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English Specialization
ENGLISH REVIEWER
PROF ED REVIEWER
Science Reviewer
LET REVIEWER MARCH 2018
Practice Test for English Major
Monday, February 19, 2018
Friday, February 16, 2018
LITERATURE QUESTIONS
SPECIALIZATION - ENGLISH - TEST
Directions: Read each item carefully; then choose the letter of the best answer.
1. The first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
A. Yasunari Kawabata B. Rabindranath Tagore C. Wole Soyinka D. Po Chu-I
Directions: Read each item carefully; then choose the letter of the best answer.
1. The first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
A. Yasunari Kawabata B. Rabindranath Tagore C. Wole Soyinka D. Po Chu-I
2. Filial piety is a basic
tenet of this school of thought.
A. Taoism B. Confucianism C. Hinduism D. Buddhism
A. Taoism B. Confucianism C. Hinduism D. Buddhism
3. This ethical concept
suggests a sense of obligation or indebtedness which explains the sense of
patriotism and nationalism of the Japanese.
A. on B. seppuku C. giri D. Kami
A. on B. seppuku C. giri D. Kami
4. What insight is
suggested by this haiku from Basho?
P o v e r t y’s c h I l d –
He s t a r t s to grind the rice
And g a z e s at the moon.
He s t a r t s to grind the rice
And g a z e s at the moon.
A. Nature has a soothing
effect on the human spirit. C. The poor
dreams and are hopeful of better things in their life.
B. Child labor is a reality in many Asian nations D. Life is never-ending routine of work and leisure.
5. He is the leading figure of the Negritude movement.
A. Leopold Senghor B. Dennis Brutus C. Wole Soyinka D. David Diop
B. Child labor is a reality in many Asian nations D. Life is never-ending routine of work and leisure.
5. He is the leading figure of the Negritude movement.
A. Leopold Senghor B. Dennis Brutus C. Wole Soyinka D. David Diop
6. The plot development of
the Ramayana.
A. Circular B. En medias res C. Linear D. Pyramid
A. Circular B. En medias res C. Linear D. Pyramid
7. The South African
novelist and short story writer whose major themes are on exile and alienation,
won the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1991.
A. Ousmane Sembene B. Nadine Gordimer C. Bessie Head D. Barbara Kimenye
Literature in 1991.
A. Ousmane Sembene B. Nadine Gordimer C. Bessie Head D. Barbara Kimenye
8. This novel is based on
the pilgrimage of the Bhuddist monk Xuangzang to India in search of sacred
texts.
A. The Tale of Genji C. Record of a Journey to the West
B. Dream of the red Chamber D. On Learning to be an Indian
9. Fine arts and literature flourished during this dynasty which is viewed as the Golden Age of Chinese civilization.
A. Han B. T’ang C. Ch’in D. Shang
A. The Tale of Genji C. Record of a Journey to the West
B. Dream of the red Chamber D. On Learning to be an Indian
9. Fine arts and literature flourished during this dynasty which is viewed as the Golden Age of Chinese civilization.
A. Han B. T’ang C. Ch’in D. Shang
10. This excerpt from
Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation indicates the universal issue of _________.
“ARE YOU D A R K? OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came.
“You mean- like p l a i n or milk c h o c o l a te?” Her a s s e n t was c l Iin ical, crushing its light I m p ersonality. Rapidly,
wave length adjusted, I chose, “West African sepia.” – and as an afterthought, “Down in my passport.”
A. gender discrimination B. colonial mentality C. human rights violation D. racial discrimination
“ARE YOU D A R K? OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came.
“You mean- like p l a i n or milk c h o c o l a te?” Her a s s e n t was c l Iin ical, crushing its light I m p ersonality. Rapidly,
wave length adjusted, I chose, “West African sepia.” – and as an afterthought, “Down in my passport.”
A. gender discrimination B. colonial mentality C. human rights violation D. racial discrimination
11. The Hindu belief that
life is an illusion is __________.
A. dharma B. artha C. maya D. kama
A. dharma B. artha C. maya D. kama
12. In which Jane Austen
novel do the following lines appear?
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of
a wife.”
A. Mansfield Park B. Northanger Abbey C. Pride and Prejudice D. Sense and Sensibility
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of
a wife.”
A. Mansfield Park B. Northanger Abbey C. Pride and Prejudice D. Sense and Sensibility
13. Which novel by Thomas Hardy
begins with the hero selling his wife and daughter to a sailor who is on his
way to
Canada?
A. Return to the NativeB. Tess of d’Urberville C. Under the Greenwood Tree D. The Mayor of Casterbridge
Canada?
A. Return to the NativeB. Tess of d’Urberville C. Under the Greenwood Tree D. The Mayor of Casterbridge
14. In what Shakespearean
play do the following lines appear?
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how
express and admirable!
A. Hamlet C. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
B. Romeo and Juliet D. King Henry IV
15. What is the title of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s ‘Tale of Horror’?
A. Bleak House B. Frankenstein C. Heart of Darkness D. Tale Tale heart
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how
express and admirable!
A. Hamlet C. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
B. Romeo and Juliet D. King Henry IV
15. What is the title of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s ‘Tale of Horror’?
A. Bleak House B. Frankenstein C. Heart of Darkness D. Tale Tale heart
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
VOCAB SET2
30.The doctors were pleased that their theory had
been fortifiedby the new research.
a.reinforced
b.altered
c.disputed
d.developed
31.The captain often delegatedresponsibility to his
subordinates, so as to have time to do the important tasks himself.
a.analyzed
b.respected
c.criticized
d.assigned
32.The news about toxic waste dumping arousedthe
anger of the many listeners of a news broadcast.
a.informed
b.appeased
c.provoked
d.deceived
33.The spokesperson must articulatethe philosophy
of an entire company so that outsiders can
understand it completely.
a.trust
b.refine
c.verify
d.express
34.The new shipping and receiving building is an
expansivefacility, large enough to meet our
growing needs.
a.obsolete
b.meager
c.spacious
d.costly
35.The attorneys were now certain they could not
win the case, because the ruling had proved to be
so detrimental to their argument.
a.decisive
b.harmful
c.worthless
d.advantageous
36.My brother drives us crazy by crooningin the
shower.
a.hooting
b.bellowing
c.crying
d.shouting
37.The emotional falloutfrom a natural disaster can
adversely affect the residents in a community for
years.
a.conflict
b.issues
c.relationship
d.consequences
38.The air in the rainforest was humid, making the
heat seem even more smothering than before.
a.hot
b.damp
c.hazy
d.volatile
39.The balloon, loose from its string, rose up into
the sky, a shiny purple sphere.
a.circle
b.globe
c.ovoid
d.nodule
–VOCABULARY–
5
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
40.After the storm caused raw sewage to seep into
the ground water, the Water Department had to
take measures to decontaminatethe city’s water
supply.
a.refine
b.revive
c.freshen
d.purify
41.The mayor tailoredhis speech to suit the crowd
of homeless people gathered outside his office.
a.intoned
b.expanded
c.altered
d.shortened
42.The volcano lays dormantnow, but we feel sure it
will erupt again within the year.
a.inactive
b.slack
c.elevated
d.inattentive
43.Because of his disregard for the king’s laws, the
prince was punished by being banishedfrom the
kingdom.
a.apart
b.kidnapped
c.exiled
d.spirited
44.I relinquishedmy place in line to go back and talk
with my friend Diane.
a.defended
b.yielded
c.delayed
d.remanded
45.I wrote in my journalevery day, hoping in the
future to author a book about my trip to Paris.
a.notebook
b.chapbook
c.diary
d.ledger
46.The thiefjostledme in a crowd and was thus able
to pick my pocket.
a.mugged
b.bumped
c.assailed
d.hindered
47.While we traveled in Italy, we stayed in an inexpensive hostel.
a.inn
b.compound
c.home
d.four-star hotel
48.My friend asked me to lie for her, but that is
against my philosophy.
a.principles
b.regulations
c.personality
d.introspection
–VOCABULARY–
6
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
Choose the best vocabulary word for questions 49–51.
49.We had no idea who the special guest speaker
would be, because the organizers of the event
were so _____________________.
a.animated
b.secretive
c.talented
d.emotional
50.When Carson suddenly quit his job, he didn’t
even __________ how difficult it might be to
find a new one.
a.endorse
b.require
c.consider
d.alter
51.Maggie was the most talented tennis player at her
school, even though she’d never had the
___________________ to take formal lessons.
a.opportunity
b.compassion
c.arrogance
d.marketability
Questions 52 and 53 are based on the following
paragraph.
Rhesus monkeys use facial expressions to communicate with each other and to enforce social
order. For example, the “fear grimace,” although
it looks ferocious, is actually given by a
__________ monkey who is intimidated by a
__________ member of the group.
52.What is the meaning of the underlined word grimaceas it is used in the passage?
a.wrinkle
b.contortion
c.shriek
d.simper
53.Which pair of words, if inserted into the blanks
in sequence, makes the most sense in the context
of the passage?
a.calm . . . aggressive
b.dominant . . . subordinate
c.confident . . . fearless
d.subordinate . . . dominant
–VOCABULARY–
7
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
Questions 54 and 55 are based on the following
paragraph.
In prolonged space flight, besides the obvious
hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation,
astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy
brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when
they return to Earth, they face a protracted period
of weight-training to rebuild their strength.
54.What is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debrisas it is used in this passage?
a.fragments
b.decay
c.bacteria
d.alien life
55.The underlined word atrophy, as used in the
paragraph, most nearly means
a.pain.
b.wasting.
c.weakening.
d.cramping.
Question 56 is based on the following paragraph.
Most of the women in the orchestra wore conventional black skirts and white shirts during
concerts and had their hair neatly pulled back.
Robin, with her brightly colored clothing and
unusual hairstyles, was considered quite eccentric.
56.What is the meaning of the underlined word
eccentricas it is used in the sentence?
a.unconventional
b.joyful
c.unreliable
d.proud
Questions 57, 58, and 59 are based on the following
paragraph.
The Sami are an indigenous people living in the
northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and
Russia’s Kola peninsula. Originally, the Sami religion was animistic; that is, for them, nature and
natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit.
Therefore, one was expected to move quietly in
the wilderness and avoid making a disturbance
out of courtesyto these spirits. Ghengis Khan is
said to have declared that the Sami were one people he would never try to fight again. Because the
Sami were not warriors and did not believe in war,
they simply disappeared in times of conflict. They
were known as “peaceful retreaters.”
57.Based on the tone of the passage, which of the
following words best describes the author’s attitude toward the Sami people?
a.admiring
b.pitying
c.contemptuous
d.patronizing
58.The closest meaning of the underlined word animistic, as it is used in the passage, is
a.the irrational belief in supernatural beings.
b.the belief that animals and plants have souls.
c.the belief that animals are gods.
d.the primitive belief that people can be reincarnated as animals.
59.What is the meaning of the underlined word
courtesyas it is used in the passage?
a.timidity
b.caution
c.respect
d.fear
ANSWER KEY:
30.a. To b e fortifiedis to be strengthened or
reinforced.
31.d. To delegatea task is to assignit or to appoint
another to do it.
32.c. To arousesomeone is to stir up or provoke
that person.
33.d. To articulatesomething is to give words to it
or expressit.
34.c. If something is expansive, it is broad, open,
or spacious.
35.b. If a thing is detrimental, it is injurious
or harmful.
36.b. Crooningand bellowingboth mean singing.
37.d. Falloutis a side effect that occurs as a result
of some incident, action, or happening—that
is, it’s a consequence of something. It is the
most logical word to describe something that
affects a victim for years.
38.b. Humidand dampboth mean the same thing
in this context.
39.b. A sphereis a globular(globe) object.
40.d. To decontaminateand to purifyboth mean to
remove impurities.
41.c. To b e tailoredand to be alteredboth mean to
be made to fit.
42.a. Dormantand inactiveboth mean not active,
as if asleep (the root meaning ofdormant).
43.c. To b e banishedand to be exiledboth mean to
be forced to leave.
44.b. Yieldedand relinquishedboth mean given up.
45.c. A journaland a diaryare both records of
daily happenings.
46.b. To b e jostledis to be bumped.
47.a. A hosteland an innare both lodging places
for travelers.
48.a. Philosophymeans a system of motivating
principles.
49.b. The key here is the phrase,We had no idea
who the special guest speaker would be. This
implies there is something hidden or secret.
The other choices are unrelated to not knowing who the speaker would be.
50.c. To consider is to think about. The other
choices make no sense in the context of
the sentence.
51.a. An opportunity is a chance. The other
choices make no sense in the context of
this sentence.
–ANSWERS–
132
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
52.b. A grimaceis a contortion of the face. Neither
a wrinklenor a simpermatch the descriptive
word ferocious.A shriekwould be described
in terms of sound, rather than looks.
53.d. Answers aand cdo not include the sense of
hierarchy conveyed in the phrase to enforce
social order. Answer bdoes convey a sense of
hierarchy, but in the wrong order.
54.a. This is the choice that makes the most sense
when imagining objects floating in space.
55.b. Although a muscle that atrophies may be
weakened(choice c), the primary meaning of
the phrase to atrophyis to waste away.
56.a. The passage implies that the other women in
the orchestra were conventional because of
the way they dressed and wore their hair.
Because Robin does things differently, she
would be considered unconventional.The
other choices, although she may be joyful,
unreliable, and proud, have nothing to do
with the context of this sentence, which is
directly addressing her appearance as it compares to the other women in the orchestra.
57.a. To depict the Sami, the author uses words
that point to their gentleness, which is an
admirable quality: They move quietly,display courtesyto the spirits of the wilderness,
and were known as peaceful retreaters.There
is nothing pitying, contemptuous, or
patronizing in the language, and nothing in
the passage indicates that the author is perplexed—the description of the Sami is clear
and to the point.
58.b. The immediate context of the word animistic
defines the word:for [the Sami], nature and
natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit.
There is no indication in the passage that the
author believes the Sami’s animistic religion
is irrational(choice a). The other choices are
not in the passage.
59.c. Throughout the passage, the author displays
a positive attitude toward the Sami and their
beliefs. Although they are said to be peaceful,
they are not said to be timid or fearful (they
retreated from war because theydid not
believein it). In the context of the passage,
it’s most likely that the Sami avoid making a
disturbancein the wilderness out ofrespect
for the spirits
been fortifiedby the new research.
a.reinforced
b.altered
c.disputed
d.developed
31.The captain often delegatedresponsibility to his
subordinates, so as to have time to do the important tasks himself.
a.analyzed
b.respected
c.criticized
d.assigned
32.The news about toxic waste dumping arousedthe
anger of the many listeners of a news broadcast.
a.informed
b.appeased
c.provoked
d.deceived
33.The spokesperson must articulatethe philosophy
of an entire company so that outsiders can
understand it completely.
a.trust
b.refine
c.verify
d.express
34.The new shipping and receiving building is an
expansivefacility, large enough to meet our
growing needs.
a.obsolete
b.meager
c.spacious
d.costly
35.The attorneys were now certain they could not
win the case, because the ruling had proved to be
so detrimental to their argument.
a.decisive
b.harmful
c.worthless
d.advantageous
36.My brother drives us crazy by crooningin the
shower.
a.hooting
b.bellowing
c.crying
d.shouting
37.The emotional falloutfrom a natural disaster can
adversely affect the residents in a community for
years.
a.conflict
b.issues
c.relationship
d.consequences
38.The air in the rainforest was humid, making the
heat seem even more smothering than before.
a.hot
b.damp
c.hazy
d.volatile
39.The balloon, loose from its string, rose up into
the sky, a shiny purple sphere.
a.circle
b.globe
c.ovoid
d.nodule
–VOCABULARY–
5
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
40.After the storm caused raw sewage to seep into
the ground water, the Water Department had to
take measures to decontaminatethe city’s water
supply.
a.refine
b.revive
c.freshen
d.purify
41.The mayor tailoredhis speech to suit the crowd
of homeless people gathered outside his office.
a.intoned
b.expanded
c.altered
d.shortened
42.The volcano lays dormantnow, but we feel sure it
will erupt again within the year.
a.inactive
b.slack
c.elevated
d.inattentive
43.Because of his disregard for the king’s laws, the
prince was punished by being banishedfrom the
kingdom.
a.apart
b.kidnapped
c.exiled
d.spirited
44.I relinquishedmy place in line to go back and talk
with my friend Diane.
a.defended
b.yielded
c.delayed
d.remanded
45.I wrote in my journalevery day, hoping in the
future to author a book about my trip to Paris.
a.notebook
b.chapbook
c.diary
d.ledger
46.The thiefjostledme in a crowd and was thus able
to pick my pocket.
a.mugged
b.bumped
c.assailed
d.hindered
47.While we traveled in Italy, we stayed in an inexpensive hostel.
a.inn
b.compound
c.home
d.four-star hotel
48.My friend asked me to lie for her, but that is
against my philosophy.
a.principles
b.regulations
c.personality
d.introspection
–VOCABULARY–
6
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
Choose the best vocabulary word for questions 49–51.
49.We had no idea who the special guest speaker
would be, because the organizers of the event
were so _____________________.
a.animated
b.secretive
c.talented
d.emotional
50.When Carson suddenly quit his job, he didn’t
even __________ how difficult it might be to
find a new one.
a.endorse
b.require
c.consider
d.alter
51.Maggie was the most talented tennis player at her
school, even though she’d never had the
___________________ to take formal lessons.
a.opportunity
b.compassion
c.arrogance
d.marketability
Questions 52 and 53 are based on the following
paragraph.
Rhesus monkeys use facial expressions to communicate with each other and to enforce social
order. For example, the “fear grimace,” although
it looks ferocious, is actually given by a
__________ monkey who is intimidated by a
__________ member of the group.
52.What is the meaning of the underlined word grimaceas it is used in the passage?
a.wrinkle
b.contortion
c.shriek
d.simper
53.Which pair of words, if inserted into the blanks
in sequence, makes the most sense in the context
of the passage?
a.calm . . . aggressive
b.dominant . . . subordinate
c.confident . . . fearless
d.subordinate . . . dominant
–VOCABULARY–
7
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
Questions 54 and 55 are based on the following
paragraph.
In prolonged space flight, besides the obvious
hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation,
astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy
brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when
they return to Earth, they face a protracted period
of weight-training to rebuild their strength.
54.What is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debrisas it is used in this passage?
a.fragments
b.decay
c.bacteria
d.alien life
55.The underlined word atrophy, as used in the
paragraph, most nearly means
a.pain.
b.wasting.
c.weakening.
d.cramping.
Question 56 is based on the following paragraph.
Most of the women in the orchestra wore conventional black skirts and white shirts during
concerts and had their hair neatly pulled back.
Robin, with her brightly colored clothing and
unusual hairstyles, was considered quite eccentric.
56.What is the meaning of the underlined word
eccentricas it is used in the sentence?
a.unconventional
b.joyful
c.unreliable
d.proud
Questions 57, 58, and 59 are based on the following
paragraph.
The Sami are an indigenous people living in the
northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and
Russia’s Kola peninsula. Originally, the Sami religion was animistic; that is, for them, nature and
natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit.
Therefore, one was expected to move quietly in
the wilderness and avoid making a disturbance
out of courtesyto these spirits. Ghengis Khan is
said to have declared that the Sami were one people he would never try to fight again. Because the
Sami were not warriors and did not believe in war,
they simply disappeared in times of conflict. They
were known as “peaceful retreaters.”
57.Based on the tone of the passage, which of the
following words best describes the author’s attitude toward the Sami people?
a.admiring
b.pitying
c.contemptuous
d.patronizing
58.The closest meaning of the underlined word animistic, as it is used in the passage, is
a.the irrational belief in supernatural beings.
b.the belief that animals and plants have souls.
c.the belief that animals are gods.
d.the primitive belief that people can be reincarnated as animals.
59.What is the meaning of the underlined word
courtesyas it is used in the passage?
a.timidity
b.caution
c.respect
d.fear
ANSWER KEY:
30.a. To b e fortifiedis to be strengthened or
reinforced.
31.d. To delegatea task is to assignit or to appoint
another to do it.
32.c. To arousesomeone is to stir up or provoke
that person.
33.d. To articulatesomething is to give words to it
or expressit.
34.c. If something is expansive, it is broad, open,
or spacious.
35.b. If a thing is detrimental, it is injurious
or harmful.
36.b. Crooningand bellowingboth mean singing.
37.d. Falloutis a side effect that occurs as a result
of some incident, action, or happening—that
is, it’s a consequence of something. It is the
most logical word to describe something that
affects a victim for years.
38.b. Humidand dampboth mean the same thing
in this context.
39.b. A sphereis a globular(globe) object.
40.d. To decontaminateand to purifyboth mean to
remove impurities.
41.c. To b e tailoredand to be alteredboth mean to
be made to fit.
42.a. Dormantand inactiveboth mean not active,
as if asleep (the root meaning ofdormant).
43.c. To b e banishedand to be exiledboth mean to
be forced to leave.
44.b. Yieldedand relinquishedboth mean given up.
45.c. A journaland a diaryare both records of
daily happenings.
46.b. To b e jostledis to be bumped.
47.a. A hosteland an innare both lodging places
for travelers.
48.a. Philosophymeans a system of motivating
principles.
49.b. The key here is the phrase,We had no idea
who the special guest speaker would be. This
implies there is something hidden or secret.
The other choices are unrelated to not knowing who the speaker would be.
50.c. To consider is to think about. The other
choices make no sense in the context of
the sentence.
51.a. An opportunity is a chance. The other
choices make no sense in the context of
this sentence.
–ANSWERS–
132
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
52.b. A grimaceis a contortion of the face. Neither
a wrinklenor a simpermatch the descriptive
word ferocious.A shriekwould be described
in terms of sound, rather than looks.
53.d. Answers aand cdo not include the sense of
hierarchy conveyed in the phrase to enforce
social order. Answer bdoes convey a sense of
hierarchy, but in the wrong order.
54.a. This is the choice that makes the most sense
when imagining objects floating in space.
55.b. Although a muscle that atrophies may be
weakened(choice c), the primary meaning of
the phrase to atrophyis to waste away.
56.a. The passage implies that the other women in
the orchestra were conventional because of
the way they dressed and wore their hair.
Because Robin does things differently, she
would be considered unconventional.The
other choices, although she may be joyful,
unreliable, and proud, have nothing to do
with the context of this sentence, which is
directly addressing her appearance as it compares to the other women in the orchestra.
57.a. To depict the Sami, the author uses words
that point to their gentleness, which is an
admirable quality: They move quietly,display courtesyto the spirits of the wilderness,
and were known as peaceful retreaters.There
is nothing pitying, contemptuous, or
patronizing in the language, and nothing in
the passage indicates that the author is perplexed—the description of the Sami is clear
and to the point.
58.b. The immediate context of the word animistic
defines the word:for [the Sami], nature and
natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit.
There is no indication in the passage that the
author believes the Sami’s animistic religion
is irrational(choice a). The other choices are
not in the passage.
59.c. Throughout the passage, the author displays
a positive attitude toward the Sami and their
beliefs. Although they are said to be peaceful,
they are not said to be timid or fearful (they
retreated from war because theydid not
believein it). In the context of the passage,
it’s most likely that the Sami avoid making a
disturbancein the wilderness out ofrespect
for the spirits
TEST YOURSELF (VOCAB CATEGORY)
You can find the answers at the bottom of the page:
Read the following sentences and try to choose the
best definition for the italicized word by searching for
context clues in the sentence.
1.The designer window treatments in her house,
installed 17 years ago, were outmoded.
a.unnecessary
b.pointless
c.out-of-date
d.worthless
2.Although the professor’s lectures were regarded
by many as so wearisomethat they regularly put
students to sleep, he ignored all criticism and
refused to make any changes.
a.modest
b.unpleasant
c.boring
d.objectionable
3.The baseball player’s malice toward the referee
was revealed in his spitefulremarks to the media,
which almost ruined the referee’s career.
a.vindictive
b.crazy
c.rude
d.unpleasant
4.Although Zachary is much too inexperienced
for the managerial position, he is a willful
young man and obduratelyrefuses to withdraw
his application.
a.foolishly
b.reluctantly
c.constantly
d.stubbornly
5.His neighbor’s superficialremarks trivialized the
property line dispute and infuriated Malcolm.
a.enraged
b.petty
c.insulting
d.misleading
6.When Katya refused to lie to her parents about
where she was spending the night, she was completely ostracizedby her usually loyal friends,
who had never shunned her before.
a.excluded
b.hurt
c.cheered
d.helped
7.Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the night of the party, Tanya’s outfit was uncharacteristically modest.
a.impeccable
b.showy
c.sloppy
d.unassuming
8.Mr. Powers was so gulliblethat he believed even
the most outlandish excuses of his insincere
employees.
a.intelligent
b.naïve
c.dishonest
d.critical
9.You cannot become a certified teacher without
completing the prerequisitestudent teaching
assignment.
a.required
b.optional
c.preferred
d.advisable
–VOCABULARY–
10.Charles, aware of his susceptiblity to gum disease, is diligent about flossing.
a.uncomfortable
b.excited
c.thorough
d.ambivalent
11.Even though she’d read her supervisor’s memo
four or five times, she still found his rambling
message ambiguous.
a.profound
b.inspiring
c.ridiculous
d.unclear
12.Excited about winning the award, Marcia walked
up to the podium and delivered an animated
acceptance speech.
a.abbreviated
b.courteous
c.reserved
d.lively
13.The intermittentrain soaked the garden many
different times during the day.
a.protracted
b.periodic
c.incredulous
d.light
14.In order to get their votes in the next election, the
senator responded to all the complaints of her
constituents in a diplomaticmanner.
a.tactful
b.dismissive
c.delaying
d.elaborate
15.After several small brushfires at the campground,
officials felt the need to augmentthe rules pertaining to campfires.
a.criticize
b.retract
c.consider
d.expand
16.As soon as the details of the election were released
to the media, the newspaper was inundatedwith
calls—far too many to be handled effectively.
a.provided
b.bothered
c.rewarded
d.flooded
17.The Marion Police Department’s policy of
aggressively recruiting women officers is
unmatched,uniquein every way.
a.rigorous
b.admirable
c.unparalleled
d.remarkable
18.When people heard that timid Bob had taken up
skydiving, they were incredulous.
a.fearful
b.outraged
c.convinced
d.disbelieving
19.The technical department enthusiastically hired
Ms. Long because she was proficientin the use
of computers.
a.sincere
b.adequate
c.competent
d.skilled
–VOCABULARY
20.Even under tremendous public pressure, the planning committee would not commit itself wholeheartedly to the proposal and gave only tentative
approval to the waterfront development plan.
a.provisional
b.ambiguous
c.unnecessary
d.total
21.Regarding the need for more free refreshments,
the group’s opinion was enthusiastic and
unanimous.
a.divided
b.uniform
c.adamant
d.spirited
22.Since the townspeople were so dissatisfied,
various methods to alleviatethe situation
were debated.
a.ease
b.tolerate
c.clarify
d.intensify
23.The assistant was fast becoming an indispensable
member of the department, so they had no
choice but to offer him a higher salary to stay on.
a.determined
b.experienced
c.essential
d.creative
24.The attorney wanted to expeditethe process,
because her client was becoming impatient.
a.accelerate
b.evaluate
c.reverse
d.justify
25.The suspect gave a plausibleexplanation for his
presence at the scene, so the police decided to
look elsewhere for the perpetrator of the crime.
a.unbelievable
b.credible
c.insufficient
d.apologetic
26.He based his conclusion on what he inferred
from the evidence, not on what he actually
observed.
a.predicted
b.imagined
c.surmised
d.implied
27.The neighborhood-watch group presented its
ultimatumat the town board meeting: Repave
the streets or prepare for protests.
a.earnest plea
b.formal petition
c.solemn promise
d.non-negotiable demand
28.The editor of the newspaper needed to be sure
the article presented the right information, so his
review was meticulous.
a.delicate
b.painstaking
c.superficial
d.objective
29.The general public didn’t care about the trial and
was apatheticabout the verdict.
a.enraged
b.indifferent
c.suspicious
d.saddened
–VOCABULARY–
30.The doctors were pleased that their theory had
been fortifiedby the new research.
a.reinforced
b.altered
c.disputed
d.developed
ANSWER KEY:
SECTION 1 Vocabulary
1. c. To b e outmodedis to be old-fashioned or out-ofdate. The designer window treatments may also
be unnecessary, pointless, or even worthless.
However, the key to the meaning is the context—that is, the phrase installed 17 years ago.
2. c. Something that is wearisome is tiresome or
boring.The key to the meaning here is the
phrase they regularly put students to sleep.
3. a. To b e spitefulis to be vengeful or vindictive.
The keys here are the word maliceand the
phrase almost ruined the referee’s career.
4. d. When something is done obdurately, it is
done in an inflexible or intractable manner,
or stubbornly. The key here are the words
willful young man.
5. b. A superficial remark is insignificant and
shallow, or petty. The key here is the word
trivialized.
6. a. To b e ostracizedis to be banished or excluded.
The key here is the phrase usually loyal
friends, who had never shunned her before.
7. b. Something that is flamboyantis flashy or
showy. The keys here are the words usually
described as flamboyantand but…uncharacteristically modest.
8. b. To b e gullible means to be easy to fool or
naïve. The keys here are the words outlandish
excusesand insincere employees.
9. a. A prerequisiteis something that is necessary
or required. The fact that you can’t become a
certified teacher without completing the student teaching assignment means that it is
required. The other choices do not imply a
hard and fast rule.
10.c. To b e diligent is to be painstaking or thorough.
11.d. To b e ambiguousis to be vague or unclear.
12.d. Something that is animated is energetic
or lively.
13.b. When something is intermittent,it is periodic
or starts and stops at intervals.
14.a. To b e diplomaticis to be sensitive in dealing
with others or tactful.
15. d. To augmentsomething is to add to or expand
it. Although choice c,consider, is not out of
131
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
the question, since officials are responding to
several fires that have already occurred, it is
more likely that they will do something more
pronounced and definitive than just considering the existing rules.
16.d. To b e inundatedis to be overwhelmed
or flooded.
17.c. To b e uniqueis to be one of a kind or
unparalleled.
18.d. When one isincredulous, one is skeptical
or disbelieving.
19.d. When one is proficientat something, one is
an expert or is skilledat it.
20.a. When something is tentative,it is of an
uncertain or provisional nature.
21.b. When a group’s opinion is unanimous, it is
in accord or uniform.
22.a. To alleviatesomething is to make it more
bearable or to easeit.
23.c. To b e indispensableis to be necessary or
essential.
24.a. To expedite a process is to hurry it up or
accelerateit.
25.b. If something is plausible, it is believable
or credible.
26.c. To infer something is to surmise it or deduce
it from the evidence.
27.d. An ultimatumis a final statement of terms or
non-negotiable demand.
28.b. To b e meticulousis to be extremely careful
or painstaking.
29.b. To b e apatheticis to show little or no interest
or to be indifferent.
30.a. To be fortified is to be strengthened or
reinforced.
Read the following sentences and try to choose the
best definition for the italicized word by searching for
context clues in the sentence.
1.The designer window treatments in her house,
installed 17 years ago, were outmoded.
a.unnecessary
b.pointless
c.out-of-date
d.worthless
2.Although the professor’s lectures were regarded
by many as so wearisomethat they regularly put
students to sleep, he ignored all criticism and
refused to make any changes.
a.modest
b.unpleasant
c.boring
d.objectionable
3.The baseball player’s malice toward the referee
was revealed in his spitefulremarks to the media,
which almost ruined the referee’s career.
a.vindictive
b.crazy
c.rude
d.unpleasant
4.Although Zachary is much too inexperienced
for the managerial position, he is a willful
young man and obduratelyrefuses to withdraw
his application.
a.foolishly
b.reluctantly
c.constantly
d.stubbornly
5.His neighbor’s superficialremarks trivialized the
property line dispute and infuriated Malcolm.
a.enraged
b.petty
c.insulting
d.misleading
6.When Katya refused to lie to her parents about
where she was spending the night, she was completely ostracizedby her usually loyal friends,
who had never shunned her before.
a.excluded
b.hurt
c.cheered
d.helped
7.Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the night of the party, Tanya’s outfit was uncharacteristically modest.
a.impeccable
b.showy
c.sloppy
d.unassuming
8.Mr. Powers was so gulliblethat he believed even
the most outlandish excuses of his insincere
employees.
a.intelligent
b.naïve
c.dishonest
d.critical
9.You cannot become a certified teacher without
completing the prerequisitestudent teaching
assignment.
a.required
b.optional
c.preferred
d.advisable
–VOCABULARY–
10.Charles, aware of his susceptiblity to gum disease, is diligent about flossing.
a.uncomfortable
b.excited
c.thorough
d.ambivalent
11.Even though she’d read her supervisor’s memo
four or five times, she still found his rambling
message ambiguous.
a.profound
b.inspiring
c.ridiculous
d.unclear
12.Excited about winning the award, Marcia walked
up to the podium and delivered an animated
acceptance speech.
a.abbreviated
b.courteous
c.reserved
d.lively
13.The intermittentrain soaked the garden many
different times during the day.
a.protracted
b.periodic
c.incredulous
d.light
14.In order to get their votes in the next election, the
senator responded to all the complaints of her
constituents in a diplomaticmanner.
a.tactful
b.dismissive
c.delaying
d.elaborate
15.After several small brushfires at the campground,
officials felt the need to augmentthe rules pertaining to campfires.
a.criticize
b.retract
c.consider
d.expand
16.As soon as the details of the election were released
to the media, the newspaper was inundatedwith
calls—far too many to be handled effectively.
a.provided
b.bothered
c.rewarded
d.flooded
17.The Marion Police Department’s policy of
aggressively recruiting women officers is
unmatched,uniquein every way.
a.rigorous
b.admirable
c.unparalleled
d.remarkable
18.When people heard that timid Bob had taken up
skydiving, they were incredulous.
a.fearful
b.outraged
c.convinced
d.disbelieving
19.The technical department enthusiastically hired
Ms. Long because she was proficientin the use
of computers.
a.sincere
b.adequate
c.competent
d.skilled
–VOCABULARY
20.Even under tremendous public pressure, the planning committee would not commit itself wholeheartedly to the proposal and gave only tentative
approval to the waterfront development plan.
a.provisional
b.ambiguous
c.unnecessary
d.total
21.Regarding the need for more free refreshments,
the group’s opinion was enthusiastic and
unanimous.
a.divided
b.uniform
c.adamant
d.spirited
22.Since the townspeople were so dissatisfied,
various methods to alleviatethe situation
were debated.
a.ease
b.tolerate
c.clarify
d.intensify
23.The assistant was fast becoming an indispensable
member of the department, so they had no
choice but to offer him a higher salary to stay on.
a.determined
b.experienced
c.essential
d.creative
24.The attorney wanted to expeditethe process,
because her client was becoming impatient.
a.accelerate
b.evaluate
c.reverse
d.justify
25.The suspect gave a plausibleexplanation for his
presence at the scene, so the police decided to
look elsewhere for the perpetrator of the crime.
a.unbelievable
b.credible
c.insufficient
d.apologetic
26.He based his conclusion on what he inferred
from the evidence, not on what he actually
observed.
a.predicted
b.imagined
c.surmised
d.implied
27.The neighborhood-watch group presented its
ultimatumat the town board meeting: Repave
the streets or prepare for protests.
a.earnest plea
b.formal petition
c.solemn promise
d.non-negotiable demand
28.The editor of the newspaper needed to be sure
the article presented the right information, so his
review was meticulous.
a.delicate
b.painstaking
c.superficial
d.objective
29.The general public didn’t care about the trial and
was apatheticabout the verdict.
a.enraged
b.indifferent
c.suspicious
d.saddened
–VOCABULARY–
30.The doctors were pleased that their theory had
been fortifiedby the new research.
a.reinforced
b.altered
c.disputed
d.developed
ANSWER KEY:
SECTION 1 Vocabulary
1. c. To b e outmodedis to be old-fashioned or out-ofdate. The designer window treatments may also
be unnecessary, pointless, or even worthless.
However, the key to the meaning is the context—that is, the phrase installed 17 years ago.
2. c. Something that is wearisome is tiresome or
boring.The key to the meaning here is the
phrase they regularly put students to sleep.
3. a. To b e spitefulis to be vengeful or vindictive.
The keys here are the word maliceand the
phrase almost ruined the referee’s career.
4. d. When something is done obdurately, it is
done in an inflexible or intractable manner,
or stubbornly. The key here are the words
willful young man.
5. b. A superficial remark is insignificant and
shallow, or petty. The key here is the word
trivialized.
6. a. To b e ostracizedis to be banished or excluded.
The key here is the phrase usually loyal
friends, who had never shunned her before.
7. b. Something that is flamboyantis flashy or
showy. The keys here are the words usually
described as flamboyantand but…uncharacteristically modest.
8. b. To b e gullible means to be easy to fool or
naïve. The keys here are the words outlandish
excusesand insincere employees.
9. a. A prerequisiteis something that is necessary
or required. The fact that you can’t become a
certified teacher without completing the student teaching assignment means that it is
required. The other choices do not imply a
hard and fast rule.
10.c. To b e diligent is to be painstaking or thorough.
11.d. To b e ambiguousis to be vague or unclear.
12.d. Something that is animated is energetic
or lively.
13.b. When something is intermittent,it is periodic
or starts and stops at intervals.
14.a. To b e diplomaticis to be sensitive in dealing
with others or tactful.
15. d. To augmentsomething is to add to or expand
it. Although choice c,consider, is not out of
131
SADRA RAYANEH SHOMAL
the question, since officials are responding to
several fires that have already occurred, it is
more likely that they will do something more
pronounced and definitive than just considering the existing rules.
16.d. To b e inundatedis to be overwhelmed
or flooded.
17.c. To b e uniqueis to be one of a kind or
unparalleled.
18.d. When one isincredulous, one is skeptical
or disbelieving.
19.d. When one is proficientat something, one is
an expert or is skilledat it.
20.a. When something is tentative,it is of an
uncertain or provisional nature.
21.b. When a group’s opinion is unanimous, it is
in accord or uniform.
22.a. To alleviatesomething is to make it more
bearable or to easeit.
23.c. To b e indispensableis to be necessary or
essential.
24.a. To expedite a process is to hurry it up or
accelerateit.
25.b. If something is plausible, it is believable
or credible.
26.c. To infer something is to surmise it or deduce
it from the evidence.
27.d. An ultimatumis a final statement of terms or
non-negotiable demand.
28.b. To b e meticulousis to be extremely careful
or painstaking.
29.b. To b e apatheticis to show little or no interest
or to be indifferent.
30.a. To be fortified is to be strengthened or
reinforced.
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