The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 1
Mystery Questions:
Answer the following questions with complete sentences defining the stem used in the sentence:
Example: Does an interstate highway stretch across more than one state?
Yes, it goes between (inter) at least two states.
- Does a father’s birthday antedate his son’s?
- Does an anticlimax enhance a play’s conclusion?
- Can the president make a bilateral decision by himself?
- Does a drill sergeant encourage troops to circumvent rules?
- Is a distortion a faithful account of what happened?
- Is your subordinate your boss?
- Is a superfluous comment unnecessary?
- Can a book record your thoughts for posterity?
- Do you mistrust a person who equivocates?
- Are symbiotic creatures mortal enemies?
Analogies:
1. / antebellum : belligerency ::a. / antiaircraft : aircraft
b. / nonstop : continuous
c. / cause : effect
d. / morning : afternoon
2. / interstellar : stellar ::
a. / submarine : marine
b. / interstate : intrastate
c. / mortar : bricks
d. / intracellular : cell
3. / superfluous : inadequate ::
a. / excess : insufficiency
b. / malevolence : benevolence
c. / superior : mediocre
d. / euphony : cacophony
4. / supercilious : idolizing ::
a. / depression : euphoria
b. / condescension : admiration
c. / synthesis : antithesis
d. / zenith : nadir
5. / circumvent : comply ::
a. / noncooperation : complaisance
b. / superior : subordinate
c. / preposition : position
d. / circumnavigate : navigate
6. / ancestry : posterity ::
a. / eohippus : horse
b. / intracranial : cranial
c. / anteroom : gazebo
d. / syncline : anticline
7. / antecedent : precedent ::
a. / grammar : law
b. / circumlocution : equivocation
c. / malaprop : malevolence
d. / inspection : introspection
8. / prenatal : posthumous ::
a. / bilateral : unilateral
b. / pathogen : syndrome
c. / intravenous : vein
d. / subterfuge : evasion
9. / biped : bicycle ::
a. / quadruped : automobile
b / rectangle : tetragon
c. / binary : unitary
d. / biceps : triceps
10. / circumspect : reckless ::
a. / circumlocution : equivocation
b. / conjunction : disjunction
c. / supercilious : despicable
d. / homophone : homonym
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 1 Answer Key
Mystery Questions:
- Does a father’s birthday antedate his son’s?
Yes, it dates before (ante) the son’s.
- Does an anticlimax enhance a play’s conclusion?
No, it works against (anti) the conclusion’s drama.
- Can the president make a bilateral decision by himself?
No, a bilateral decision must be two (bi) sided (lat).
- Does a drill sergeant encourage troops to circumvent rules?
No, he doesn’t want the going around (circum) the rules.
- Is a distortion a faithful account of what happened?
No, in a distortin the story is twisted (tort) away (dis).
- Is your subordinate your boss?
No, the subordinate belongs to a lower (sub) order (ord).
- Is a superfluous comment unnecessary?
Yes, it is an over (super) flow (flu).
- Can a book record your thoughts for posterity?
Yes, posterity is the population that comes after (post) you.
- Do you mistrust a person who equivocates?
Yes, we mistrust one who give equal (equi) voice (voc) to both sides of an issue.
- Are symbiotic creatures mortal enemies?
No, symbiotic creatures spend their lives (bio) together (sym).
Analogies:
- D. antebellum : belligerency :: morning : afternoon: Temporal relationship, A precedes B. The antebellum period precedes the period of belligerencey as the morning precedes the afternoon.
- C. interstellar : stellar :: mortar : bricks: Spatial relationship, A between B. The interstellar region is located between the stars as mortar is located between the bricks.
- A. superfluous : inadequate :: excess : insufficiency: Quantity. Too much vs. too little. A and B are opposites, and left and right are synonyms. Superfluous means excess, as inadequate means insufficient.
- B. supercilious : idolizing :: condescension : admiration: A and B are opposites of attitude. Looking down vs. looking up to. Also, the right terms are synonyms of the left terms.
- A. circumvent : comply :: noncooperation : complaisance: To circumvent is to avoid cooperation, to be complaisant is to wish to comply. A and B are opposites, and left and right are near-synonyms.
- A. ancestry : posterity :: eohippus : horse: Temporal relationship, A before B. The eohippus is an ancestor of the horse.
- A. antecedent : precedent :: grammar : law: Both mean go before, but antecedent refers to grammar and precedent to law. The left terms are specific examples of the words used in the larger categories at right.
- B. prenatal : posthumous :: pathogen : syndrome: Temporal relationship, A before B. The prenatal period precedes the posthumous period as the pathogen precedes the syndrome.
- A. biped : bicycle :: quadruped : automobile: Two feet/two wheels, four feet/four wheels. The relationship is two-fold: numerical identity and foot vs. wheel.
- B. circumspect : reckless :: conjunction : disjunction: Opposites. Circumspect is the opposite of reckless as conjunction is the opposite of disjunction.
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 1
Analysis:
- What is the difference between interstate highways and intrastate highways? Explain by examining parts of the words.
- If nav means ship, explain the origin of the word circumnavigate.
Synthesis:
- Invent three words that each combine two or more of the stems on List #1. Write definitions for these words.
1)
2)
3)
- Write a paragraph about an intracranial operation, and use at least ten example words from List #1 in your paragraph. Attach a separate sheet if you need more space.
Evaluation:
- Are politicians morally obligated to speak unequivocally, or do they have a practical right to be equivocal in order to be elected?
- Is it wrong to be an introvert, or is it just a matter of style? Is it better to be sociable? Should you force yourself to socialize if you feel like being alone?
Intuition:
- What images flash in your mind when you hear the following words:
1) preschool:
2) misfortune:
3) symbol:
4) deposit:
5) interstellar:
6) descent:
- If you could do something truly extraordinary, what would it be?
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 2
Mystery Questions:
Answer the following questions with complete sentences defining the stem used in the sentence:
Example: Does an interstate highway stretch across more than one state?
Yes, it goes between (inter) at least two states.
- Is a dullard a person who is dull company?
- Is entomology the science of human cultures?
- Are incisive comments irrelevant and time-consuming?
- Is it good to be remiss in your duties?
- Are captious questions designed to catch and embarrass you?
- Is a king an anarchist?
- Are peaceful nations in a state of belligerence?
- Did the scribes of ancient Egypt sing for the Pharaoh?
- Can an incredulous person believe what is happening?
- Does an anthropologist hate mankind?
Analogies:
1. / autobiography : biography ::a. / malediction : benediction
b. / automobile : horse cart
c. / audiophile : audience
d. / murder : suicide
2. / bibliophile : bibliophobia ::
a. / philanthropist : misanthropy
b. / laggard : dullard
c. / monarchy : anarchy
d. / belligerence : treaty
3. / anthropologist : anthropology ::
a. / science : scientist
b. / biology : biologist
c. / captain : ship
d. / artist : art
4. / scribe : dictation ::
a. / reporter : report
b. / geologist : rock
c. / anthropologist : anthropoid
d. / captor : captive
5. / arthritis : tonsillitis ::
a. / arthropod : gastropod
b. / knuckle : throat
c. / disease : decay
d. / bibliophile : bibliolatry
6. / incredulous : credulous ::
a. / disbelief : belief
b. / incredible : amazing
c. / faith : agnosticism
d. / homicide : herbicide
7. / philology : anthropology ::
a. / word : science
b. / word : man
c. / science : diction
d. / anthropology : eloquence
8. / neolithic : paleolithic ::
a. / stone : ceramics
b. / artifact : neon
c. / rock : rock
d. / new : old
9. / anthropoid : human ::
a. / asteroid : star
b / anthropologist : culture
c. / homicide : victim
d. / audition : audience
10. / neologism : word ::
a. / neophyte : plant
b. / neon : chemist
c. / neolithic : savage
d. / neoclassic : old classic
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 2 Answer Key
Mystery Questions:
- Is a dullard a person who is dull company?
Yes, a dullard is always (ard) dull.
- Is entomology the science of human cultures?
No, entomology is the science of insects (entomo). Anthropology is the science of human cultures (anthropo).
- Are incisive comments irrelevant and time-consuming?
No, incisive comments cut (cise) deeply into (in) the issue.
- Is it good to be remiss in your duties?
No, if you’re remiss, we send (miss) you back to do the job again (re).
- Are captious questions designed to catch and embarrass you?
Yes, they are full of (ous) intent to catch (capt:take) you.
- Is a king an anarchist?
No, a king is a monarch. An anarchist believes in no (an) government (archy).
- Are peaceful nations in a state of belligerence?
No, peaceful nations are not at war (bell).
- Did the scribes of ancient Egypt sing for the Pharaoh?
No, the scribes wrote (scrib).
- Can an incredulous person believe what is happening?
No, an incredulous person is full of (ous) disbelief (in/cred).
- Does an anthropologist hate mankind?
No, a misanthropist does. An anthropologist studies mankind.
Analogies:
- B. autobiography : biography :: automobile : horse cart: Operation which is self-performed A vs. external operation B. A person requires someone else to write his biography as a horse cart requires something else to pull it.
- A. bibliophile : bibliophobia :: philanthropist : misanthropy: Love vs. hate and person vs. feeling. A person who loves books is to the feeling of hating books as a person who loves mankind is to the feeling of hating mankind.
- D. anthropologist : anthropology :: artist : art: A is the person who does B.
- A. scribe : dictation :: reporter : report: B is what is written by person A.
- B. arthritis : tonsillitis :: knuckle : throat: Inflammation vs. its location. The forms of inflammation at left can be located in the parts of the body at right.
- A. incredulous : credulous :: disbelief : belief: Terms at right are noun definitions of adjectives at left. Incredulous means disbelieving; credulous means believing.
- B. philology : anthropology :: word : man: Subject of study. Philology is the study of words as anthropology is the study of man.
- D. neolithic : paleolithic :: new : old: Temporal relationship.
- A. anthropoid : human :: asteroid : star: The name of A means that it resembles B. The anthropoid apes are named for the fact that they resemble humans just as the asteroids are named for the fact that from the ground they resemble stars.
- A. neologism : word :: neophyte : plant: A is a new B. A neologism is a new word as a neophyte is a new plant.
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 2
Analysis:
- Why is the noun that the pronoun takes the place of referred to as the antecedent? Explain why this combination of stems is a logical choice for the name of a pronoun’s noun.
- Explain how the pieces of the word autobiography total up into a logical meaning.
Synthesis:
- Use various other stems to build as many words as you can around the stem scrib (or script). Feel free to make up words, even humorous ones. Make at least ten words.
- Write a paragraph about an anthropologist studying Neanderthal remains in a cave in France. Use at least ten example words from List #2 in your paragraph. Attach a separate sheet if you need more space.
Aesthetics:
- If you could use adhesive to glue anything you wanted to your wall, what would you glue there?
- If you could make a biomorphic abstract sculpture, would you make one that was swimmy, or flappy, or toothy, or full of eyes, or what?
Emotion:
- What words on List #2 do you associate with feelings of anger?
- When was the last time you were incredulous? What happened to make you feel that way?
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 3
Mystery Questions:
Answer the following questions with complete sentences defining the stem used in the sentence:
Example: Does an interstate highway stretch across more than one state?
Yes, it goes between (inter) at least two states.
- Do a pendant and a necklace have anything in common?
- Do homologous structures have dissimilar constructions?
- Is a vivacious personality a vicious personality?
- Is a convivial person a wallflower?
- Is a dependent person self-sufficient?
- Is a pantheon one god or a group of gods?
- Is polygamy marriage to more than one person?
- If a culprit is exculpated, is he out of trouble?
- Is a weak, indecisive person omnipotent?
- Is a clam’s pseudopod a real leg?
Analogies:
1. / euphony : cacophony ::a. / microcosm : microbiotic
b. / beautiful : ugly
c. / photon : photometer
d. / provident : future
2. / polyphonic : polygamy ::
a. / pantheism : religion
b. / hydroponics : deduction
c. / homologous : monotone
d. / melody : marriage
3. / eccentric : conventional ::
a. / pseudopod : pseudonym
b. / oligarchy : pentarchy
c. / deduction : reduction
d. / nonconformity : conformity
4. / pseudoscience : science ::
a. / revive : vivacious
b. / vivacious : revive
c. / anatomy : lobotomy
d. / pseudonym : name
5. / omnivorous : herbivorous ::
a. / omnifarious : omnipotent
b. / Pan-American : river
c. / all : plant
d. / specious : authentic
6. / elucidate : explain ::
a. / reiterate : stolid
b. / reiterate : repeat
c. / symphony : cacophony
d. / eulogy : euphony
7. / telekinesis : telesthesia ::
a. / moving : feeling
b. / telescope : microscope
c. / inspect : introspect
d. / eccentric : centrifugal
8. / dichotomy : trichotomy ::
a. / bicycle : tricycle
b. / viviparous : vivisection
c. / lobotomy : brain
d. / hydrant : hydrogen
9. / pentameter : pentarchy ::
a. / poetry : government
b / government : poetry
c. / distance : five
d. / ruler : measure
10. / hypothesis : thesis ::
a. / guess : idea
b. / theory : supposition
c. / hypothecate : hypotenuse
d. / idea : image
The Word Within the Word Vocabulary Homework—Lesson 3 Answer Key