例三：2000年9月试题第8题：

8. The word "jeopardize" (paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to __________.

(A) endeavor (B) endanger (C) endorse (D)endow

请看原文：

What could be disastrous, however, is that we should press too quickly towards this goal, sacrificing sleep only to gain more time in which to jeopardize our civilization by actions and decisions made weak by fatigue.

出题者想通过形似的单词（四个选项都是end开头）给考生制造模糊印象，其实我们大可不必惊慌。从上下文来看， "jeopardize"肯定是动词，因此四个选项中应该选相应的动词替换。恰巧选项都是动词，因而增加了答题难度。让我们再分析一下上下文。请注意原文中这几个词：disastrous， too quickly，sacrificing sleep only to gain和weak，fatigue, 我们是否可以看出作者的态度是反对sacrifice sleep的呢？既然如此，通过牺牲睡眠而获得时间似乎也不是什么好事，因为在身体疲倦的状况下做出的决策和行动往往会欠妥，从而对文明的发展不利，所以 jeopardize our civilization肯定是对文明造成负面影响的。A.endeavor大家应该不陌生，表努力，尽力之意。C.endorse表示write one‘s name on the back of a check,即背书，由此引申出认可，赞同之意。当然，如果说Your driving licence has been endorsed.那你的驾照可就有违规记录，你得当心喽！而D表示捐赠金钱、财产等，发善心做善事。看来只有B. endanger (使……处于危险中）才有负面之意，也才合题意。

对策②：通过构词法，观察单词的前缀、后缀及词根等构成进行判断。

例一：2000年9月试题第16题：

16. The word "anthropologist" (line 1) means someone who _______.

(A) studies the nature of man (B) arranges wedding ceremonies (C) keeps account for newly weds

(D) records local events

请看原文：

An anthropologist recorded the expenses for ceremonies he attended in a village in Thailand. The following chart provides information on the bahts (Thai currency) spent for a wedding.

这个单词乍一看挺吓人，又臭又长。其实定睛一看并不是不可破解的。也许知道anthrop(o)这个前缀是跟“man"（人，人类）有关的同学不是太多，从而对由此衍生出的单词不认识也就不足为怪了，如：anthropoid a.（猿）似人的，类人猿的；anthropology n. 人类学；anthropophagous a. 吃人的，食人肉的（《参考消息》最近还报道了科学家发现历史上人吃人的确凿证据，令人毛骨悚然！）；philanthropist n.慈善家（phil爱，anthrop 人，爱天下之人，具有博爱情怀的人难道不是慈善家么？）但是，我们初中就学过，scientist, biologist, 我们是否可以联想一下原文中"anthropologist"这个词类似于biologist，是与研究某学科有关的人。答案A. studies the nature of man似乎最合意。

例二：2001年3月试题第23题：

23. The word "xenophobia" (para.2) means "__________".

(A) partiality (B) arbitrariness (C) discrimination (D) antipathy

请看原文：

The Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF), a London based group, tells me that there is little doubt that, with the massive upsurge of xenophobia against asylum-seekers too, the fallout is affecting anyone perceived to be foreign or different, decent attacks on black people have a ferocity that appalls police and community organizers alike.