1. CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE? Words Relating to Using Few Words or Being Quiet
SAT Vocab Unit 1
CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?
Words Relating to Using Few Words or Being Quiet

2. Words…Pronunciation…Part of Speech
brevity (BREV-ih-tee) n.
concise (cun-SISE) adj.
laconic (luh-CAHN-ik) adj.
pithy (PIH-thee) adj.
quiescent (kwy-EH-sunt) adj.
reticent (RET-ih-sunt) adj.
succinct (suk-SINKT) adj.
taciturn (TAS-ih-turn) adj.
terse (turs) adj.

3. Let’s Add Some Meaning
brevity—briefness or conciseness in speech or writing
concise—using few words in speaking or writing
laconic--using few words in speech
pithy—brief and full of meaning and substance; concise
quiescent—quiet; still; inactive
reticent—not talking much; reserved

4. Let’s Add Some Meaning succinct—clearly and briefly stated; concise
taciturn—silent; sparing of words; close-mouthed
terse—using only the words that are needed to make the point; very concise, sometimes to the point of rudeness

5. Memory Tips – Use these mnemonics (memory devices) to boost your vocabulary.
brevity Connect this word to a related word that you most likely already know: abbreviate. Notice how both words share the letter cluster brev! pithy Think of just the pit (central part) of the topic and nothing more. Remember that pithy expressions are substantial and to the point.

6. Memory Tips – Use these mnemonics (memory devices) to boost your vocabulary.
quiescent Did you notice that the word quiet is within the word quiescent? Use this to see the definition within the word: still; inactive; quiet. In your Vocabulary Notebook, underline or highlight q-u-i-e-t in quiescent. Another SAT-level word, acquiesce, is related to quiescent. Acquiesce means “to peaceably agree or quietly give in to.”

7. Memory Tips – Use these mnemonics (memory devices) to boost your vocabulary.
taciturn In Latin tacitus means silent. Tacit means implied or expressed without words, as in a “tacit agreement.”

8. Words in Action!

9. Brevity
For the sake of brevity, choose your words with care. Limited space in the newsletter makes brevity essential. When time is short, brevity is a virtue.

10. Concise
A concise explanation is preferable to a long-winded one. Leslie’s essay is pretty wordy; she should try to be more concise. For a concise summary of the book, read the book jacket.

11. Pithy
For the yearbook, Jenny searched through Bartlett’s for a pithy quotation about courage. Jonathan’s sonnet ended with a pithy rhyming couplet. What expresses affection more pithily than the three words, I love you?

12. Quiescent
Mount St. Helens has be quiescent since its last eruption in On long summer weekends, the city loses its bustle and is strangely quiescent. Never one to make waves, Leo quiescently followed the coach’s orders.

13. Reticent
Usually reticent, Ms. Worthy surprised us all with a long story at lunch. Tom and Molly are a mismatched pair; he’s shy and reticent, but she never stops talking. I thought the old man was reticent, but he wouldn’t talk because he had no teeth.

14. Succinct
Mr. Phillips asked us to write a succinct summary of our term papers. The title succinctly conveys the point of my paper. Let me state this as succinctly as I can: “No late papers.”

15. Taciturn
Next to me on the bus sat a taciturn girl who said nothing during the four-hour ride. Throughout the party, Larry was moody and taciturn. No one heard a peep from him. Mom kept quiet, not because she’s taciturn, but because she refused to make the decision for me.

16. Terse
Mia wanted details about Joyce’s new boyfriend, but got only a terse description. Terse speakers make dull lecturers. The principal’s terse reply was clear: “No dogs at school.”

17. Match one of the words in column A with one or more of their defining characteristics in Column B.
Quiescent
Pithy
Concise
Terse
taciturn
Inactive or still
To the point
Using few words to express oneself
Quiet and reserved
Brief, almost to the point of rudeness

18. Words words words… brevedad (Sp); concisión (Sp.) conciso (Sp.)
laconically (adv); lacónico (Sp.)
pithily (adv); pithiness (n)
Quiescence (n); quiescently (adv)
reticently (adv); reticente (Sp.)
succinctly (adv); succinctness (n); sucinto (Sp)
taciturnity (n); taciturnly (adv); taciturno (Sp.)
tersely (adv); terseness (n)

19. Sentence Completion
Gabe is a master of ___ because he can usually get his point across in three words or less.
Tersely
Reticence
Abbreviation
Pithiness
Laconic

20. Sentence Completion
___ people make me feel uncomfortable; they are so quiet and disengaged that it makes them hard to read.
Succinct
Reservedly
Reticent
Concise
Brevity

21. Sentence Completion
After being asked repeatedly to go on a movie date, Julian ___ responded, “Not interested,” to the girl on the other end of the phone.
Quiescently
Reservedly
Concise
Brevity
Tersely

22. Sentence Completion
Known for her ___, Hailey delivered a 40-second speech that pithily emphasized the many reasons why she would be the best pick for student government president.
Reticence
Brevity
Terseness
Taciturn
Abbreviations

23. Sentence Completion
Far from a blabbermouth, Tina is as ___ a young lady as one can find.
Succinct
Pithy
Taciturn
Concisely
Acquiescent

24. Words in Context
Based on the context in which each bold word is used, identify the word usage of each sentence as either C (Correct) or I (Incorrect).
The mayor was commended for his pithy speech. He made meaningful points during a mere half-hour delivery.
The gabby shop owner welcomed laconic exchanges with customers.

25. Words in Context
Based on the context in which each bold word is used, identify the word usage of each sentence as either C (Correct) or I (Incorrect).
Since space was limited, the advertising executive instructed copywriters to write concise photo captions.
Unlike their customary drawn-out explanations, the Grants related the story of the burglary tersely.

26. Words in Context
Based on the context in which each bold word is used, identify the word usage of each sentence as either C (Correct) or I (Incorrect).
Succinct gossip is the most painful; it hurts its subjects more than any other type of humor.