SSAT Vocabulary Practice: CON & COV Words

List 26-27 practice for interpretation, agreement, hidden action, and desire words.

Vocabulary List 26-27

1. ConstrueverbTo interpret or understand in a particular way.
2. Consummateadjective / verbComplete or perfect; to bring something to completion.
3. ContentiousadjectiveLikely to cause argument; quarrelsome.
4. ContiguousadjectiveTouching or sharing a border; next to each other.
5. ContingentadjectiveDependent on something else; possible but not certain.
6. ContriteadjectiveDeeply sorry for wrongdoing.
7. ContrivedadjectiveArtificial, forced, or not natural.
8. ConventionaladjectiveTraditional, ordinary, or following accepted customs.
9. ConvivialadjectiveFriendly, lively, and enjoyable.
10. CopiousadjectiveAbundant; present in large amounts.
11. CorollarynounA natural result or consequence.
12. CorroborateverbTo confirm or support with evidence.
13. CosmopolitanadjectiveWorldly, sophisticated, or familiar with many cultures.
14. Countenancenoun / verbA facial expression; to approve or tolerate.
15. CoupnounA sudden, successful action, often a seizure of power.
16. CovenantnounA formal agreement or promise.
17. CovertadjectiveHidden, secret, or disguised.
18. CovetverbTo strongly desire something that belongs to someone else.

Exercise 1: Matching

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. Construe _____
  2. Consummate _____
  3. Contentious _____
  4. Contiguous _____
  5. Contingent _____
  6. Contrite _____
  7. Contrived _____
  8. Conventional _____
  9. Convivial _____
  10. Copious _____
  11. Corollary _____
  12. Corroborate _____
  13. Cosmopolitan _____
  14. Countenance _____
  15. Coup _____
  16. Covenant _____
  17. Covert _____
  18. Covet _____
A. deeply sorry for wrongdoing
B. hidden, secret, or disguised
C. to interpret or understand in a certain way
D. a formal agreement or promise
E. traditional or ordinary
F. dependent on something else
G. abundant; in large amounts
H. worldly or familiar with many cultures
I. likely to cause argument
J. to confirm with evidence
K. a sudden, successful action or seizure of power
L. touching or sharing a border
M. a facial expression; approval or tolerance
N. a natural result or consequence
O. complete or perfect; to bring to completion
P. friendly, lively, and enjoyable
Q. artificial, forced, or not natural
R. to strongly desire another person's possession
Show Matching Answer Key

1-C, 2-O, 3-I, 4-L, 5-F, 6-A, 7-Q, 8-E, 9-P, 10-G, 11-N, 12-J, 13-H, 14-M, 15-K, 16-D, 17-B, 18-R

Exercise 2: Gap Filling

Choose the best word from the word bank to complete each sentence.

construe, consummate, contentious, contiguous, contingent, contrite, contrived, conventional, convivial, copious, corollary, corroborate, cosmopolitan, countenance, coup, covenant, covert, covet
  1. The lawyer warned the jury not to _____ the witness's silence as guilt.
  2. Admission to the program is _____ on completing all prerequisite courses.
  3. The apology sounded sincere because the student looked genuinely _____.
  4. The two farms are _____, sharing a long wooden fence.
  5. The film's ending felt _____, as if the writer forced every problem to disappear.
  6. After the rain, the garden produced _____ amounts of mint and basil.
  7. The ambassador's _____ background helped her feel comfortable in many countries.
  8. The second witness was able to _____ the driver's account of the accident.
  9. The debate became _____ when the students argued about school uniforms.
  10. The club signed a _____ promising to share the library space fairly.
  11. The general led a swift _____ and took control of the capital before dawn.
  12. The rule was a simple _____ of the school's promise to protect student safety.
  13. The principal would not _____ bullying, even when popular students were involved.
  14. They held a _____ meeting so no one would learn about the surprise party.
  15. The host created a _____ atmosphere with music, food, and easy conversation.
  16. The ceremony followed a _____ format, with speeches before the awards.
  17. Many students _____ the captain's confidence, but few saw how hard she practiced.
  18. Her _____ skill as a pianist impressed even the strictest judge.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key

1. construe, 2. contingent, 3. contrite, 4. contiguous, 5. contrived, 6. copious, 7. cosmopolitan, 8. corroborate, 9. contentious, 10. covenant, 11. coup, 12. corollary, 13. countenance, 14. covert, 15. convivial, 16. conventional, 17. covet, 18. consummate

Exercise 3: Paragraph Using All Words

Read the paragraph and notice how each vocabulary word is used in context.

At first, the committee did not know how to construe the mayor's brief announcement, but the plan became clear after a consummate negotiator explained it. The issue was contentious because two contiguous neighborhoods wanted the same park, and funding was contingent on their cooperation. After making a rude accusation, one council member looked contrite, while another offered a contrived excuse that convinced no one. Instead of following a conventional meeting format, the chair created a convivial discussion with copious maps, surveys, and student letters. A natural corollary of the evidence was that both areas needed access, and several residents came forward to corroborate that claim. The city's cosmopolitan mayor would not countenance secret deals, even after a failed political coup by rival leaders. In the end, both sides signed a covenant to share the park, ending the covert rivalry that had begun when each neighborhood started to covet the other's resources.

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