Ultimate word success - Peterson's 2009

Day 18 Have Some Fun While You Boost Your Vocabulary
Part VI Go for the Gold! Puzzles and Games to Win with Words

Earlier in this book you learned that you can figure out many unfamiliar words by taking them apart. Sometimes, you can use your knowledge of prefixes, roots, and suffixes to decode new words. For example, the word “malaria” contains the prefix mal (bad) and the root aria (air). Thus, malaria literally means “bad air.” The ancient Romans believed that the “bad air” around swamps caused people to become very ill with fevers and chills. We now know that the Romans were close but not exactly right: it is not the air around swamps that makes people ill; rather, it is the mosquitoes that breed in the stagnant water and then infect people with the disease.

You have learned many ways to define new words. Use these methods now as you enjoy the vocabulary games in this chapter. You have already encountered many of the words in these games earlier in this book, but you’ll find some new ones as well so you can expand your vocabulary even more.

Game #1

Complete this chart by finding the root in each word, defining the root, and then using that clue to define each word. Then see how many other words you can list that have the same root. The answers appear on here.

Game #2

Select the correct meaning for each of the following boldfaced words. Circle your choice.

The answers appear on here.

1. abstemious

(A) absent

(B) implacable

(C) polygamous

(D) temperate

(E) polychromatic

2. poignant

(A) polychromatic

(B) passionate

(C) emotional

(D) implacable

(E) miserable

3. alleviate

(A) to augment

(B) to pervade

(C) to ignore

(D) to eschew

(E) to ease pain or a burden

4. alienated

(A) jovial

(B) polite

(C) convivial

(D) hostile

(E) asocial

5. opulent

(A) rich

(B) insolvent

(C) indigent

(D) precocious

(E) implacable

6. ambiguous

(A) open to more than one interpretation

(B) precocious

(C) clear-cut

(D) lucid

(E) rancorous

7. ornate

(A) implacable

(B) very fancy

(C) plain

(D) drab

(E) misanthropic

8. ostentatious

(A) cynical

(B) pretentious; showy

(C) implacable

(D) antagonistic

(E) embittered

9. florid

(A) hideous

(B) supercilious

(C) excessively ornate

(D) dismal

(E) acrimonious

10. embellish

(A) to leave

(B) to pervade

(C) to transcend

(D) to neglect

(E) to decorate

Game #3

Complete the following chart by writing a synonym and an antonym for each test-worthy word. Try to write as many synonyms and antonyms for each word as you can. The answers appear on here.

Game #4

To play this vocabulary game, write the synonym and antonym for each word. (Remember that a synonym means the same; an antonym means the opposite.) Try to think of more than one word for each category. You may wish to say the word aloud as you look for the match. Remember: saying the words will help you remember them. Then write your answers in the spaces provided. The answers appear on here.

Game #5

Complete the following crossword puzzle with fifteen test-worthy words that you have already learned. Good luck! The answers appear on here.

ACROSS

3. To go back on one’s promise or word

4. To collect or accumulate

5. Urgency

8. Unite

10. Unconcerned; carefree; jaunty

11. Faker, quack

13. Stylish; chic

14. To make larger

DOWN

1. Late

2. To rise

3. Witty talk

6. Indifference

7. Harmony, accord

9. Capability

12. Approach boldly

Game #6

To play this game, match each test-worthy word to its definition. Then, write your answers in the space provided. The answers appear on here.

According to legend, the wealthy and debonair Griswold Lorillard was at a party in the then-luxurious community of Tuxedo, New York, when he decided to have the tails removed from his formal coat. Voila! A new fashion was born. Can you guess what this evening suit is called?

Game #7

Complete each sentence with the word that fits best. Write the letter of the word in the blank. The answers appear on here.

1. The technician used a _____________ to measure the thickness of the metal plate.

(A) transistor

(B) transformer

(C) masonry

(D) notary

(E) caliper

2. When the _______________ on the utility blew during the storm, the neighborhood was plunged into darkness.

(A) transformer

(B) masonry

(C) notary

(D) proxy

(E) solvent

3. The _____________ kitchen counter looked like thick, expensive marble, not a thin plastic veneer.

(A) solvent

(B) vocation

(C) laminate

(D) embalmed

(E) extradited

4. The ____________ at the new home was a combination of brick, interlocking pavers, and macadam.

(A) notary

(B) proxy

(C) solvent

(D) misanthrope

(E) masonry

5. The jogger used a ____________ to measure the number of steps he took on his morning jog.

(A) pedometer

(B) barometer

(C) hydrometer

(D) thermometer

(E) altimeter

6. It is hard to keep your _______ on an ocean liner during a hurricane.

(A) equilibrium

(B) notary

(C) solvent

(D) vocation

(E) proxy

7. According to the ___________, we were in for a strong storm that evening.

(A) barometer

(B) hydrometer

(C) pedometer

(D) thermometer

(E) altimeter

8. After years of testing, the prototype aircraft was finally ____________ and ready for its maiden voyage.

(A) vocational

(B) operational

(C) intermittent

(D) incoherent

(E) unintelligible

9. The jeweler applied a dab of hot ____________ to repair the broken ring.

(A) vocation

(B) arrears

(C) contraband

(D) solder

(E) pedagogy

10. The doctor used a ___________ to determine if the child had a fever.

(A) pedometer

(B) barometer

(C) hydrometer

(D) altimeter

(E) thermometer

11. The child’s interest ______________ because she is fickle and not used to concentrating on one task at a time.

(A) wallows

(B) vindicates

(C) wanes

(D) validates

(E) promulgates

12. Chris is a daredevil and has a ___________ for high-risk sports such as sky-diving.

(A) portent

(B) polemic

(C) propensity

(D) munificence

(E) nadir

13. His ____________ personality made him difficult to get along with and resulted in a great many misunderstandings and quarrels.

(A) contentious

(B) compliant

(C) contemporaneous

(D) innocuous

(E) reputable

14. When she realized that the insurgents would succeed in their plan to overthrow her government, the queen decided to ____________ her throne.

(A) abhor

(B) disport

(C) disinter

(D) refurbish

(E) abdicate

15. With a(n) ____________ look in her eye, the child announced that she was going to cross the street all by herself.

(A) ribald

(B) resolute

(C) sedentary

(D) antiseptic

(E) circuitous

Game #8

To complete the following acrostic, first unscramble each of the vocabulary words so that it matches its definition. Then, use the words to fill in the appropriate spaces on the corresponding lines. When you have completed the entire puzzle, another vocabulary word will read vertically in the circles. The answers appear on here.

Game #9

The following words concern strength and weakness. For each word below, determine whether the word suggests strength or weakness. Indicate your choice by sorting the following words into two columns. The answers appear on here.

Game #10

Select the correct meaning for each of the following boldfaced words. Circle your choice.

The answers appear on here.

1. dilatory

(A) listless

(B) futile

(C) remiss

(D) arid

(E) commensurate

2. congenial

(A) genetic

(B) garish

(C) spurious

(D) obscure

(E) pleasantly agreeable

3. garrulous

(A) supercilious

(B) loquacious

(C) salient

(D) magnanimous

(E) lurid

4. disingenuous

(A) multifarious

(B) Machiavellian

(C) morose

(D) nebulous

(E) nascent

5. jaunty

(A) blithe

(B) nocturnal

(C) noisome

(D) nefarious

(E) brazen

6. inscrutable

(A) vainglorious

(B) vitriolic

(C) enigmatic

(D) pallid

(E) hapless

7. vituperate

(A) berate

(B) inundate

(C) pillage

(D) ameliorate

(E) amalgamate

8. heinous

(A) atrocious

(B) ambiguous

(C) amicable

(D) anachronistic

(E) amorous

9. anathema

(A) restitution

(B) gourmand

(C) bard

(D) analgesic

(E) pariah

10. besmirch

(A) surmise

(B) truncate

(C) undulate

(D) defile

(E) upbraid

Answers and Explanations

Game #1 (here)

(Possible answers)

Game #2 (here)

1. D

2. C

3. E

4. E

5. A

6. A

7. B

8. B

9. C

10. E

Game #3 (here)

(Suggested answers)

Game #4 (here)

(Suggested answers)

Game #4—continued

Game #5 (here)

Game #6 (here)

1. c

2. g

3. e

4. j

5. d

6. b

7. f

8. i

9. a

10. h

Game #7 (here)

1. E

2. A

3. C

4. E

5. A

6. A

7. A

8. B

9. D

10. E

11. C

12. C

13. A

14. E

15. B

Game #8 (here)

curator

ombudsman

negotiable

taxidermist

raconteur

accrue

barrister

amortize

necromancy

despot

Reading down: contraband

Game #9 (here)

Game #10 (here)

1. C

2. E

3. B

4. B

5. A

6. C

7. A

8. A

9. E

10. D