Preparing For Standardized Vocabulary Tests

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Preparing For Standardized Vocabulary Tests
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Standardized Tests

• Assess general aptitude and accumulated
  knowledge.
• Read widely, work steadily on building
  vocabulary, practice effective test taking
  strategies.
• Four types of vocabulary questions
• Definition
• Words in context
• Synonym and antonym recognition
• Word analogies

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Definitions

• Incomplete statements of definitions.
• To rectify something is to____.
• a) destroy it
• b) correct it
• c) release it
• d) ignore it

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Definitions

• Identify the synonym of the underlined word.
• To work diligently is to work ___.
• a) carelessly
• b) grudgingly
• c) indifferently
• d) persistently

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Words in Context

• The words, phrases, or sentences around an
  unfamiliar word often provide clues to the words
  meaning. In some cases, signal words can act as
  clues.

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Restatement Clues

• Words or phrases such as in other words or that
  is can signal the restatement of the word.
• Example The veterinarian treated every animal
  owner in an affable manner in other words, she
  was gentle and friendly with them.
• Affable gentle and friendly.
• Restatement signal words in other words, that
  is, these

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Example Clues

• Words or phrases such as such as, for example, or
  likewise can indicate to the readers that an
  unfamiliar word is being restated in more
  familiar terms.
• Example Many times of fauna, for example the
  javelina, the coyote, and the peregrine falcon,
  live in Big Bend National Park.
• Faunaanimals of a particular region.
• Example signal words for example, likewise, such
  as, especially, in that

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Contrast Clues

• Words or phrases such as but, by contrast, or
  although indicate that an unfamiliar word
  contrasts with another word in the passage.
• Example Martha was enthralled by the new movie,
  but her friend found it dull and uninteresting.
• Enthralledfascinated
• Contrast Signal Words but, however, although,
  not, still, despite, on the other hand, in
  contrast.

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Cause Effect Clues

• Words or phrases such as lead to, cause to, and
  because show how one word may be a cause or
  effect related to an unfamiliar word.
• Example Because he wanted to marry a divorcee,
  Edward VIII chose to abdicate the British throne
  in 1936.
• Abdicate to formally give up power.
• Signal words leads to, cause, because, effect,
  as a result, consequently, reasons, since, why

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Synonym Antonym

• Select the word most similar in meaning (synonym)
  or the word nearly opposite in meaning.
• Choose the word most similar in meaning.
• inane
• a) insane
• b) difficult
• c) troublesome
• d) foolish

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Antonym

• Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning
  to the underlined word.
• candid
• a) respectable
• b) evasive
• c) invigorating
• d) haughty

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Tips for Answering Synonym/Antonym

• Look for prefixes, roots, and suffixes that give
  clues to meanings.
• Read carefully. Dont be fooled by answer
  choices that look or sound like a word that could
  be the answer.
• For example, find the synonym for anecdote. If
  one of your answer choices is cure, dont be
  hasty. You might confuse anecdote with antidote,
  a word that sounds similar.

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Tips for Answering Synonym/Antonym

• With very few exceptions, the correct answer will
  be the same part of speech as the word given.
• Eliminate all obvious wrong choices.
• Best answer, not absolutely right.

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Word Analogies

• Match two pairs of terms that demonstrate the
  same relationship.
• In the item below, choose the pair of words whose
  relationship is most similar to that in the first
  pair.
• Hard Nails
• a) steep mountain
• b) loud bell
• c) light feather
• d) soggy ground

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Common Analogy Relationships

• Synonym-antonym
• Person-to-characteristic
• Greater degree-to-lesser degree
• Cause-effect
• Worker-to-created objects
• Class-to-species
• Action-to-object
• Object-to-characteristic

• Synonym-synonym
• Worker-to-tool
• Part-to-whole
• Group-to-member
• Person-to-task
• Tool-to-purpose
• Worker-to-workplace
• Time-to-place

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Tips for Attacking Word Analogies

• Phrase the analogy in a complete sentence Egg
  is to chicken as ___ is to ___.
• Determine the relationship of the first pair of
  words, and revise your sentence An egg is a
  product of a chicken as a ___is a product of a
  ___.

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Tips for Attacking Word Analogies

• Examine the answer choices for the closest
  possible match to the relationship you have
  identified.
• As you consider each answer, you will many times
  rethink your statement of the original
  relationship.
• The most obvious answer may not be the one that
  the analogy is presenting.
• You may have to make your statement more general,
  more specific, or completely different.
• For example A chicken comes from an egg as a
  ___comes from a ___.

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Tips for Attacking Word Analogies

• Look for parallel structure.
• The best answer always fulfills all aspects of
  the relationship exhibited by the first pair.
• If the given pair is Hard Nails,the answer
  steep mountain would be incorrect because nails
  must be hard, but mountains do not necessarily
  have to be steep.

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Tips for Attacking Word Analogies

• There is no way to prepare for specific analogy
  test items.
• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

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Practice

• Choose the best answer that completes the
  sentence.
• Something that is pernicious is ___.
• a) destructive
• b) annoying
• c) chronic
• d) illusive

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Practice

• Choose the word that is most similar in meaning
  to the underlined word.
• impetuous
• a) imperfect
• b) studious
• c) impulsive
• d) sacred

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Practice

• Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in
  meaning to the underlined word.
• disperse
• a) dispel
• b) gather
• c) render
• d) prevaricate

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Practice

• Choose the pair of words whose relationship is
  most like that of the first pair.
• Bear Den
• a) dog doghouse
• b) fox lair
• c) army retreat
• d) baby crib

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The Plan

• 10 vocabulary words per week
• Complete vocabulary chart definition, synonyms,
  antonyms, visual representation, examples/non
  examples, real-life contexts.
• Please keep your charts in the back of your
  journals. Charts will be assessed with your
  journals.
• Quiz each week on definition and sentence
  completion for all words studied.
• Test each 50 words identify if the word is used
  correctly, sentence completion, synonyms and
  antonyms.