Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
Vocabulary Study
assert (uh CERT)
Definition: to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver:
Synonyms: avow, maintain, declare, uphold
Derivatives: asserter, assertor, assertible, asserting
He asserted his position on the issue of equal rights.
deluge (duh LOOZH)
Definition: flood of water, anything that overwhelms like a flood; to overwhelm
Synonyms: inundation, catastrophe
Derivatives:
We were deluged with requests for the free samples.
disquietudes (dis QUI uh toods)
Definition: causing anxiety or uneasiness; disturbing
Synonyms: agitating, bothersome, vexing
Derivatives:
That was such a disquieting experience: I could not sleep for days.
dissension (DIS uh dent)
Definition: disagreeing or dissenting, as in opinion or attitude
Synonyms: discordant, dissenting, heretical
Derivatives:
The streets were filled with dissidents, angry and belligerent.
embark (im BARK)
Definition: to begin, to venture into, to involve oneself
Synonyms: start, board
Derivatives: embarked, embarkment, embarkation
We were anxious to embark upon our journey.
fallacious (fuh LAY shuhs)
Definition: containing a fallacy, deceptive, logically unsound
Synonyms: misleading, delusive, wrong
Derivatives: fallacy, fallaciousness, fallaciously
The research he presented was completely fallacious.
flourish (FLUR ish)
Definition: to thrive, to grow well
Synonyms: prosper, burgeon
Derivatives: flourisher, flourishing, flourishingly, flourishy
The new plants flourished under the watchful eye of the gardener.
ineffectual (in eh FEK choo ul)
Definition: having an inadequate effect
Synonyms: ineffective, futile, impotent, powerless, fruitless
Derivatives: ineffectuality, ineffectualness, ineffectually
His attempt to convince his audience was ineffectual.
intriguing (in TREEG ing)
Definition: arousing curiosity or interest
Synonyms: fascinating, interesting, inticing, compelling
Derivatives: intriguer, intriguingly, intrigue, intrigued
We were intrigued by his interest inpolitics.
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
motive (MOH tiv)
Definition: something that causes a person to act in a certain way, incentive
Synonyms: incitement, stimulus, cause, influence
Derivatives: motivate, motivations, motivated, motiveless
His motive for his profuse compliments was obvious.
oblivion (uh BLIV ee un)
Definition: state of being forgotten; total forgetfulness
Synonyms: carelessness, disregard, indifference, neglect, nirvana, unconcern
Derivatives: oblivious, obliviously
The true location of the ancient Ark of the Covenant has been lost in oblivion.
precarious (pre KARE ee us)
Definition: dangerous, risky, not situation
Synonyms: dubious, hairy, insecure, problematic, perilous, uncertain, unsafe
Derivatives: precariously, precariousness
The goblet was placed precariously on the edge of the table.
precedent (PRES uh dent)
Definition: an act or decision that serves as a guide for subsequent decisions
Synonyms: example, model, standard
Derivatives: precede, unprecedented
The judge's ruling set a precedent for future cases.
reconcile (REK un sile)
Definition: to reestablish friendship, to resolve a dispute
Synonyms: appease, assuage, conciliate, pacify, rectify
Derivatives: reconcilability, reconcilable, reconcilableness, reconcilably, reconcileness, reconcilement, reconciliate
Despite her anger, Vivian hopes somehow to reconcile with her daughter.
redress (ree DRESS)
Definition: the setting right of what is wrong; relief from injury or wrong
Synonyms: remedy, repair, correct, relieve, atonement, restitution
Derivatives: redressable, redresser
The people sought to redress their lack of representation in the government.
refute (reh FYOOT)
Definition: to disprove, to show as erroneous
Synonyms: confute, contradict, disprove, invalidate, repudiate, squelch
Derivatives: refutable, refutability, refutably, refutal, refutation, refutative, refutatory, refuter
I cannot refute your claim that nobody likes my "tuna surprise"; it may be true.
resolute (REZ uh loot)
Definition: characterized by a decided purpose
Synonyms: staunch, steadfast, determined, resolved, faithful, firm
Derivatives: resoluter, resolutest, resolutely, resoluteness, resolution, resolutionary, resolutioner, resolutive
A truly resolute person will not be swayed by setbacks, bad fortune, or others' opinions.
totter (TOT ur)
Definition: to stagger as if about to fall
Synonyms: careen, falter, flounder, lurch, stumble, teeter, waver, wobble
Derivatives: tottered, tottering, totteringly, tottery, totters
Wearing high-heels was not my brightest idea; I tottered precariously over the cobblestone streets.
prepossessing (pree puh ZES ing)
Definition: pleasing or creating a favorable impression
Synonyms: alluring, appealing, engaging, magnetic, striking
Derivatives: prepossess, prepossessingly, prepossession, prepossionary
The young lady had a prepossessing appearance.
virtuous (VIR choo us)
Definition: having excellent morals; righteous
Synonyms: ethical, noble
Derivatives: virtuously, virtuousness, virtue
Sarah was recognized for her virtuous behavior even in the midst of an immoral environment.
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
VocabularyTest1
Directions: Match the vocabulary word to its definition.
Practice 1
_____________1.
assert
a.
to begin, to venture into, to involve oneself
_____________2.
deluge
b.
having an inadequate effect
_____________3.
disquietudes
c.
causing anxiety or uneasiness; disturbing
_____________4.
dissention
d.
something that causes one to act in a certain way
_____________5.
embark
e.
containing a fallacy, deceptive, logically unsound
_____________6.
fallacious
f.
flood of water, something that overwhelms
_____________7.
flourish
g.
to thrive, to grow well
_____________8.
ineffectual
h.
disagreeing or dissenting, as in opinion or attitude
_____________9.
intriguing
i.
arousing curiosity or interest
_____________10.
motive
j.
to state with assurance, confidence, or force; affirm
_____________11.
oblivion
k.
to reestablish friendship, to resolve a dispute
_____________12.
precarious
l.
to disprove, to show as erroneous
_____________13.
precedent
m.
state of being forgotten; total forgetfulness
_____________14.
reconcile
n.
to stagger as if about to fall
_____________15.
redress
o.
the setting right of what is wrong; relief from injury
_____________16.
refute
p.
dangerous, risky, not a stable situation
_____________17.
resolute
q.
pleasing or creating a favorable impression
_____________18.
totter
r.
characterized by a decided purpose
_____________19.
prepossessing
s.
having excellent morals; righteous
_____________20.
virtuous
t.
an act that serves as a guide for later decisions
Practice2
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
VocabularyTest2
Directions: For each definition, select the best answer from among the choices given.
________1.
containingafallacy,deceptive,logicallyunsound
(A)assert
________2.
somethingcausinganxietyoruneasiness;disturbing
(A)precarious (B)disquietudes
________3.
anactordecisionthatservesasaguideforsubsequentdecisions
(A)oblivion
________4.
thesettingrightofwhatiswrong;relieffrominjuryorwrong
(A)redress
________5.
tostatewithassurance,confidence,orforce;statestronglyorpositively;affirm;aver:
(A)reconcile
________6.
tobegin,toventureinto,toinvolveoneself
(A)flourish
________7.
tostaggerasifabouttofall
(A)dissension (B)refute
________8.
havinganinadequateeffect
(A)ineffectual (B)dissension
________9.
floodofwater,anythingthatoverwhelmslikeaflood;tooverwhelm
(A)motive
________10.
somethingthatcausesapersontoactinacertainway,incentive
(A)intriguing (B)prepossessing
________11.
tothrive,togrowwell
(A)flourish
________12.
arousingcuriosityorinterest
(A)precedent (B)resolute
________13.
disagreeingordissenting,asinopinionorattitude
(A)reconcile
________14.
pleasingorcreatingafavorableimpression
(A)redress
________15.
havingexcellentmorals;righteous
(A)ineffectual (B)refute
(B)deluge
(B)deluge
(B)embark
(B)assert
(B)precedent
(B)embark
(B)embark
(B)prepossessing
(B)prepossessing
(C)fallacious
(C)intriguing
(C)dissension
(C)motive
(C)disquietudes
(D)dissension
(E)precarious
(D)resolute
(E)redress
(D)disquietudes (E)precedent
(D)fallacious
(E)deluge
(D)totter
(E)embark
(C)refute
(D)embark
(E)resolute
(C)totter
(D)reconcile
(E)embark
(C)fallacious
(D)precedent
(E)virtuous
(C)assert
(D)oblivion
(E)deluge
(C)reconcile
(D)motive
(E)refute
(C)totter
(D)assert
(E)reconcile
(C)intriguing
(D)virtuous
(E)refute
(D)resolute
(E)dissension
(C)fallacious
(D)ineffectual
(E)resolute
(C)intriguing
(D)virtuous
(E)precarious
(C)oblivion
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
Vocabulary Test 3
Directions: Find the correct word from the box below to complete the sentences that follow.
Practice1
asserted
deluge
disquietudes
dissension
embark
fallacious
flourish
ineffectual
intriguing
motive
1. ________________
There was much ________ between the two groups; no one could agree on the main issue.
2. ________________
The ___________ they suffered as a result of the unfair taxation quickly led the country to a
revolution.
3. ________________
The jury could not make a judgment since so much of the testimony was ___________.
4. ________________
The governor ________________ his position several times during the debates.
5. ________________
The presentation to the clients was _________; it did not result in a contract for the firm.
6. ________________
The company faced a _________ of requests for more information.
7. ________________
He helped his children to _____ in the new country, and in no time they were thriving.
8. ________________
We were about to __________ on a fantastic voyage to lands unknown.
9. ________________
The detective struggled to find a ______ for the crime.
10. _______________
His conversation was so _______ that I wanted to sit and listen to him for hours.
Practice2
oblivion
precarious
precedent
reconcile
redress
refute
resolute
totter
prepossessing
virtuous
11. ________________
The scientist tried to _____ the erroneous theories by offering additional research data.
12. ________________
To right the wrongs that were committed, the people wanted a ______________.
13. ________________
He desperately hoped to forget his troubles in the _____ of sleep.
14. ________________
Others were beset by doubt, but she was _____ and never strayed from her decided purpose.
15. ________________
The young woman had a ________ personality that was simply magnetic.
16. ________________
If you intend to _______ with your friend, you must make some move to reestablish your
friendship.
17. ________________
The school has a ________ for the type of behavior they expect from their students.
18. ________________
Just as the toddler began to ________, she regained her balance.
19. ________________
The top rung is the most _____ place to stand because a person's footing is not secure.
20. ________________
That preacher has a _____ wife who exemplifies righteousness and high morals.
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
Answers
Reading Test
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c
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c
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a
Voc Test 1
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Voc Test 2
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c
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d
Copyright © 2015 by Sharon Serrago, Inc.
Voc Test 3
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dissension
disquietudes
fallacious
asserted
ineffectual
deluge
flourish
embark
motive
intriguing
refute
redress
oblivion
resolute
prepossessing
reconcile
precedent
totter
precarious
virtuous