100 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 14: Cruel and Unusual Today’s roots: vilis worthless de- down super- above, beyond -less without ❑ ruthless (adj) cruel; merciless (rue regret + -less without) Torquemada is widely regarded as the most ruthless interrogator of the Spanish Inquisition. Synonyms: brutal, callous Antonyms: civilized, humane, merciful ❑ contempt (n) scorn; disrespect Many eminent and successful scientists often show contempt for novel theories that question their own. Synonyms: disdain, scorn Antonyms: respect, honor, reverence ❑ callous (adj) hardened; insensitive Because they see so much suffering daily, emergency room doctors often struggle to avoid becoming callous. Synonyms: insensitive, dispassionate Antonyms: compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic ❑ sadistic (adj) taking pleasure in the pain of others (from the Marquis de Sade) The sadistic youngster smiled as he watched his classmate get hit in the head with a dodgeball. Synonyms: barbarous, savage, ruthless Antonyms: civilized, humane ❑ supercilious (adj) full of haughty arrogance (super- above + cilium eyebrow) Although he seems supercilious when you first meet him, Joe is actually a modest and down-to-earth guy. Synonyms: haughty, cavalier Antonyms: diffident, unassuming, humble ❑ idiosyncrasy (n) a peculiar trait or habit (idio peculiar) My history teacher has the idiosyncrasy of always squinting just before she asks a question of the class. Synonyms: quirk, affectation, eccentricity, singularity ❑ anomaly (n) unusual event (an- not + homos same) The ninety-degree day in Siberia was an anomaly; the temperature had gone that high only once before. Synonyms: aberration, irregularity Antonym: regularity ❑ incongruous (adj) inappropriate; not in keeping with a pattern (in- not + congru agree) ❑ fetter (v) to tie up; to chain Synonyms: shackle, hamper ❑ notorious (adj) famous for bad things (notus known) Synonyms: infamous, disreputable ❑ decry (v) to speak out against (de- down + crier cry) Synonyms: vilify, condemn ❑ vilify (v) to slander; to defame (vilis worthless) Synonyms: denigrate, malign, libel, calumniate ❑ heinous (adj) cruel and unusual (haine hatred) Synonyms: atrocious, monstrous ❑ revile (v) to denounce abusively (vilis worthless) Benedict Arnold has long been reviled as a traitor CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 101 Vocabulary Unit 2 Exercise Set I Time—8 minutes For each question, select the best answer among the choices given. Note any vocabulary words to review on the Hit List below. 1. The emotional outburst was quite unusual for Peter; he is typically one of the most indi- viduals you could ever meet. (A) stoic (B) demonstrative (C) extroverted (D) irascible (E) inimical 2. Ayn Rand, whose writing is considered by some awkward and contrived, is nevertheless by many as of individualism and objectivism, the cornerstones of her philosophy. (A) lionized . . a stalwart (B) repudiated . . a protagonist (C) censured . . an advocate (D) praised . . an antagonist (E) extolled . . a skeptic 3. Fearing from officials in their home coun- try, the dissidents sought in the American embassy. (A) veneration . . solitude (B) oppression . . sanctuary (C) impotence . . asylum (D) calumny . . disparagement (E) judiciousness . . salvation 4. Because female authors were not treated as equals in the 19th century, many women used in an effort to disguise themselves as males. (A) influxes (B) anachronisms (C) pseudonyms (D) diatribes (E) amalgams 5. The newly implemented tax cut was not as as its supporters had hoped in the economy by spurring investment and growth. (A) formidable . . enervating (B) efficacious . . invigorating (C) delicate . . stimulating (D) ruthless . . lauding (E) incongruous . . encouraging 6. After many said that her last novel was too , she included a bizarre and shocking ending to her newest book in an effort to her critics. (A) banal . . support (B) elegant . . pacify (C) spurious . . silence (D) mundane . . appease (E) contrived . . endorse 7. When unhappy, Richard quickly becomes , picking fights with anyone around him. (A) sadistic (B) pious (C) capricious (D) belligerent (E) fallacious 8. Although sparrows appear to be weak and harmless, they can actually be quite when their nest is threatened. (A) redoubtable (B) furtive (C) evanescent (D) fickle (E) laconic 9. Many societies detest , and as a result the among them are often treated as outcasts. (A) compatibility . . antagonistic (B) idiosyncrasy . . callous (C) duplicity . . perfidious (D) superficiality . . profound (E) potency . . sacrosanct 10. The remarks made by the press hurt Kendra’s feelings, but she vowed to ignore the and continue toward her goal. (A) derogatory . . consecrations (B) inimical . . conciliations (C) sanctimonious . . predilections (D) venerable . . harangues (E) caustic . . denigrations HIT LIST 102 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Unit 2 Exercise Set II Write the meaning next to each root, and then write as many words as you can that contain the root. 1. NYM_____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 2. FLUERE__________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 3. CHRONOS________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 4. SYN-_____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 5. IN-, IM-___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 6. TRANS___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 7. SACER___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 8. VERERI__________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 9. VOCARE__________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 10. VILIS_____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 11. TEMPUS_________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 12. SANCTUS________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 13. POTENS__________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 14. DOMIT___________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ 15. DE-______________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 103 Vocabulary Unit 2 Exercise Set III 1. Should a good boxer be redoubtable? Y N 2. Is a stalwart weak? Y N 3. Can a mountain be evanescent? Y N 4. Do compatible things work together well? Y N 5. Is a diffident person haughty? Y N Write the word with the given meaning. 6. slander; false accusation c____________________ 7. reprimand mildly a____________________ 8. irregular; infrequent s____________________ 9. extended in time p____________________ 10. trickery; deceit g____________________ 11. sneaky s____________________ 12. greedy; ravenous r____________________ 13. to regard with honor r____________________ 14. magical object t____________________ 15. falsely pious s____________________ 16. a strong defense b____________________ 17. unconquerable i____________________ 18. to slander; defame v____________________ 19. scorn; disrespect c____________________ 20. deceitful scheme s____________________ 21. out of place in time a____________________ 22. place of refuge s____________________ 23. full of vigor r____________________ 24. collection of works a____________________ 25. call on for inspiration i____________________ Write the correct form of the italicized word. 26. like an anomaly _____________________________________________ 27. showing contempt _____________________________________________ 28. having the quality of an anachronism _____________________________________________ 29. to give censure _____________________________________________ 30. having the tendency to evanesce _____________________________________________ Write the word with the given meaning and root. 31. deceit (duplit) _____________________________________________ 32. fake name (nym) _____________________________________________ 33. disparaging (de-) _____________________________________________ 34. to attack as untrue (pugn) _____________________________________________ 35. falsely pious (sanct) _____________________________________________ 36. regard with respect (venus) _____________________________________________ 37. most important (domit) _____________________________________________ 38. weak (potens) _____________________________________________ 39. blend or fuse together (co-) _____________________________________________ 40. full of haughty arrogance (super-) _____________________________________________ 41. to denounce abusively (vilis) _____________________________________________ 104 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Unit 2 Exercise Set I Answer Key 1. A The sentence indicates that showing emotion is unusual for Peter. Look for a word that means unemotional to fill the blank. stoic = unaffected by pleasure or pain demonstrative = effusive, emotional extroverted = outgoing, gregarious irascible = easily angered inimical = unfriendly, harmful 2. A Nevertheless indicates that the blank should contrast awkward and contrived. A contrasting response would be praise. And if individualism and objectivism are the cornerstones of her philosophy, she must agree with them. lionized = worshipped; stalwart = unwavering person repudiated = cast off; protagonist = main character censured = condemned; advocate = supporter praised = commended; antagonist = opposed extolled = praised highly; skeptic = doubter 3. B The sentence indicates that they fear the first word and if they fear something, they should seek comfort of some sort. veneration = reverence; solitude = loneliness oppression = holding back; sanctuary = place of refuge impotence = lack of power; asylum = a safe place calumny = slander; disparagement = belittlement judiciousness = wisdom; salvation = being saved 4. C The word in the blank is something that they would use to disguise themselves as men. The only word that fits this description is pseudonyms. influxes = inward flows anachronisms = things out of place in time pseudonyms = false names diatribes = prolonged speeches amalgams = mixtures 5. B Supporters of the tax cut would obviously hope that it would do well and cause good things. So you want a positive word in the first blank. The supporters hoped it would “spur investment and growth” which shows they thought it would strengthen the economy. formidable = imposing; enervating = weakening efficacious = effective; invigorating = strengthening delicate = fragile; stimulating = causing activity ruthless = cruel; lauding = praising incongruous = not matching; encouraging = inspiring 6. D The second part of the sentence implies that the critics deemed her first novel to be lacking a bizarre and shocking ending. She would include a shocking ending to silence these critics. Two sim- ple words to complete the sentence would be predictable and quiet. banal = trivial; support = to hold up elegant = refined; pacify = to soothe spurious = fake; silence = to quiet mundane = ordinary; appease = to quiet contrived = obvious; endorse = support 7. D As is often the case, the information after the semicolon tells us everything we need to know. When Richard is unhappy, he picks fights. sadistic = enjoying the pain of others pious = holy capricious = acting on impulse belligerent = warlike, prone to fighting fallacious = false 8. A Although shows a classic contrast. Sparrows appear to be weak and harmless, but when some- thing important to them is threatened, they become the opposite of weak and harmless. redoubtable = formidable, intimidating furtive = sneaky evanescent = ephemeral, short-lived fickle = prone to change one’s mind laconic = not inclined to speaking much 9. C If society detests it, the first word must indi- cate something negative. The as a result shows a cause and effect, so you’d expect the second word to describe a person who has the characteristic in the first blank. compatibility = ability to go together; antagonistic = hostile idiosyncrasy = odd behavior; callous = hardened duplicity = deceptiveness; perfidious = untrustworthy superficial = lacking substance; profound = deep potency = strength, power; sacrosanct = sacred CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 105 10. E The first word indicates something that would hurt one’s feelings. The second word must be a noun to describe such remarks. derogatory = insulting; consecrations =blessings inimical = unfriendly; conciliations = actions or remarks that regain trust or friendship sanctimonious = smug; predilections = inclinations venerable = worthy of respect; harangues = tirades caustic = harmful; denigrations = slander 106 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Unit 2 Exercise Sets II and III Answer Key Exercise Set II 1. NYM: name pseudonym, anonymous, synonym, antonym 2. FLUERE: flow fluent, superfluous, confluence, effluvium 3. CHRONOS: time synchronize, chronology, anachronism, chronicle 4. SYN-: same synonym, sympathy, synchronize, synthesis 5. IN-, IM-: not intolerant, immoral, immodest, inconceivable 6. TRANS: across transparent, transmit, translate, transition 7. SACER: sacred sacrilegious, sacrament, sacrosanct, consecrate 8. VERERI: respect revere, reverent, irreverent, reverend 9. VOCARE: to call invoke, provoke, vocation, voice, revoke 10. VILIS: worthless vilify, revile, villain, evil 11. TEMPUS: time extemporaneous, temporary, contemporary 12. SANCTUS: holy sanctify, sanctuary, sacrosanct, sanctimonious 13. POTENS: strong potent, impotent, potential, despot 14. DOMIT: lord dominion, indomitable, domesticate, dominate 15. DE-: down descend, demoralize, demote, deride, decline Exercise Set III 1. Y 2. N 3. N 4. Y 5. N 6. calumny 7. admonish 8. sporadic 9. protracted 10. guile 11. surreptitious 12. rapacious 13. revere 14. talisman 15. sanctimonious 16. bulwark 17. indomitable 18. vilify 19. contempt 20. stratagem 21. anachronistic 22. sanctuary 23. robust 24. anthology 25. invoke 26. anomalous 27. contemptuous 28. anachronistic 29. censure 30. evanescent 31. duplicity 32. pseudonym 33. derogatory 34. impugn 35. sanctimonious 36. venerate 37. predominant 38. impotent 39. coalesce 40. supercilious 41. revile CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 107 Vocabulary Unit 3 Vocabulary Lesson 15: Weak and Weaker Today’s roots: batre to beat troph nourishment sequi follow pli fold ❑ atrophy (v) to weaken from disuse (a- without + troph nourishment) After surgery, extended bed rest often causes muscles to atrophy unless it is accompanied by physical therapy. Synonyms: degenerate, deteriorate Antonyms: thrive, flourish ❑ abate (v) to subside; to decrease in intensity (ad- to + batre to beat) The crews had to wait until the storm abated before they could begin to assess the damage to the coastal town. Synonyms: wane, diminish Antonyms: expand, amplify ❑ porous (adj) filled with many holes ( porus opening) The teenager’s story was a porous one that her parents could easily see through. Synonyms: penetrable, pervious Antonyms: impervious, impenetrable, impregnable ❑ wane (v) to grow smaller or less intense As the brightness of the moon wanes over the next few nights, it will become easier to see the surrounding stars. Synonyms: abate, ebb Antonyms: wax, intensify ❑ lassitude (n) a feeling of weakness (lassus weary) Although she tried valiantly to play through her illness, Danielle’s lassitude overtook her in the second half. Synonyms: listlessness, weariness Antonyms: vitality, vigor ❑ undermine (v) to weaken or diminish something The continual setbacks to the project over many weeks undermined the morale of the workers. Synonyms: undercut, attenuate Antonyms: fortify, strengthen ❑ obsequious (adj) overly submissive (ob- to + sequi follow) Synonyms: fawning, compliant ❑ attrition (n) a wearing away of strength or morale Synonyms: debilitation, weakening ❑ enervate (v) to weaken someone’s vitality Synonym: debilitate ❑ vulnerable (adj) prone to attack or harm Synonyms: assailable, susceptible ❑ ebb (v) to decrease or decline slowly Synonyms: wane, abate ❑ compliant (adj) submissive (pli fold) Synonyms: yielding, conciliatory ❑ debilitate (v) to sap the strength of (de- away + bilis strength) Synonyms: cripple, enervate 108 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 16: Chillin’ Today’s roots: status position, standing quies rest plac to please serenus calm ❑ placid (adj) calm ( plac to please) A relaxing day at the spa always makes me feel more placid. Synonyms: serene, tranquil Antonyms: frenzied, frenetic ❑ inert (adj) sluggish; inactive (in- not + ertem active) After his final exams, Ricky sat inert on his couch for two days watching soap operas and game shows. Synonyms: quiescent, torpid, phlegmatic Antonyms: alert, lively ❑ listless (adj) sluggish; without energy (-less without) I always feel listless on rainy days; sometimes I don’t even want to get out of bed. Synonyms: enervated, inert, phlegmatic, lethargic Antonyms: lively, robust ❑ quiescent (adj) resting; quiet (quies rest) During the quiescent phase of cell division, the cell does not split or grow. Synonym: inactive Antonyms: dynamic, active ❑ serene (adj) tranquil; calm; placid (serenus peaceful, calm) There was not a single wave on the surface of the serene lake. Synonyms: quiescent, sedate Antonyms: frenzied, turbulent ❑ static (adj) stationary (status standing) The patient’s vitals have been static for an hour. We hope this means he can be moved from intensive care. Synonyms: stagnant, inert Antonyms: itinerant, peripatetic ❑ lethargic (adj) lazy; sluggish The flu left me feeling lethargic even two days after my fever had broken. Synonyms: phlegmatic, dormant, enervated, listless ❑ moratorium (n) postponement Synonyms: deferral, delay ❑ stagnate (v) to become inactive; to become stale (status standing) Synonym: idle ❑ torpor (n) lethargy; apathy Synonyms: inertness, lassitude ❑ respite (n) rest; time of relief; pause (respit delay) Synonyms: hiatus, moratorium ❑ hiatus (n) a break in the continuity of something Synonyms: respite, discontinuity ❑ torpid (adj) hibernating; dormant (torpere be numb) Synonyms: inert, idle CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 109 Vocabulary Lesson 17: Wanna Fight? Today’s roots: bellum war pro- forward, forth pugnare fight ire anger ❑ belligerent (adj) warlike; quarrelsome (bellum war) My brother is a belligerent guy; he picks his fair share of bar fights. Synonyms: antagonistic, cantankerous, contentious Antonyms: passive, peaceful ❑ irascible (adj) easily angered (ire anger) Adam’s irascible nature landed him in anger management therapy; he overreacts to the smallest things. Synonyms: choleric, splenetic, petulant Antonym: even-tempered ❑ volatile (adj) explosive; tending to evaporate quickly (vola to fly) The situation in the Middle East is a volatile one that must be handled with care. Synonyms: unsettled, temperamental Antonym: stable ❑ rebuttal (n) refutation; opposing response to an argument (re- back) After the opponent made his remarks, the debate team captain approached the podium to deliver her rebuttal. Synonyms: repartee, rejoinder Antonym: agreement ❑ refute (v) to disprove; to rebut forcefully (refutare to drive back) The judge found no evidence to refute your claim that the car is yours, so you get to keep it for now. Synonyms: contradict, rebut Antonyms: support, endorse ❑ incite (v) to urge into action (citare to cause to move) The rebels incited a revolt in the small city by convincing the citizens that their mayor was a crook. Synonyms: coax, cajole, instigate Antonym: dissuade ❑ pugnacious (adj) quarrelsome; warlike (pugnare fight) The pugnacious punk was happiest when his fists were pounding someone else’s chin. Synonyms: truculent, belligerent Antonyms: pacific, passive ❑ bellicose (adj) warlike in manner (bellum war) Synonyms: pugnacious, belligerent ❑ harass (v) to bother; to annoy Synonyms: irritate, torment ❑ assail (v) to attack or assault (ad- at + salire leap) Synonym: berate ❑ tumultuous (adj) violently agitated Synonyms: hectic, unruly ❑ instigate (v) to goad; to urge on Synonyms: incite, foment, coax, cajole ❑ provocative (adj) tending to aggravate or stimulate ( pro- forth + vocare to call) Synonyms: goading, alluring ❑ propensity (n) a natural inclination; a tendency (pro- forth) . 100 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 14: Cruel and Unusual Today’s roots: vilis worthless de- down super- above, beyond -less without ❑ ruthless (adj) cruel; merciless (rue regret + -less. temporary, contemporary 12. SANCTUS: holy sanctify, sanctuary, sacrosanct, sanctimonious 13. POTENS: strong potent, impotent, potential, despot 14. DOMIT: lord dominion, indomitable, domesticate, dominate 15. DE-:. yielding, conciliatory ❑ debilitate (v) to sap the strength of (de- away + bilis strength) Synonyms: cripple, enervate 108 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT Vocabulary Lesson 16: Chillin’ Today’s roots: status position,