Wordly Wise (8.3)

To modify a law is to

• pass it quickly.

• obey it reluctantly.

• make it less severe.

• disobey it on purpose.

A pivot is someone

• on whom others depend.

• who plays tricks on others.

• who seems happy most of the time.

• whom others dislike or distrust.

A generation is the average length of time between

• the birth of parents and their children.

• space shuttle launches.

• the summer and winter Olympics.

• U.S. presidential elections.

The baby boom generation is

• a kind of preschool or kindergarten.

• a popular rock-and-roll band of the 1960s.

• the length of time between the Great Depression and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• a large group of people born after World War II ended.

The Hurleys want to instill good values in their son. This means that they want

• to believe their son has good values.

• to teach good values to their son little by little.

• to find out if their son has good values.

• their son to learn good values in school.

The same idea recurred to Dan several times this week. This means that

• several different people had the same idea.

• Dan kept forgetting his idea.

• the same idea kept coming into Dan's mind.

• Dan thought of several solutions to the same problem.

There were three generations at the Arroyo family reunion. This means that

• only three children were there.

• children, parents, and grandparents were there.

• aunts, uncles, and pets were there.

• moms, dads, and kids were there.

Which of these have a pivot?

• a swivel chair

• a granite boulder

• a spoon

• a mountain lion

A white cat jumped nimbly onto the garage roof. In this sentence, which word modifies the word jumped?

• nimbly

• cat

• white

• roof

Combustion means "burning." Which describes spontaneous combustion?

• A woman strikes a match to light a candle flame.

• A man puts another log onto a blazing fire.

• A boy gathers kindling for a campfire.

• In a deserted garage, a pile of oily rags bursts into flames.