Test Taking Tips:

1. Test Taking Tips: Vocabulary

2. Tip 1: Look for other words in the passage that have a meaning similar to the unknown word. • The passage often will give clues about the meaning of the unknown word. • Example: Moe was obviously vexed; Larry had never seen him looking so annoyed with Curly. • Can you think of another word that means annoyed?

3. What does vexed mean? • A. bored • B. irritated • C. idiotic • D. entertained

4. Tip 2: Look for causes and effects connected to the unknown word. • Cause-and –effect relationships can sometimes give you clues to the meaning of an unknown word. • Example: The amateur magician grew more and more chagrined as members of the audience yelled out the supposed secret to every trick. • How do you think the behavior of the audience made the magician feel?

5. What does chagrined mean? • Enthusiastic • Frightened • Confident • Embarrassed

6. Tip 3: Look for clues showing that the unknown word fits into a category. • If a word appears in a list of things or in the description of a scene, you should be able to guess its meaning by the way it fits into the “world” that contains the other items . • Example: The sculptor preferred to work with pliable materials such as clay, wire, and soft metals. • What characteristics do the materials listed have in common?

7. What does pliable mean? • Lightweight • Sturdy • Flexible • Colorful

8. Tip 4: Look for clues that point to the opposite meaning of the unknown word. • Words such as but, despite, although, surprisingly, and not, can tell you a lot about what a word doesn’t mean. • Use the information in the sentence to figure out the word’s opposite. That should give you a good hint as to what the word does mean. • Example: What a shock! We had expected him to be morose, but he showed up at the party and danced until dawn, wearing a constant smile on his untroubled face. • What words describe the opposite of morose?

9. What does morose mean? • Late • Sad • Pleasant • Odd

10. Tip 5: Learn common root, prefixes, and suffixes.

11. These four most frequent prefixes account for 97 percent of prefixed words in printed school English. • Prefix Meaning Key Word • dis- not, opposite of disagree • in-, im-, il-, ir- not injustice, impossible • re- again return • un- not unfriendly

12. Four Common Suffixes: • Suffix Meaning Usage • able, ible capable of portable - able to be carried legible - able to be read • eer, er, or person who mountaineer - person who climbs mountains teacher - one who teaches advisor - person who advises • ize, ise to make harmonize – make harmonious revolutionize - make revolutionary • ous full of nauseous - full of nausea ludicrous - foolish