Vocabulary Workbook

ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS LAB
VOCABULARY & READING COMPREHENSION WORKBOOK

SYNONYMS
WORKSHEET 1
Choose the right synonyms for the words given in quotations.
1. Their success was ‘apparent’ after their performance.

[A] obvious [B] certain [C] doubtful [D] inevitable
2. The workers have shown their ‘dexterity’ in the work.

[A] hard work [B] anger [C] skillfulness [D] knowledge
3. The company is determined to ‘retain’ all its employees even after such a huge loss.
[A] dismiss [B] suspend [C] punish [D] keep
4. The ‘resumption’ of the class was not liked.

[A] start [B] introduction [C] continuation [D] revision
5. We bought a few expensive ‘utensils.’

[A] machines [B] apparatus [C] dresses [D] bags
6. She made a ‘gorgeous’ appearance.

[A] dazzling [B] sudden [C] unexpected [D] disdainful
7. The mayor is a ‘prominent’ figure in the city.

[A] dominant [B] recognizable [C] respectable [D] popular
8. The principal finally ‘renounced’ his faith in nonviolence

[A] published [B] abandoned [C] declared [D] expressed
9. School students ‘haggle’ over cheap books.

[A] fight [B] demand [C] bargain [D] discus
10. Indians always talk over their past ‘glory’.

[A] history [B] deeds [C] achievements [D] splendor
Dr S. JAYASRINIVASA RAO
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SYNONYMS
WORKSHEET 2
1. The statue of the king is a ‘colossal’ monument.

[A] impressive [B] massive [C] expensive [D] luxurious
2. The teacher gave a ‘vivid’ narration.

[A] clear [B] detailed [C] brief [D] apt
3. My wife loves to be in ‘solitude’.

[A] comfort [B] luxury [C] company [D] seclusion
4. The committee ‘condemns’ the behavior of the president.

[A] denounce [B] appreciate [C] commemorate [D] approve
5. The boy ‘denies’ any involvement.

[A] accepts [B] doubts [C] refuses [D] confesses
6. The officer tried to hide his ‘frustration’.

[A] excitement [B] annoyance [C] suspicion [D] aspiration
7. The two highways ‘converge’ in this place.

[A] meet [B] separate [C] originate [D] break
8. Abolition of corruption has become a ‘mirage’.

[A] challenge [B] stigma [C] ordeal [D] illusion
9. Blood ‘oozed’ out of the cut.

[A] spread [B] coagulated [C] seeped [D] peeped
10. I asked you to explain the ‘criterion’.

[A] problem [B] aspects [C] condition [D] statement
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SYNONYMS
WORKSHEET 3
1. His entire career ‘pivots’ around the results of this examination.

[A] revolves [B] depends [C] shaped [D] determined
2. The lecturer always uses ‘bombastic’ words.

[A] strange [B] difficult [C] pompous [D] big
3. Her ‘persistence’ finally paid off.

[A] perseverance [B] efforts [C] wisdom [D] patience
4. The ball ‘ricocheted’ and hit his face.

[A] swished [B] flew [C] bounced [D] rebounded
5. The door was always kept ‘ajar’.

[A] open [B] close [C] bolted [D] locked
6. Our man is a ‘vociferous’ opponent in the parliament.

[A] popular [B] influential [C] strong [D] noisy
7. I never hesitate to fight for a ‘legitimate’ cause.

[A] clear [B] strong [C] right [D] important
8. The detectives are investigating the ‘scam’...

[A] murder [B] swindle [C] robbery [D] drug trade
9. The minister is worried over the ‘fiscal’ deficit.

[A] financial [B] fuel [C] security [D] terrorism
10. The company is desperate to offer a ‘remedy’.

[A] amount [B] employment [C] promotion [D] relief
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SYNONYMS
WORKSHEET 4
1. It is advisable to ‘hire’ a condominium during your trip.

[A] rent [B] buy [C] purchase [D] reach
2. He is the one who wrote those two ‘voluminous’ books.

[A] valuable [B] large [C] standard [D] worthless
3. The meeting ended in ‘chaos’.

[A] problems [B] good note [C] confusion [D] enmity
4. The ‘feasibility’ of this project rests heavily on you.

[A] liability [B] responsibility [C] disposability [D] achievability
5. ‘Vigorous’ exercise has shaped his body.

[A] forceful [B] regular [C] good [D] valuable
6. This incident will ‘devastate’ the entire family.

[A] elevate [B] fortify [C] popularize [D] demolish
7. The whole group was ‘indifferent’ to the comments.

[A] different [B] reacted [C] unresponsive [D] unrecognizable
8. The government authorities are restricted from using ‘lethal’ weapons to control small
riots.
[A] heavy [B] deadly [C] modern [D] sophisticated
9. The patient is suffering from ‘amnesia’.

[A] forgetfulness [B] sleeplessness [C] insanity [D] madness
10. We are happy to express our ‘gratitude’

[A] willingness [B] success [C] wealth [D] thanks
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ANTONYMS
WORKSHEET 1
Choose the right antonyms for the words given in quotations:
1. The slaves bubbled with ‘animosity’.

[A] hostility [B] cordiality [C] reverence [D] hatred
2. They were forced to take action under ‘desperate’ circumstances.

[A] calm [B] friendly [C] difficult [D] amicable
3. The suspect ‘denied’ all charges.

[A] refused [B] agreed [C] assured [D] revealed
4. The president of India is a ‘vivacious’ person.

[A] tranquil [B] vigorous [C] sorrowful [D] goofy
5. The old man is an ‘agnostic’.

[A] atheist [B] sinner [C] believer [D] preacher
6. The soldiers were determined to ‘violate’ the rules

[A] promote [B] reform [C] abolish [D] obey
7. The goddess appeared and gave him a ‘boon’

[A] fortune [B] punishment [C] curse [D] warning
8. It was a ‘proud’ display

[A] happy [B] humble [C] sad [D] shameful
9. The amateur’s performance was a real ‘cacophony’

[A] harmony [B] symphony [C] inferno [D] trash
10. The principal has made a ‘significant’ contribution

[A] true [B] false [C] important [D] trivial
11. The management asked him to describe the problem ‘succinctly’.

[A] briefly [B] elaborately [C] clearly [D] vaguely
12. Stuart is ‘taciturn’ on that subject.

[A] reserved [B] talkative [C] reticent [D] noisy
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13. His ‘reprimand’ is always sharp and quick.

[A] reproach [B] wit [C] appreciation [D] rebuke
14. It appears ‘obscure’ when it is read.

[A] comprehensible [B] novel [C] indelible [D] dull
15. It was an ‘extraneous’ comment.

[A] exaggerated [B] harsh [C] humble [D] pertinent
16. The alpine sun had burnished their faces and naked forearms to a deep, ‘lucent’ brown.
[A] dark [B] opaque [C] clear [D] deep
17. ‘Reminiscing’ about the early days of the department is not a pleasant experience.
[A] talking [B] forgetting [C] praising [D] blaming
18. He hastily ‘relinquished’ the siege.

[A] utilized [B] dropped [C] seized [D] gave up
19. Fleeing the city, he became a ‘destitute’.

[A] solvent [B] allegiant [C] felonious [D] delinquent
20. Media is a word that is ‘discountenanced’ by the Party.

[A] ridiculed [B] shambled [C] venerated [D] tolerated
Choose the right antonyms for the words given in capitals:
21. His NONCHALANT behavior irritates the committee.

[A] casual [B] concerned [C] worried [D] dispassionate
22. The court has ordered the defence counsel to produce TANGIBLE evidence.
[A] insubstantial [B] sufficient [C] indelible [D] indisputable
23. We are expecting you to have ACTIVE participation.

[A] torrid [B] tranquil [C] torpid [D] nemesis
24. She considers Michael Jackson to be RAUCOUS.

[A] gentle [B] fast [C] slow [D] rough
25. Some parts of eastern Africa will experience INCLEMENT weather for the next forty-eight
hours due to the presence of the hurricane.
[A] soft [B] gentle [C] pleasant [D] dry
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ANTONYMS
WORKSHEET 2
Choose the right antonyms:
1. Love – [A] adore [B] abhor [C] abet [D] clement
2. Criticize – [A] accolade [B] chide [C] coax [D] bliss
3. Modesty – [A] reveal [B] assume [C] conceit [D] compunction
4. Conflict – [A] confer [B] concur [C] converge [D] conflux
5. Sensitive – [A] crass [B] covert [C] cowardice [D] conjoin
6. Flout – [A] ponder [B] perfidy [C] reverence [D] baffle
7. Circumlocution – [A] succinct [B] verbiage [C] circumvent [D] pompous
8. Potable – [A] indomitable [B] undrinkable

[C] indigestible [D] uneatable
9. Pusillanimous – [A] courageous [B] contemptuous

[C] impecunious [D] impoverished
10. Clandestine – [A] proclivity [B] propensity

[C] specious [D] transparent
11. Noble – [A] unnoble [B] ignoble [C] ilnoble [D] innoble
12 Volatile - [A] explosive [B] stable [C] strong [D] monotonous
13. Impertinent - [A] respectable [B] ignorable [C] comfortable [D] important
14. Affluence - [A] influence [B] confluence [C] brevity [D] poverty
15. Resilient – [A] flexible [B] weak [C] strong [D] rigid
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ANTONYMS
WORKSHEET 3
Select the word or phrase which is closes to the OPPOSITE in meaning of
the bold word or phrase.
1. History abounds in instances of courage.

A. shines B. lacks C. suffices D. fails
2. The inhabitants of the island were barbarians.

A. civilized B. cruel C. uncivilized D. bad
3. The members thought that the task was feasible.

A. impractical B. impossible C. difficult D. impracticable
4. Crestfallen he returned as he had never faced such humiliation in the whole of his
life.
A. vainglorious B. indignant C. triumphant D. disturbed
5. Feasibility of the project is under study.

A. unsuitability B. cheapness C. impropriety D. impracticability
6. The incessant noise of the boring machine made it difficult for us to go to sleep at
night.
A. intermittent B. harsh C. soft D. constant
7. Unsettled conditions in the land led to exodus of hundreds of its citizens.

A. invasion B. entry C. immigration D. expulsion
8. Many people try to resist reforms in the society.

A. fight B. accept C. welcome D. repel
9. Because of the economy drive, they very unwillingly surrendered

some superfluous posts.
A. important B. relevant C. significant D. essential
10. The young leader was reluctant to shoulder the responsibilities of ministerial office.
A. wanting B. willing C. anxious D. eager
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ANALOGY
1. ______: trail :: grain : grail
a. train b. path c. wheat d. holy
2. particular : fussy :: ______ : subservient

a. meek b. above c. cranky d. uptight
3. ______: horse :: board : train

a. stable b. shoe c. ride d. mount
4. tureen: ______ :: goblet : wine

a. napkin b. soup c. spoon d. pilsner
5. 4 : 6 :: ______ : 16
a. 2 b. 14 c. 8 d. 10
6. son : nuclear :: ______ : extended

a. father b. mother c. cousin d. daughters
7. coif : hair :: ______ : musical

a. shower b. close c. praise d. score
8. feta : Greek :: provolone : ______

a. salad b. Swiss c. blue d. Italian
9. moccasin : snake :: ______ : shoe

a. alligator b. waders c. asp d. loafer
10. ______ : zenith :: fear : composure

a. apex b. heaven c. heights d. nadir
11. pill : bore :: core : ______

a. center b. mug c. bar d. placebo
12. pilfer : steal :: ______ : equip

a. return b. damage c. exercise d. furnish
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13. native : aboriginal :: naïve : ______

a. learned b. arid c. unsophisticated d. tribe
14. junket : ______ :: junk : trash

a. trounce b. trip c. refuse d. trinket
15. ______ : festive :: funeral : somber

a. tension b. soiree c. eulogy d. sari
16. fetish : fixation :: slight : ______

a. flirt b. sloth c. insult d. confuse
17. hovel : dirty :: hub : ______

a. unseen b. prideful c. busy d. shovel
18. bog : ______ :: slumber : sleep

a. dream b. foray c. marsh d. night
19. ______ : segue :: throng : mass

a. subway b. church c. transition d. line
20. ragtime : United States :: raga : ______

a. cloth b. country c. piano d. India
21. miserly : cheap :: homogeneous : ______

a. extravagant b. unkind c. alike d. friendly
22. skew : gloomy :: slant : ______

a. glee b. foible c. desperate d. gloaming
23. eider : ______ :: cedar : tree

a. snow b. plant c. duck d. pine
24. gerrymander : divide :: filibuster : ______

a. bend b. punish c. delay d. rush
25. vapid : ______ :: rapid : swift

a. inspired b. turgid c. wet d. insipid
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26. denim : cotton :: ______ : flax

a. sheep b. uniform c. sweater d. linen
27. obscene : coarse :: obtuse : ______

a. subject b. obstinate c. obscure d. stupid
28. diamond : baseball :: court : ______

a. poker b. jury c. grass d. squash
29. quixotic : pragmatic :: murky : ______

a. rapid b. cloudy c. clear d. friendly
30. smear : libel :: heed : ______

a. represent b. doubt c. consider d. need
31. nymph : ______ :: seraphim : angel

a. maiden b. sinner c. candle d. priest
32. poetry : rhyme :: philosophy : ______

a. imagery b. music c. bi-law d. theory
33. jibe : praise :: ______ : enlighten

a. jib b. delude c. worship d. wed
34. marshal : prisoner :: principal : ______

a. teacher b. president c. doctrine d. student
35. fecund : infertile :: ______ : fleet

a. rapid b. slow c. fertilizer d. damp
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ANSWERS to ANALOGY
1. a. Train becomes trail when the “n” is replaced by an “l,” and grain becomes grail
when the “n” is replaced by an “l.”
2. a. Particular is a synonym for fussy, and meek is a synonym for subservient.
3. d. To mount means to get on a horse, and to board means to get on a train.
4. b. A tureen is used to hold soup, and a goblet is used to hold wine.
5. b. 4 plus 2 is 6, and 14 plus 2 is 16.
6. c. A son is part of a nuclear family, and a cousin is part of an extended family.
7. d. To coif means to arrange hair, and to score means to arrange a musical.
8. d. Feta is a Greek cheese, and provolone is an Italian cheese.
9. d. A moccasin is a type of snake, and a loafer is a type of shoe.
10. d. Nadir is the opposite of zenith, and fear is the opposite of composure.
11. a. A pill is another word for a bore, and a core is another word for a center.
12. d. To pilfer means to steal, and to furnish means to equip.
13. c. Native is a synonym for aboriginal, and naïve is a synonym for unsophisticated.
14. b. A junket is a synonym for a trip, and junk is a synonym for trash.
15. b. A soiree is described as festive, and a funeral is described as somber.
16. c. A fetish is a synonym for a fixation, and a slight is a synonym for an insult.
17. c. A hovel is described as dirty, and a hub is described as busy.
18. c. A bog is a synonym for a marsh, and slumber is a synonym for sleep.
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19. c. A transition is a synonym for a segue, and a throng is a synonym for a mass.
20. d. Ragtime is a type of music from the United States, and raga is a type of music from
India.
21. c. Miserly is another word for cheap, and homogeneous is another word for alike.
22. c. To skew is a synonym of to slant, and to be gloomy is a synonym for desperate.
23. c. An eider is a type of duck, and a cedar is a type of tree.
24. c. To gerrymander is a political term meaning to divide land, and to filibuster is to delay
legislature.
25. d. Vapid is another word for insipid, and rapid is another word for swift.
26. d. Denim is a fabric made from cotton, and linen is a fabric made from flax.
27. d. Obscene is a synonym for coarse, and obtuse is a synonym for stupid.
28. d. Baseball is played on a diamond, and squash is played on a court.
29. c. Quixotic is an antonym for pragmatic, and murky is an antonym for clear.
30. c. To smear is a synonym of to libel, and to heed is a synonym of to consider.
31. a. A nymph is a maiden, and a seraphim is an angel.
32. d. Poetry is often comprised of rhyme; philosophy is often built on theory.
33. b. To jibe is an antonym of to praise, and to delude is an antonym of to enlighten.
34. d. A marshal is a person in charge of a prisoner, and a principal is a person in charge of

a student.
35. b. Fecund is an antonym for infertile, and slow is an antonym for fleet.
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IDIOMS
WORKSHEET 1
1. When the politician was caught stealing from the taxpayers, everyone thought he
would receive a severe punishment, but all he got was a slap on the wrist.
_____________________________________________________
2. We thought that our neighbor’s, the Jones family, were rich beyond our wildest
dreams, but it turns out that we’re all in the same boat.
_____________________________________________________
3. If Kim thinks that I’m going to let her copy my math homework, she’s barking up the
wrong tree.
_____________________________________________________
4. The Vikings thought that they would easily beat the other team, but when it was tied
with a minute left in the fourth quarter, they knew that this game was really coming
down to the wire.
_____________________________________________________
5. I thought Janet would be a good worker, but it turns out that she can’t cut the
mustard.
_____________________________________________________
6. Tom wanted to get down to brass tacks, but the lawyer kept chatting about the
weather.
_____________________________________________________
7. The lawyer knew that beating around the bush would get Tom all worked up.
_____________________________________________________
8. After playing for three straight quarters, the quarterback was running out of steam.
_____________________________________________________
9. Don’t get so worked up, buddy. She’s only pulling your leg.
_____________________________________________________
10. Jane decided that she would go out on a limb and ask Byron to the Spring Fling
dance.
_____________________________________________________
11. Jimbo was too tired to finish the assignment, so he decided to hit the hay.
_____________________________________________________
12. Alan was excited when he found out that he would have his own front row parking
spot at the university, but that was just the icing on the cake.
_____________________________________________________
13. Ever since Amy’s uncle bought the farm, she’s been faced with the difficult decision
of dividing the inheritance amongst the family.
_____________________________________________________
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14. Working at the Burger King was at first overwhelming to Kyle, but now he knows
the ropes.
_____________________________________________________
15. Julie thought her mom would let her go to the party, but no dice.
_____________________________________________________
16. We tried to give Tommy a surprise party for his birthday, but you let the cat out of
the bag.
_____________________________________________________
17. Kevin accepted the job even though he was still in school, but his mom thought he
might be biting off more than he could chew.
_____________________________________________________
18. I didn’t want to jump the gun, so I decided to wait until the second date to try and
hold her hand.
_____________________________________________________
19. Derek hated how much his mom nagged him about homework. He didn’t really see
why it mattered and he thought that his mom was making a mountain out of a
molehill.
_____________________________________________________
20. Alice was feeling a little under the weather, so she asked her mom if she could stay
home today.
_____________________________________________________
21. Tammy wanted to yell at John for leaving the toilet seat up again, but after their last
fight she decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
_____________________________________________________
22. Jude was on pins and needles waiting for the results of the test.
_____________________________________________________
23. I like Chris. He’s a cool guy.
_____________________________________________________
24. Craig and I fought over a girl in the fourth grade, but that’s water under the bridge
now.
_____________________________________________________
25. Jeffrey was a fast learner, so he knew that the history test would be a piece of cake.
_____________________________________________________
26. I told Tom to stop telling Kim all of his feelings, but he always did wear his heart on
his sleeve.
_____________________________________________________
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27. Every player is important on a football team, but a good quarter back is worth his
weight in gold.
_____________________________________________________
28. Kylie’s mother wanted her to play the piano but, as much as Kylie wanted to make
her mother happy, playing the piano was just not her cup of tea.
_____________________________________________________
29. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I’m the fastest kid on my block and the
smartest too.
_____________________________________________________
30. Look, you know that she’s never liked you, so take her criticism with a grain of salt.
_____________________________________________________
Answers:
1. A slap on the wrist – he received a very light and easy punishment.
2. We're all in the same boat – we were in very similar situations.
3. She's barking up the wrong tree – Kim is asking the wrong person.
4. Down to the wire – the outcome of the game will not be clear until the very end.
5. Can't cut the mustard – Janet cannot perform the necessary duties.
6. Get down to brass tacks – he wanted to talk about the important issues.
7. Beating around the bush – the lawyer wanted to waste time.
8. Running out of steam – the quarterback was getting tired.
9. Pulling your leg – she is lying or fooling around.
10. Go out on a limb – she would take a chance.
11. Hit the hay – he was going to sleep.
12. The icing on the cake – he would receive greater benefits than the parking spot.
13. Bought the farm – he died.
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14. Knows the ropes – he learned how to perform his duties.
15. No dice – things did not go the way that she wanted them to go.
16. Let the cat out of the bag – somebody shared a secret with someone who was not
supposed to know.
17. Biting off more than he could chew – he was taking on more than he could handle.
18. Jump the gun – somebody did something too soon, before the time was right.
19. Making a mountain out of a molehill – someone was making a big deal about a
small matter.
20. A little under the weather – she was sick.
21. Let sleeping dogs lie –ignore a problem to avoid a fight.
22. On pins and needles – someone is very anxious or worried about something.
23. Cool guy – likeable and easygoing.
24. Water under the bridge – the problem is in the past and is no longer an issue.
25. A piece of cake – it would be easy.
26. Wear his heart on his sleeve – he does not conceal his feelings.
27. Worth his weight in gold – someone is very useful or valuable.
28. Not her cup of tea – not something that she was neither good at nor enjoyed.
29. Toot my own horn – to brag about oneself.
30. With a grain of salt – to not value someone's comments or opinions.
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IDIOMS
WORKSHEET 2
1. When the boys were having difficulty finding a DJ for the party, Brian suggested that they
just turn on the radio at the party, but Kevin didn’t want to cut corners.
2. Don’t challenge Zeke to a dance off unless you are ready because Zeke will get in a dance
battle at the drop of a hat.
3. Antibiotic researchers have already picked the low-hanging fruit, so discovering new
antibiotics to battle infections is very difficult.
4. Alan kept talking about how he could do a backspin, but when the rubber met the road all he
could really do was lie on his back and slide around.
5. When Mr. Lewis asked Jimmy to tell the class about the Pythagorean Theorem, Jimmy
wanted nothing more than to eloquently explain it and impress Brittany with his knowledge,
but he was drawing a blank.
6. John didn’t mind rewriting his essay each time Ms. Robinson returned it; as long as he was
still eligible for the scholarship, he would jump through hoops for her.
7. Ever since Paul Jr. found out that he could make money by shoveling driveways in the
winter, he’s been riding the gravy train.
8. Vince sighed when he thought about how wickedly short the spring break was and how
dreadfully long the remainder of the school year would be, yet he knew that there was little that
he could do about it but get back into the saddle.
9. Kyle had been bullied every day until Carter, the captain of the wrestling team, took him
under his wing.
10. I tried to warn Brian that he was playing with fire, but he kept flipping off of the trampoline
and into the pool until he missed the pool one time and broke his ankle.
11. After a long day of school, football practice, studying, and chores, Glen wanted to play
GameBox, but he was beat.
12. Whenever Scrub-Tom-Rectangle-Bottoms came on the TV, the children were glued to their
seats.
13. The naughty child planned to wait out on his roof on Christmas Eve and to throw a lump of
coal at Santa Clause when he appeared, thereby giving him a taste of his own medicine.
14. June worried about the test for weeks prior to taking it; so much so that he almost gave
himself an ulcer, but when he actually sat down to take the test, he thought that it was a walk in
the park.
15. Vanessa wanted to speak out at the Nonviolent Protest, but she felt that since most of the
people there would already be nonviolent people, she would just be preaching to the choir.
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Answers & Explanation
1. To cut corners is to do something the quick or easy way and not the "right" way.
2. To do something at the drop of a hat is to do something quickly and without preparation.

Zeke is always ready to have a dance battle.
3. To pick low-hanging fruit is to complete easy tasks first, leaving more difficult work for
later. Antibiotic researchers have a more difficult job today than they had in the past.
4. When the rubber met the road means that talk has ceased and performances are being
measured. Alan talked a lot about how he could backspin but he couldn't actually do it.
5. Drawing a blank means to try and think of something but fail. Jimmy wanted to answer
Mr. Lewis's question, but he couldn't.
6. To jump through hoops means to satisfy difficult or tedious demands. By rewriting his
essay so many times, John was jumping through hoops.
7. To ride the gravy train is to earn money quickly and consistently. When the gravy train
stops, so does the money. Paul Jr. will figure this out in the spring, but an industrious young
man like he will probably take to landscaping.
8. To get back into the saddle is to resume a burdensome task after some time away.
9. To be under one's wing is to receive one's protection or guidance in a challenging situation.

Kyle is no longer bullied after Carter begins protecting him.
10. To play with fire is to unnecessarily expose oneself to severe risks. Brian was needlessly
exposing himself to danger and he suffered the consequences.
11. To be beat is to be exhausted. Glen wanted to play video games, but he was too fatigued
from his long day of activities.
12. To be glued is to one's seat is to be captivated by a display. The children can do nothing
other than watch Scrub-Tom-Rectangle-Bottoms in a transfixed manner while he is on the
television.
13. To give someone a taste of one's own medicine is to return the poor treatment that one
received. The naughty child is sick of receiving coal and decides to give some coal to Santa.
14. Something that is easy to do can be described as a walk in the park. Although June worried
about the test a great deal, when he took it he thought that it was easy.
15. To preach to the choir is to attempt to persuade people who are already in agreement with
you. Vanessa wants to deliver a message of change, but she fears that she will only reach
nonviolent people at the nonviolent protest.
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ONE WORD SUBSTITUTES
WORKSHEET 1
1. Extreme old age when a man behaves like a fool
A. Imbecility B. Senility C. Dotage D. Superannuation
2. That which cannot be corrected

A. Unintelligible B. Indelible C. Illegible D. Incorrigible
3. The study of ancient societies

A. Anthropology B. Archaeology C. History D. Ethnology
4. A person of good understanding knowledge and reasoning power

A. Expert B. Intellectual C. Snob D. Literate
5. A person who insists on something

A. Disciplinarian B. Stickler C. Instantaneous D. Boaster
6. State in which the few govern the many

A. Monarchy B. Oligarchy C. Plutocracy D. Autocracy
7. A style in which a writer makes a display of his knowledge

A. Pedantic B. Verbose C. Pompous D. Ornate
8. List of the business or subjects to be considered at a meeting

A. Schedule B. Timetable C. Agenda D. Plan
9. Leave or remove from a place considered dangerous

A. Evade B. Evacuate C. Avoid D. Exterminate
10. A prima facie case is such

A. As it seems at first sight
B. As it is made to seem at first sight
C. As it turns out to be at the end
D. As it seems to the court after a number of hearings
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WORKSHEET 2
1. A person pretending to be somebody he is not
A. Magician B. Rogue C. Liar D. Imposter
2. A person who knows many foreign languages

A. Linguist B. Grammarian C. Polyglot D. Bilingual
3. One who has little faith in human sincerity and goodness

A. Egoist B. Fatalist C. Stoic D. Cynic
4. One who possesses many talents

A. Versatile B. Nubile C. Exceptional D. Gifted
5. Words inscribed on tomb

A. Epitome B. Epistle C. Epilogue D. Epitaph
6. One who eats everything

A. Omnivorous B. Omniscient C. Irresistible D. Insolvent
7. Malafide case is one

A. Which is undertaken in a good faith
B. Which is undertaken in a bad faith
C. Which is undertaken after a long delay
D. Which is not undertaken at all
8. The custom or practice of having more than one husband at same time
A. Polygyny B. Polyphony C. Polyandry D. Polychromy
9. Tending to move away from the centre or axis

A. Centrifugal B. Centripetal C. Axiomatic D. Awry
10. Teetotaller means

A. One who abstains from theft
B. One who abstains from meat
C. One who abstains from taking wine
D. One who abstains from malice
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WORKSHEET 3
1. A person interested in collecting, studying and selling of old things
A. Antiquarian B. Junk-dealer C. Crank D. Archaeologist
2. A drawing on transparent paper

A. Red print B. Blue print C. Negative D. Transparency
3. One who is not easily pleased by anything

A. Maiden B. Mediaeval C. Precarious D. Fastidious
4. A remedy for all diseases

A. Stoic B. Marvel C. Panacea D. Recompense
5. One who is fond of fighting

A. Bellicose B. Aggressive C. Belligerent D. Militant
6. A small shop that sells fashionable clothes, cosmetics, etc.

A. Store B. Stall C. Boutique D. Booth
7. That which cannot be read

A. Negligible B. Illegible C. Ineligible D. Incorrigible
8. In a state of tension or anxiety or suspense

A. Off balance B. Depressed C. Diffused D. On tenterhooks
9. That which cannot be seen

A. Insensible B. Intangible C. Invisible D. Unseen
10. To slap with a flat object

A. Chop B. Hew C. Gnaw D. Swat
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WORKSHEET 4
1. Habitually silent or talking little
A. Servile B. Unequivocal C. Taciturn D. Synoptic
2. One who cannot be corrected

A. Incurable B. Incorrigible C. Hardened D. Invulnerable
3. Be the embodiment or perfect example of

A. Characterise B. Idol C. Personify D. Signify
4. A person not sure of the existence of god

A. Cynic B. Agnostic C. Atheist D. Theist
5. A paper written by hand

A. Handicraft B. Manuscript C. Handiwork D. Thesis
6. The act of violating the sanctity of the church is

A. Blasphemy B. Heresy C. Sacrilege D. Desecration
7. Something that can be heard

A. Auditory B. Audio-visual C. Audible D. Audition
8. A name adopted by an author in his writings

A. Nickname B. Pseudonym C. Nomenclature D. Title
9. Study of birds
A. Orology B. Optology C. Ophthalmology D. Ornithology
10. A place that provides refuge

A. Asylum B. Sanatorium C. Shelter D. Orphanage
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PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, ROOTS
1. Let’s look two groups of prefixes: 1) time/order and 2) degree/size. Look at the
following chart.
EXERCISE
In the sentences below complete each word with a prefix chosen from the following list.
You may use your dictionary.
re- post- over- pre- super-
1. We hope the bus won’t be crowded.

2. Do you think the Mayor will be elected for a second time?
3. After he got a Ph.D. in Chemistry, he did doctoral work at Oxford University.
4. He took cautions against burglary by installing an alarm.
5. The tourist guide promised the tourists that they would get a fund if they did
not like the trip.
6. He added a script at the end of the letter.
7. The sonic plane flies from New York to Paris in two hours and forty
minutes.
24
2. Here are five more suffixes: -tion (-ation, -ition), -ment, -ance (-ence), -al and -age.
Look at the examples in the table below. They are all nouns. They have all been
formed from verbs.
EXERCISE 1
Look at the above examples again. Give the verbs from which these nouns have been
formed. You may use the dictionary.
25
EXERCISE 2
Complete the meanings of these sentences by using the correct form (noun or verb) of
the words in parentheses. The first one is done for you.
(arrive) 1. Have they told you of their arrival date?

(move) 2. Kasim says he believes in progress, and it is for this reason
that he recently joined the progressive __________.
(negotiation) 3. The police have __________ with the hijackers for hours.
(package) 4. Have you __________ the dried foodstuff yet?
(destine) 5. The __________ of the hi-jacked plane is still uncertain.
(conference) 6. The participants will __________ with the minister.
3. Let us take a look at the root words: -cred, -vis(e), and –scribe (-script)
EXERCISE
Using all you know about prefixes, suffixes, and roots, guess the meaning of each of the
underlined words from their context.
1. Credulous people will accept all the promises of the politicians.

a. with low education b. well-planned
c. stupid and selfish d. ready to believe things
2. What they did was incredible.

a. unbelievable b. very interesting
c. quite understandable d. much impressed
3. We inscribe a tomb with a name.

a. write words on b. carefully paint
c. build up d. usually remember
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4. Take this prescription to the drug store.

a. announcement b. diagram
c. written order d. result
5. Pilots must have perfect vision before they may obtain a license.
a. training b. health
c. sight d. ability
6. The manager appointed one person to supervise his workers.

a. invite b. pay
c. improve d. observe
4. Let us look at three more roots: -dict-, -gress- and -ject-. Look at the chart below.
EXERCISE
Make words by combining the prefixes listed in Column A with the roots in Column B,
and use these words in completing the following sentences. The meaning given in
parentheses will help you get the right word.
1. The teacher marked the pupil’s ____________________ (advance) on a chart.

2. The architect was very disappointed that his new city plan had been
________________ed. (turned down)
3. Please ____________________________ (cause a picture to appear on the screen) the
picture on the screen so that everyone can see it.
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4. The fortune teller _______________________ed (told in advance) that there would be
an earthquake.
5. The pilot ________________________ed (removed) himself from his falling jet-fighter.
6. The quality of their work has gradually ___________________ed. (returned to an
earlier state)
7. The prisoners were pardoned by a royal ______________________. (order given by a
ruler)
5. Now let us look at five more prefixes: un-, de-, dis-, mis- and mal-. Look at the
following chart.
EXERCISE
Write the opposite meanings of the underlined words in the blanks provided. Study the
chart before doing this exercise. Be sure to use your dictionary if you need help.
28
6. This section focuses on the suffixes that change adjectives and nouns to abstract
nouns. Look at the chart below.
EXERCISE
Fill in each blank with the correct form of one of the words taken from the list below. Be
careful. There are more words than blanks.
Child Happy Kind Similar

Member Friend Responsible Possible
1. Those two boys look alike and act alike. The _____________________ is amazing.
2. If you need to have something done, call on Edie. She never refuses to take on the
job. She has a great sense of ______________________________.
3. Due to the teacher’s ___________________ the students took an outing instead of an
examination.
4. They have been friends for a long time. Their _________________ began during their
_____________________.
5. I’m not sure how many people belong to this club. I think the ____________________
fee must be about one lakh rupees.
7. Here, you will study four more common roots: -form-, -port-, spect and -mit- (-
miss-). These roots will help you guess the meaning of new words.
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EXERCISE
Select the most suitable answer.
Suspects Informed transportation formative imported

Emits conform submitted inspected dismissed
1. In order to promote the sale of Indian biscuits, the government has banned biscuits
_______________ from other countries.
2. The servant was _______________ for being dishonest.
3. Have you _______________ them of your intended departure?
4. He _______________ the notes and found that they were forgeries.
5. A volcano _______________ smoke and ashes.
6. My car is being repaired so I am without _______________.
7. You should _______________ to the rules.
8. All the _______________ were taken to jail for questioning about the murder.
9. All papers must be _______________ no later than Friday.
10. Psychologists today say that the _______________ years of a child are from birth to
age 5.
8. So far we have seen 10 roots. Here, we present three more roots: -flect-, -tract- and
-tend-. Study the chart and notice the meaning of each root.
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EXERCISE
To do this puzzle correctly, you will need some but not all of these words. Use one
word only for each answer. Do not use any word more than once. You are allowed to
use your dictionary.
distract extend Inflexible

tractable tenseness Reflection
retracted extensive
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9. In this lesson, you will study two prefixes: be-, en-(em-) and three suffixes:
-ify, -ize and -en.
EXERCISE 1
Write either be- or en- to complete the meaning of the sentences.
1. The man wanted to large his only daughter’s picture.

2. People who come into contact with her are deviled.
3. He felt couraged by the progress he made.
4. She decks herself with jewels.
5. I have listed him in this enterprise.
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EXERCISE 2
Complete the following sentences by changing the adjectives or nouns in italics into
verbs by using -ify, -ize or -en.
1. Your explanation is too difficult for me to understand. Can you __________ it a little?
Simple
2. The runway is too short to take the planes. They are making plans to ___________ it.
Length
3. Most people seem to think it would be a good idea to __________ units of weights
and measurements throughout the world. Standard
4. That water is not pure enough to drink. It will have to be __________ before it can be
used. Pure
5. The government says it is spending too much money, and that ways must be found to
__________. Economy
10. This lesson focuses on number prefixes: uni-, mono-, bi-, di-, tri-, multi- and poly-.
Look at the chart below.
EXERCISE
Complete the following sentences with the correct number prefixes: uni-, mono-, bi-, tri-,
multi- and poly-.
1. “Juxtaposition” and “metamorphosis” are examples of syllabic words.

2. In Thailand we need -storied car parks to accommodate all the cars.
3. A “ corn”, a horse-like animal with one long horn, is the symbol of Wales.
4. Because of the energy crisis, cycles are becoming increasingly popular.
5. Nowadays cycles are still popular with small children.
6. One of the fastest means of transportation in Japan is the rail.
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READING COMPREHENSION PASSAGES

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions on it.
The spectacle these men presented would under other circumstances have been so absurd
as to make one laugh, but here it was tragic. Sitting in a tight little circle with their knees
drawn up and their heads together, with the goats trying to crawl under them, they had
that look of intense expectation on their screwed-up features that one sees on the faces of
spectators waiting to hear a big gun go off. From the time we had first heard the tigress
from the ridge, neither the men nor the goats had made a sound, beyond on suppressed
cough. They were probably by now frozen with fear which they had every right to be
and even if were, I take my hat off to those four men, who had the courage to do what I,
had I been in their position, would not have dreamt of doing. For seven days they had
been hearing the most exaggerated and terrifying tales of this dreadful beast that had
kept them awake the past two nights, an now, while darkness was coming on, and sitting
unarmed in a position where they could see nothing, they were listening to the man-eater
coming nearer and nearer; grater courage, and greater faith, it is not possible to conceive.
1. What was the spectacle that the men presented?

2. What would their look of intense expectation suggest?
3. What was the only sound that had been heard?
4. Would the writer have sat down with the men?
5. What had they heard about the dreadful beast?
6. Why does the writer praise their courage and faith?
7. Suggest a reason why the men were sitting there with the goats?
8. Did the men have fire-arms with them?
9. Explain the meaning of the phrase frozen with fear?
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From ‘apparel to aerospace’, ‘steel to software’, the pace of technological innovation is

quickening. No longer can companies afford to miss generation of technology and expect
to remain competitive. Adding to the pressure, innovations are increasingly crossing
industrial boundaries: a new fibre developed by the textile industry has the potential for
building materials and medical equipment. Some companies are adept at using a
diversity of technologies to create new products that transform markets. But many others
are blundering because they rely on a technology strategy that no longer works in such a
fast-changing environment. The difference between success and failure is not how much
a company spends on research and development (R&D), but how it approaches it. There
are two possible approaches. Either a company can invest in R&D that replaces an older
generation of technology, the ‘breakthrough’ approach, or focus on combining existing
technologies into hybrid technologies, the ‘technology fusion’ approach. It blends
incremental technical improvement from several previously separate fields of technology
to create products that revolutionise markets. In a world where the old maxim, ‘one
technology, one industry’ no longer applies, a singular break-through strategy is
inadequate. Companies need to include both the fusion and breakthrough approaches in
their technology strategy. Relying on breakthrough alone fails because it focuses the R&D
efforts too narrowly, ignoring the possibilities of combining technologies. Yet many
western companies still rely almost exclusively on the breakthrough approach. The
reasons are complex: a distrust of outside innovations and ‘not-invented-here’
engineering and arrogance and aversion to sharing research results.
1. What is the meaning of the word ‘floundering’?

2. What happens if a company does not innovate?
3. Do the western companies avoid the technology fusion approach?
4. Does the passage approve of a mixing of the two approaches? Answer yes or no.
5. Give a synonym for the word ‘pace’.
6. Huge spending on R&D leads always to success. Is this correct according to the
passage?
7. Why is breakthrough approach preferred by the western companies?
8. The tone of the passage is
A. humorous; B. neutral; C. satirical
35

I received my first taste of maturity about five or six years ago, but yet I can remember every
detail. How old was I? About twelve. I used to go to Hines Veterans Hospital to play the piano,
entertain the boys and give them cigarettes. Twelve years is a very young age; I was innocent of
the things life entailed. One night in December, I entered the Hines Hospital with the purpose of
entertaining the patients. I hopped up onto the movable piano ensemble, and the head nurse
wheeled me along the corridor to ward A. Each ward contained forty boys, and as we entered
the first ward, I saw forty heads duck under the covers. The room was silent. Suddenly, one of
the patients peeked out from beneath the covers and yelled, “Hey fellas, it’s only a kid.” In almost
perfect unison, each man lifted his head from underneath his blanket. They greeted me with
enthusiasm. I played a few ballads on the piano, and then with a sudden bang, I burst into a red-
hot boogie-woogie piece. The sounds of loud appreciative applause and shouts clamouring for
more came like the first sight of a “welcome” mat. I played two additional boogie-woogie pieces
and I stopped.
I reached for a large box filled with cigarettes and proceeded to distribute them to the veterans.
One of the veterans had paralyzed hands, and he asked me to light his cigarette clumsily, I pushed
the cigarette between his lips and lit it for him. I lingered a few moments to exchange polite
conversation with him.
He said, “You know, honey, you’re the prettiest girl I’ve seen in a long time.” I was flattered; I
blushed and walked away. Later, my young mind started to functions when a nurse mentioned
to me that he was blind. The head nurse asked me to play for a patient down the hall. He was in
a private room, and only the hopeless patients had private rooms. The piano was pushed just
outside the room. He could see me but I could not see him. He requested boogie-woogie and
with my throbbing thumb, I played boogie as though my blood kept in rhythm with each beat of
music. How my thumb ached! The beat, beat, beat of the pain again called out, “you are pretty;
he is blind” “you are pretty; he is blind”. My thoughts were confused and I desperately wanted
to stop playing. But I had to continue. Just at that moment, the head nurse whispered to me:
“you may stop now. He can’t hear you any more”. That night I left the hospital with my first taste
of maturity. I did not like it; it was bitter.
1. Are the people that the narrator entertained boys or old men?
2. What is meant by a red-hot boogie-woogie piece?
3. Is the word “honey” a term of abuse or endearment?
4. Why did the head nurse ask the narrator to stop playing?
5. What was the narrator’s response that night to her experience in the Hines Hospital?
6. Give a synonym for the verb “hopped”.
7. In the sentence, “I saw forty heads duck under the covers,” is the word “duck” used as a
noun or a verb?
8. What is the feeling evoked in the readers by the passage? Choose from
A. hatred; B. pathos; C. humour.
36
4. Read the following passage and answer questions on it:
Few men have influenced the development of American English to the extent that Noah
Webster did. Born in West Hartford, Connecticut, in 1758, his name has become
synonymous with American dictionaries. Graduated from Yale in 1778, he was admitted
to the bar in 1781, and thereafter began to practice law in Hartford. Later when he turned
to teaching, he discovered how inadequate the available school books were for the
children of a new and independent nation. In response to the truly American textbooks,
Webster published “A Grammatical Institute of the English Language,” a three-volume
work that consisted of a speller, grammar and a reader. The first volume, which was
generally known as “The American Spelling Book” was so popular that eventually it sold
more than 80 million copies and provided him with a considerable income for the rest of
his life. While teaching, Webster began work on the “Compendious Dictionary of the
English Language” which was published in 1806.
In 1807, Webster began his greatest work, “An American Dictionary of the English
Language.” In preparing the manuscript, he devoted ten years to the study of English
and its relationship to other languages and seven more years to the writing itself.
Published in two volumes in 1828, it became the recognized authority for usage in the
United States. Webster’s purpose in writing it was to demonstrate that the American
language was developing distinct meanings, pronunciations and spellings from those of
British English.
He is responsible for advancing simplified spelling forms, such as honor for ‘honour’ and
color for ‘colour.’ In 1840, Webster brought out a second edition of his dictionary, which
included 70,000 entries instead of the original 38,000.
This edition has served as the basis for the many revisions that have been produced
under the Webster name.
1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Webster’s work; B. Webster’s Dictionaries; C. Webster’s life
2. Give a synonym for the word ‘inadequate’.
3. In how many volumes was An American Dictionary of the English Language
published?
4. What was Webster’s purpose in writing “An American Dictionary of the
English Language”?
5. Why did Webster write “A Grammatical Institute of the English Language”?
6. How many years did it take for Webster to write his famous dictionary?
7. Which edition of Webster’s dictionary contained more number of words?
8. What is the meaning of the word “bar” as used in the passage?
37
5. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
The news that the Indian Railways are going to incur a shortfall of Rs. 1000 crore in their
resources generation and will, therefore, have to seek budgetary support to that extent
will not surprise many. That’s a scenario that has been played out for years now and the
outcome too has been predictable with the railway budget doing its duty by doling out
public money. But it is time to look at the problem differently, in view of the current
concerns of government in economizing its charity and the feeling that the Railways have
to stand on its legs.
The Railways have, over the last few months, continued to experience a shortfall of Rs.
85 crore per month, a feature that could add to their woes if it continues. Fall in expected
goods traffic, in the rate per tonne and also a dip in passenger traffic have contributed to
the shortfall. All this may not be new concerns for the Railways; the relevant point,
however, is how the system and the government hope to tackle it. Clearly, budgetary
support should be considered only in the last instance; after various measures to both
reduce expenditure and raise resources have been tried out. Consider subsidies on
passenger traffic – the expenditure which really digs into the government's coffers. In
fact, passenger traffic subsidy accounted for nearly 90% of the railway’s losses in 1992/93,
with freight traffic subsides taking up the rest. Freight traffic subsidy cuts should prove
easier if this year’s budget exercise is any indication. Till now sixteen commodities were
subsidised. In 1993/94, budget subsidy on four was removed. Prices did not rise, there
was little protest and now the Railways ought to do more. Reduction in passenger
subsides is more tricky given the dependence of such a large population, mostly poor, on
the system and most governments have been reluctant to do much. Passenger rates have
been hiked very few times and that too only in recent years.
One area where the Railways could do a lot more pruning is in shutting down
uneconomic branches. For instance, it was found that in 1992/93, 114 branch lines
contributed a loss of Rs.121 crores. To its credit, however, the railways have been looking
around for sources of funds other than the budget.
1. How did the railways usually meet the short fall in their resources generation?
2. Give a synonym for ‘scenario’.
3. What is the meaning of ‘pruning’ as used in the passage?
4. What reasons are cited in the passage for the shortfall?
5. Why do the government and railways not raise passenger fares?
6. What was the reaction of the public to the removal of the subsidy on some freight
items?
7. Are the railways depending only on the budget to meet the annual shortage?
8. What is the average monthly shortfall of railways?
38
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions below the passage:
How did life begin on earth? The conventional view is that amino-acids formed in an
atmosphere of methane, ammonia, and water, and then joined into the chains of
molecules, called proteins, that are necessary for life. But could this protein-making
process really have happened? Some scientists say that although amino-acids could
easily have formed in that primitive environment, the conditions required to join them
into chains probably did not exist.
In April, chemist Clifford Matthews of the University of Illinois and his student Robert
Ludicky reported possible proof of an alternative- and controversial-protein forming
process that Matthews has been advocating for nearly twenty years. In Matthew’s
version, the early earth’s methane and ammonia first combined to form hydrogen
cyanide, a carbon containing compound with all elements except oxygen necessary for
building proteins.
1. What is the conventional view of the beginning of life on earth?

2. What is the role of protein in the creation of life?
3. What is the problem relating to protein-making process?
4. What is the relationship between Clifford Mathews and Robert Ludicky?
5. For how long has Mathews been advocating his alternative theory?
6. Is his theory accepted without a doubt by all?
7. What is Matthew’s version?
8. What are the properties of Hydrogen cyanide?
7. Read the following passage and answer the questions below the passage.
A flood of activities has taken place in the cellular industry over the past few years.
However, the issue that has taken prominence among the cellular operators, subscribers
and policy makers, is that of pricing. The competition among the players in the industry
has also aggravated this issue. Each and every player is coming out with his or her tariff
plans to attract more subscribers.
Is the issue of pricing peculiar to India? Can we not consider and compare with the
practices in other countries? In order to consider these issues and find answers to the
problem of pricing we need to look at the cellular tariff rates prevailing across some of
our neighbours. An examination of the rates shows that, while in India the monthly rental
is as high as 2.52, it is 0.02 in China 0.94 in Sri Lanka, 0.34 in Malaysia and 0.08 in
Singapore. Can this higher pricing be attributed to poor telecommunications
infrastructure in our country? Or is it owing to a practice of Receiving Party Pays (RPP)
scheme as against the scheme of Caller Party Pays (CPP) followed by our neighbours?
39
The pricing structure in our country needs a critical analysis to find answers to the
questions raised.
The two important issues to be considered are affordability and sustainability – the desire
to reduce cost of services and the ability to sustain the investment. The pricing relates to
what are called leaner and greener pricing; the former refers to socially desirable pricing
and the latter refers to cost-based pricing.
1. What is the prominent issue worrying Cellular operators and Subscribers?

2. What is the additional element that aggravates the issue?
3. What is the motive behind each player coming out with different tariff plans?
4. What is the author’s answer to the question ‘Is this issue of pricing peculiar to
India’?
5. What must we do to find answers to the problem of pricing in India?
6. What is the pricing-level in neighbouring countries compared with that in India?
7. What are the different schemes practised in India and neighbouring countries?
8. What is meant by leaner pricing and greener pricing?
8. Read the following passage and answer the questions below the passage.
The purification of water is basically a two-step or three-step process carried out under
the strict supervision of public health scientists and engineers. As the first step, natural
water from the least contaminated source is allowed to stand in large reservoirs, where
most of the mud, silt and clay settle out; this is called sedimentation. Often, in water with
high mud content, lime and aluminium sulphate are add to the water in the setting
reservoir. These chemicals react in the water to form aluminium hydroxide, which settles
slowly and carries much of the bacteria to the bottom of the reservoirs. As the second
step, the water is filtered through beds of sand and gravel, which remove other impurities
and chemicals in it. During or after filtration, antibiotic chemicals are ordinarily added
to the water to kill any remaining harmful bacteria. Chlorine is one of the most common
chemicals used for this purpose. A third step is to add to the water other beneficial
chemicals such as fluoride and soda ash:
1. Under whose supervision should the purification of water be carried out?

2. From what source should water be allowed into large reservoirs?
3. What is the process known as sedimentation?
4. For what purpose is aluminium sulphate added to water?
5. What is the result of the reaction of the chemicals added to the water?
6. Describe the process adopted as the second step.
7. When are antibiotic chemicals added and for what purpose are they added?
8. What are the other beneficial chemicals used during the third step?
40
9. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below the passage;
There are more than 350 nuclear reactors in the world and no loss of life has been
reported. Unfortunately, a reactor accident in April 1986 to Unit-4 of the Chernobyl plant
has resulted in the loss of lives, contamination of the environment around the plant site
and radioactive releases into the atmosphere. The loss of life was confined to certain
plant personnel and those that were part of the emergency response crews, and has not
extended to members of the public.
There are major differences between Chernobyl reactor and the Indian pressurised heavy
water reactors. The Chernobyl reactor was graphite moderated and water-cooled. Hot
graphite and water make a dangerous combination if they come into contact as large
amounts of hydrogen are produced. When the fuel was starved of cooling, rupture of
pressure tubes leading to graphite-water reaction took place and caused the accident.
1. How many nuclear reactors are operating in the world and at how many of them
have there been accidents till 1986?
2. What are the results of the accident at Chernobyl reactor?
3. What was the extent of loss of life due to the accident?
4. What are the features of Chernobyl reactor?
5. What is the dangerous combination mentioned?
6. What would be the result of such a combination?
7. What happens if the pressure tubes are ruptured?
8. What are the chances of such an accident taking place at Indian nuclear reactors?
10. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text
to check your answers when appropriate.
Kevlar
Did you know that there is a fiber that is as flexible and lightweight as nylon yet five
times stronger than steel? Did you know that this fabric is resistant to temperatures
higher than 500 degrees Fahrenheit? Did you know that a woman invented this fiber?
This miraculous fabric is called Kevlar and it is used to make everything from body armor
to musical instruments.
The year was 1964. There were gasoline shortages due to conflict in the Middle East. A
Polish-American chemist named Stephanie Louise Kwolek was working for DuPont, an
American chemical company. She and her group were trying to make a lightweight, yet
durable fiber to be used in tires. Lighter tires would allow vehicles to get better gas
mileage, but the tires had to be strong enough to resist the wear and tear of the road. They
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had been working on the problem for some time and had little success, until Kwolek had
a breakthrough.
Kwolek and her group were synthesizing or creating fibers to test. During one of the steps
in the process, Kwolek created a milky white solution by mixing two chemicals that were
often used in the process. This solution was usually thrown away, but Kwolek convinced
one of the technicians to help her test it. They were amazed to discover that the fabric that
Kwolek had created was not only more durable than nylon, it was more durable than
steel. Kwolek had invented Kevlar.
Kevlar is a remarkable fabric known for its strength and durability. Since its invention it
has found its way into a wide variety of products. Kevlar is used in sporting equipment
like bike tires, bowstrings, and tennis racquets. It is used in musical instruments like
drum heads, reeds, and speaker cones. And it is used in protective gear like motorcycle
safety jackets, gloves, and shoes. However, Kevlar is best known for its ability to stop
bullets.
Richard Armellino created the first Kevlar bulletproof vest in 1975. It contained 15 layers
of Kevlar, which could stop handgun and shotgun bullets. The vest also had a steel plate
over the heart, which made the vest strong enough to stop rifle rounds. Vests like
Armellino's were quickly picked up by police forces and it is estimated that by 1990, half
of all police officers in America wore bulletproof vests daily. By 2006 there were over
2,000 documented police vest "saves," or instances where officers were protected from
deadly wounds by wearing bulletproof vests.
Kevlar is an amazing fabric not only for its hardness and durability, but also for its heat
resistance. Because of this it has been used to replace asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally
occurring material that is known for its ability to resist fire. Asbestos can resist
temperatures over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason it was used in roofs, electrical
cables, and brake pads, until people discovered that it causes cancer and other serious
health problems. Kevlar poses no such risks. It is lightweight, flexible, and resistant to
fire. Therefore, it has proven to be a good replacement for asbestos in many cases.
Since its invention in 1964, Kevlar has won its way into our lives. From musical
instruments and brake pads to protective equipment and sporting gear, Kevlar is
everywhere. Every day of your life you are exposed to something that was made better
by Kevlar. Who'd have known?
1. Which of the following is not a product that has been made with Kevlar?
a. Tennis racquets b. Bungee jumping cords
c. Brake pads d. Body armor
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2. When was the first bulletproof vest invented?

a. 1964 b. 1975
c. 1990 d. 2006
3. For which of the following characteristics is Kevlar known?

a. Heat resistance b. Strength
c. Durability d. All of the above
4. Who is credited with inventing Kevlar?

a. Robert Kevlar b. Richard Armellino
c. Stephanie Kwolek d. None of the above
5. Which of the following caused the search for a fabric like Kevlar?
a. A shortage in the gasoline supply b. A desire to protect police officers
c. The need to replace asbestos d. The want of better musical
instruments
6. A vest made of 15 layers of Kevlar with no steel plates could stop all but which of the
following rounds?
a. Handgun rounds b. Shotgun pellets
c. Rifle rounds d. It could stop all of the above
7. Why did people begin using asbestos in buildings?

a. It was extremely durable b. It was very heavy
c. It was poisonous to insects d. It was resistant to fire
8. According to the article, how many American police officers are estimated to wear
bulletproof vests daily?
a. 1,000 b. 2,000
c. Over half d. Almost all of them
9. How much stronger is Kevlar than steel?

a. Half as strong b. As strong
c. Five times as strong d. 200 times as strong
10. What product was Kwolek trying to improve when she invented Kevlar?
a. Tires b. Milk
c. Brake pads d. Armor
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Carnivorous Plants
Imagine that you're a fly. You're just zipping around the sky, looking for a place to rest,
when you see nice pink leaf. That looks like a nice place to land. You think to yourself in your
fly head. As you rest your feet on the leaf, you notice something strange. This leaf is hairy.
You begin to make your move, but you trigger the plant's reflex. Snap! In one-tenth of a
second, you are caught in the Venus flytrap. You will be digested in five to twelve days.
Welcome to the world of carnivorous plants!
There are over a quarter of a millions plant species. Only 600 or so are carnivorous. We
call them this because they attract, trap, and eat bugs. Like other plants, they get energy
from the sun. But unlike other plants, they get their nutrients from their prey.
Carnivorous plants live in bogs and places where the soil lacks nutrients. Most plants get
nutrients from the soil. Carnivorous plants have turned to other sources.
The snap of the Venus flytrap is not the only way that plants eat bugs. Pitcher plants trick
their prey into landing on them. They offer nectar bribes to the foolish insects that would
take them. True to their name, pitcher plants have deep chambers. Their landing surface
is slippery. They have inward pointing hairs, making it hard to escape. The fly lands on
the pitcher plant to eat, but slips into a pit filled with digestive fluids and is eaten.
Then there're sundews. We call them sundews because they sparkle in the sun as if
covered in morning dew. Of course, that sparkle is from something much more
treacherous. It is a sweet goo called mucilage that bugs can't resist. Sundews create
mucilage to attract bugs. As they fly in to eat, bugs become trapped in the very object of
their desire. They soon exhaust themselves by trying to escape the mucilage. Or the
sundew's tentacles, which respond to prey by curling around them, smother them. Bugs
usually die in about 15 minutes. Then the plant dissolves its prey in enzymes and absorbs
the nutrients.
Have you ever walked into trouble and found that you couldn't get out? So has every
insect that has ever wandered into a corkscrew plant. Bugs love to investigate plants for
nectar and food. Corkscrew plants have inviting stems. Curved hairs line the inside of
these stems. These hairs allow insects to go up the stems, but not back. Going forward
leads a chamber filled with digestive fluid, the plant's stomach. Bugs who wander into
the corkscrew plant find that they are unable to escape. They must march to their own
demise.
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And then there are the bladderworts. They're about as nice as they sound. They live in
water and float near the surface. Their traps are like small bladders hidden beneath the
water. Only their flowers are visible from the surface. When bugs swim into the trigger
hairs, the plant reacts. A trapdoor in the bladder opens up. The bladder sucks up the prey
and the water surrounding it. A tenth of a second later, the bladder shuts again. The
plant has trapped the prey. It releases digestive fluids. The prey will be digested within
hours.
Carnivorous plants might sound tough, but they are difficult to keep at home. They are
built to survive in places that other plants cannot. This specialization comes at a cost.
They have a hard time adapting to other environments. Their strengths become
weaknesses in rich soil. They depend on the harsh yet delicate environments in which
they thrive. They are not so hardy after all. Still, there's something to be said about the
power of life when one finds a plant that can survive in barren soil.
1. Which statement would the author most likely agree with?
a. There are too many species of carnivorous plants.
b. There are too few plant species in the world.
c. Only a small number of plants are carnivorous.
d. A majority of plants are carnivorous.
2. Which plant traps bugs in its stem and forces them to walk forward?
a. Corkscrew plants b. Sundews
c. Bladderworts d. Pitcher plants
3. Which of the following statements is false?
a. Carnivorous plants get their energy from eating bugs.
b. Carnivorous plants do not get nutrients from the soil.
c. Carnivorous plants get their energy from the sun.
d. Carnivorous plants get their nutrients from eating bugs.
4. Which event happens last when a sundew eats a meal?
a. The sundew creates mucilage.
b. The sundew's tentacles curl in response to the prey.
c. The bug is attracted to the mucilage.
d. The sundew releases enzymes.
5. Which best expresses the main idea of the third paragraph?
a. There are more types of carnivorous plants than the Venus fly trap.
b. The pitcher plant tricks bugs into falling into its stomach.
c. The Venus flytrap kills its prey in a various ways.
d. Some plants attract bugs by offering them nectar.
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6. Which best defines the word treacherous as it is used in the fourth paragraph?
a. Something that provides nutrients. b. Something that is very bright.
c. Something that tastes delicious. d. Something that has a hidden
danger.
7. Which best describes the overall text structure of the second paragraph?
a. Chronological order b. Compare and contrast
c. Sequential order d. Spatial
8. Which statement would the author most likely disagree with?
a. Carnivorous plants cannot thrive in rich soil.
b. Bladderworts react quickly when their trigger hairs are bumped.
c. Carnivorous plants are tough and can live in any environment.
d. Bladderworts hide their traps just below the surface of the water.
9. Which best expresses the main idea of the last paragraph?

a. Carnivorous plants are not hard to take care of because they feed themselves.
b. Carnivorous plants are delicate because they need certain conditions to
survive.
c. Carnivorous plants are difficult to keep at home, but you should keep trying.
d. Carnivorous plants are inspirational and they are interesting to watch and
own.
10. Which title best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text?
a. Watch Out! How To Avoid Being Eaten by Carnivorous Plants
b. At Risk: How You Can Help to Preserve Carnivorous Plants
c. Venus Flytrap: Nature's Most Beautiful and Dangerous Plant
d. Fatal Flowers: Plants That Kill Insects
Long Response
1. In what ways are carnivorous plants stronger and more resilient than other plants? In
what ways are they weaker? Answer both parts of the question and support your answer
with quotes from the text. Explain what your quotes show.
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2. Compare and contrast two types of plants described in this passage. How are they
similar? How are they different? Refer to the text in your answer and explain your
arguments completely.
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3. Carnivorous plants have some unique and amazing characteristics. What do these
characteristics suggest about life and the world that we live in? In other words, what can
carnivorous plants teach us about the world? Make a point and support it with an
example from the text. Explain what your support shows.
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Google
You know that you're doing something big when your company name becomes a verb.
Ask Xerox. In 1959 they created the first plain paper copy machine. It was one of the
most successful products ever. The company name Xerox grew into a verb that means
"to copy," as in "Bob, can you Xerox this for me?" Around 50 years later, the same thing
happened to Google. Their company name grew into a verb that means "to do an
internet search." Now everyone and their grandma knows what it means to Google it.
Unlike Xerox, Google wasn't the first company to invent their product, not by a long
shot. Lycos released their search engine in 1993. Yahoo! came out in 1994. AltaVista
began serving results in 1995. Google did not come out until years later, in 1998.
Though a few years difference may not seem like much, this is a major head start in the
fast moving world of tech. So how did Google do it? How did they overtake their
competitors who had such huge leads in time and money? Maybe one good idea made
all the difference.
There are millions and millions of sites on the internet. How does a search engine know
which ones are relevant to your search? This is a question that great minds have been
working on for decades. To understand how Google changed the game, you need to
know how search engines worked in 1998. Back then most websites looked at the words
in your query. They counted how many times those words appeared on each page.
Then they might return pages where the words in your query appeared the most. This
system did not work well and people often had to click through pages and pages of
results to find what they wanted.
Google was the first search engine that began considering links. Links are those blue
underlined words that take you to other pages when you click on them. Larry Page,
cofounder of Google, believed that meaningful data could be drawn from how those
links connect. Page figured that websites with many links pointing at them were more
important than those that had few. He was right. Google's search results were much
better than their rivals. They would soon become the world's most used search engine.
It wasn't just the great search results that led to Google becoming so well liked. It also
had to do with the way that they presented their product. Most of the other search
engines were cluttered. Their home pages were filled with everything from news stories
to stock quotes. But Google's homepage was, and still is, clean. There's nothing on it but
the logo, the search box, and a few links. It almost appears empty. In fact, when they
were first testing it, users would wait at the home page and not do anything. When
asked why, they said that they were, "waiting for the rest of the page to load." People
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couldn't imagine such a clean and open page as being complete. But the fresh design
grew on people once they got used to it.
These days Google has its hands in everything from self-driving cars to helping humans
live longer. Though they have many other popular products, they will always be best
known for their search engine. The Google search engine has changed our lives and our
language. Not only is it a fantastic product, it is a standing example that one good idea
(and a lot of hard work) can change the world.
1. Which event happened last?

a. Lycos released their search engine. b. Yahoo! released their search engine.
c. Google released their search engine. d. Xerox released their copy machine.
2. Which statement would the author of this text most likely disagree with?
a. Part of Google's success is due to the design of their homepage.
b. Google succeeded by following examples of others in their field.
c. Google wasn't the first search engine, but it was the best.
d. Google's success may not have been possible without Larry Page.

a. There are lots and lots of websites connected to the internet.
b. Google created a better way to organize search results.
c. Many smart people have worked on search engines over the years.
d. Older search engines used unreliable methods to order results.
4. What is the author's main purpose in writing this article?

a. To explain how Google overtook its rivals
b. To compare and contrast Google and Xerox
c. To persuade readers to use Google for internet searches
d. To discuss how companies can influence language over time
5. Which statement would the author most likely agree with?

a. Google became successful because its founders were well-connected.
b. Google was the world's first and best search engine.
c. Google changed the world by solving an old problem in a new way.
d. Google's other products are now more important to its success than search.
6. Which best expresses the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

a. Links allow people to surf from one website to the next.
b. Larry Page's ideas about links helped Google get to the top.
c. Larry Page contributed to the internet by inventing the link.
d. Google is a website that serves important links to users.
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7. Which best explains why the author discusses Xerox in this text?
a. He is discussing big companies that came before Google.
b. He is explaining how companies must change with the times.
c. He is showing how companies can affect our language.
d. He is comparing and contrasting Google and Xerox.
8. How did Google improve search quality in 1998?

a. They counted how many times queries appeared on each page.
b. They looked more closely at the words in search queries.
c. They linked to more pages.
d. They studied the relationships of links.
9. Which was cited as a reason why Google became so popular?

a. Google's homepage was clean.
b. Google provided catchy news stories on their homepage.
c. Google homepage loaded quickly.
d. Google provided useful stock quotes on their homepage.
10. Which title best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text?
a. Xerox Vs. Google: Battle of the Titans
b. Search Engines: How They Work and Why They're Important
c. A Better Way: How Google Rose to the Top
d. Search Engines: A Short History of Important Tools
Long Response
1. What can readers learn about Google's approach to doing business based on reading
this article? Use information from the text to support your response.
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2. Explain how Google was able to overcome its competitors. Cite information from the
text to support your response.
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3. What do Google and Xerox have in common? Support your answer with information
from the text.
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Reading
Did you know that some people don't do their reading assignments? It's shocking, but
it's true. Some students don't even read short texts that they are assigned in class. There
are many reasons for this. They may be distracted or bored. They may be unwilling to
focus. They may be unconfident readers. Whatever the reason, it has to stop today.
Here's why.
Reading stimulates your mind. It is like a workout for your brain. When people get old,
their muscles begin to deteriorate. They get weaker and their strength leaves them.
Exercise can prevent this loss. The same thing happens to people's brains when they get
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older. Brain power and speed decline with age. Reading strengthens your brain and
prevents these declines.
You can benefit from reading in the near-term too. Reading provides knowledge.
Knowledge is power. Therefore, reading can make you a more powerful person. You
can learn to do new things by reading. Do you want to make video games? Do you
want to design clothing? Reading can teach you all this and more. But you have to get
good at reading, and the only way to get good at something is to practice.
Read everything that you can at school, regardless of whether you find it interesting.
Reading expands your vocabulary. Even a "boring" text can teach you new words.
Having a larger vocabulary will help you better express yourself. You will be able to
speak, write, and think more intelligently. What's boring about that?
Do not just discount a text because it is unfamiliar to you. Each time you read, you are
exposed to new ideas and perspectives. Reading can change the way that you
understand the world. It can give you a broader perspective on things. It can make you
worldlier. You can learn how people live in far away places. You can learn about
cultures different from your own.
Reading is good for your state of mind. It has a calming effect. It can lower your stress
levels and help you relax. You can escape from your troubles for a moment when you
read, and it's a positive escape. The benefits of reading far outweigh those of acting like
a doofus. So do yourself a favor: the next time you get a reading assignment, take as
much as you can from it. Squeeze it for every drop of knowledge that it contains. Then
move on to the next one.
1. Which best expresses the main idea of the second paragraph?

a. Reading is exciting. b. Reading strengthens your mind.
c. Age affects the body in many ways. d. Working out keeps your body in
shape.
2. Why does the author think that you should read books that are boring?
a. You will eventually grow to love them if you read them enough.
b. You will get better grades in reading class.
c. You will make your teacher very happy.
d. You will learn new words.

a. Reading can benefit you.
b. You can learn to program video games or design clothing by reading.
c. You can learn amazing things and become a better person by reading.
d. Knowledge is power.
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4. Which is not a reason given by the author why students fail to complete reading
assignments?
a. Students may be bored. b. Students may be distracted.
c. Students may be unwilling to focus. d. Students may be tired.
5. Which best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text?
a. He is trying to persuade students to do their reading work.
b. He is teaching people how to become better readers.
c. He is explaining why people don't do their reading work.
d. He is entertaining readers with facts about the mind and body.
6. Which best describes the author's tone in the first three sentences?
a. Surprised b. Sarcastic
c. Informative d. Irate
7. Which of the following is not one of the author's main points?

a. Reading broadens your perspective and makes you a better person.
b. Reading is a relaxing activity with positive mental side effects.
c. Reading helps you perform on tests and get into selective schools.
d. Reading keeps your mind in shape and prevents losses due to age.
8. Which is not one of the author's arguments in the fifth paragraph?

a. Reading gives you a broader perspective on the world.
b. Reading changes the way that you understand the world.
c. Reading helps prepare you for your job in the real world.
d. Reading teaches you about distant lands and cultures.
9. Why does the author believe that reading is good for your mind state?
a. It has a calming effect. b. It can lower your stress levels.
c. It can help you relax. d. All of these
10. Which title best expresses the main idea of this text?
a. Reading: Good for the Mind in Many Ways
b. Reading: The Key to a Successful Academic Future
c. Reading: Improve Your Vocabulary While Being Entertained
d. Reading: The Best Way to Improve Your Writing Skills
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1. Does the author argue his point well? Analyze one of his arguments and explain
whether or not it is an effective argument.
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2. Why does the author believe that reading boring or unfamiliar books can be helpful
for readers? Use the text in your response.
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3. Why does the author describe reading as a "positive escape"? In what ways is reading
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Gutenberg
If you are reading this right now, you are taking part in the wonder of literacy. Because
of printed words, people can relay information across both time and space. Ideas are
encoded in writing and transmitted to readers across thousands of miles and years.
Because of this development, the words of people distant to us can influence events,
impart knowledge, and change the world. Much of the credit for the development of
this phenomenon can be attributed to one man.
Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg, better known as Johannes Gutenberg,
was born in the German city of Mainz. Though most of Gutenberg’s early life is a
mystery, historians believe that he studied at the University of Erfurt in 1418 and spent
much of his young adult life practicing the profession of his father: goldsmithing.
Having a penchant for fortune and success, Gutenberg borrowed money from investors
in 1439 and found himself in financial trouble.
In the year 1439 the city in which Gutenberg lived was planning to exhibit its large
collection of relics from Emperor Charlemagne (a famous ruler who had united much of
Western Europe around 800 AD). The exhibit was expected to bring many visitors to the
town, so Gutenberg took investments and created many polished metal mirrors which
were to be sold to the visitors (it was a common belief at that time that mirrors were
able to capture holy light from religious relics). The mirrors which Gutenberg produced
probably would have sold well, but due to severe flooding the event was delayed by
one year. The impatient investors demanded that Gutenberg return their investments,
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but he had already spent the money on producing the unsaleable mirrors. He was
trapped in a difficult situation. In order to satisfy the investors, Gutenberg decided to
share his greatest secret with them.
This secret would forever change the world, all of history, and even the process of
keeping history. It’s been argued that Gutenberg’s idea was one of the greatest of all
mankind. This one idea would lead to the spread of countless others. It would play a
key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment,
and the Scientific Revolution. This idea would bring learning to the masses and form
the backbone of the modern knowledge-based economy. Gutenberg had created the
mechanical printing press with movable type.
Before the spread of Gutenberg’s idea, literature was primarily handwritten. That
means that each copy of the Catholic bible and all of its 73 books were tediously and
painstakingly hand scribed, and this was done before the invention of the ballpoint pen.
Given the amount of detail that went into scribing each text, creating a single copy of a
bible could take years. Because of the effort that went into producing them, books were
extremely rare and valuable. Because of the value and scarcity of books, there was little
reason for common people to learn to read or write since it was unlikely that they
would ever handle a book in their lifetimes. Gutenberg’s invention would change all of
that. His printing press allowed literature to be produced on a mass scale. His movable
metal type could be arranged once to form a page, and his press could print the page
again and again.
The first major text that Gutenberg produced was a 42 line copy of the bible. Written in
Latin and containing 1272 pages, the Gutenberg Bible has had an immeasurable effect
on the history of the printed word. Scholars estimate that Gutenberg produced between
165 and 185 of these bibles, which sold out almost immediately. Most copies went to
monasteries and universities, though one bible was sold to a wealthy private
individual. Copies are known to have sold for 30 florins (about three years of wages for
a clerk at the time), which may seem expensive but was nonetheless much cheaper than
a hand produced copy. Purchasing a Gutenberg Bible in the 1450s would have been a
good investment if you and your descendants were able to maintain it. Only twenty-one
complete Gutenberg Bibles exist today and the last one traded hands in 1987 for 4.9
million dollars, the highest price ever paid for a book at the time.
Gutenberg’s brilliant idea would soon change the world, but in the short term he
bungled what proved to be a large and risky investment. He found himself in financial
trouble once again and was sued by one of his investors, who accused Gutenberg of
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mismanaging money meant for the production of books. The courts ruled against
Gutenberg and Gutenberg lost control of the shop that he had created. He was
effectively bankrupt.
Though he had failed as a businessman, the technologies that he had created spread
across Europe rapidly. As these printing technologies and techniques spread, news and
books began to travel across Europe much faster than previously possible. The world
has not been the same since. Though Gutenberg was financially unsuccessful in his own
lifetime, he made the world a much richer place.
Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. Refer to the text if
necessary. Write your answer on the provided space.
1. Which best describes the structure of the text in paragraph 2?

a) Compare and contrast __________
b) Problem and solution
c) Chronological order
d) Spatial order
2. Which of the following expresses the correct order of events? __________

a) Gutenberg was born in Mainz, invested in mirrors, and then became a goldsmith.
b) Gutenberg created the printing press, printed the bible, and then invented the
metal mirror.
c) Gutenberg went to college, revealed his press, and then invested in shiny
mirrors.
d) Gutenberg studied goldsmithing, invented the printing press, and then lost his __________
shop.
3. Which best explains why Gutenberg’s plan to sell mirrors failed?

a) The mirrors were less popular than he had expected.
b) Flooding delayed the event for an entire year.
c) Too many other people had the same idea. __________
d) Newly invented glass mirrors rendered his metal mirrors obsolete.
4. Which of the following did Gutenberg invent?

a) Reflective mirrors b) The printing press with movable type __________
c) Written language d) Scientific inquiry
59
5. Which is not listed in the text as a movement to which Gutenberg’s idea __________
contributed?
a) The Great Schism b) The Scientific Revolution
c) The Renaissance d) The Age of Enlightenment
6. Which of the following is best supported by evidence from the text?

a) Gutenberg’s idea was a tremendous success that made him incredibly wealthy. __________
b) Gutenberg’s idea didn’t catch on in his lifetime, but grew very popular after his
death.
c) Gutenberg’s idea did not make him rich but spread very quickly.
d) Gutenberg’s idea did not catch on right away but made him incredibly rich over
time.
__________
7. Which best explains why most people were illiterate during Gutenberg’s time?
a) Books were rare and very expensive.
b) The public school system had not yet been created.
c) Writing had not yet been invented.
d) Emperor Charlemagne made reading and writing illegal for common people.
__________
8. Which best expresses the author’s purpose in writing this text?
a) To describe what life was like during the Middle Ages
b) To persuade people to read and write more
c) To chart the spread of printing technologies across Europe
d) To provide biographical information about Johannes Gutenberg
__________
9. Which best explains why so few of Gutenberg’s bibles were sold to private
individuals?
a) Gutenberg wanted to use his talents to help churches and universities.
b) Gutenberg’s Bible was pretty expensive and most people couldn’t read.
c) Most Europeans were not religious and did not care about the bible.
d) Gutenberg’s investors forbade him from selling the bibles to private individuals.
10. Which of the following titles best expresses the main idea of this text?
a) Investing Wisely: Turning Your Good Ideas into Money
b) How to Make Books Using the Gutenberg Method
c) The City of Mainz: Life in Medieval Germany
d) Gutenberg: A Man Who Changed the World
60

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ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS LAB

VOCABULARY & READING COMPREHENSION WORKBOOK

1. Their success was ‘apparent’ after their performance.

2. The workers have shown their ‘dexterity’ in the work.

4. The ‘resumption’ of the class was not liked.

5. We bought a few expensive ‘utensils.’

6. She made a ‘gorgeous’ appearance.

7. The mayor is a ‘prominent’ figure in the city.

8. The principal finally ‘renounced’ his faith in nonviolence

9. School students ‘haggle’ over cheap books.

10. Indians always talk over their past ‘glory’.

1. The statue of the king is a ‘colossal’ monument.

2. The teacher gave a ‘vivid’ narration.

3. My wife loves to be in ‘solitude’.

4. The committee ‘condemns’ the behavior of the president.

5. The boy ‘denies’ any involvement.

6. The officer tried to hide his ‘frustration’.

7. The two highways ‘converge’ in this place.

8. Abolition of corruption has become a ‘mirage’.

9. Blood ‘oozed’ out of the cut.

10. I asked you to explain the ‘criterion’.

1. His entire career ‘pivots’ around the results of this examination.

2. The lecturer always uses ‘bombastic’ words.

3. Her ‘persistence’ finally paid off.

4. The ball ‘ricocheted’ and hit his face.

5. The door was always kept ‘ajar’.

6. Our man is a ‘vociferous’ opponent in the parliament.

7. I never hesitate to fight for a ‘legitimate’ cause.

8. The detectives are investigating the ‘scam’...

9. The minister is worried over the ‘fiscal’ deficit.

10. The company is desperate to offer a ‘remedy’.

1. It is advisable to ‘hire’ a condominium during your trip.

2. He is the one who wrote those two ‘voluminous’ books.

3. The meeting ended in ‘chaos’.

4. The ‘feasibility’ of this project rests heavily on you.

5. ‘Vigorous’ exercise has shaped his body.

6. This incident will ‘devastate’ the entire family.

7. The whole group was ‘indifferent’ to the comments.

9. The patient is suffering from ‘amnesia’.

10. We are happy to express our ‘gratitude’

1. The slaves bubbled with ‘animosity’.

2. They were forced to take action under ‘desperate’ circumstances.

3. The suspect ‘denied’ all charges.

4. The president of India is a ‘vivacious’ person.

5. The old man is an ‘agnostic’.

6. The soldiers were determined to ‘violate’ the rules

7. The goddess appeared and gave him a ‘boon’

8. It was a ‘proud’ display

9. The amateur’s performance was a real ‘cacophony’

10. The principal has made a ‘significant’ contribution

11. The management asked him to describe the problem ‘succinctly’.

12. Stuart is ‘taciturn’ on that subject.

13. His ‘reprimand’ is always sharp and quick.

14. It appears ‘obscure’ when it is read.

15. It was an ‘extraneous’ comment.

18. He hastily ‘relinquished’ the siege.

19. Fleeing the city, he became a ‘destitute’.

20. Media is a word that is ‘discountenanced’ by the Party.

Choose the right antonyms for the words given in capitals:

21. His NONCHALANT behavior irritates the committee.

23. We are expecting you to have ACTIVE participation.

24. She considers Michael Jackson to be RAUCOUS.