Vocabulary Quiz Based on 'Port Mortuary' by Patricia Cornwell

This is a vocabulary challenge based on vocabulary words from Port Mortuary by Patriacia Cornwell.

If you enjoy word challenges or learning new words, in context, then take a minute to complete this word challenge. Every effort has been made to pull salient words from the text, in particular words that often appear on the SAT will often be a part of these vocabulary quizzes.

Test your vocabulary on a few of the words from Patricia Cornwell's book, Port Mortuary.

Each vocabulary word will be presented with three alternative definitions. Try to choose the best definition. To make the quiz a little easier a quoted passage follows each vocabulary word. Answers are at the end of the vocabulary quiz.

Some of these words are challenging, but some of them you may find familiar. The definitions will remain very basic for the sake of simplicity. Good luck.

1. mendacity - noun - A) untruthfulness, B) duplicity, C) lack of integrity

"I probably should add mendacity. When it suits him, he's evasive or outright lies." p 8.

2. precipice - noun - A) pinnacle, B) beginning, C) perilous situation

"As if everything we've built over the past few years is on the precipice of ruin." p 19.

3. sated - verb- A) clearly understood, B) unfulfilled, C) satisfied

"I was proud and wanted more, not understanding then that more is always less if you can't be sated." p 23.

4. precipitously - adv. - A) too late, B) too hastily, C) dangerously

" 'The problem about involving General Briggs prematurely, about involving him precipitously, is things can take on a life of their own.' " p 29.

5. reticence -noun - A) reluctance, B) silence, C) insubordination

" 'And I do understand your reticence, or I think I do, but I have a right to know if he's done that.' " p 67.

6. clandestine - adj. - A) secret, B)out of the way, C) gang inhabited

"Hold him hostage in some clandestine place and kill him savagely." p 173.

7. narcissism - noun- A) obsession with one's self, B) obsession with inflicting pain, C) obsessive compulsive behavior

" 'Maybe a mood disorder with a touch of narcissism and intermittent explosive anger," Benton goes on as if I just said nothing. p181.

8. cognizant - adj. - A) ignorant, B) bewildered C) knowledgeable

"I was cognizant of all this when I decided on pathology, but that's like saying you know what combat is when you enlist in the marines and get deployed to the mountains of Afghanistan." p 204.

9. ubiquitous - adj. - A) ethereal, B) omnipresent, C) uncommon

"Carbon dioxide is ubiquitous, literally as present as the air we exhale, and I envision what I saw on CT, the dark pockets of air that had been blown into the chest and what that must have felt like, and how I will answer the question I'm always asked." p 222.

10. voyeuristic - adj. - A) adventurous, B) consumed with knowing details, C) enjoys viewing exploits of others

"If nothing else, he's voyeuristic and adores "filling me in," as he puts it." p 255.

Answers to vocabulary quiz from Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell:
1-A, 2-C, 3-C, 4-B, 5-A, 6-A, 7-A, 8-C, 9-B, 10-C

How did you do on the vocabulary quiz?

If you got 8 - 10 correct you are word wise.
5 - 7 correct answers means you have an astute understanding of vocabulary.
If you got 3 - 5 answers correct, take heart, you are resourceful and learning well.
If you got 1 or 2 correct, why not study the words and give yourself a do-over.