WARM-UP TESTS - How to Build an Impressive Vocabulary

More Word Smart: How to Build an Impressive Vocabulary (2012)

Chapter 2. WARM-UP TESTS

For those readers who would like to take stock of their word power before digging into this book, we have provided a battery of tests. These tests are fun and will help you learn a lot about these words. The answers appear in Chapter 12.

SO YOU REALLY THINK YOU KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE THESE WORDS, EH?

As we said earlier, we were surprised while researching this book just how many words we were mispronouncing, even though we knew the correct definitions. The following sampling of words from this book will test how you measure up. This is a tough test. If you get more than 10 correct, call us—you can help us write Even More Word Smart!

Warm-Up Test #1: PRONUNCIATIONS

Before looking at column a or column b, pronounce each of the following words. Then select the letter that comes closer to your pronunciation. Check your answers here.

1. accede	a. ak SEED
	b. a SEED
2. antipodes	a. an TIP uh deez
	b. AN tee pohds
3. apposite	a. AP uh zut
	b. uh PAH zit
4. arsenal	a. AHRS nul
	b. AHR suh nul
5. balk	a. bawk
	b. bawlk
6. concomitant	a. kun KAHM uh tunt
	b. kahn kuh MI tunt
7. contretemps	a. KAHN truh tahn
	b. KAHN tur temps
8. homage	a. AHM ij
	b. HAHM ij
9. pastoral	a. PAS tur ul
	b. pa STAWR ul
10. phantasm	a. FAN taz um
	b. fan TAZ um
11. psyche	a. SYE kee
	b. syke
12. remuneration	a. ri myoo nuh RAY shun
	b. ree noom ur AY shun
13. schism	a. SIZ um
	b. SKIZ um
14. sovereign	a. SAHV run
	b. SAH vuh run
15. vagaries	a. vuh GAR eez
	b. VAY guh reez

SO YOU REALLY THINK YOU KNOW WHAT THESE WORDS MEAN, EH?

It’s easy to look at a word and assume that you know what it means because it looks a lot like a word that you already know. The following simple-looking words were all taken from this book. Warning: None of these words is as simple as it looks; some have deceptive secondary meanings.

Warm-Up Test #2a: DEFINITIONS

For each of the following words, match the word on the left with its definition on the right. Check your answers here.

1. eclipse	a. unintelligent
2. vacuous	b. surpass
3. disconcert	c. unusual
4. singular	d. direct
5. channel	e. ignorant
6. benighted	f. hint
7. intimate	g. expressionless
8. inviolate	h. disturb greatly
9. temporize	i. stall
10. impassive	j. free from injury

Warm-Up Test #2b: DEFINITIONS

For each of the following words, match the word on the left with its definition on the right. Check your answers here.

1. posture	a. worthy of admiration
2. conversant	b. act artificially
3. parallel	c. harmful action
4. estimable	d. similar
5. disservice	e. make uneasy
6. privation	f. alienate
7. captivate	g. poverty
8. cleave	h. familiar
9. disquiet	i. cling
10. disaffect	j. fascinate

Warm-Up Test #2c: DEFINITIONS

For each of the following words, match the word on the left with its definition on the right. Check your answers here.

1. fuel	a. give
2. quizzical	b. highly significant
3. curb	c. teasing
4. insuperable	d. unable to be overcome
5. afford	e. plead
6. entreat	f. stimulate
7. conviction	g. unbearable
8. pregnant	h. strong belief
9. intrigue	i. restrain
10. insufferable	j. secret scheme

Warm-Up Test #2d: DEFINITIONS

For each of the following words, match the word on the left with its definition on the right. Check your answers here.

1. appraise	a. combined action
2. resignation	b. estimate the value of
3. engaging	c. sudden attack
4. tortuous	d. impartial
5. concert	e. means by which something is conveyed
6. impregnable	f. preachy
7. sally	g. charming
8. dispassionate	h. winding
9. medium	i. submission
10. sententious	j. unconquerable

ARE YOU SEEING DOUBLE?

Another cause of vocabulary difficulties is confusing a difficult word with a simple word that looks a lot like it. Try your hand at the following game.

Warm-Up Test #3: WORD SURGERY ON CONFUSABLES

For each of the following words on the left, follow the parenthetical directions to create the word defined on the right. Check your answers here.

Take this word	and do this	to form a word meaning this
1. errant	(change one letter)	very bad
2. adverse	(delete one letter)	disliking
3. cachet	(delete one letter)	hiding place
4. cannon	(delete one letter)	rule or law
5. canvas	(add one letter)	seek votes or opinions
6. career	(change one letter)	to swerve
7. rational	(add one letter)	excuse
8. confident	(change one letter)	trusted person
9. corporal	(add one letter)	material, tangible
10. demure	(delete one letter)	object
11. disassemble	(delete two letters)	deceive
12. systematic	(delete two letters)	throughout a system
13. important	(change two letters)	urge annoyingly
14. climactic	(delete one letter)	having to do with the climate
15. epic	(delete one letter, add two)	era

ANAGRAMS

The prefix “ana” means to break up. The root “gram” means letter. An anagram is a word or phrase formed from the broken-up letters of another word or phrase. The new word must use all the letters of the word or phrase to be a true anagram. The words eat and bleat, for example, can be formed from the letters of the word table, but only bleat uses all the letters.

To improve your vocabulary, you need to become conscious of words and letters in your daily reading. The following words can be broken down and rearranged to form words found in this volume.

This last test is just for fun. Good luck!

Warm-Up Test #4: ANAGRAMS

For each of the words or phrases on the left, rearrange the letters to form a word defined on the right. Check your answers here.

1. askew	trails
2. dome	method of doing something
3. a paint	surface discoloration caused by age
4. lever	enjoy thoroughly
5. a note	make amends
6. raid	very dry
7. a view	give up or put aside
8. touts	plump or stocky
9. a main	crazed excitement
10. a tint	contaminate
11. a mark	good or bad emanations from a person
12. tints	duty or job
13. diva	eager
14. ride	disastrous
15. told	stupid person
16. beat	support someone in wrongdoing
17. atoll	assign
18. a cadre	arched passageway
19. lamb	something that heals
20. corns	contempt
21. lotus	clods
22. a hotel	despise
23. tap	appropriate
24. jaunt	small ruling group
25. tapes	sudden outpouring
26. fire	widespread
27. lakes	quench or satisfy