wordchoice - grammar bytes - lab lesson

7/18/2019 Wordchoice - Grammar Bytes - Lab Lesson

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chomp!

chomp!

This presentation isbrought to you by

Grammar Bytes!,

2014 by Robin L.Simmons.


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Appropriate Words or

Expressions in Context

Astonished?

Astounded?

Bewildered?

Confounded?

Dazed?

Dazzled?

Whats the

right word?


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This presentation will

help you distinguishbetween

appropriate and

inappropriate

words or expressionsfor thegiven

context.


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On an objective test, an

item evaluating the skill

might look like this . . .


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Sample Item

When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose,

we shouted, Yuck!We were __________ by his

behavior.

A.unfazed

B.dazzled

C.repulsed

When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose,

we shouted, Yuck!We were __________ by his

behavior.

A.unfazed

B.dazzled

C.repulsed

Isunfazed,

dazzled, orrepulsed the best

word to fill the

blank?

Repulsed, which

meansdisgusted

orsickened, is

the right choice.


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What if I dontknowany of

words that are

options?

Dontpanic!

Try todetermine the

right word by

looking for

clues about

meaning!


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Clue 1: Look for a definition.

Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear of

dogs, so she wont be interested in adopting a

puppy.

Cynophobia!

Thats such abig word!How

am I supposed toknow what it

means?

Look at the

sentence! Theauthor has

defined it for

you! It means the

fear of dogs.

Look for

commas,parentheses,

ordashes that

encapsulate

(or set off) the

definition.

Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia,or the fear of

dogs,so she wont be interested in adopting a

puppy.


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Clue 2: Look for examples.

My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he wont get

off the couch when I ask or come when hes called.

Obdurate!

Thats another

big word!I

dont know whatitmeans!

Look at the

sentence! Theauthor gives

examples!You

can concludethat Jack is

stubborn, a

synonym for

obdurate.

Look for phrasesliketo

illustrate,for

instance, or

such as thatprovide

examples that

define the word

you dont know.

My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he wont

get off the couch when I ask or come when hes

called.


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Clue 3: Look for contrast.

Jill was sick with the flu, so when we explained the

salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins,

she ate one.

Salubrious!

Ivenever

heard of it! Howam Isupposed

to know if its the

right word or

not?

Look at the

sentence! Ifshessick, she

wants toget

well, so

salubrious

must mean

health-giving!

Look for an

antonym

aword that meanstheopposite

to help figure out

the meaning ofthe word you

dont know.

Jill was sickwith the flu, so when we explained the

salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins,

she ate one.


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Clue 4: Infer the meaning.

Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother

refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, Cornelius!

when dinner is ready.

Sobriquet!

Who uses that

word!I dont

know what it

means!

Guess, or

infer, themeaning!

Mothers like to

call their childrenby theirreal

names.

Sparky mustbe a

nickname,

whichis what a

sobriquet is!

Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother

refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, Cornelius!

when dinner is ready.


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At many objective exams, you

cannotuse a dictionary!

X


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When in doubt, rely on

gutfeelings.

Your eyes have seenin printand your

brain has registeredall of the possible

words that you will encounter for this skill. Ifyou dont knowthe meaning of any of the

words, go with the one that feelsright.

Hey, Ive seen

that wordbefore!


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Quick Test

Directions:In the items that follow, choose

the most effective word or phrase within the

context suggested by the sentence(s).

Your

turn!

Lets seewhatyou

can do!


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Item 1

After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor

Clarks research paper, we found his dull lecture

the next morning __________.

A.uplifting

B.excruciating

C.inspiring

After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor

Clarks research paper, we found his dull lecture

the next morning __________.

A.uplifting

B.excruciating

C.inspiring


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Item 2

After Betsys last purchase of a lemonand the

dealerships unwillingness to repair problems that

she thought the warranty covered

Betsy__________ the contract for her new car before

she signed it.

A.scrutinizedB.skimmed

C.glanced at

After Betsys last purchase of a lemonand the

dealerships unwillingness to repair problems that

she thought the warranty covered

Betsy__________ the contract for her new car before

she signed it.

A.scrutinizedB.skimmed

C.glanced at


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Item 3

Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his

head, and sighed. His __________ for Lorettas

cooking was obvious.

A.horror

B.excitement

C.disdain

Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his

head, and sighed. His __________ for Lorettas

cooking was obvious.

A.horror

B.excitement

C.disdain


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Item 4

The students wished Professor Davis gave

__________ directions for essays. Instead, the

assignment sheets are pages long and chockedfull of requirements.

A.complicated

B.wideC.succinct

The students wished Professor Davis gave

__________ directions for essays. Instead, the

assignment sheets are pages long and chockedfull of requirements.

A.complicated

B.wideC.succinct


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Item 5

Sara was filled with __________, for she had

emailed Professor Carson to explain that she was

too ill to attend class but then ran into him at theStudent Center, a tennis racquet in her hand.

A.trepidation

B.mirthC.brevity

Sara was filled with __________, for she had

emailed Professor Carson to explain that she was

too ill to attend class but then ran into him at theStudent Center, a tennis racquet in her hand.

A.trepidation

B.mirthC.brevity


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Item 6

Simon had to __________ his cell phone after it

rang for the third time in class.

A.relinquish

B.amputate

C.postpone

Simon had to __________ his cell phone after it

rang for the third time in class.

A.relinquish

B.amputate

C.postpone


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Item 7

Rogers car holds four people comfortably, but he

stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle.

Larissa had difficulty __________ herself from thebackseat when they arrived at her house.

A.modifying

B.hoveringC.extricating

Rogers car holds four people comfortably, but he

stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle.

Larissa had difficulty __________ herself from thebackseat when they arrived at her house.

A.modifying

B.hoveringC.extricating


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Item 8

Winston read his essay with a ruler, scrutinizing

each line for errors. When he finished, he read it

again just as carefully. We found his behavior__________, but teachers loved his control of

grammar.

A.punitiveB.redundant

C.lackadaisical

Winston read his essay with a ruler, scrutinizing

each line for errors. When he finished, he read it

again just as carefully. We found his behavior__________, but teachers loved his control of

grammar.

A.punitiveB.redundant

C.lackadaisical


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Item 9

Larry dyed his hair blue and green and painted his

face and torso in the same school colors. In

addition, he wore flippers on his feet and hands.When his girlfriend Maria saw his game-day

preparations, she gasped and declared them

__________.

A.subdued

B.ostentatious

C.pedestrian

Larry dyed his hair blue and green and painted his

face and torso in the same school colors. In

addition, he wore flippers on his feet and hands.When his girlfriend Maria saw his game-day

preparations, she gasped and declared them

__________.

A.subdued

B.ostentatious

C.pedestrian


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Item 10

We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor

below the lobby. Then we toured the __________

storerooms where the museum kept pricelesstreasures not on display.

A.subterranean

B.loftyC.incapacitated

We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor

below the lobby. Then we toured the __________

storerooms where the museum kept pricelesstreasures not on display.

A.subterranean

B.loftyC.incapacitated


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Or the End.

After thedenouement

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