For many years the towns and villages along the Normandy coast of France showed the _____ of the great invasion of 1944.
Instead of answering my question, the skillful debater _____ by asking a question of her own.
The captain was deeply worried, even though he tried hard to appear confident and _____ to the passengers.
We were infuriated by the _____ speech in which he tried to portray himself as a great national leader.
My mother's dream vacation is to spend several weeks on a(n) _____ island in the South Pacific.
After waiting for news of her loved ones for several days, the woman looked careworn and _____ .
The immigrants never _____ in their determination to become American citizens.
Even after pitching two no-hit games this season, Stan was the same quiet and _____ boy we had always known.
Thieves are essentially a _____ class of criminals because they live off what they can take from others.
He hoped that election to the presidency would be the _____ of his long and brilliant career in public service.
One must be careful these days, as _____ phone calls from dishonest companies are on the rise.
During our trip to China, we sampled such _____ dishes as thousandyear-old eggs and bird's nest soup.
Americans expect candidates to take a definite _____ on each of the important issues in a national election.
So long as you continue to _____ in self-pity, you will lack the strength needed to solve your problems.
When asked about your commitment to your values, do not _____ , but stand firm in your beliefs.
I am thoroughly disgusted by people who try to make themselves seem more important than they really are by _____ others.
History teaches us that in any great conflict, there will be some _____ willing to go over to the enemy.
The general _____ our failure to win the battle to a lack of sufficient forces rather than to a lack of courage.
Did you know that pigs can't pant, so they _____ in mud to keep their bodies cool on hot summer days?
“If we are to keep the body politic healthy,” the senator remarked, “we must _____ the cancer of racial prejudice from it.”
He is so conceited that it is hard to _____ to him the simple idea that he did not win the essay competition.
Our system of justice is based on the _____ that defendants are presumed innocent unless the prosecution can prove them guilty.
No matter how _____ the assignment may be, take pride in your work, and do your best.
When I arrived at the critical _____ in my career, I realized that my whole future would depend on the decision I was about to make.
My doctor _____ my dizziness and vertigo to an inner ear infection.
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: The act of wavering involves _____ .
EXCERPT #2:
The war is over, and Mr. March safely at home, busy with his books and the small parish which found in him a minister by nature as by grace, a quiet, studious man, rich in the wisdom that is better than learning, the charity which calls all mankind “brother,” the piety that blossoms into character, making it august and lovely. These attributes, in spite of poverty and the strict integrity which shut him out from the more worldly successes, attracted to him many admirable persons . . . .
EXCERPT #2 Question: An attribute is a(n) _____ .
EXCERPT #3 Question: Something that is jaunty is NOT _____ .
EXCERPT #4 Question: Ravages are most likely _____ .
EXCERPT #5 Question: A style that is unassuming is _____ .
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. (5 points)
*You may only select one option for your answer.
PASSAGE:
You probably don’t think there is anything exotic about ice. Today, most homes have freezers, automatic ice-making machines, and other gadgets that provide a ready supply of ice. All you have to do is go to your refrigerator to get some ice cubes to cool off a beverage. But there was a time when only nature could provide ice.
In ancient Rome, when excess was at its acme, lavish banquets and elaborate parties were common among the upper classes. The best and wealthiest hosts would provide great quantities of ice or snow for guests to add to their goblets.
Not everyone approved of the Roman appetite for cold drinks. Philosophers saw the growing popularity of consuming snow and ice as a sure sign that Roman culture was declining. Doctors attributed all sorts of physical ailments to chilled food and drink. But this did not stop those who could afford ice and snow. For example, one emperor ordered workers to build an enormous mountain of snow in the garden of his villa to cool him during hot Roman summers!
How did Romans get such large quantities of the cold stuff? They imported it from high mountains that were snowcapped all year long. Containers of fresh mountain snow were painstakingly conveyed by donkey to local “snow shops” and ice cellars, where they were insulated with straw for protection from the intense Roman heat. Eventually, the snow would melt; but it would conveniently freeze into ice when it dripped into deeper, colder layers of the ice cellars. This simple technology called for large teams of menials both to gather and transport the snow and to tend the ice cellars. Their bosses enjoyed great profits because rich Romans would pay almost any price for these cool products. Snow and ice were the hottest things in town.
The meaning of exotic is _____ .
Acme most nearly means _____ .
Attributed is best defined as _____ .
Conveyed most nearly means _____ .
Menials 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.
The last straw between Donald and his brother Anthony was when he borrowed his car without asking and got into a wreck.
Vijay's father made a toast to the bride's family, some who couldn't be there.
Isabella is more popular than anyone at school.
His father took Brian to see an exhibit on ancient Egypt which had always fascinated the boy at the museum.
He was excited by the prospect of earning more money as landing the new job was just the beginning and he would also invest in the stock market.
A system of political beliefs or principles could be called a(n) _____ .
Humble and unpleasant jobs such as scrubbing a muddy floor could be described as _____ .
To remove by cutting is to _____ .
Which of the following is another word for gaunt?
Which of the following is the opposite of magnify?
A defensive movement in fencing is known as a _____ .
A person who switches to an opposing side or party could be called a(n) _____ .
Which of the following is the opposite of tasteful?
A town that has been destroyed by a tornado can be said to have been _____ .
Which of the following is another word for modest?
If a scheme is designed to prey on innocent people and cheat them out of money, it can be described as _____ .
Strikingly unusual music might be described as _____ .
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:
I’m sure that most sports fans dream of the day when their team makes its way to a championship. When the major league baseball team that we follow with a passion made it to the World Series, however, my family and I were not prepared for the ups and downs that come with this high-stakes event. So far, we have been through three losing games, and at this nerve-wracking juncture, we are trying hard to control our emotions. Most of all, we are trying not to wallow in regret and self-pity or to waver in our belief in our team’s ability to win. Instead, we are hoping for the best while making an effort to convey a positive attitude in order to keep one another’s spirits up.
In sentence 3, juncture means _____ .
If you wallow (sentence 4) in regret and self-pity, you do what with these feelings?
People who waver (sentence 4) show a lack of _____ .
In sentence 5, convey means _____ .
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:
Because I love all dogs, including every kind of mixed breed, I did not expect to enjoy the dog show that my friend Lucy invited me to attend. I thought it would be tiresome to see the judges examine each pure-breed entrant for physical attributes such as the length of its tail and the shape of its eyes and ears. Once the competition started, however, I was surprised to find myself watching with interest and enjoying the process. What made me change my mind? It was the energy and enthusiasm that the dogs themselves showed through their jaunty walks around the show ring and their proud and alert stances before the judges. What surprised me even more was how thrilled I was to see Lucy’s Bassett Hound not only win the “best in breed” and “best in group” categories but then also go on to reach the acme of the competitive event by being declared “best in show.”
In line 3, attributes means _____ .
Which of the following could not be used to replace jaunty (line 6)?
Stances (line 6) are ways of _____ .
In line 8, acme means _____ .