Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Help

Understanding the words used to construct sentences is the best way to begin practicing for a reading comprehension test. Using a dictionary is, of course, the best way to define a word. Get into the habit of using a dictionary as you work through this book. Make it part of your basic study materials, and keep it right beside you as you go through this book.

But if you're in a testing situation and you are not allowed to use one, rely on the context clues in the sentence. The term context clues means that other words in the sentence "give away" or give clues to the definition. For example, sometimes you will find synonyms (words that mean the same thing) or antonyms (words that mean the opposite), or details that lead you to identify the vocabulary word in question. Once in a while, you will find a group of words set off by commas (called an appositive), which gives you a very clear definition of the word.

Read the following sentences and try to choose the best definition for the italicized word by searching for context clues in the sentence.

1. The designer window treatments in her house, installed 17 years ago, were outmoded.
   1. unnecessary
   2. pointless
   3. out-of-date
   4. worthless
2. The spies conducted a covert operation.
   1. dangerous
   2. foreign
   3. hidden
   4. illegal
3. The baseball player's malice toward the referee was revealed in his spiteful remarks to the media, which almost ruined the referee's career.
   1. vindictive
   2. crazy
   3. rude
   4. unpleasant
4. Although Zachary is much too inexperienced for the managerial position, he is a willful young man and obdurately refuses to withdraw his application.
   1. foolishly
   2. reluctantly
   3. constantly
   4. stubbornly
5. His neighbor's superficial remarks trivialized the property line dispute and infuriated Malcolm.
   1. enraged
   2. petty
   3. insulting
   4. misleading
6. She showed a blatant disregard for the rules.
   1. obvious
   2. hidden
   3. last-minute
   4. rebellious
7. Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the night of the party, Tanya's outfit was uncharacteristically modest.
   1. impeccable
   2. showy
   3. sloppy
   4. unassuming
8. Mr. Powers was so gullible that he believed even the most outlandish excuses of his insincere employees.
   1. intelligent
   2. naïve
   3. dishonest
   4. critical
9. You cannot become a certified teacher without completing the prerequisite student-teaching assignment.
   1. required
   2. optional
   3. preferred
   4. advisable
10. Charles, aware of his susceptibility to gum disease, is diligent about flossing.
    1. uncomfortable
    2. excited
    3. thorough
    4. ambivalent
11. Even though she'd read her supervisor's memo four or five times, she still found his rambling message ambiguous.
    1. profound
    2. inspiring
    3. ridiculous
    4. unclear
12. Excited about winning the award, Marcia walked up to the podium and delivered an animated acceptance speech.
    1. abbreviated
    2. courteous
    3. reserved
    4. lively
13. The intermittent rain soaked the garden many different times during the day.
    1. protracted
    2. periodic
    3. incredulous
    4. light
14. I got a vicarious thrill watching you on the diving board.
    1. shared
    2. unpleasant
    3. adventurous
    4. evil
15. After several small brushfires at the campground, officials felt the need to augment the rules pertaining to campfires.
    1. criticize
    2. retract
    3. consider
    4. expand
16. As soon as the details of the election were released to the media, the newspaper was inundated with calls—far too many to be handled effectively.
    1. provided
    2. bothered
    3. rewarded
    4. flooded
17. The doctor got to the crux of the issue.
    1. outline
    2. opposite
    3. crucial point
    4. unhealthy
18. When people heard that timid Bob had taken up skydiving, they were incredulous.
    1. fearful
    2. outraged
    3. convinced
    4. disbelieving
19. The technical department enthusiastically hired Ms. Long because she was proficient in the use of computers.
    1. sincere
    2. adequate
    3. competent
    4. skilled
20. Even under tremendous public pressure, the planning committee would not commit itself wholeheartedly to the proposal and gave only tentative approval to the waterfront development plan.
    1. provisional
    2. ambiguous
    3. unnecessary
    4. total
21. The preacher used a euphemism for an unpleasant subject.
    1. ugly picture
    2. substituted word
    3. homeless person
    4. visual aid
22. Since the townspeople were so dissatisfied, various methods to alleviate the situation were debated.
    1. ease
    2. tolerate
    3. clarify
    4. intensify
23. That perfume always evokes pleasant memories.
    1. angers
    2. erases
    3. calls up
    4. confuses
24. The attorney wanted to expedite the process because her client was becoming impatient.
    1. accelerate
    2. evaluate
    3. reverse
    4. justify
25. The suspect gave a plausible explanation for his presence at the scene, so the police decided to look elsewhere for the perpetrator of the crime.
    1. unbelievable
    2. credible
    3. insufficient
    4. apologetic
26. He based his conclusion on what he inferred from the evidence, not on what he actually observed.
    1. predicted
    2. imagined
    3. surmised
    4. implied
27. The neighborhood-watch group presented its ultimatum at the town board meeting: Repave the streets or prepare for protests.
    1. earnest plea
    2. formal petition
    3. solemn promise
    4. non-negotiable demand
28. The editor of the newspaper needed to be sure the article presented the right information, so his review was meticulous.
    1. delicate
    2. painstaking
    3. superficial
    4. objective
29. The general public didn't care about the trial and was apathetic about the verdict.
    1. enraged
    2. indifferent
    3. suspicious
    4. saddened
30. The doctors were pleased that their theory had been fortified by the new research.
    1. reinforced
    2. altered
    3. disputed
    4. developed
31. The captain often delegated responsibility to his subordinates, so as to have time to do the important tasks himself.
    1. analyzed
    2. respected
    3. criticized
    4. assigned
32. The news about toxic waste dumping aroused the anger of many viewers of the news broadcast.
    1. informed
    2. appeased
    3. provoked
    4. deceived
33. The athlete was adroit at handling the ball.
    1. clumsy
    2. large
    3. obnoxious
    4. skillful
34. The new shipping and receiving building is an expansive facility, large enough to meet our growing needs.
    1. obsolete
    2. meager
    3. spacious
    4. costly
35. The attorneys were now certain they could not win the case, because the ruling had proved to be so detrimental to their argument.
    1. decisive
    2. harmful
    3. worthless
    4. advantageous
36. My brother drives us crazy by crooning in the shower.
    1. hooting
    2. bellowing
    3. crying
    4. shouting
37. Mark seems very pensive today.
    1. writing
    2. hostile
    3. cooped-up
    4. thoughtful
38. The air in the rainforest was humid, making the heat seem even more smothering than before.
    1. hot
    2. damp
    3. hazy
    4. volatile
39. The balloon, loose from its string, rose up into the sky, a shiny purple sphere.
    1. circle
    2. globe
    3. ovoid
    4. nodule
40. After the storm caused raw sewage to seep into the ground water, the Water Department had to take measures to decontaminate the city's water supply.
    1. refine
    2. revive
    3. freshen
    4. purify
41. Please say something that will edify the audience.
    1. perplex
    2. annoy
    3. instruct
    4. amuse
42. The volcano lies dormant now, but we feel sure that it will erupt again within the year.
    1. inactive
    2. slack
    3. elevated
    4. inattentive
43. Because of his disregard for the king's laws, the prince was punished by being banished from the kingdom.
    1. apart
    2. kidnapped
    3. exiled
    4. spirited
44. I relinquished my place in line to go back and talk with my friend Diane
    1. defended
    2. yielded
    3. delayed
    4. remanded
45. He juxtaposed the book's ideas with current events, showing us how they related.
    1. caused confusion
    2. bend and fold
    3. placed side-by-side
    4. threw away
46. The thief jostled me in a crowd and was thus able to pick my pocket.
    1. mugged
    2. bumped
    3. assailed
    4. hindered
47. While we traveled in Italy, we stayed in an inexpensive hostel.
    1. inn
    2. compound
    3. home
    4. four-star hotel
48. My friend asked me to lie for her, but that is against my philosophy.
    1. principles
    2. regulations
    3. personality
    4. introspection

Choose the best vocabulary word for questions 49–51.

49. We had no idea who the special guest speaker would be, because the organizers of the event were so _____
    1. animated
    2. secretive
    3. talented
    4. emotional
50. Cindy had some _____ about marrying George, because he was sometimes violent.
    1. enthusiasm
    2. ignorance
    3. trepidation
    4. urgency
51. He asked his wife to _____ the situation after she had offended the neighbor.
    1. rectify
    2. exacerbate
    3. ruminate
    4. extend

    5. Questions 52 and 53 are based on the following paragraph.

       Rhesus monkeys use facial expressions to communicate with each other and to enforce social order. For example, the "fear grimace," although it looks ferocious, is actually given by a _____ monkey who is intimidated by a _____ member of the group.

52. What is the meaning of the underlined word grimace as it is used in the passage?
    1. wrinkle
    2. contortion
    3. shriek
    4. simper
53. Which pair of words, if inserted into the blanks in sequence, makes the most sense in the context of the passage?
    1. calm … aggressive
    2. dominant … subordinate
    3. confident … fearless
    4. subordinate … dominant



Questions 54 and 55 are based on the following paragraph.

In prolonged space flight, besides the obvious hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation, astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when they return to Earth, they face a protracted period of weight training to rebuild their strength.

54. What is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debris as it is used in this passage?
    1. fragments
    2. decay
    3. bacteria
    4. alien life
55. The underlined word atrophy, as used in the paragraph, most nearly means
    1. pain.
    2. wasting.
    3. weakening
    4. cramping.

Question 56 is based on the following paragraph.

Most of the women in the orchestra wore conventional black skirts and white shirts during concerts and had their hair neatly pulled back. Robin, with her brightly colored clothing and unusual hairstyles, was considered quite eccentric.

56. What is the meaning of the underlined word eccentric as it is used in the sentence?
    1. unconventional
    2. joyful
    3. unreliable
    4. proud

Questions 57, 58, and 59 are based on the following paragraph.

Donna's memo caused much contention around the office last week. She may have meant well, but her usually caustic tone offended almost everybody. She has become a consistent nuisance at work, and probably should be fired.

57. Based on the tone of the passage, which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward Donna?
    1. exasperated
    2. admiring
    3. patronizing
    4. isolated
58. The underlined word caustic, as used in this passage, most nearly means
    1. cause and effect.
    2. reoccurring.
    3. biting.
    4. unclear.
59. What is the meaning of the underlined word contention as it is used in this passage?
    1. theorizing
    2. discord
    3. gossip
    4. calm