Vocab Unit 1
In unit 1, we're going to learn about words that we can use to describe past experiences. Home is a place that can contain many kinds of memories. In this lesson, you'll learn some words to use when you want to talk about what home means to you.
anonymous
awed
humility
hysteria
lurch
perish
tranquility
valid
wholesome
woe
a
alliance
alternative
commence
indifference
meager
portray
simultaneous
taunt
urban
varied
adjourn
anthropology
circumnavigate
dramatize
monotonous
mutate
mutation
perception
precedence
secluded
a
belligerent
compel
doctrine
document
impulsive
initiative
itinerary
levitate
levity
rebellious
Synonyms
Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Each boldfaced word below is paired with a synonym whose meaning you probably know. Think of other words related to the synonym and write them on the line provided. Then look up the word in a dictionary and write its meaning.
Taunt - tease
Indifference - lack of preference
Commence - begin
Meager - thin
Simultaneous - at the same time
Urban - city
Varied - different
Portray - picture
Sentence Completion
Write the vocabulary word that best completes each sentence.
Because the two soccer games were ________, we could not watch them both.
"What time does the movie __________?" Jason asked, worried about being late.
Whether Shawna comes to the party is a matter of complete ____________ to most of the club members.
The two countries formed a secret ________ to defend each other in case of military attack.
The menu choices were extremely __________. I found several things I wanted to order.
Word Association
The main meaning of a word is contained in its root or base word. Base words are roots that are complete words. In the next few exercises, you'll identify some common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and learn how they work together to give meaning to words.
The root of mutation comes from mutare, the Latin word for "change." If you add the noun suffix -ion to this root, what might be the word's meaning?
Certain suffixes can change the part of speech of a word root. For example, -ate placed at the end of a root forms a verb. How would you define mutate?
Prefixes can be affixed to the beginning of roots to change their meanings. The root jour/journ means "day". Adding the Latin prefix ad-, meaning "to" or "toward," creates the word adjourn, which probably means:
Some words are formed without prefixes or suffixes by combining two roots. The Greek root anthrop/anthropo means "human being." The root logy comes from the Greek word for "word" and now means "study" or "science." What is anthropology?
The prefix mono- means "one." The Greek root ton means "tone" or "sound." The suffix -ous forms an adjective. If someone's speech is monotonous, how might you describe it?
Word Association
The main meaning of a word is contained in its root or base word. Base words are roots that are complete words. In the next few exercises, you'll identify some common roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and learn how they work together to give meaning to words.
The suffix -ion makes a root a noun. To perceive is "to observe." If you add the suffix -ion, what might perception mean?
The Latin word for boat is navis. Adding a verb suffix to this root forms the word navigate. If the Latin prefix circum- means "around," what might you be doing if you circumnavigate the world?
Some words have both prefixes and suffixes added to roots. The root cede/cess comes from the Latin for "go." Pre- is a prefix meaning "before," while -ence is a noun suffix. What might the word precedence mean?
Another verb suffix is -ize. Our word root drama means the same as the Greek word drama, which comes from the word for "do" or "act." What would you do if you were to dramatize a story?
The rute clude comes from the Latin word for "close." The prefix se- means "apart" or "away from." If a cabin is secluded, what other words could you use to describe it?
Base Words and Word Roots
For each word, click on the root or base word.
Rebellious
a
a
Belligerent
a
a
Doctrine
a
a
Document
a
a
Levity
a
a
Levitate
a
a
Initiative
a
a
Itinerary
Impulsive
a
a
Compel
a
a
Adjourn
a
a
Perception
a
a
Precedence
a
a
Secluded
a
a
Journey
a
a
Concede
Sentence Completion
Write the vocabulary word that best completes each sentence.
Ms. Jackson said she was proud of the class for taking the __________ in solving the problem of litter around the school building and sports fields.
The clowns' performance ended the evening on a note of _________, very different from the show's sober beginning.
The television program was about the Truman _______, President Harry Truman's belief that the United States had to oppose the Soviet Union following World War II.
You can lead a horse to water, but you certainly can't ________ it to drink!
Will the Grand Canyon be on your _________ for your camping trip?
We all felt that Rebecca was ____________ when she volunteered for the committee without even knowing what she would have to do.
The government soldiers had a difficult time defeating the ____________ forces in battle because they often disappeared into the jungle.