This presentation is brought chomp! to you by Grammar Bytes!, chomp! by Robin L. Simmons.

Transcription

1 This presentation is brought chomp! to you by Grammar Bytes!, 2012 chomp! by Robin L. Simmons.

2 Appropriate Words or Expressions in Context Astonished? Astounded? Bewildered? Confounded? Dazed? Dazzled? What s the right word?

3 This presentation will help you distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate words or expressions for the given context.

4 On an objective test, an item evaluating the skill might look like this...

5 Sample Item When Lawrence stuck French fries up his nose, we shouted, Yuck! We were by his behavior. A. unfazed B. dazzled C. repulsed Is unfazed, Repulsed, which dazzled, or means disgusted repulsed the best or sickened, is word to fill the the right choice. blank?

6 I just don t get what s wrong with snot on French fries!

7 What if I don t know any of words that are options? Don t panic! Try to determine the right word by looking for clues about meaning!

8 Clue 1: Look for a definition. Sharilyn suffers from cynophobia, or the fear of of dogs, so so she won t be be interested in in adopting a a puppy. Look for Look at the commas, sentence! The parentheses, author has or dashes that defined it for encapsulate you! It means the (or set off) the fear of dogs. definition. Cynophobia! That s such a big word! How am I supposed to know what it means?

9 Clue 2: Look for examples. My dog Jack is obdurate; for example, he he won t won t get off get the off couch the couch when when I ask I ask or come or come when when he s he s called. called. Look Look for phrases at the sentence! like to The illustrate, author gives for examples! instance, You or can such conclude as that that provide Jack is examples stubborn, that a define synonym the word for you obdurate. don t know. Obdurate! That s another big word! I don t know what it means!

10 Clue 3: Look for contrast. Jill was sick with the the flu, flu, so so when we we explained the the salubrious properties of chocolate-broccoli muffins, she ate one. Look for an antonym a Look at the sentence! word that means If she s sick, she the wants to opposite to get well, so help salubrious figure out the must meaning of health-giving! the word you don t know. Salubrious! I ve never heard of it! How am I supposed to know if it s the right word or not?

11 Clue 4: Infer the meaning. Everyone calls that boy Sparky. Only his his mother refuses to use the sobriquet, shouting, Cornelius! when dinner is ready. Guess, or infer, the Sparky must be meaning! a nickname, Mothers like to which is what a call their children sobriquet is! by their real names. Sobriquet! Who uses that word! I don t know what it means!

12 At many objective exams, you cannot use a dictionary! X

13 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 don t know the meaning of any of the words, go with the one that feels right. Hey, I ve seen that word before!

14 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! Let s see what you can do!

15 Item 1 After an exhausting all-nighter to finish Professor Clark s research paper, we found his dull lecture the next morning. A. uplifting B. excruciating C. inspiring

16 Item 2 After Betsy s last purchase of a lemon and the dealership s unwillingness to repair problems that she thought the warranty covered Betsy the contract for her new car before she signed it. A. scrutinized B. skimmed C. glanced at

17 Item 3 Walter winced as he tasted the sauce, shook his head, and sighed. His for Loretta s cooking was obvious. A. horror B. excitement C. disdain

18 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

19 Item 5 Sara was filled with, for she had ed 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

20 Item 6 Simon had to his cell phone after it rang for the third time in class. A. relinquish B. amputate C. postpone

21 Item 7 Roger s 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

22 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

23 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

24 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

25 After the denouement Or the End.