Words Matter - Chapter 23
Exercise 1

Copyright © 2005 Laraine Flemming.
General distribution outside the classroom and redistribution are strictly prohibited.


Directions: Below are the ten words from Chapter 23. Each of the ten words is accompanied by three sentences that use a form of the word. Only one of these sentences uses the word correctly, the other two use it incorrectly. Read all three sentences. Then click the button to the left of the sentence that uses the word correctly.

You may change your answers as you see fit. When you are satisfied that all answers are correct, click the "Submit" button at the end of the exercise. You cannot resubmit the exercise after that point.

If a word in a sentence is marked by *, the word is introduced in Words Matter.

Note: If you are using the Internet Explorer as browser, the exercise will only work for version 6 or higher.

Clearing the Way

1.

elucidate

Her explanation was so garbled, it left me completely elucidated.

I find your explanation too short—it needs more elucidation.

In order to get to the cabin, we had to elucidate a path through brambles and weeds.
2.

lucid

Although severely injured, the victim was lucid when rescuers found her and was able to answer questions.

By now, Leonard has gotten so lucid that he hardly makes sense anymore.

The tabloids sold at supermarkets are filled with lucid tales of alien abductions and the birth of monsters.
3.

explicate

The meaning of the passage is clear and needs no further explication.

Ernie's falling off a ladder is only the latest explication of the mishaps that have happened to him lately.

Yesterday, I caught a fish so big I had problems explicating it from the river.
4.

forthright

Committee members praised the secretary for giving forthright answers throughout her testimony.

I can't help you right now—please get back to me in a forthright.

The pursuit of happiness is a forthright for all Americans.
5.

unabashed

There were times when the unabashed display of wealth was frowned upon.

Barbara is extremely unabashed and could never make a speech in public.

Johnny came to the party unabashed as a pirate, complete with eye patch and a knife between his teeth.
6.

ambiguous

Aaron is ambiguously in pain and needs to see a doctor right away.

My nephew is an ambiguous young man with a bright future ahead of him.

Instructions in operating manuals should never be ambiguous.
7.

equivocate

In many professions, women still haven't reached a standing equivocal with men.

During a wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are supposed to equivocate "I do" with a loud voice.

People who equivocate are often afraid to tell the truth.
8.

circumlocution

You'll find the store somewhere in the circumlocution of the mall.

When talking about delicate subjects, my mother always relied on circumlocution.

"Roll with the punches" is a circumlocution originating in boxing.
9.

oblique

When I asked Amanda if she had done her homework, she said obliquely "yes."

We find the obliqueness of George Washington on every one-dollar bill.

I took his description of his favorite recipes as an oblique criticism of the food we served him.
10.

enigmatic

He told one enigma after another so that in the end, nobody believed him anymore.

I can't say I like movies portraying women as enigmatic creatures that mystify a bunch of adoring men.

In order to defend his actions, he issued a long enigma of his intentions.

Last change made to this page: May 22, 2004

Words Matter: Additional Exercises