Uncommon Form More Familiar Form aphoristic (obvious) aphorism (proverb or cliché) canonical (authorized) canon (rule) congruity (unity) incongruous (incompatible) digressive (winding or meandering) digression (deviation) estimable (honorable) esteem (honor) gleanable (gatherable or discoverable) glean (to gather or to discover through patient investigation) improbity (dishonesty) probity (honesty) obstinacy (stubbornness) obstinate (stubborn) precursory (preceding) precursor (predecessor) profundity (depth) profound (deep) sagacity (wisdom) sage (a wise person) teetotalism (abstinence) teetotaler (one who abstains form drinking) testiness (irritability) testy (irritable) zenithal (upright or vertical) zenith (highest point) Now here’s a GRE-style Antonym in which this technique is useful: 10. PENDENCY: (A) domination (B) hope (C) finality (D) anguish (E) informality The correct answer is (C). The headword PENDANCY is the noun form of the more familiar adjective (or verb) pending, which means “not yet final or finalized.” Recognizing the everyday word in its less familiar form here makes this Antonym easy to handle. Watch Out for Synonyms Don’t be surprised to run across a synonym of the headword among the answer choices. And under exam pressure, it’s remarkably easy to confuse a synonym for an antonym. To avoid “synonym syndrome,” always verify your choice before moving to the next test question. (Remember step 4 in this chapter’s previous section?) You encountered this ploy in action earlier in the chapter. Question 2 of this chapter included the answer choice stall, which was similar in meaning to the headword TABLE. Here’s another example: Chapter 15: Antonyms and GRE Vocabulary 393 . www.petersons.com 11. GAUCHE: (A) hard-working (B) gentle in manner (C) financially secure (D) soothing to listen to (E) lacking in tact The correct answer is (B). GAUCHE means “lacking social graces; tactless,” so choice (E) provides a synonym, but if you’re not careful you might select choice (E), just because it is related in meaning to GAUCHE. You’d be wrong, of course. Choice (B) provides the best antonym. Although it is not a perfect description of what a gauche person is not, gentle in manner comes closest among the five choices. Just because two answer choices are close antonyms of each other, don’t assume that one is the correct choice (an antonym of the headword) and that the other is a synonym of the headword. For example: 12. FETTER: (A) criticize (B) relax (C) unleash (D) cajole (E) confide in The correct answer is (C). Choices (A) and (D) are close antonyms of each other. To cajole is to persuade by flattery, which runs contrary to the meaning of criticize. But neither criticize nor cajole is related to the headword. To FETTER is to bind or chain, just the opposite of unleash. HOW THE GRE TESTS YOUR VOCABULARY The rest of this chapter is devoted solely to GRE vocabulary, which comes into play in all four Verbal Reasoning question types: Antonyms: Among all four Verbal Reasoning question types, Antonyms test your vocabulary most directly. Without at least an inkling of the meaning of the headword, you’re essentially left to random guessing. The tougher the vocabulary used as a headword and in the answer choices (and the greater the number of tough words), the tougher the Antonym. It’s that simple. Analogies: In Analogy questions, you need to create and identify links between words, so without at least some understanding of what the words mean, you won’t be able to determine relationships between them. The tougher the words (and the greater the number of tough words) among the capitalized pair and answer choices, the tougher the Analogy. Sentence and Text Completions: All of the answer choices in Sentence and Text Completion questions are words or phrases. The broader your vocabulary, the PART V: Verbal Reasoning394 . ALERT! Don’t be fooled by answer choices that are antonyms of each other. It’s possible that neither one is the correct answer. www.petersons.com easier time you’ll have determining which word or phrase makes the most sense in each sentence. The tougher the vocabulary in the answer choices—as well as in the sentence or text itself—the tougher the question. Reading Comprehension: Although Reading Comprehension does not emphasize vocabulary, tougher passages contain more advanced vocabulary, which obviously increases the reading difficulty level. The test designers might boost difficulty levels further by incorporating tough vocabulary into a question itself (the question stem, the answer choices, or both). Also, you might encounter one or more vocabulary-in-context questions, for which your job is to determine what the word means within the passage’s context. So, of course it helps if you’re already familiar with the word. HOW GRE TEST DESIGNERS CHOOSE VOCABULARY The GRE test designers want to determine whether you possess a well-rounded vocabulary—the kind you need to read, write, and speak effectively in graduate school and beyond. Most advanced words are fair GRE game. But there are certain types of words that the test designers are most likely to use and other types that they don’t use at all. The test designers’ favorite types of words: • Those that are uncommon enough that a large percentage of test takers won’t know them, but not so obscure that almost no test takers will know them • Uncommon words with roots and prefixes that provide useful clues about what they mean • Words that might remind you of certain other words but that mean something else • Distinctive words whose definitions are nearly impossible to guess, and that only well-read and well-prepared test takers will know Types of words the test designers don’t use: • Highly technical words typically understood only by specialists or experts in certain academic fields and professions • Non-English words not widely used among English speakers and non-English words with diacritical marks or non-English characters • Archaic English words that are no longer in everyday use • Vernacular and informal words (jargon, slang, and colloquialisms) To help you understand how the test designers choose words to measure your vocabulary, consider these three words: bib bibelot bibliophile Chapter 15: Antonyms and GRE Vocabulary 395 . NOTE On the GRE, vocabulary is measured most directly through Antonyms, which is why you’re learning about GRE Antonyms and GRE vocabulary together in this chapter. NOTE Why won’t you encounter vernacular and informal words on the GRE? Because one of the basic objectives of higher education—whether it’s undergraduate or graduate study—is to help you express ideas without resorting to such words. www.petersons.com You might encounter a word like bib (a cloth hung around the neck) on the GRE, particularly in an Analogy test item. (For example, BIB is to STAIN as “guard” is to “crime.”) But the test designers wouldn’t be interested in bib for the purpose of gauging your vocabulary, because it’s a common word with which nearly all college students are familiar. As for the word bibelot (a small relic or artifact), you might encounter it in a Reading Comprehension passage, but only if the passage provides its meaning. Otherwise, the test designers are unlikely to use this word to measure your vocabulary. Why? Since it’s a technical word specific to one academic field—anthropology—so few GRE test takers would know the word that the test designers would essentially be wasting a GRE question by using it. The word bibliophile (a person who collects and/or appreciates books) is quite test- worthy indeed, for the purpose of rewarding test takers who have a strong vocabulary and who might very well be familiar with the word. Even if you’re not, you may be able to figure out its meaning by dissecting it: It’s derived from the Greek words biblio, which means “book” (think of the word “bibliography”), and philo, which means “love.” Words That Contain Helpful Clues In addition to using Greek, Latin, and other non-English word branches that you might need to memorize for the GRE, the test designers also like to use words with other commonly known root words, in one form or another. In an easier GRE question, an uncommon word’s meaning will be similar to, or at least consistent with, its root word. Here are three examples: EFFLUENT (n): waste matter emitted by a sewage treatment or industrial plant (the imbedded root is fluent) OBEISANCE (n): a physical demonstration of respect—for example, bowing or saluting (the root is obey) RECIDIVISTIC (adj): characterized by habitual repetition of or return to unlawful or immoral behavior (the root is recede) But don’t count on words having common roots always being so easy to figure out. A tougher word might contain a root that provides only a vague clue as to what the larger word means, as in these two examples: GAINSAY (v): to deny, refute, or contradict UPSTART (n): a person who has become arrogant or overly confident as a result of a sudden rise to a position of higher status Words that contain two roots (a compound word) sometimes send mixed messages about what they mean, as in these two compound words: SPENDTHRIFT (n): a person who is overly free or undisciplined in spending money VERISIMILITUDE (n): the appearance of truth PART V: Verbal Reasoning396 . TIP If you were paying attention to the preceding paragraph, you no doubt gathered that knowing Latin and Greek (as well as Anglo-Saxon) roots and prefixes will help you score high on the GRE Verbal Reasoning section. TIP When you encounter an unfamiliar word on the GRE, look for a familiar root to help you guess its meaning. But don’t rely too heavily on that guess. Try your best to answer the question based on what you know for sure. www.petersons.com The bottom line is this: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in the GRE Verbal Reasoning section, by all means look for a familiar root to help you guess the word’s meaning. But never assume that your guess is always going to be right—or even close. Nevertheless, you can use your “root” knowledge to avoid random quesswork in answering test questions. Words with Clues That Throw You Off Track To increase the difficulty level of the vocabulary in an Antonym, Analogy, or Sentence and Text Completion, the GRE test designers avoid providing obvious clues about a word’s meaning. They opt instead for words with roots that belie the word’s meaning. Look out for two varieties: A word that looks or sounds like another but is either entirely unrelated or only tenuously related: BADINAGE (n): teasing conversation; jesting; banter (no relation to bad; think “badminton” instead) PRURIENT (adj): lewd; lustful (no relation to prudent) CAUSTIC (adj): corrosive; sharp (only tenuously related to cause) A word whose meaning is contrary to the meaning of its root but that might lead you to guess just the opposite (that they’re similar): ENERVATE (v): to deprive of vitality; debilitate (contrary to energize) FACTITIOUS (adj): contrived; not genuine; artificial; counterfeit (contrary to factual) RESTIVE (adj) restless; impatient (contrary to restful) Oddball Words The most challenging type of GRE word is one that doesn’t look or sound like any other English word and that contains no obvious root or prefix to help you guess its meaning. Some such words are modern non-English words that English speakers have adopted (either as is or with a slightly different spelling). Others are words that are derived from ancient languages but that are still in use today. Here are three examples of the kinds of test-worthy words whose meanings you couldn’t guess if you didn’t know them: IOTA (n): a very small quantity; speck BURGEON (v): to begin to grow, develop, or blossom, especially suddenly INVEIGLE (v): to lure or entice by inducements The only way to be ready for oddball words on your GRE is to study lists of advanced vocabulary words. But if you don’t have time, take solace: On the GRE, you won’t find nearly as many of these odd words as you will words that contain roots and prefixes to help you make reasoned guesses about definitions. Remember: The GRE is designed primarily as a reasoning test, not as a trivia quiz. Chapter 15: Antonyms and GRE Vocabulary 397 . ALERT! Words in tougher GRE questions might contain deceptive-looking roots. Whenever you’re uncertain about which of two answer choices is better, consider the possibility that an unfamiliar word means just the opposite of what many test takers might think. NOTE Expect to find a few unusual words on the GRE whose definitions you’d have to memorize to know—but also expect many unfamiliar words to contain roots and prefixes that help you make reasoned guesses as to what these words mean. www.petersons.com STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A GRE VOCABULARY To keep yourself on the straight and narrow path to your first-choice graduate program, heed the following pieces of advice for building your GRE vocabulary. Learn Words in Meaningful Groups You can always chip away diligently at long alphabetical word lists. (In fact, you may have already starting doing that.) But that’s not the most effective way to fix new words in your memory. It makes more sense to learn words by groups according to what they mean or what they look like. There are all sorts of possibilities for word groups: • a group of words that are similar in meaning (words that share the same root or prefix make an ideal group) • a group of synonyms along with a group of their antonyms • a group of words that look or sound similar but are unrelated in meaning (for example, “felicitous,” “filaceous,” and “fallacious”) • a group of words that involve the same theme or subject (for example, “motion,” “tools,” or “money”) Don’t Rely Solely on “Hot Lists” to Build Your GRE Vocabulary Do you really think those lists of words that supposedly appear most frequently on the test will continue to appear “most frequently” on future exams? Of course they won’t. Yes, some words from any “top 500” list will show up from time to time on future exams, and a few might even show up on yours—so go ahead and learn them. Just keep in mind that these words are not any more likely than a host of other test-worthy words to appear on your exam. Know Where to Draw the Line with GRE Vocabulary Resources As you know, most comprehensive GRE books contain lists of vocabulary words. If you compare books side by side, you’ll notice that the lists are very much the same among books. That’s because these lists are compiled from the same older GRE exams that were once administered and have now been published. What does this mean? The key is not how many lists are at your disposal, but rather the kinds of lists you use. Go the Extra Vocabulary Mile for Additional GRE Points If you start early enough and make the effort to learn as many new GRE-style words, roots, and prefixes as you reasonably have time for, some of those words will undoubt- edly appear on your exam. How many? Maybe two, or maybe as many as five. If you don’t think these numbers make it worth your effort to learn new words for the GRE, think again. As you well know, even a few additional correct answers can make the difference in your chances for admission to the most competitive programs. But don’t take this advice too far. Ferreting out every single test-worthy word the English language has to offer is simply not worth the extra time, which is better spent on other tasks. (See the next two tips.) PART V: Verbal Reasoning398 . TIP When choosing vocabulary resources, look for those that employ a variety of methods to group test-worthy words. www.petersons.com Don’t Stress Vocabulary at the Expense of Mastering Test-Taking Strategies A strong vocabulary is important in helping you raise your GRE score, but keep your vocabulary review in perspective. You can know the precise meaning of every word on every GRE Verbal Reasoning section and still score low. Unless you know how to draw analogies and can recognize logical connections between sentence parts, don’t expect a competitive Verbal Reasoning score. Don’t Memorize Word Lists at the Expense of Learning Roots and Prefixes The English language includes many thousands of tough and test-worthy words. Be forewarned: You will encounter at least a few new and unfamiliar words on your exam, no matter how thoroughly you’ve prepared. If you believe otherwise, you’re either kidding yourself or you’ve committed to memory Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.Go ahead and learn as many words as you reasonably have time for. But make sure you devote just as much time to learning roots and prefixes, which might help you guess the meaning of those unfamiliar words you’re bound to encounter on the test. Remember: When the test designers choose an especially obscure word for the GRE, chances are they’ve selected the word because it contains a root or prefix that will help you guess the word’s meaning (assuming you know that root or prefix). Don’t Rely on Practice Testing to Learn GRE Vocabulary You’ll learn a few new words as you review your practice tests, but taking practice GRE tests is more useful for applying test-taking skills—such as analyzing Antonyms, Analogies, and Sentence and Text Completions and developing strategies for respond- ing to them—than it is for improving vocabulary. Pace Yourself When Building Your GRE Vocabulary Let’s say that you’ve compiled your vocabulary resources and have taken inventory of what you need to review. Now you need to set up a sensible schedule that will allow you to cover everything by exam day. Work your vocabulary-building schedule into your regular GRE prep schedule. Rather than trying to learn hundreds of words in one session, try tackling just twenty to thirty words a day. Start your GRE study each day by learning those words, then review them at the end of your GRE study session. Systematically Review the Words You Learn Unless you have a photographic memory, it’s not enough to “learn” a word (or a root or prefix) once. Unless you review it, the word might vanish from your memory banks. So your study schedule should include daily review of some of the words you learned during previous days or weeks. If Your Time Is Short, Prioritize and Keep Proper Perspective Most of what you’ve read about GRE vocabulary up to this point assumes you have several weeks to gear up for the GRE. But if you’re short on time, prioritize and keep your perspective. Your first priority should be to learn roots and prefixes, because they appear in so many different words. Next, learn as many meaningful word groups as you Chapter 15: Antonyms and GRE Vocabulary 399 . ALERT! Trying to learn every single test-worthy English word for the GRE is not an effective use of your time. It’s better spent on developing reasoning skills and test-taking strategies. www.petersons.com have time for. Finally, keep in mind that the strategies presented in the Verbal Reasoning part of this book are more important than rote vocabulary. After all, the GRE is designed as a reasoning test, not a vocabulary quiz. PART V: Verbal Reasoning400 . www.petersons.com SUMMING IT UP • The GRE Verbal Reasoning section contains about 7 (out of 30) Antonym ques- tions, which test your vocabulary and your ability to recognize subtle distinctions between words with similar meanings. • On the GRE, the emphasis on vocabulary is stronger with Antonyms and Analogies than it is with Sentence and Text Completions—but it comes into play with all four question types, so be sure to review vocabulary thoroughly. • Of the four Verbal Reasoning question types, Antonyms test your vocabulary most directly. • Test designers will generally use words that are uncommon enough for a great percentage of test takers to be unfamiliar with them, uncommon words with roots and prefixes that provide useful clues about what they mean, “fake-out” words that might remind you of certain other words but have different definitions, and distinctive words whose definitions are nearly impossible to guess and that only well-read and well-prepared test takers will know. They will not use highly technical words that only specialists or experts would know, non-English words not widely used among English speakers or those with diacritical marks or non-English characters, archaic English words, or vernacular and informal words (jargon, slang, and colloquialisms). • Follow and review the five basic steps in this chapter for handling GRE Ant- onyms, and use the tips and study methods outlined here to boost your vocabulary skills. Apply your knowledge to this book’s Practice Tests; then review everything again just before exam day. Chapter 15: Antonyms and GRE Vocabulary 401 . www.petersons.com . what the words mean, you won’t be able to determine relationships between them. The tougher the words (and the greater the number of tough words) among the. using Greek, Latin, and other non-English word branches that you might need to memorize for the GRE, the test designers also like to use words with other