Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Period ____ Desk # ______
Vocabulary Set #7
EXERCISE 1: Context Clues Practice
*COMPLETE THIS BEFORE YOU LOOK UP ANY DEFINITIONS! THEN CHECK YOUR ANSWERS by looking up the
definitions in a dictionary.
Directions: Scan the definitions in COLUMN A. Then think about how the boldface words are used in the sentences in
COLUMN B. To complete the exercise, match each definition in COLUMN A with the correct vocabulary word from
COLUMN B. Write the letter of your choice on the line provided; then write the vocab word on the line preceding the def.
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
_____1. word: ______________________:
adj. submissive; obedient; useful or of service,
especially as a subordinate.
(A) Migrant farm laborers have difficult lives. Often they
must be subservient to unjust employers because
they fear they will lose their jobs if they don’t obey.
_____2. word: ______________________:
n. a fundamental principle, rule, or step
(usually used in the plural); an early or
undeveloped form or stage or something.
(B) Such unfair treatment does not have the sanction of the
government. Laws exist to protect the rights of migrant
workers.
_____3. word: ______________________:
v. to make mocking remarks; to jeer to
scoff at; n a derisive remark; a taunt
(C) Even the most vivacious person might be tired, sullen, and
dispirited after a day of mind-numbing toil in the fields.
_____4. word: ______________________:
adj. conceited and arrogant; crudely and
Unpleasantly forward.
(D) In “Field Poem,” Soto and his brother dream of eating
restaurant food after a day in the fields. But they can’t afford
to satiate their longing for this simple pleasure.
_____5. word: ______________________:
n. a quick, witty reply or retort; skill in
making clever, witty replies.
(E) The consonant rhymes of nature underlie many of Soto’s
poems. For example, in “Stars” the moon is like a shepherd
leading a willing flock of stars toward daybreak.
_____6. word: ______________________:
adj. in agreement, accord, harmony; n. any
Letter of alphabet that is not a vowel.
(F) Soto has cited, or mentioned, the Latin American writer
Gabriel Garcia Marquez as a strong influence on his work.
_____7. word: ______________________:
v. to satisfy an appetite fully; to provide
With more than enough; to glut.
(G) He also credits the poet Philip Levine with teaching him the
rudiments, or basics, of analyzing poetry.
_____8. word: ______________________:
n. authorized permission or approval, a step
Taken by a country to force another country
To obey international law; V. to confirm
Approve, or permit officially.
(H) Soto is not bumptious about his success, but he will
modestly acknowledge that he has a talent for poetry.
_____9. word: ______________________:
adj. animated; lively; spirited; sprightly.
(I) Having suffered the gibes of prejudiced people himself,
Soto feels a special bond with other Mexican Americans.
_____10. word: ______________________:
v. to quote; to mention by way of example
or proof; to commend for bravery in an
official report; to summon before a court.
(J)His critically acclaimed writings may be considered a
repartee, or witty response, to those who judged him
unfairly.
EXERCISE 2: Study Cards (see page 3)
EXERCISE 3: Sentence Completion
Directions: For each of the following items, circle the letter choice that best completes the meaning of the sentence or
sentences.
11. Your teacher has just _______ the topic you
chose for your English essay—Gary Soto’s
story “The jacket.” Now that you have official
approval, you’re ready to get to work.
(A)cited
(B)gibed
(C)sanctioned
(D)satiated
(E)serviced
16.Soto thought that his classmates were _______ him
behind his back because he had a guacamole-colored coat.
He was too embarrassed to give a clever _______.
(A)praising…retort
(B)sanctioning… consonant
(C)citing…answer
(D)gibing…repartee
(E)reciting…rudiment
12. You’re free to express your own ideas about
the story. But don’t forget to _______ specific examples
to support your points!
(A)satiate
(B)sanction
(C)gibe
(D)cite
(E)concede
17. However, Soto’s suspicions may not have been_______
with what people were really saying. He never actually heard
anyone _______ him about his jacket.
(A)truthful…consonant
(B)consonant…gibe
(C)sanction…rudiment
(D)vivacious…sanction
(E)bumptious…repartee
13.In “The Jacket,” Soto describes a time when he was far
from _______. He felt depressed and shy because of his ugly
green jacket.
(A)subservient
(B)consonant
(C)sanctioned
(D)satiated
(E)vivacious
18.Many people worry about how they look. Sensitivity about
one’s appearance seems to be a _______ of human behavior.
(A)repartee
(B)rudiment
(C)citation
(D) consonance
(E) sanction
14.Do you know people who are _______ to the tyranny of
fashion, or who act _______ just because they have all the
“right clothes?
(A)consonant…vivacious
(B)subservient…bumptious
(C)gibe…uppity
(D)bumptious…satiate
(E)subservient…rudiment
15.Soto’s mother couldn’t afford to _______ his desire for
expensive, fashionable clothes. Instead of the black leather
jacket he wanted, he got a green vinyl one.
(A)exceed
(B)satiate
(C)gibe
(D)cite
(E)recite
19.For the three years Soto imagined the _______ his
classmates might be making about his coat. He couldn’t have
felt worse if he had been_______ by a court of law and
accused of a crime
(A gibes…cited
(B) repartee…tried
(C) rudiment…sanctioned
(D) gibes…bumptious
(E)vivacity…satiated
20.”The Jacket” is a satisfying story. Its characters are drawn
in a way that is _______ with the events of good storytelling.
(A)gives
(B)subservient
(C)satiated
(D)consonant
(E)bumptious
“Exercise 2”- Detach from the packet. Cut the cards out. Write the correct definitions on the back of each
card. Use to study! 
bumptious
rudiment
cite
sanction
consonant
satiate
gibe
subservient
repartee
vivacious