Skip to content

Vocabulary.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
211 lines (183 loc) · 8.01 KB

Vocabulary.md

File metadata and controls

211 lines (183 loc) · 8.01 KB
Raw

Verbal Ability: Vocabulary & Analogies

1. Word Associations & Relationships

Vocabulary questions evaluate your understanding of word meanings and their relationships.

Root Word Method (Etymology)

Understanding prefixes, suffixes, and roots helps decode unfamiliar words:

  • Bene (Good/Well) $\to$ Beneficial, Benevolent, Benediction.
  • Mal (Bad/Evil) $\to$ Malevolent, Malicious, Malady.
  • Chron (Time) $\to$ Chronological, Chronic, Anachronism.
  • Loqu/Locut (To speak) $\to$ Loquacious, Eloquent, Colloquial.

Analogies

Analogy questions present a pair of words and ask you to find another pair with the same relationship:

  • Synonym/Antonym Relationship: Giant : Dwarf :: Peak : Valley
  • Part to Whole: Page : Book :: Leaf : Tree
  • Tool to Worker: Scalpel : Surgeon :: Gavel : Judge
  • Cause and Effect: Virus : Influenza :: Spark : Fire
  • Degree of Intensity: Warm : Hot :: Cool : Cold

2. Practice Problems

Problem 1 (Synonym)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalized word: CAPRICIOUS A) Steadfast B) Whimsical C) Courageous D) Melancholic

Problem 2 (Antonym)

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the capitalized word: EPHEMERAL A) Transient B) Eternal C) Ethereal D) Superficial

Problem 3 (Analogy)

Choose the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that of the original pair: LIGHTHOUSE : SHIPS A) Runway : Airplanes B) Map : Travelers C) Siren : Ambulance D) Traffic Light : Pedestrians

Problem 4 (Synonym)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalized word: OBSEQUIOUS A) Defiant B) Fawning C) Honest D) Pretentious

Problem 5 (Antonym)

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the capitalized word: ALACRITY A) Eagerness B) Apathy C) Clarity D) Velocity

Problem 6 (Analogy)

Choose the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that of the original pair: COMPASS : NAVIGATION A) Thermometer : Temperature B) Clock : Alarm C) Scale : Weight D) Microscope : Magnification

Problem 7 (Synonym)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalized word: PERFIDIOUS A) Faithful B) Deceitful C) Perfect D) Tenacious

Problem 8 (Antonym)

Choose the word opposite in meaning to the capitalized word: LACONIC A) Concise B) Verbose C) Lethargic D) Somber

Problem 9 (Analogy)

Choose the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that of the original pair: CACOPHONY : SOUND A) Glare : Light B) Melody : Song C) Aroma : Smell D) Tempest : Wind

Problem 10 (Synonym)

Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalized word: PALLIATE A) Aggravate B) Mitigate C) Investigate D) Procrastinate

3. Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1

  1. Define the target word:
    • Capricious means given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; unpredictable or impulsive.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Steadfast means firm and unwavering (Antonym).
    • Whimsical means playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way; acting on impulse (Synonym).
    • Courageous means brave.
    • Melancholic means sad and pensive.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 2

  1. Define the target word:
    • Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time; fleeting or transient.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Transient means lasting only for a short time (Synonym).
    • Eternal means lasting or existing forever; without end (Antonym).
    • Ethereal means extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
    • Superficial means existing or occurring at or on the surface.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 3

  1. Analyze the relationship in the original pair:
    • Lighthouse : Ships
    • A lighthouse guides and directs ships safely to avoid hazards.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Runway : Airplanes $\to$ Airplanes land on a runway (Place of action).
    • Map : Travelers $\to$ A map guides and directs travelers to navigate and reach their destination safely. This mirrors the guiding relationship.
    • Siren : Ambulance $\to$ Siren is a tool on an ambulance.
    • Traffic Light : Pedestrians $\to$ Traffic lights direct both cars and pedestrians, but it is primarily regulatory rather than navigating a journey.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 4

  1. Define the target word:
    • Obsequious means obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; fawning or sycophantic.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Defiant means showing open resistance or bold disobedience (Antonym).
    • Fawning means displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious (Synonym).
    • Honest means free of deceit; truthful.
    • Pretentious means attempting to impress by affecting greater importance than is actually possessed.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 5

  1. Define the target word:
    • Alacrity means brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness or enthusiasm.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Eagerness means enthusiasm to do something (Synonym).
    • Apathy means lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern; indifference (Antonym).
    • Clarity means the quality of being coherent and intelligible.
    • Velocity means the speed of something in a given direction.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 6

  1. Analyze the relationship in the original pair:
    • Compass : Navigation
    • A compass is a tool specifically used for the function/purpose of navigation.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Thermometer : Temperature $\to$ A thermometer measures temperature, but does not perform the function of "temperature".
    • Clock : Alarm $\to$ An alarm is a feature of a clock, not its main process/function.
    • Scale : Weight $\to$ A scale measures weight, similar to thermometer/temperature.
    • Microscope : Magnification $\to$ A microscope is a tool whose primary function/purpose is magnification. This matches the tool-to-function relationship perfectly.
  3. Answer: D

Solution 7

  1. Define the target word:
    • Perfidious means deceitful and untrustworthy; disloyal.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Faithful means loyal and steadfast (Antonym).
    • Deceitful means guilty of or involving deceit; untrustworthy (Synonym).
    • Perfect means having all the required or desirable elements.
    • Tenacious means tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 8

  1. Define the target word:
    • Laconic means (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words; concise or brief.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Concise means giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words (Synonym).
    • Verbose means using or expressed in more words than are needed (Antonym).
    • Lethargic means sluggish and apathetic.
    • Somber means dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy.
  3. Answer: B

Solution 9

  1. Analyze the relationship in the original pair:
    • Cacophony : Sound
    • Cacophony is a harsh, discordant, and unpleasant mixture of sounds.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Glare : Light $\to$ Glare is a harsh, dazzling, and unpleasant intensity of light. This perfectly mirrors the "harsh/unpleasant version of a sensory input" relationship.
    • Melody : Song $\to$ Melody is a pleasing sequence of notes.
    • Aroma : Smell $\to$ Aroma is a pleasant, distinctive smell (opposite polarity: pleasant vs. unpleasant).
    • Tempest : Wind $\to$ A tempest is a violent storm, not simply a harsh version of wind itself.
  3. Answer: A

Solution 10

  1. Define the target word:
    • Palliate means to make (a disease or symptom) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause; to alleviate or mitigate.
  2. Evaluate the options:
    • Aggravate means to make worse (Antonym).
    • Mitigate means to make less severe, serious, or painful (Synonym).
    • Investigate means to carry out a systematic or formal inquiry.
    • Procrastinate means to delay or postpone action.
  3. Answer: B