Practice Problems Flashcards
Before Jimmy had ate a bite of his dinner, the door bell rang again.
Before Jimmy had EATEN a bite of his dinner, the door bell rang again.
I like to read the comics section of the newspaper first, my brother starts with the sports.
I like to read the comic section of the newspaper first, BUT my brother starts with the sports. (or a period or semicolon after “first” could work also)
On weekends, more visitors arrive at the museum from the subways than the parking lots.
On weekends, more visitors arrive at the museum from the subways than FROM THE PARKING LOTS.
Matt will be in the math competition, for his grades in this have been excellent.
Matt will be in the math competition, for his grades in THIS SUBJECT (or MATH) have been excellent.
*Ambiguity: The pronoun “this” is intended to refer to math, but that noun doesn’t appear in the sentence; only the noun “math competition” appears.
Our team beat Highgrove High’s team last year, even so, we did not win again until today.
Our team beat Highgrove High’s team last year, BUT we did not win again until today.
*This is a run-on sentence; the logical connection is “BUT” not “even so”.
John would like to go to Europe, but the airfare is unable to be afforded by him.
John would like to go to Europe, BUT CAN’T AFFORD THE AIRFARE.
*too wordy and unnecessary passive tense
The broken bike was stationary/stationery.
*Choose the correct word
The broken bike was stationary.
*Stationary means immobile
Stationery means paper used for writing letters
That shirt is the perfect compliment/complement to your blue eyes.
That shirt is the perfect COMPLEMENT to your blue eyes.
*complement means “goes well together”
compliment is “an encouraging remark”
After dinner, the family preceded/proceeded to watch a movie.
After dinner, the family PROCEEDED to watch a movie.
*proceeded - to begin or continue a course of action
*preceded - to come before something in time or position
Mr. Thompson sent three students to the principle’s/principal’s office after a fight broke out in the cafeteria.
Mr. Thompson sent three students to the PRINCIPAL’S office after a fight broke out in the cafeteria.
*principal - head of school
principle - primary
We thought we studied everything we needed for the test, accept/except we forgot the vocabulary.
We thought we studied everything we needed for the test, EXCEPT we forgot the vocabulary.
*except means “not including”
accept means “to receive”
Kara wondered what effect/affect her injury would have in making the team.
Kara wondered what EFFECT her injury would have in making the team.
*Effect is a noun means a result or consequence
Affect is used as a verb meaning to have a result or consequence.
The teacher illustrated his point with an interesting anecdote/antidote.
The teacher illustrated his point with an interesting ANECDOTE.
*anecdote is a personal story
antidote is a remedy given to counteract an illness/poison
The white walls and simple furniture attested to the aesthetic/ascetic principles of the people who lived there.
The white walls and simple furniture attested to the ASCETIC principles of the people who lived there.
*Ascetic means austere or characterizing the practice of severe self-discipline and avoiding all forms of indulgence
Aesthetic means “concerned with beauty”
Renee was contemptuous/contemptible of anyone who other students.
Renee was CONTEMPTUOUS of anyone who bullied other students.
*contemptuous means to feel disdainful of or scornful of something
contemptible means “dishonorable”
Chris was credulous/credible to believe that story his so-called friend told.
Chris was CREDULOUS to believe that story his so-called friend told.
*credulous means “gullible” or “willing to believe”
credible means “capable of being believable”, plausible and believable referring to both people and things
Long ago, it was not considered decorous/decorated for women to show their ankles.
Long ago, it was not considered DECOROUS for women to show their ankles.
*decorous means “proper”
decorated means “ornamented”
Although the questions seemed difficult, Jake was able to deride/derive the answer quickly.
Although the questions seemed difficult, Jake was able to DERIVE the answer quickly.
*derive means “to obtain” or to get
deride means to make fun of
The teacher knew that Tommy was intelligent, so he felt that his poor grades indicated she was disinterested/uninterested.
The teacher knew that Tommy was intelligent, so he felt that his poor grades indicated she was UNINTERESTED.
*uninterested means not interested
disinterested means “unbiased”
George did not like the epilogue/epitaph of the book, because the main character was not punished for his actions.
George did not like the EPILOGUE of the book, because the main character was not punished for his actions.
*epilogue means a chapter at the end of a book that sometimes reveal the fate of its characters
epitaph is a memorializing inscription on a tombstone
Andrew was very empathetic/emphatic in explaining why he should be allowed to go out with his friends, and after much consideration, his parents agreed.
Andrew was very EMPHATIC in explaining why he should be allowed to go out with his friends, and after much consideration, his parents agreed.
*emphatic means forceful
empathetic means compassionate
We learned in our agriculture course that most fruit is eradicated/irradiated to slow the ripening process.
We learned in our agriculture course that most fruit is IRRADIATED to slow the ripening process.
*irradiated means exposed to heat radiation e.g. the sun
eradicated means “gotten rid of”
Keith alluded/eluded to the fact that he struggled with controlling his anger before, but did not go into the details.
Keith ALLUDED to the fact that he struggled with controlling his anger before, but did not go into the details.
*alluded means “made reference to, suggested”
eluded means “got away with, escaped”
The hiring manager made a mental note not to hire the candidate after listening to his grandiose/grand plans for advancement.
The hiring manager made a mental note not to hire the candidate after listening to his GRANDIOSE plans for advancement.
*grandiose means ostentatious or excessively grand (negative connotation)
grand means impressive
After spending all day standing, Julie wanted to lay/lie down for a few minutes.
After spending all day standing, Julie wanted to LIE down for a few minutes.
*lie means to recline
lay means “to put or place” (something you do to something else)
After an exciting summer break, students were loath/loathe to go back to school.
After an exciting summer break, students were LOATH to go back to school.
*loath is an ADJECTIVE that means unwilling or reluctant
loathe is the verb that means to hate
It would be correct to use “loathe” if you said students loathe to go back to school. (remove the “were”)
Alex did not approve of the way Matthew malingered/maligned his other friend.
Alex did not approve of the way Matthew MALIGNED his other friend.
*malign means to slander
malinger means to feign or pretend illness
Bruce Lee was a very poliferate/prolific martial artist.
Bruce Lee was a very PROLIFIC martial artist.
*prolific means productive
proliferate means to reproduce
