Ch. 13 Vocab practice

Upon hearing reports of a huge snowstorm, the principal curtailed the school day so students could go home early. Curtail means...

• to combine.

• to shorten.

• to extend.

News that the bicycle factory is closing devastated residents of the small town, especially those who learned they’d be losing their jobs. Devastate means

• to thrill.

• to annoy.

• to upset greatly.

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

• to thrill.

• to annoy.

• to upset greatly.

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

• to listen carefully.

• to go off the subject.

• to get up.

I tried to teach my three-year-old niece our phone number, but we digressed to a discussion of whether Big Bird has an iPad. Digress means

• 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. Incentive means

• encouragement.

• liberty.

• change.

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

• encouragement.

• liberty.

• change.

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

• to give up.

• to join together.

• to raise.

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

• to give up.

• to join together.

• to raise.

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

• free.

• needed.

• expensive.