Vocabulary Puzzles The Fun Way to Ace Standardized Tests

DEFINITION
SAMPLE SENTENCE
_____ make extremely dry or thirsty
A.) He always felt TORPID during the hot
summer months.
_____ sharp to the taste
B.) Even though their conversation was
MUTED, the librarian asked them to
stop talking.
_____ inactive or sluggish
C.) The salsa was so PIQUANT that she
thought her tongue would catch fire.
_____ satirize; parody; poke fun at
D.) We endured a string of SULTRY days
during the heat wave.
_____ sensitive to others’ feelings; 
E.) Playing ball in the hot summer sun 
compassionate
really made him PARCHed.
_____ oppressively hot
F.) The lawyer’s SPECIOUS argument had
the jury fooled until all the evidence was
revealed.
_____ softened, reduced in volume
G.) One year’s hottest fashions are often
PASSÉ by the next year.
_____ wealth and luxury
H.) Saturday Night Live regularly LAMPOONs
political personalities.
_____ false, though appearing to 
I.) Nurses are known for their TENDER 
be true
treatment of hospital patients.
_____ no longer fashionable; out-
J.) People with yachts and mansions live in 
of-date
great OPULENCE.
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Part 1 


Learning Definitions and Using Words in Context
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Step 3: Write Sentences
For each word write two sentences that indicate you know the meaning of the word. Then
read aloud quickly three times each set of sentences that came to you. If you hesitated
before coming up with the sentences or had to look up a word, say each of those sen-
tences six times and write the vocabulary word you are studying at least three times. You
can write them anywhere—on the lines after the sentences, in the margin, or on a piece of
paper—as long as you write them.
Word:
ABRIDGE
Sentence 1: