Unit Two: Chapter 7
• calamity
• persevere
• comprehensive
• ponder
• conventional
• rehabilitate
• flagrant
• turmoil
• fluctuate
• venture
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 calamity
– noun
• The survivors of the earthquake slowly rebuilt their homes and
lives after the calamity.
• Our neighbor’s house burned down one night in May. Ever since
that calamity, some of the children on our street have been afraid
to go to bed at night.
Calamity means
A. an activity.
B. a tragedy.
C. a risk.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 calamity
– noun
• The survivors of the earthquake slowly rebuilt their homes and
lives after the calamity.
• Our neighbor’s house burned down one night in May. Ever since
that calamity, some of the children on our street have been afraid
to go to bed at night.
Calamity means
A. an activity.
B. a tragedy.
C. a risk.
An earthquake that destroys people’s homes is a tragedy. A neighbor’s
house burning down is also a tragedy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 comprehensive
– adjective
• That article on sightseeing in Charleston was not
comprehensive. It failed to mention many points of interest in
that wonderful city.
• The company’s comprehensive insurance plan covers most
health services, including hospitals, doctors, and dentists.
Comprehensive means
A. complete.
B. familiar.
C. continuous.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 comprehensive
– adjective
• That article on sightseeing in Charleston was not
comprehensive. It failed to mention many points of interest in
that wonderful city.
• The company’s comprehensive insurance plan covers most
health services, including hospitals, doctors, and dentists.
Comprehensive means
A. complete.
B. familiar.
C. continuous.
If the article failed to mention many points of interest, it was not
complete. If the insurance plan covers most health services, it is
complete.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 conventional
– adjective
• Two conventional Valentine’s Day gifts are roses and chocolates.
• Jorge wanted to propose to Ramona in the conventional manner,
so in the middle of a restaurant, he got down on one knee and
asked, “Will you marry me?”
Conventional means
A. out-of-the-way.
B. useful.
C. usual.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 conventional
– adjective
• Two conventional Valentine’s Day gifts are roses and chocolates.
• Jorge wanted to propose to Ramona in the conventional manner,
so in the middle of a restaurant, he got down on one knee and
asked, “Will you marry me?”
Conventional means
A. out-of-the-way.
B. useful.
C. usual.
Roses and chocolates are usual Valentine’s Day gifts. Getting down on
one knee and ask, “Will you marry me?” is the usual way for a man
to propose to a woman.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 flagrant
– adjective
• The use of campaign funds for the congressman’s private business
was a flagrant violation of the law.
• In flagrant disregard of his parents’ stated wishes, Art wore a Tshirt and jeans to their dinner party.
Flagrant means
A. obvious.
B. acceptable.
C. minor.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 flagrant
– adjective
• The use of campaign funds for the congressman’s private business
was a flagrant violation of the law.
• In flagrant disregard of his parents’ stated wishes, Art wore a Tshirt and jeans to their dinner party.
Flagrant means
A. obvious.
B. acceptable.
C. minor.
It is an obvious violation of the law for a congressman to use
campaign funds for his private business. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans
to the dinner party would be an obvious disregard of Art’s parents’
wishes.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 fluctuate
– verb
• My weight used to fluctuate between 150 and 190 pounds. Now
it’s steady, at 170 pounds.
• Desert temperatures can fluctuate by as much as fifty degrees
between daytime and nighttime.
Fluctuate means
The red line fluctuates.
A. to continue.
B. to vary.
C. to follow.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 fluctuate
– verb
• My weight used to fluctuate between 150 and 190 pounds. Now
it’s steady, at 170 pounds.
• Desert temperatures can fluctuate by as much as fifty degrees
between daytime and nighttime.
Fluctuate means
The red line fluctuates.
A. to continue.
B. to vary.
C. to follow.
In contrast with the now steady weight of 170
pounds, the person’s weight used to vary between
150 and 190 pounds. Desert temperatures would
vary from daytime to nighttime.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 persevere
– verb
• “I know you’re tired,” Jack said, “but we’ve got to persevere and
get to the camp before the storm hits.”
• It was not easy to attend English classes while working at two
jobs, but Nina persevered until she could speak English well.
Persevere means
A. to surrender.
B. to hold back.
C. to keep going.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 persevere
– verb
• “I know you’re tired,” Jack said, “but we’ve got to persevere and
get to the camp before the storm hits.”
• It was not easy to attend English classes while working at two
jobs, but Nina persevered until she could speak English well.
Persevere means
A. to surrender.
B. to hold back.
C. to keep going.
If they have to get to camp before the storm hits, they will have to
keep going. If Nina ended up speaking English well, she must have
kept going to English classes despite the working two jobs.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 ponder
– verb
• Too often we don’t take time to ponder the possible
consequences of our actions.
• Over the years, Mr. Madigan rarely took time to ponder the
meaning of life. Since his heart attack, however, he’s thought a
lot about what is important to him.
Ponder means
A. to wait for.
B. to ignore.
C. to think about.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 ponder
– verb
• Too often we don’t take time to ponder the possible
consequences of our actions.
• Over the years, Mr. Madigan rarely took time to ponder the
meaning of life. Since his heart attack, however, he’s thought a
lot about what is important to him.
Ponder means
A. to wait for.
B. to ignore.
C. to think about.
We don’t think about the consequences of our actions. In the second
sentence, the words thought . . . about tell you the meaning of
ponder.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rehabilitate
– verb
• Most prisons make little effort to rehabilitate inmates so that
they can lead productive, wholesome lives after their release.
• My grandfather learned to walk, write, and speak again in a
program that rehabilitates stroke victims.
Rehabilitate means
A. to pay back.
B. to return to normal life.
C. to depend upon.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rehabilitate
– verb
• Most prisons make little effort to rehabilitate inmates so that
they can lead productive, wholesome lives after their release.
• My grandfather learned to walk, write, and speak again in a
program that rehabilitates stroke victims.
Rehabilitate means
A. to pay back.
B. to return to normal life.
C. to depend upon.
If prisons helped return inmates to normal life, those prisoners would
be able to lead productive, wholesome lives after their release. If the
program helped the grandfather learn to walk, write, and speak, it
returned him to normal life.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 turmoil
– noun
• Without a teacher, the sixth-grade class was in turmoil, until the
principal entered the room and the students quickly came to
order.
• After the turmoil of crying babies, active children, and trying to
feed 120 people, I’m glad when our family reunions end.
Turmoil means
A. discussion.
B. disorder.
C. harmony.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 turmoil
– noun
• Without a teacher, the sixth-grade class was in turmoil, until the
principal entered the room and the students quickly came to
order.
• After the turmoil of crying babies, active children, and trying to
feed 120 people, I’m glad when our family reunions end.
Turmoil means
A. discussion.
B. disorder.
C. harmony.
In the first item, the words came to order tell you that the class must
have been in disorder. In the second item, crying babies, active
children, and feeding 120 people suggest disorder.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 venture
– verb
• “I’ll venture going on any ride in this amusement park except
the Twister,” said Nick. “I’ll risk getting sick to my stomach, but
I won’t risk my life.”
• “At tomorrow’s staff meeting,” my older sister said, “I will
venture to say what I really think—and cross my fingers that I
don’t get fired.”
Venture means
A. to dare.
B. to remember.
C. to imagine.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 venture
– verb
• “I’ll venture going on any ride in this amusement park except
the Twister,” said Nick. “I’ll risk getting sick to my stomach, but
I won’t risk my life.”
• “At tomorrow’s staff meeting,” my older sister said, “I will
venture to say what I really think—and cross my fingers that I
don’t get fired.”
Drastic means
A. to dare.
B. to remember.
C. to imagine.
Nick will dare to go on any ride except the Twister. The word risk is a
clue. If the sister may get fired for speaking her mind, she would have
to dare to say what she really thinks.