Vocabulary exercises

1. List 48
illustrate
impression
inferior
overwhelm
thorough
Illustrate—verb; to explain with an example, clarify, interpret, portray,
reveal
(il/lus/trate)
Il/lus/tra/tor—noun
Il/lus/tra/tion—noun
 The teacher is illustrating the meanings of these words by using
them in sentences.
 Good teachers try to illustrate new concepts by using things
students already know.
 What would be an idea or process you could illustrate to the rest of
the class?
Antonym – complicate, confuse, hide, conceal, worsen
Impression—noun; opinion, feeling, impact, effect, consequence
(im/pres/sion)
Im/press – verb
Im/press/ive - adj
 First impressions count, but they are not always the best ones.
 Her first impression of someone with a nose ring is that they are
strange, and that’s not true.
 What is your impression of a person with tattoos/an expensive
car/ who speaks with a British accent?
Antonym – question, beginning, commencement, source
Inferior—adj; worse than, lesser, secondary, lower, minor
(in/fe/ri/or)
In/fe/ri/or/i/ty - noun
 Some people think generic drugs are inferior to name brand ones.
 Some people think that the education system in America is inferior
to the Japanese system.
 Do you think McDonald’s food is inferior to Perkins? American
made cars are inferior to foreign cars? Living in an apartment is
inferior to a house? A GED is inferior to a diploma?
Antonym – superior, better, best, important, first-rate
Overwhelm—verb; to overpower, defeat, overcome, destroy, devastate
(o/ver/whelm)
o/ve/whel/ming—adj

2. o/ver/whelm/ing/ly—adv
 If you let a child pick out their clothes without giving them any
instructions, that can be overwhelming and result in crying.
 Going to a new class for the first time can overwhelm you.
 What kinds of things can overwhelm someone when they are
moving to a new apartment or house/ to a new city/ to a new
country?
Antonym – encourage, inspirit, support, let go of
Thorough—adj; careful, accurate, complete, comprehensive, full
(tho/rough)
Tho/rough/ly—adv
 She made a thorough search of her car and still couldn’t find her
cell phone.
 Don’t sign your children up for day care until you have done a
thorough check of the place and the staff.
 What is something you are thorough about?
Antonym – careless, incomplete, undetailed, unfinished,
incomprehensive
List 48
illustrate
impression
inferior
overwhelm
thorough
Definitions
1. _____________________ lower in value or quality
2. _____________________ complete; very carefully done
3. _____________________ to make clear by using an example, picture, or
demonstration
4. _____________________ a belief, opinion, or feeling often based on little
information
5. _____________________ to make mentally, emotionally, or physically
helpless with too much of something

3. Fill in the Blank
6. A grade of C is _____________________ to a B.
7. Your first _____________________ of people may change as you get to
know them better.
8. Too much confusing work would _____________________ anyone.
9. It usually takes more time to do a _____________________ job than an
incomplete one.
10. A good way to make an idea clearer is to _____________________ it in
some way.
Word Match
11. ____Tri Lee described how Vietnam was divided by
drawing a map.
a. illustrate
12. ____Of the two shirts I bought last week, one is
already faded.
b. impression
13. ____Hana spent a long time carefully cleaning her
room.
c. inferior
14. ____Emmy was confused with all the instructions
on the first day of school.
d. overwhelm
15. ____After seeing the new girl smile, Ivan thought
she would be very friendly.
e. thorough
Synonyms
16. illustrate
a. have faith
b. give examples
c. work hard
d. argue
17. impression
a. belief
b. news
c. proof
d. honesty

4. 18. overwhelm
a. delay
b. overpower
c. make-clear
d. overwork
19. inferior
a. far away
b. better
c. worse
d. simple
20. thorough
a. truthful
b. sensible
c. risky
d. complete
Yes/No/Why/What Questions:
21. When is it important for a teacher to illustrate a new concept?
22. Are first impressions important at a job interview? Why or why
not?
23. Would a new job and a new place to live overwhelm you? Why?
24. Are artificial flowers inferior to real flowers?
25. Do you need to have a thorough understanding of how an engine
works before you drive a car? Why or why not?