IVS Chapter 13 Words in Context

Upon hearing reports of a tornado, the principal curtailed the school day so the students could go home early.

I need to curtail my volunteer activities so that I can spend more time earning money to pay back a loan.

• to combine.

• to shorten.

• to extend.

Learning that their son had been arrested for armed robbery devastated the Huttons. They couldn't believe he'd do such a terrible thing.

Vera is so fond of Andy. She'll be devastated to hear he has cancer.

• to thrill.

• to annoy.

• to upset greatly.

Professor Rubin never digresses during a lecture. Even his jokes relate to the day's topic.

I tried to teach my three-year old niece our phone number, but we digressed to a discussion of whether Winnie the Pooh has a telephone.

• to listen carefully.

• to go off the subject.

• to get up.

The insurance company offers an incentive-a free vacation-to encourage its representatives to make more sales.

The thought of myself in a bathing suit next summer provides me with an adequate incentive to exercise.

• encouragement.

• liberty.

• change.

Jerry incorporated all of his favorite desserts into one: a chocolate-covered banana-cream pecan pie.

Since the number of young children has gone down in my neighborhood, the two elementary schools have been incorporated into one.

• to give up.

• to join together.

• to raise.

Because there's no bus or train service nearby, a car is indispensable in my neighborhood.

When you're broke, you find that many things you thought were indispensable aren't actually necessary after all.

• free.

• needed.

• expensive.

You have to work steadily with your dog to train him well. Intermittent practice won't work.

Dora realized that her weight loss on a diet would be intermittent, so she didn't give up when the losses stopped. She knew they would start again.

• irregular.

• too much.

• steady.

New Marines must go through the rigors of boot camp, such as completing an obstacle course and running several miles a day.

The rigor of working at two part-time jobs while going to school proved too much for Joseph. Exhausted, he dropped both jobs.

• a gamble.

• an expense.

• a hardship.

It's sad to see such a wonderful artist squander her talent designing labels for baked-bean cans.

The company lunchroom now closes promptly at one o'clock so that workers can't squander time on long lunch breaks.

• to share.

• to misuse.

• to upset.

Leah succumbed to her daughter's begging and bought her a pet lizard for her birthday.

Once the suspect was arrested, he quickly succumbed and confessed to stealing the car stereo.

• to yield.

• to delay.

• to anger.