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chomp!

chomp!
This presentation is
brought to you by
Grammar Bytes!,
2014 by Robin L.
Simmons.
Appropriate Words or
Expressions in Context
Astonished?
Astounded?
Bewildered?
Confounded?
Dazed?
Dazzled?
Whats 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
When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose,
we shouted, Yuck! We were __________ by his
behavior.

A. unfazed
B. dazzled
C. repulsed
Is unfazed,
dazzled, or
repulsed the best
word to fill the
blank?
Repulsed, which
means disgusted
or sickened, is
the right choice.
What if I dont
know any of
words that are
options?
Dont panic!
Try to
determine the
right word by
looking for
clues about
meaning!
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 a
big word! How
am I supposed to
know what it
means?
Look at the
sentence! The
author has
defined it for
you! It means the
fear of dogs.
Look for
commas,
parentheses,
or dashes 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.
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 what
it means!
Look at the
sentence! The
author gives
examples! You
can conclude
that Jack is
stubborn, a
synonym for
obdurate.
Look for phrases
like to
illustrate, for
instance, or
such as that
provide
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.
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!
Ive never
heard of it! How
am I supposed
to know if its the
right word or
not?
Look at the
sentence! If shes
sick, she wants
to get well, so
salubrious
must mean
health-giving!
Look for an
antonyma
word that means
the opposite
to help figure out
the meaning of
the word you
dont know.
Jill was sick with the flu, so when we explained the
salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins,
she ate one.
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, the
meaning!
Mothers like to
call their children
by their real
names.
Sparky must
be a
nickname,
which is what a
sobriquet is!
Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his mother
refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, Cornelius!
when dinner is ready.
At many objective exams, you
cannot use a dictionar y!
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 dont know the meaning of any of the
words, go with the one that feels right.
Hey, Ive 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!
Lets see
what you
can do!
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
Item 2
After Betsys last purchase of a lemonand the
dealerships unwillingness to repair problems that
she thought the warranty coveredBetsy
__________ the contract for her new car before
she signed it.

A. scrutinized
B. skimmed
C. glanced at
After Betsys last purchase of a lemonand the
dealerships unwillingness to repair problems that
she thought the warranty coveredBetsy
__________ 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 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
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
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
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
Simon had to __________ his cell phone after it
rang for the third time in class.

A. relinquish
B. amputate
C. postpone
Item 7
Rogers 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
Rogers 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. punitive
B. 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. punitive
B. redundant
C. 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
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
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
Or the End.
After the
denouement

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