Word Skills

Front 1

Words Signaling Definition and Restatement

Back 1

which is
that is
or
in other words
also known as
also called

Front 2

Refers to the words or sentences before or after a certain word that help explain what the word means.

Back 2

Context

Front 3

There are several types of _______ _____ you can look for, including definition and restatement, example, comparison, contrast, and cause and effect.

Back 3

context clues

Front 4

Sometimes a writer will directly define a word, especially if the word is a technical term that may be unfamiliar to readers.

The new music was dissonant, that is, it sounded harsh and incomplete.

Back 4

Definition and Restatement

Front 5

More often, a writer will restate the meaning of a word in a less precise form than a dictionary definition.

John sat at the periphery of the audience, as far away from the stage as possible.

Back 5

Definition and Restatement

Front 6

The context in which a word appears may include on or more ________ that are clues to its meaning. Look at the following sentence.

Writers use many literary genres, such as poetry, the short story, and the novel, to express their ideas.

Back 6

examples

Front 7

Words Signaling an _______.

like
for example
including
for instance
such as
these include
especially
other
this
these

Back 7

Words Signaling an Example

Front 8

Words Signaling a __________.

like
similar to
similarly
as
resembling
identical
in the same way
likewise
related

Back 8

Words signaling a Comparison

Front 9

Context may also help reveal the meaning of a word through ________, as in this example:

Maria was lethargic in school, but she was a bundle of energy at cheerleading practice.

Back 9

contrast

Front 10

Words Signaling ________.

but
on the other hand
instead
although
unlike
different
on the contrary
in contrast to
however

Back 10

Words Signaling Contrast

Front 11

Words Signaling _____ ___ ______.

because
consequently
so
since
therefore
as a result

Back 11

Words Signaling Cause and Effect

Front 12

The _____ of an action or event may be stated using an unfamiliar word. If, however, the ______ is stated in familiar terms, it can help you understand the unfamiliar word.

Back 12

(a) cause

(b) effect

Front 13

Often the clues to the meaning of an unfamiliar word are not in the same sentence. In such cases you will need to look at the sentences that surround the word and ______, or draw a conclusion abut, the word's meaning. A single piece of information several sentences away from the unfamiliar word may unlock the meaning.

Back 13

infer

Front 14

Prefixes that have only one meaning.

bene-

Back 14

good.

example: benefit

Front 15

Words Signaling _____ ___ ______.

because
consequently
so
since
therefore
as a result

Back 15

Words Signaling Cause and Effect

Front 16

The _____ of an action or event may be stated using an unfamiliar word. If, however, the ______ is stated in familiar terms, it can help you understand the unfamiliar word.

Back 16

(a) cause

(b) effect

Front 17

Often the clues to the meaning of an unfamiliar word are not in the same sentence. In such cases you will need to look at the sentences that surround the word and ______, or draw a conclusion abut, the word's meaning. A single piece of information several sentences away from the unfamiliar word may unlock the meaning.

Back 17

infer

Front 18

Prefixes that have only one meaning.

bene-

Back 18

good.

example: benefit

Front 19

alter

Back 19

to make different; modify.

Front 20

chemist

Back 20

an expert in chemistry.

Front 21

condition

Back 21

manner or state of being; state of health; social rank; anything called for as a requirement; to bring into desired form

Front 22

conduct

Back 22

to carry on; manage; lead; behavior; management.

Front 23

detect

Back 23

to discover the existence or presence of.

Front 24

development

Back 24

growth; an event or happening.

Front 25

establish

Back 25

to start; organize.

Front 26

florist

Back 26

one who sells flowers; one who grows flowers for sale.

Front 27

formation

Back 27

a thing formed; the way in which something is arranged; structure.

Front 28

frequently

Back 28

often; usually.

Front 29

guarantee

Back 29

(n.) a promise regarding the satisfactory performance of a product or satisfactory outcome of an event; a pledge; (v.) to promise, to pledge.

Front 30

handicap

Back 30

(n.) disability or limitation; drawback; (v.) to put at a disadvantage.

Front 31

informative

Back 31

(adj.) instructive; educational

Front 32

inseparable

Back 32

(adj.) unable to be parted; joined very closely.

Front 33

magnificent

Back 33

(adj.) splendid; extremely impressive.

Front 34

observe

Back 34

(v.) to look at closely; examine; watch.

Front 35

prediction

Back 35

(n.) a statement of what one thinks will happen.

Front 36

render

Back 36

(v.) to deliver; to present.

Front 37

safeguard

Back 37

(n.) protection, a precaution; (v.) to protect against; keep secure.

Front 38

seasonal

Back 38

(adj.) dependent upon the seasons or time of year.

Front 39

alteration

Back 39

(n.) the act of making something different; the act of revising or altering; an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another.

Front 40

alternate

Back 40

(adj.) of leaves and branches, etc.; serving or used in place of another; (n.) someone who takes the place of another person. (v.) do something in turns; go back and forth; reverse (direction, attitude, course of action);

Front 41

conductor

Back 41

(n.) a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc.; the person who leads a musical group; the person who collects fares on a public conveyance; a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat.

Front 42

detection

Back 42

(n.) the act of detecting something; a police investigation to determine the perpetrator; the perception that something has occurred or some state exists; the detection that a signal is being received.

Front 43

detector

Back 43

(n.) any device that receives a signal or stimulus and responds to it in a distinctive manner; electronic equipment that detects the presence of radio signals or radioactivity; rectifier that extracts modulation from a radio carrier wave.

Front 44

develop

Back 44

(v.) come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); change the use of and make available or usable; expand in the form of a series; grow, progress, unfold, or evolve.

Front 45

floral

Back 45

(adj.) resembling or made of or suggestive of flowers; of or relating to the plant life in a particular region; relating to or associated with flowers.

Front 46

frequency

Back 46

(n.) the number of observations in a given statistical category; the ratio of the number of observations in a statistical category to the total number of observations; the number of occurrences within a given time period.

Front 47

handicapped

Back 47

(adj.) incapable of functioning as a consequence of injury or illness; (n.) people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped.

Front 48

infrequent

Back 48

(adj.) not frequent.

Front 49

magnification

Back 49

(n.) the act of expanding something in apparent size; a photographic print that has been enlarged; making to seem more important than it really is; the ratio of the size of the object.

Front 50

magnificence

Back 50

(n.) splendid or imposing in size or appearance; the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand.

Front 51

magnify

Back 51

(v.) make large; increase in size, volume or significance; to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth.

Front 52

nonchemical

Back 52

(adj.) used of a single unit or thing.

Front 53

observation

Back 53

(n.) the act of observing; the act of making and recording a measurement; the act of noticing or paying attention; facts learned by observing; a remark expressing careful consideration.

Front 54

reestablish

Back 54

(v.) bring back into original existence, use, function, or position.

Front 55

unobserved

Back 55

(adj.) not observed.

Front 56

unseasonable

Back 56

(adj.) not in keeping with (and usually undesirable for) the season; badly timed.

Front 57

abnormal

Back 57

(adj.) unusual; unnatural.

Front 58

accumulate

Back 58

(v.) to collect; pile up.

Front 59

cluster

Back 59

(n.) a number of things or persons gathered together; bunch; (v.) to gather or grow together.

Front 60

curious

Back 60

(adj.) questioning; eager for information.

Front 61

desperate

Back 61

(adj.) extremely dangerous or serious hopeless.

Front 62

effectiveness

Back 62

(n.) usefulness; forcefulness.

Front 63

endear

Back 63

(v.) to make beloved.

Front 64

mission

Back 64

(n.) the special duty that a person or group is sent to do; a group of persons sent by a church or government to perform a special duty.

Front 65

mute

Back 65

(n.) silent; unable to speak; (v.) to reduce the sound of; silence.

Front 66

mutiny

Back 66

(n.) revolt against authority (especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers); (v.) to rebel; disobey.

Front 67

quest

Back 67

(n.) to go in search; (v.) or pursuit of.

Front 68

repulsive

Back 68

(adj.) disgusting; upsetting.

Front 69

suspense

Back 69

(n.) mental uncertainty; state of excitement regarding the outcome of an event.

Front 70

technician

Back 70

(n.) one having special scientific or mechanical skills.

Front 71

testimony

Back 71

(n.) any form of evidence; a statement made by a witness under oath in a court of law.

Front 72

transformation

Back 72

(n.) change in shape, size, appearance, or character,

Front 73

untimely

Back 73

(adj.) occurring at the wrong time; before the natural or proper time.

Front 74

venture

Back 74

(n.) a risky undertaking, particularly in a business or financial sense; (v.) to risk; dare.

Front 75

vital

Back 75

(adj.) essential; necessary; full of life.

Front 76

zeal

Back 76

(n.) enthusiasm.