Though he was losing his hearing, Beethoven _____ himself in his music.
We were impressed with Ella's _____ , as she described how a new shampoo made her hair grow faster.
The charges against the suspected mugger will probably not hold up in court, so the district attorney has decided to _____ them.
Despite several rejection letters from publishers, the young writer _____ and continued to write stories.
In spite of all your talk about how hard it is to get into medical school, I intend to _____ in my plans to become a doctor.
Is there any sight more _____ than a kitten stranded in a tree?
When the class comedian imitated my way of speaking, it was all I could do not to _____ with embarrassment.
What good does it do for the president of the Student Council to issue _____ if no one takes the trouble to read them?
We learned in our social studies class that the Constitution _____ the president to arrange treaties with foreign countries.
She is so worried about appearing _____ that she sometimes refuses to believe things that are well supported by facts.
The more he tried to protect himself by _____ , the more he became entrapped in his own web of lies.
Whenever my Aunt Joan hears a hit from the 1990s on the radio, she starts to _____ about her days in high school.
His sticky fingers and the crumbs around his mouth convinced us that he was the _____ in the Case of the Empty Cookie Jar.
Although our coach can spend hours _____ about his victories, he doesn’t have an equally good memory for his defeats.
She _____ so much time and energy on small matters that she can’t prepare properly for the things that are really important.
Dictators like Hitler and Mussolini used _____ language to stir up the emotions of the crowds they addressed.
Because my sister is so _____ , I have to avoid reading scary stories to her before her bedtime.
When it became known that four explorers were lost in the jungle, special search parties were sent out to _____ the area for them.
I am afraid that our ambitious plan to modernize the gym has become a _____ of the School Board’s economy drive.
She was so deeply _____ in the book she was reading that she did not even hear us enter the room.
It was plain from the way that he _____ over breakfast that he was in no hurry to visit the dentist.
With the skill of a trained debater, she _____ her opponent’s arguments one by one to reveal their basic weaknesses.
His scheme to make money by preparing term papers for other students is not only completely _____ but immoral as well.
No one _____ being reminded of his or her mistakes, but if you are wise you will try to learn from such criticism.
I spent three hours _____ my room, looking for my homework.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the following excerpts that contain vocabulary words from this unit. The vocabulary words are written in bold font.
2. Select the answer that best completes each question. (5 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
EXCERPT #1 Question: A person who is writhing is _____ .
EXCERPT #2 Question: People who do NOT relish a sport _____ .
EXCERPT #3:
It was not until the two boys had scoured, with great rapidity, through a most intricate maze of narrow streets and courts, that they ventured to halt beneath a low and dark archway. Having remained silent here, just long enough to recover breath to speak, [Bates] uttered an exclamation of amusement and delight.
EXCERPT #3 Question: Someone who has scoured through a place has moved _____ .
EXCERPT #4:
The snow lay on the ground, frozen into a hard thick crust, so that only the heaps that had drifted into byways and corners were affected by the sharp wind that howled abroad: which, as if expending increased fury on such prey as it found, caught it savagely up in clouds, and, whirling it into a thousand misty eddies, scattered it in air.
EXCERPT #4 Question: The act of expending involves _____ .
EXCERPT #5 Question: A person who sobs pathetically does so in a(n) _____ .
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the following passage that contains vocabulary words from this unit. The vocabulary words are written in bold font.
2. Select the answer that best completes each question. (6 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
PASSAGE:
It’s likely that you have done research on the life of a famous person. If so, you probably immersed yourself in books and articles and put together facts and details into a report. But did you ever wonder how the works that guided you came to be? In many cases, they were written by professional biographers.
A biographer is, by turns, an explorer, a reporter, a judge, a psychologist, and a storyteller. The biographer of a living person often interviews the subject, as well as his or her friends, family, and acquaintances. Authorized biographers may also get legal permission to examine the subject’s personal papers, or attend private meetings. They may even live with the subject for a time for truly close-up study.
A biographer who studies someone from the past has a harder task. This kind of biographer must expend another sort of energy—as a detective. He or she must dig into old documents, published articles, personal diaries, or anything else that was written while the subject was alive. This type of first-hand material can be rare. The biographer scours public records for details about marriages, births, land purchases, travel, legal cases, and so on. It’s the biographer’s job to link the data together in a sensible and accurate way.
When the subject has been written about already, how can a biographer shed new light or offer new interpretations? Perhaps a long-lost memorandum may surface. Maybe an old diary will turn up in someone’s attic. Perhaps a tribute to the subject may be unearthed. When the subject is little-known or rarely studied, the biographer may face a lack of information. In either case, the biographer’s efforts enable us to learn about the lives of people we might not otherwise know.
The meaning of immersed is _____ .
Authorized most nearly means _____ .
Expend is best defined as _____ .
The meaning of scours is _____ .
Memorandum most nearly means _____ .
Tribute is best defined as _____ .
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read each sentence and determine if the underlined portion could be written better.
2. Select the answer that best completes each question. (5 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
Cindy and Maria had been partners in the doubles tournament, but at the last minute she dropped out.
When you write the letter to Ms. Gajowski, be sure to include your address so that she will have known where to direct her reply.
Beneath the moonlight, the stillness of the lake, as the two swans flew overhead.
Between chocolate, vanilla, and coffee, Tyrone couldn't decide which kind of ice cream he liked more.
After hearing about the accident, the first bike lanes were created on the town's main road.
To examine with great care is to _____ .
If you are taking more time than necessary while you are walking home, you might say that you are _____ .
Statements that cause excitement and anger can be described as _____ .
Which of the following is another word for approve?
A person who is easily fooled can be described as _____ .
An informal note or report is a _____ .
Which of the following is another word for pitiable?
To put down completely or suppress is to _____ .
If someone is stretching the truth, he or she is _____ .
A speech that is given in praise of a dedicated volunteer could be called a _____ .
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the following passage that contains vocabulary words from this unit. The vocabulary words are written in bold font.
2. Select the answer that best completes each question. (6 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
PASSAGE:
Last May, my twin sister Ricki and I decided to enter a 10k race that was being held to raise money for our local hospital. We were not runners, but we thought we were in good enough shape and would have an easy time. Good grief, were we wrong! We took off fast, but after ten minutes of running at top speed we had expended all our energy. We persevered and finished the race with a combination of walking and moderate running and crossed the finish line not exactly in last place but not exactly in first, either. Right after that, we decided to immerse ourselves in a training program. Now, six months later, we relish every opportunity we get to compete, whether we come in first, second, or beyond. Sometimes we even reminisce about our first race together and writhe at the thought of our unimpressive performance and our lack of serious preparation.
Which of the following could not be used to replace expended (line 4)?
In line 4, persevered means _____ .
To immerse (line 6) is to _____ .
When you relish (line 6) something, you _____ .
In line 7, reminisce means _____ .
Which of the following could be used to replace writhe (line 8)?
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the following passage that contains vocabulary words from this unit. The vocabulary words are written in bold font.
2. Select the answer that best completes each question. (4 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
PASSAGE:
Most people who have careers in the field of criminal investigation have training either in law or police work. Some, however, have backgrounds in science and medicine. These professionals work as medical examiners, and their main duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under suspicious circumstances. Some medical examiners are doctors with special training who dissect bodies and run scientific tests to gather evidence. For example, they might look for traces of poisons or other illicit substances to determine if a fatality was the result of natural causes or of foul play. As many television viewers know, part of their job involves testifying in criminal trials, either to put a culprit behind bars or to clear the name of a defendant who has been falsely accused.
To dissect (line 4) is to _____ .
Which of the following could be used to replace illicit (line 5)?
A fatality (line 6) is an event resulting in _____ .
In line 7, culprit means _____ .