Elimination technique

		Suppose you know that you have previously seen a partially
	unfamiliar word. Try to remember in what sort of context you have seen 
	that word. Try to recollect whether you have seen the word occur with 
	positive or negative connotation. If you are sure that the unfamiliar 
	word has negative connotations then you know the correct answer must 
	have negative ones for an antonym question. Thus you can eliminate any 
	answer choices that have negative connotations and guess among the 
	answer choices that are positive in tone.

	e.g. SPUR 

	a) embitter b) discourage c) impress d) mislead e) ignore 

	e.g. ACARPOUS	

	a) assiduous b) poignant c) fecund d) reticent e) prolix


	The best answer is © fecund. But unless you know the meaning of the 
	words. 'Acarpous' and 'fecund' you cannot do anything but guess. Acarpous 
	means infertile and fecund means fertile. By guessing you free up time 
	for the other questions.

	You are not sure how to define Spur and to use it in a sentence 
	of your own. But you are certain the word has a slightly positive 
	feel to it. Something 'spurs' you to act in plays. You have a sense 
	that something is encouraging you. 

	Now try to narrow down your choices by eliminating words which
	does not have a negative feel. You will finally end up with one
	or two choices. So the answer term out to be (b) discourage which
	is the antonym for encourage.

	Are you interested in trying an exercise based on this technique?

1. Bension

	a) bachelor b) wedding c) curse d) orgy e) tragedy

2. Derogatory

	a) praising b) conferred c) immediate d) opinionated e) roguish 

3. Rueful

	a) capable b) capital c) Zealous d) Trite e) Content 

4. Propinquity

	a) health b) uniqueness c) virtue d) simplicity e) remoteness

5. Opprobium

	a) majesty b) praise c) freedom d) aptitude e) delineation 

6. Pertinent

	a) puzzling b) living c) irrelevant d) discontented e)understood

7. Negation

	a) anticipation b) affirmation c) hypothecation d) violation

8. Hilarity

	a) heartiness b) weakness c) casuality d) gloom e) paucity

9. Trepidation

	a) adroitness b) death c) fearfulness d) amputation e) downess

10. Debilitate

	a) bedevil b) strengthen c) repress d) deaden e) animate



Key of the above qustions:

	1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-e, 5-b, 6-c, 7-b, 8-d, 9-c, 10-b.


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