Mastering Vocabulary: Transforming Words into Knowledge

What does the word "austere" mean?

• Richly decorated

• Strict in manner

• Extremely funny

• Very noisy

If something is described as "esoteric," it is:

• Easily understood by everyone

• Intended for or understood by only a small number of people

• Related to the study of insects

• Found everywhere

A "facsimile" is:

• A new invention

• A false accusation

• An exact copy

• A type of building material

The term "grotesque" is best used to describe something that is:

• Extremely beautiful

• Comically exaggerated

• Distorted and unnatural in shape or size

• Very small and delicate

To "mesmerize" someone means to:

• Confuse them

• Capture their full attention in an almost hypnotic way

• Bore them

• Scare them

"Metamorphosis" refers to:

• A type of rock

• A mathematical formula

• A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one

• A state of deep sleep

A person who is "notorious" is:

• Famous for a positive reason

• Known for being honest

• Famous for something bad

• Not well-known

When an action is performed in a "perfunctory" manner, it is done:

• With great enthusiasm

• With careful attention to detail

• In a routine way without much care or interest

• In a way that is difficult to understand

Something that is "provocative" is likely to:

• Calm people down

• Make people laugh

• Provoke discussion or a strong reaction

• Be ignored by most people

A "travesty" is:

• A long journey

• A serious drama

• A false representation of something

• A type of clothing