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You will get two versions of a sentence. Choose
the version that has the most effective word
choice. Watch out for repetitiveness, wordiness,
vague pronouns, unnecessarily large words, and
weak or overused words
You will get two word options.
Decide which option most effectively
fills the blank in the sentence.
Many sentences rely too heavily on “be”
verbs, the most common and least lively
verbs in the English language. You must find
a way to replace a be verb in the example
sentence with a more lively action verb.
You will get a sentence with a weak noun.
Choose from three options the specific
noun that best replaces it—pay attention
to nuances of word meanings.
A cliché is a phrase that is so overused that it becomes
less meaningful (not to mention annoying). They’re not
grammatically incorrect, but they’re not very original
either. Creative, unique word choice helps you avoid
clichés. Choose from two options the sentence that
does a better job of avoiding clichés.
Large vocabulary are often used incorrectly
in context. You will get a sentence with a
high-level word underlined. You must
decide if it is used correctly.
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Gladiator games helped their sponsors gets some very
This example
relies
onthings
vague,
words like
expensive
but really
good
forlame
self-promotion
while“very,”
offering“really,”
really cheap,
fun stuff
to entertain
“things,”
and
“stuff.” all
the people who paid for them.
Gladiator games provided their sponsors with
extravagantly expensive but effective opportunities
for self-promotion while offering cheap, exciting
entertainment to their clients.
WINNER!
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Gladiators became big business for trainers and owners,
for politicians on the rise, and those who had reached
the peak of the Roman social hierarchy.
WINNER!
Gladiators became big business for trainers and owners,
Thiswere
version
is repetitive,
too
on
they
good business
for big relying
politicians
onoften
the rise,
and
were also good
business for those
who
thegladiators
words “gladiator,”
“business,”
and “big.”
had reached the peak of the Roman social hierarchy.
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
WINNER!
Ownership of gladiators or a gladiator school gave
muscle and flair to Roman politicians.
Possessorship of gladiatorial contenders or a
This version
soundsinstitution
like an accidental
gladiatorial
instructional
gave musclyC4
tissue andexplosion
sumptuousness
to Roman senatorial
in a thesaurus
shop.
figures.
Push Ups
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Their morality required that they be of the lowest social classes,
and emperors who failed to respect this distinction earned their
scorn;
Cassius
Dio takes
pains
to pointvague
out that pronouns.
when the much
This
version
has
several
admired emperor Titus used them, they were of acceptably low
class.
Roman morality required that all gladiators be of the lowest
social classes, and emperors who failed to respect this distinction
earned the scorn of posterity; Cassius Dio takes pains to point
out that when the much admired emperor Titus used female
gladiators, they were of acceptably low class.
WINNER!
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Some of the
people
who lived
Rome
regarded
gladiators
This
version
saysinthe
same
thing
that happened to be females as a symptom of morals were
with far more words.
and a dishonor that went against womanhood, regardless
Wordiness
makes
poor
of the class
the woman
belonged
to. word choice.
Some Romans regarded female gladiators as a symptom of
corrupted morals and a dishonor to womanhood,
regardless of class.
WINNER!
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Claudius, characterized by his historians as really cruel and very
This example
relies
on in
vague,
words
like
boorish,
fought a whale
trapped
a thing lame
in the harbor
in front
of a bunch
of people.
Commentators
prettyand
much“stuff.”
said this kind
“very,”
“really,”
“thing,”
of stuff was bad.
Claudius, characterized by his historians as morbidly cruel and
boorish, fought a whale trapped in the harbor in front of a group
of spectators. Commentators invariably disapproved of such
performances.
WINNER!
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Legislation by Claudius required that quaestors, the
lowest rank of Roman magistrate, personally
subsidize two-thirds of the costs of games for their
small-town communities.
WINNER!
Legislation by Roman Emperor Claudius required
This
version the
is repetitive,
often on
that
quaestors,
lowest rank relying
of Romantoo
magistrate,
personally subsidize
two-thirds
of the costs of games
the word
“Roman.”
for their small-town Roman communities.
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Emperor Commodus was a fanatical participant at the
ludi, public games held for the entertainment of the
Roman people.
WINNER!
Emperor
ThisCommodus
version sounds
was like
a monomaniacal
the writer opened
and a
contumacious
thesaurus andparticipant
used whichever
at thesynonym
ludi, metropolitan
had the most
merrymaking
letters without
festivity
actually
heldknowing
for the divertissement
what the wordof
the Roman
means.
proletariat.
That’s not effective word choice.
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
They would put on larger-scale gladiator games
This version has several vague pronouns.
because they could better afford them.
WINNER!
Larger-scale gladiator games were put on by senior
magistrates, who could better afford them.
Which sentence has more effective word choice?
Games were advertised before they happened on billboards that
This version
sameforthing
were in conspicuous
places, says
giving the
the reason
the game, the
venue where the game
be held,words.
the date when the game
withwould
far more
would take place, and the number of paired gladiators that
Wordiness makes poor word choice.
would be used.
Games were advertised beforehand on conspicuously placed
billboards, giving the reason for the game, the venue, the date,
and the number of paired gladiators to be used.
WINNER!
Which word completes the sentence better?
Assent
Ascent
The spectators signaled their
__________ by showing a “thumbsup” sign.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Anonymous
Unanimous
Before any action could be taken,
the decision had to be __________;
there could be do dissent.
Arm Wrestling
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Which word completes the sentence better?
Moot
Mute
Whether gladiator fighting was
legal was a _________ point; the fact
remained that he was standing in
an arena with a ferocious lion.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Horde
Hoard
He knew he would have to appease
the assembling __________ or a riot
might ensue.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Inhuman
Inhumane
He had been born with __________
strength, and no other gladiator
could match his physical prowess.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Altar
Alter
At this point, it was impossible to
__________ his fate: he would die in
the arena.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Disinterested
Disinterested
Uninterested
The judges opted to turn the final
decision over to a more __________
arbiter in order to avoid a biased
verdict.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Sight
Site
The __________ of the exhibition
would be the great Colosseum.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Born
Borne
Such an insult could not be
__________; Ceasar would have to
fight for his honor.
Which word completes the sentence better?
Pedalling
Peddling
Outside the Colosseum, street
venders could be found __________
food or other wares.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
The
Among
most
the
admired
most admired
and skilled
and skilled
gladiators included
were those
those
who,who
having been
volunteered
emancipated,tovolunteered
fight in the to
arena
fighteven
in
after
the arena
theiranyway.
emancipation.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
Sullan
The earliest
colonists
known
constructed
Roman the earliest
known
amphitheatre
Romanwas
amphitheater
built in Pompeii
in
by
Pompeii
Sullan colonists,
around 70
around
BCE. 70 BCE.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
Roman
The firstworkers
open arena
constructed
in the city
theof Rome
extraordinary
was the extraordinary
wooden wooden
Amphitheatre of
Gaius
Amphitheatre
Scribonius
of Gaius
Curio Scribonius
The first open
arena
Curio,in
which
the city
wasofconstructed
Rome was, in 53
constructed
BCE.
in 53 BCE.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
To die well, a gladiator should
was never
never
supposed
ask for
mercy,
to ask for
normercy,
cry out.
nor
A cry
“good
out.death”
A “good
redeemed
death”
awas
defeated
a way for
gladiator
a defeated
fromgladiator
the dishonorable
to
weakness
overcome the
anddishonorable
passivity of defeat,
weakness
and and
provided
passivity of
a noble
defeat,
example
and was
toathose
noblewho
example
watched.
to those who watched.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
FIRST DRAFT:
EXAMPLE REVISION:
Once in the arena morgue, the corpses
Once in the arena morgue, the corpses
of slain gladiators were stripped of
of slain gladiators would have their
their armor stripped away; also, their
armor stripped away; also, they often
throats were often cut to verify that
had their throats cut to verify death.
they were death.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
FIRST DRAFT:
EXAMPLE REVISION:
The average gladiator lifespan was
The average gladiator lifespan rarely
short; few survived more than ten
stretched past the age of thirty; few
matches or were still alive after the age
survived more than ten matches.
of thirty.
Counting Up by
Doubles!
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE REVISION:
FIRST DRAFT:
From the early days of the Roman
From the early days of the Roman
Republic, citizens participated in ten
Republic, ten years of military service
years of military service as a duty and a
were a citizen's duty and a prerequisite
prerequisite for election to public
for election to public office.
office.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
FIRST DRAFT:
EXAMPLE REVISION:
The military were great aficionados of
Many military leaders, often great
the games, and many military leaders
aficionados of the games, supervised
were also supervisors of the gladiator
the gladiator schools.
schools.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
Many gladiator schools and
amphitheaters were
rose up
built
near
near
military
military
barracks, and some gladiator
provincialtroupes
army
units
were owned
owned by
gladiator
provincial
troupes.
army units.
Revise the sentence to replace any underlined
“be” verbs in this sentence with action verbs:
EXAMPLE
FIRST DRAFT:
REVISION:
Roman military discipline
leaders disciplined
was ferocious—
ferociously—severely
severe enough to provoke
enough
mutiny,
to provoke
despite
mutiny,
the consequences.
despite theAconsequences.
career as a volunteer
Some
soldiers
gladiatorconsidered
was an attractive
a careeralternative
as a volunteer
for
gladiator
some soldiers.
an attractive alternative.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
folks
the public
sponsors
Gladiatorial games, usually linked with beast
shows, spread throughout the Republic and
beyond. Anti-corruption laws of 65 and 63
BCE attempted but failed to curb their
political usefulness to people.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
assassination
assassination
demise
end
Following Caesar’s death and the Roman
Civil War, Augustus assumed Imperial
authority over the games and formalized their
provision as a civic and religious duty.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
creative works
frescos
stuff
The Paestum gladiator art may represent the
continuation of a much older tradition,
acquired or inherited from Greek colonists of
the 8th century BC.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
set
system
hierarchy
Gladiators in training could ascend through a
bunch of grades in which primus palus was
the highest.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
sharp objects
deadly weapons
spears and swords
Lethal things were prohibited in the
gladiator schools – weighted, blunt
wooden versions were probably used
instead.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
dancing
choreography
organization
Fighting styles were probably
learned through constant rehearsal
using specific planned moves.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
tattoo
trademark
spot
Those condemned to die in the arena were
probably branded or marked with a mark on
the face, legs or hands.
Listing Adjectives
that Begin with “A”
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
cells
areas
places
Gladiators were typically
accommodated in rooms, arranged in
barrack formation around a central
practice arena.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
processing
dealing
discipline
discipline
Despite the harsh stuff they received for
disobedience, gladiators represented a
substantial investment for their owners and
were otherwise well cared for.
Which word below is the best choice to
make the underlined word more specific?
lions or tigers
lions
tigers
animals
beasts
Offenders seen as particularly obnoxious to the
state received the most humiliating punishments.
By the 1st century BCE, criminals were being
condemned to face wild things in the arena, with
almost no chance of survival, or were made to
kill each other.
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
Although gladiator fights may seem exciting and
dramatic, wisdom warns you not to indulge as such
fights sometimes end with the loser’s death.
WINNER!
Although
gladiator
fights maylike
seemthe
exciting
and
“Avoid
something
plague”
dramatic, you would be wise to avoid them like the
is a cliché.
plague as they sometimes
end with the loser’s death.
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
After the fight in the arena, the gladiator’s
opponent lay in peace, embracing his eternal
rest.
WINNER!
After the fight in the arena, the gladiator’s
“Dead as a doornail” is a cliché.
opponent was dead as a doornail.
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
His
wife didn’t
have the classic
lookthe
of a model
or a
“Avoid
something
like
plague”
goddess; but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and
cliché.
he thought his wifeis
wasabeautiful.
His wife didn’t have the classic look of a model or a
goddess; but Aphrodite grants her grace on
whomsoever she pleases, and he thought his wife was
beautiful.
WINNER!
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
The much-maligned contender, known for his devious
tactics in the arena, had the gall to accuse his
opponent of breaking the rules—a classic case of
gladiatorial hypocrisy.
WINNER!
The
much-maligned
contender,
known for
his devious
“The
pot calling
the kettle
black”
is
tactics in the arena, had the gall to accuse his
a clichéof (and
many
it as
racist,
opponent
breaking
the people
rules—asee
classic
case
of theso
pot calling that’s
the kettle
twoblack.
strikes against it!)
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
If he was to have any chance of surviving this fight,
“Think
outside
the
box”
is the
a cliché.
he
knew he would
have to
think
outside
box.
If he was to have any chance of surviving this fight,
he knew he would have to slice through conventions
like the gladiator he was.
WINNER!
High Jump
(Who can touch the highest spot
on the wall?)
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
They were thick as thieves; everyone knew they
“Thick
asdiethieves”
is a cliché.
would
each gladly
for the other.
WINNER!
They were inseparable; everyone knew they would
each gladly die for the other.
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
She
would miss
him,
of course,
but
she knew
there
“There
are
plenty
of
other
fish
in
were plenty of other fish in the sea; replacing him
the sea” is a cliché.
wouldn’t be impossible.
She would miss him, of course, but she knew the
world abounded with men no worse than him;
replacing him wouldn’t be impossible.
WINNER!
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
WINNER!
Before the next fight began, he desperately needed to
let his lungs unclench themselves before he collapsed.
Before the next fight began, he desperately needed to
a breather”
is a cliché.
take a“Take
breather before
he collapsed.
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
The battle ended in the nick of time; he knew that, as
weak
as he
was,nick
he wouldn’t
have survived
another
“In
the
of time”
is a cliché.
melee with his opponent.
Perhaps by some blessed providence, the battle
ended; weak as he was, he wouldn’t have survived
another melee with his opponent.
WINNER!
Which sentence does a better job
of avoiding clichés?
With each victory in the arena, hope began to flicker
and then burn within him; he realized that he just
might survive this violent gladiator career.
WINNER!
With
each
victory
in theend
arena,of
thethe
lighttunnel”
at the end of
“A
light
at
the
is
the tunnel became brighter; he realized that he just
a cliché.
might survive this violent
gladiator career.
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Historical Roman writing as a whole
demonstrates a deep ambivalence
towards the gladiator games; most
historians were conflicted by the moral
and ethical questions surrounding the
practice.
THUMBS UP!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Mosaics dating from the 2nd through
4th centuries CE have been
invaluability in the reconstruction of
combat and its rules, gladiator types
and the development of the games.
THUMBS DOWN!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
The Punic Wars of the late 3rd century
BCE—in particular the nearcatastrophic defeat of Roman arms at
Cannae—had long lasting effects on the
Republic, its citizen armies, and the
development of the gladiatorial games.
THUMBS UP!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Modern pathologically examination
confirms the probably fatal use of a
mallet on some, but not all, of the
gladiator skulls found in a gladiators’
cemetery.
THUMBS DOWN!
Naming the Eight
Parts of Speech
Each team must choose a champion to
compete in this random event…
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Inconsequential of this, the Roman
senate decreed that, whenever any
public show was given anywhere, the
first row of seats should be reserved for
senators.
THUMBS DOWN!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Seating in Roman amphitheaters was
disorderly and indiscriminating until
Augustus prescribed a specific system
for its arrangement in his Social
Reforms.
THUMBS DOWN!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Under Augustus, senators were formally
excluded from the shame of association with
the arena and its personnel. However, some
senators still volunteered as gladiators in the
arena, and some magistrates—and some later
emperors—tacitly or openly condoned such
transgressions.
THUMBS UP!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
The phenomenonal of the
"volunteer" gladiator was legally
problematic because all contracted
volunteers were technically
enslaved by their trainers.
THUMBS DOWN!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
Despite the harsh discipline they
received, gladiators represented a
substantial investment for their owners
and were otherwise well cared for.
THUMBS UP!
Does this sentence use the
underlined word correctly?
From the early Imperial era, some
criminals were forced to participate in
humiliating and novel forms of
mythological or historical enactment,
culminating in their execution.
THUMBS UP!