Read the following sentences carefully. Decide which word best describes what is being said and circle the letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
1. “Bundle up,” said Aunt Margaret. “I don’t want you getting sick and coming down with
ammonia.” The underlined word is a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. harangue.
2. Jack pleaded, “Can I go on the rollercoaster one more time, Mom? Please? I really,
really want to. Pretty please? I’ll do extra chores this week. Please?” This little boy is
a. gainsaying his mother.
b. importuning his mother.
c. disparaging his mother.
d. censuring his mother.
3. “You are hopeless! I cannot believe your files are in such disorder,” the irritable
Supervisor shouted. This remark is
a. effusive.
b. sententious.
c. bombastic.
d. opprobrious.
4. “Come on, Mom! You’re not being fair! Why can’t I stay out until midnight just like my
friends? I ’m old enough,” stated Marissa emphatically . This teenager is
a. remonstrating her mother.
b. importuning her mother.
c. gainsaying her mother.
d. being sententious.
5. “Oh, wow! I just can’t believe it! I’m so excited! This is the best thing ever! I am very,
very happy,” the new homeowner declared. This remark is
a. bombastic.
b. eloquent.
c. effusive.
d. sardonic.
6. The cranky old coach yelled, “You call that a pitch? I’ve seen rookies with better aim.”
This remark is
a. derisive.
b. sententious.
c. voluble.
d. effusive.
7. “We’d only just met the host when Kenny told her that her house desperately needed
a makeover,” Janine said. “I was soembarrassed!” Kenny’s comment was a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. platitude.
8. “Well, son, I’ve got news for you: You win some, you lose some. Besides, it’s not
whether you win or lose that counts. It’s how you play the game,” my old-fashioned
dad said. This remark is
a. sententious.
b. sardonic.
c. eloquent.
d. derisive.
9. “They’ve labeled the poster an authentic reproduction,” the antique dealer said.
“That’s like calling a book on the bestseller list a new classic.” The underlined words
are examples of a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. oxymoron.
c. platitude.
d. repartee.
10. “No, that’s not how it happened,” the honor student said. “Julianna is lying. Winston
didn’t steal her idea; she took it from him.” This speaker is
a. censuring.
b. disparaging.
c. gainsaying.
d. mincing.
Read the following sentences carefully. Decide which of the words from the following list best fills the blank in the sentence. Write your answer in the blank. (If you do not own this book, please write your answer on a separate piece of paper.)
Bombastic censure
Disparage eloquent
Harangue mince
Platitude repartee
Sardonic voluble
11. Darlene found that Jonathan’s remarks ________(ed) her so much that their
relationship was at stake. His critical comments were unkind.
12. When he discovered the error, Chesterton lashed out at Watkins. His ________
lasted for several minutes and shocked everyone in my department!
13. ABC Paper has been polluting our river for the last 20 years and has been keeping it
from the public. This is not just wrong, it’scriminal. ABC Paper is guilty of
unforgivable sins against the environment and against the people of our state and
deserves the most severe ________.
14. Because she is so ________, she has no trouble meeting new people or talking in
front of a crowd.
15. I wish Edna would be more straightforward. She’s always ________(ing) her words,
as if she is afraid she will hurt my feelings.
16. What a(n) ________ essay! It is forceful and fluent with powerful and precise word
choice throughout the text.
17. Caleb’s reply was ________, as usual. He can’t seem to say anything without
mockery.
18. Titus tried to insult Isabel, but she tactfully deflected the insult with a witty ________.
19. She thought she was offering some real advice, but all she could give me was some
________(s) like “tomorrow’s another day” and “good things come to those who
wait.”
20. How could our humble, soft-spoken president make such a ________ statement to
the newcomer in the group?
Answers
1. (A). A malapropism is the comical misuse of words, especially those similar in sound. Here, the speaker says, “ammonia” instead of “pneumonia.”
2. (b). To importune is to ask incessantly or beg persistently.
3. (d). An opprobrious remark is one that is scornful and expresses contempt.
4. (a). To remonstrate is to say or plead in protest or objection. Remonstrate can
also mean to scold or reprove.
5. (c). An effusive remark expresses emotions in an unrestrained or excessive
way.
6. (a). A derisive comment expresses scorn and ridicules or mocks something or
someone.
7. (b). A solecism is a mistake in the use of language or a violation of good
manners or etiquette.
8. (a). A sententious reply is one that is full of maxims and proverbs offered in a
self- righteous manner. Sententious can also mean expressing oneself
tersely.
9. (b). An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing a seemingly contradictory
Combination of words. Authentic reproduction and new classic are
oxymorons.
10. (c). To gainsay is to deny, contradict, or declare false; to oppose.
Vocabulary question
11. To disparage is to belittle, to speak of in a derogatory way.
12. A harangue is a tirade; a long, scolding or bombastic speech.
13. A censure is a rebuke or expression of strong criticism and disapproval.
14. A voluble person talks a great deal and with immense ease.
15. To mince means to say something more delicately or indirectly for the sake of
politeness or decorum. It can also mean to chop into very small pieces or to
walk or speak affectedly.
16. Eloquent means expressing strong emotions or arguments in a powerful,
fluent, and persuasive manner.
17. Sardonic means sarcastic, mocking scornfully.
18. A repartee is a quick, witty reply or the ability to make such replies.
19. A platitude is a trite or banal statement, especially one uttered as if it were
new.
20. Bombastic means speaking pompously, with inflated selfimportance.
Choose the answer that is the best response for each question below. If you do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.
21. Which of the following traits is most desirable in a roommate?
a. bumptious
b. personable
c. pretentious
d. puerile
22. Which of the following traits is least desirable in a roommate?
a. diffident
b. gregarious
c. sanguine
d. surly
23. Which kind of person would most likely make the best waiter?
a. someone who is blithe
b. someone who is overweening
c. someone who is perfidious
d. someone who is punctilious
24. Which kind of person would most likely make the best spy?
a. someone who is capricious
b. someone who is craven
c. someone who is perfidious
d. someone who is sagacious
25. Which kind of person would most likely make the best judge?
a. someone who is diffident
b. someone who is sagacious
c. someone who is sanguine
d. someone who is saturnine
26. Which kind of person would most likely make the best security guard?
a. someone who is bumptious
b. someone who is circumspect
c. someone who is gregarious
d. someone who is perfidious
27. Which kind of person would most likely be the best companion when you are feeling
sad?
a. someone who is bumptious
b. someone who is irascible
c. someone who is puerile
d. someone who is sanguine
28. Which character trait would you least like to see in a soldier?
a. craven
b. overweening
c. pretentious
d. surly
29. Which character trait would you least like to see in a judge?
a. capricious
b. circumspect
c. personable
d. punctilious
30. Which character trait would you least like to see in a supervisor?
a. blithe
b. bumptious
c. overweening
d. petulant
For the following questions, choose the person who would most likely have the characteristic or attitude noted in italics.
31. blithe
a. a soldier in combat
b. a young child in a playground
c. the mother of a very sick child
d. a surgeon during an operation
32. petulant
a. someone who throws a tantrum because his or her soup was not warm enough
b. someone who is going on an important job interview
c. someone who needs to earn a little extra money
d. someone who doesn’t like being with other people
33. puerile
a. an infant
b. a ten year old who has never been given responsibility
c. a thirty-four year old with too much responsibility
d. an elderly woman
34. irascible
a. someone who just found out he has a rare disease
b. someone who just inherited a farm with 200 acres
c. someone who has just bumped into an old acquaintance, whom she would
rather not have seen, from high school
d. someone waiting for his airplane to take off, only to be told four hours later that
his flight has been canceled and his luggage has been lost
35. saturnine
a. someone who just won the lottery
b. someone who has just fallen in love
c. someone who has just had a loved one end a relationship
d. someone who is sleeping
Answers
21. ( b ). Personable means pleasing in appearance or manner; this is a desirable
quality in a roommate.
22. ( d ). Surly means bad-tempered or unfriendly in a way that suggests menace; this is
A very undesirable quality in a roommate.
23. ( d ). A punctilious person is conscientious and precise, and pays great attention to
details, especially in matters of etiquette.
24. ( c ). A perfidious person is treacherous and dishonest.
25. ( b ). A sagacious person shows good judgment and is wise.
26. ( b ). A circumspect person is cautious and watchful.
27. ( d ). A sanguine person is cheerful and optimistic.
28. ( a ). Craven means cowardly.
29. ( a ). Capricious means impulsive and unpredictable; a judge should be consistent in
interpreting and applying the law.
30. ( c ). An overweening supervisor would be presumptuously arrogant and
overbearing.
31. ( b ). Blithe means light-hearted and carefree. Only a young child in a playground is
likely to be blithe.
32. ( a ). Someone who throws a tantrum because his or her soup was not warm enough
is likely to be petulant; unreasonably or easily irritated.
33. ( b ). A ten year old who has never been given responsibility is likely to be puerile;
childish and immature.
34. ( d ). Someone who has been waiting hours for a flight that is eventually canceled
and whose luggage is lost is likely to be irascible; irritable and hot-tempered
35. ( c ). Saturnine means gloomy and sullen. Choice c is the only choice that presents
circumstances that would cause someone to be gloomy.
36. ( e ). A bumptious person would most likely be talking condescendingly to others.
37. ( d ). A churlish person would make ill-mannered and rude remarks.
38. ( a ). A diffident person would be shy and would most likely be sitting alone in a
corner.
39. ( b ). A gregarious person would be seeking and enjoying the company of others,
and would most likely be talking comfortably with a large group of people.
40. ( c ). A pretentious person would be showy and would most likely be trying to
impress others by telling them everything he or she knows about any given
subject.
