The Articulate Professional

- Invigorating and expanding your communications skills
For a more successful, fulfilling life ** Since 1993

Quiz on Last Month's Words

March / April 2010                               Volume 11  No. 2

Here are the words that were featured last month:

For each of the eight examples below, select a word from the above list that best fits the blank. Then check your answers at the end. Note that the correct answer could be any of the word forms that were featured -- example: genuflect, genuflected, genuflecting, and so on.

1. In a recent speech, the professor said: “Many Americans who reject Darwin’s theory will continue to reject it no matter what facts you present to them. Very . . . . ..”
2. Oh, come on! Yes, our manager, Harry, is a tough SOB and a bit autocratic, but your analogy comparing him to a Nazi or a Fascist is utterly . . . . ..
3. There is nothing . . . . . about this task. I think Pat’s people can easily accomplish it before the deadline.
4. During Enron’s heyday, its executives glared down any Wall Street analyst who dared ask tough and probing questions instead of . . . . . to the company’s management.
5. The meeting this afternoon was a waste of time. Because of the all-nighter we had to pull last night during the application install, most everyone was tired and seemed to be drained of any ideas or vitality. We were one . . . . . bunch of people.
6. I have reminded the office staff that, when talking to customers, there is no room for any . . . . . whatsoever. They need to be patient and friendly, no matter how annoying or repetitious a customer’s questions.
7. "Lunch-and-learn" started out in our company as monthly sessions that were about an hour long and packed with new skills and techniques that we could readily employ in the workplace. Nowadays, "lunch-and-learn" has become a pretty . . . . . version of that original idea, often less than 30 minutes, and more to do with fun and socializing than workplace skills enhancement.
8. The approach that Mel, our vice president, takes to delegating is . . . . . Because of his habit of second-guessing the actions taken by his managers, the latter have stopped making decisions without first consulting Mel.

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Give yourself one point for each correct answer.

A score of 8 = excellent; 7 = very good; 6 = not bad; 5 or less = you may want to revisit these words.

Please let me know by e-mail or phone (281-463-2500) what you think about this quiz and how it can be improved.

© 2012 V.J. Singal
No part of this may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author.

Copyright © 1999 - 2012 by V.J. Singal. Articulate is a registered trademark.
Questions or comments may be sent directly to the author.
Phone: 281-463-2500, P.O. Box 841155, Houston, TX 77284-1155