Part 3: Word Knowledge (WK)
Answers and Explanations
- B
Impose as a verb means to “establish by authority.” Of the answer choices given, only one implies one person dictating to another. To force as a verb can be construed as “to establish by authority.” Thus, answer choice (B) is correct. Remembered real-life context might be helpful. If you have ever heard someone described as “an imposing figure,” you may remember that person as an authoritative or forceful individual.
- A
Stunted means stopped “short or canceled abruptly.” Answer choice (A) halted also means stopped short. Remembered real-life context may be helpful here as well. If you have ever heard that someone’s “growth was stunted,” something prevented that person from growing as much as he otherwise might have.
- B
While a sturdy home might be huge, it does not by nature have to be. Something sturdy, however, would be considered strong. Choice (B) is the most accurate answer.
- B
Undeterred uses the prefix un–, meaning “opposite of,” with the root word “deter.” To deter something is to stop or hinder it. So something undeterred would be something unhindered or persistent.
- C
Ennui derives from a French word meaning boredom or “listlessness.” Choice (C) is correct.
- A
Mutable means “prone to change.” Consider the word root mut, which appears in mutant (something or someone changed from the norm). Choice (A) changeable is the best answer.
- C
To squander is to “waste or fritter away” something. Of the choices given, only (C) wasted means the same. This is a good question on which to use context to eliminate some of the choices. There’s nothing necessarily shameful about (A) gathering or (D) owning money. Stealing, choice (B), is certainly shameful, so at that point you may have to make a 50-50 guess. Or you could use another tool, like remembered real-life context. It is unlikely you have ever heard “squander” on the news in the context of a story about theft.
- A
You could use context on this one: handwriting is more likely to be described as unreadable than as unethical or dangerous. A written work might be creative, but handwriting refers to the way the letters are made and not to the content of the writing.
- B
The word infinite means “lasting forever” or unending. Break the word into parts: in– means not, and the word root fin relates to ending. (Think about final, finite, or finish, all of which relate to ending.)
- B
Longevity means the length of time of a life or project, so choice (B) duration is correct. The word part long relates to length, so look for an answer choice that also relates to length.
- A
Remember where you have heard “to fall for” used before. One “falls for” a trick. Answer choice (A) is correct.
- C
To proclaim is to announce or decree, especially in regards to a prominent figure like a president. Think about word parts: pro– means in front or before and claim is an English word meaning state or assert. To proclaim therefore means something like “state in front of.” Answer choice (C), announced, is a synonym for the given word.
- A
Rudimentary means simple or easy. Of the answer choices given, only (A) basic applies to something simple or rudimentary. On this question, try rereading the sentence in your mind and substitute each answer choice. When you do so, choice (A) makes the most sense.
- B
The word rout means to “defeat soundly” in battle or competition. You may have heard it in the context of stories about sports on the news. Answer choice (B) is correct.
- C
A rogue is someone who does not play by the rules. Use context: the sentence draws a contrast between the idea of a team and the idea of rogue. Answer choice (C) most directly contradicts the idea of teamwork or team spirit.
- C
Resonate has the word root son, which relates to sound, and the prefix re– which means again or back. So resonate means something like “sound again” or “sound back.” From there, you could think about which answer choice both fits that meaning and fits the context. Irritation, (A), and discussion, (D), do not seem to fit with the idea of sounding back. Choice (B) doesn’t make any sense in the context. (In fact, to resonate in music means “to have a full sound that seems to reverberate.” In other contexts, resonate has come to mean “harmoniously correspond” or “generate agreement.”)
- A
Redundant starts with the prefix re–, or again. The first choice you have available is repetitive, which means again and again. Context is also useful here: the sentence suggests that redundant has something to do with duplicating.
- B
Prescribe means to “state authoritatively or recommend.” Remembered real-life context may be useful here. Think about when your doctor prescribes a medicine: she is urging you, with some authority, to take the medicine.
- D
Logical means “based on logic” or “sensible.” Answer choice (D) is the only choice that has anything to do with logic. If you weren’t sure what sensible meant, you could have used remembered real-life context. Think about the phrase “sensible shoes,” which are shoes that display good sense or judgement on the part of the wearer.
- A
Note that choice (A) requirement has the same root as the given word. A prerequisite is something that is required before a project or course of study begins. Answer choice (A) is correct.
- A
Gravitate is based on a word it looks like: gravity. Even if you didn’t know that gravitate means “moving towards,” you might be able to make a guess based on the knowledge that the force of gravity pulls things closer together. Choice (A) is correct.
- D
Cautious means careful. Mentally rereading the sentence with each answer choice substituted for the underlined word would likely have been helpful here.
- C
The meaning of braggart is “someone who brags.” While many (B) leaders might brag, the correct answer choice here is (C) boaster (one who boasts).
- A
Hearsay is a term often used in law. It means “secondhand stories”: literally, what someone has heard someone else say. A rumor is a story that has been heard from others without proof. Choice (A) is correct.
- C
To taunt is to ridicule or tease. Even if you didn’t remember a context in which you’ve heard the word taunt, you might have a sense that it has a negative charge. Only choice (C) also has a negative charge.
- B
The term constructive criticism refers to criticism that constructs or builds up the listener rather than destroying her. Think of the word construction, which means building. While (D) flattering words might build some people up, flattery contradicts the idea of criticism. The correct answer here is choice (B) productive.
- C
To quantify something is to “be able to count” it. Think about the root quant, which relates to numbers and which gives us the word quantity, or amount.
- C
Remembered real-life context might be helpful here. If you think about where you have heard the word effective, advertisements for cosmetics, drugs, and supplements might come to mind. Now ask yourself: what do the companies who sell cosmetics or drugs want to tell us about those products? They’re most likely to want to tell us that their products are useful, productive, or successful.
- C
Apathy means the state of not caring or disinterest. Think about word parts: the prefix a– means not, and the word root path relates to feeling. Think about sympathetic, which means sharing the feelings of others. Thus, apathy means something like the state of not entering into others’ feelings, or disinterest.
- B
A blemish is a glaring problem or defect. Try mentally rereading the sentence with each choice substituted. You wouldn’t describe an (A) impact as glaring, so that one is out. Moreover, glaring has a negative context that does not fit with (C) commendation or (D) compliment.
- A
Consensus has a root of con– meaning “with” (don’t confuse this with con– meaning not). Only answer choice (A) suggests togetherness. Another way of tackling this question is to read the sentence carefully and glean that to get a measure passed, one would need agreement, not (C) infighting (that is, fighting within a group). (A) is the correct answer.
- D
Think about word parts: dis– means “not.” The word root sent relates to perceiving or feeing and also appears in the word consent, which means agreement. Thus, you can guess that dissent is the opposite of agreement. Even if you don’t know what insubordination means, you can eliminate the other choices because none of them suggest the opposite of agreement.
- D
Tempo means “the speed of something.” Remembered real-life context might be helpful here: if you have heard the word tempo, it was likely in a discussion about music. And it makes far more sense to say that music has a speed than to say that it has a heartbeat, safety, or modernity.
- B
Try to fit some of the words into the sentence given to test their context. Glee and protection may be tempting at first glance, but neither fit the construction of the sentence if you replace them for the word solace. But comfort, (B), would make her feel better.
- B
Pitfalls are “traps and problems that await.” Try mentally rereading the sentence and substituting each choice. While climbers might experience (A) joys and probably do work with (C) ropes, neither of those ideas relate specifically to inexperienced climbers.