Words Matter - Chapter 2
Exercise 1

Copyright © 2003 Laraine Flemming.
General distribution outside the classroom and redistribution are strictly prohibited.



Directions: Below are the ten words from Chapter 2. Each of the ten words is accompanied by three sentences that use a form of the word. Only one of these sentences uses the word correctly, the other two use it incorrectly. Read all three sentences. Then click the button to the left of the sentence that uses the word correctly.

You may change your answers as you see fit. When you are satisfied that all answers are correct, click the "Submit" button at the end of the exercise. You cannot resubmit the exercise after that point.

If a word in a sentence is marked by *, the word is introduced in Words Matter.

Note: If you are using the Internet Explorer as browser, the exercise will only work for version 6 or higher.


From Beginning to End

1.

prologue

The book ends with a prologue telling readers what happened to the characters afterwards.

The prologue to the movie has been placed before the opening credits.

The local papers published several prologues in praise of the deceased teacher.

2.

epilogue

Jimmy is such an epilogue—he just never shuts up.

I wish Steven Spielberg would soon make another epilogue like Minority Report.

Movies dealing with real events often end with an epilogue telling viewers what happened to the characters afterwards.

3.

precursor

When the shopper was hit by a shopping cart, she responded with a flood of precursors.

Tron was a precursor of the high-tech science fiction movies we see today.

Matrix, the Revolution is the latest precursor in the Matrix series.

4.

nascent

To me, ice cream is the perfect nascent to any meal.

Crocuses on the ground and buds on tree branches are nascent signs of spring.

At the nascency of his career, he drastically reduced the number of concerts he would give per year.

5.

initiative

When I heard of the news, my initiative reaction was disbelief.

The radio host apologized profusely when he learned that his remarks were initiative to some of his listeners.

Star players are expected to take the initiative whenever they are on court.

6.

novice

Novice authors often do not know how the publishing business works.

I've send novice to my boss telling him that I'm quitting.

A novice waitress of many years, she knew exactly what to do when the guest turned red and started to choke.

7.

culmination

At the time of his death, Andrew Carnegie had given away most of the money he had culminated.

Action movies always culminate in a fierce fight between the good and bad guys.

At the culmination of his career, the young Ringo Starr had no greater ambition than to own a hair salon.

8.

coda

The speaker started with a coda in which he thanked the organizers and his assistants.

A stirring rendition of "America the Beautiful" was a fitting coda to the evening's proceedings.

I can't understand this book because it's written entirely in coda.

9.

denouement

I cannot give you any denouement because I'm broke.

Mystery writers like to keep readers in suspense by telling them only in the final denouement who the killer was.

The so-called Louisiana Purchase was the greatest denouement of Thomas Jefferson's presidency.

10.

eulogy

The eulogy at the director's funeral was delivered by an actor he had made famous.

I am so insulted by Sally's behavior that she can do nothing to eulogize me.

I need no eulogies to convince me that cigarette smoking is hazardous to my health.


Last change made to this page: March 7, 2014

Words Matter: Additional Exercises