Of Mice and Men Test

Dakotah, Lamontay, and Nehemiah had been best friends since middle school. They hung out every weekend, but lately, Lamontay had grown ​ (a)   with the ​ (b)   of their routine. He wanted to spice things up but didn't know how. One day, Lamontay suggested they go on a road trip to a nearby town. Dakotah was thrilled, but Nehemiah was ​ (c)   Nehemiah did not want to change from their usual plans. He enjoyed their weekly adventures to the wings's spot, roller skating, and joyriding. Nevertheless, they set out on the journey. Along the way, they had unexpected adventures and met new people, and Nehemiah's mood began to lift. By the time they returned home, everyone agreed that it was the best weekend they had in a long time. Lamontay was glad he was able to ​ (d)   the group from their usual routine,.

• complacent
• monotony
• crestfallen
• avert
• aloof
• disengage
• snivel
• muse

Colleen, Aiden, and Kyla were on the high school wrestling team. They were a tight-knit group, spending most of their afternoons training in the gym. Colleen was the team captain, with a fierce determination that sometimes made her ​ (a)   with anger. Aiden was the team's star wrestler, with an impressive record of victories. Kyla was the newest member, still learning the ropes, but eager to improve.

One day, during a particularly intense practice session, the coach brought out a new sparring partner - a tall, ​ (b)   -looking guy from another school. He was twice the size of any of them, and his muscles bulged under his uniform. The three friends looked at each other, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

As they began to spar with the new guy, it quickly became clear that he was tough. He fought back with an intensity that none of them had seen before. Colleen felt her anger bubbling inside her, determined not to be beaten. Aiden's signature move didn't seem to faze their opponent. Kyla tried to keep up but had a hard time keeping her balance.

Despite their best efforts, the new guy seemed to have the upper hand. They were all feeling exhausted and a little defeated. But then, Colleen noticed something. The new guy was moving ​ (c)   , favoring one leg. She quickly signaled to Aiden and Kyla, and they all sprang into action, working together to take advantage of their opponent's weakness.

In the end, the three friends managed to ​ (d)   the new guy, much to their coach's surprise. As they walked out of the gym, feeling tired but proud, Colleen looked at Aiden and Kyla and smiled. They may have been up against a difficult opponent, but they had each other's backs.

• bristle
• ominous
• gingerly
• subdue
• contort
• writhe
• douse

Paulo had been in love with Aundraya since he saw her at their high school. She was beautiful, with long, dark hair that flowed down her back like a​ (a)   . But she was also ​ (b)   , rarely speaking to anyone and keeping to herself.

Despite this, Paulo was determined to win her heart. He wrote her love letters and composed poems about her beauty. But she always seemed distant, leaving him ​ (c)   .

One day, they partnered together on a project. Paulo saw it as an opportunity to get closer to her, but she remained​ (d)   , barely speaking to him. However, as they worked on the project, Paulo began to see a different side of her. She was intelligent and thoughtful, with a sharp wit that made him laugh.

As the days went by, they grew closer. They would talk for hours about their dreams and ambitions, and Paulo began to feel like he had a chance with her. But then, tragedy struck. Aundraya was diagnosed with a rare disease and had only a few months to live.

Paulo was devastated. He spent every moment he could with her, trying to make her last days as happy as possible. They would watch the sunset together, and he would play guitar while she sang. But as her condition worsened, Aundraya became ​ (e)   [d] again, keeping her thoughts to herself.

On the day of her passing, Paulo was devastated. He had lost his love. But he knew the time spent together was worth it, and he would never forget the beautiful moments they shared.

• muse
• aloof
• crestfallen
• brusque
• disengage
• belligerent
• indignation
• derogatory

Match the following picture to the BEST vocabulary word.

• meager

• 
• slough

• 
• jeer

• 
• debris

• 

1. Sometimes, when you really want something, you might resort to whining and blubbering to get it — in other words, you'll (a)   .

2. ​ (b)   when you've just ingested some stomach-wrenching poison, or perhaps in response to red ant stings.

3. When you're camping, you ​ (c)   the campfire with water when you're done with it.

4. To​ (d)   is to supply with water, usually with ditches and channels that allow the water to flow.

• snivel
• writhe
• douse
• irrigate

Match the following picture to the BEST vocabulary word.

• aloof

• 
• snivel

• 
• accumulate

• 
• belligerent

• 
• morose

• 

Match the following vocabulary word to the BEST antonym (opposite) meaning.

• excite

• contemptuous

• respectful

• mollify

• straighten

• contort

• ignore

• appraise

1. Someone who is ​ (a)   gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people.

2. If you make a motion with your hands to indicate eating ice cream, you are using ​ (b)   .

If something needs to be done with great care and caution, you should do it ​ (c)   — like holding a newborn baby or creeping down the creaky stairs when you're trying to sneak out.

4. To ​ (d)   is to remove an outer layer, like filing dry skin from feet.

• imperious
• pantomime
• gingerly
• slough
• deride
• bale

Daniel felt a surge of ​ (a)   as he watched his hard work go to waste when his careless coworker accidentally knocked over a bucket of water, causing it to ​ (b)   the delicate machinery.

• indignation
• douse
• writhe
• derogatory

Omar managed to ​ (a)   a potential conflict with a group of ​ (b)   [ing] hecklers by taking the high road and walking away, refusing to stoop to their level.

• avert
• jeer
• irrigate
• disengage