These stimuli were used in the following experiment:
GERNSBACHER, M. A., & FAUST, M. (1991). The role of suppression in sentence comprehension. In G. B. Simpson’s (Ed.), Comprehending word and sentence (pp. 97-128). Amsterdam: North Holland. [view PDF]
AN – A: Word target is APPROPRIATELY related to the sentence
N: Sentence contains the NOUN form of the homograph
IV – I: Word target is INAPPROPRIATELY related to the sentence
V: Sentence contains the VERB form of the homograph
UN – U: Word target is UNRELATED to the sentence
N: Sentence contains a NOUN
UV – U: Word target is UNRELATED to the sentence
V: Sentence contains a VERB
AV – A: Word target is APPROPRIATELY related to the sentence
V: Sentence contains the VERB form of the homograph
IN – I: Word target is INAPPROPRIATELY related to the sentence
N: Sentence contains the NOUN form of the homograph
AN – A: Word target is APPROPRIATELY related to the sentence
1AN
BREAD
Amy had a roll + from the new bakery.
Did Amy get something at the bakery? Y
1IV
BREAD
Amy had to roll + from bed when her alarm went off.
Did Amy have to get up at a certain time? Y
1UN
BREAD
Amy had a guide + to take her through the museum.
1UV
BREAD
Amy had to grade + several papers before Monday.
2AV
OVER
Liz had to roll + from bed when her alarm went off.
Did Liz set an alarm clock? Y
2IN
OVER
Liz had a roll + from the new bakery.
Did Liz get something at the bakery? Y
2UV
OVER
Liz had to grade + several papers before Monday.
2UN
OVER
Liz had a guide + to take her through the museum.
3AN
KIND
Rick asked Joan the type + of perfume she was wearing.
Did Rick ask Joan about her perfume? Y
3IV
KIND
Rick asked Joan to type + a memo that he needed.
Did Rick ask Joan to do something? Y
3UN
KIND
Rick asked Joan the rate + at which she was being paid.
3UV
KIND
Rick asked Joan to leave + the party with him.
4AV
WRITE
Dave asked Beth to type + a memo that he needed.
Did Dave ask Beth to do something? Y
4IN
WRITE
Dave asked Beth the type + of perfume she was wearing.
Did Dave ask Beth about her perfume? Y
4UV
WRITE
Dave asked Beth to leave + the party with him.
4UN
WRITE
Dave asked Beth the rate + at which she was being paid.
5AN
CEREAL
George used the bowl + that had a small crack in it.
Did George use a cracked bowl? Y
5IV
CEREAL
George used to bowl + on a league.
Did George use to bowl on a league? Y
5UN
CEREAL
George used the lock + to keep out trespassers.
5UV
CEREAL
George used to star + in the local theater.
6AV
BALL
Henry used to bowl + on a league.
Did Henry use to bowl on a league? Y
6IN
BALL
Henry used the bowl + that had a small crack in it.
Did Henry use a cracked bowl? Y
6UV
BALL
Henry used to star + in the local theater.
6UN
BALL
Henry used the lock + to keep out trespassers.
7AN
PORK
Betty prepared the chops + for dinner.
Was Betty preparing breakfast? N
7IV
PORK
Betty prepared to chop + the cabbage and make cole slaw.
Was Betty preparing meat? N
7UN
PORK
Betty prepared the grits + even though she wouldn’t eat them.
7UV
PORK
Betty prepared to ante + with her last few poker chips.
8AV
CUT
Diane prepared to chop + the cabbage and make cole slaw.
Was Diane preparing meat? N
8IN
CUT
Diane prepared the chops + for dinner.
Was Diane preparing breakfast? N
8UV
CUT
Diane prepared to ante + with her last few poker chips.
8UN
CUT
Diane prepared the grits + even though she wouldn’t eat them.
9AN
DRINK
Jack tried the punch + but he didn’t like it.
Did Jack like the punch? N
9IV
DRINK
Jack tried to punch + the guy’s face but he missed.
Did Jack hit the other guy? N
9UN
DRINK
Jack tried the ski + but it was too big for him.
9UV
DRINK
Jack tried to kneel + but his knees wouldn’t allow it.
10AV
HIT
Bill tried to punch + the guy’s face but he missed.
Did Bill hit the other guy? N
10IN
HIT
Bill tried the punch + but he didn’t like it.
Did Bill like the punch? N
10UV
HIT
Bill tried to kneel + but his knees wouldn’t allow it.
10UN
HIT
Bill tried the ski + but it was too big for him.
11AN
BUG
Jane was scared a fly + would land in her food.
Was Jane worried about the fly? Y
11IV
BUG
Jane was scared to fly + in the private jet.
Was Jane scared to fly in the jet? Y
11UN
BUG
Jane was scared the rice + might be overcooked.
11UV
BUG
Jane was scared to aim + the pistol.
12AV
PLANE
Mary was scared to fly + in the private jet.
Was Mary scared to fly in the jet? Y
12IN
PLANE
Mary was scared a fly + would land in her food.
Was Mary worried about the fly? Y
12UV
PLANE
Mary was scared to aim + the pistol.
12UN
PLANE
Mary was scared the rice + might be over cooked.
13AN
KITCHEN
Anne didn’t want the sink + to be full of dishes when she got home.
Did Anne want the sink to be full? N
13IV
KITCHEN
Anne didn’t want to sink + in the sand.
Did Anne want to sink in the sand? N
13UN
KITCHEN
Anne didn’t want the swing + to hit her sister in the head.
13UV
KITCHEN
Anne didn’t want to bend + the poster she made for school.
14AV
FALL
Pam didn’t want to sink + in the sand and get stuck.
Did Pam want to sink in the sand? N
14IN
FALL
Pam didn’t want the sink + to be full of dishes when she got home.
Did Pam want the sink to be full? N
14UV
FALL
Pam didn’t want to bend + the poster she made for school.
14UN
FALL
Pam didn’t want the swing + to hit her sister in the head.
15AN
FOOL
Ron was simply a jerk + on social matters and personal interactions.
Was Ron a jerk on social matters? Y
15IV
FOOL
Ron was simply to jerk + on the cord in order to release the parachute.
Was Ron supposed to jerk on the cord? Y
15UN
FOOL
Ron was simply the beau + of every girl’s dreams.
15UV
FOOL
Ron was simply to wade + only a few feet into the ocean.
16AV
PULL
Fred was simply to jerk + on the cord in order to release the parachute.
Was Fred supposed to jerk on the cord? Y
16IN
PULL
Fred was simply a jerk + on social matters and personal interactions.
Was Fred a jerk on social matters? Y
16UV
PULL
Fred was simply to wade + only a few feet into the ocean.
16UN
PULL
Fred was simply the beau + of every girl’s dreams.
17AN
PIG
Joe forgot a sow + in the pen still needed to be fed.
Did Joe remember to feed all the sows? N
17IV
PIG
Joe forgot to sow + the field before the first freeze.
Did Joe sow before the freeze? N
17UN
PIG
Joe forgot a mop + when he went over to clean the apartment.
17UV
PIG
Joe forgot to sift + the flour before he added the eggs.
18AV
REAP
Jim forgot to sow + the field before the first freeze.
Did Jim sow before the freeze? N
18IN
REAP
Jim forgot a sow + in the pen still needed to be fed.
Did Jim remember to feed all the sows? N
18UV
REAP
Jim forgot to sift + the flour before he added the eggs.
18UN
REAP
Jim forgot a mop + when he went over to clean the apartment.
19AN
FENCE
Julie walked over a post + in the yard that someone had left lying around.
Did Julie have to walk over something? Y
19IV
FENCE
Julie walked over to post + a notice on the bulletin board.
Did Julie want to post something? Y
19UN
FENCE
Julie walked over a curb + and nearly sprained her ankle.
19UV
FENCE
Julie walked over to greet + her neighbor across the street.
20AV
MAIL
Helen walked over to post + a notice on the bulletin board.
Did Helen want to post something? Y
20IN
MAIL
Helen walked over a post + in the yard that someone had left lying around.
Did Helen have to walk over something? Y
20UV
MAIL
Helen walked over to greet + her neighbor across the street.
20UN
MAIL
Helen walked over a curb + and nearly sprained her ankle.
21AN
COLUMN
Mike and Carol liked the row + of numbers on the far right.
Did they like the row on the right? Y
21IV
COLUMN
Mike and Carol liked to row + the metal canoe.
Did they like to row the metal canoe? Y
21UN
COLUMN
Mike and Carol liked the smell + of freshly baked bread.
21UV
COLUMN
Mike and Carol liked to lunch + at the park.
22AV
BOAT
Ellen and Greg liked to row + the metal canoe.
Did they like to row the metal canoe? Y
22IN
Ellen and Greg liked the row + of numbers on the far right.
Did they like the row on the right? Y
22UV
BOAT
Ellen and Greg liked to lunch + at the park.
22UN
BOAT
Ellen and Greg liked the smell + of freshly baked bread.
23AN
CLOCK
Ned liked the watch + but he didn’t like its price.
Did Ned like the price of the watch? N
23IV
CLOCK
Ned liked to watch + but he didn’t always like what he saw.
Did Ned always like what he saw? N
23UN
CLOCK
Ned liked the term + but he had never heard it used before.
23UV
CLOCK
Ned liked to fast + one day every month.
24AV
LOOK
Dan liked to watch + but he didn’t always like what he saw.
Did Dan always like what he saw? N
24IN
LOOK
Dan liked the watch + but he didn’t like its price.
Did Dan like the price of the watch? N
24UV
LOOK
Dan liked to fast + one day every month.
24UN
LOOK
Dan liked the term + but he had never heard it used before.
25AN
WEIGHT
Cheryl wondered whether the pounds + she’d gained would ever come
off.
Was Cheryl satisfied with her weight? N
25IV
WEIGHT
Cheryl wondered whether to pound + the bent nail into the wood.
Was Cheryl working with a straight nail? N
25UN
WEIGHT
Cheryl wondered whether the porch + needed to be repainted.
25UV
WEIGHT
Cheryl wondered whether to praise + her child’s good grades.
26AV
HIT
Sara wondered whether to pound + the bent nail into the wood.
Was Sara working with a straight nail? N
26IN
HIT
Sara wondered whether the pounds + she had gained would ever come
off.
Was Sara satisfied with her weight? N
26UV
HIT
Sara wondered whether to praise + her child’s good grades.
26UN
HIT
Sara wondered whether the porch + needed to be repainted.
27AN
ANIMAL
Stan helped the seal + at the zoo to recover from its illness.
Did Stan hurt the seal? N
27IV
ANIMAL
Stan helped to seal + the new plug on the drain.
Did Stan break the plug? N
27UN
ANIMAL
Stan helped the pastor + take food to the elderly.
27UV
ANIMAL
Stan helped to dish + out the chili.
28AV
CLOSE
Russ helped to seal + the new plug on the drain.
Did Russ break the plug? N
28IN
CLOSE
Russ helped the seal + at the zoo to recover from its illness.
Did Russ hurt the seal? N
28UV
CLOSE
Russ helped to dish + out the chili.
28UN
CLOSE
Russ helped the pastor + take food to the elderly.
29AN
NEWS
Suzy was expecting the press + and their camera crews to arrive soon.
Was Suzy expecting the press? Y
29IV
NEWS
Suzy was expecting to press + the button and then the elevator would
arrive.
Was Suzy expecting to press the button? Y
29UN
NEWS
Suzy was expecting the truth to be hard to swallow.
29UV
NEWS
Suzy was expecting to march + in the Labor Day parade.
30AV
IRON
Lucy was expecting to press + the button and then the elevator would
arrive.
Was Lucy expecting to press the button? Y
30IN
IRON
Lucy was expecting the press + and their camera crews to arrive
soon.
Was Lucy expecting the press? Y
30UV
IRON
Lucy was expecting to march + in the Labor Day parade.
30UN
IRON
Lucy was expecting the truth + to be hard to swallow.
31AN
COW
Jeff wanted a steer + that could win a blue ribbon.
Did Jeff want just any old steer? N
31IV
COW
Jeff wanted to steer + the brand new truck just once.
Did Jeff want to steer an old truck? N
31UN
COW
Jeff wanted a streak + of good luck at the casino.
31UV
COW
Jeff wanted to duck + when he saw his girlfriend enter the bar.
32AV
CAR
Paul wanted to steer + the brand new truck just once.
Did Paul want to steer an old truck? N
32IN
CAR
Paul wanted a steer + that could win a blue ribbon.
Did Paul want just any old steer? N
32UV
CAR
Paul wanted to duck + when he saw his girlfriend enter the bar.
32UN
CAR
Paul wanted a streak + of good luck at the casino.
33AN
CUP
Gary used a mug + for his coffee and never washed it out.
Did Gary clean his mug often? N
33IV
CUP
Gary used to mug + people in the parking lot around midnight.
Did Gary mug people in daylight? N
33UN
CUP
Gary used a fowl + word in the wrong company.
33UV
CUP
Gary used to moan + every time the rent was due.
34AV
ROB
Danny used to mug + people in the parking lot around midnight.
Did Danny mug people in daylight? N
34IN
ROB
Danny used a mug + for his coffee and never washed it out.
Did Danny clean his mug often? N
34UV
ROB
Danny used to moan + every time the rent was due.
34UN
ROB
Danny used a fowl + word in the wrong company.
35AN
MONEY
John wanted his check + the first day of every month.
Did John want his check at month’s end? N
35IV
MONEY
John wanted to check + on the fringe benefits before he started his job.
Did John forget about his benefits? N
35UN
MONEY
John wanted his film + developed by Monday.
35UV
MONEY
John wanted to chair + the committee but he was not appointed.
36AV
OUT
Judy wanted to check + on the fringe benefits before she started her
job.
Did Judy forget about her benefits? N
36IN
OUT
Judy wanted her check + the first day of every month.
Did Judy want her check at month’s end? N
36UV
OUT
Judy wanted to chair + the committee but she was not appointed.
36UN
OUT
Judy wanted her film + developed by Monday.
37AN
CORN
Ted and Jan wanted to try a stalk + of celery filled with avocado.
Did they want to taste something new? Y
37IV
CORN
Ted and Jan wanted to try to stalk + a region known for bears.
Did they want to go somewhere dangerous? Y
37UN
CORN
Ted and Jan wanted to try a malt + from the new ice cream store.
37UV
CORN
Ted and Jan wanted to try to coax + their freinds into staying.
38AV
HUNT
Alex and Kim wanted to try to stalk + a region known for bears.
Did they want to go somewhere dangerous? Y
38IN
HUNT
Alex and Kim wanted to try a stalk + of celery filled with avocado.
Did they want to taste something new? Y
38UV
HUNT
Alex and Kim wanted to try to coax + their freinds into staying.
38UN
HUNT
Alex and Kim wanted to try a malt + from the new ice cream store.
39AN
GROUP
Rita wanted a set + of dishes that was a specific shade of blue.
Did Rita want a set of blue dishes? Y
39IV
GROUP
Rita wanted to set + the hot pan down.
Was Rita eager to put the pan down? Y
39UN
GROUP
Rita wanted a hand + with clearing the table.
39UV
GROUP
Rita wanted to think + about the purchase a little more.
40AV
PUT
Lois wanted to set + the pan down before it burned her hands.
Was Lois eager to put the pan down? Y
40IN
PUT
Lois wanted a set + of dishes that was a specific shade of blue.
Did Lois want a set of blue dishes? Y
40UV
PUT
Lois wanted to think + about the purchase a little more.
40UN
PUT
Lois wanted a hand + with clearing the table.
41AN
SQUARE
Sam was afraid the box + would be damaged by the time it arrived.
Was Sam sure the box would arrive okay? N
41IV
SQUARE
Sam was afraid to box + the state lightweight champion.
Was Sam eager to box the state champion? N
41UN
SQUARE
Sam was afraid the wine + wouldn’t go with the meal.
41UV
SQUARE
Sam was afraid to page + his parents at the restaurant.
42AV
FIGHT
Ken was afraid to box + the state lightweight champion.
Was Ken eager to box the state champion? N
42IN
FIGHT
Ken was afraid the box + might be damaged by the time it arrived.
Was Ken sure the box would arrive okay? N
42UV
FIGHT
Ken was afraid to page + his parents at the restaurant.
42UN
FIGHT
Ken was afraid the wine + wouldn’t go with the meal.
43AN
JOKE
Jill started the gag + thinking that it would only be good clean
fun.
Did Jill plan the gag just for fun? Y
43IV
JOKE
Jill started to gag + when she was drinking her soda too fast.
Was Jill drinking soda when she gagged? Y
43UN
JOKE
Jill started the math + problems as soon as she got home.
43UV
JOKE
Jill started to bug + her big brother.
44AV
CHOKE
Ruth started to gag + when she was drinking her soda too fast.
Was Ruth drinking soda when she gagged? Y
44IN
CHOKE
Ruth started the gag + thinking that it would only be good clean
fun.
Did Ruth plan the gag just for fun? Y
44UV
CHOKE
Ruth started to bug + her big brother.
44UN
CHOKE
Ruth started the math + problems as soon as she got home.
45AN
WORK
Roy and Meg started the shift + at midnight and worked until dawn.
Did Roy and Meg work during the day? N
45IV
WORK
Roy and Meg started to shift + in their seats as they grew restless.
Were they sitting calmly in their seats? N
45UN
WORK
Roy and Meg started the tour + in France.
45UV
WORK
Roy and Meg started to pace + themselves toward the end of the race.
46AV
CHANGE
Eve and Abe started to shift + in their seats as they grew restless.
Were they sitting calmly in their seats? N
46IN
CHANGE
Eve and Abe started the shift + at midnight and worked until dawn.
Did Eve and Abe work during the day? N
46UV
CHANGE
Eve and Abe started to pace + themselves toward the end of the race.
46UN
CHANGE
Eve and Abe started the tour + in France.
47AN
BRACELET
Linda wanted a charm + that used to belong to her mother.
Did she want a charm from her mother? Y
47IV
BRACELET
Linda wanted to charm + her father into letting her borrow the car.
Did she want to borrow her dad’s car? Y
47UN
BRACELET
Linda wanted a sheep + to walk up to her and eat out of her hand.
47UV
BRACELET
Linda wanted to scope + out the party before she went in.
48AV
SMILE
Debra wanted to charm + her father into letting her borrow the car.
Did she want to borrow her dad’s car? Y
48IN
SMILE
Debra wanted a charm + that used to belong to her mother.
Did she want a charm from her mother? Y
48UV
SMILE
Debra wanted to scope + out the party before she went in.
48UN
SMILE
Debra wanted a sheep + to walk up to her and eat out of her hand.