SAT+Vocab+Lesson+2

Back to Vocabulary Home : Use graphic organizer to record definitions, part of speech, synonyms & antonyms, and compose sentences. View the PPT show to see synonyms and antonyms:

Quiz yourself with Flashcards

 * === **antithesis** === || === **diaphanous** === || === **impotent** === ||
 * === **bauble** === || === **effete** === || === **labyrinth** === ||
 * === **bestial** === || === **emendation** === || === **maelstrom** === ||
 * === **bland** === || === **gloat** === || === **nihilism** === ||
 * === **chagrin** === || === **impediment** === |||| === **shard** === ||

Complete the practice exercises below, and email them to bhs[at]gmail[dot]com.

 * **impotent** || **bestial** || **maelstrom** || **labyrinth** ||
 * **impediment** || **emendation** || **chagrin** ||  ||
 * **diaphanous** || **gloat** || **antithesis** ||  ||

**__Exercise 1__**
Loren, the new manager, is the _(1) of compassion; just yesterday, she fired two people because they were late to work once this week. Corporate headquarters, upset with declining sales, appointed Loren to replace a[n] _(2) manager who had been spotted on the golf course during work hours one-too-many times.

Loren's many changes and _(3) to company guidelines caused a[n] _(4) in both the warehouse and the salesroom. Employees faced evaluations and new instructions that drove many to resign; however, it was all just a part of Loren's plan. The people who quit, she reasoned, were just _(5) to meeting the expected monthly profit margin.

Loren spent the first two weeks familiarizing herself with the _(6) of shelves and palettes in the warehouse. Shreds of textiles littered parts of the packaging area; some were hefty snippets of wool, and others were _(7) scraps of silk that hovered in the gust created by passing forklifts. She occasionally stopped to introduce herself to workers, but she ceased her introductions after noticing the regular look of _(8) on workers' faces as they scrambled to look busy or stumbled over the proper responses to her questions. After the first round of resignations and firings, most of the workers were intimidated by Loren's _(9) management techniques.

__**Exercise 2**__ Most of the office personnel assumed that Devon's home life was as _(10) as his uninteresting manner at work. Reserved and soft spoken, Devon sat at a desk every day filling out purchase orders and staring at the only ornamental object on his desk: a glass paperweight with a brass tag commemorating fifteen years of service--a[n] _(11) presented to Devon by the company in lieu of a bonus or a raise. It must not have been very sentimental to Devon because he did not say a word when one of the interns accidentally knocked the glass bubble to the floor, where the _(12) still can be heard crunching beneath the wheels of antiquated office chairs.
 * bauble || bland || shard || nihilism ||
 * labyrinth || effete || gloat || bestial ||

The passing years took a toll on Devon's unremarkable body. In the months following the fall of the paperweight, he developed a weary look, _(13) from the exhausting monotony of filling out purchase orders for fifteen years. Occasionally, in the break room, he listened to some of the younger workers _(14) about how quickly they were promoted; most were at least ten years younger than Devon and had half the experience. A hidden rage boiled within Devon every time he overheard the familiar brag of a new, young manager. The promotions were prime examples of _(15) in the company, he reasoned; "I've got the seniority, not those kids," he'd mumble to himself, but never loud enough for anyone to hear.

__**Exercise 3**__ Complete the sentence in a way that shows you understand the meaning of the italicized vocabulary word. You may begin your sentence with the vocabulary word, followed by an ellipsis and your completion of the sentence. **You must add at least seven (7) words**: remember, we're trying to write eleventh grade sentences! See the model below.


 * Model Sentence**
 * Sentence Stem: Todd's parents did not hide their //chagrin// after their son...
 * My response: chagrin...toilet papered the neighborhood and several neighbors complained.

1. People knew that Jimmy practiced //nihilism// when he... 2. Heidi's friends did not want to hear her //gloat// about... 3. //Shards// of broken taillights littered the highway after... 4. The crowd knew that the //impotent// boxer would not be able to... 5. When Dave submitted a term paper that required //emendations//, the teacher... 6. Mary scolded Bert for wasting money on useless //baubles//, such as... 7. Ashley was suspended for wearing a //diaphanous// shirt to... 8. The mall is a //labyrinth//, so check the map so that you will... 9. Vicky caused a //maelstrom// of panic when she told everyone that... 10. Chrissie is the //antithesis// of Ben because she is friendly to strangers while he... 11. The largest //impediment// to crossing the river is... 12. Your dinner will taste //bland// if you do not... 13. The team must change its //effete// strategy if... 14. The soldier enduring //bestial// treatment after...