WHO WANTS TO KNOW A MILLION WORDS?

A: B:

C: D:

To avert an accident, Larry turned his car sharply to the right and narrowly missed the other car.

begin prevent

report deny

B. avert = prevent

A: B:

C: D:

serious

cruelfunny

dishonest

Dr. Segura has a facetious sign on his office door: “I’d like to help you out. Which way did

you come in?”

C. facetious = funny

A: B:

C: D:

intelligent silly

interesting shocking

Television programming is often so inane that TV has

been described as “bubble gum for the mind.”

B. inane = silly

A: B:

C: D:

help forbid

force ask

If the law did not compel people to pay taxes, no one

would pay them.

C. compel = force

A: B:

C: D:

noisy healthy

irregularconsistent

My boyfriend’s eating habits are erratic. One day he’ll

barely eat, and the next he’ll eat enough for three.

D. erratic = irregular

A: B:

C: D:

spread

increaseimprove

conceal

What would be the best way to disseminate information about the

next school board meeting? It’s important for all parents to attend.

A. disseminate =

spread

A: B:

C: D:

remembered

deniedasked

forgot

My father showed me his trophy and reminisced about his years as a star basketball

player.

A. reminisce = remember

A: B:

C: D:

see

abovemachine

self

In restaurants called automats, you serve yourself by putting

coins in slots and removing food from behind small glass doors.

B. auto = self

A: B:

C: D:

extremists

believersdoubters

observers

The Crusaders were Christian zealots during the Middle Ages

who left their homes and families and went off to try to capture the

Holy Land.

A. zealots = extremists

A: B:

C: D:

before

notout

full

“Inhale as you lower your head,” called out the exercise instructor, “and exhale as you

do the sit-up.”

C. ex = out

A: B:

C: D:

pity

knowledgeunderstanding

indifference

The students’ apathy turned to intense interest when the

psychology teacher discussed Freud’s views on sex.

B. apathy =

indifference

A: B:

C: D:

brought on

supportedpermitted

prevented

The discovery that Elliot had been setting fires precipitated his parents’ decision to consult

a child psychologist.

A. precipitated =

brought on

A: B:

C: D:

known

confusingrelated

threatening

History is always relevant to our lives because it shows us

what results can follow certain actions.

C. relevant = related

A: B:

C: D:

one

abovebefore

not

Our history teacher has an unusual approach to teaching. He often

wears costumes to class and lectures as one of the historical people we’re learning about.

B. un = not

A: B:

C: D:

a fact

a horrible reality

a false impression

a new idea

Tina’s belief that she and Jon had a strong relationship turned out to be an illusion. She wasn’t aware

that he was dating other girls.

C. illusion = a false

impression

A: B:

C: D:

alive

sleepfree

separate

The volcano has been dormant for years, but it may awaken

soon.

D. dorm = sleep

A: B:

C: D:

cold

dullspicy

bitter

Mexicans, accustomed to hot and spicy foods, often find American dishes bland by

comparison.

D. bland = dull

A: B:

C: D:

honor

ridiculeremember

pity

The Tlingit Indians venerate the wolf and the raven, and their

totem poles illustrate stories in praise of these animals.

B. venerate = honor

A: B:

C: D:

fair

skepticalgenerous

unsophisticated

Though young, Rhonda is not naïve. Being on her own for

so long has made her streetwise.

A. naive =

unsophisticated

A: B:

C: D:unsympathetic

short

harshly comical

overly emotional

The verses in greeting cards are often far too sentimental. I prefer humor to such maudlin messages.

B. maudlin = overly

emotional

A: B:

C: D:obvious

fair

honest

harmful

Sometimes overt racism is easier to deal with than the

hidden kind. You can better fight what is out in the open.

C. overt = obvious

A: B:out

C: D: abovebefore

see

The superintendent of schools has called a meeting of all the

principals to discuss the growing drug problem.

D. super = above

A: B:

C: D:

ill

depressedangry

distracted

Devon becomes despondent too easily. If he gets even one bad grade, he loses all hope of

succeeding in school.

D. despondent =

depressed

A: B:

C: D:

rural

countrycrowded

city

Gladys likes urban living because she grew up in the

city, but Emilio, who grew up on a farm, prefers country life.

B. urban = city

A: B:

C: D:

honest

hiddenfriendly

careful

I’ll give you my candid opinion, but you might not like

what you hear.

A. candid = honest

A: B:

C: D:

relax

strengthenprove

protect

The builders plan to fortify the old tower with steel beams.

D. fortify = strengthen

A: B:

C: D:

after

before beyond

free

A clever saying warns us not to anticipate trouble before it happens: “Worrying casts tomorrow’s clouds

over today’s sunshine.”

C. anti- = before

A: B:

C: D:

honest

fair experienced

friendly

Too much publicity before a trial makes it difficult for lawyers to find impartial jurors, people

with no opinion about the case.

C. impartial = fair

A: B:

C: D:

chances

optionsreasons

fears

What are my prospects of finding a hotel room in this

town during Super Bowl weekend?

A. prospects = chances

A: B:

C: D:

humble

flashyexpensive

weighty

My show-off aunt has some ostentatious jewelry, such as a

gold bracelet that’s so heavy she can hardly lift her arm.

D. ostentatious =

flashy

A: B:

C: D:

explained

overlookedhid

suggested

To Sherlock Holmes, the clues implied that the murderer was an elderly man who carried a cane.

B. implied = suggested

A: B:

C: D:

one

besidebefore

not

The dancers in the chorus line kicked their legs up and down

in perfect unison, as if they were one body.

A. uni = one

A: B:

C: D:

children

beginnersfriends

experts

Because I have never played tennis, I will join the class for

novices.

D. novices = beginners

A: B:

C: D:

cause

chanceremedy

explanation

For me, a good antidote to feeling low is to bake a batch

of brownies.

C. antidote = remedy

A: B:

C: D:

thorough

breath-taking

skillful

indirect

I don’t like to take risks myself, but I love the vicarious

thrill of watching death-defying adventures in a movie.

B. vicarious = indirect

A: B:

C: D:

reach

eliminateincrease

weaken

Leroy tried to undermine the coach’s authority by making

jokes about him behind his back.

B. undermine =

weaken

A: B:

C: D:

minimal

quickrisky

large in amount

Selena did extensive research for her paper—it took her

several weeks.

B. extensive = large in

amount

Great Work!!!