2021 / 2022 ASVAB For Dummies. Angie Papple Johnston

letters are silent, like the b in subtle or the k in knight. A letter at the end of a word may be silent, especially if the word is French; for instance, coup is pronounced coo.

       Some sounds have unusual pronunciations in certain contexts. Think of the first l in colonel, which is pronounced like kernel.

       The letter c can sound like s (lice) or k (despicable).

       The letter i after a t can form a sound like she. Think of the word initiate.

       The letter x at the beginning of a word is generally pronounced like z (Xerox).

       A vowel at the end of a word can change the pronunciation of letters in the word. The word wag has a different g sound than the word wage.

       When several vowels are right next to each other, they can be pronounced many different ways (consider boo, boa, and bout). Try a couple of different possibilities. For instance, if you see the word feint, you may think that it should be pronounced feent or fiynt, but it in fact sounds like faint. It means fake or pretend.

Word Knowledge Practice Questions

      In the stem of each of the following Word Knowledge practice questions, you see an underlined word. Select the choice that best answers the question in relation to the underlined word.

       Pay attention to the wording of each question. Some questions ask you to select the choice closest in meaning to the underlined word. Some questions may ask you to select the word most opposite in meaning. On other questions, you see the underlined word used in a sentence. In that case, your task is to select the choice most similar in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the context of the sentence.

      1. Acclaim most nearly means

      (A) enthusiastic approval.

      (B) religion.

      (C) help.

      (D) program.

      2. The college student met with the bursar to discuss tuition payment options.

      (A) planner

      (B) treasurer

      (C) politician

      (D) ghost

      3. Estrange most nearly means

      (A) sharp.

      (B) small.

      (C) alienate.

      (D) shiny.

      4. Momentous most nearly means

      (A) significant.

      (B) small.

      (C) reality.

      (D) postpone.

      5. The mother chastised her child.

      (A) comforted

      (B) carried

      (C) lectured

      (D) supervised

      6. Obtrude most nearly means

      (A) condition.

      (B) absorb.

      (C) prepare.

      (D) impose.

      7. We often wondered why Daniel lived in such an opulent apartment.

      (A) run-down

      (B) lavish

      (C) far away

      (D) hideous

      8. Now that you’ve read through it once, it’s time to recapitulate the Word Knowledge chapter.

      (A) discuss

      (B) summarize

      (C) test

      (D) reread

      9. Clemency most nearly means

      (A) mercy.

      (B) force.

      (C) imprisonment.

      (D) compliment.

      10. This year the Paris fashion industry has decided to eschew short skirts and high heels.

      (A) favor

      (B) manufacture

      (C) shun

      (D) sell

      11. Pollute most nearly means

      (A) eliminate.

      (B) contaminate.

      (C) clean.

(D) confuse.

      12. Latent most nearly means

      (A) hidden.

      (B) dull.

      (C) pretentious.

      (D) active.

      13. Paul sent all of his friends a salutary message on the Internet.

      (A) beneficial

      (B) profane

      (C) funny

      (D) interesting

      14. The word most opposite in meaning to reflect is

      (A) ponder.

      (B) consider.

      (C) ignore.

      (D) speculate.

      15. The word most opposite in meaning to blame is

      (A) attribute.

      (B) reprove.

      (C) muster.

      (D) exalt.

      16. Amenable most nearly means

      (A) amended.

      (B) prepared.

      (C) guided.

      (D) cooperative.

      17. Calamity most nearly means

      (A) desert.

      (B) disaster.

      (C) remorse.

      (D) overeating.

      18. The word most opposite in meaning to forthright is

      (A) honest.

      (B) polite.

      (C) blunt.

      (D) outspoken.

      19. The word most opposite in meaning to profound is

      (A) thorough.

      (B) mild.

      (C) absolute.

      (D) intense.

      20. The attendant charged Karen a nominal fee to park in the crowded lot.

      (A) expensive

      (B) insignificant

      (C) large

      (D) crazy

      21. The loving couple celebrated their fidelity over the years on their anniversary.

      (A) complications

      (B) faithfulness

      (C) regrets

      (D) treachery

      22. The Army commander decided to