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Appropriate Words or Expressions in Context Astonished? Astounded? Bewildered? Confounded? Dazzled? What’s the right word?

This presentation will help you distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate words or expressions for the given context.

On an objective test, an item evaluating the skill might look like this. . .

Sample Item When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose, we shouted, “Yuck!” We were _____ by his behavior. A. unfazed B. dazzled C. repulsed Is unfazed, Repulsed, which dazzled, or means disgusted repulsed the best or sickened, is word to fill the right choice. blank?

What if I don’t know any of words that are options? Don’t panic! Try to determine the right word by looking for clues about meaning!

Clue 1: Look for a definition. fear of Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear of dogs, so she won’t be interested in adopting a puppy. Look for Look at the commas, sentence! The parentheses, author has or dashes that defined it for encapsulate you! It means the (or set off) the fear of dogs. definition. Cynophobia! That’s such a big word! How am I supposed to know what it means?

Clue 2: Look for examples. for example, won’t get My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he he won’t get off the couch when I or come when he’s called. off the couch when I ask or come when he’s called. Look at the Look for phrases like to sentence! The illustrate, for author gives examples!, You instance or such as that can conclude that Jack is provide examples , that stubborn a define the word synonym for obdurate. you don’t know. Obdurate! That’s another big word! I don’t know what it means!

Clue 3: Look for contrast. sick with the flu, so when we explained the Jill was sick with the flu, so when we explained the salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins, she ate one. Look for an Look at the antonym—a sentence! If she’s word that means sick, she wants the opposite— to get well, so to help figure out salubrious the meaning of must mean the word you health-giving! don’t know. Salubrious! I’ve never heard of it! How am I supposed to know if it’s the right word or not?

Clue 4: Infer the meaning. Sparky. Only his mother Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, “Cornelius!” when dinner is ready. Guess, or infer, the Sparky must be meaning! a nickname, Mothers like to which is what a call their children sobriquet is! by their real names. Sobriquet! Who uses that word! I don’t know what it means!

At man y objective exams , you can not use a diction ary! ca n us e dictionary ! X

When in doubt, rely on “gut” feelings. Your eyes have seen in print — and your brain has registered — all of the possible words that you will encounter for this skill. If you don’t know the meaning of any of the words, go with the one that feels right. Hey, I’ve seen that word before!

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! Let’s see what you can do!

Item 1 After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor Clark’s research paper, we found his dull lecture the next morning _____. A. uplifting B. excruciating C. inspiring

Item 2 After Betsy’s last purchase of a lemon—and the dealership’s unwillingness to repair problems that she thought the warranty covered—Betsy _____ the contract for her new car before she signed it. A. scrutinized B. skimmed C. glanced at

Item 3 Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his head, and sighed. His _____ for Loretta’s cooking was obvious. A. horror B. excitement C. disdain

Item 4 The students wished Professor Davis gave _____ directions for essays. Instead, the assignment sheets are pages long and chocked full of requirements. A. complicated B. wide C. succinct

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 the Student Center, a tennis racquet in her hand. A. trepidation B. mirth C. brevity

Item 6 Simon had to _____ his cell phone after it rang for the third time in class. A. relinquish B. amputate C. postpone

Item 7 Roger’s car holds four people comfortably, but he stuffed nine classmates into the little vehicle. Larissa had difficulty _____ herself from the backseat when they arrived at her house. A. modifying B. hovering C. extricating

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. B. C. punitive redundant lackadaisical

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

Item 10 We followed the guide down the stairs to the floor below the lobby. Then we toured the _____ storerooms where the museum kept priceless treasures not on display. A. subterranean B. lofty C. incapacitated

After the denouement Or the End.