ASVAB CampSynonyms: Core Method flashcards
8 cards with the formulas, rules and traps from this lesson. Answer in your head, then flip to check.
Strategy · 1/8
What is the five-step method for a Word Knowledge synonym item?
Target the word and its sense, predict a plain paraphrase before reading choices, classify each choice (synonym, opposite, related, unrelated), test the best one in a sentence, then commit to the best match.
Common trap · 2/8
Meaning versus association: why is 'desert' wrong for ARID?
Desert is only associated with arid (it shows up near the idea); it does not mean arid. The answer must be able to stand in for the word, so choose 'very dry'.
Term · 3/8
Denotation vs. connotation: what is the difference?
Denotation is the literal core meaning; connotation is the emotional tone. Thrifty and stingy share a denotation (spending little) but thrifty sounds positive, stingy negative. Match denotation first, then tone.
Rule · 4/8
Why must a synonym match the target word's intensity?
Words on a scale differ in strength (annoyed, angry, furious). For FURIOUS, a mild word like irritated falls short; for drenched, soaked beats damp.
Rule · 5/8
How does part of speech filter the choices?
The answer must do the same grammatical job as the target. In 'will BRIEF the squad', brief is a verb meaning inform, so adjective senses like short are out.
Common trap · 6/8
Why can a synonym chain like brisk to quick to hasty to careless mislead you?
Small shifts add up across links, so the end word can mean something different. Use a chain only to generate a guess, then compare that choice directly with the original word.
Common trap · 7/8
Can word parts guarantee a meaning? Give the classic exception.
No. They help eliminate choices, but can mislead: inflammable means easily set on fire, not fireproof. Confirm with the sentence or your sense of the whole word.
Strategy · 8/8
A standalone word has no sentence. Which meaning should you try first?
Start with the most common everyday sense (SOUND as noise). If it is not among the choices, check other real senses, such as healthy (a sound body).