Ten Steps Vocabulary Test 2
Using Context Clues: Examples,
Synonyms, Antonyms,
And General Sense of the Passage
Circle the letter of
each correct meaning to the italicized word.
01. There was obviously animosity between Carmen and Jack—they glared at each other and refused to stay in the same room together.
A. space
B. B. nothing
C. Ill will
02. The neighborhood is so affluent that there are Olympic-sized swimming pools, tennis courts, and luxury cars on most properties.
A. wealthy
B. crowded
C. far away
03. The children had only two options after school—either study at school until their mothers picked them up or walk the four miles home.
A. ways to get somewhere
B. choices
C. classes
04. The mayor introduced various stringent financial measures, including cutting the police force in half and reducing the pay of all cit employees.
A. minor
B. strict
C. expensive
05. My grandmother loves gardening, so her garage is filled with such implements as spades, hoes, and rakes.
A. tools
B. junk
C. boxes
06. Under the new contract, stipends for top employees, including wages and transportation allowances, were increased by 10 percent.
A. bonuses
B. payments
C. charges
07. As they moved westward, early pioneers faced many adversities, including unknown routes and loneliness.
A. criminals
B. decisions
C. hardships
08. Large crowds, skyscrapers, and subways are characteristics of an urban environment.
A. country
B. central
C. city
09. Novices at bowling throw more gutter balls than people who are experienced at the game.
A. experts
B. beginners
C. players
10. The teacher would have achieved better results if she had been as quick to commend students for their successes as she was to criticize them for their failures.
A. blame
B. grade
C. praise
11. Most of my friends’ mothers seemed ordinary; mine, however, did such bizarre things as speaking to strangers in the supermarket and spraying the dead tree in front of our house green.
A. odd
B. easy
C. dangerous
12. Those who were in agreement with the mayor’s tax proposal were in the majority, but there were also some outspoken dissidents.
A. those in the majority
B. supporters
C. people who disagree
Ten Steps Vocabulary Test 3
Using Context Clues: Examples,
Synonyms, Antonyms,
And General Sense of the Passage
Circle the letter of
each correct meaning to the italicized word.
01. It was always hard to know what Uncle Harold was really thinking—was his enthusiasm for the trip feigned or genuine?
a. secret
b. pretended
c. formal
02. My piano teacher’s criticism was always profuse, but her praise was scarce.
a. loud
b. well-founded
c. plentiful
03. Roberto’s mother was lenient when he took some money from her dresser drawer, but when he stole candy from the local drugstore, her punishment was harsh.
a. not strict in punishing
b. touch
c. complimentary
04. Several times Lucy told the anecdote about her winning the hog-calling contest.
a. sermon
b. short story
c. question
05. One argument against capital punishment is that if an innocent person is executed, the mistake cannot be rectified.
a. remembered
b. predicted
c. corrected
06. It took two days for volunteers to extricate the little girl from the bottom of the well.
a. free
b. delay
c. remember
07. My three-year-old likes to fight for her autonomy by saying, “I can do it myself.”
a. sister
b. independence
c. toys
08. The puppy had such a tenacious grip on my sneakers that I finally decided to wear my loafers instead.
a. short
b. firm
c. loose
09. Emily’s signature, embellished with loops and swirls, was easy to recognize.
a. hidden
b. decorated
c. made plain
10. Athletes
from all over the world convened in
a. gathered
b. left
c. remembered
11. Hector thought his mother’s suggest to use peanut butter to remove the gum from his hair was ludicrous—but it worked!
a. practical
b. delicious
c. ridiculous
12. The dean was adamant: “Make up your gym classes or don’t graduate, and no arguments.”
a. Vague C. firm
b. Friendly D. confused
Ten Steps Vocabulary Test 4
Using Context Clues: Examples,
Synonyms, Antonyms,
And General Sense of the Passage
Circle the letter of
each correct meaning to the italicized word.
01. There were many things about the library that made it conducive to study, including good lighting, quiet, and nearby reference books.
A. Harmful C. unattractive
B. Cold D. helpful
02. After the funeral, the widow’s friends were very solicitous—they came to see her each day and took turns calling every evening to be sure she was all right.
A. Bold C. annoyed
B. Concerned D. careless
03. As the six members of the President’s staff were charged with various crimes, the public’s confidence in the government eroded; and once the public trust wears down, it is difficult to rebuild.
A. Deteriorated C. grew
B. Healed D. repeated
04. Imagine my chagrin when I looked in the mirror right after giving a report in front of the class—and discovered that on my chin was some of the blueberry pie I had eaten for lunch.
A. Embarrassment C. pleasure
B. Encouragement D. hatred
05. When people are stressed, they often regress. My little brother, for example, started to suck his thumb when he first went to camp.
A. social C. by chance E belittling
B. continuous D. backslide
06. Little
Amanda hid shyly behind her mother when she met new people, yet her twin
brother Adam was very gregarious.
A. Sociable C. by chance E. belittling
B. Continuous D. backslide
07. During the argument, the angry woman called her husband such derogatory names as “idiot” and “fool”.
A. Sociable C. by chance E. belittling
B. Continuous D. backslide
08. The noise in the nursery school classroom was incessant; the crying, laughing, and yelling never stopped for a second.
A. Sociable C. by chance E. belittling
B. Continuous D. backslide
09. Did
you plan to meet your brother for lunch, or was your meeting at the restaurant fortuitous?
A. Sociable C. by chance E. belittling
B. Continuous D. backslide
10. The word lingering in “an ideal family evening…calls up in my mind pictures of parents and children lingering around the dinner table to cozily discuss the day’s events” means
A. Rushing C. staying
B. Leaving D. arguing
11. The word conjure up in “an ideal family evening…calls up in my mind pictures of parents and children lingering around the dinner table…Let me tell you what ‘an ideal family evening’ does not conjure up for me: the image of a silent group of people…bathed in the faint blue light of a television screen” means
A. provide help C. bring to mind
B.
question D.
break
12. The word literate in “children and adults alike might rediscover reading…Writing is often learned from reading. A more literate new generation could be a major by product of the quiet hour” means
A. able to read and write C. having a close family
B. active outdoors D. being understanding of others