Read the following sentences and select the choice that best defines the underlined word.
- After practice, the girls’ softball team stated, “We’re famished!”
- Rested
- Hungry
- Excited
- Ready
Famished means “extremely hungry,” so choice B best matches the girls’ feeling after practice.
Rested (A) describes having recovered energy through sleep, excited (C) is an emotional state of eagerness, and ready (D) simply means prepared to do something. None of these convey intense hunger.
- The newborn baby was enamored with the rattle.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Unsure what to do
- Aggravated
Enamored means “filled with love or deep fascination,” so choice A is correct.
Happy (B) is a general mood, unsure what to do (C) signals confusion, and aggravated (D) indicates annoyance.
- When having a problem, it is best to dissect the situation, then act.
- Control
- Discuss
- Ignore
- Analyze
To dissect figuratively means “to analyze piece by piece,” making D the right choice.
Control (A) is about directing or restraining, discuss (B) involves talking things over, and ignore (C) means deliberately pay no attention.
- The bouncer’s countenance discouraged brawls.
- Message
- Presence
- Expression
- Strength
Countenance as a noun refers to a person’s facial expression, so C is correct.
Message (A) is information conveyed by words or signals, presence (B) is the general sense of being physically there, and strength (D) denotes physical or moral power.
- The child apprised her father’s authority and behaved herself in church.
- Appreciated
- Compromised
- Defied
- Noted
Apprised can mean “made aware of or recognized,” so choice A fits the idea that the child acknowledged her father’s authority.
Compromised (B) means “reached concessions,” defied (C) means “openly resisted,” and noted (D) simply means “observed” without implying respect.
- The aural component of balance is critical for postural control during ambulation.
- Pertaining to the eyes
- Pertaining to the ears
- Pertaining to the nose
- Pertaining to the hands
Aural pertains to the ears or the sense of hearing, making B the correct choice.
Pertaining to the eyes (A) would be visual, pertaining to the nose (C) is nasal or olfactory, and pertaining to the hands (D) is manual.
- The wound exhibited signs of copious drainage requiring medical intervention.
- Minimal
- Clear
- Maximal
- Foul
Copious means “abundant in quantity,” so choice C most accurately reflects a large amount of drainage.
Minimal (A) denotes very little, clear (B) describes appearance not volume, and foul (D) refers to odor or contamination.
- The scientist was able to evoke powerful emotions from her audience.
- Sell
- Calm
- Call forth
- Exaggerate
Evoke means “to call forth or bring out” feelings, memories, or responses, so choice C is correct.
Sell (A) is to exchange for money, calm (B) is to soothe or quiet, and exaggerate (D) is to overstate.
- The official exhibited a heedless attitude when dealing with the dignitaries.
- Thoughtless
- Pleasant
- Friendly
- Bitter
Heedless means “careless or thoughtless,” so choice A is the precise synonym.
Pleasant (B) describes something agreeable, friendly (C) implies warmth and kindness, and bitter (D) conveys harsh resentment.
- The general tried to instill the hope of victory in his troops.
- Infuse
- Delay
- Inscribe
- Indict
To instill is “to gradually infuse or implant” an idea or feeling, which aligns with choice A.
Delay (B) means “put off until later,” inscribe (C) is “carve or write on a surface,” and indict (D) means “formally accuse of a crime.”
- The winning team of the World Series often has a jovial attitude.
- Merry
- Sad
- Somber
- Laborious
Jovial means “cheerful and full of good humor,” so choice A accurately captures the winning team’s mood.
Sad (B) and somber (C) describe sorrowful or serious states, while laborious (D) refers to hard work, not emotion.
- A lyre was played in ancient Rome.
- A stringed instrument in the harp class
- A percussion instrument
- A wind instrument in the wind class
- A rhythmical percussion device
A lyre is “a stringed instrument of the ancient harp family,” making choice A correct.
Options B and D both describe percussion instruments, and C identifies a wind instrument. None of these match the plucked string construction of a lyre.