Words in Context
Words in Context
OVERVIEW
• Strategies for defining words from context
• Summing it up
At some point, there may be a word you do not know the meaning of and
there may be no prefix or root to help you. In this case, you must look at the
context of the word.
The context of a word is the setting in which the word occurs in speech or in
written materials. You usually learn words by hearing or seeing them in
context, and developing this ability will help you learn more words.
The following includes exercises for words in context. These passages and
vocabulary exercises are not as difficult as those you might find on the
TOEFL since the purpose of this book is to teach vocabulary.
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As you read the following passage, see if you can get the meaning of the underlined
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words from the context in which they appear. Then, do the vocabulary builders that
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follow.
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To the Editor:
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Your article on plans for aiding the elderly to pay their housing costs was not quite
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clear in several aspects. I would like to clarify the requirements and exemptions
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In the first place, a tenant 62 years old or older must live in a rent-controlled or
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rent-stabilized dwelling, pay more than one third of his or her income for rent, and
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have a yearly income of $8,000 or less. Such a tenant must apply for exemption from
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rent increases and must reapply each year thereafter. Once is not enough. It is
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understood, however, that should the landlord make a major improvement, a new
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furnace for example, all tenants must accept rent raises to pay for increased comfort.
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The elderly, poor tenant is not excluded from such a rent increase.
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Landlords receive tax exemptions as reimbursement for the money they lose in not
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increasing rent for the elderly. In New York City, the cost of these tax reductions is
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$41 million a year, a tremendous figure, but likely to be higher if more of the poor
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elderly learn they may apply for exemptions. The city is so slow in processing
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applications that some tenants have paid the full rent. They ought not to have done
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so. They are fully protected by the law and, once they have applied for exemption,
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I appeal to you to clarify this issue so that the elderly poor of our city may become
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Clara Torres
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Vocabulary Builder 1
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1. Tenants over 62 can apply for benefits at the Office of Housing for the
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Elderly.
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(A) poor
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2. If you don’t get that furnace repaired before winter, we will freeze to death.
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(B) heater
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(D) staircase
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3. Since landlords get reimbursements, they shouldn’t complain about losing
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money.
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(A) bills
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(B) increases
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(C) payments
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(D) housing benefits
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4. The elderly are not excluded from rent raises that all tenants have to pay
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when the landlord makes a major improvement.
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(A) obliged
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(B) included
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(C) excited
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(D) eliminated
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5. When their rent increased from $200 to $400 a month, they protested
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against such a tremendous increase.
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(A) light
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(B) difficult
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(C) huge
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(D) tiring
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6. Because the city is slow in processing applications, many of the elderly do
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not get housing benefits.
(A) providing ○
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(B) working on
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(C) raising
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(D) trying
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7. The landlord notified his tenants that their rent would be increased the
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following month.
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(A) janitors
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(B) friends
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(C) occupants
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8. Reading a daily newspaper will make you aware of what is going on in the
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world.
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(A) knowledgeable
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(B) ignorant
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(C) alike
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(D) dependent
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Vocabulary Builder 2
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Directions: Try to get the meaning of the underlined word from its context
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in the following sentences. Choose the correct synonym. If you cannot figure
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(A) invading
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(B) unhealthy
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(C) unavoidable
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(D) intriguing
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2. What you need after a hard week’s work is a little frivolity over the weekend.
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(A) luxury
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(B) harmony
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(C) fireworks
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(D) triviality
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(A) strafing
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(B) scheme
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(C) bomb
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(D) headquarters
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(A) charlatan
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(B) duck
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(C) coach
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(D) doctor
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5. The expression “out of the frying pan and into the fire” means to go from one
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dilemma to a worse one.
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(A) situation
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(B) predicament
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(C) embarrassment
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(D) aura
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6. He made one last futile effort to convince her and left the house.
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(A) difficult
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(B) favorable
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(C) firm
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(D) ineffectual
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7. After climbing to the zenith, he slowly worked his way down the mountain.
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(A) zero
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(B) top
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(C) cabin
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(D) mountain
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8. A glib answer will not serve for a serious question.
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(A) gross
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(B) capable
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(C) facile
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(D) ignorant
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9. Mary set off on her vacation with the intention of finding a tall, dark,
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(A) doleful
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(B) decent
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(C) urbane
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(D) mercenary
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10. Ponce de Leon searched in vain for a means of rejuvenating the aged.
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Many English words are made up of a combination of word elements. A root is a word
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element, often taken from Latin or Greek, that serves as a base to which other elements
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are added to modify the root itself. A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning
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of a root, and a suffix is attached to the end of a root or word. Both prefixes and suffixes
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words, figuring out their meaning, and comparing them to find relationships with words
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you already know. Using this system, you will also be able to organize and learn words
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Here are some common Latin and Greek prefixes. Study them and look up the meanings
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Prefix Meaning Example
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extra beyond extracurricular
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hyper excessively hypertension, hyperactive
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in, im, il, ir, un no intrepid, impossible, illicit, irreparable, unlikely
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inter between intercultural
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intra, intro, in within intramural, introduction, inside
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mal bad malediction
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per through permeate
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peri around perimeter
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post after postoperative
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pre before precedence, predecessor
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pro forward, for propose, proponents
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re again review
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semi half semicolon
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sub under submarine
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super above supervisor
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trans across transport
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Vocabulary Builder 3
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Directions: Use the words in the Example column, above, to complete these
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sentences.
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1. The men had to __________ their canoe through the woods to the river’s edge.
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carry across
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half colon
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4. The law requires that there be a(n) _______ from the second floor apartment.
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way out
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sailed around
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split apart
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8. In the evolution of animals, plants ___________ insects.
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came before
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against
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feeling against
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11. Workmen at the refinery find that the smell of oil ___________ their clothing.
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goes through
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13. The Greek and Turkish students had a(n) ____________ exchange.
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not possible
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underwater vehicle
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person above
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17. The chairman of the board takes ____________ over the other board members.
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people for
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do well for
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put together
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go over again
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take away
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23. Some students give more of their time to ______________ sports than to their
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distance around
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draws to itself
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Study these suffixes. Be sure that you understand what each of the words in the
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al relating to traditional
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cy quality potency
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fy make beautify
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ic pertaining to atmospheric
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Vocabulary Builder 4
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Directions: From the Example column above, choose a word that best fits
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8. The area where birds (avi) are kept is called a(n) _______________.
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9. Something capable of being expended is considered _______________.
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10. When weather forecasters talk about the pressure of the atmosphere, they
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refer to _______________ pressure.
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11. A person who practices psychiatry is a(n) _______________.
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12. Someone who works is a(n) _______________.
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13. If something is described as complex, we can say it has _______________.
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14. When someone provokes you, we can say he or she has given you ________.
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15. When you make something stable, you _______________ it.
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16. A complacent person is noted for his or her _______________.
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17. To make a house beautiful is to _______________ it.
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Vocabulary Builder 5
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Directions: See if you can use the suffixes given in the previous exercise to
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form new words. When you have finished, check your dictionary to make sure
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_______________.
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person.
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Vocabulary Builder 6
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Directions: Here are ten groups of words that are frequently confused and
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misused. Look at the definitions; then fill in the correct word in the sentences.
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1. adapt, adopt
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Adapt means to adjust.
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Adopt means to take by choice.
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(A) The committee decided to _______________ the new regulations.
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(B) It is difficult to _______________ to a new environment.
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2. adverse, averse
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Adverse means acting against.
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Averse means having a strong dislike.
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(A) The jury made an _______________ decision, so he was hanged.
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(B) An anorexic is _______________ to food.
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3. allusion, delusion, illusion
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Allusion means an implied or indirect reference.
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Delusion means a false belief.
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Illusion means an unreal image.
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(A) That poor man is under the _______________ that he is the president.
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(B) I am not familiar enough with mythology to understand all the
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_______________ s to it in this poem. ○
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(C) A good painter can give you the _______________ of broad space in his works.
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4. complement, compliment
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(A) I must _______________ you on your choice of flowers for the party.
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(B) They are just the right flowers to _______________ the table setting.
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5. council, counsel
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6. elicit, illicit
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7. explicit, implicit
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(B) There was definitely an ___________ threat in the way he glared at her.
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8. ingenious, ingenuous
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(B) Katy is so _______________ she will believe anything you tell her.
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9. infer, imply
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(A) I _______________ from what you just said that the engagement is over.
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(B) Did you mean to _______________ that you don’t love me anymore?
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lia.
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(B) If you _______________ to this country, you will have to learn the
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language.
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1. A. adopt
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B. adapt
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2. A. adverse
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B. averse
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3. A. delusion
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B. allusion
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C. illusion
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4. A. compliment
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B. complement
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5. A. council
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B. counsel
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6. A. elicit
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B. illicit
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7. A. explicit
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B. implicit
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8. A. ingenious
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B. ingenuous
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9. A. infer
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B. imply
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10. A. emigrate
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B. immigrate
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Vocabulary Builder 7
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Directions: Write the word next to the definition. Your answers are words
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used in this chapter.
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1. A one-room apartment ______________________________
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2. Occupant of a building ______________________________
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3. Advanced in years ______________________________
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4. Repayment ______________________________
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6. Hint ______________________________
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When a word has more than one meaning, the dictionary will number each separate
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definition; the first meaning given is usually the most common use of the word. When
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looking up a word in the dictionary, you should know which definition provides the
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Vocabulary Builder 8
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____ The article gave a superficial analysis of the country’s economic woes.
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____ The parachutist was treated for superficial cuts and bruises.
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____ She suffered from acute back pain after the accident.
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____ The President is taking deliberate steps to balance the federal budget.
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____ Some people felt that the jury was too lenient with the man who shot
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the senator.
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____ The two major labor unions consolidated to form one large powerful
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union.
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Caribbean.
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7. (1) to eat or drink
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(2) to use up
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(3) to destroy
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____ The entire apartment was consumed by fire.
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____ The tennis player contracted hepatitis after consuming tainted fish.
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____ Typing his boss’s correspondence consumed most of the secretary’s time.
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8. (1) a particular government
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(2) a plan to improve one’s health
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____ After following a strict regime, the injured gymnast returned to competition.
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____ The nation is sure to prosper under the new regime.
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9. (1) causing a feeling of pity
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(2) worthless; unsuccessful
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____ The supervisor is so pathetic that his entire staff is threatening to resign.
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____ We were awakened by the kitten’s pathetic cries.
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10. (1) to cause to have no effect
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(2) to disprove; deny
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____ Thermal insulation negates the effect of the cold.
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____ The governor issued a statement in an attempt to negate the accusa-
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tions against him.
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Vocabulary Builder 9
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Directions: Select the one word from the choices given that best completes
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1. The dying man’s speech was so _______________ that no one was able to
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NOTE
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(A) indiscreet
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m, or p; ir before r;
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and in or un before 2. Due to many years of _______________, the Smiths had nothing to fall back
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other letters.
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(A) illiteracy
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(B) impunity
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(C) inflexibility
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(D) imprudence
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(A) inevitable
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(B) illicit
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(C) disconcerting
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(D) impossible
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4. The personnel manager could not even consider her for the position
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(A) inept
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(B) inflexible
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(C) unkempt
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(D) disheartened
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this year.
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(A) disreputable
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(B) uncanny
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(C) incongruous
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(D) disconcerting
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6. It was truly miraculous that the child was _______________ after falling six
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stories.
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(A) unscathed
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(B) uncanny
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(C) irreparable
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(D) illiterate
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7. Modern architecture often seems _______________ in a city rich in history.
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(A) unlikely
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(B) unwitting
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(C) incongruous
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(D) unkempt
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8. Serpico is known for his _______________ efforts to expose fellow police
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officers who accepted bribes.
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(A) incalculable
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(B) inexorable
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(C) unwieldy
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(D) illicit
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9. Barbara’s parents received a report from her teacher that said, “Barbara is an
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excellent student, but she talks to her friends _______________ during class.”
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(A) ineptly
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(B) incoherently ○
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(C) unerringly
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(D) incessantly
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10. A civil war pits brother against brother and causes _______________ harm
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to a nation’s morale.
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(A) uncompromising
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(B) incalculable
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(C) invariable
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(D) infallible
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Vocabulary Builder 10
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Directions: Write the number of the word in Column B that has the same
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meaning as the word in Column A. Put the number on the line provided.
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A B
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7. incessant
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EXERCISES: ANTONYMS
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Directions: Choose the word among the four alternatives that is the opposite
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1. I ate lunch with a most convivial group of 6. The convicted robber hoped the judge
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2. I prefer muted colors in my living room. 7. Hector takes his dates to intimate restau-
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(A) changeable
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(B) bright
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(B) quiet
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(C) dull
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(C) noisy
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(D) mauve
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(D) dark
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4. She had a cozy little apartment in Boston. 9. If you want to make a good impression on
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(A) uncomfortable
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(B) dirty
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(A) discreet
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(C) lazy
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(B) uncanny
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(D) warm
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(C) literate
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(D) neat
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(A) superior 10. His career in the illicit drug trade ended
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(B) deep
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(A) irregular
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(C) attractive
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(B) legal
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(D) horrible
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(C) elicited
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(D) secret
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exercises
11. Having planned our weekends to watch 14. I cannot stand professors who think they
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football, we found the news of the players’ are infallible.
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strike most disconcerting. (A) imperfect
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(A) pleasing (B) inexorable
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(B) activating (C) inept
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(C) refreshing (D) inflexible
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(D) debilitating
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15. My brother-in-law talks incessantly.
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12. A frightening number of illiterate stu-
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(A) indiscreetly
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dents are graduating from college.
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(B) inevitably
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(A) able to read and write
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(C) seldom
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(B) able to enjoy intramural sports
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(D) sensibly
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(C) unable to pass an examination in
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reading and writing
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(D) inflexible
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13. John was so insubordinate that he lost his
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job within a week.
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(A) fresh
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(B) understanding
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(C) indiscreet
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(D) obedient
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Directions: Select a word from the list below that best completes the following
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sentences.
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compete vast
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chagrin affluent
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innovation lucrative
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amenities rejuvenated
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apathy stereotype
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eign language teaching was one of the we are going to lower our prices.
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3. Wearing his ten-gallon hat, the Texan bill and the company turned off his power.
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can Westerner.
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5. You have made a(n) __________ improve- cause of the __________ of bystanders.
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exercises
EXERCISES: SYNONYMS
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Directions: Choose the best synonym for the underlined word.
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1. She was overcome by chagrin at the check- 6. The doctor warned her that adequate diet
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out counter when she discovered she had was of paramount importance in effecting
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left her wallet at home. a cure.
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(A) anger (A) moving
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(B) poverty (B) chief
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(C) embarrassment (C) healing
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(D) challenge (D) saving
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2. The space shuttle covered vast distances. 7. Occasionally, the most unlikely people
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manage to collaborate successfully.
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(A) very
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(A) put together
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(B) huge
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(B) stand together
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(C) varying
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(C) work together
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(D) hard
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(D) get together
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3. Dr. Jones suggested that final examina-
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tions be discontinued, an innovation I 8. Peter advised his clientele that he would
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heartily support. be on vacation for the month of January.
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(A) entrance (A) clinic
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(B) change (B) customers
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(C) inner part (C) salespeople
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(D) test (D) contact ○
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4. She plans to compete in the marathon. 9. I’d rather stay in a hotel with all the
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(D) sports
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display of his wealth. 10. The night before this exam I tried not to
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succumb to sleep.
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(A) ossified
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(A) scoff
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(B) showy
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(B) save
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(C) large
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(C) yield
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(D) expensive
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(D) try
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11. He inherited a lucrative business from 16. Although he knew she had work to do, he
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12. Apathy toward his studies prevented his 17. Having spent all my money on tuition, I
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(D) afraid
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(A) musician
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(D) opposite
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(D) entirely
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the matter we are discussing? 20. The hurricane caused great havoc in the
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islands.
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(A) perceptive
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(A) winds
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(B) appropriate
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(B) treatment
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(C) discriminating
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(C) destruction
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(D) apparent
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(D) immersion
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