90 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Unit I Exercise Set II Write the meaning next to each root, and then write as many words as you can that contain the root. 1. ANIMA __________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 2. VAC _____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 3. BENE ___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 4. EU ______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 5. LOQU ___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 6. CIRCUM _________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 7. EX-, E____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 8. LEG______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 9. JUR______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 10. VERB____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 11. JUD______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 12. CIS______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 13. CO-______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 14. VOL______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 15. GRAT____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 91 Vocabulary Unit I Exercise Set III 1. Should a talk show host be laconic?YN 2. Is wearing a seat belt prudent?YN 3. Should a politician be perspicacious?YN 4. Is something innocuous harmful? Y N 5. Is a beneficiary one who gives? Y N Write the word with the given meaning. 6. to change form m____________________ 7. lacking substance v____________________ 8. even-temperedness e____________________ 9. commonplace p____________________ 10. overused h____________________ 11. sluggish p____________________ 12. resistant to authority r____________________ 13. disposed to complain q____________________ 14. rudely abrupt b____________________ 15. talkative g____________________ 16. a political split s____________________ 17. keenly perceptive p____________________ 18. with sound judgment j____________________ 19. to examine carefully s____________________ 20. keenness of judgment a____________________ 21. evasive speech c____________________ 22. short humorous story a____________________ 23. change one’s mind often v____________________ 24. able to change form p____________________ 25. feeling of weakness l____________________ Write the correct form of the italicized word. 26. the state of feeling lethargic ____________________________________________ 27. the quality of being pusillanimous ____________________________________________ 28. having the quality of a euphemism ____________________________________________ 29. the act of adjudicating ____________________________________________ 30. the act of perjuring ____________________________________________ Write the word with the given root. 31. beyond comprehension (scrut) ____________________________________________ 32. existing at birth (con) ____________________________________________ 33. kind-hearted (anim) ____________________________________________ 34. to command solemnly ( jur) ____________________________________________ 35. speaking in a pompous manner (loqu) ____________________________________________ 36. a praising tribute (eu) ____________________________________________ 37. harmless (ben) ____________________________________________ 38. inoffensive term substituted for an offensive one (eu) ____________________________________________ 39. to please (grat) ____________________________________________ 40. expressive delivery of public speech (loqu) ____________________________________________ 41. sphere of legal authority ( jur) ____________________________________________ 92 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Unit I Exercise Set I Answer Key 1. B The colon (:) introduces an explanation. Adeptly means with great skill. A 5-year-old would have to be pretty sharp to persuade reluctant parents. concise = brief and to the point astute = shrewd, keen verbose = wordy recalcitrant = stubborn capricious = whimsical 2. C The information after the semicolon (;) descri- bes the word in the blank. If he reads it as if he had written it himself, it implies that he knows it very well, and perhaps can read it word for word. loquaciously = in a talkative manner insipidly = in a painfully dull way verbatim = word for word curtly = in an abrupt manner, rudely diffidently = timidly, lacking confidence 3. C They did not like him at first, so the second blank is a negative word. The first blank should describe a speaking style that would cause some- one to think that he is described by the second word. monosyllabic = one syllable; incisive = cogent surly = rude; congenial = friendly laconic = terse; brusque = rude, unfriendly circumlocutory = talkative garrulous = talkative; phlegmatic = sluggish 4. E Ricardo clearly changed from a shy person to a talkative extrovert. The word that fits the blank should mean change. schism = rift, large gap adjudication = judgment benediction = blessing soliloquy = speech to one’s self metamorphosis = major change in form 5. E The second word is a verb that should com- plement the first word. Only E presents a pair that makes sense. Fickle people do tend to vacillate. shrewd = clever; perjure = to lie under oath magnanimous = generous; denigrate = to slander pusillanimous = cowardly; admonish = to scold surreptitious = sneaky; purge = to clear away fickle = erratic; vacillate = to go back and forth 6. A Despite indicates a contrast. So look for two words that are nearly opposite. pessimistic = negative; sanguine = optimistic lethargic = sluggish; placid = calm morose = sullen, gloomy; querulous = complaining prudent = wise, provident; verbose = wordy succinct = concise, to the point; terse = concise 7. A The recipient of generosity is a beneficiary. beneficiary = one who receives benefits benefactor = one who supports or helps another benediction = a blessing patron = a customer, someone who protects sanction = approval, permission 8. D A person short on time would likely appreci- ate something that is quick, which makes brevity a good choice. circumlocution = speaking in circles allegation = accusation pontification = speaking in a pompous manner brevity = briefness lassitude = fatigue, torpor 9. E The presentation was vacuous, which means lacking substance. This implies that the two clauses in the sentence are parallel, so the missing word must be similar to unimaginative. dormant = inactive unanimous = everyone agrees amorphous = lacking shape dolorous = causing pain or sorrow prosaic = dull, unimaginative 10. A Use the parallelism in the sentence. The two adjectives in the first clause are parallel to the two ideas in the second clause. The first word de- scribes something that makes one cry, and the second word describes mirthful scenes. Two sim- ple words to complete the sentence would be d epressing and funny. melancholy = sadness; hilarious = funny reprehensible = blameworthy; wistful = sad somber = gloomy; bitter = unhappy humorous = funny; jocular = joking despicable = mean; whimsical = impulsive CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 93 Unit I Exercise Sets II and III Answer Key Exercise Set II 1. ANIMA: spirit, life, mind unanimous, magnanimous, animosity, animation, animal, inanimate 2. VAC: empty vacate, evacuate, vacuum, vacuous, vacation, vacant 3. BENE: good benevolent, beneficiary, bonus, bona fide, benediction 4. EU: good euphemism, eulogy, euphony, euphoria, eugenics 5. LOQU: talk loquacious, eloquent, ventriloquist, elocution, circumlocution 6. CIRCUM: around circumference, circumnavi- gate, circumlocute, circuit, circuitous 7. EX-, E-: out emit, extract, exclaim, exit, egregious, enormous 8. LEG: law allege, legal, legitimate, legislate 9. JUR: oath, law jurisdiction, abjure, adjure, jury, jurisprudence 10. VERB: word verbatim, verbose, verbal, verbalize, proverb 11. JUD: judge adjudicate, judicious, adjudge, judiciary 12. CIS: cut incisive, scissors, concise, schism, decide, suicide 13. CO-: together, with cooperate, connect, correlate, committee, collect, conspire 14. VOLE: wish voluntary, benevolent, malevolent, volition 15. GRAT: please, thank gratify, ingratiate, ingrate, congratulate, gratuity Exercise Set III 1. N 2. Y 3. Y 4. N 5. N 6. mutate 7. vacuous 8. equanimity 9. pedestrian 10. hackneyed 11. phlegmatic 12. recalcitrant 13. querulous 14. brusque 15. garrulous 16. schism 17. perspicacious 18. judicious 19. scrutinize 20. acumen 21. circumlocution 22. anecdote 23. vacillate 24. protean 25. lassitude 26. lethargy 27. pusillanimity 28. euphemistic 29. adjudication 30. perjury 31. inscrutable 32. congenital 33. magnanimous 34. adjure 35. grandiloquent 36. eulogy 37. benign 38. euphemism 39. gratify 40. elocution 41. jurisdiction Visit Online Practice Plus at www.MHPracticePlus.com/SATvocab for additional tools and resources you can use to boost your SAT vocabulary. 94 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Unit 2 Vocabulary Lesson 8: Sneaky Sneaky Today’s roots: duplit twofold pseudo fake nym name rapere to seize ❑ spurious (adj) fake; counterfeit The head of the FBI cursed the spurious tip that incorrectly led them to an abandoned warehouse. Synonyms: fictitious, dubious, fabricated Antonyms: authentic, substantiated ❑ guile (n) trickery; deceit The Big Bad Wolf deceived Little Red Riding Hood with guile and cunning. Synonyms: cleverness, cunning, duplicity Antonyms: candor, straightforwardness ❑ beguile (v) to deceive with charm The con artist beguiled me out of my money, convincing me to play his game over and over. Synonyms: charm, entrance, captivate Antonym: disenchant ❑ strategem (n) a deceitful scheme (strategos army general) The teenager devised an elaborate strategem to escape his parents’ curfew. Synonyms: ploy, gimmick, ruse, subterfuge ❑ surreptitious (adj) deceptive; sneaky (sub- secretly + rapere seize) The surreptitious movements of the lion lured the gazelle into a trap. Synonyms: covert, furtive, stealthy Antonyms: honest, trustworthy, overt ❑ clandestine (adj) secret; hidden The clandestine military facility in the capital city was unknown even to the President of the United States. Synonyms: stealthy, surreptitious, covert Antonyms: forthright, straightforward, candid ❑ stealth (n) sneakiness; ability to avoid detection The “stealth bomber” is so effective because it is undetectable by most radars. Synonyms: furtiveness, covertness Antonyms: perceptible, observable ❑ duplicity (n) deceit; hypocritical deception (duplit twofold) Synonyms: chicanery, improbity ❑ specious (adj) false, but plausible (specere to look at) Synonyms: ostensible, sophistic ❑ furtive (adj) secretive; sneaky <a furtive plan to steal the diamond> Synonyms: stealthy, cloaked, guileful ❑ pseudonym (n) pen name ( pseudo- fake + onoma name) Synonyms: alias, anonym ❑ fallacious (adj) deceptive; false ( fallacia deceit + -ious full of) Synonyms: delusory, erroneous ❑ rapacious (adj) greedy; ravenous (rapere seize + -ious full of) Synonyms: ravenous, covetous CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 95 Vocabulary Lesson 9: Time Is of the Essence Today’s roots: trans across, through fluere to flow chronos time tempus time ❑ transient (adj) fleeting; short-lived (transire to go across) We never understand the transient nature of childhood until we wake up one day and realize we’re all grown up. Synonyms: ephemeral, evanescent, deciduous, transitory Antonyms: permanent, interminable ❑ ephemeral (adj) short-lived (hemera day) Critics wrote off the band as a fad, their success as an ephemeral phenomenon. Synonyms: transient, evanescent, fleeting Antonyms: permanent, everlasting, interminable ❑ sporadic (adj) irregular or unpredictable; infrequent (sporas scattered) He has experienced sporadic success as an actor, with occasional big roles amid many unmemorable parts. Synonyms: intermittent, episodic, mercurial Antonyms: frequent, regular, permanent ❑ capricious (adj) whimsical; impulsive My English teacher runs her class capriciously, flitting from idea to idea with no reason or direction. Synonyms: fickle, volatile, mercurial, erratic ❑ evanescent (adj) likely to vanish (vanescere to disappear) The aurora borealis is beautiful but evanescent, a curtain of cascading light that can disappear in a heartbeat. Synonyms: transient, ephemeral, transitory Antonyms: perpetual, enduring ❑ extemporaneous (adj) done with little or no practice (ex tempore of time) The speech was all the more remarkable because Dr. Sherman gave it extemporaneously, filling in for the scheduled speaker at the last moment. Synonym: impromptu ❑ anachronism (n) something out of place in time (ana- backward + chronos time) Her old-fashioned perspective on motherhood makes her an anachronism among her friends. Synonyms: archaism, incongruity, asynchronism ❑ transitory (adj) lasting for a short time (transitus gone across) Synonyms: transient, fleeting ❑ expedite (v) to speed up (ex- out + pedis foot) Synonyms: hasten, quicken, facilitate ❑ influx (n) a flowing in (in- in + fluere to flow) The country of Chad has seen a massive influx of refugees from the fighting in neighboring Sudan. ❑ superfluous (adj) beyond what is necessary or sufficient (super- over + fluere to flow) ❑ contemporaneous (adj) existing or occurring at about the same time (con- together + tempore time) ❑ interminable (adj) never ending (in- not + term end) Synonyms: incessant, unremitting ❑ protracted (adj) prolonged; extended in time (pro- forward + tract pull) Synonym: drawn out 96 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 10: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice . . . Today’s roots: dia thoroughly, through de- down dictus declared, word pugn to fight ❑ censure (n) official condemnation; harsh criticism (censor Roman supervisor for morals) Congress voted to declare censure on the representative who took money and gifts from a lobbyist. Synonyms: castigation, derision, rebuke Antonyms: laudation, endorsement ❑ calumny (n) slander; false accusation Too many tabloids know that calumny about celebrities is more profitable than the truth. Synonyms: libel, denigration, defamation Antonyms: acclaim, extolment, approbation ❑ diatribe (n) malicious criticism or abuse (dia- through + tribein to rub) A good debate must avoid vicious personal diatribe, and focus on a respectful discussion of issues. Synonyms: castigation, derision, harangue Antonyms: laudation, extolment, honor ❑ caustic (adj) corrosive; sarcastic James immediately regretted making such a caustic remark; he could tell his words truly hurt Vanessa. Synonyms: abrasive, acrimonious Antonyms: mitigating, conciliatory, mollifying ❑ repudiate (v) to cast off publicly (repudium divorce) The consumers repudiated the shoe company for using sweatshops, and began buying from its competitor. Synonyms: disavow, abjure, forswear Antonym: condone ❑ derogatory (adj) disparaging; belittling (de- down, away) Derogatory remarks are not allowed in class; discussions should criticize ideas, not people. Synonyms: pejorative, derisive, disparaging ❑ admonish (v) to reprimand mildly (ad- to + monere to warn) The boy was admonished by his mom for spilling his soda on the brand-new rug. Synonyms: rebuke, reprove Antonyms: laud, revere, endorse ❑ disparage (v) to belittle; to demean (dis- apart + parage rank, peer) Synonyms: deprecate, discredit ❑ impugn (v) to attack as untrue; to refute by argument (in- against + pugn to fight) ❑ malediction (n) a curse (mal- bad + dictus declared) Synonyms: anathema, execration ❑ denigrate (v) to attack the character of; to disparage Synonyms: slander, decry ❑ harangue (n) a long, critical, and pompous speech Synonyms: diatribe, discourse ❑ pejorative (adj) tending to make worse (pejor worse) The senator suggested that discussing the issue dispassionately would be more productive than slinging pejorative personal comments. Synonym: disparaging ❑ slander (n) false comments that injure another’s reputation (scandalum scandal) CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 97 Vocabulary Lesson 11: Holy Cow Today’s roots: sacer sacred venus respect, love sanctus holy vereri respect ❑ sanctimonious (adj) falsely pious or self-righteous (sanctus holy) I prefer ministers who are real people, not sanctimonious know-it-all preachers. Synonyms: holier-than-thou, self-righteous, unctuous Antonyms: sincere, unaffected, guileless ❑ sacrosanct (adj) profoundly sacred (sacer sacred + sanctus holy) To Hindus, the cow is a sacrosanct creature to be treated with the utmost respect. Synonyms: inviolable, consecrated, divine, revered Antonym: unholy ❑ sanctuary (n) a place of refuge; a sacred place (sanctus holy) The Notre Dame cathedral is a sanctuary to all; anyone in need of a safe place to rest is welcome. Synonyms: shrine, asylum ❑ sacrilegious (adj) grossly irreverent; disrespectful of something sacred (sacer sacred) To Hindus, to whom cows are sacred, the mass slaughter of cattle is considered sacrilegious. Synonyms: blasphemous, desecrating, impious Antonyms: reverent, pious ❑ revere (v) to regard with honor and devotion (re- intensive + vereri respect) Every genre of music has its stars, whom fans revere like gods. Synonyms: venerate, idolize, esteem Antonyms: condemn, loathe ❑ pious (adj) showing religious reverence Cotton Mather, being a devoted Puritan, considered it his pious duty to hang anyone in Salem accused of witchcraft. Synonyms: devout, reverential Antonyms: irreverent, blasphemous ❑ deference (n) respect for the wishes of others (de- away + ferre carry) It is important to show deference to your elders and treat them with respect. Synonyms: courtesy, reverence Antonyms: irreverence, impertinence ❑ sacrament (n) a formal religious act or oath (sacer sacred) Synonyms: rite, liturgy ❑ venerable (adj) worthy of respect (venus respect) Synonyms: revered, honorable ❑ venerate (v) to regard with reverence or respect (venus respect) Synonyms: revere, extol ❑ consecrate (v) to declare to be holy (sacer sacred) The marriage was consecrated by both a priest and an imam. Synonyms: venerate, bless ❑ talisman (n) an object with magical powers (telos result) Synonyms: charm, amulet ❑ lionize (v) to treat as a celebrity Synonyms: glorify, exalt, panegyrize, apotheosize, deify 98 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 12: Power It Up! Today’s roots: potens strong in-, im- not domit lord efficere to effect ❑ formidable (adj) awesome; hard to overcome; dreadful ( formido fear) The Yankees are a formidable team; we’ll be lucky to win a single game against them this year. Synonyms: indomitable, redoubtable Antonyms: anemic, ineffectual ❑ potent (adj) strong and effective (potens strong) Although the drug is clearly the most potent treatment for depression, it also has the strongest side effects. Synonyms: efficacious, forceful Antonyms: impotent, enervated, feckless ❑ bulwark (n) a strong defense The newly constructed dam is in place as a bulwark against future flooding. Synonyms: bastion, redoubt, rampart ❑ indomitable (adj) unable to be conquered (in- not + domit lord) The indomitable castle has been under the control of the Spaniards for 6,000 years, despite repeated attacks. Synonyms: impregnable, invincible ❑ redoubtable (adj) arousing fear; formidable; awesome (re- intensive + douter to doubt) The mob boss is a redoubtable figure who makes his enemies cower in fear. Synonyms: formidable, intimidating ❑ robust (adj) full of vigor The robust young men were able to run miles at a time through the rugged terrain without breaking a sweat. Synonyms: brawny, athletic, potent Antonyms: weak, delicate ❑ impervious (adj) incapable of being penetrated or affected (im- not + per- through + via road) Bulletproof vests are almost always impervious to bullets. Synonyms: impenetrable, impregnable Antonyms: permeable, penetrable ❑ efficacious (adj) capable of producing a desired effect (efficere to effect) Synonym: proficient ❑ stalwart (n) physically or morally strong person; strong supporter Synonyms: mainstay, partisan ❑ impotent (adj) lacking strength or power (im- not + potens strong) Synonyms: enervated, effete ❑ predominant (adj) most important (pre- before + domit lord) Synonyms: paramount, preeminent ❑ impregnable (adj) unable to be entered by force (im- not + prehendere grasp) The castle was an impregnable fortress. Synonyms: impenetrable, invincible, indomitable ❑ brawn (n) muscular strength Our best wrestler was all brawn and no brains. Synonyms: robustness, vigor ❑ bastion (n) stronghold, fortress The college is a bastion of liberalism. Synonym: bulwark CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 99 Vocabulary Lesson 13: Come Together Today’s roots: co-, com-, con- together vocare to call syn- same, together legere choose ❑ coalesce (v) to blend or fuse together (co- together) Raindrops are usually formed when water vapor coalesces on microscopic particles in the atmosphere. Synonyms: amalgamate, consolidate, fuse Antonyms: disperse, diverge, dissipate ❑ anthology (n) a collection of works The Beatles’ Anthology is one of the best-selling greatest hits albums of all time. Synonyms: compilation, compendium, treasury ❑ convoke (v) to call together (con- together + vocare call) The village elders convoked the citizens to discuss the sale of the ceremonial land. Synonyms: assemble, summon Antonyms: dismiss, disperse ❑ synchronize (v) to arrange events to occur simultaneously (syn- same + chron time) Nothing is harder for a dance teacher than trying to synchronize ten eight-year-old ballerinas. Synonym: coordinate ❑ synthesis (n) a fusion; a bringing together (syn- together + tithenai to put) The synthesis of DNA occurs when many ribonucleic acids are joined together into one long double helix. Synonyms: amalgam, composite, fusion Antonyms: division, disjuncture ❑ eclectic (adj) made up of parts from many different sources (ec- out + legere to choose) Rob Mathes’ eclectic compositions reveal a subtle yet effective blend of blues, gospel, classical, and jazz styles. Synonyms: multifaceted, multifarious, manifold, diverse, synthesized ❑ yoke (v) to join different things Politicians often yoke unpopular legislation to popular bills so that they can sneak them through Congress. Synonym: couple ❑ amalgam (n) a combination of different substances into one mass Synonyms: composite, hybrid ❑ amass (v) to gather; to pile up We amassed a huge collection of CDs. Synonyms: stockpile, accrue ❑ invoke (v) to call on for help or inspiration (in- in + vocare call) The judge invoked an obscure, seldom-used statute in order to keep the defendant in jail. ❑ compatible (adj) capable of living together harmoniously The two were very compatible roommates. Synonym: agreeable ❑ contemporary (adj) living or occurring during the same time period (con- together + tempore time) ❑ predilection (n) disposition in favor of something (pre- before + legere to choose) Scott has a strong predilection for chocolate. Synonyms: inclination, bent, proclivity, propensity, penchant . jur) ____________________________________________ 92 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Unit I Exercise Set I Answer Key 1. B The colon (:) introduces an explanation. Adeptly means with great skill. A 5-year-old would have to be pretty. Online Practice Plus at www.MHPracticePlus.com/SATvocab for additional tools and resources you can use to boost your SAT vocabulary. 94 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Unit 2 Vocabulary Lesson 8: Sneaky. extended in time (pro- forward + tract pull) Synonym: drawn out 96 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 10: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice . . . Today’s roots: dia thoroughly, through de- down dictus