Word Power

Sound It Out

Millions of people around the world celebrate Christmas this month, and from carols to masses and pantomimes, joyful music and sounds abound. So this month, a sonically inspired quiz. Answers on next page.

1. raucous adj. – A: disagreeably harsh. B: thin and reedy. C: with no embellishment or creativity.

2. harangue n. – A: Irish accent. B: ranting speech. C: earnest plea.

3. overture n. – A: feudal warcry. B: prelude or introduction. C: high musical note.

4. mellifluously adv. – A: in a slurred manner. B: smoothly and sweetly. C: in muffled tones.

5. Lorelei n. –A: a water spirit whose song lures sailors to destruction. B: story narrator. C: opera soloist.

6. a cappella adv. – A: sung spontaneously. B: sung without instruments. C: sung in a syncopated rhythm.

7. repertoire n. – A: complete list of works, as of music. B: full range of a voice. C: tune sung in a round.

8. declaim v. – A: retract an oath. B: vow. C: speak pompously.

9. dissonant adj. – A: in counterpoint. B: teasing or mocking. C: harmonically clashing.

10. timbre n. – A: tonal quality. B: accent. C: introduction, as of a speech.

11. troubadour n. – A: town crier. B: strolling singer. C: choir director.

12. eulogise v. – A: lament. B: praise. C: sing a solo.

13. inflection n. – A: vocal rise or fall. B: catchy melody. C: repeat of a phrase.

14. scat v. – A: sing nonsense syllables. B: omit notes. C: speak fast.

15. soliloquy n. – A: glee club. B: pause in speaking. C: act of talking to oneself.

1. raucous – [A] disagreeably harsh. I awoke, as usual, to the raucous chorus of crows outside my window. 2. harangue – [B] ranting speech. One more infomercial harangue, and I’m tossing this TV off the balcony! 3. overture – [B] prelude, introduction. The recording features all four overtures that Beethoven wrote for the opera Fidelio.

4. mellifluously – [B] smoothly and sweetly. As expected, Lucille’s aria was delivered most mellifluously. 5. Lorelei –[A] a water spirit whose song lures sailors to destruction. Many a boatman has been lured to shipwreck by a lovely Lorelei. 6. a cappella – [B] sung without instruments. Jo asked in music class, “Is it still a cappella if we use kazoos?” 7. repertoire – [A] complete list of works, as of music. The new cellist was given just two months to learn the orchestra’s repertoire. 8. declaim – [C] speak pompously. The politician seized the opportunity to declaim on the limitations of his predecessor. 9. dissonant – [C] harmonically clashing. “Let’s run that line again,” the conductor said. “Those three notes are still a little dissonant.” 10. timbre – [A] tonal quality. The most obvious differences of timbre are in those of various musical instruments. 11. troubadour – [B] strolling singer. I was followed by a troublesome troubadour at the Renaissance Faire. 12. eulogise – [B] praise. Alex was eulogised for his countless acts of philanthropy. 13. inflection – [A] vocal rise or fall. The detective could tell from the suspect’s inflection that she was lying. 14. scat – [A] sing nonsense syllables. Louis Armstrong set the standard on how to scat. 15. soliloquy – [C] act of talking to oneself. Don’t pester me – I’m trying to memorise Hamlet’s soliloquy.

VOCABULARY RATINGS 5 & below: Strident 6–10: Dulcet 11–12: Clarion 13-15: Word Power wizard