To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

Transcription

1 Part 1 1. Contentious kuhn TEN shuhs Synonyms: TKAM: "Ain't got no mother," was the answer, "and their paw's right contentious." Sentence: Brothers and sisters often have contentious relationships in that they argue and fight a lot. 2. Tentative TEN tuh tiv Synonyms: TKAM: Francis appeared at the kitchen door. "You still mad, Jean Louise?" he asked tentatively. Sentence: We have tentative plans for Homecoming; however, the plans could still change if it begins to rain while we are outside. 3. Dictum DIK tum Synonyms: TKAM: So Simon, having forgotten his teacher's dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves... Sentence: The dictum listed in Carmel High School s student handbook asserts that students will have to participate in community service if they are tardy to class too many times. 4. Taciturn TAS eh turn Synonyms: TKAM: Their sister Alexandra was the Finch who remained at the Landing: she married a taciturn man who spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river wondering if his trot-lines were full. Sentence: A shy person is usually taciturn. Ms. Salona Page 1 of 13

2 5. Quaint KWAYNT Synonyms: TKAM: Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies. Sentence: 1. He had a quaint sense of humor which only his friends understood. 2. When my family visited the small town in Maine, we chose to stay in a quaint inn with traditional New England décor rather than in a Radison Hotel. 6. Malevolent muh LEV uh lent Synonyms: TKAM: Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom. People said he existed, but Jem and I had never seen him. Sentence: Your parents may be fearful of you walking the streets alone at night due to malevolent strangers possibly lurking in the shadows. 7. Predilection pred uh LEK shun Synonyms: TKAM: The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb. Sentence: If you have a predilection for water skiing in the summer, you will want to visit the many lakes in Michigan. 8. Domicile DOM eh sile Synonyms: TKAM: According to neighborhood legend, when the younger Radley boy was in his teens he became acquainted with some of the Cunninghams from Old Sarum, an enormous and confusing tribe domiciled in the northern part of the county, and they formed the nearest thing to a gang ever seen in Maycomb. Sentence: For many students their domicile has been Carmel, Indiana since they were born. Ms. Salona Page 2 of 13

3 9. Profane pruh FANE Synonyms: TKAM:... so the boys came before the probate judge on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and using abusive and profane language in the presence and hearing of a female. Sentence: The principal made it clear that students who use profane language at the game will be asked to leave. 10. Auspicious aw SPISH us Synonyms: TKAM: The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first. Sentence: After reading her horoscope in the paper, Mary felt it was an auspicious time to purchase a lottery ticket. 11. Indigenous In DIJ eh nus Synonyms: TKAM: I am from North Alabama, from Winston County." The class murmured apprehensively, should she prove to harbor her share of the peculiarities indigenous to that region. Sentence: Gray squirrels are indigenous to the Midwest, and if you travel to California, you will see different species of squirrels. 12. Diminutive dih MIN yuh tiv Synonyms: TKAM: He was among the most diminutive of men, but when Burris Ewell turned toward him, Little Chuck's right hand went to his pocket. Sentence: The store which specialized in selling doll houses was filled with diminutive versions of the houses one will find on Main Street. Ms. Salona Page 3 of 13

4 13. Fractious FRAK shus Synonyms: TKAM: She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so. I was weary from the day's crimes. Sentence: During the pep-rally the fractious students began to push each other, and soon there was a big fight among them. 14. Disapprobation dis ap ruh BAY shun Synonyms: TKAM: "I'm afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities." Sentence: The unruly child faced the disapprobation of his parents when they learned he scribbled all over his bedroom wall with a Sharpie marker. 15. Furtive FUR tiv Synonyms: TKAM: Atticus asked, "What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister?" "Something furtive," Aunt Alexandra said. "You may count on that." Sentence: During the test, Blaine made furtive glances at Greyson s test answers. 16. Impudent IM pyuh dunt Synonyms: TKAM: "Are you being impudent to me, boy?," asked Mr. Gilmer. Sentence: The student s impudent act of swearing at his teacher and then skipping school lead to his expulsion. Ms. Salona Page 4 of 13

5 17. Benevolence Buh NEV uh lunz Synonyms: TKAM: Miss Maudie's benevolence extended to Jem and Dill, whenever they paused in their pursuits: we reaped the benefits of a talent Miss Maudie had hitherto kept hidden from us. Sentence: Donating to the poor or needy is an act of benevolence. 18. Irascible ih RAS uh buhl Synonyms: TKAM: High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill kee, kee of the sunflower bird to the irascible qua-ack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will. Sentence: Just about anything could set off his irascible temper. 19. Caricature KARE uh kuh chur Synonyms: TKAM: "You can't go around making caricatures of the neighbors," said Atticus to Scout and Jem. Sentence: His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn. 20. Inordinate in OR duh nit Synonyms: TKAM: He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain. Sentence: It is a sign of trouble when a student has an inordinate number of absences. Ms. Salona Page 5 of 13

6 21. Ingenuous in JEN yoo uhs Synonyms: TKAM: He was a year older than I, and I avoided him on principle: he enjoyed everything I disapproved of, and disliked my ingenuous diversions. Sentence: Because of the ingenuous nature of young children, they most often tell the truth when questioned by an adult. Zoey s mother asked her, Why did you hit your brother? Zoey ingenuously replied, Because he was bothering me. 22. Innate ih NATE Synonyms: TKAM: Uncle Jack raised his eyebrows and said nothing. I was proceeding on the dim theory, aside from the innate attractiveness of such words, that if Atticus discovered I had picked them up at school he wouldn't make me go. Sentence: Many researchers believe that personality is an innate quality rather than a series of traits we learn from our parents and society. 23. Guileless GILE les Synonyms: TKAM: The internal arrangements of the Finch house were indicative of Simon's guilelessness and the absolute trust with which he regarded his offspring. Sentence: Is it possible to find a guileless politician in Washington D.C., or do they all have the potential for dishonesty? 24. Fanatic fuh NAT ik Synonyms: TKAM: Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches;... Sentence: Miss Maudie explained to Scout that Mr. Radley was a religious fanatic who took every word of the Bible literally and who believed that it was best to leave happiness out of one s life. Ms. Salona Page 6 of 13

7 25. Piety PIE eh tee Synonyms: TKAM: All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess. Sentence: The reverend s pious sermon motivated the congregation to pray with piety. Part rudiments ROO duh ment Synonyms: TKAM: When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn t interested in guns (Lee 119). Because he was not good at the rudiments of English, he had difficulty writing his English paper. 27. articulate are TIK yuh late Synonyms: TKAM: Jem became vaguely articulate: d you see him, Scout? (129). An announcer must be articulate. A good politician must be able to articulate his views. 28. melancholy MEL un kol ee Synonyms: TKAM: If [Mrs. Dubose] was on the porch when we passes, we would be rakes by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing (132). After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy. Ms. Salona Page 7 of 13

8 29. palliate/ palliation PAL ee ate Synonyms: TKAM: [Calpurnia] was a les than satisfactory source of palliation, but she did give Jem a hot biscuit-andbutter which he tore in half and shared with me (137). The doctor attempted to palliate the patient s suffering by prescribing drugs. 30. rectitude REK teh tood Synonyms: TKAM: In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what made him break the bonds of You just be a gentleman, son, and the phase of self-conscious rectitude he had recently entered (136). When the preacher s rectitude was questioned, many left his congregation. 31. tranquil TRANG kwul Synonyms: TKAM: [...] [Atticus] had a naturally tranquil disposition and a slow fuse (136). I enjoy vacationing at our beach house because the surroundings are tranquil, and I can relax. 32. protrude/ protrusion pro TROO zhun Synonyms: TKAM: [Mrs. Dubose s] bottom plate [of teeth] was not in, and her upper lip protruded... (142). A large protrusion on his head was the result of being hit by a car. Ms. Salona Page 8 of 13

9 33. propensity pruh PEN si tee Synonyms: TKAM: Mrs. Dubose would hound Jem for a while of her favorite subjects, her camellias and our father s n****- loving propensities (144). I have a propensity for staying up late and sleeping late. 34. frivolous FRIV uh lus Synonyms: TKAM: [The cartoon] showed Atticus barefooted and in short pants, chained to a desk; he was diligently writing on a slate while some frivolous- looking girls yelled, Yoo-hoo! at him (155). A teacher should limit frivolous behavior in the classroom. 35. propel pro PEL Synonyms: TKAM: I wanted to stay and explore, but Calpurnia propelled me up the aisle ahead of her (163). Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job. 36. formidable FORE meh duh bul Synonyms: TKAM: [The corset] managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra s was once an hour-glass figure. From any angle, it was formidable (171). The retired boxer Mohammad Ali was a formidable opponent in his time. Ms. Salona Page 9 of 13

10 37. oblique uh BLEEK Synonyms: TKAM: [...] but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was (173). Because of the suspect s oblique answers, our interrogation of him led us in the wrong direction. 38. edification/ edifying ED uh fie ing Synonyms: TKAM: Still, everything he read he passes along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought I d like it; now, for my edification and instruction (184). Visiting the cathedral was an edifying experience. 39. reverent/ revere reh VER ent / reh VEER Synonyms: TKAM: Jem raised the broom and missed Dill s head by an inch when it appeared. God Almighty, Jem s voice was reverent (186). Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope. 40. infallible in FAL uh bul Synonyms: TKAM: [Dill] traveled with the show all over Mississippi until his infallible sense of direction told him he was in Abbott County, Alabama... (187). Since everyone makes mistakes, no human is infallible. Ms. Salona Page 10 of 13

11 41. placid PLAS id Synonyms: TKAM: It had been a placid week: I had minded Aunty... (193). The wilderness is usually a placid place where one can relax. 42. begrudge bi GRUJ Synonyms: TKAM: This is Saturday, Atticus said. Trial ll probably be Monday. You can keep him one night, can t you? I don t think anybody in Maycomb ll begrudge me a client, with times this hard (194). The child begrudged the other child his new toy. 43. ominous OM uh nus Synonyms: TKAM: There was a murmur among the group of men, made more ominous when Atticus moved back to the bottom front step and the men drew nearer to him (195). The ominous clouds warned us of the tornado. 44. vivid VIV id Synonyms: TKAM: When Atticus switched on the overhead light in the living-room he found Jem at the window, pale except for the vivid mark of the screen on his nose (195). I have vivid memories of my trip to Europe. Ms. Salona Page 11 of 13

12 45. oblivious uh BLIV ee uhs Synonyms: TKAM: [Atticus] was sitting in one of his office chairs, and he was reading, oblivious of the nightbugs dancing over his head (201). She was oblivious of the students talking around her as she concentrated on her book. 46. succinct suh k SINGT Synonyms: TKAM: Called em off on a snipe hunt, was the succinct answer (202). Because her comments were succinct, the ceremony did not last long. 47. acquiesce AK wee es Synonyms: TKAM: We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus s instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging (203). If you acquiesce to your child s temper-tantrums, he will learn his behavior is acceptable. 48. elucidate ed LOO se date Synonyms: TKAM: We asked Miss Maudie to elucidate: she said Miss Stephanie seemed to know so much about the case she might as well be called on to testify (213). I will try to elucidate some of the questions you had difficulty answering. Ms. Salona Page 12 of 13

13 49. unobtrusive un ob TRUE siv Synonyms: TKAM: I found myself in the middle of the Idlers Club and made myself as unobtrusive as possible (217). He is very unobtrusive sitting over there in the corner. 50. turbulent TUR byuh lent Synonyms: TKAM: With [Atticus s] infinite capacity for calming turbulent seas, he could make a rape case as dry as a sermon (226). The turbulent winds made large waves in the sea. Quia Vocabulary Review Games are available from my school website. Ms. Salona Page 13 of 13