vocabulary (bereft) / parallelism

When Jane lost her husband and home, she felt ___________ of hope as she watched her dreams crumble before her eyes.

The company plans to ______________ and expand its workforce by hiring more employees and increasing production.

1. Although it's not noticeable in the beginning, the ____________ nature of gossip can harm relationships without anyone realizing it. It just gradually gets worse and worse.

The board members don't have a finalized schedule yet for the upcoming school year. However, they do have a _____________ schedule that they are using in the meantime.

The CEO had a very _________ and stern reaction to the news of declining profits. He said he would cut everyone's pay if the numbers don't get better.

1. The athlete was ___________ to cold weather and always bundled up during winter training sessions. He also dislikes cold weather because he claims it affects his performance.

1. Although we thought the couple would spend the entire meeting arguing and fighting, the divorce proceedings were surprisingly ___________. They both agreed on custody arrangements.

Parents should take the time to ___________ and praise their children's efforts and encourage them to keep striving for success.

The committee will ___________ and thoroughly examine the candidate's background before making a final decision on his suitability for the job.

1. Her confidence was ______________ to the negative remarks of others, allowing her to stay focused on her goals. She would not let other people's opinion affect her performance. (THIS IS NOT stolid.)