Guided Practice
Learning Objectives
In this guided practice lesson, you will:
- Apply vocabulary strategies to SAT/ACT-style questions
- Practice identifying word meanings from context
- Use root words and affixes to decode unfamiliar words
- Develop test-taking strategies for vocabulary questions
Practice Quiz
Apply your vocabulary skills to these practice questions. Click to reveal each answer.
Question 1: In the sentence "The politician's duplicity was revealed when evidence showed he had secretly supported both sides," what does "duplicity" mean?
Answer: Deception or double-dealing; being two-faced.
Strategy: The root "dupli-" means double (like duplicate). Context clues ("secretly supported both sides") confirm the meaning of deliberate deception.
Question 2: Which word best replaces "ephemeral" in: "The ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms makes their brief blooming season special"?
Answer: Fleeting or short-lived.
Strategy: Context clue "brief blooming season" directly defines the meaning. "Ephemeral" comes from Greek meaning "lasting only a day."
Question 3: The prefix "mal-" appears in malfunction, malicious, and malnutrition. What does this prefix mean?
Answer: Bad or evil.
Strategy: Malfunction = bad function; malicious = evil intent; malnutrition = bad nutrition. Recognizing this prefix helps decode many words.
Question 4: In "The scientist remained skeptical about the findings until she could replicate the results," what does "skeptical" mean?
Answer: Doubtful or questioning; not easily convinced.
Strategy: The phrase "until she could replicate the results" shows she needed more evidence before believing, indicating doubt.
Question 5: What is the meaning of "ameliorate" in: "The new policies were designed to ameliorate the suffering of refugees"?
Answer: To improve or make better.
Strategy: Context shows positive action toward "suffering," implying improvement. The Latin root "melior" means better.
Question 6: The suffix "-ology" means "study of." What would "etymology" mean, given that "etymo-" relates to words?
Answer: The study of word origins and history.
Strategy: Combine root meanings: etymo (true/original meaning of words) + -ology (study of) = study of word origins.
Question 7: In "Her taciturn nature made her an unlikely choice for the customer service position," what does "taciturn" mean?
Answer: Reserved or uncommunicative; not inclined to speak much.
Strategy: Customer service requires communication, so "unlikely choice" suggests the opposite quality. The Latin root "tacere" means to be silent.
Question 8: What does "gregarious" mean in: "Unlike his gregarious sister who thrived at parties, Mark preferred quiet evenings alone"?
Answer: Sociable; enjoying the company of others.
Strategy: The contrast "Unlike...Mark preferred quiet evenings alone" shows his sister is the opposite - outgoing and social.
Question 9: The word "benevolent" contains "bene-" (good) and "-vol-" (will/wish). What does "benevolent" mean?
Answer: Well-meaning and kind; characterized by goodwill.
Strategy: Combine roots: good + will/wish = having good wishes toward others, being kind and generous.
Question 10: In "The once-thriving ecosystem was now moribund, with few species remaining," what does "moribund" mean?
Answer: Dying or near death; in terminal decline.
Strategy: The contrast with "once-thriving" and "few species remaining" shows decline. The Latin root "mori" means to die (as in "mortal").
Next Steps
- Create flashcards for words you missed
- Practice identifying root words in your daily reading
- Move on to context clues when ready