Word Knowledge for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Study Guide (page 5)

SUMMARY

This article will help you improve your vocabulary skills so that you can score higher on the Word Knowledge section of the ASVAB.

The Word Knowledge subtest of the ASVAB is essentially a vocabulary test. Combined with the Paragraph Comprehension subtest, Word Knowledge helps make up your Verbal Equivalent score—it is also one of the four subtests that determine whether or not you will be allowed to enlist.

Your ability to communicate, whether in the military or working in the private sector, is one of the most important factors in building a successful career. Whether reporting crucial information from the battlefield, or writing a proposal for a key contract, the ability to communicate effectively cannot be understated. Furthermore, your ability to understand military training materials, as well as convey ideas, depends in part on your reading comprehension and vocabulary skill.

There are two different kinds of questions on the Word Knowledge subtest:

• Synonyms: identifying words that mean the same as the given words
• Context: determining the meaning of a word or phrase by noting how it is used in a sentence or paragraph

Synonyms

A word is a synonym of another word if it has the same or nearly the same meaning as the other word. Test questions often ask you to find the synonym or antonym of a word. If you're lucky, the word will be surrounded by a sentence that helps you guess what the word means. If you're less lucky, you will just get the word, and then you have to figure out what the word means without any context.

Questions that ask for synonyms can be tricky because they require you to recognize the meaning of several words that may be unfamiliar—not only the words in the questions but also the answer choices. Usually the best strategy is to look at the structure of the word and to listen for its sound. See if a part of a word looks familiar. Think of other words you know that have similar key elements. How could those words be related?

Synonym Practice

Try identifying the word parts and related words in these sample synonym questions. Circle the word that means the same or about the same as the italicized word. Answers and explanations appear right after the questions.

1. incoherent answer
   1. not understandable
   2. not likely
   3. undeniable
   4. challenging
2. ambiguous questions
   1. meaningless
   2. difficult
   3. simple
   4. vague
3. covered with debris
   1. good excuses
   2. transparent material
   3. scattered rubble
   4. protective material
4. inadvertently left
   1. mistakenly
   2. purposely
   3. cautiously
   4. carefully
5. exorbitant prices
   1. expensive
   2. unexpected
   3. reasonable
   4. outrageous
6. compatible workers
   1. gifted
   2. competitive
   3. harmonious
   4. experienced
7. belligerent attitude
   1. hostile
   2. reasonable
   3. instinctive
   4. friendly

Answers

The explanations are important because they show you how to go about choosing a synonym if you don't know the word.

1. a. Incoherent means not understandable. To cohere means to connect. A coherent answer connects or makes sense. The prefix in- means not.
2. d. Ambiguous questions are vague or uncertain. The key part of this word is ambi-, which means two or both. An ambiguous question can be taken two ways.
3. c. Debris is scattered fragments and trash.
4. a. Inadvertently means by mistake. The key element in this word is the prefix in-, which usually means not, or the opposite of.
5. d. The key element here is ex-, which means out of or away from. Exorbitant literally means "out of orbit." An exorbitant price would be an outrageous one.
6. c. Compatible means harmonious.
7. a. The key element in this word is the root belli-, which means warlike. The synonym choice, then, is hostile.

Context Questions

Context is the surrounding text in which a word is used. Most people use context to help them determine the meaning of an unknown word. A vocabulary question that gives you a sentence around the vocabulary word is usually easier to answer than one with little or no context. The surrounding text can help you as you look for synonyms for the specified words in the sentences.

The best way to take meaning from context is to look for key words in sentences or paragraphs that convey the meaning of the text. If nothing else, the context will give you a means to eliminate wrong answer choices that clearly don't fit. The process of elimination will often leave you with the correct answer.

Context Practice

Try these sample questions. Circle the word that best describes the meaning of the italicized word in the sentence.

8. The maintenance workers were appalled by the filthy, cluttered condition of the building.
   1. horrified
   2. amused
   3. surprised
   4. dismayed
9. Even though she seemed rich, the defendant claimed to be destitute.
   1. wealthy
   2. ambitious
   3. solvent
   4. poor
10. Though she was distraught over losing her keys, the woman was calm enough to remember she had a spare set.
    1. punished
    2. distracted
    3. composed
    4. anguished
11. The evil criminal expressed no remorse for his actions.
    1. sympathy
    2. regret
    3. reward
    4. complacency

Answers

Check to see whether you were able to pick out the key words that help you define the target word, as well as whether you got the right answer.

8. a. The key words filthy and cluttered signify horror rather than the milder emotions described by the other choices.
9. d. The key word here is rich, but this is a clue by contrast. The introductory even though signals that you should look for the opposite of the idea of having financial resources.
10. d. The key words here are though and losing her keys, signaling that you are looking for an opposite of calm in describing the woman. The only word strong enough to match the situation is anguish.
11. b. Remorse means regret for one's actions. The part of the word here to beware of is the prefix re-. It doesn't signify anything in this word, though it often means again or back. Don't be confused by the two choices that also contain the prefix re-. The strategy here is to see which word sounds better in the sentence. The key words are evil and no, indicating that you are looking for something that shows no repentance.

For Non-Native Speakers of English

Be very careful not to be confused by the sound of words that may mislead you. Be sure to look at the word carefully, and pay attention to the structure and appearance of the word as well as its sound. You may be used to hearing English words spoken with an accent. The sounds of those words may be misleading in choosing a correct answer.

Word Parts

The best way to improve your vocabulary is to learn word parts: roots, which are the main part of the word; prefixes, which go before the root word; or suffixes, which go after. Any of these elements can carry meaning or change the use of a word in a sentence. For instance, the suffix -s or -es can change the meaning of a noun from singular to plural: boy, boys. The prefix un- can change the meaning of a root word to its opposite: necessary, unnecessary.

In the sections on prefixes and suffixes are some of the word elements seen most often in vocabulary tests. Simply reading them and their examples for five to ten minutes a day will give you the quick recognition you need to make a good association with the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Prefixes

In order to be able to unlock the meaning of many words in our language, it is useful for you to understand what a prefix is. A prefix is a word part at the beginning of a word that changes or adds to the meaning of the root word in some way. By learning some common prefixes, you will learn to recognize many unfamiliar words. After you have completed the exercises in this chapter, you will become acquainted with the meanings suggested by some of the more common prefixes, which will improve your reading, speaking, and listening vocabularies.

antecedent
prefix: ante means before
(adj.)
going before in time
The event was _______to the Civil War.

antipathy
prefix: anti means against
(noun)
revulsion; any object of strong dislike
The child had an_______toward snakes.

circumvent
prefix: circum and circ mean around
(verb)
to go around; to catch in a trap; to gain superiority over; to prevent from happening
Police tried to_______the riot by moving the crowd along.

consensus
prefix: con means with, together
(noun)
agreement, especially in opinion
The committee reached_______about gun control.

controversy
prefix: contr means against
(noun)
a discussion of a question in which opposing views clash
There is a_______about building nuclear power plants.

decimate
prefix: dec means ten
(verb)
to destroy or kill a large portion of something; to take or destroy a tenth part of something
Caterpillars can_______trees.

demote
prefix: de means down, away from
(verb)
to lower in grade or position
Upper ranked officers can_______a lower ranked person.

disinterested
prefix: dis means not, opposite of
(adj.)
not motivated by personal interest or selfish motives
A loyal citizen is_______.

euphemism
prefix: eu means good, well
(noun)
the use of a word or phrase that is considered less distasteful or offensive than another
"She is at rest" is a_______for "she is dead."

exorbitant
prefix: ex means out of, away from
(adj.)
going beyond what is reasonable and proper
The colonists rebelled against_______taxes.

illegible
prefix: il means not, opposite
(adj.)
not able to be read
The student had to rewrite the_______paper.

intermittent
prefix: inter means between
(adj.)
stopping and starting again at intervals
The weather forecaster predicted_______showers.

malevolent
prefix: mal means bad
(adj.)
having an evil disposition toward others
A_______person rejoices in the misfortune of others.

precursor
prefix: pre means before
(noun)
a forerunner, a harbinger; one who or that which goes before
Calmness is usually a_______to a storm.

prognosis
prefix: pro means before
(noun)
a forecast; especially in medicine
The injured animal's_______for recovery is good.

retrospect
prefix: retro means back, again
(verb)
to think about the past
(noun)
looking back on or thinking about things past
In_______,the world leader wished he had acted differently.

subordinate
prefix: sub means under
(adj.)
inferior to or placed below another in rank, power, or importance
(noun)
a person or thing of lesser power or importance than another
(verb)
to treat as inferior or less important
The wise president treated her_______with respect.

synthesis
prefix: syn, or sym means with or together
(noun)
putting of two or more things to together to form a whole
In chemistry, the process of making a compound by joining elements together is called_______.

transcend
prefix: trans means across
(verb)
to go beyond the limits of; to overstep; to exceed
A seeing eye dog enables blind people to_______their disability.

trivial
prefix: tri means three
(adj.)
of little worth or importance
The research scientist did not have time for_______pursuits because he was so busy conducting important experiments.

Words in Context

The following exercise will help you figure out the meaning of some words from the previous list. Circle any context clues that help you figure out the meaning of the bold words.

In our country, the use of nuclear power as a viable source of energy has been an ongoing controversy. During the gas and oil shortages of the 1970s, energy prices were exorbitant. The federal government supported nuclear power as a new energy source that would be cost effective. Now, the President's National Energy Policy Report lists nuclear power as a safe and affordable alternative. Today, as in the past, many people have voiced their antipathy toward nuclear power plants, especially in the wake of the 1979 partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. At that time, scientists scrambled to circumvent a total meltdown in a facility that was designed to be fail-safe. There was great fear that the meltdown would be complete and decimate the area. Now, the federal government is once again promoting this alternative energy source.

Suffixes

Word endings that are added to the main part or root of words are called suffixes. Suffixes are word parts that signal how a word is being used in a sentence. You will note that each word in the list is a particular part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, or adverb). Suffixes often change the part of speech of a word.

For example, take the word deferment from the list below. A deferment is a noun that means a postponement. If the suffix (-ment) is removed, the word becomes defer, and it is used as a verb meaning to postpone.

As a verb it appears as defer:
I will defer the payment until next month.

As a noun it appears as it is:
The bank gave him a deferment.

As an adjective it appears as deferred:
The deferred payment is due in one month.

The following table shows a list of common suffixes. They are divided into the parts of speech, or the "jobs" they suggest for words. In the last column, add at least one other word that uses the suffix, besides the examples in the word list.

agrarian
suffix: -ian means one who is or does
(adj.)
having to do with agriculture or farming
The farmer loved his_______ life.

antagonist
suffix: -ist means one who
(noun)
one that contends with or opposes another
In the movie Batman, the Joker is Batman's_______ .

bigotry
suffix: -ry means state of
(noun)
unreasonable zeal in favor of a party, sect, or opinion; excessive prejudice
_______ can lead to malevolent actions.

consummate
suffix: -ate means to make
(verb)
to complete; to carry to the utmost degree
The business woman needed to_______ the deal quickly.

copious
suffix: -ious means having the quality of
(adj.)
abundant; plentiful; in great quantities
A_______ amount of sunshine is predicted for the summer.

cryptic
suffix: -ic means causing
(adj.)
hidden; secret; having a hidden or ambiguous meaning
The detective uncovered the meaning of the_______ message.

deferment
suffix: -ment means quality of
(noun)
the act of putting off or delaying; postponement
The bank offered the struggling college graduate a_______ on his student loan payment..

furtive
suffix: -ive means having the nature of
(adj.)
done in a stealthy manner; sly and underhanded
The two criminals who were in cahoots gave each other_______ looks behind the detective's back.

laudable
suffix: -able means capable of
(adj.)
praiseworthy
Her dedication and ability to rehabilitate the injured is_______ .

geology
suffix: -ology means study of
(noun)
the study of the history of the Earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks
The_______ major traveled to Mt. Etna to examine the effects of the volcano's most recent eruption. .

minimize
suffix: -ize means to subject to an action
(verb)
to play down; to keep to a minimum
The President tried to_______ his involvement in the trial so that he would not be implicated in the scandal..

mutation
suffix: -tion means action of, state of
(noun)
the act or process of changing
Scientists research gene_______ in fruit flies to see how genes change from one generation to the next.

obsolescence
suffix: -escence means state of
(noun)
the state of being outdated
With the advent of the personal computer, the typewriter has been in_______ for many years.

parity
suffix: -ity means state of being
(noun)
the state or condition of being the same in power, value, or rank; equality
Women and minorities continue to fight for_______ in the workplace.

pragmatism
suffix: -ism means state or doctrine of
(noun)
faith in the practical approach
The man's_______enabled him to run a successful business.

provocative
suffix: -ive means having the nature of
(adj.)
something that stirs up an action
The_______ words of the environmental activist inspired many to go volunteer for the community clean-up day.

puerile
suffix: -ify means to make
(verb)
to make right; to correct
The newspaper tried to_______the mistake by correcting the misprint.

rectify
suffix: -ity means state of being
(noun)
the state or condition of being the same in power, value, or rank; equality
Women and minorities continue to fight for_______ in the workplace.

relentless
suffix: -less means without
(adj.)
harsh; unmoved by pity; unstoppable
She was_______in her search for knowledge; she read everything she could get her hands on.

venerate
suffix: -ate means to make
(verb)
to look upon with deep respect and reverence
Some cultures_______ their elders.

Words in Context

The following exercise will help you figure out the meaning of some words from the previous list by looking at context clues. Circle any context clues that help you figure out the meaning of the bold word.

The latest remake of Planet of the Apes develops the theme of bigotry in a world where apes are the dominant culture and humans are enslaved. Parity between the two species is unthinkable because the simians regard humans as inferior creatures. Leo, the central character, is the story's protagonist. He is a human astronaut who lands on a strange planet where apes venerate their own kind by offering praise and promotions for negative actions taken against humans. Leo's antagonist, General Thade is the leader of the apes in this bizarre culture, and encourages the mistreatment of humans by apes. In General Thade's opinion, extermination of the humans is a laudable cause and he mounts a full-scale campaign to exterminate humans from the planet.

More Vocabulary Practice

Here is another set of practice exercises with samples of each kind of question covered in this chapter. Answers are at the end of the exercise.

Select the word that means the same or nearly the same as the italicized word.

12. congenial company
    1. friendly
    2. dull
    3. tiresome
    4. angry
13. conspicuous mess
    1. secret
    2. notable
    3. visible
    4. boorish

14. meticulous record-keeping
    1. dishonest
    2. casual
    3. painstaking
    4. careless
15. superficial wounds
    1. life-threatening
    2. bloody
    3. severe
    4. surface
16. impulsive actions
    1. cautious
    2. sudden
    3. courageous
    4. cowardly
17. tactful comments
    1. polite
    2. rude
    3. angry
    4. confused

Using the context, choose the word that means the same or nearly the same as the italicized word.

18. Though flexible about homework, the teacher was adamant that papers be in on time.
    1. liberal
    2. casual
    3. strict
    4. pliable
19. The condition of the room after the party was deplorable.
    1. regrettable
    2. pristine
    3. festive
    4. tidy
20. Though normally very gregarious, Martin was uncharacteristically shy and reserved when he attended the party.
    1. generous
    2. sociable
    3. stingy
    4. happy