TestUstad

Vocabulary notes

MDCAT English

This chapter develops the skills needed to understand and use synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one word substitutions, analogies, and contextual vocabulary. It also covers correct word choice, common spelling patterns, and the relationships between words tested in sentence-based questions.

Synonyms and Similar Meanings

A synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. Exact synonyms are uncommon, so the correct answer must fit the meaning and grammatical use of the original word.

The meaning of a word may change slightly according to context. For example, alert means watchful in “an alert guard,” while conversant means acquainted or familiar with a subject. Learn both the direct meaning and the suitable synonym.

  • Alert means watchful, attentive, or vigilant.
  • Contiguous means sharing a boundary or being next to something. Its synonym is proximate, meaning near or close.
  • Indigence means extreme poverty or lack of money.
  • Disconcert means to confuse, disturb, or unsettle someone.
  • Probity means complete honesty and uprightness in character.
  • Incorrigible means impossible or very difficult to correct or change. A suitable synonym is unchangeable.
  • Fetid means having a strong, unpleasant smell, especially the smell of decay. Rancid is a suitable related word for a foul or spoiled smell.
  • Conversant means acquainted with or familiar with a subject.

Antonyms and Opposite Meanings

An antonym is a word that has an opposite meaning. The opposite must be selected according to the exact sense of the given word. A word may have different antonyms when it has more than one meaning.

Abrogate means to cancel, repeal, or officially end a law, agreement, or practice. Ratify means to approve or formally confirm an agreement, so it is used as its antonym in vocabulary questions.

  • Abrogate means to abolish, cancel, or repeal.
  • Ratify means to approve or confirm formally.
  • Abrogate and ratify are opposites when an agreement or law is being discussed.
  • A synonym gives a similar meaning, while an antonym gives an opposite meaning.
  • The opposite of increase is decrease, while the opposite of accept is reject.
  • The correct antonym must match the part of speech of the original word whenever possible.
  • Do not choose a word that is merely different. It must express opposition in meaning.

Meaning from Context

Context means the words and situation surrounding a particular word. A difficult word can often be understood by examining the sentence, the subject being discussed, and the words before and after it.

First identify the part of speech required by the blank. Then test each possible word in the complete sentence. The answer should be grammatically correct and logically suitable.

  • Amenities are useful facilities or services that make a place comfortable, such as electricity, water, transport, or recreational facilities.
  • In “Many of the houses in Murree have basic amenities,” amenities means basic facilities and services.
  • Appropriate means suitable or proper for a particular situation.
  • In “rules that emphasize appropriate behaviour,” appropriate means proper, acceptable, or suitable.
  • Use nearby clues to identify whether a word has a positive, negative, formal, or informal meaning.
  • A word may have several dictionary meanings, but context selects the intended meaning.
  • The noun, verb, adjective, or adverb form required by the sentence helps eliminate incorrect choices.

Idioms and Phrases

An idiom is a fixed group of words whose complete meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words. Idioms should normally be learned as complete expressions.

For example, to fish in troubled waters does not mean to catch fish in dirty water. It means to take advantage of a difficult or confused situation in order to make a profit or gain an advantage.

  • To fish in troubled waters means to make profit from difficult or confused situations.
  • To face the music means to bear the consequences of one’s actions.
  • A one-trick pony is a person who has only one special feature, talent, skill, or area of expertise.
  • Idioms cannot usually be translated word for word.
  • The surrounding sentence helps determine the intended use of an idiom.
  • “After breaking the rules, he had to face the music” means that he had to accept the consequences.
  • “The trader fishes in troubled waters” means that the trader benefits from a difficult situation.

One Word Substitution

One word substitution replaces a long phrase with one precise word. These words often describe a person, an action, a type of killing, or a condition.

The best answer must express the complete meaning of the phrase. Pay attention to the difference between a person who travels, a person who stays in one place, and a person who belongs to a particular group.

  • An itinerant is one who travels from place to place, usually for work or trade.
  • Matricide is the killing of one’s mother.
  • Patricide is the killing of one’s father.
  • Homicide is the killing of one human being by another human being.
  • A person who knows several languages is a linguist or polyglot, depending on the intended meaning.
  • A person who loves books is commonly called a bibliophile.
  • A person who cannot be corrected or reformed may be described as incorrigible.
  • One word substitutions should be checked for correct spelling and exact meaning.

Analogies and Word Relationships

An analogy compares two pairs of words that have the same relationship. Read it as “the first word is related to the second word in the same way that the third word is related to the fourth word.”

To solve an analogy, state the relationship between the first pair in a short phrase. Then apply the same relationship to the second pair. The relationship may involve cause and effect, category, young and adult, material and product, or group and members.

  • RACE : FATIGUE :: FASTING : HUNGER. Racing may cause fatigue, and fasting may cause hunger.
  • ADULT : CHILD :: BUCK : FAWN. A buck is an adult male deer, while a fawn is a young deer.
  • CONVOY : SHIPS :: DEPUTATION : REPRESENTATIVES. A convoy may be a group of ships, while a deputation is a group of representatives.
  • INFECTION : ILLNESS :: REHEARSAL : PERFORMANCE. Infection may lead to illness, while rehearsal prepares for a performance.
  • SUGAR : MOLASSES :: GASOLINE : PETROLEUM. Molasses is a product related to sugar production, while gasoline is obtained from petroleum.
  • PEAt : LIGNITE : BITUMINOUS : ANTHRACITE represent increasing grades or ranks of coal. The sequence proceeds from peat through lignite and bituminous coal to anthracite.
  • Analects, Zend Avesta, and Torah are names of religious or sacred books, so their relationship is that they belong to the same general category.
  • The colon in an analogy separates the two pairs. The double colon means “is related to” or “in the same way as.”

Common Vocabulary Differences and Word Use

Some vocabulary questions test words that are close in meaning but cannot be used in exactly the same way. The correct choice depends on the situation, the noun it describes, and the tone of the sentence.

A good learner studies each word with a short example. This makes it easier to recognise the meaning when the word appears in a new sentence.

  • Amenities are facilities that provide comfort or convenience. They are not the same as personal qualities or abilities.
  • Appropriate means suitable for the situation, while improper means unsuitable or unacceptable.
  • Watchful means carefully observing, while alert may also mean ready to respond quickly.
  • Poverty means lack of money or resources. Indigence suggests extreme poverty.
  • Confuse means to make someone unable to understand clearly. Disconcert also includes disturbing or unsettling someone.
  • Complete honesty is a direct explanation of probity. Probity also suggests moral integrity in public or professional conduct.
  • A shackle is a metal restraint placed around a person’s wrist or ankle. A manacle is a type of shackle used especially for the hands.
  • Rancid usually describes spoiled fat, oil, butter, or food with an unpleasant smell, while fetid can describe any strongly foul-smelling thing.

Spelling and Examination Method

Correct spelling is part of accurate vocabulary. A word may have the correct meaning but still be wrong if its spelling does not match standard English.

For vocabulary questions, read the complete item, identify the type of relationship, remove unsuitable choices, and check the final answer in the sentence or pair.

  • The correct spelling is paralleled, not parralelled or paralled.
  • Parallel becomes paralleled when the past form is made by adding ed.
  • Many words ending in a single final consonant double that consonant before a suffix, but spelling rules depend on the word and its pronunciation.
  • For a synonym question, replace the given word with each option and select the closest meaning.
  • For an antonym question, state the meaning of the given word before searching for its opposite.
  • For an idiom, ignore the literal picture and recall the established figurative meaning.
  • For an analogy, write the relationship between the first pair before selecting the fourth word.
  • For a contextual blank, check meaning, grammar, number, and suitability together.

Key terms

Synonym
A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
Antonym
A word that has an opposite meaning to another word.
Idiom
A fixed expression whose figurative meaning differs from the literal meaning of its words.
Phrase
A group of words that acts as a unit but may not express a complete sentence.
Context
The surrounding words and situation that help determine the meaning of a word.
Analogy
A comparison showing that two pairs of words have the same relationship.
Amenities
Facilities or services that provide comfort and convenience.
Probity
Complete honesty, integrity, and upright moral conduct.
Indigence
Extreme poverty or lack of the basic necessities of life.
Fetid
Having a very unpleasant or offensive smell.
Conversant
Acquainted with, familiar with, or knowledgeable about a subject.
Incorrigible
Not capable of being corrected, reformed, or changed.
Manacle
A shackle or metal restraint placed around the hands or wrists.
Itinerant
A person who travels from place to place.
Matricide
The killing of one’s mother.
Abrogate
To cancel, repeal, or officially end a law, agreement, or practice.
Ratify
To approve or confirm an agreement or decision formally.
Deputation
A group of representatives sent to speak or act on behalf of others.

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English shortcuts

Identifying the type of sentence

Look at the purpose of the sentence. A question is interrogative, a command or request is imperative, a strong feeling is exclamatory, and a statement is declarative.

  • 1. Check the punctuation and meaning.
  • 2. A question usually ends with a question mark.
  • 3. Example: Do you have any pencil? Answer: Interrogative sentence.

Use meaning as well as punctuation because punctuation alone may not show the sentence type.

Choosing a synonym from context

Replace the given word with each option and select the word that keeps the same meaning in the sentence.

  • 1. Identify the basic meaning of the word.
  • 2. Reject options that change the tone or meaning.
  • 3. Example: Grotesque means strange or ugly in a ridiculous way. Answer: Ludicrous.

A synonym may change slightly according to the context, so do not select by sound alone.

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