1. bizarre
-adjective

2. conducive
-adjective

Some mentally ill people have bizarre ideas. For
example, they may think that the TV is talking to them or
that others can steal their thoughts.
 Wally’s outfits may seem bizarre, but if you see him with
his even stranger looking friend, his clothing looks quite
ordinary.
a. limited.
b. ordinary.
c. odd.
A deliciously warm and sunny April day is conducive to a
bad case of spring fever.
 Learning to budget an allowance at a young age is
conducive to good spending habits later in life.
a. favorable.
b. similar.
c. damaging.

Vince faltered on the first few notes of his piano piece but
then played the rest without pausing.
 Even public speakers who now sound smooth and
confident must have faltered when giving their first
speeches.
a. to show off. b. to hesitate. c. to succeed.
3. falter
-verb

Instead of enjoying their wealth quietly, the Stewarts
flaunt every new thing they buy in front of their poor
relatives.
 Cindy never flaunted her high grades. In fact, I didn’t
know that she was first in her class until she received the
highest academic award at graduation.
a. to interfere with. b. to approve of. c. to exhibit
4. flaunt
-verb

When Grace couldn’t find her little son in the department
store, she went into a frenzy and didn’t calm down until
she knew he was safe.
 The holiday season always includes a frenzy of lastminute shopping.
a. a calm condition. b. an angry condition c. an excited
condition
5. frenzy
-noun
6. gist
-noun


We asked Alex to skip the details and get right to the gist of the
argument.
The gist of the novel is that a family got stranded on an island
and had no struggle to survive.
a. the small parts b. The main idea c. the benefit
7. hamper
-verb


8. paradox
-noun
9. repertoire
-noun
10. viable
-adjective
“We never meant to hamper your struggle for independence,”
Tom’s parents said. “From now on, we’ll let you handle your
own life, including your laundry and meals.”
The breakdown of telephone lines hampered business all along
the west Coast today.
a. to restrict.
b. to show off.
c. to promote.

When Della kept postponing her decision about whether or not
to go back to school, I reminded her of the paradox “No
decision is also a decision.”
 The story of King Midas illustrates a famous paradox: “When
the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” The king
gets what he thinks will be the best thing in the world-the
golden touch-and then discovers that it is the worst thing when
he accidentally turns his daughter into a golden statue.
a. an outburst. b. a simple statement. c. a seeming contradiction.

The actor’s repertoire includes drama, storytelling, song, and
dance.
 In order to be successful in school, it’s important to have a
repertoire of study strategies from which to choose.
a. variety of skills b. a reason to do something c. a statement of
intent.


The parties in the labor dispute can reach a viable agreement
only if both sides benefit equally.
The little boy quickly learned that using plastic tape is not a
viable solution to mending a broken vase.
a. practical.
b. attractive.
c. expensive.
1. _________ The main point or essential part of a matter; central idea
2. _________ To act or speak with uncertainty; hesitate
3. _________ To limit, interfere with, or restrict
4. _________ A wild outburst of excited feelings or actions
5. _________ Workable; capable of being successful or effective
6. _________ A statement that seems contradictory yet may be true
7. _________ A range or collection of skills or accomplishments
8. _________ Dramatically unusual, as in manner or appearance; strange
9. _________ Tending to promote or bring about
10. _________ To show off (something)
bizarre
gist
conducive
hamper
falter
paradox
flaunt
repertoire
frenzy
viable
1. Halloween offers everyone the chance to look as __________________ as
possible.
2. Al Pacino’s __________________ includes both modern dramas and
Shakespearean plays.
3. When a reporter asked Senator Drake a difficult question, the senator
____________________(ed) for a moment.
4. For snails, heat is ______________ to sleep. In fact, desert snails may sleep three
to four times a year.
5. The _______________ of Kelley’s essay was that school should be open only
four days a week, from 8 am to 6 pm.
6. Since ordinary clothes may _______________ movement, sweat suits and
leotards are recommended for exercise classes.
7. This morning, the staff could not come up with a _____________ plan to improve
business. Every suggestion had a drawback.
8. When Chun’s parents said they worried when he didn’t call home, he said,
“Remember that well-known ________________ - no news is good news.”
9. Delia was in a ________________ because she had locked her keys in the car and
she was already twenty minutes late for work.
10. Lucas believed the only way he could get a date was to _____________ his
wealth by wearing thick gold chains and driving expensive sports cars.
bizarre
gist
conducive
hamper
falter
paradox
flaunt
repertoire
frenzy
viable
If you’ve got it, (1) __________________ it!” That’s the (2) ____________________ of
Georgia’s philosophy. Georgia is my dorm roommate. A dance and theater major, she is
a true extrovert – always showing off, always “onstage.” It seems she is in constant
motion, going from graceful leaps down the hall to such (3) ________________
acrobatics as swinging by her knees from the clothes rod in her closet. Some days
Georgia performs her entire (4) _______________ right in our home. The (5)
______________ “less is more” doesn’t apply to her on those occasions, when she
delights by acting, singing, and dancing everything she’s ever learned. Attracted by her
talent and charisma, an audience always gathers to watch. The lack of space in our room
never seems to (6) ____________________ her movements. Since Georgia’s shows are
not very (7) _________________ to good studying on my part, I join the crowd drawn by
her magnetism. She is so smooth and confident – I have never seen her (8)
______________. She moves easily from ballet to jazz to tap. She’ll tell jokes, sing part
of an opera, and perform a scene from Macbeth. Not knowing all the words never
stopped her – she simply improvises lines as she goes along. When she finishes, her
audience breaks into a (9) _______________ of applause. Many drama students will
probably end up in other careers, but I contend Georgia is talented enough to build a (10)
______________________ career in show business.