Unit Two: Chapter 7

• calamity • persevere

• comprehensive • ponder

• conventional • rehabilitate

• flagrant • turmoil

• fluctuate • venture

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 calamity

Calamity means

A. an activity.

B. a tragedy.

C. a risk.

– 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.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 calamity

Calamity means

A. an activity.

B. a tragedy.

C. a risk.

– 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.

An earthquake that destroys people’s homes is a tragedy. A neighbor’s house burning down is also a tragedy.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 comprehensive – adjective

Comprehensive means

A. complete.

B. familiar.

C. continuous.

• 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.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 comprehensive – adjective

Comprehensive means

A. complete.

B. familiar.

C. continuous.

• 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.

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 conventional – adjective

Conventional means

A. out-of-the-way.

B. useful.

C. usual.

• 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?”

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 conventional – adjective

Conventional means

A. out-of-the-way.

B. useful.

C. usual.

• 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?”

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

• 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 T-shirt and jeans to their dinner party.

4 flagrant

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Flagrant means

A. obvious.

B. acceptable.

C. minor.

– adjective

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

• 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 T-shirt and jeans to their dinner party.

4 flagrant

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Flagrant means

A. obvious.

B. acceptable.

C. minor.

– adjective

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Fluctuate means

A. to continue.

B. to vary.

C. to follow.

5 fluctuate• 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.

– verb

The red line fluctuates.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Fluctuate means

A. to continue.

B. to vary.

C. to follow.

5 fluctuate• 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.

– verb

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.

The red line fluctuates.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Persevere means

A. to surrender.

B. to hold back.

C. to keep going.

• “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.

6 persevere – verb

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Persevere means

A. to surrender.

B. to hold back.

C. to keep going.

• “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.

6 persevere – verb

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Ponder means

A. to wait for.

B. to ignore.

C. to think about.

• 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.

7 ponder – verb

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Ponder means

A. to wait for.

B. to ignore.

C. to think about.

• 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.

7 ponder – verb

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Rehabilitate means

A. to pay back.

B. to return to normal life.

C. to depend upon.

• 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.

8 rehabilitate – verb

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Rehabilitate means

A. to pay back.

B. to return to normal life.

C. to depend upon.

• 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.

8 rehabilitate – verb

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Turmoil means

A. discussion.

B. disorder.

C. harmony.

• 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.

9 turmoil – noun

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Turmoil means

A. discussion.

B. disorder.

C. harmony.

• 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.

9 turmoil – noun

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 CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Venture means

A. to dare.

B. to remember.

C. to imagine.

10 venture • “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.”

– verb

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXTChoose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

Drastic means

A. to dare.

B. to remember.

C. to imagine.

10 venture • “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.”

– verb

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.