Vocabulary List
Exercise 1: Matching
Match each word with the correct definition.
- Cacophony _____
- Cadence _____
- Cajole _____
- Callow _____
- Candor _____
- Capitalism _____
- Capitulate _____
- Capricious _____
- Caricature _____
- Castigate _____
- Catalyst _____
- Categorical _____
- Catharsis _____
- Catholic _____
- Caustic _____
- Celibacy _____
- Censure _____
- Cerebral _____
- Chagrin _____
- Charisma _____
B. severe criticism or official disapproval
C. a harsh mixture of unpleasant sounds
D. rhythmic flow or beat
E. to persuade through flattery
F. immature or inexperienced
G. open honesty and sincerity
H. an economic system based on private ownership
I. to surrender or give in
J. unpredictable; changing suddenly
K. an exaggerated comic representation
L. to criticize or punish severely
M. a person or event that causes change
N. absolute; without exception
O. emotional release
P. universal or broad in outlook
Q. sharply sarcastic or biting
R. the state of avoiding marriage or sexual relationships
S. intellectual; related to serious thought
T. embarrassment or disappointment
Show Matching Answer Key
1-C, 2-D, 3-E, 4-F, 5-G, 6-H, 7-I, 8-J, 9-K, 10-L, 11-M, 12-N, 13-O, 14-P, 15-Q, 16-R, 17-B, 18-S, 19-T, 20-A
Exercise 2: Gap Filling
Choose the best word from the word bank to complete each sentence.
- The loud _____ of horns and shouting made it hard to study.
- The poem’s smooth _____ made it sound musical.
- The salesman tried to _____ the customer into buying the watch.
- The young prince was too _____ to understand political danger.
- Her unusual _____ made people trust her honesty.
- In _____, businesses are usually owned by private individuals.
- After months of resistance, the army finally had to _____.
- His _____ temper made everyone nervous.
- The cartoon was a cruel _____ of the mayor.
- The coach began to _____ the players for their laziness.
- The discovery became a _____ for scientific progress.
- She gave a _____ refusal and said she would never agree.
- Crying at the end of the play gave the audience emotional _____.
- The professor had a _____ view of culture and history.
- His _____ comments hurt everyone in the room.
- Some religious traditions value _____ as spiritual discipline.
- The senator faced public _____ after the scandal.
- The novel is very _____, focusing more on ideas than action.
- To his great _____, he realized he had sent the email to the wrong person.
- The leader’s _____ helped him win loyal followers.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key
1. cacophony, 2. cadence, 3. cajole, 4. callow, 5. candor, 6. capitalism, 7. capitulate, 8. capricious, 9. caricature, 10. castigate, 11. catalyst, 12. categorical, 13. catharsis, 14. catholic, 15. caustic, 16. celibacy, 17. censure, 18. cerebral, 19. chagrin, 20. charisma
Exercise 3: Paragraph Using All Words
Read the paragraph and notice how each vocabulary word is used in context.
In the crowded city square, the cacophony of traffic, argument, and music formed a strange cadence beneath the speaker’s voice. A callow politician tried to cajole the audience with jokes and promises, but his lack of candor soon became obvious. He praised capitalism as a catalyst for progress, yet his argument was too categorical and ignored the suffering around him. A cartoonist drew a biting caricature of him, while critics began to castigate his capricious policies. To his great chagrin, even his natural charisma could not protect him from public censure. His speech became increasingly caustic, but the people, seeking catharsis, demanded truth instead of insults. Finally, a more cerebral professor offered a catholic view of society, explaining that politics, economics, religion, and even ideals like celibacy must be understood within a larger human context. At last, the defeated politician chose to capitulate and leave the stage.