Chapter 10: The New French Employee

Chapter 10: The New French Employee

sinister adj.

• In the movie, a mad scientist thought up the sinister scheme of releasing a deadly virus. His evil plot failed when he died from the virus himself.

• The creepy novel The Boys from Brazil tells of a sinister plot to clone dozens of copies of Adolf Hitler who would then take over the world.

Multiple Choice

Sinister means

• illogical

• evil

• inconsiderate

degenerate v.

• Mr. Freedman’s family was called to the nursing home when the old man’s condition began to degenerate. It was feared he didn’t have long to live.

• Mel’s relationship with his parents degenerated when he dropped out of school against their wishes and became a bartender.

Multiple Choice

Degenerate means

• to improve

• to remain the same

• to get worse

implausible adj.

• As implausible as it may sound, southern Florida sometimes does get snow.

• Insurance companies hear such implausible excuses for auto accidents as “I hit the telephone pole when I was blinded by the lights of a flying saucer.”

Multiple Choice

Implausible means

• unbelievable

• acceptable

• valuable

incoherent adj.

• If Mitch doesn’t get some sleep soon, he’ll become completely incoherent. He’s so tired that he’s already having trouble expressing his thoughts clearly.

• My sister talks a lot in her sleep, but she’s so incoherent that we can never figure out what she’s saying.

Multiple Choice

Incoherent means

• calm

• unclear

• inconvenient

intercede v.

• When the principal said Harry couldn’t play in Friday’s football game, the coach interceded, hoping to change the principal’s mind.

• Inez’s parents refused to come to her wedding until her brother interceded and persuaded them to come after all.

Multiple Choice

Intercede means

• to give in to someone

• to plead for someone

• to examine closely

intricate adj.

• War and Peace is a long, intricate novel that weaves together the detailed life stories of many individuals.

• It’s amazing to see the intricate gold and silver jewelry that ancient Indians made with only simple tools. It obviously required great patience and skill to create such complex ornaments

Multiple Choice

Intricate means

• simple

• uninteresting

• complicated

sanctuary n.

• Old, unused trains in Grand Central Station serve as a nighttime sanctuary for some of New York City’s homeless.

• When the houseful of children becomes too noisy, Ned finds the laundry room to be a sanctuary where he can read in quiet.

Multiple Choice

Sanctuary means

• a reminder

• a shelter

• a challenge

scrutiny n.

• Store security guards give careful scrutiny to people carrying large bags, since the bags may be used for shoplifting.

• Before being published, a book comes under the scrutiny of a proofreader, who examines it for grammar and spelling errors.

Multiple Choice

Scrutiny means

• attention

• protection

• permission

suffice v.

• The amount of research you’ve done may suffice for a high-school term paper, but not for a college essay.

• I forgot to buy something for lunch tomorrow, but the leftover meatloaf will suffice.

Multiple Choice

Suffice means

• to be wasted

• to be adequate

• to be examined

vulnerable adj.

• Homes in heavily wooded areas are especially vulnerable to termites.

• Because of rising ocean levels, many coastal communities are vulnerable to flooding.

Multiple Choice

Vulnerable means

• open

• safe

• attracted