Working with Words Exercise Answers

Exercise 1

curious - positive nosy - negative interested - positive

lazy - negative relaxed - neutral slow - neutral

courageous - positive foolhardy - negative assured - positive

new - neutral newfangled - neutral modern - positive

mansion - positive shack - negative residence - neutral

spinster - negative unmarried woman - neutral career woman - positive

giggle - positive laugh - positive cackle - negative

boring - negative routine - neutral prosaic - negative

noted - neutral notorious - negative famous - positive

assertive - positive confident - positive pushy - negative

Exercise 2
She is writing a memoir in which she will reveal her family's hidden conflicts. Fran had a personal grievance with Benny, and she planned to confront him that night at the party. Mr. Muller was exasperated with the rowdy class of seventh graders. The essential reason is that Greg was fired because he missed too many days of work. Sometimes it is hard to cover expenses with just one paycheck. My brain is exhausted from pulling an all-nighter. Maria left the dishes in the sink all week to show Jeff what it feels like. While they were at the carnival, Janice exclaimed, "Time sure passes quickly when you are having fun!" Jeremy became speechless after the interviewer asked him where he saw himself in five years. Jordan was impeccably dressed that night.

Exercise 3
I wanted to ease my stomach discomfort, so I drank some ginger root tea.
Lenny looked funny in his mismatched shirt and pants.
Penelope felt unglamorous at the party because she was the only one not wearing a dress.
My mother said those anti-aging creams do not work, so I should not waste my money on them.
The child’s substandard performance on the test alarmed his parents.
When my sister first saw the meteor, she thought it was a supernatural phenomenon.
Even though she got an excellent job offer, Cherie did not want to relocate to a different country.
With a small class size, the students get to interact with the teacher more frequently.
I slipped on the ice because I did not heed the cautions about watching my step.
A noncombatant is another word for civilian.

Exercise 4

Exercise 5
a. lenient - relaxed
b. abandon - vacate
c. berate - criticize
d. experienced - matured
e. spiteful - malevolent
f. tame - subdued
g. tasty - savory
h. banal - common
i. contradict - deny
j. vain - boastful

Exercise 6

Lucinda is very adroit on the balance beam, but Constance is rather clumsy. Context Clue: "but Constance is rather clumsy."

I saw the entomologist, a scientist who studies insects, cradle the giant dung beetle in her palm. Context Clue: "a scientist who studies insects"

Lance’s comments about politics were irrelevant and meaningless to the botanist’s lecture on plant reproduction. Context Clue: "botanist’s lecture on plant reproduction"

Before I left for my trip to the Czech Republic, I listened to my mother’s sage advice and made a copy of my passport. Context Clue: "sage advice"

His rancor, or hatred, for socializing resulted in a life of loneliness and boredom. Context Clue: "or hatred"

Martin was mortified, way beyond embarrassment, when his friends teamed up to shove him into the pool. Context Clue: "way beyond embarrassment"

The petulant four-year-old had a baby sister who was, on the contrary, not grouchy at all. Context Clue: "on the contrary"

The philosophy teacher presented the students with several conundrums, or riddles, to solve. Context Clue: "several conundrums, or riddles"

Most Americans are omnivores, people that eat both plants and animals. Context Clue: "people that eat both plants and animals."

Elena is effervescent, as excited as a cheerleader, for example, when she meets someone for the first time. Context Clue: "as excited as a cheerleader"