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READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
A An nt to on ny ym ms s 2 2 Level 9

D Di ir re ec ct ti io on ns s: : Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.
1. CHIDE

A. notice
B. admonish
C. laud
D. scold
E. allow


2. DENY

A. corroborate
B. commend
C. renounce
D. verbalize
E. muffle


3. AVERT

A. abide
B. preclude
C. divert
D. gaze
E. skipper


4. MUTILATE

A. deface
B. adapt
C. augment
D. mar
E. mend


5. LUMINOUS

A. brilliant
B. mournful
C. pessimistic
D. gloomy
E. radiant


6. BARREN

A. moist
B. parched
C. sterile
D. dewy
E. fertile


7. IRRITATE

A. mollify
B. acknowledge
C. appreciate
D. peeve
E. vex


8. BEWITCH

A. invite
B. revolt
C. ravage
D. inflict
E. allure


9. INGENIOUS

A. crafty
B. inane
C. incompetent
D. inventive
E. skillful


10. VERIFY

A. justify
B. equivocate
C. invalidate
D. corroborate
E. approximate
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Answers and Explanations

1) C
The word chide means to scold or rebuke. A father might chide his daughter if she misbehaves. The opposite of chide is
to praise. Because laud means to praise, choice (C) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because notice means to become aware of or see. This is not the opposite of chide.

(B) is incorrect because admonish means to warn or reprimand someone firmly. This is practically synonymous with
chide, not the opposite of it.

(D) is incorrect because scold means to rebuke. This is synonymous with chide, not the opposite of it.

(E) is incorrect because allow means to admit as acceptable or legal. This is not the opposite of chide.

2) A
The word deny means to refuse to admit the truth or existence of something. Someone accused of a crime he or she did
not commit might deny any involvement in the crime. The opposite of deny is to affirm as the truth. Because corroborate
means to make certain or confirm, choice (A) is correct.

(B) is incorrect because commend means to praise formally. This is not the opposite of deny.

(C) is incorrect because renounce means to formally declare ones abandonment of a belief. This is nearly synonymous
with deny, not the opposite of it.

(D) is incorrect because verbalize means to express in words. This is not the opposite of deny.

(E) is incorrect because muffle means to make quieter or less distinct. This is not the opposite of deny.

3) D
The word avert means to turn ones eyes away. For example, one should avert his or her eyes from an eclipse, since
staring at an eclipse can cause blindness. The opposite of avert is to face head on or not turn away. Because gaze means
to look steadily and intently, choice (D) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because abide means to accept or act in accordance. This is not the opposite of avert.

(B) is incorrect because preclude means to make impossible. This is not the opposite of avert.

(C) is incorrect because divert means to cause to change course or direction. This is practically synonymous with avert,
not the opposite of it.

(E) is incorrect because skipper means to act as captain. This is not the opposite of avert.

4) E
The word mutilate means to disfigure violently. Severely cutting someones face would mutilate him or her. The opposite
of mutilate is to repair or improve ones appearance. Because mend means to repair something broken or damaged,
choice (E) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because deface means to spoil the appearance of something. This is practically synonymous with mutilate,
not the opposite of it.

(B) is incorrect because adapt means to modify. This is not the opposite of mutilate.

(C) is incorrect because augment means to increase in size. This is not the opposite of mutilate.

(D) is incorrect because mar means to disfigure. This is practically synonymous with mutilate, not the opposite of it.

5) D
The word luminous means full of light. A room with lots of windows would be luminous on a sunny day. The opposite of
luminous is dark or unlit. Because gloomy means dark or poorly lit, choice (D) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because brilliant means very bright. This is synonymous with luminous, not the opposite of it.

(B) is incorrect because mournful means causing sadness or grief. This is not the opposite of luminous, since a sad
atmosphere is not necessarily poorly lit.

(C) is incorrect because pessimistic means tending to see the worst aspects of things. This is not the opposite of
luminous.

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(E) is incorrect because radiant means shining or glowing brightly. This is synonymous with luminous, not the opposite of
it.

6) E
The word barren means unable to produce offspring or vegetation. A wasteland is barren. The opposite of barren is able
to produce offspring or vegetation. Because fertile means capable of producing abundant vegetation or offspring, choice
(E) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because moist means wet or damp. This is not the opposite of barren.

(B) is incorrect because parched means thirsty or dry. This is not the opposite of barren.

(C) is incorrect because sterile means not able to produce offspring or seeds. This is synonymous with barren, not the
opposite of it.

(D) is incorrect because dewy means wet with dew. This is not the opposite of barren.

7) A
The word irritate means to bother or annoy. Someone who nags might irritate another person. The opposite of irritate is to
soothe or calm. Because mollify means to appease the anger of someone, choice (A) is correct.

(B) is incorrect because acknowledge means to accept or admit the existence of something. This is not the opposite of
irritate.

(C) is incorrect because appreciate means to recognize the full worth of something. This is not the opposite of irritate.

(D) is incorrect because peeve means to annoy. This is synonymous with irritate, not the opposite of it.

(E) is incorrect because vex means to cause someone to get annoyed. This is not the opposite of irritate.

8) B
The word bewitch means to enchant and delight. In The Odyssey, the song of the sirens had the power to bewitch the
men on Odysseuss ship. The opposite of bewitch is to repulse or repel. Because revolt means to cause to feel disgust,
choice (B) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because invite means to make a polite request to someone. This is not the opposite of bewitch.

(C) is incorrect because ravage means to cause severe damage. This is not the opposite of bewitch.

(D) is incorrect because inflict means to impose something unwelcome. This is not the opposite of bewitch, since
bewitching someone does not necessarily impose something welcome on him or her.

(E) is incorrect because allure means to powerfully attract or charm. This is synonymous with bewitch, not the opposite of
it.

9) B
The word ingenious means clever, intelligent, or inventive. An ingenious idea is one that is very original and smart. The
opposite of ingenious is not clever or intelligent. Because inane means stupid or silly, choice (B) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because crafty means clever at achieving ones aims through deceitful methods. This is not the opposite of
ingenious.

(C) is incorrect because incompetent means not having the necessary skills to do something successfully. This is not the
opposite of ingenious, since being intelligent and being skilled are not synonymous.

(D) is incorrect because inventive means having the ability to think originally. This is synonymous with ingenious, not the
opposite of it.

(E) is incorrect because skillful means having skill or ability. This is not the opposite of ingenious.

10) C
The word verify means to make sure that something is true or accurate. When you show someone your ID card, you are
verifying that you are who you say you are. The opposite of verify is to prove that something is not true or accurate.
Because invalidate means to discredit or render something inaccurate or erroneous, choice (C) is correct.

(A) is incorrect because justify means to show to be right. This is practically synonymous with verify, not the opposite of it.

(B) is incorrect because equivocate means to use ambiguous language to conceal the truth of something. This is not the
opposite of verify, because equivocating does not disprove something or demonstrate that something is not true.

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(D) is incorrect because corroborate means to confirm or give support to something. This is practically synonymous with
verify, not the opposite of it.

(E) is incorrect because approximate means to estimate or calculate. This is not the opposite of verify.