practice makes perfect mastering vocabulary age 10 14

Copyright©2012byGaryRobertMuschla.Allrightsreserved.Exceptaspermittedunderthe
UnitedStatesCopyrightActof1976,nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedordistributed
inanyformorbyanymeans,orstoredinadatabaseorretrievalsystem,withoutthepriorwritten
permissionofthepublisher.
ISBN:978-0-07-177759-9
MHID:0-07-177759-8
ThematerialinthiseBookalsoappearsintheprintversionofthistitle:ISBN:978-0-07177277-8,MHID:0-07-177277-4.
Alltrademarksaretrademarksoftheirrespectiveowners.Ratherthanputatrademarksymbol
aftereveryoccurrenceofatrademarkedname,weusenamesinaneditorialfashiononly,andto
thebenefitofthetrademarkowner,withnointentionofinfringementofthetrademark.Wheresuch
designationsappearinthisbook,theyhavebeenprintedwithinitialcaps.
McGraw-HilleBooksareavailableatspecialquantitydiscountstouseaspremiumsandsales
promotions,orforuseincorporatetrainingprograms.Tocontactarepresentativepleasee-mail
usat
McGraw-Hill,theMcGraw-HillPublishinglogo,PracticeMakesPerfect,andrelatedtradedress
aretrademarksorregisteredtrademarksofTheMcGraw-HillCompaniesand/oritsaffiliatesin
theUnitedStatesandothercountriesandmaynotbeusedwithoutwrittenpermission.Allother
trademarksarethepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.TheMcGraw-HillCompaniesisnot
associatedwithanyproductorvendormentionedinthisbook.
TERMSOFUSE
ThisisacopyrightedworkandTheMcGraw-HillCompanies,Inc.(“McGraw-Hill”)andits
licensorsreserveallrightsinandtothework.Useofthisworkissubjecttotheseterms.Except
aspermittedundertheCopyrightActof1976andtherighttostoreandretrieveonecopyofthe
work,youmaynotdecompile,disassemble,reverseengineer,reproduce,modify,create
derivativeworksbasedupon,transmit,distribute,disseminate,sell,publishorsublicensethe
workoranypartofitwithoutMcGraw-Hill’spriorconsent.Youmayusetheworkforyourown
noncommercialandpersonaluse;anyotheruseoftheworkisstrictlyprohibited.Yourrighttouse
theworkmaybeterminatedifyoufailtocomplywiththeseterms.
THEWORKISPROVIDED“ASIS.”McGRAW-HILLANDITSLICENSORSMAKENO

GUARANTEESORWARRANTIESASTOTHEACCURACY,ADEQUACYOR
COMPLETENESSOFORRESULTSTOBEOBTAINEDFROMUSINGTHEWORK,
INCLUDINGANYINFORMATIONTHATCANBEACCESSEDTHROUGHTHEWORKVIA
HYPERLINKOROTHERWISE,ANDEXPRESSLYDISCLAIMANYWARRANTY,EXPRESS
ORIMPLIED,INCLUDINGBUTNOTLIMITEDTOIMPLIEDWARRANTIESOF
MERCHANTABILITYORFITNESSFORAPARTICULARPURPOSE.McGraw-Hillandits
licensorsdonotwarrantorguaranteethatthefunctionscontainedintheworkwillmeetyour
requirementsorthatitsoperationwillbeuninterruptedorerrorfree.NeitherMcGraw-Hillnor
itslicensorsshallbeliabletoyouoranyoneelseforanyinaccuracy,errororomission,


regardlessofcause,intheworkorforanydamagesresultingtherefrom.McGraw-Hillhasno
responsibilityforthecontentofanyinformationaccessedthroughthework.Underno
circumstancesshallMcGraw-Hilland/oritslicensorsbeliableforanyindirect,incidental,
special,punitive,consequentialorsimilardamagesthatresultfromtheuseoforinabilitytouse
thework,evenifanyofthemhasbeenadvisedofthepossibilityofsuchdamages.Thislimitation
ofliabilityshallapplytoanyclaimorcausewhatsoeverwhethersuchclaimorcausearisesin
contract,tortorotherwise.


ForJudyandErin,asalways.


Contents
AboutThisBook
HowtoUseThisBook
Lesson1Synonyms,I
1.1ALittleSuperhero
1.2ABigEstuary
1.3AFrighteningCharacter

Lesson2Synonyms,II
2.1AGreatTouristAttraction
2.2AnAviationFirst
2.3AnOldTown
Lesson3Antonyms,I
3.1ASinglePresident
3.2FamousRabbit’sLine
3.3AnAmericanFirst
Lesson4Antonyms,II
4.1ComicStripDetective
4.2MarkTwain
4.3GreatWordsofaGreatPresident
Lesson5Homographs,I
5.1AnAmericanShowman
5.2AMany-SidedFigure
5.3AParliament
Lesson6Homographs,II
6.1RighttoLeftandLefttoRight
6.2BloodPressure
6.3AComputerBug
Lesson7Homophones,I
7.1AManofGreatIntellectandTalent
7.2ASurveyor’sTool
7.3VolcanicRockwithaSpecialProperty


Lesson8Homophones,II
8.1PaulRevere’sFellowRiders
8.2HowDeep?
8.3TheUSSConstitution

Lesson9EasilyConfusedWords,I
9.1AFirstfortheSupremeCourt
9.2ExtinctAnimals
9.3AFamilyPet
Lesson10EasilyConfusedWords,II
10.1SymbolofaPoliticalParty
10.2ASomewhatUnpleasantCharacter
10.3AnUncommonTwo-TermPresident
Lesson11EasilyConfusedWords,III
11.1ALongTail
11.2ASubmarineFirst
11.3AFirstforaPresident
Lesson12WordswithLatinRoots,I
12.1Comets
12.2KingTut
12.3Uranus
Lesson13WordswithLatinRoots,II
13.1AnImitator
13.2ABarber’sSon
13.3InternetInventor
Lesson14WordswithGreekRoots,I
14.1FourSpecialWords
14.2AOne-of-a-KindState
14.3Volcano
Lesson15WordswithGreekRoots,II
15.1Canada
15.2AStoryforAllAges
15.3DollytheSheep
Lesson16Prefixes,I

16.1FirstforaPostageStamp
16.2Penguins
16.3GreatSealoftheUnitedStates
Lesson17Prefixes,II
17.1Mercury
17.2Goldfish
17.3ABigVolcano
Lesson18Suffixes,I
18.1ColonialNewspaperEditor
18.2ACrayonMilestone
18.3AForgottenCharacter
Lesson19Suffixes,II
19.1PlayBall!
19.2WestoftheMississippi
19.3Milwaukee
Lesson20WordsThatName,I
20.1AnAmericanNovelist
20.2UndertheSea
20.3AnUnusualSnake
Lesson21WordsThatName,II
21.1AFamousRabbit
21.2CrackerJack
21.3BreakingtheSoundBarrier
Lesson22WordsThatName,III
22.1Minnesota
22.2KingKong
22.3AVeryLoudAnimal
Lesson23WordsThatName,IV
23.1AnArchenemy

23.2Alabama
23.3AChicagoFirst
Lesson24ActionWords,I
24.1ACandyMan


24.2ADifferentMethodforGrowingPlants
24.3TheThreeMusketeers
Lesson25ActionWords,II
25.1ASneeze-CausingPlant
25.2CandyMaker
25.3Andromeda
Lesson26ActionWords,III
26.1TheFirstLoser
26.2AnAmericanCookbook
26.3BigNewsViaTelegraph
Lesson27ActionWords,IV
27.1Chimpanzees
27.2Ohio
27.3AFirstfortheU.S.Congress
Lesson28DescriptiveWords,I
28.1InPursuitofAtoms
28.2Grenada
28.3CleaningtheCoasts
Lesson29DescriptiveWords,II
29.1YourLungs
29.2ACaveResearcher
29.3Teeth
Lesson30DescriptiveWords,III
30.1TheHairsonYourHead

30.2ABookCollector
30.3AnAncientCity
Lesson31DescriptiveWords,IV
31.1YourBloodVessels
31.2ASecret
31.3ASpecialScience
Lesson32CompoundWords,I
32.1CartoonSorcerer
32.2FirstTelevisedPresidentialDebate


32.3TheStarsintheSky
Lesson33CompoundWords,II
33.1TheChipmunks
33.2TheFirstMoonLanding
33.3TheWizardofOz
Lesson34WordsfromOtherLanguages,I
34.1ElectricEels
34.2TheStatueofLiberty
34.3Freshwater
Lesson35WordsfromOtherLanguages,II
35.1FootSize
35.2AFictionalDetective
35.3Motion
Lesson36WordsBasedonNames
36.1TheTopThreeElements
36.2UsedtheWorldOver
36.3TheTallandtheShort
Lesson37WordsforReadersandWriters
37.1UncommonPresidents

37.2DriestandLowest
37.3ALotofMackerel
Lesson38MathWords
38.1ANumbersMan
38.2Hamburger
38.3RollerCoaster
Lesson39SocialStudiesWords
39.1YourMuscles
39.2ALegendaryBasketballPlayer
39.3APresidentialResignation
Lesson40ScienceWords
40.1MoonRocks
40.2MountRushmore
40.3Twinkies


WordList
AnswerKey


AboutThisBook
Wordsarethefoundationofreading,speaking,andwriting.Itisthroughwordsthatweshare
ideasandlearnnewthings.Yourunderstandinganduseofwords—yourvocabulary—relate
directlytolearning.Studentswhohaverichvocabulariesusuallydobetterinschoolthanstudents
whosevocabulariesarepoor.
Thelessonsinthisbookprovidemorethan450wordsthatarefoundinsixth,seventh,and
eighthgradecurriculums.Thedefinitionsofthesewordsincludemorewordsthatcanexpand
yourvocabularyevenfurther.Manyofthewordsthroughoutthisbookappearonstandardized
tests.
PracticeMakesPerfect:MasteringVocabularycanbeahelpfulresourceforlearningthe

meaningsandusesofwords.Itcanbeusedbybothstudentsandteachers.Students(working
aloneorwiththeirparents)cancompletethelessons,whileteacherswillfindthematerialsofthe
bookusefulforclassroominstruction.
Havingabroadvocabularyisakeytobeingsuccessfulinschoolandbeyond.Itismyhope
thatthisbookwillmakeyourstudyofvocabularyanenjoyableexperience.


HowtoUseThisBook
PracticeMakesPerfect:MasteringVocabularycontainsfortylessons.Eachlessonfocusesona
particulartypeofwordorwordgroupandincludesalistofwordsandthreepracticeworksheets.
Analphabeticallistofthewordsinthelessonsandananswerkeyfortheworksheetsconclude
thebook.
Thefirstpageofeachlessonpresentswordsyoushouldknow.Mostlessonspresentten
words,butafewpresentmore.Formostlessons,wordsareshownwiththeirpartofspeech,
definition,andasamplesentence.AVocabularyTipisincludedatthebottomofthepage.You
shouldstudythelistofwordsandtheirdefinitionsforeachlessonbeforetryingtodothe
worksheets.Useyourdictionarytocheckthemeaningsofanywordsinthedefinitionsthatare
newtoyou.Learningthesewords,alongwiththewordspresentedinthelesson,willexpandyour
vocabularygreatly.
Theworksheetsaredesignedtomakelearningvocabularyeasyandfun.Eachworksheet
beginswithaquestionthatyoucananswerbycompletingtheworksheetcorrectly.Tryto
completetheworksheetswithoutlookingbackatthedefinitionsofthelistwords.Lookbackonly
ifyouneedhelp.
Completingtheworksheetsinthisbookwillhelpyoutoexpandyourvocabulary.Butthereare
manyotherwaysyoucanlearnnewwordsandtheirmeanings:
•Read.Readingbuildsvocabulary.Readdifferentkindsofselections:novels,shortstories,
nonfictionbooks,andmagazines.Makereadingahabit.
•Usecontextcluestofindthemeaningsofnewwords.Youcanoftenfigureoutthemeaningof
awordbythewayitisusedinasentence.Lookforcluesinthefollowing:
Examplesthatgivethemeaningofanewword

Familiarwordsandphrasesthathintatthemeaningofanewword
Phrasesafternewwordsthatcontaintheirdefinitions
Synonymsandantonymsthathelpyoutounderstandthemeaningsofnewwords
•Whennecessary,useadictionarytofindthemeaningsofnewwords.
•Whenyoulearnanewword,noteifithasmultiplemeanings.Manywordsdo.Trytolearn
thedifferentmeaningsofnewwords.
•Learnthemeaningsofprefixesandsuffixes.Prefixesandsuffixesalterthemeaningsof
words.Useyourunderstandingofprefixesandsuffixestohelpyouunderstandthemeanings
ofthewordstowhichtheyareattached.
•Whenyoulearnanewword,repeatitanditsmeaningsilentlytoyourself.Thinkofhowthe
wordisrelatedtootherwords.Thiswillhelpyoutorememberit.
•Thinkofanewword’ssynonymsandantonyms.Thiswillbroadenyourunderstandingofthe
word.


•Writedownnewwordsandtheirmeaningsina“NewWords”notebook.Reviewyour
notebookfromtimetotimetorefreshyourmemory.
•Useathesaurustofindthesynonymsofwords.
•Dowordgamessuchascrosswordpuzzles.
•Lookfornewwordswhereveryougo,everyday,andineverysubjectinschool.
Assoonasyoulearnnewwords,makethemapartofyourvocabulary.Usetheminyour
speaking,reading,andwriting.


Synonyms,I
Asynonymisawordthathasthesame,ornearlythesame,meaningasanotherword.
1.adequate(adj):suitable;sufficient;satisfactory;enough;ample
Thereplacementpartsfortheoldlawnmowerwereadequate.
2.fickle(adj):changeable;capricious;erratic;whimsical
Saraisfickleandconstantlychangeshermind.

3.humility(n):modesty;humbleness
Peter’shumilitymakeshimoneofthemostrespectedstudentsinschool.
4.loathe(v):hate;detest;scorn;disdain
Iloathesnakesofanykind.
5.flamboyant(adj):showy;flashy;ostentatious
Wearingacheckeredshirtandstripedpants,thecomedianmadeaflamboyantentrance.
6.versatile(adj):resourceful;ingenious;talented
UncleBobisversatileandcanfixjustaboutanything.
7.torrid(adj):hot;scorching;burning;broiling
Thetorridtemperatureofthedesertwasunbearable.
8.vicious(adj):cruel;ferocious;fierce;violent
Theviciousdogsnarledandgrowled.
9.opponent(n):adversary;foe;antagonist;competitor
Myopponentforthetennismatchwastheformerchampion.
10.serene(adj):tranquil;pleasant;peaceful;composed
Wespentasereneafternooninthepark.
VocabularyTip
Learningthesynonymsofwordsisanexcellentwaytobuildyourvocabulary.


1.1ALittleSuperhero

Thissuperheroisassociatedwiththewords“HereIcometosavetheday.”Whoishe?
Toanswerthequestion,matcheachwordontheleftwithitssynonymontheright.Write
theletterofeachanswerinthespaceabovetheword’snumberatthebottomofthepage.
Youwillneedtodividethelettersintowords.


1.2ABigEstuary

ThisisthelargestestuaryintheUnitedStates.Whatisitsname?
Toanswerthequestion,readeachsentencebelow.Replaceeachunderlinedwordwith
itssynonym.Chooseyouranswersfromthewordsaftereachsentence.Writetheletterof
eachanswerinthespaceaboveitssentencenumberatthebottomofthepage.Youwill
needtodividethelettersintowords.Somelettersareprovided.

1.Rolandcametothedancewithaflamboyantredandpurplecoat.
S.erratic
P.flashy
E.ample
2.Wecouldnotstopsweatinginthetorridafternoonsun.
A.scorching
I.ostentatious
U.capricious
3.Thegladiatortookhispositioninthearenaandwaitedforhisfoe.
N.scorn
T.versatile
S.opponent
4.Theficklewomancouldnotdecidewhichoneofadozenoutfitstobuy.
O.serene
Y.talented
E.capricious
5.Thebarbarianleaderwascruelinbattleandofferednomercy.
A.flamboyant
E.vicious
R.whimsical
6.Iliketosleeplateandloathewakingupearlyinthemorning.
E.hate
M.peaceful
O.satisfactory

7.Theversatiletoolcontainedascrewdriver,pliers,andscissors.
A.ingenious
I.erratic


S.ample
8.Tomwasconfidenthehadpackedsufficientfoodforthecampingtrip.
S.pleasant
H.versatile
C.adequate
9.Wehadhopedtospendaserenedaybythepoolinourbackyard,butitrained.
H.tranquil
R.broiling
O.changeable
10.Humilityisatraiteveryoneshouldpossess.
E.Antagonist
Y.Modesty
T.Adequate


1.3AFrighteningCharacter

ThischaracterterrifiedIchabodCraneinWashingtonIrving’sstory,“TheLegendofSleepy
Hollow.”Whowashe?
Toanswerthequestion,completeeachsentencewiththecorrectword.Chooseyour
answersfromthewordsafterthesentences.Writetheletterofeachanswerinthespace
aboveitssentencenumberatthebottomofthepage.Youwillneedtodividethelettersinto
words.Oneletterisprovided.

1.Theweatherwas__________todaywithsnow,rain,andsunshine.

2.Thewizardtransformedhimselfintoa__________,fire-breathingdragon.
3.The__________heatwavedriedupriversanddestroyedcrops.
4.Chadandhis__________inthewrestlingtournamentwerewellmatched.
5.Rogeris__________andlovesflashyclothes.
6.Thetwoprinces__________eachotherbecauseeachwishestobeking.
7.Laurenisa__________softballplayerwhocanplayseveralpositions.
8.Werelaxedandenjoyeda__________dayatthebeach.
9.Theshipbrought__________suppliesforthecoloniststosurvivethewinter.
10.Kateacceptedtheawardwithgraceand__________.
Answers
O.vicious
S.versatile
L.fickle
H.serene
M.adequate
T.flamboyant
A.torrid
N.loathe
E.humility
D.opponent



Synonyms,II
Asynonymisawordthathasthesame,ornearlythesame,meaningasanotherword.
1.vigilant(adj):watchful;wary;alert
SecretServiceagentsarevigilantintheirdutytoprotectthepresident.
2.sensible(adj):astute;insightful;wise
Annaisasensiblegirlwhoalwaysmakespracticaldecisions.
3.absurd(adj):foolish;ridiculous;ludicrous;preposterous

ThestorywassoabsurdthatShawnstoppedreadingafterthefirstfewpages.
4.cringe(v):flinch;shrink;cower;recoil
Ialwayscringeatthesightofneedles.
5.inconspicuous(adj):unremarkable;unassuming;indistinct
Theundercoverpoliceofficerwasinconspicuousinhisjeansandflannelshirt.
6.bountiful(adj):abundant;plentiful;generous;fruitful
Thesettlersrejoicedintheirbountifulharvest.
7.novice(n):beginner;trainee;apprentice;amateur
AlthoughMandywasanoviceatfigureskating,shewaslearningquickly.
8.prior(adj):previous;earlier;preceding
Havingmissedthepriormathassignment,Jessicahadtroublecompletingherhomework.
9.invincible(adj):indomitable;unconquerable;invulnerable
Theking’sknightswereinvincibleinbattle.
10.emphasize(v):stress;accentuate;feature
Myteachersalwaysemphasizeimportantideas.
VocabularyTip
Athesaurusisabookthatcontainsalistofwordsandtheirsynonyms.


2.1AGreatTouristAttraction

Thisplaceisconsideredtobeamajortouristattraction.Itisalsoconsideredtobethe
oldesttouristattractionintheUnitedStates.Whatisit?
Toanswerthequestion,findthesynonymofeachwordbelow.Chooseyouranswers
fromthechoicesthatfolloweachword.Writetheletterofeachanswerinthespaceabove
itslinenumberatthebottomofthepage.Youwillneedtodividethelettersintowords.
Somelettersareprovided.


2.2AnAviationFirst

ThiswomanbecametheUnitedStatesArmy’sfirstfemalehelicopterpilot.Whoisshe?
Toanswerthequestion,readeachsentencebelow.Replaceeachunderlinedwordwith
itssynonym.Chooseyouranswersfromthewordsaftereachsentence.Writetheletterof
eachanswerinthespaceaboveitssentencenumberatthebottomofthepage.Youwill
needtodividethelettersintowords.Oneletterisprovided.

1.Mariastartedtakingdancelessonslastyearbutstillconsidersherselfanovice.
D.prior
L.beginner
R.vigilant
2.IcringeatthethoughtoftellingDadIbrokeawindowinthegarage.
N.stress
R.cower
E.wary
3.Wearingadisguise,theprincewasunassumingasheslippedoutofthecastle.
Y.inconspicuous
S.invincible
N.sensible
4.Tim’sexplanationofwhyhehadnotfinishedhisworkwasridiculous.
H.vigilant
Y.absurd
N.prior
5.Atourfamily’sThanksgivingdinner,weenjoyedabountifulfeast.
H.plentiful
M.preposterous
K.previous
6.Theinvinciblecastleguardedthecountryside.
S.alert
U.astute

A.unconquerable
7.Duringmypresentation,IwillemphasizethecausesoftheCivilWar.
R.insightful
P.stress


I.recoil
8.Thesensibledecisionistoremainathomeuntilthestormends.
E.wary
A.indistinct
S.wise
9.SueLinmissedtheearliertryoutsfortheschoolplay.
L.prior
A.bountiful
R.astute
10.Thepalace’sguardsarewatchfulattheirposts.
E.sensible
U.vigilant
O.invincible


2.3AnOldTown

ThistownhasbeencontinuouslyoccupiedlongerthananyotherinthecontinentalUnited
States.Whatisthenameofthistownandwhatstateisitin?
Toanswerthequestion,completeeachsentencewiththecorrectword.Chooseyour
answersfromthewordsafterthesentences.Writetheletterofeachanswerinthespace
aboveitssentencenumberatthebottomofthepage.Somelettersareprovided.

1.Tyhasbeenridinghorsesforonlyafewweeksandisstilla__________athorseback

riding.
2.Besureto__________themajorideasinyourreport.
3.Noonecouldstopthe__________invadersastheysweptacrosstheland.
4.Alotofstudents__________whentoldtheyaregettinghomeworkduringaholiday.
5.The__________envelopeonthetablecontainedacheckforamilliondollars.
6.Thefertilelandofthevalleyallowedfarmerstogrow__________crops.
7.Theburglar’sdefensethathewasamoderndayRobinHoodwas__________.
8.__________peoplethinkcarefullybeforemakingimportantdecisions.
9.Whenapplyingforajob,Jacobhadtolisthis__________workexperience.
10.Themotherfoxwas__________ashercubsplayedoutsidetheden.
Answers
S.absurd
A.vigilant
F.bountiful
U.novice
G.cringe
N.inconspicuous
O.invincible
I.emphasize
D.sensible
T.prior