V. Grouping of Words — Strategy & 5 Practice Sets (10 marks)

📌

Syllabus: A random list of twenty words of moderate standard (neither very easy nor utterly unfamiliar) to be grouped in pairs of similar or opposite meaning, as clearly directed in the question. 10 pairs × 1 mark. Read the instruction twice — candidates lose marks by giving antonyms when synonyms were asked, or vice versa.

Strategy (8–10 minutes)

1. Read the instruction: synonyms only, antonyms only, or a stated mix?
2. First pass — lock the certain pairs and strike both words off the list.
3. Match parts of speech. An adjective pairs with an adjective, a verb with a verb (abate won't pair with serene).
4. Use roots and prefixes: bene- (good) vs male- (bad); -cide (kill); omni- (all); a-/in-/un-/dis- (not).
5. Eliminate: the last 2–3 pairs usually fall out from what's left.
6. Write clearly in the answer script, one pair per line: 1. Abate — Subside. Never write a word twice.

---

Set 1 — Group into pairs of SYNONYMS

frank · abate · sluggish · thrifty · obstinate · serene · ponder · scanty · eminent · exonerate · candid · meagre · stubborn · subside · frugal · contemplate · distinguished · vindicate · lethargic · placid

• Key

  Pair	Shared meaning
  Abate — Subside	to become less intense
  Candid — Frank	honest and direct
  Frugal — Thrifty	careful with money
  Lethargic — Sluggish	lacking energy
  Obstinate — Stubborn	refusing to change one's mind
  Ponder — Contemplate	to think deeply
  Eminent — Distinguished	famous and respected
  Vindicate — Exonerate	to clear of blame
  Meagre — Scanty	insufficient in amount
  Placid — Serene	calm and untroubled

Set 2 — Group into pairs of ANTONYMS

zenith · reckless · verbose · docile · indigent · transparent · ephemeral · benevolent · reclusive · diminish · nadir · concise · affluent · prudent · unruly · amplify · perennial · gregarious · malevolent · opaque

• Key

  Pair	Contrast
  Zenith — Nadir	highest point / lowest point
  Verbose — Concise	wordy / brief
  Affluent — Indigent	wealthy / very poor
  Ephemeral — Perennial	short-lived / lasting
  Docile — Unruly	obedient / disorderly
  Benevolent — Malevolent	kind / wishing harm
  Amplify — Diminish	increase / reduce
  Transparent — Opaque	see-through / not see-through
  Prudent — Reckless	careful / rash
  Gregarious — Reclusive	sociable / withdrawn

Set 3 — Group into pairs of SYNONYMS

viable · omnipresent · taciturn · daring · practical · assiduous · fervent · counterfeit · intelligible · compelling · audacious · lucid · diligent · cogent · zealous · feasible · spurious · pragmatic · reticent · ubiquitous

• Key

  Audacious — Daring · Cogent — Compelling · Diligent — Assiduous · Feasible — Viable · Lucid — Intelligible · Pragmatic — Practical · Reticent — Taciturn · Spurious — Counterfeit · Ubiquitous — Omnipresent · Zealous — Fervent

Set 4 — Group into pairs of ANTONYMS

explicit · humility · descend · renowned · transient · stern · abundance · prosperity · solemn · fake · vague · ascend · arrogance · lenient · obscure · authentic · scarcity · permanent · frivolous · adversity

• Key

  Adversity — Prosperity · Ascend — Descend · Lenient — Stern · Frivolous — Solemn · Authentic — Fake · Humility — Arrogance · Obscure — Renowned · Scarcity — Abundance · Transient — Permanent · Vague — Explicit

Set 5 — MIXED: form 5 pairs of synonyms and 5 pairs of antonyms

veteran · hinder · amicable · examine · divulge · mourn · curtail · credible · parsimonious · incompetent · impede · hostile · scrutinize · conceal · lament · augment · plausible · extravagant · inept · novice

• Key

  Synonyms: Impede — Hinder · Lament — Mourn · Inept — Incompetent · Scrutinize — Examine · Plausible — Credible

  Antonyms: Hostile — Amicable · Extravagant — Parsimonious · Augment — Curtail · Novice — Veteran · Conceal — Divulge

  Trap: hinder and curtail both feel "negative", but curtail (cut short) is the direct opposite of augment (increase), so it belongs in the antonym column.

---

Root & Prefix Cheat Sheet

🔁

Build your own sets: pull 10 pairs from 📖 Vocabulary — 964 High-Frequency Words or 🧭 Vocabulary by Theme, shuffle the 20 words, and solve them the next day. Two sets a week until the exam.