Welcome to the SAT/GRE practice vocabulary context exercise! In today’s test, we’re going to ask you to select one of the words we studied this week to correctly fill in each of the blanks in the sentences below. You’ll probably find it easiest to print this page and write the words in the blanks (this is not an on-line form).

Note: Some verbs may be conjugated, and some nouns may be plural.

After the sixth day of the hike, when it became apparent that the guide had gotten lost, we had to ___________ everything but our blankets and food, hoping to quickly find our way out of the wilderness.

It’s been so hot today in the office that I have a real ___________ to go wading in the city fountains on my way home.

As more and more people flock to the cities to find work, the ___________ populations of places like Shanghai and Mexico City place increasing strains on sanitation and transportation systems.

Children who are introduced to sweets at an early age may have a ___________ for eating sugary foods for the rest of their lives.

It is estimated that when the ___________ plague known as the Black Death swept through Europe, as many as 100 million people perished.

The highest grade of tuna used in Japanese sushi restaurants is o-toro, prized for its delicate flavor and ___________ texture.

Many people dislike the bland flavor of plain tofu, but because it has such a neutral flavor, it can be used in a ___________ of ways.

In the aristocratic circles of Regency England, if a man asked a woman to dance with him three times in a row, it was ___________ to a proposal of marriage.

Upon the ruling of the bankruptcy judge, the loan company was forced to ___________ George’s mortgage, and he was able to get out of debt within a year.

The police lobbied to outlaw the use of tinted glass for automobile windows, claiming that its ___________ made it more dangerous for them to pull over speeding vehicles.

The group of tourists stood mesmerized as the ___________ chants of the boy’s choir echoed around the vast cathedral.

In her best-selling novels, that popular writer describes the secret lives and ___________ activities of the various crime organizations around the world.

I was afraid that the lilac bush had been killed by the late spring frost we had this year, but now that the weather has turned warmer, it appears to be ___________.

An independent research study ___________ the conclusions she reached at the end of her ten-year investigation into the causes of genetic mutation in honeybees.

To get the answers to today’s quiz, e-mail us at elizabeth@ereflect.com.

People have caught the vocabulary improvement fever all over the world, and we hope this week’s posts have stimulated your appetite for learning more words, leaving you with a desire to continue to increase your vocabulary, which will help you avoid a boring, dry conversational style without looking like a fool. Here are the last five words we’re studying this week: virulent, whet, yen, xeric, and zany.

virulent

Virulent means “highly infectious and deadly.” The Ebola virus, which kills over half of the people who catch it, is a virulent disease.

Example: The pandemic of 1918 was caused by a particularly virulent strain of influenza, resulting in the deaths of over 20 million people worldwide.

whet

The word whet originally referred to the action of sharpening a tool, such as a saw blade, a scythe, a knife, or a pair of scissors. We still use this term in that context, in fact: a whetstone is frequently used to do the sharpening. However, this word now also has a more metaphorical meaning of “to stimulate or arouse” that is used when speaking of a person’s physical or emotional reactions.

Example 1: The smell of freshly-baked bread whets the appetites of people passing on the street, who then often go into the bakery to make a purchase.
Example 2: Losing the race by only one-tenth of a second whetted her ambition to win the next big competition.

yen

The smell of a savory stew can whet your desire to taste it. Another word for desire is yen. This word is used to indicate a craving or yearning for something, especially if that thing is not immediately available.

Example: I’ve been writing ad copy for that fast-food chain all day, and now I have a yen for a burger and fries.

xeric

The word xeric (pronounced ZEER-ick) means dry and lacking in moisture; xeriscaping is landscaping that is done in dry areas, using rocks and sand, and plants that require little water.

Example: Temperate plants such as tea roses do not thrive in the xeric desert environment of the American Southwest; residents of that area would do better to choose cactus and succulents for their gardens instead.

zany

The word zany can be either a noun or an adjective. This word can be traced back to the 16th-century Italian commedia dell’arte, a type of standard comic play often seen in traveling shows, where the role of the servant Zanni was to mock the other players and act the clown. The noun zany means “buffoon” or “clown.” Someone can be a zany, or can act in a zany way.

Example: Many people enjoy the zany routines of the clowns in the Cirque du Soleil shows, but I prefer watching the acrobats.

Take a serious look back at this week’s words from A to Z and get ready for the quiz!

This week we’re discussing more than two dozen advanced vocabulary words that frequently appear in the vocabulary sections of the SAT and GRE examinations. Use the study tips we discussed last week to learn today’s words. Just to warn you, there’s going to be a quiz at the end of the week …

flourish

When you see the word flourish in a sentence, pay close attention to the context, because this word has two common – but completely different – meanings. The first definition of flourish is “to grow, to thrive, to do well.” A plant or a person may flourish, given the right nourishment and encouragement.

A flourish can also be a showy gesture or ornament, something added for emphasis or to call attention to oneself. In this case, the word flourish can be either a noun or a verb.

Example 1: The volcanic hot springs in that mountain valley create a microclimate where even tropical plants like bananas and orchids flourish.
Example 2: The marching band ended their routine with a flourish of high trumpet notes and a rousing cheer.

guile

Guile means cunning or trickery, the ability to accomplish something in an underhanded or hidden way. In many cases, this noun is used when speaking of an action or a person that demonstrates deceit or fraud. The adjective guileless means innocent, childlike, or incapable of deception.

Example: His great personal charisma helped him use his guile to swindle hundreds of elderly women out of their life’s savings.

hackneyed

Something that is hackneyed is overused, trite, and banal – it’s been repeated so often that it has lost its original significance.

Example: That comedian still gets bookings, even though his hackneyed jokes all poke fun at politicians who haven’t been in office for years.

irascible

Someone who is irascible is cranky, touchy, and easily angered. A common synonym for irascible is irritable; both of these words come from the Latin root ira, meaning “anger.”

Example: My boss has been so irascible this week that I’ve changed my mind about asking for a raise – I’ll wait until he’s in a better mood.

jettison

This verb first appeared in the 15th century, and means “to throw things overboard” (that is, off of a ship). These days, we use jettison to describe the act of getting rid of things to lighten a load, or because they are no longer necessary, or because they are preventing us from doing something or hindering us in some way.

Example: When the hot-air balloon started sinking too fast, the pilot jettisoned three of the sandbags to quickly raise the basket above the level of the treetops.

kindle

Has your study of these words kindled a desire in you to learn even more powerful and useful vocabulary? To kindle means to light a fire, whether it’s a physical flame or an emotional warmth.

Example: The warm and loving welcome he received from her family kindled an answering affection in his heart, and he eventually became closer to her father than he was to his own.

We hope you’re all fired up to study words this week!

Last week we talked about some tips and tricks for effective vocabulary study, and we know you’re now prepared to practice using words in context, expand your knowledge of synonyms and antonyms, and use a multi-media approach to word practice and review.

Now all you need are the words to study! This week we’ll look at twenty-six words that make frequent appearances in the SAT and GRE vocabulary and reading comprehension sections. Ready? Here we go:

acquiesce

Acquiesce is a verb meaning to give in, comply, or agree to. Use this word when you want to make clear that this agreement is not necessarily by choice. When you acquiesce to something, you’re saying that you’ll go along with it, even if you previously opposed it, or continue to oppose it on a philosophical if not actual basis.

Example: The receptionist did not want to let me wait for you in your hotel room, and it took half an hour’s argument, plus a call to your father, before he would acquiesce and let me in.

burgeon

Burgeon means to grow or expand rapidly. This verb is often used to describe the action of something organic, such as a plant or a population, but can also be used when talking about something intangible.

Example: Many people are worried about the burgeoning national debt, but until politicians are willing to cut the military budget, it will continue to grow.

corroborate

Corroborate means to confirm or support, often using additional evidence or examples.

Example: The new witness for the defense was able to corroborate the defendant’s claim that he was out of the country when the murder was committed.

distend

The verb distend means to swell or expand beyond the normal margins, usually due to internal pressure. Something that is distended is unnaturally swollen. This term is often used in the medical field.

Example: The body of the deer that was hit by a car yesterday quickly became distended as it decomposed in today’s hot sunshine.

euphonious

The adjective euphonious comes from the Greek roots eu (“good”) and phone (“voice” or “sound”). You can see these roots in other common words such as eulogy (the “good words” often said at a funeral) and telephone (“far-away voice”). A euphonious sound is one that is pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.

Example: Her voice is so euphonious I would enjoy listening to her read the telephone directory.

Use the tips we outlined last week to practice these words, and check back tomorrow for the next group.