is said that you can intimidate your enemies by speaking in a low voice
and carrying a big stick.
(A) frighten
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(D) at the present time
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(B) attack
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(C) harass
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(D) make peace with
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Avid opera lovers are willing to stand in line for hours.
(A) musical
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(B) averse
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(C) eager
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(D) tedious
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Einstein was a brilliant mathematician.
(A) shining
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(B) very intelligent
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(C) famous
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(B) learn
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A computer may be used in the math classroom to implement the lesson.
(A) implant
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(C) entreat
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(D) carry out
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(D) foreign
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10. Physics is an enigma to me.
(A) energy
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(B) problem
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(C) mystery
11. A hundred dollars will suffice to buy a home computer.
(A) be saved
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(D) trial
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(B) be charged
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(C) be suffered
12. The kids spoke a jargon of their own that no one else understood.
(A) accent
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(D) be enough
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(B) unintelligible talk
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(C) vocabulary
13. It was a minute crack in the motor block that ruined the car.
(A) hidden
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(D) foreign language
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(B) multiple
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(C) many-sided
14. Studying vocabulary can be an irksome task.
(A) easy
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(D) very small
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(B) pleasant
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(C) tedious
15. The tennis player protested the call with great fervor.
(A) passion
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(B) favor
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Vocabulary Builder 9 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (A).
2.
The correct answer is (C).
3.
The correct answer is (A).
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(D) dislike
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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5.
The correct answer is (D).
6.
The correct answer is (A).
7.
The correct answer is (C).
8.
The correct answer is (B).
9.
The correct answer is (D).
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The correct answer is (B).
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4.
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10. The correct answer is (C).
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11. The correct answer is (D).
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12. The correct answer is (B).
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13. The correct answer is (D).
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14. The correct answer is (C).
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15. The correct answer is (A).
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Directions: Determine the meaning of the underlined word from the
context; then select the best synonym.
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Vocabulary Builder 10
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Mr. Morton went downstairs to receive them.
(A) get
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1.
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(B) welcome
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(C) say goodbye to
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Lady Augustus, though economical in most things, spent a lot of money on
clothes.
(A) awkward
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2.
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(D) sign for
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(B) extravagant
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(C) thrifty
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(D) careless
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They lived luxuriously even though they had no income.
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(A) expensively
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(B) cheaply
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(C) usury
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(D) beautifully
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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4.
Arabella never stirred anywhere without her maid.
(A) mixed
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(B) moved
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(C) stayed
5.
It would be grievous to her to live without her maid.
(A) pleasant
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(D) resided
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(B) grateful
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(C) painful
6.
The expensive purse was a necessary appendage to Arabella.
(A) something added
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(D) tearful
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(B) application
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(C) dependent
7.
He never betrayed himself to anyone but the butler.
(A) made known
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(D) servant
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(B) fooled
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(C) bewildered
8.
She was graceful and never moved awkwardly.
(A) smoothly
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(D) bestowed
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(B) clumsily
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(C) merrily
9.
She prided herself on her graceful walk.
(A) was proud
(B) was pricked
(C) was happy
(D) was sorry
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(D) gracefully
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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10. He, on the other hand, always seemed to drag.
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(A) dread to move
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(B) dress carelessly
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(C) walk fast
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11. A woman who marries for money, not love, is indeed mercenary.
(A) loving money
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(D) move too slowly
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(B) disinterested
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(C) responsible
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(D) meticulous
The correct answer is (B).
2.
The correct answer is (C).
3.
The correct answer is (A).
4.
The correct answer is (B).
5.
The correct answer is (C).
6.
The correct answer is (A).
7.
The correct answer is (A).
8.
The correct answer is (B).
9.
The correct answer is (A).
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Vocabulary Builder 10 Answers
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10. The correct answer is (D).
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11. The correct answer is (A).
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
Directions: Choose the alternative that has the same meaning as the underlined
word.
1. Before you can take calculus, you need
more than a rudimentary knowledge of
algebra.
(B) viewed
(B) thorough
(C) returned
(C) elementary
(D) overlooked
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(D) superficial
2. The augmentation in the population has
created a fuel shortage.
7. Dick met Jane at a secluded rendezvous
overlooking the avenue.
(A) restaurant
(A) augury
(B) park
(B) increase
(C) meeting place
(C) demand
(D) picnic ground
(D) necessity
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(A) circled
3. Detective Smith used various means to
elicit a confession from the murderer.
8. Dauntless men and women crossed
America in covered wagons.
(A) foreign
(A) make
(B) fearless
(B) force
(C) adventuresome
(C) frame
(D) penniless
(D) draw out
4. It seems inevitable that the world will
end from natural causes.
(B) unhurt
(C) unhappy
(C) impressionable
(D) undeterred
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(D) inestimable
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(A) unsurprised
(B) unavoidable
5. Dr. Salk was lauded for his work with the
polio vaccine.
10. A week’s sojourn in Paris can be very
expensive.
(A) shopping
(A) rewarded
(B) sightseeing
(B) merited
(C) journey
(C) praised
(D) stay
(D) heralded
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9. The pilot miraculously survived the crash
unscathed.
(A) invariable
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6. The spacecraft orbited the earth many
times.
(A) rude
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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14. The Sphinx was an enigma to all but
Oedipus.
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(A) mystery
(B) problem
(B) too much
(C) enemy
(C) objectionable
(D) entity
(C) plagiarized sections
(D) graduate
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(C) supporter
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(B) improper language
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(B) professor
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(A) ungrammatical sentences
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(A) student
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15. As an alumnus of Harvard, he felt compelled to contribute to the building fund.
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12. You should try to avoid clichés if you want
to be a creative writer.
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(D) talkative
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(A) welcome
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11. A younger sister is obnoxious to have
around when the older sister’s boyfriend
comes to the house.
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(D) trite phrases
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13. He devised a folding toothbrush for
travelers.
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(A) sold
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(B) bought
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(C) invented
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(D) described
exercises
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EXERCISES: PUTTING IT TOGETHER
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Directions: Try to do this crossword puzzle; it is a review of the vocabulary used
in previous chapters.
Down
1.
Studies or looks at again
1.
Elementary
4.
Make more beautiful
2.
Dull, uninteresting
10. Prefix meaning eight
3.
Consumes
11. Delegated
5.
Deep, round container
13. Works together
6.
Animal used for wool
16. Short form of middle
7.
Prefix meaning between
18. Hexa
8.
Science of growing fruit, vegetables,
20. Bends the head to
show agreement
and flowers
9.
Antonym of give
22. Confusion
12. Auxiliary verb
24. Ability
14. Preposition: _____ school
26. Friendly, pleasant
15. Irrational belief
27. Feeling of boredom, weariness
17. Excites
28. Kidnap
18. Abbreviation for Social Security
30. Possessive adjective
19. Neuter pronoun
31. Salary increase
21. Fail, as in payments
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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Across
23. Join together
36. Past of sit
25. _____ I were you. . .
37. Abbreviation for saint
29. Vagabond
38. Indefinite article
32. Suffix indicating someone
39. Property who practices
34. Wander aimlessly
40. Threaten, making someone
35. Very large
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33. Avoid by going around
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38. Classified _____
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exercises
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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ANSWER KEY
Synonyms
1.
C
6.
A
11.
C
2.
B
7.
C
12.
D
3.
D
8.
B
13.
C
4.
B
9.
B
14.
A
5.
C
10.
D
15.
D
Putting It Together
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Chapter 4: Everyday and Specific Vocabulary
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SUMMING IT UP
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Words that relate to people and places appear in the longer conversations in the
Listening Comprehension section.
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Words that relate to people and places are usually tested in the short dialogues.
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Make a list of words that relate to each other.
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•
•
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All About Roots
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OVERVIEW
• Word roots
• How roots work
• Learning words with Greek roots
• Learning words with Latin roots
• Summing it up
WORD ROOTS
The root of a word contains the basic meaning. Prefixes and suffixes can be
added to a root. For example, the root cred means “believe,” so the English word
“credible” means “believable.” Learning the roots of words will help you work out
the meaning of words you do not know and will consequenly help you with all
parts of the TOEFL test. Since there are a great number of roots from which
words stem in English, the most common ones are presented in this chapter.
STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING ROOTS
•
Most word roots are never used alone. They may have prefixes and suffixes
attached to them.
•
At first you may not see how a particular word grew from the word root. But
when you begin to analyze the word, you will see the connection.
•
Once you recognize word roots, you will see connections among many words.
This will make it easier for you to understand and remember their meanings.
•
Try to learn a number of word roots each day. Review the roots you have
learned before and try to use them in speech or writing.
•
Every time you look up a word in the dictionary, look at its word root (most
roots in English come from Latin or Greek).
93
chapter 5
• Strategies for learning roots
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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HOW ROOTS WORK
Prefixes and Suffixes Are Added to Roots to Create Many Words
For example, the root vor means “to eat.” If you are a voracious (voh-ray-shus) eater, you
eat a lot of food. In the following examples, the root “vor(e)” is combined with prefixes
and suffixes to describe types of eaters in the plant and animal kingdoms.
Cover the last column of the following chart and see how many of these words you can
figure out by just knowing the meaning of the root “vor.”
Word
Prefix
Meaning
Root
Meaning
Word Definition
carnivore
carni
meat
vor
eat
meat eater
insectivore
insect
bug
vor
eat
bug eater
herbivore
herb
plants
vor
eat
plant eater
granivore
gran
grain
vor
eat
grain eater
frugivore
frug
fruit
vor
eat
fruit eater
graminivore
gram
grass
vor
eat
grass eater
nectarivore
nectar
juice
vor
eat
nectar (juice) eater
omnivore
omni
everything
vor
eat
eats everything
Knowing how the words were created can help you figure out many words you encounter
on standardized tests. In addition, you can use these decoding skills to figure out the
meaning of all the new words that are created every day.
Here’s the basic drill:
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Adding a suffix to a root
zoo + ology = zoology
bronch + itis = bronchitis
The following chart shows additional examples of how words are put together. Knowing
this process can help you take them apart to define them. Remember: words are like
people: it’s easy to figure them out . . . once you know their parts.
Prefix
+
Root
+
Suffix
=
New Word
Meaning
re
+
fer
+
al
=
referral
connection
de
+
ter
+
ent
=
deterrent
impediment
re
+
pul
+
sion
=
repulsion
send back
dis
+
pel
+
ed
=
dispelled
driven away
re
+
tract
+
able
=
retractable
draw back
im
+
peril
+
ed
=
imperiled
put in danger
dis
+
credit
+
ed
=
discredited
to cause disbelief
ab
+
duct
+
ed
=
abducted
kidnapped
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Adding a prefix to a root
de + hydrate = dehydrate
hydro + power = hydropower
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 5: All About Roots
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Even if you can’t define a word exactly, recognizing the root will give you a general idea
of the word’s meaning. For example, if you read the word geocentric, knowing the root
geo would help you figure out that geocentric has to do with the center (“centric”) of the
Earth or Earth as the center.
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TIP
Whenever you come
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upon an unfamiliar
word, first check to
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For example, the word matrilineal contains the roots matri (mother) and lineal (line).
Putting it together, you can deduce that matrilineal means “determining ancestry
through the female line.”
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A Word Can Contain More Than One Root
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For example, the root term also means “name or length of time.” In a similar way, the
root vent also means “an opening that allows air to enter.” Even though these roots are
words, they can still function as roots, as the following chart shows:
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Some Roots Are Words Themselves
Meaning
Suffix
New Word
Meaning
term
name
–ology
terminology
wording
term
name
–agant
termagant
shrewish woman
term
end limit
–inal
terminal
end of a series
term
end limit
–less
termless
not limited
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Some Roots Must Be Combined with Other Word Elements to Form
Words
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Root
Suffix
New Word
Meaning
Pronunciation
aud
hear
–ible
audible
able to be heard
(aw-di-ble)
capit
head
–al
capital
most important
carn
flesh
–al
carnal
of the flesh
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Meaning
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Some roots can also function as prefixes, depending on their placement in a word. For
example, graphy means “writing.”
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When It Comes to Building Words from Roots, Placement Matters
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(car-nal)
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Root
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Take a look at the examples on the following chart:
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calligraphy
graphology
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used as a root
used as a prefix
see if it has a recognizable root.
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 1
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a
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a
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s
i
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Vocabulary Builder 1 Answers
1.
abhor: to turn away from; loathe
2.
abrogate: to repeal; do away with
3.
abscond: to steal away and hide
4.
admonish: to strongly urge or caution
5.
aggrandize: to make more powerful, important, or wealthier
6.
ambivalent: having conflicting emotions
7.
ambulatory: able to move
8.
amphibious: capable of living both on land and in water
9.
antidote: a remedy against a poison
10. antipathy: a strong feeling of dislike; hostility; aversion
11. antithesis: a contrast of ideas
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Directions: There are fifteen words hidden in this word-find puzzle. Every
word begins with “A.” To complete the puzzle, locate and circle all the words.
The words may be written forward, backward, or upside down.
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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12. apostle: a person sent away to deliver a message
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13. appease: to pacify; bring toward peace
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14. assiduous: diligent; industrious
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15. asylum: a place of security or retreat
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Many of the words we use every day come from Greek roots. This is especially true of
the language of scientific words, because much of the language of science was created
primarily from Greek roots. Scientific words often appear on standardized tests.
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LEARNING WORDS WITH GREEK ROOTS
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You’ll notice that some of the roots have more than one spelling. For example, macro and
mega both mean “large.” Read the following chart over several times and you’ll soon get
accustomed to the slight variations in spelling.
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Greek Roots for Measurement
Meaning Example
Definition
acr
topmost
acrophobia
fear of high places (ak-roh-foh-bee-uh)
arch/
prot
first
archbishop
prototype
highest bishop
first of its kind
chron
time
chronicle
historical record
ger/
paleo
old
geriatric
relating to old age (ger-ee-at-trik)
paleogeology the science of Earth’s history
(pay-lee-oh-gee-ol-oh-ge)
horo
hour
horoscope
signs of the zodiac (hor-oh-scope)
macro/
mega
large
macroscopic
megalith
seen with the naked eye
huge stone
meter
measure
altimeter
device to measure altitude (al-tih-ma-ter)
micro
small
microbe
tiny organism (my-krobe)
morph
form
metamorphosis
change of form (meh-tah-mor-foh-sis)
neo
new
neophyte
beginner (nee-oh-fite)
pan
all
panacea
a cure-all (pana-see-uh)
ped
foot
pedometer
device for measuring steps (peh-dom-eh-ter)
poly
many
polyglot
speaking several languages (poh-lee-glot)
tele
far off
telescope
device for seeing distant objects
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Words with the Hydro/Hydra Root
Many useful words are formed from the hydro/hydra root. The following chart shows
some of the most important ones that often appear on standardized tests:
Word
Definition
Pronunciation
hydrostat
electrical device for detecting water
(hi-droh-stat)
dehydrate
dry out
(dee-hi-drate)
hydrophobia
rabies; literally, fear of water
(hi-droh-foh-bee-uh)
hydroplane
boat that travels on water
(hi-droh-playn)
hydroponics
growing plants in water
(hi-droh-pon-iks)
hydropower
power generated from water
(hi-droh-pow-ur)
hydrate
combine with water
(hi-drate)
hydrangea
flower (that needs much water)
(hi-drayn-jah)
hydrotherapy water therapy
(hi-droh-ther-a-pee)
hydrosphere
(hi-droh-sfeer)
water on Earth
Words About the Natural World
Below are some Greek roots and words formed from them that concern the natural
world.
Root
Meaning
Example
Definition
anthrop
human
anthropology
study of humankind
(an-throh-pol-oh-gee)
bio
life
biology
the study of life
dem
people
democracy
rule by the people
gen
race
genetics
eugenics
study of heredity (jen-eh-tiks)
improving offspring (yoo-jen-iks)
helio
sun
heliotrope
sunflower (hee-lee-uh-trop)
ichthy
fish
ichthyology
study of fish (ik-thee-ol-oh-gee)
ornith
bird
ornithology
study of birds (or-neh-thol-oh-gee)
ped
foot
pedometer
instrument that measures footsteps
phyt
plant
phytology
study of plants (fi-tol-oh-gee)
polit
citizen
cosmopolitan
citizen of the world
pyr
fire
pyrogenic
producing heat (pi-roh-jen-ik)
soma
body
somatic
physical (sew-mah-tik)
thermo
heat
thermostat
device for regulating heat
zoo
animal
zoology
study of animals
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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first of its kind
2. bldiuae
able to be heard
3. hpyteeon
beginner
4. iahobroacp
fear of high places
5. leronichc
historical record
6. scnieegu
improving offspring
7. ophbichars
highest bishop
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1. tryooppet
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Directions: First unscramble each of the seven testworthy words so that
it matches its definition. Then, use the words to fill the appropriate spaces
on the corresponding line. When you have completed the entire puzzle,
you’ll see another word vertically in the column with circles.
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Vocabulary Builder 2
2.
The correct answer is audible.
3.
The correct answer is neophyte.
4.
The correct answer is acrophobia.
5.
The correct answer is chronicle.
6.
The correct answer is eugenics.
7.
The correct answer is archbishop.
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The correct answer is prototype.
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Vocabulary Builder 2 Answers
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Word reading down: panacea
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How many of the following words do you know? Test yourself by covering the fourth
column and trying to define each word.
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The Greek roots form many testworthy words that describe beliefs and ideas as well.
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Greek Roots for Beliefs and Ideas
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Root
Meaning
Example
Definition
archy/cracy rule by
monarchy
rule by a single leader (mon-ar-kee)
biblio
book
bibliophile
book lover, book collector (bib-lee-oh-file)
dox
belief
orthodox
conforming to approved beliefs
gam
marriage
polygamy
multiple wives (poh-li-guh-me)
graph
writing
graphology
study of handwriting (graf-ol-oh-gee)
ideo
idea
ideology
body of knowledge (aye-dee-ol-oh-gee)
logy
study of
anthropology study of humanity (an-throh-pol-oh-gee)
nom
rule
autonomy
self-rule (aw-ton-oh-mee)
onym
name
pseudonym
pen name (soo-doh-nim)
orama
view
panorama
complete view (pan-oh-rah-muh)
path
feeling
sympathy
compassion
psycho
mind
psychology
study of the mind (si-col-oh-gee)
theo
god
theology
study of god (thee-ol-oh-gee)
soph
wisdom
sophistry
tricky reasoning (sof-is-tree)
Vocabulary Builder 3
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Word
Root
Meaning
Word Meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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pyrotechnics
thermometer
gene
android
zoological
thermodynamics
politician
pyrography
engender
heliocentric
polity
zoometry
gynarchy
ichthyoid
ornithopod
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Directions: Assess what you’ve learned so far by completing the following
chart. For each word, first write the root and its meaning. Then, use what
you’ve learned about roots to define each word. Don’t hesitate to look back at
what you just learned—or to use a dictionary.
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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Root
Meaning
Word Meaning
1. pyrotechnics
pyro
fire
fireworks
2. thermometer
thermo
heat
device for measuring heat
3. gene
gen
race
unit of heredity
4. android
andr
man
man-shaped robot
5. zoological
zoo
animal
about animals
6. thermodynamics
thermo
heat
using heat
7. politician
polit
citizen
officeholder
8. pyrography
pyro
fire
burning designs on wood, etc.
9. engender
gen
race
to produce
10. heliocentric
helio
sun
relating to the sun as center
11. polity
polit
citizen
political organization
12. zoometry
zoo
animal
measuring animals
13. gynarchy
gyn
women
government by women
14. ichthyoid
ichthy
fish
fish-like
15. ornithopod
ornith
bird
bird-like dinosaur
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Vocabulary Builder 3 Answers
Pronunciation
ignominious
disgracing one’s name
(ig-noh-min-ee-us)
misnomer
wrong name
(mis-noh-mer)
nomenclature
system of naming
(noh-men-clay-ture)
nominal
so-called
(nom-in-ul)
nominate
name someone for an office
(nom-in-ate)
nominee
candidate
(nom-in-ee)
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The Latin root nomin/nomen (name) has given us a great many words, including the
following:
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If you think we’ve borrowed a lot of roots from the Greeks, wait until you see what we’ve
borrowed from Latin! For example, the Latin root plac means “pleasure.” Words formed
from this root include placid, complacent, implacable, complaisant, and placate.
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LEARNING WORDS WITH LATIN ROOTS
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Latin Roots for Size and Amount
Below are fifteen Latin roots that describe size and amount. Study the roots, examples,
and definitions. As you read, say the words aloud to help you remember them to use on
the TOEFL.
Root
Meaning
Example
Definition
alt
high
altitude
height above surface
ann
year
biannual
happening twice a year
brev
short
brevity
being brief
centr
center
centrist
moderate viewpoint
dors
back
dorsal
back fin
fin/
term
final
finale
terminal
the last piece of music (fi-nal-ee)
end
magni
large
magniloquent pompous speaking style
(mag-nil-uh-kwent)
med
middle
median
in the middle (mee-dee-an)
multi
many
multifarious
numerous and varied (mul-te-far-e-us)
nihil
nothing
annihilate
kill (ann-ni-ah-late)
omni
all
omniscient
all-knowing (om-nish-ent)
pend
weigh
pendulous
hanging
sed/sess
sit
sedate
quiet
ten/tin
hold
tenet
belief held as true (tehn-et)
vid, vis
see
visual
seen (viz-yu-al)
Vocabulary Builder 4
Directions: Match the word to its definition. You may wish to underline the
Latin root in each word as you do so. Then, write your answers in the space
provided.
______ 1. abdication
a. overpass
______ 2. diversification
b. guess
______ 3. repulsion
c. variety
______ 4. benediction
d. decree; order
______ 5. edict
e. renounce a throne
______ 6. misconduct
f. assembly; caucus
______ 7. viaduct
g. questionable
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 5: All About Roots
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h. aversion
i. wrongdoing
______ 10. objectionable
j. blessing
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______ 9. conjecture
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______ 8. Congress
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The correct answer is e.
2.
The correct answer is c.
3.
The correct answer is h.
4.
The correct answer is j.
5.
The correct answer is d.
6.
The correct answer is i.
7.
The correct answer is a.
8.
The correct answer is f.
9.
The correct answer is b.
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Vocabulary Builder 4 Answers
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10. The correct answer is g.
Prefix
Meaning
Root
Word Meaning
insecticide
insect
bug
cide
killing bugs
genocide
gen
people
cide
killing a race of people
homicide
homo
mankind
cide
a person killing a person
matricide
matr
mother
cide
killing your mother
patricide
patr
father
cide
killing your father
fratricide
frat
brother
cide
killing your brother
sororicide
soro
sister
cide
killing your sister
suicide
sui
self
cide
killing yourself
infanticide
infant
baby
cide
killing a baby
ceticide
cet
whales
cide
killing whales
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The Latin root cide means “kill” or “cut.” As you read the following chart, cover the fifth
column. See how many words you can decode using what you know about the root and
its meaning.
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Latin Roots for “Kill” or “Cut”
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 5
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_____ 1. unification
union
_____ 2. degradation
encouragement
_____ 3. induce
influence
_____ 4. jettison
bring on board
_____ 5. addiction
habit; fixation
_____ 6. gentrification
growing old
_____ 7. scribe
writer
_____ 8. malediction
bad luck
_____ 9. dejected
depressed
_____ 10. propellant
meddler
_____ 11. contradict
dissent; deny
_____ 12. gradient
flat surface
_____ 13. inscribe
write on
_____ 14. traduce
praise
_____ 15. abduct
kidnap
Vocabulary Builder 5 Answers
1.
The correct answer is T.
2.
The correct answer is F.
3.
The correct answer is T.
4.
The correct answer is F.
5.
The correct answer is T.
6.
The correct answer is F.
7.
The correct answer is T.
8.
The correct answer is F.
9.
The correct answer is T.
10. The correct answer is F.
11. The correct answer is T.
12. The correct answer is F.
13. The correct answer is T.
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Directions: In the space provided, write T if the definition is true and F if
it is false. Use what you learned about Latin roots to help you figure out what
each word means.
14. The correct answer is F.
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15. The correct answer is T.
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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____________________________________________
2. biannual
____________________________________________
3. continence
____________________________________________
4. append
____________________________________________
5. omniscient
____________________________________________
6. supersede
____________________________________________
7. pendulous
____________________________________________
8. invidious
____________________________________________
9. secede
____________________________________________
10. omnivorous
____________________________________________
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1. compendium
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Directions: Define each word, using its root to help you. Write your
definition on the line provided.
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Vocabulary Builder 6
The correct answer is digest; synopsis.
2.
The correct answer is happening twice a year.
3.
The correct answer is self-control.
4.
The correct answer is add.
5.
The correct answer is perceiving all things.
6.
The correct answer is go beyond; replace.
7.
The correct answer is hanging.
8.
The correct answer is causing resentment.
9.
The correct answer is withdraw; resign.
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Vocabulary Builder 6 Answers
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10. The correct answer is eating all kinds of foods.
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 7
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Verb
Noun
Adjective
Adverb
abuse
abuse
abusive
abusively
acquire
acquisition
compare
comparison
comparative
comparatively
damage
damage
exceed
excess
excessive
excessively
intend
intention
intentional
intentionally
prohibit
prohibition
prohibitive
prohibitively
question
question
questionable
questionably
recommend
recommendation
recommendable
refuse
refusal
reply
reply
require
requirement
treat
treatment
use
use, usage
useful
usefully
1.
With the President’s _______________, the bill was passed by Congress.
2.
I do not object to the use of alcohol in moderation but, rather, to the
_______________ use of it.
3.
There is a(n) _______________ between aspirin and alcohol in this passage.
4.
Lincoln’s _______________ to help the abolitionists incurred their wrath.
5.
Send me a list of your _______________s for entrance to college.
6.
Drug _______________ is the subject of this passage.
7.
It was not his _______________ to take too much aspirin.
8.
He had a(n) _______________ to ask the professor about the examination.
9.
If we have guests for dinner on Saturday, we will _______________ our
budget for this week.
10. Since the package was insured, the _______________ was paid for.
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Directions: This list contains a group of miscellaneous verbs whose noun,
adjective, or adverb forms do not follow any particular pattern. Use your
dictionary if you do not understand the meaning of any of the words. Use the
correct form of a word from the list below to complete the sentences below.
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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15. Her motives in accepting his proposal are _______________.
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14. His _______________ to my letter was short and amusing.
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13. There is nothing wrong with the _______________ of drugs if you take the
proper dosage.
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12. He was so preoccupied with the _______________ of property that he
neglected his other interests.
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11. _______________ was a period in American history when laws prevented
legal consumption of alcohol.
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2.
The correct answer is excessive.
3.
The correct answer is comparison.
4.
The correct answer is refusal.
5.
The correct answer is requirement.
6.
The correct answer is abuse.
7.
The correct answer is intention.
8.
The correct answer is question.
9.
The correct answer is exceed.
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The correct answer is recommendation.
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Vocabulary Builder 7 Answers
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10. The correct answer is damage.
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11. The correct answer is Prohibition.
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12. The correct answer is acquisition.
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14. The correct answer is use.
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14. The correct answer is reply.
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15. The correct answer is questionable.
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Vocabulary Builder 8
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A
_____ a. succumb
B
1. beneath the earth
_____ b. sundry
2. relating to treatment of disease
_____ c. ensuing
3. various
_____ d. underground
4. go up and down
_____ e. therapeutic
5. following
_____ f. inoculate
6. bend the upper part of the body
_____ g. bounce
7. abnormal fear of enclosed space
_____ h. adverse
8. die
_____ i. despite
9. participate
_____ j. claustrophobia
10. inject
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Directions: Put the number of the definition in Column B beside the correct
word in Column A. There are more definitions than there are words to match.
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11. unfavorable
Vocabulary Builder 8 Answers
a.
The correct answer is 8.
b.
The correct answer is 3.
c.
The correct answer is 5.
d.
The correct answer is 1.
e.
The correct answer is 2.
f.
The correct answer is 10.
g.
The correct answer is 4.
h.
The correct answer is 11.
i.
The correct answer is 12.
j.
The correct answer is 7.
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12. in spite of
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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The refugees were obliged to halt at the border to have their papers verified.
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4.
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Geraniums thrive if you transplant them from indoors to your garden in the
hot weather.
(A) transfer
(B) substitute
(C) trade
(D) dig
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3.
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When there are severe shortages of fuel, prices soar.
(A) tower
(B) slow
(C) fall
(D) rise
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2.
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If you know in advance that the examination is going to be easy, you have
no incentive to study very much.
(A) incidence
(B) motive
(C) time
(D) interest
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hurry
disrobe
surrender
stop
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Everything I read about costs has the word skyrocketing in it.
(A) flying in space
(B) celestial
(C) writing in the sky
(D) rapidly increasing
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5.
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(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
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Directions: Circle the answer choice that means the same as the underlined word.
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Vocabulary Builder 9
2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (A).
4.
The correct answer is (D).
5.
The correct answer is (D).
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The correct answer is (B).
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Vocabulary Builder 9 Answers
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EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
Directions: Circle the answer choice that has the same meaning as the underlined
word.
1. Nutritionists believe that vitamins
circumvent disease.
6. Usually submissive, little Andy suddenly
turned rebellious.
(A) defeat
(A) quiet
(B) nourish
(B) obedient
(C) treat
(C) permissive
(D) feed
(D) timid
2. After his heart attack, Joe went on a
therapeutic diet.
7. Sometimes hyperactive children are
given drugs.
(A) vegetable
(A) excessively lively
(B) stringent
(B) slow-moving
(C) curative
(C) very intelligent
(D) weight-losing
(D) physically disabled
3. Efforts to ameliorate housing conditions
for the poor were halted because government funds were cut off.
8. Taking college entrance tests with levity
is impossible.
(A) notes
(A) add to
(B) care
(B) develop
(C) lightness
(C) study
(D) levitation
(D) improve
4. I think your decision to buy the house was
judicious.
(B) courted
(C) famous
(C) careful
(D) noxious
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(D) joyful
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(A) infamous
(B) wise
5. I have an appointment this afternoon
with my chiropodist.
10. Manufacturers are dubious about predictions of an economic recovery.
(A) dumbfounded
(A) eye doctor
(B) delighted
(B) skin specialist
(C) driven
(C) baby doctor
(D) doubtful
(D) foot specialist
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9. He was notorious among the women for
his fickleness.
(A) extravagant
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 5: All About Roots
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14. The doctor told him to keep his arm
immobile for a few days.
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(B) encased in ice
(B) obviously
(C) motionless
(C) seemingly
(D) exercised
(B) injected
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(A) very great
(C) very calculating
(D) very abusive
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(B) very little
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(A) treated
15. The hurricane caused incalculable damage in New England.
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12. Because children are inoculated against
measles, there are currently very few
cases of the disease in the United States.
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(A) probably
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11. Ostensibly, she enjoys her vacations in
Nova Scotia, but she really would prefer
someplace warmer.
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(C) isolated
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(D) subjected
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13. Pat cannot take elevators because she
has claustrophobia.
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(A) unreasonable fear of heights
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(B) unreasonable fear of closed spaces
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(C) unreasonable fear of elevators
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(D) unreasonable fear of people
exercises
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EXERCISES: PUTTING IT TOGETHER
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Directions: This crossword puzzle is a review of some of the vocabulary in this
chapter.
Down
3.
Indefinite article
1.
Disobedient
4.
Doubtful
2.
Stage, platform
7.
Very great
3.
Suffix meaning relating to
11. Cooking
5.
Antonym of girls
12. Passive, obedient
6.
Abbreviation for saint
14. Go up and down
8.
Result
18. Uncertain
9.
Divide into two parts
21. Very small
10. Sickness
22. Beginner
13. Signify
24. Also
15. Equal
25. Indefinite article
16. Death notice
26. Someone who takes part
17. Suggests
29. Bring up (children)
19. Bother
30. Past of feed
20. Prefix meaning many
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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Down
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Across
21. Traveler’s tool
35. Shortage
23. Suffix meaning one who
36. Merciless
27. Joyous song
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32. Antonym of permanent
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31. Abbreviation of definition
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30. Temporary pursuit
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28. Also
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33. Salary
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34. Decay
exercises
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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ANSWER KEY
Synonyms
1.
A
6.
B
11.
C
2.
C
7.
A
12.
B
3.
D
8.
C
13.
B
4.
B
9.
A
14.
C
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D
10.
D
15.
A
Putting It Together
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Chapter 5: All About Roots
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• Most word roots have prefixes and suffixes attached to them.
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SUMMING IT UP
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roots.
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• You will see connections among words once you recognize the word
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• Most roots in English come from Greek or Latin
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All About Prefixes
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OVERVIEW
• Prefixes
• How prefixes work
• Learning words with Greek prefixes
• Learning words with Latin prefixes
• Prefixes for numbers
• Anglo-Saxon prefixes
• Summing it up
PREFIXES
A prefix is a form added in front of a word or word root to change its meaning. For
example, the prefix il means “not,” so the word “illegal” means “not legal.”
Learning prefixes will help you work out the meaning of many words you do not
know in English and will help you with all parts of the TOEFL. There are more
than fifty prefixes in English and you will learn most of them in this chapter.
STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING PREFIXES
•
By doing the vocabulary builders and exercises in this chapter, you will
familiarize yourself with the most common prefixes in English. This will
enable you to recognize or guess the meanings of hundreds of words.
•
A prefix usually changes the meaning of a word. For example, the prefix inchanges the meaning of a word to the opposite. “Capable” means “having the
ability of doing or being.” “Incapable” means “not having the ability of doing
or being.”
•
Prefixes are often attached to roots of words.
Examples
re
→
act
inter
→
act
trans
→
act
By knowing the prefix and the root, you can work out the meaning of the word.
117
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• Strategies for learning prefixes
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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HOW PREFIXES WORK
Prefixes Are Added to the Front of Roots to Create Many Words
As you have read, prefixes are placed at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Therefore, knowing just a handful of prefixes can make it easy for you to figure out many
words—without ever having to use a dictionary. Here are some examples with the prefix
re, which means “to do again.”
re
absorb
reabsorb
absorb again
re
acquaint
reacquaint
meet again
re
qualify
requalify
qualify again
re
admit
readmit
admit again
re
allocate
reallocate
allocate again
re
appear
reappear
appear again
re
arrange
rearrange
change the arrangement
re
attach
reattach
attach again
re
fasten
refasten
fasten again
re
copy
recopy
copy again
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Definition
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Even though you may have seen the prefix written with a hyphen (as in pre-, re-, de-),
the prefix is attached seamlessly. The following chart shows some examples:
Prefix +
Root =
Word
Definition
dis
inter
disinter
to unearth (dis-in-tur)
dis
credit
discredit
to cause to be doubted
extra
terrestrial
extraterrestrial
alien (not of this place)
in
tractable
intractable
hard to handle; unmanageable
mal
content
malcontent
a dissatisfied person
multi
faceted
multifaceted
having many sides or aspects
multi
form
multiform
having many different forms
phil
harmonic
philharmonic
fond of music (fil-har-mon-ik)
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Prefixes Are Most Often Attached to Words Without a Break
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prefix!
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prefix to describe
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placed.” It takes a
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which means “firmly
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the root word fix,
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means “before,” and
Word
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prefix prae, which
Root =
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The word prefix is
made up of the Latin
Prefix +
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NOTE
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Prefix
Sample Words
Meaning
One-Letter Prefix
a
amoral
not moral (ay-mor-al)
Two-Letter Prefix
co
cohabit
live together
Three-Letter Prefix
pre
premature
before mature
Four-Letter Prefix
para
paragraph
subsection of a writing
Five-Letter Prefix
tract
tractile
ductile; able to be drawn out
Six-Letter Prefix
circum
circumlocution
a roundabout way of speaking
(sir-cum-loh-que-shun)
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Number of Letters
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Prefixes can be as short as one letter or as long as six letters. The following chart shows
some examples:
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Prefixes Are Different Lengths
Meaning
Examples
in
in, into
inhabit
in
not
inflexible
il
in, into
illuminate
il
not
illiterate
im
in, into
import
im
not
immodest
ir
in, into
irradiate
ir
not
irregular
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Prefix
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Here are some examples of Latin prefixes that have more than one meaning:
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For example, the Latin prefix in- can mean “in” (as in inhabit), but it can also mean not
(as in inhuman). As a result, knowing a prefix will take you only so far in defining
testworthy words. You'll also have to use context clues to check meaning.
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Prefixes Can Have More Than One Meaning
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For instance, the prefix for “together” can be spelled syn- or sym-. The prefix for “apart”
can be spelled dis-, di-, and dif-. Ignore these minor variations because the prefix still
has the same meaning.
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Prefixes Can Have More Than One Spelling
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Vocabulary Builder 1
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r
e
a
b
s
o
r
b
x
b
i
g
d
n
e
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o
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e
Vocabulary Builder 1 Answers
1.
multiform: having many different forms
2.
cohabit: live together
3.
intractable: hard to handle; unmanageable
4.
disinter: to unearth
5.
reacquaint: meet again
6.
malcontent: a dissatisfied person
7.
amoral: not moral
8.
tractile: ductile; able to be drawn out
9.
reabsorb: absorb again
10. discredit: to cause to be doubted
11. colloquial: informal, as in conversation or writing
12. lucid: clear; bright
13. delude: to deceive
14. malign: to speak badly of another with the intent to harm
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Directions: There are fifteen words hidden in this word-find puzzle. Ten
words have already been covered in this chapter, but five are new. To
complete the puzzle, locate and circle all the words. The words may be written
forward, backward, or upside down.
15. dementia: a loss of mental abilities or powers
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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LEARNING WORDS WITH GREEK PREFIXES
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As you learned in Chapter 5, many important TOEFL words have Greek roots. The same
is true when it comes to Greek prefixes: many of the words that you encounter on
standardized tests begin with Greek prefixes. Knowing these prefixes can help you
decode and define many important words. Below are ten Greek prefixes that can help
you do your best on the test.
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Ten Useful Greek Prefixes
Meaning
Examples
Definition
a
not, without
atypical
asymmetrical
not typical
not even
anthro
man
anthropology
anthropoid
study of man
resembling man
anti
against
antipathy
antisocial
hatred
unfriendly; misanthropic
aster/
astro
star
asteroid
astrology
star-like body (as-ter-oid)
study of influence of
stars on people
auto
self
autocracy
automate
government by
absolute monarch
operate without people
bio
life
biography
biofeedback
person's life story
controlling bodily functions
chrom
color
chromophil
chromatics
staining readily with dyes
the science of colors
chron
time
chronological
chronicle
time order
history
cosmo
universe
cosmopolitan
cosmonaut
worldly
a Russian astronaut
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book lover (bib-lee-oh-file)
list of books (bib-lee-ah-graph-ee)
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bibliophile
bibliography
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book
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biblio
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Vocabulary Builder 2
Directions: For each word, first write the prefix and its meaning. Then, use
what you learned about prefixes to define each word. Feel free to look back
at the ten prefixes you just learned.
Word
Prefix
Meaning
Word Meaning
1. anemia
2. anthropoid
3. antidote
4. asterisk
5. astronaut
6. autonomous
7. autonomy
8. automation
9. autopsy
10. bibliophile
11. biodegradable
12. biopsy
13. chronometer
14. cosmos
15. synchronize
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Vocabulary Builder 2 Answers
Word
Prefix
Meaning Word Meaning
1. anemia
a
not
blood deficiency (uh-nee-me-uh)
2. anthropoid
anthro
man
resembling man
3. antidote
anti
against
remedy against poison
4. asterisk
aster
star
star-shaped mark
5. astronaut
astro
star
“star sailor”
6. autonomous
auto
self
self-governing
7. autonomy
auto
self
self-government
8. automation
auto
self
robot
9. autopsy
auto
self
inspection and dissection of a body after death
10. bibliophile
biblio
books
someone who values books
11. biodegradable bio
life
decays and is absorbed into the environment
12. biopsy
bio
life
excision and study of a piece of bodily tissue
13. chronometer
chron
time
timepiece; watch
14. cosmos
cosmo
universe
universe
15. synchronize
chron
time
agree in time
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Below are ten more prefixes that have made their way from ancient Greece to modern
English. Read through the prefixes, meanings, and examples. Pause after each row to
see how many other words you can brainstorm that start with the same prefix.
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Ten More Greek Prefixes
Meaning
Examples
Definition
dem
people
democracy
government by the people
eu
good
eulogize
speak well of someone (funeral speech)
(yoo-low-gize)
gee, geo
earth
geography
writing about Earth
graph, gram
write
graphology
study of handwriting
hydro
water
hydrophobia
fear of water (hi-dro-fo-bee-uh)
hyper
over
hypercritical
overly critical
hypo
under
hypodermic
under the skin
micro
small
microscope
tool for looking at small objects
mis
hate
misanthropy
hatred of people (mis-an-throw-pee)
mono
one
monotone
one tone
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Prefix
Prefix
Meaning
Word Meaning
1. euphonious
2. graphic
3. microfilm
4. apogee
5. monotheism
6. geology
7. hydrology
8. euphemism
9. demagogue
10. euphoria
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Directions: First identify the prefix, then define it, and finally use what you
learned to define the word. Refer to the previous chart if you need a quick
review.
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Vocabulary Builder 3
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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Vocabulary Builder 3 Answers
Word
Prefix
Meaning Word Meaning
1. euphonious
eu
good
pleasing sound (you-phone-ee-us)
2. graphic
graph
write
written
3. microfilm
micro
small
small film
4. apogee
gee
earth
farthest point from Earth in satellite's
orbit (ah-poe-gee)
5. monotheism
mono
one
one God
6. geology
geo
earth
study of the earth
7. hydrology
hydro
water
study of water (hi-drah-lo-gee)
8. euphemism
eu
good
substitution of a mild expression for one
that may offend (you-fah-miz-um)
9. demagogue
dem
people
rabble-rouser
10. euphoria
eu
good
feeling of well-being (you-for-ee-uh)
Even More Greek Prefixes
Study the following ten additional Greek prefixes. As you read each one, look up and
repeat the information to yourself. Then, write some of the least familiar words on note
cards. Refer to these cards often to help you lock these testworthy words in your
consciousness.
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
Definition
pan
all
panacea
cure-all
peri
around
perimeter
outer measurement
phil
love
philanthropy
love of humanity
phob
fear
phobia
fear
poly
many
polyphonic
many sounds
pseudo
false
pseudoscience
false science
psycho
mind
psychology
study of the mind
syn, sym
together
synthesis
putting together
tele
distance
telephone
phone
theo
God
theology
study of God or religion
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Prefix
Meaning
Word Meaning
1. synopsis
2. telecommunication
3. pandemic
4. polynomial
5. symmetrical
6. Pan-American
7. polyglot
8. symbiosis
9. telepathy
10. polygon
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Directions: Identify the prefix, define it, and then define the word. Feel
free to look back at the chart if you need to refresh your memory. Remember: practice makes perfect.
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Vocabulary Builder 4
Meaning
Word Meaning
1. synopsis
syn
together
summary
2. telecommunication
tele
distance
communication across distances
3. pandemic
pan
all
widespread disease
4. polynomial
poly
many
a math expression having two or
more terms
5. symmetrical
sym
together
identical parts
6. Pan-American
pan
all
all of the Americas
7. polyglot
poly
many
knowing many languages
8. symbiosis
sym
together
two dissimilar organisms living
together off each other
9. telepathy
tele
distance
through transference
10. polygon
poly
many
figure with many sides
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Vocabulary Builder 4 Answers
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The Greek Prefix ArchAn architect is a person who designs and oversees the construction of buildings. The
Greeks called their architects architektons, or master builders. The word comes from
the Greek prefix archi (chief) and the root tekton (workman).
The Greek prefix arch and the verb from which it is derived—archein (to be the first, to
rule)—appear in many English words. The prefix is generally defined as “chief.” The
following chart shows some of these “arch” words that you are likely to find especially
useful on the TOEFL.
Prefix
Example
Definition
arch
archbishop
chief of the church province
arch
archetype
original pattern or model (ar-keh-type)
arch
archaic
ancient (ar-kay-ic)
arch
archive
a place where public records are stored (ar-kive)
arch
archangel
chief angel
The Greek Prefix CataAlso from the Greeks comes the prefix katarasso, meaning “down rushing,” as in rain
or a river. Today, we use the word cataract to mean a waterfall or a deluge. As a medical
term, a cataract is an opacity that blocks light from entering the lens of the eye. From
these examples, it's clear that the word retains its sense of being a floodgate as well as
a flood. The prefix cata- is defined as “down, against, or wholly.”
Prefix
Example
Definition
cata
cataclysm
calamity (cat-uh-kliz-um)
cata
catalyst
reactant (cat-uh-list)
cata
catapult
throw, hurl (cat-uh-pult)
cata
catastrophe
disaster (cah-tas-stroh-fee)
cata
catacomb
underground passageways (cat-uh-kome)
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Latin has given us some extremely useful prefixes. The Latin prefix circum is a case in
point. Circum, which means “around,” can be used to form many useful everyday words.
Here are twelve such examples:
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LEARNING WORDS WITH LATIN PREFIXES
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The Latin Prefix CircumDefinition
circumjacent
surrounding
circumambulate
walk around
circumference
the outer boundary of something
circumfluent
flowing around
circumfuse
envelop
circumlocution
a roundabout way of speaking
circumnavigate
to sail around
circumpolar
around the North or South Pole
circumrotate
to rotate like a wheel
circumscribe
restrict
circumspect
cautious, prudent
circumvent
to get around
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Ten Latin Prefixes
to, toward
ascribe
act, ag
do, act
action
ad
to, toward
adverb
ante
before
anteroom
bene
good
beneficial
bi
two
bicycle
clud, clus
close
exclude
inclusion
co, com
with, together
coworker, commotion
con, col
with, together
conduct, collaborate
contra
against, opposite
contraband
cur
run
current
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Study these ten Latin prefixes, their meanings, and examples.
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Vocabulary Builder 5
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1. elltaabrcoo
work together
2. seolobte
old-fashioned
3. vionec
beginner
4. yethpatle
communicating
through transference
5. uqialyref
qualify again
6. oegape
farthest point from
Earth in satellite's orbit
7. rnestdii
to unearth
8. aeactltrbin
hard to handle;
unmanageable
9. ariidactntnoce
against indications
10. etyghool
study of God or religion
Vocabulary Builder 5 Answers
1.
The correct answer is collaborate.
2.
The correct answer is obsolete.
3.
The correct answer is novice.
4.
The correct answer is telepathy.
5.
The correct answer is requalify.
6.
The correct answer is apogee.
7.
The correct answer is disinter.
8.
The correct answer is intractable.
9.
The correct answer is contraindicate.
10. The correct answer is theology.
Reading down: contradict.
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Directions: Time for fun! First unscramble each of the ten words so that it
matches its definition. All but two of the words begin with prefixes. Then, use
the words to fill the appropriate spaces on the corresponding line. When you
have completed the entire puzzle, another word will read vertically in the
column with circles.
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Directions: Use what you've learned so far about Latin prefixes to figure out
the meanings of the following ten words in boldface. Write the letter of your
choice in the space provided.
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Vocabulary Builder 6
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_____ 1. cursive
(A) cruel
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(B) commonplace
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(C) criminal
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(D) flowing handwriting
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_____ 2. agitate
(A) clean
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(B) tap your foot
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(C) tranquilize
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(D) stir up
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_____ 3. adjoin
(A) separate
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(D) disunite
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(A) nun's garb
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(D) live together
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_____ 5. concede
(A) yield
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(C) augment
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(D) curtail
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_____ 6. depress
(A) elevate
(B) upraise
(C) invigorate
(D) bring down
_____ 7. adjudicate
(A) subjoin
(B) deduct
(C) lessen
(D) arbitrate
_____ 8. affix
(A) withhold
(B) repair
(C) fasten
(D) injure
_____ 9. confederation
(A) Southerners
(B) antagonism
(C) alliance
(D) aversion
_____ 10. collateral
(A) security
(B) far away
(C) considerably
(D) dependent
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (C).
4.
The correct answer is (D).
5.
The correct answer is (A).
6.
The correct answer is (D).
7.
The correct answer is (D).
8.
The correct answer is (C).
9.
The correct answer is (C).
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The correct answer is (D).
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Vocabulary Builder 6 Answers
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10. The correct answer is (A).
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TIP
Example
Definition
de
down
demolish
tear down
e
out
elongate
stretch out
ex
out
exchange
replace
inter
between
intercom
two-way radio
infra
under
infrared
rays under red
mal
bad
malodor
bad odor
male
evil
maledict
cursed
ob
toward
obedient
respectful
per
through
perambulate
walk through
post
after
postpone
do after
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Meaning
prefixes you learn,
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the more words you
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Remember: the more
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Prefix
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There are ten more Latin prefixes for you. Knowing just one prefix can help you figure
out five or even more words. Consider how many words you can define when you know
ten, twenty, or thirty prefixes!
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Ten More Testworthy Latin Prefixes
can decode.
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Vocabulary Builder 7
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flowing forth
teach
awkward
criminal
attractive
odd
vulgar
restless
comely
write on
dig out
invocation
compatriot
a fellow countryman
expedient
berate
compendium
pendant
to scold harshly
an abridged form of a work
principles
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Directions: Choose the best definition from the words in the box. You will
have definitions left over.
1.
excavate ________________________________________________
2.
infrasonic _______________________________________________
3.
impart __________________________________________________
4.
maladroit _______________________________________________
5.
malefactor ______________________________________________
6.
eccentric ________________________________________________
7.
impatient _______________________________________________
8.
effluent _________________________________________________
9.
inscribe _________________________________________________
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sound waves with a frequency below the audible range
Vocabulary Builder 7 Answers
1.
The correct answer is dig out.
2.
The correct answer is sound waves with a frequency below the audible
range.
3.
The correct answer is teach.
4.
The correct answer is awkward.
5.
The correct answer is criminal.
6.
The correct answer is odd.
7.
The correct answer is restless.
8.
The correct answer is flowing forth.
9.
The correct answer is write on.
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10. indecent ________________________________________________
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10. The correct answer is vulgar.
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Below are ten Greek and Latin prefixes that show the numbers one to ten.
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As you can see, when we want to combine a number and a word to form another word,
such as a synonym for a “five-sided figure,” we use the Greek or Roman word for the
number, pentameter.
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How many sides does the Pentagon have? How many tentacles does an octopus have? If you
know your number prefixes, these questions are a snap to answer. The envelope, please:
The Pentagon has five sides (penta = five). An octopus has eight tentacles (octo = eight).
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The symbols we use for numbers—1, 2, 3, 4, etc.—come from the Arabs, the first great
mathematicians. The words we use to speak or write these symbols—one, two, three,
four, etc.—are from the Anglo-Saxons.
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PREFIXES FOR NUMBERS
Example
Definition
1
uni
unicycle
cycle with one wheel
2
bi
bicycle
cycle with two wheels
3
tri
tripod
three-legged stand
4
quad
quadrangle
four-sided figure
5
penta
pentameter
five-sided figure
6
hexa
hexagon
six-sided figure
7
hepta
Heptateuch
the first seven books of the Hebrew Bible
8
oct
octet
a group of eight, usually singers (ock-tet)
9
nov
novena
Roman Catholic prayers or services
conducted on nine consecutive days
10
deca
decathlon
ten-event athletic contest (di-kath-lon)
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Number
Meaning
Examples
Definition
a
on, to, at, by
ablaze
on fire
be
around, over
besiege
attack
mis
wrong, badly
mistake
error
over
above, beyond
overreach
reach too high
un
not
unambiguous
clear (un-am-big-yoo-us)
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Prefix
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Below are the five most common Anglo-Saxon prefixes and their variations. Read
through the chart and examples. To help you remember the prefixes, complete the selftest that follows.
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ANGLO-SAXON PREFIXES
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Vocabulary Builder 8
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Directions: Based on the meaning of its prefix, define each of the following
words:
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1. accord ________________________________________________________________
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2. irradiate ______________________________________________________________
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3. predestination _________________________________________________________
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4. reincarnation __________________________________________________________
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5. convolute _____________________________________________________________
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6. invoke ________________________________________________________________
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7. irrelevant _____________________________________________________________
Vocabulary Builder 8 Answers
1.
The correct answer is agreement.
2.
The correct answer is illuminate.
3.
The correct answer is fate.
4.
The correct answer is rebirth.
5.
The correct answer is twist up.
6.
The correct answer is request.
7.
The correct answer is not pertinent.
8.
The correct answer is exclude from communion.
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8. excommunicate ________________________________________________________
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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_____4. unethical behavior
(A) judicial
(B) impartial
(C) villain
(C) unprincipled
(D) failure
(D) competent
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_____5. an overwrought child
(A) heavy
(B) unmannerly
(C) shriek
(C) placid
(D) pursue
(D) excited
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(B) deny
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_____2. beseech emotionally
(A) implore
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(B) detail
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_____1. miscarriage of justice
(A) benediction
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Directions: Define each of the following underlined words, based on the way it is
used in the phrase. Write the letter of your choice in the space provided.
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EXERCISES: WORDS IN CONTEXT
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_____3. something strange is afoot
(A) underneath
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(B) going on
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(C) clandestine
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(D) covert
exercises
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EXERCISES: PREFIXES
Directions: Each of the following words starts with a prefix. Use what you learned
about prefixes to see how many of these words you can define. Select the correct
meaning for each of the following boldfaced words. Circle your choice.
1. accede
6. hyperactivity
go very fast
illness
agree
medicine
excessive
excessive activity
debate
slow
2. hypocrisy
7. catacomb
overpriced
comb for cats
false virtue
dessert
sweet natured
underground room
injection
crooked
3. subsistence
8. amoral
wealth
very moral
existing
not moral
under water
story lesson
farming
high spirits
4. aggregate
9. compress
complete
squeeze
annoy
heal
marbles
measurement tool
clot
pat
5. ultramarine
10. supercilious
fashionable
arrogant
weird
high achieving
deep blue
very silly
famous
long hairs
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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5. He took a militant stand against the opposition and won the point.
(A) mild
(B) infernal
(B) aggressive
(C) infantile
(C) positive
(D) inexorable
(D) awkward
(C) ascription
(D) work together
(D) power
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(C) provide proof
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(B) rising
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(B) collate
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(A) defeat
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(A) confide
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7. The North Vietnamese gained ascendancy over the south after many years of
warfare.
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3. Because the author and the artist refused
to collaborate, the book was never finished.
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(D) register
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(C) regiment
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(B) exotic
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(B) government
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(A) confused
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(A) leader
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6. The Communist regime favored unification of the country.
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2. By the time peace was negotiated, the
affairs of the nation were in a chaotic
state.
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(A) inflatable
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1. He was inflexible in his determination to
unite his country.
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Directions: Circle the answer choice that is the synonym for the underlined word.
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EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
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4. After World War II, the Vietnamese believed that the French would allow them
to be an autonomous people.
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(C) self-reliant
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(D) self-supporting
exercises
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PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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EXERCISES: PUTTING IT TOGETHER
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Directions: Now, do this crossword puzzle to review some of the vocabulary you
have practiced.
Down
1.
Yield
1.
Unfeeling
6.
Eager
2.
Harmful
8.
Angry
3.
Abbreviation for kitchen
12. Piece of land, as in parking _____
4.
Abbreviation for street
13. Preposition: _____ the same time
5.
Quality, characteristic
14. Negative word
6.
Equipment
15. Prefix meaning against
7.
Poison
16. Unmoving
8.
Wounds
17. Inter
9.
Careless and impolite
19. Have you _____ Tom?
10. Prefix meaning before
20. Cause
11. Antonym of yes
23. Very valuable object
15. Entrance, means of reaching
25. Ability
18. Neither/_____
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Across
20. Subject pronoun
28. Informal word for friend
21. Has the sun always _____
29. Conclave
22. Vigor
31. What is expected, usual, or average
24. Clear and definite
33. Scold, rebuke
25. Soothe, relieve
36. Wrong, faulty
27. Circum, peri
39. Abbreviation for North America
30. Conjunction
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40. Suffix used to form a noun from occur 32. Prefix meaning two
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26. Use the eyes
34. Uni, mono
42. An infant is totally _____
35. Feminine pronoun
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41. Atmosphere
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38. Abbreviation for separate
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37. Abbreviation for medium
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36. Indefinite article
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ANSWER KEY
Words in Context
1.
D
4.
C
2.
A
5.
D
3.
B
1.
agree
6.
excessive activity
2.
false virtue
7.
underground room
3.
existing
8.
not moral
4.
complete
9.
squeeze
5.
deep blue
10. arrogant
1.
D
5.
B
2.
A
6.
B
3.
D
7.
D
4.
B
Prefixes
Synonyms
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Chapter 6: All About Prefixes
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Putting It Together
answers exercises
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• Learning prefixes will help you work out the meanings of words.
• There are more than fifty prefixes in English.
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SUMMING IT UP
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All About Suffixes
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OVERVIEW
• Suffixes
• How suffixes work
• Suffixes that describe state of being
• Suffixes that indicate occupations
• Suffixes that show resemblance
• Suffixes that show amount
• Twelve useful suffixes
• Summing it up
SUFFIXES
A suffix is a combination of letters added to the end of a word or word root.
Suffixes are used either to form new words or show the function of a word. For
example, the suffix -ist or -ian added to a noun describes people, forming words
like “motorist” and “musician.”
In this chapter, you will learn some common suffixes that identify nouns, verbs,
adjectives, and adverbs to help you recognize errors in word forms. You can also
improve your vocabulary as you learn how these common suffixes change words
from one part of speech to another.
STRATEGIES FOR LEARNING SUFFIXES
Remember that suffixes or word forms are the most common type of error tested
on the TOEFL.
•
Check for word form errors that include the use of words related to certain
fields and the people who work in the field (botany, botanical, a botanist).
•
Check for word form errors involving adjectives and nouns (developing/
development).
•
Check for other word form errors, such as a noun in place of a verb (belief/
believe).
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• Strategies for learning suffixes
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HOW SUFFIXES WORK
Suffixes Are Added to the End of Roots to Create Many Words
In the same way that prefixes are placed at the beginning of a word to change its meaning,
suffixes are placed at the end to change a word’s meaning. Here are some examples:
Word +
Suffix =
Word
Definition
allege
ation
allegation
assertion, claim
recognize
tion
recognition
identification
alien
ation
alienation
estrangement, cut off from
peril
ous
perilous
dangerous
hazard
ous
hazardous
dangerous
capacity
ous
capacious
large, roomy
tonsils
itis
tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils
bronchi
itis
bronchitis
inflammation of the lung region
appendix
itis
appendicitis
inflammation of the appendix
Suffixes Are Always Attached to Words Without a Break
Even though you may have seen the suffix written with a hyphen (as in -eous, -ion,
-ment), the suffix is attached without a hyphen. The following chart shows some examples:
Word +
Suffix =
New Word
Definition
combust
ible
combustible
flammable
pasture
al
pastoral
country-like
palace
ial
palatial
like a palace
abstain
ious
abstemious
moderate, sober
wasp
ish
waspish
irritable, crabby
fellow
ship
fellowship
sociability
Suffixes Are Different Lengths
As with prefixes, suffixes can be as short as one letter or far longer. The following chart
shows some examples:
Number of Letters
Suffix
Word
Pronunciation
Meaning
One-Letter Suffix
d
promulgated
(prom-mul-gay-ted) to publish or
disseminate widely
Two-Letter Suffix
ed
besmirched
(bee-smirchd)
to soil; make filthy
Three-Letter Suffix ity
instability
not stable
Four-Letter Suffix
ment
inducement
(in-doos-ment)
incentive
Five-Letter Suffix
ation
vacillation
(vah-ci-lay-shun)
indecision
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www.petersons.com
Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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TIP
Whenever you come
Suffix
Part of Speech
Meaning
bountiful
-ful
adjective
plentiful
boundless
-less
adjective
infinite
perdurable
-able
adjective
permanent; everlasting
frangible
-ible
adjective
easily broken
fallible
-ible
adjective
makes mistakes
decadence
-ence
noun
deterioration, esp. in morality
mouthful
-ful
noun
morsel
excrement
-ment
noun
matter expelled or ejected; waste
perdition
-tion
noun
entire loss; utter destruction; ruin
premonition
-tion
noun
a forewarning
posterity
-ity
noun
those who come after
abdicate
-ate
verb
to formally relinquish or renounce an
office or right
mutate
-ate
verb
change
extradite
-ite
verb
to deliver (give up) a criminal from one
state or nation to another
demonize
-ize
verb
make a demon
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Word
upon an unfamiliar
word, first check to
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If you know a word’s part of speech, you can figure out how it is being used—even if you
don’t know its meaning. Study the following examples:
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Verb
The following suffixes show that a word is a verb (action or state of being):
-ate -en
-ite
-ize
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Noun
The following suffixes show that a word is a noun (person, place, or thing):
-ance/-ence -ful
-ment
-sion/-tion
-age
-ity
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Adjective
The following suffixes show that a word is an adjective (word that describes):
-ful
-less
-able/-ible
-y
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Unlike prefixes, suffixes can create a part of speech. For example, adding a suffix can
change a word from a verb to an adjective, as in risk to risky.
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Suffixes Can Affect How a Word Functions in a Sentence
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see if it has a recognizable root.
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Suffixes Can Change a Word’s Tense (or Time)
For instance, adding -d or -ed makes a present-tense verb into a past-tense verb, as the
following chart shows:
Present tense
Past tense
Meaning
denude
denuded
to strip bare
depose
deposed
to remove from a position
exacerbate
exacerbated
to make worse
expunge
expunged
to rub out; obliterate
embalm
embalmed
to inject a preservative into a corpse
embark
embarked
to board a ship or train for a trip
embellish
embellished
to decorate or make beautiful
envelop
enveloped
to assimilate (bring in as part of)
extradite
extradited
to give up a criminal from one state or nation
to another
extrapolate
extrapolated
to deduce an unknown from a known
Adding a Suffix to the End of a Word Changes the Word’s Meaning
For example: kitchen becomes kitchenette, the diminutive
Just as knowing a small number of prefixes and roots can help you figure out many
unfamiliar words, so knowing a few everyday suffixes can help you decode many
testworthy words.
Vocabulary Builder 1
Directions: There are fifteen words hidden in this word-find puzzle. Some
of the words have already been covered in this chapter, but others are new.
To complete the puzzle, locate and circle all the words. The words may be
written forward, backward, or upside down.
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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Vocabulary Builder 1 Answers
capacious: large, roomy
2.
cataract: a waterfall
3.
epithet: a word or phrase describing a person; a derogatory word or
phrase used to show contempt
4.
besmirched: to soil; make filthy
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exacerbated: to make worse
6.
denude: to strip bare
7.
misnomer: a wrong name or designation
8.
embellish: to decorate or make beautiful
9.
prolix: needlessly prolonged or drawn out
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11. extradited: to give up a criminal from one state or nation to another
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10. expunged: to rub out; obliterate
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12. vacillation: indecision
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13. promulgated: publish or disseminate widely
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14. abstemious: moderate, sober
SUFFIXES THAT DESCRIBE STATE OF BEING
Below are twelve suffixes that describe a state of being. How many more words can you
think of that end with these suffixes that describe a state of being?
Suffix
Example
-ance
appearance
-ant
deviant
-cy
infancy
-dom
freedom
-ence
independence
-ent
corpulent
-hood
neighborhood
-mony
matrimony
-ness
lightness
-sis
thesis
-tic
gigantic
-ty
novelty
Vocabulary Builder 2
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15. allegation: assertion, claim
Word
Suffix
Suffix Meaning
Word Meaning
1.
2.
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4.
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7.
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goodness
anxiety
brilliance
despondence
catharsis
effulgent
hypothesis
resilient
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Directions: For each word, first write the suffix and its meaning. Then, use
what you’ve learned about suffixes to define each word. Don’t hesitate to look
back at what you just learned or to use a dictionary if you would like to.
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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repellent
officialdom
thrifty
bibliomancy
truculent
brotherhood
convalescence
adamant
diligent
parity
disenchant
ambivalent
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state of being
being good
2. anxiety
-ty
state of being
nervousness
3. brilliance
-ance
state of being
brightness
4. despondence
-ence
state of being
sadness
5. catharsis
-sis
state of being
purging
6. effulgent
-ent
state of being
flowing
7. hypothesis
-sis
state of being
guess
8. resilient
-ent
state of being
elastic
9. repellent
-ent
state of being
offensive
10. officialdom
-dom
state of being
authoritative
11. thrifty
-ty
state of being
frugal
12. bibliomancy
-cy
state of being
Biblical books
13. truculent
-ent
state of being
harsh
14. brotherhood
-hood
state of being
friendship
15. convalescence
-ence
state of being
recovering
16. adamant
-ant
state of being
definite
17. diligent
-ent
state of being
hard-working
18. parity
-ty
state of being
equality
19. disenchant
-ant
state of being
disillusion
20. ambivalent
-ent
state of being
unsure
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SUFFIXES THAT INDICATE OCCUPATIONS
A lawyer is someone who deals with the law; a buyer is someone who buys items. Below
are ten suffixes that indicate a person who is something, does something, or deals with
something.
Suffix
Example
-ar
scholar
-ard
dullard
-ary
revolutionary
-er
conjurer (magician)
-ian
historian
-ier
furrier
-ist
psychologist
-ite
socialite
-or
bettor
The Suffix -ist
Many useful words have been formed with the suffix “ist.” Often, these words describe
hobbies or careers. The following chart shows the most testworthy of these words:
Word
Definition
Pronunciation
aborist
deals with tree care
ahr-bur-ist
entomologist
deals with insects
en-tuh-mahl-uh-jist
geneticist
deals with heredity
juh-net-uh-sist
meteorologist
deals with the weather
meet-ee-uh-ral-uh-jist
numismatist
deals with coins
noo-miz-muh-tist
philatelist
deals with stamps
fuh-lat-uh-list
psychologist
deals with people’s problems
sy-kahl-uh-jist
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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a. philosopher, scholar
_______ 2. editor
b. person who sits
_______ 3. taxidermist
c. person who edits
_______ 4. comedian
d. mediator
_______ 5. arbitrator
e. an official
_______ 6. pedestrian
f. opponent
_______ 7. theorist
g. handwriting
_______ 8. adversary
h. person who stuffs animals
_______ 9. sedentary
i. person who walks
_______ 10. penmanship
j. humorist
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_______ 1. functionary
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Directions: Match the word to its definition. If you wish, underline the suffix
in each word to help you remember how they are used. Write your answers
in the space provided.
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Vocabulary Builder 3
2.
The correct answer is c.
3.
The correct answer is h.
4.
The correct answer is j.
5.
The correct answer is d.
6.
The correct answer is i.
7.
The correct answer is a.
8.
The correct answer is f.
9.
The correct answer is b.
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The correct answer is e.
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10. The correct answer is g.
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SUFFIXES THAT SHOW RESEMBLANCE
Below are twelve suffixes that all mean “resembling, like, or of.” Study them and the
examples. Then, complete the activity that follows to help you incorporate these words
and suffixes into your daily vocabulary.
Suffix
Example
Definition
-ac
cardiac
having to do with the heart
-al
natural
having to do with nature
-an
suburban
having to do with the suburbs
-esque
statuesque
curvaceous, shapely
-ile
infantile
like a child
-ine
masculine
manly
-ish
foolish
asinine
-ly
yearly
occurring every year
-ory
advisory
helping out
-oid
android
human-like
-some
worrisome
distressing, disconcerting
-wise
likewise
in the same way
Vocabulary Builder 4
Directions: In the space provided, write T if the definition is true and F if
it is false. Use what you learned about suffixes that mean “resembling, like,
or of ” to help you figure out what each word means.
_____ 1. devilish
like a devil
_____ 2. cuboid
like a cube
_____ 3. puerile
mature
_____ 4. saturnine
sluggish, gloomy
_____ 5. fulsome
shortage
_____ 6. sensory
pertaining to the senses
_____ 7. Romanesque
like the Romans
_____ 8. pastoral
wild, untamed
_____ 9. ovoid
like an egg
_____ 10. dollarwise
pertaining to money
_____ 11. fictional
factual
_____ 12. churlish
polite
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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2.
The correct answer is T.
3.
The correct answer is F.
4.
The correct answer is T.
5.
The correct answer is F.
6.
The correct answer is T.
7.
The correct answer is F.
8.
The correct answer is F.
9.
The correct answer is T.
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12. The correct answer is F.
(C) mutual
(D) dealing with cue balls
(D) perspicacious
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(C) dealing with cooking
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(B) cooperative
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_____5. intransigent
(A) not traveling
(B) insolvent
(C) consequential
(C) close-minded
(D) unimportant
(D) prolific
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_____6. erudite
(A) ruddy-skinned
(B) pencil lead
(C) roof of the mouth
(C) synergistic
(D) paradigm
(D) learned
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(B) incomplete
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_____3. palatial
(A) luxurious
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(B) sign; insignia
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_____2. insignificance
(A) momentous
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(B) picky
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_____4. seditious
(A) rebellious
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_____1. culinary
(A) cute; attractive
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Directions: Each of the following boldfaced words ends with a suffix. Use
what you already know about suffixes to see how many of these words you can
decode. Select the correct meaning and write the letter of your choice in the
space provided.
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Vocabulary Builder 5
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_____7. apothecary
(A) pharmacist
_____9. preponderance
(A) minority
(B) quack
(B) immaturity
(C) heavy burden
(C) overweight
(D) demagogue
(D) majority
_____8. partisan
(A) windmill
____10. mercenary
(A) generous
(B) section
(B) avaricious
(C) supporter
(C) docile
(D) cadaver
(D) dogmatic
Vocabulary Builder 5 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (C).
2.
The correct answer is (D).
3.
The correct answer is (A).
4.
The correct answer is (A).
5.
The correct answer is (C).
6.
The correct answer is (D).
7.
The correct answer is (A).
8.
The correct answer is (C).
9.
The correct answer is (D).
10. The correct answer is (B).
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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Meaning
Example
Pronunciation
Definition
-aceous
having
curvaceous
cur-vay-shush
having curves
-ed
characterized by
cultured
kul-churd
civilized
-lent
inclined to be
prevalent
preh-vah-lent
common
-ose
full of
morose
more-ose
gloomy
-ous
full of
perilous
per-ih-lus
dangerous
-ious
having
vicious
vish-us
vile
-less
without
guiltless
innocent
-ling
minor
yearling
year-old horse
-fold
increased by
tenfold
ten times
-ful
full
healthful
nutritious
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Suffix
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Below are ten suffixes that show quantity. Some of these suffixes were discussed earlier
in this chapter in a different context. This was done on purpose because repetition
makes it easier for you to remember crucial testworthy words and concepts.
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SUFFIXES THAT SHOW AMOUNT
Meaning
Example
Pronunciation
Definition
-erly
to, directly
easterly
ees-ter-lee
go east
-escent
beginning
opalescent
oh-pah-less-ent
shiny
-eum
place for
museum
-ferous
carrying, bearing
odoriferous
oh-dur-if-ur-us
stinky
-ia
condition
anorexia
an-uh-reks-ee-uh
eating disorder
-fy
marked by
magnify
make larger
-ical
having to do with
musical
lyric
-id
inclined to be
florid
flor-id
gaudy
-ive
inclined to be
festive
fes-tive
joyful
-ism
practice/quality
baptism
bap-tiz-um
religious
ceremony
-tude
condition
rectitude
rek-tuh-tood
virtue
-ure
means, quality
rapture
rap-chur
bliss
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storehouse of
exhibits
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Suffix
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Let’s finish up with some important suffixes that crop up in many of the words you will
encounter in your academic career.
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TWELVE USEFUL SUFFIXES
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Vocabulary Builder 6
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_____ 1. bursitis
a. eager
_____ 2. discernment
b. to suggest
_____ 3. nihilism
c. surrender
_____ 4. adolescence
d. inflammation of the bursa (area between the bone
and a tendon)
_____ 5. expenditure
e. open-air theater
_____ 6. abandonment
f. judgment
_____ 7. heroism
g. reversion; throwback
_____ 8. inducement
h. enhance
_____ 9. intensify
i. expenses
_____ 10. signify
j. bravery
_____ 11. coliseum
k. teen years
_____ 12. obsolescent
l. used up
_____ 13. fervid
m. repudiation
_____ 14. sinusitis
n. inflammation of sinuses
_____ 15. atavism
o. motive
Vocabulary Builder 6 Answers
1.
The correct answer is d.
2.
The correct answer is f.
3.
The correct answer is m.
4.
The correct answer is k.
5.
The correct answer is i.
6.
The correct answer is c.
7.
The correct answer is j.
8.
The correct answer is o.
9.
The correct answer is h.
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Directions: Match each word in the first column to its definition in the
second column. If you wish, underline the suffix in each word to help you
remember how it is used. Write your answers in the space provided.
10. The correct answer is b.
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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11. The correct answer is e.
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12. The correct answer is l.
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13. The correct answer is a.
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14. The correct answer is n.
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15. The correct answer is g.
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Directions: Select the correct meaning for each of the following boldfaced
words. Use what you learned about suffixes as well as all the other vocabulary techniques you have mastered so far. Circle your answer choice.
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Vocabulary Builder 7
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The murder scene can only be described as a carnage.
(A) confusion
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1.
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(B) cluttered area
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(C) holy area
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(D) massacre
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The drunk’s clownish actions embarrassed his family.
(A) amusing
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2.
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(B) admirable
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(C) foolish
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The lawyer functioned as an intermediary between the warring couple.
(A) junta
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(D) humorous
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(B) friend
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(C) confidant
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Some people think that acne is chromosomal.
(A) genetic
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(D) mediator
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(B) judicious
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(C) conjugal
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The new college president kicked off his appointment with a big convocation.
(A) speech
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(B) gathering
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(C) rejoinder
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(D) lexicon
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5.
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(D) abnormal
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6.
The preacher had an annoying habit of proselytizing at inappropriate moments.
(A) eating
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(B) attempting to convert people to his way of thinking
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(C) trying to sleep
7.
Children hate to be castigated in front of their friends.
(A) praised
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(D) elucidating
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(B) rebuked
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(C) out in a cast
8.
There was no doubt who was culpable for the mistake.
(A) able to cope
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(D) mercurial
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(B) out of control
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(C) impenitent
9.
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(D) liable
The florist placed flowers, moss, and stones in the terrarium.
(A) a shallow pool
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(B) case
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(C) an environment for plants and land animals
10. After treatment, the former alcoholic was happy to be abstinent.
(A) conical
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(D) an environment for extinct creatures
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(B) stubborn
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(C) intoxicated
Vocabulary Builder 7 Answers
1.
The correct answer is (D).
2.
The correct answer is (C).
3.
The correct answer is (D).
4.
The correct answer is (A).
5.
The correct answer is (B).
6.
The correct answer is (B).
7.
The correct answer is (B).
8.
The correct answer is (D).
9.
The correct answer is (C).
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(D) sober
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10. The correct answer is (D).
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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Directions: Find a word in this chapter that uses either the prefix or suffix given
and write it on the first line. Then try to think of another word with the same prefix
or suffix. Make sure you understand the meaning of all of the words that you write.
If you don’t, look them up in your dictionary.
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EXERCISES: PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
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5. over-:
(A) ____________________
(B) ____________________
(B) ____________________
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(A) ____________________
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1. -less:
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6. hyper-:
(A) ____________________
(B) ____________________
(B) ____________________
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(A) ____________________
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2. -ers:
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7. ex-:
(A) ____________________
(B) ____________________
(B) ____________________
(B) ____________________
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(B) ____________________
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(A) ____________________
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(A) ____________________
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8. -ious:
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4. -ful:
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(A) ____________________
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3. anti-:
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11. The suffix ist in environmentalist and
ecologist indicates
(A) an area
(B) property
(B) a thing
(C) against
(C) a person
(D) for
(D) a time
(B) later
(B) before
(C) informally
(C) in favor of
(D) again
(D) beside
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(A) at the same time
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(A) clearly
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12. The prefix fore in foresee means
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10. The prefix in redefining means
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(A) professional
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9. The prefix pro in the word proponent
means
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Directions: Choose the best answer.
exercises
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EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
Directions: Circle the answer choice that has the same meaning as the underlined
word.
1. A gun is a lethal weapon.
(A) dangerous
6. The beaver dam obstructed the flow of the
river.
(B) modern
(A) observed
(C) deadly
(B) endangered
(D) light
(C) assisted
2. A soothsayer can foresee events.
(A) see after
(B) see behind
(C) see before
(D) see now
(D) blocked off
7. Toxic waste disposal is a major concern at
a nuclear power plant.
(A) poisonous
(B) superfluous
(C) metallic
3. In order to save a ship in a storm, in the
old days the crew jettisoned the cargo.
(D) liquid
(A) loaded
(B) ate
(C) threw overboard
(D) tied down
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(A) discussions
(B) problems
(C) bills
(D) arguments
(A) killed
(B) wounded
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5. Many civilians were maimed in the air
raid.
(C) evacuated
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(A) remained
(B) threatened
(D) encroached
9. Following the fiasco at the nuclear plant,
the public protested its reopening.
(A) partial breakdown
(B) complete failure
(C) boycott
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4. Constant wrangles over money disturbed
the harmony of their marriage.
(D) molested
(D) destructive fire
10. The negotiations reached an impasse
because the union representatives walked
out of the meeting.
(A) solution
(B) impossibility
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8. The neighbors’ swimming pool infringed
upon my property.
(C) implicated
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(C) rejection
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(D) deadlock
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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14. Proponents of conservation oppose the
new laws.
(A) antagonists
(B) destruction
(B) properties
(C) departure
(C) advocates
(D) hurricane
(D) proposals
(D) divorced
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(C) hailed
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(B) supported
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(B) confusion
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(A) rejected
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(A) ruin
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15. The President’s former supporters have
repudiated his current economic plan.
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12. The earthquake caused great devastation
in California.
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(A) calamity
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11. The Red Cross arrived at the disaster
area within 24 hours.
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13. Nestor’s sage suggestions saved the
Greeks from calamity.
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(A) repeated
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(B) wise
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(C) helpful
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(D) ingenious
exercises
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162
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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EXERCISES: PUTTING IT TOGETHER
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Down
1.
Careful; honest
1.
Wise
6.
Inactive
2.
Do again
11. Consume
3.
You’re very _____; are you sick?
12. Preposition: _____ the table
4.
Names of things written to keep
14. Vacant space
them in order
16. Prefix meaning wrong
5.
Remain
19. Rudimentary
6.
Auxiliary verb
21. Indefinite article
7.
Prefix meaning again
22. Abbreviation for streets
8.
Wounding
24. Existing but not yet active
9.
See 30 Across
28. Encroach
10. Antonym of from
30. Preposition: _____ home
13. Careless
31. Masculine pronoun
15. Suffix used to change arrive
32. Prefix meaning out
to a noun
33. Where are you _____?
16. Title for a married woman
34. Poisonous
17. Draws toward
35. First word of letter salutation
18. Antonym of give
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www.petersons.com
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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163
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20. Type of bomb
37. Fights, argues
23. Unclear, vague
39. Container used to carry groceries
24. Deserving praise
41. Superlative ending
25. See 9 Down
42. Eager, enthusiastic
26. Prefix meaning beyond
44. Convince
27. Antonym of catch
46. Money charged for a service
29. Antonym of come
48. Period of time
34. Number of events in a decathlon
49. Conjunction
36. However
50. United States of America
38. Destroy
51. Incalculable
40. Number of people or things
put together
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45. Preposition in 50 Across
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43. Legal document
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41. Prefix meaning out
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46. Succeed
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52. Advertisement
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50. See 50 Across
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47. Way out
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54. Very close, next to
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53. Soothe, relieve
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36. Past participle of be
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164
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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ANSWER KEY
Prefixes and Suffixes
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9.
D
10.
D
11.
C
12.
B
1.
C
6.
D
11.
A
2.
C
7.
A
12.
A
3.
C
8.
D
13.
B
4.
D
9.
B
14.
C
5.
B
10.
D
15.
A
Synonyms
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1–8. Answers will vary
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Chapter 7: All About Suffixes
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165
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www.petersons.com
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Putting It Together
answers exercises
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166
PART III: TOEFL Vocabulary Review
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• Suffixes are added to the ends of roots to create many words.
• Suffixes are of different lengths.
• Adding a suffix to the end of a word can change its meaning or its tense.
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SUMMING IT UP
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www.petersons.com
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PART IV
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TWO PRACTICE TESTS
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Practice Test 2
Practice Test 3
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169
Practice Test 2
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www.petersons.com
answer sheet
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ANSWER SHEET PRACTICE TEST 2
Practice Test 2
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Directions: In questions 1–45, each sentence has a word or phrase underlined.
Below each sentence are four other words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D).
You are to choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the original
sentence if it is substituted for the underlined word or phrase. Then, on your answer
sheet, find the number of the question and blacken the space that corresponds to
the letter you have chosen so that the letter inside the oval cannot be seen.
The American Revolution was
fought to gain autonomy.
(A) self-righteousness
3. Because Jack defaulted on his loan, the
bank took him to court.
(A) defamed his character
(B) self-satisfaction
(B) erred in judgment
(C) self-rule
(C) paid in full
(D) failed to pay
(D) self-reformation
The correct answer is (C), selfrule. The Revolution, as you may
already know, was the War of
Independence, which is the same
as self-rule.
4. Today’s chemists seek a panacea for the
world’s ills.
(A) gold
(B) chemical
(C) release
(D) remedy
1. He had reached the zenith of his career
when he became president of General
Motors.
5. After years of litigation, the will was
settled.
(A) ambition
(A) illness
(B) zeal
(B) lawsuits
(C) moment
(C) longevity
(D) summit
(D) taxes
2. The road west gave access to the lake.
6. Boutiques cater to a young clientele.
(A) ascendancy
(A) dress style
(B) approach
(B) customers
(C) protection
(C) adolescent
(D) asset
(D) class
171
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practice test 2
45 Questions • 35 Minutes
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172
PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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7. The styles that are in vogue in Paris
change every year.
13. The Red Cross made an equitable distribution of the meals to the starving children.
(A) repute
(A) just
(B) length
(B) quick
(C) fashion
(C) nutritious
(D) brevity
(D) convenient
8. The builder’s conservative estimate of the
time required to remodel the kitchen was
six weeks.
14. When you apply for a loan, you must show
that you have assets to cover the amount
of the loan.
(A) reactionary
(A) assessments
(B) cautious
(B) items of value
(C) protective
(C) legal documents
(D) traditional
(D) stocks
9. Christian’s path was beset by peril.
(A) surrounded
(B) chased
(C) frightened
(D) bested
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(A) attended
(B) blackmailed
10. The precedent for this case was set by a
law passed in 1900.
(D) left
(A) precept
(B) example
(C) jurisdiction
(D) pace
16. The Industrial Revolution marked the
beginning of an epoch of exodus from
rural areas to cities.
(A) episode
(B) period
11. Frequent minor ailments kept her home
from work.
(B) young children
(C) sicknesses
(D) falls
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(B) wraths
(C) quarrels
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(D) story
17. Participants from 100 countries go to the
Olympic Games.
(A) people who buy things
(B) people who watch
(C) people who take part
(D) people who travel
(A) wrecks
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12. The neighbors’ constant wrangles with
each other shattered our tranquility.
(D) conversations
18. He got a gold medal for the feat of lifting
500 pounds.
(A) accomplishment
(B) fear
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(C) migration
(A) irritations
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15. The union members boycotted the meeting because they did not want to go on
strike.
(C) shunned
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(C) trial
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(D) event
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www.petersons.com
Practice Test 2
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173
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25. The consensus among the senators was
that the bill would not be passed.
(A) controversy
(B) time sequence
(B) gathering
(C) disaster
(C) divided
(D) discrepancy
(D) agreement
(D) score
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(D) harmful
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(C) range
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(C) depressing
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(B) opportunity
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(B) facile
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(A) view
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27. Militant suffragettes demanded the right
to vote.
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21. The power failure at 7 a.m. caused consternation among the city’s commuters.
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(A) helpful
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26. I can jog a few miles, but the Boston
Marathon is certainly beyond my scope.
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20. You may find that jogging is detrimental
rather than beneficial to your health.
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(A) catastrophe
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19. We had to list the chronology of events in
World War II on our test.
(A) feminine
(B) deliberation
(B) strongly committed
(C) dismay
(C) organized
(D) distaste
(D) newly liberated
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28. Currently, there are at least four movies
playing that deserve the Academy Award.
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22. The hostess was affronted by Bill’s failure
to thank her for dinner.
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(A) disability
(A) downtown
(B) insulted
(B) at the present time
(C) afflicted
(C) at the local theater
(D) confronted
(D) frequently
(B) reminded
(D) wretched
(C) scolded
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(C) proper
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(D) colored
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(B) provocative
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(C) refrigerated
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(A) thorough
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(B) touched
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30. The dental work made a profound change
in her appearance.
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(A) contaminated
(D) praised
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24. The tainted meat made him desperately
ill.
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(A) worried
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(B) displayed
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(A) intoxicated
29. The embarrassed young mother admonished her children for having taken the
candy from the grocery shelf.
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23. His drunken behavior at the wedding was
deplorable.
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(A) affable
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PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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31. The Browns were in a dilemma about
whether to buy a house in the country or
an apartment in the city where they
worked.
(A) predicament
(B) discussion
37. Participation in intramural sports is required.
(A) within the school
(B) with outsiders
(C) overly strenuous
(D) extraordinary
(C) agreement
(D) stage
32. Tempestuous times preceded the declaration of war.
(A) peaceful
(B) emotionally charged
33. Citizens who collaborated with the enemy during the war were executed after
the war.
(A) resisted
(B) fought
(C) lost
(D) helped
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34. A versatile material for home construction is wood.
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(B) proposal
(C) edge
(D) evasion
39. The professor elicited a loud groan from
his students with his difficult assignment.
(A) eluded
(B) repeated
(C) drew out
(D) articulated
40. City dwellers are exhilarated by the brisk
country air.
(A) amazed
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(D) temperate
(A) useful
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(B) various
(B) fanned
(C) humbled
(D) stimulated
(C) inflammable
(D) common
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38. On the brink of matrimony, he fled to a
desert island.
(C) trying
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(B) birds
(C) nature
(D) predators
36. Her refusal to go out with him infuriated
him.
(A) saddened
(B) intoxicated
(C) angered
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(A) undomesticated animals
(D) frightened
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41. Ponce de Leon searched for magic waters
to rejuvenate the elderly.
(A) make young again
35. Current laws protect wildlife from useless slaughter.
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(B) clean again
(C) reject again
(D) stimulate again
42. Although they had never met before the
party, Roger and Gina felt a strong affinity
to each other at first glance.
(A) affability
(B) attraction
(C) dislike
(D) interest
Practice Test 2
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45. Young people often dispense with the
traditional ceremonies of marriage.
(A) engage upon
(B) applauded
(B) unite
(C) frightened
(C) destroy
(D) expelled
(D) omit
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(A) inspired
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43. A person who suffers from stage fright is
easily intimidated by a large audience.
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44. Every other woman at the premiere was
aware of the star’s ostentatious display of
her emeralds.
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(B) loud
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(C) oscillating
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(D) showy
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176
PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS
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D
10.
B
19.
B
28.
B
37.
A
2.
B
11.
C
20.
D
29.
C
38.
C
3.
D
12.
C
21.
C
30.
A
39.
C
4.
D
13.
A
22.
B
31.
A
40.
D
5.
B
14.
B
23.
D
32.
B
41.
A
6.
B
15.
C
24.
A
33.
D
42.
B
7.
C
16.
B
25.
D
34.
A
43.
C
8.
B
17.
C
26.
C
35.
A
44.
D
9.
A
18.
A
27.
B
36.
C
45.
D
1.
The correct answer is (D). The summit is
the highest point and, in this sentence, the
presidency of the company can be viewed as
the top position. The other answer choices do
not make a meaningful sentence.
9.
2.
The correct answer is (B). Access is a way
or means of reaching or entering a place.
Ascendancy means domination and an asset
is an advantage or important thing. Protection makes no sense in this sentence.
3.
The correct answer is (D). Defamed his
character and erred in judgment do not make
a meaningful sentence. If you know that paid
in full and failed to pay have opposite meaning, then you can assume that one of them is
the correct answer. If Jack had paid in full,
then the bank would not be inclined to take
him to court.
4.
The correct answer is (D). A panacea is
something that is believed to cure all ills and
problems. Gold, chemical, and release do not
make sense in the sentence.
5.
The correct answer is (B). Litigation is a
lawsuit. The other answer choices do not
make a meaningful sentence.
6.
The correct answer is (B). The key word in
the sentence is cater. To cater to someone is
to satisfy his or her special needs. In this
sentence, the special needs are of the young
customers.
7.
The correct answer is (C). Vogue usually
refers to fashion.
8.
The correct answer is (B). Reactionary,
protective, or traditional would not describe
the experience of obtaining an estimate of cost.
The correct answer is (A). Beset is to come
at a target from all directions. The other
answer choices do not make a meaningful
sentence.
10. The correct answer is (B). This is a more
difficult word because precept and example could
be used to make a meaningful sentence. If you
do not know the meaning of the words given as
alternatives, add them to your card list.
11. The correct answer is (C). Although
irritations, young children, and falls may
keep someone home from work, ailments
are sicknesses.
12. The correct answer is (C). The key word in
the sentence is shattered, which means “to
ruin or destroy.”
13. The correct answer is (A). While the distribution of the meals might have been quick,
nutritious, and perhaps, convenient, no one
could dispute that the distribution was dictated by reason, conscience, and a natural
sense of fairness.
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14. The correct answer is (B). Assets are items
of value to a person, business, or institution.
15. The correct answer is (C). A boycott is a
refusal for political reasons to buy certain
products or do business with a certain store or
company. Although left would make a meaningful sentence, to boycott the meeting would
be a refusal to attend.
16. The correct answer is (B). An epoch is a
particular period of history. In this sentence,
the epoch refers to the period during the
Industrial Revolution when people moved
from the country to the cities.
Practice Test 2
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26. The correct answer is (C). Scope represents the limits or range of something.
27. The correct answer is (B). Militants are
strongly committed to a cause.
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43. The correct answer is (C). To intimidate is
to make someone fearful. The key word in the
sentence is suffers.
44. The correct answer is (D). Ostentatious
displays are intended to attract some notice
and to impress other people.
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42. The correct answer is (B). The couple felt
an attraction to each other. Affability is easy
to talk to.
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41. The correct answer is (A). The Latin root
is “iuvenis,” young. Rejuvenate is to make
young again.
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45. The correct answer is (D). To dispense
with means to manage without or to get rid of.
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29. The correct answer is (C). Admonished
means to criticize or scold. The key word in the
sentence is embarrassed. None of the other
answer choices makes sense in the sentence.
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28. The correct answer is (B).
40. The correct answer is (D). People often
refer to brisk air as exhilarating since it
makes them feel strong and happy.
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25. The correct answer is (D). A consensus is
an agreement reached among members of a
group.
39. The correct answer is (C). Elicit means to
get or to bring out.
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24. The correct answer is (A). Tainted food is
spoiled or contaminated.
38. The correct answer is (C). Brink can mean
the top edge of a cliff or, in this sentence, a
point after which something may happen.
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23. The correct answer is (D). His drunken
behavior was considered “very bad.”
37. The correct answer is (A). The prefix
“intra-” means within. Intramural means
within an organization.
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22. The correct answer is (B). The key word is
failure. None of the other answer choices
makes sense in the sentence.
36. The correct answer is (C).
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21. The correct answer is (C). Consternation
is surprise, confusion, and often anger directed toward an event or person.
35. The correct answer is (A).
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20. The correct answer is (D). Beneficial and
detrimental are opposites.
34. The correct answer is (A). Versatile means
useful in many ways or multipurpose.
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19. The correct answer is (B). A chronology
is the arrangement of events in order of
occurrence.
33. The correct answer is (D). The prefix comeans “with.”
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18. The correct answer is (A). A feat is an act
of skill, endurance, or strength. It is also an
achievement. In this sentence, the gold medal
was awarded for the achievement of lifting
500 pounds.
32. The correct answer is (B).
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17. The correct answer is (C). A participant is
someone who takes part in something.
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30. The correct answer is (A).
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31. The correct answer is (A). A dilemma
usually refers to a situation in which a choice
must be made.
answers practice test 2
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179
Practice Test 3
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answer sheet
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ANSWER SHEET PRACTICE TEST 3
Practice Test 3
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Directions: In questions 1–45 each sentence has a word or phrase underlined.
Below each sentence are four other words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D).
You are to choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the original
sentence if it is substituted for the underlined word or phrase. Then, on your answer
sheet, find the number of the question and blacken the space that corresponds to
the letter you have chosen so that the letter inside the oval cannot be seen.
He talked so fast that I couldn’t
comprehend what he said.
(A) hear
2. Savage hordes swept across Europe and
ruthlessly attacked all in their path.
(A) without stopping
(B) without weapons
(B) translate
(C) without warning
(C) understand
(D) without pity
(D) repeat
The correct answer is (C), understand, because logically you
would not understand fast
speech. You could hear him. No
mention is made of his speaking
in a foreign language, so translate is not a likely answer. Repeat is out of the question in this
context.
3. Many of the habitats of birds and plants
have been destroyed by man’s pollution.
(A) nests
(B) forests
(C) natural homes
(D) grounds
4. Children have a jargon of their own that
their elders frequently don’t understand.
(A) unintelligible talk
1. Some believe that the treatment for alcoholism is complete abstinence from
alcohol.
(A) absence
(B) avoidance
(C) sickness
(D) prescription
181
(B) exercise plan
(C) strange gait
(D) sign language
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practice test 3
45 Questions • 35 Minutes
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182
PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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5. The UN delegates lived in temporary housing until their apartment house was constructed.
11. Whenever I have to make a speech, the
minute I stand up on the dais I forget
every word.
(A) timely
(A) front
(B) temperate
(B) feet
(C) limited time
(C) soap box
(D) temporizing
(D) platform
6. Chinese cuisine specializes in rice dishes.
(A) delicacies
(A) sell
(C) chefs
(B) describe
(D) gourmets
(C) brand
(A) unlikely
(B) fantastic
(C) influential
(D) unavoidable
(A) rules of conduct
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(B) ugly
(D) undone
14. Two small toy manufacturers consolidated
to form a new business.
(C) nuptials
(B) united
(D) religious ceremonies
(C) divided
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(A) extremely messy
(A) advertised
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13. After camping in the wilderness for two
weeks, he was so unkempt that his wife
was horrified.
(B) irrational beliefs
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8. One of the superstitions related to weddings is that the bride should wear something blue.
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(D) stick on
(C) totally ferocious
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7. It was inevitable that women would be
sent into space along with men.
9. The Industrial Revolution effected a drastic change in the British standard of living in the 18th century.
(D) met
15. His wife’s extravagant tastes put him in
debt.
(A) caused
(A) excessive
(B) eliminated
(B) extraordinary
(C) prevented
(C) exclusive
(D) denied
(D) exciting
10. The colonists made a vehement protest
against taxation without representation.
(A) veiled
16. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Brown
spent several melancholy years alone in
her apartment.
(B) verified
(A) tired
(C) impassioned
(B) meaningful
(D) voracious
(C) brief
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12. Food manufacturers must label their products with content information.
(B) cooking
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(D) sad
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Practice Test 3
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23. A diabetic has to renounce most sugar in
his diet.
(A) give up
(B) place
(B) foresee
(C) stand
(C) inject
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(D) curse
(D) criminal
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25. The course of studies is geared to an
urban population.
(A) driven
(B) enthusiastically
(B) modified
(C) happily
(C) apparent
(D) dispassionately
(D) tried
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26. Physical infirmity often makes people
querulous and hard to live with.
(A) irritable
(B) impatience
(B) weak
(C) hindrance
(C) indignant
(D) impossibility
(D) poor
(B) hiding place
(D) can
(C) meeting place
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(D) sank
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(D) theater
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(B) struck
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(C) wake
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(A) established
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(B) study
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28. The ship foundered on the rocks during
the hurricane.
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(A) struggle
(D) dining room
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22. An author in the throes of creation hates
to be interrupted.
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(A) may
27. The French restaurant in our neighborhood is a favorite rendezvous for parents
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21. You ought to read the directions carefully
before you begin the problems.
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(A) help
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(A) lazily
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19. He studied so zealously that he graduated from college first in his class.
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24. Chicago became notorious for crime and
corruption during the days of Prohibition.
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lose weight.
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(A) energy
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17. Because he swam too fast at the beginning of the race, he lost his stamina early.
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184
PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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29. The Salk vaccine has had a potent effect
upon the incidence of polio.
35. Toxic waste from nuclear plants is hazardous to the environment.
(A) potential
(A) troublesome
(B) powerful
(B) poisonous
(C) praiseworthy
(C) grievous
(D) priceless
(D) panic
30. At the age of ninety, her health has
regressed to the point that she may soon
die.
(B) alluded
(C) sickly
(C) deteriorated
(D) grey
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(A) talkative
(B) gracious
(D) progressed
37. Obviously Helen’s forte is chemistry.
31. Americans were appalled by the latest
statistics regarding violent crimes.
(A) mildly surprised
(B) informed
(D) pleased
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(A) frivolous and additional
(B) athletic and vigorous
(D) inattentive to studies
(A) Nevertheless
(B) However
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34. I infer from our conversation that he has
no intention of paying the bill.
(A) conclude
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(D) fixation
38. That the government ought to develop a
jobs program seemed to Congress an
indisputable fact.
(A) indefinite
(B) indispensable
(C) unquestionable
(D) undefinable
39. The electrician was scrupulous about
grounding all the wires in the factory.
(A) afraid
(B) employed
(C) careful
(D) infamous
40. The interment took place last Friday.
(A) festivity
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(B) intrude
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(C) weakness
(C) In spite of this
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33. Furthermore, I feel that his behavior is
upsetting the entire classroom.
(C) imply
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(B) talent
(C) outside the curriculum
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32. John blamed his poor grades this semester upon his having participated in too
many extracurricular activities.
(D) hear
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(A) fortitude
(C) shocked
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36. As she aged, she became so garrulous
that no one else could be heard.
(A) remembered
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(B) installation
(C) launching
(D) burial
Practice Test 3
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44. The Senator has a vindictive attitude
toward her ex-husband.
(A) vindicated
(B) bad habits
(B) troublesome
(C) assigned duties
(C) weak
(D) foul language
(D) vengeful
(D) insertion
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(C) implied
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(B) interception
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(B) important
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(A) interval
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(A) implicated
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45. In the interim between performances, the
famous actress toured Europe.
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42. Her disapproval was implicit in her response to his behavior.
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(A) small faults
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41. We all have peccadillos that our intimate
friends tolerate.
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43. All of the President’s efforts to rescind the
law were unavailing.
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(A) revive
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(B) change
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(C) repeal
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(D) rescue
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186
PART IV: Two Practice Tests
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ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS
1.
B
10.
C
19.
B
28.
D
37.
B
2.
D
11.
D
20.
C
29.
B
38.
C
3.
C
12.
B
21.
C
30.
C
39.
C
4.
A
13.
A
22.
A
31.
C
40.
D
5.
C
14.
B
23.
A
32.
C
41.
A
6.
B
15.
A
24.
C
33.
D
42.
C
7.
D
16.
D
25.
B
34.
A
43.
C
8.
B
17.
A
26.
A
35.
B
44.
D
9.
A
18.
B
27.
C
36.
A
45.
A
1.
The correct answer is (B). Abstinence is
usually used to describe the avoidance of
alcohol.
2.
The correct answer is (D). Ruthlessly is
having no compassion or pity. A synonym for
ruthless is merciless.
3.
The correct answer is (C). Habitat refers to
the environment where an organism, animal,
or plant normally lives or occurs. Although
birds live in nests and forests contain plants,
(C) best keeps the meaning of the original
sentence if it is substituted for habitats.
11. The correct answer is (D). A dais is a
platform usually with chairs, a long table,
and a podium for speakers at a banquet or
a lecture.
12. The correct answer is (B). The noun, label,
is a marker on a product that is used to give
its name and contents. Here, the verb, label,
is to mark with a label.
13. The correct answer is (A). The key word in
the sentence is horrified. It is obvious by the
wife’s response that the man looked unlike
himself.
4.
The correct answer is (A). Jargon can refer
either a specialized or technical language or
nonsensical talk. The other answer choices
do not make a meaningful sentence when
substituted for jargon.
5.
The correct answer is (C). The Latin prefix, tempor-, refers to time. Timely refers to
something occurring at a suitable time but
does not make a meaningful sentence when
substituted for temporary.
6.
7.
The correct answer is (B). Cuisine is the
manner of preparing food.
The correct answer is (D). An inevitable
event or occurrence is an unavoidable event
or occurrence.
8.
14. The correct answer is (B). The prefix conmeans “with.” To consolidate is to group together to reduce in number.
15. The correct answer is (A).
16. The correct answer is (D).
17. The correct answer is (A). Stamina is the
ability to exercise or work for long periods of
time.
18. The correct answer is (B).
19. The correct answer is (B).
20. The correct answer is (C). An impediment
is something that prevents or interferes with
something.
21. The correct answer is (C). Ought is used to
express an obligation.
The correct answer is (B). Superstitions
are irrational beliefs that are sometimes
rooted in magic or the supernatural.
22. The correct answer is (A). It is a condition
of agonizing struggle.
The correct answer is (A). An effect is a
result; the verb, effect, means to produce a
result.
23. The correct answer is (A). A person with
diabetes should limit his or her intake of
sugar.
10. The correct answer is (C). The other
answer choices do not make a meaningful
sentence.
24. The correct answer is (C). Notorious is
well-known or famous, especially for something bad.
9.
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Practice Test 3
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187
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45. The correct answer is (A). An interim is a
time period between events.
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44. The correct answer is (D). A vindictive
person seeks to harm another person.
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43. The correct answer is (C).
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42. The correct answer is (C). An implicit
agreement is one that is implied or understood, without being directly expressed.
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33. The correct answer is (D). A synonym
would be “moreover.”
41. The correct answer is (A). This is from the
Spanish “peccadillo.”
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32. The correct answer is (C). The prefix
extra- means “out of.”
40. The correct answer is (D). To inter is to
bury.
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31. The correct answer is (C). The other
answer choices make little sense, given the
subject matter of the sentence.
39. The correct answer is (C). A scrupulous
person is attentive to detail and correctness.
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30. The correct answer is (C). To regress is to
go backwards, usually to a worse condition.
38. The correct answer is (C).
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29. The correct answer is (B). A potent drug
has a strong effect or influence, making it
very powerful. The other answer choices do
not make a meaningful sentence.
37. The correct answer is (B). A forte is something that a person does well.
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28. The correct answer is (D). To founder can
mean to trip or fall from great tiredness, but,
in this sentence, foundered is to fill up with
water and sink.
36. The correct answer is (A). A garrulous
person talks too much.
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27. The correct answer is (C). A rendezvous is
a meeting place. The word is also used to
describe a meeting, especially between lovers.
35. The correct answer is (B). The other
answer choices do not make a meaningful
sentence.
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26. The correct answer is (A). A querulous
person finds something wrong with everything.
34. The correct answer is (A). To infer is to come
to a conclusion based on some information.
○
25. The correct answer is (B). The phrase, “to
gear something to,” is to make something
suitable.
answers practice test 3
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NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES
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