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Vocabulary Diagnostic

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 4mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What does "umbrage" mean?

a)

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

b)

(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple plain; harsh or sour in flavor

c)

(n.) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion

d)

(v.) to soften; to calm, allay (as an emotion); reduce in intensity

2.

What does "gossamer" mean?

a)

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin light cloth

b)

(v.) to soften; to calm, allay (as an emotion); reduce in intensity

c)

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

d)

(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple plain; harsh or sour in flavor

3.

Fill in the blank:


One way to ____________________ your fears of giving a speech is to put your audience at ease with a

personal anecdote.

a)

ingratiate

b)

ameliorate

4.

Fill in the blank:


The ghost of Hamlet’s father whispered in ___________________ tones the story of his tragic death.

a)

sepulchral

b)

salutary

5.

Fill in the blank:


The prisoner attempted to _______________ his confession on the grounds that he had not been

informed of his rights.

a)

disavow

b)

dissipate

6.

Fill in the blank:


Her _____________________ writing style, abounding in adjectives and fancy metaphors, is far from suitable for

factual newspaper stories.

a)

perceptive

b)

florid

7.

Fill in the blank:


It is difficult to imagine the _______________________________ that would result from an all-out war

fought with nuclear weapons.

a)

evanescent

b)

dowdy

c)

acculturation

d)

carnage

8.

Fill in the blank:


When asked to create a science fiction villain for a story, many writers refer to Frankenstein, the

_____________________________ of a mad doctor.

a)

carnage

b)

archetype

c)

dowdy

d)

evanescent

9.

Fill in the blank:


It is difficult to remember my dreams, as I find them to be ________________________________.

a)

dowdy

b)

acculturation

c)

evanescent

d)

umbrage

10.

Fill in the blank:


Modern American society can justly be said to be the end point of the _____________________________

of diverse groups of immigrants.

a)

archetype

b)

dowdy

c)

carnage

d)

acculturation

11.

What does "scurrilous" mean?

a)

abusive

b)

well-informed

c)

false

d)

interesting

12.

What does "flout" mean?

a)

ignore

b)

obey

c)

back up

d)

dislike