TSIA2 Boot Camp - Unlocking Word Meaning

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the three types of Vocabulary-in-Context questions you might see on TSIA2?

• Literal, Figurative, Tone/Connotation

• Literal, Analytical, Comparative

• Figurative, Analytical, Descriptive

• Literal, Descriptive, Analytical

Multiple Choice

Passage: The sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the resulting instant destruction of the ancient city of Pompeii by that volcano created a moment frozen in time for archaeologists to uncover. Experts believe that the ash from the volcano instantly carbonized and then buried the city and everything in it in the year 79 C.E. For more than two centuries, archaeologists have been uncovering that city and discovering interesting facts about Roman life. For example, the people of Pompeii were taller than the average person who lives in that region today. Additionally, despite common misconceptions, there were many middle-aged and older citizens in the city, and the people from almost every economic strata appeared to be well nourished. The city had a network of one-way streets, which included crosswalks, a well-established water system, and a thriving fish sauce industry.

Question: When the author writes about a “moment frozen in time,” she most likely means that

• people wish they could return to that time period

• the city was preserved due to the volcanic eruption

• life in Pompeii was similar to life in cities today

• Pompeii was frozen because of cooler temperatures

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of figurative language? Check all that apply.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

• Literal statement

Multiple Choice

Passage: (1) The alley reverberated with coordinated morning movement—scooters weaving between burlap sacks of potatoes and sun-warmed crates of mangoes, while shopkeepers, executing their rituals with habitual precision, swept dust into spirals that vanished beneath sagging awnings and uneven thresholds. (2) Adjusting the strap of his satchel, Ayaan entered the stream of activity, his posture steadied by the echo of his mother’s advice—“Keep your head up and shoulders back; nerves can’t ride posture”—which looped through his thoughts with a familiar rhythm. (3) A gust of warm cinnamon and yeast escaped the bakery’s threshold, momentarily suspending him in memory before he recommitted to forward motion. (4) Though his shirt buckled awkwardly at the collar and his anticipation churned beneath his composure, he walked with purposeful resolve. (5) The anxiety did not evaporate entirely; rather, it dispersed—like steam slipping from a teacup—thinning into something weightless and peripheral, no longer clouding his vision.

Question: The author uses the phrase “like steam slipping from a teacup” to suggest that Ayaan’s anxiety

• dissipates gradually but remains subtly present

• transforms into a more urgent form of worry

• evaporates completely, leaving him calm and confident

• intensifies with each step he takes toward the bakery

Multiple Choice

Passage: (1) As Mira stepped onto the weathered dock—its groan subtle but persistent, like the memory of a long-forgotten promise—she felt, not abruptly but gradually, the clamor of obligations recede beneath the hush of still water and pine-laced air. (2) The lake, indistinguishable at points from the sky it reflected, erased all spatial certainty, dissolving the boundary between what had been and what now was. (3) She sat with practiced care, her legs lowered into water that neither welcomed nor resisted, and inhaled deliberately, as though breath alone might excavate the weariness buried beneath routine. (4) She did not check her phone or mentally rehearse tasks but simply allowed herself to not be “productive”—a word she had begun to question or at least resist. (5) And in that restrained stillness—saturated with quiet intent—she was revived, though by no tangible means she could name.

Question: Based on the passage, the author puts “productive” in quotation marks most likely to

• clarify that “productive” is a term related to mental wellness

• show that Mira always values productivity in peaceful moments

• emphasize that her revival was due to completing tasks

• indicate the word is being used ironically or questioned

Multiple Choice

Passage: In Ireland, Irish dance, like the country’s language and its sports, is an important part of the culture, but it takes years of practice to learn the precise dance steps well. The dance traces its roots back to the Celts and the Druids who inhabited the island hundreds of years before St. Patrick arrived. Both the Celts and the Druids used dances to celebrate festivals and as part of their religious rituals. The Irish dance naturally evolved over centuries, although it retained many of the patterns of its ancient roots, such as the circular group dance. When the Normans invaded the island in the twelfth century, they brought with them the traditional dances from their culture, which were also incorporated into the Irish dances that were practiced at the time. From these simple beginnings, the Irish dance evolved into the intricate, beautiful art form showcased by Michael Flatley and the Riverdance troupe for audiences all over the world.

Question: As used in the final sentence, “intricate” most nearly means

• unusual

• intrinsic

• complicated

• convoluted

Multiple Choice

Passage: Nutritionists and other health experts who have studied weightlifting, also called resistance training, cite numerous studies to corroborate their claims that the practice should not be confined to athletes; they propose that almost anyone can benefit from a healthy weightlifting regimen. Weightlifting keeps bones strong and healthy by building bone density. It also reduces a person’s risk of developing many of the major chronic diseases, such as cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, people who incorporate weightlifting into their schedules typically report sleeping better, having more energy, and feeling happier. While many health experts promote this form of exercise, they are also quick to point out that weight training should be done under the supervision of a professional to ensure proper form is used and to avoid injuries.

Question: As used in sentence 1, “corroborate” most nearly means

• quote

• verify

• mention

• praise

Multiple Choice

Passage: The Khmer Empire (802-1431) covered most of Southeast Asia’s mainland at its peak, and its capital, Angkor, was the most multifaceted pre-industrial urban complex in the world. Archaeologists refer to the city as the “hydraulic city” because of its complex water management system, which consisted of canals, reservoirs, and holding tanks that provided a constant water supply for the crops in the area. Maintaining a nearby source of food allowed the city to flourish and sustain a massive population that, in turn, served as a labor force for the city and constructed the elaborate temples that are still visible today.

Question: The author used the term “multifaceted” in sentence 1 to indicate that Angkor was

• constructed as a network of roads and passageways woven across the urban area

• structured around a unified set of religious principles guiding its cultural development

• made up of multiple interrelated buildings and functional systems located in close proximity

• designed to be difficult to understand without specialized historical research

Multiple Choice

Passage: Almost everyone understands that he or she should follow a doctor's instructions when taking antibiotics because their misuse or overuse can create antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, referred to as superbugs, that are very dangerous to society. However, not everyone realizes that it is not only the human consumption of antibiotics that causes the problem. Because antibiotics will make animals grow faster and put on more weight, it was legal and a common practice for farmers to add antibiotics to the feed and water of their livestock until 2017. After 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned that practice, but the FDA did not ban antibiotic use in animals for other reasons. This allows unscrupulous farmers to circumvent the law by claiming their animals have various problems that require antibiotics and continuously administering them to promote their growth.

Question: As used in sentence 5, “circumvent” most nearly means

• evade

• abolish

• reinterpret

• reverse

Multiple Choice

Passage: Whether or not eggs are part of a healthy diet has been the subject of much debate. They are a good source of protein and contain a number of essential nutrients such as vitamins A and B, calcium, selenium, and zinc, but they are also full of cholesterol and saturated fat, so people looking to be heart-healthy are sometimes encouraged to avoid eggs altogether. However, according to many nutritionists, the appropriate response is to purchase eggs produced by free-range chickens—or for people to raise the chickens themselves! Farm fresh eggs contain less cholesterol and saturated fat than commercial eggs and more vitamin E, more beta carotene, and more Omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, eggs produced by free-range chickens are less likely to be contaminated by salmonella or other diseases that abound in commercial chicken houses.

Question: What does the author’s use of the phrase “appropriate response” suggest about her attitude toward choosing farm-fresh eggs?

• She thinks it’s unnecessary for most people to consider

• She feels neutral about how people select their eggs

• She believes it is the most responsible and informed choice

• She views it as a highly controversial and emotional issue

Multiple Choice

Passage: Urban planners often describe city traffic as a living organism—complex, reactive, and prone to unpredictable surges. During peak hours, intersections transform into chokepoints, and the synchronized ballet of signals becomes a cacophony of honks, lane shifts, and impatient revving. The term “gridlock” barely captures the reality of arterial congestion in major metros, where a single stalled vehicle can trigger cascading delays for miles. In response, cities have deployed “smart signals,” adaptive traffic lights that adjust timing based on real-time flow. But critics argue that these upgrades are digital bandages on a structural wound—efficient tech managing an inefficient design. Until long-term shifts in commuting habits, public transit funding, and infrastructure equity take root, the daily traffic experience remains a patchwork of frustration and short-term fixes. For drivers, the road is less a system and more a negotiation—one navigated with clenched jaws and fingers hovering over the horn.

Question: In the passage, the use of the terms “cacophony,” “digital bandages,” and “patchwork” serve mainly to emphasize the

• careful coordination that defines urban infrastructure

• consistent progress cities have made with technology

• efficiency of new systems replacing outdated designs

• emotional tension that traffic congestion creates

Multiple Choice

Passage: In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited the use of Red Dye No. 3 in cosmetic products after studies demonstrated a correlation between the dye, when administered in high concentrations, and the development of cancer in laboratory animals. However, the FDA did not extend this regulatory action to include food products, where the dye continues to be used in various consumables such as candies, beverages, and over-the-counter medications. In 2022, following additional studies linking the dye to behavioral disturbances in children, the Center for Science in the Public Interest formally petitioned the FDA to revoke its approval of the dye in food and dietary supplements. Shockingly, the FDA responded that existing human studies had failed to present sufficiently substantiated evidence of harm and maintained its authorization.

Question: What effect does the author’s use of the word “shockingly” have on the tone?

• It adds a sense of emotional urgency and disapproval to an otherwise factual summary

• It introduces sarcasm about the scientific process surrounding food dyes

• It reinforces the objectivity of the author’s perspective on food safety policy

• It shifts the tone toward sympathy for the FDA’s position in the controversy