Words and Words and Words Part II By: Anthony Pellegrino
Let’s have a bit of fun today. Let’s test your vocabulary. No one will have to know how you did. It’s your secret but it will help you know where you stand concerning your vocabulary level. Check the word or phrase that you think is the nearest in meaning to the key word. Then circle the letter before it. At the boKom of tile test are tile correct answers.
1) DETRIMENTAL– A. depressing. B. increasing. C. injurious. D. complaining.
2) CHASTISE– A. to make sure. B. to punish. C. to reward. D. to pursue.
3) TANTALIZE– A. to flatter. B. to tease or torment. C. to experiment. D. to hesitate.
4) STANCH– A. standing on end. B. a bad odor. C. firm and steady. D. tight shut.
5) INDICT– A. to write down. B. to charge with crime. C:. to command. D. to point out.
6) INFLEXIBLE– A.complicated. B. bending. C. tightly woven. D. firm.
7) EROSION– A. a bursting. B. a wearing away. C. a heavy stain. D. a slope.
8) TORRID — A. coarse. B. extremely hot. C. hurried. D. angry.
9) EXUDE — A. discharge slowly. B. dry out. C. boast. D. flatter.
10) IMMUNE– A. silent. B. protected against disease. C. stubborn. D. imprisoned.
11) TERSE– A. provoked. B. tense. C. brief. D. serious.
12) LAGGARD– A. careless. B. slow. C. untidy. D. Iazy.
13) ALIENATE– A. to make friencily. B. to travel widely. C. to make hostile. D. ban.
14) FEIGN– A. to pretend. B. to disdain. C. to flatter. D. to be favorably disposed.
15) RAVAGE– A. to enrage. B. to plunder. C. to be devious. D. to tempt.
16) PREVARICATION– A. confusion.B. wandering around. C. a deviation from the truth. D. an act of delay.
17) BERSERK– A. hairy. B. in a frenzy. C. foreign. D. disheveled.
18) PUNITIVE — A. punishing. B. incidental. C. strong. D. deceptive.
19) VAUNTED– A. greatly desired. B. boasted. C. powerful. D. empty.
20) ALTERCATE — A. to occur in turns. B. to dispute angrily. C. to agree. D. to change.
21) IMPETUOSITY– A. peevishness. B. rash and sudden haste. C. great anger. D. to entice.
22) ARROGANT– A. claiming without right. B. uninterested in others. C. proud and disdainful. D. towering.
23) EULOGY– A. high praise. B. criticism. C. hope. D. a lament for the dead.
24) EVOCATION– A. a cancellation. B. a creation. C. a calling forth. D. a hobby.
25) IMPERTURBABLE– A. incapable of being agitated. B. worthy of trust. C. greatly disturbed. D. mysterious.
26) PEREMPTORY– A uncertain. B. angry. C. decisive. D. noisy.
27) RECANT– A. to remember. B. to describe an event. C. to apologize. D. to disavow and retract.
28) EXPEDITE– A. to be cautious. B. to delay. C. to make easy. D. to experiment.
29) DEIGN– A. consider worthy. B. to condescend. C. to despise. D. to refuse.
30) EXCULPATE– A. to absolve from blame. B. to behead. C. to accuse. D. to torture.
Here are the test answers:
1. C, 2. B, 3. B, 4. C, 5. B, 6. D, 7. B, 8. B, 9. A, 10. B, 11. C, 12. B, 13. C, 14. A, 15, B,
16. C, 17. B, 18. A, 19. B, 20. B, 21. B, 22. C, 23. A, 24. C, 25. A, 26. C, 27. D, 28. C,
29. B, 30. A.
Check the total number of correct answers against the rating to see what your present vocabulary rating is:
30–27 correct–extraordinary
26–23 correct–excellent
22–16 correct–good to fair
15 and under–poor
Hopefully from this brief discussion about the importance of a good vocabulary you will be stimulated to grow in your language ability. Of first importance in vocabulary building is to have a burniny intellectual curiosity about things–to develop new and wider interests. Words and more words– a lifelong endeavor.
“With words we govern men.” “Language is the immediate gift of God.”
B. DISRAELI NOAH WEBSTER
