Determine Meaning: Words and Phrases

Read the excerpt from Mark Twain's memoir, Life on the Mississippi. I was quaking from head to foot, and I could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far. What is the most likely meaning of the phrase "I could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far" in this sentence?

(A) It is hyperbole that means that the author's eyes were wide with fear.

Read the excerpt from As You Like It by William Shakespeare. All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. What do Shakespeare's metaphors most likely mean? Select three options.

(A) People play different roles throughout their lives. (C) People leave one phrase of life to enter another (E) People all go through the same phrases of life.

Read the passage. Delia pointed out the slender branches of the wispy almond tree to Kaveh, noting the weight of the flowers that were in bloom. As they walked through the garden, Kaveh noticed another delicate looking tree in the corner of the yard and asked Delia what type it was. How does the word choice slender affect the meaning of the passage?

(A) The word slender implies that the almond tree's branches are thin.

Read the sentence. Kazim likes to watch romantic films with happy endings, but Hannah is such a cynic that she never goes to the movies with him. What does the word cynic imply?

(A) that Hannah is negative about most things

Read the excerpt from Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall." He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours."Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonderIf I could put a notion in his head:"Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't itWhere there are cows? But here there are no cows.Before I built a wall I'd ask to knowWhat I was walling in or walling out,And to whom I was like to give offence.Something there is that doesn't love a wall,That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him,But it's not elves exactly, and I'd ratherHe said it for himself. I see him thereBringing a stone grasped firmly by the topIn each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.He moves in darkness as it seems to me,Not of woods only and the shade of trees.He will not go behind his father's saying,And he like having thought of it so wellHe says again, "Good fences make good neighbours." What does the word grasped connote in this poem?

(A) that the man us determined to protect himself

Read the sentence. When he gave his speech to younger audiences, Jake knew that it would be prudent to avoid sharing stories that might be considered inappropriate for children. Based on context clues in the passage, what is the most likely meaning of prudent? Select three options.

(A) using good judgement (C) being cautious (E) ensuring appropriateness

Read the excerpt from The Green Gables Letters by L. M. Montgomery. The woods are getting ready to sleep—they are not yet asleep but they are disrobing and are having all sorts of little bed-time conferences and whisperings and good-nights. What meaning does the use of personification convey?

(B) It conveys the idea of trees losing their leaves and making noises in the wind.

What are the most likely meanings of the idiom "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"? Select two options.

(B) We are not going to do that yet. (D) We will talk about that problem if and when it happens.

Read the passage. The man at the gas station gave me directions and then kept on chatting, telling me about the weather to come and places to stay nearby. His laconic wife simply nodded her head, occasionally correcting him on his lefts and rights and finally telling me I'd best be on my way if I wanted to reach town by sunset. Based on context clues in the passage, what is the most likely meaning of laconic? Select two options.

(B) brief (E) concise

Read the sentence. The clouds gathering on the horizon were an inauspicious sign for the outdoor class, so rather than risk getting caught in a downpour, Dara decided to bring the class indoors. Based on context clues in the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of inauspicious?

(B) unfavorable

ead the sentence. The clouds gathering on the horizon were an inauspicious sign for the outdoor class, so rather than risk getting caught in a downpour, Dara decided to bring the class indoors. Based on context clues in the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of inauspicious?

(B) unfavorable

Read the passage. Paul seems to know everyone in this town, and is always amenable to a chat when I run into him. Paul's father, a docile man, works with him at the bookstore. Which statement best explains the nuance between amenable and docile?

(C) Amenable suggests that Paul is an open, social person, while docile implies that his father is kind but quiet.

Read the passage. When Norah finally got tickets to the concert, she asked me to go with her. I am an ardent fan of bluegrass music, so of course I said yes. Malinda said she would be willing to go, too. Which statement best explains the nuance between ardent and willing?

(C) Ardent implies a deep desire for something, while willing implies simply a readiness to do something.

Read the sentence. Andrea's opponent was honest and straightforward, but Andrea used her guile to win the contest. What type of context clue in the sentence can be used to determine the meaning of guile?

(C) an antonym

Read the sentence. Levi was terrified of leaving his parents' farm and striking out on his own, but the longer he stayed, the more obvious it became that he was going to have to cut the cord, and soon. What are the best possible meanings of the euphemism "cut the cord"? Select two options.

(C) stop depending on parents (E) leave the farm

Read the sentence. When cotton clothing is permeated, or soaked through, with water, it stays wet and can freeze in cold weather. Based on context clues in the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of permeated?

(D) Saturated

Read the sentence. Sarai discovered that some of the materials she tested were malleable enough to serve as springs for her robot. What type of context clue can you use to determine the meaning of malleable?

(D) an inference