Vocabulary Puzzles The Fun Way to Ace Standardized Tests

DEFINITION
SAMPLE SENTENCE
_____ skill; expertness
A.) We are so used to modern comforts that
it’s hard to imagine what the RIGORs
of pioneer life must have been like.
_____ dull; ordinary
B.) Motor oil is a VISCOUS fluid.
_____ brave; courageous
C.) A hush fell over the room when we
heard this VOCIFEROUS cry.
_____ sticky; thick
D.) So many plots for movies nowadays 
are PROSAIC; can’t they think of any-
thing new?
_____ hardship; severity of living 
E.) Despite being vastly outnumbered, Davy 
conditions
Crockett and the other soldiers fought a
VALIANT battle at the Alamo.
_____ wet weather; rain, snow, 
F.) The marchers’ PROFICIENCY 
sleet, etc.
improved steadily due to their daily
drills.
_____ loud; noisy
G.) Her parents severely UPBRAIDed her
for coming home at 2 
A
.
M
.
_____ bitterly mocking or sarcastic
H.) We couldn’t see through the window
because it was made of OPAQUE glass.
_____ scold
I.) There was a great deal of flooding 
last spring due to unusual amounts of
PRECIPITATION.
_____ impenetrable by light
J.) He couldn’t keep friends for very long
because he was so prone to making
SARDONIC comments to them.
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Part 1 


Learning Definitions and Using Words in Context
04_135105 pt01.qxp 7/13/07 7:10 PM Page 129

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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:
ACCOLADE
Sentence 1: