Unfamiliar words and phrases Set-1 - Grade 7 Assessment

My little brother is so garrulous; he just loves to talk all the time and never seems to run out of words. In this sentence, the word 'garrulous' most likely means...

• talkative

• shy

• athletic

• sleepy

Answer explanation

The phrase 'he just loves to talk all the time' is a definition context clue that directly explains the meaning of 'garrulous'.

True or False: In the sentence, 'The long, boring movie was so tedious that my dad fell asleep,' the word 'tedious' means exciting and fast-paced.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The context clues 'long, boring movie' and 'dad fell asleep' indicate that 'tedious' means something dull or tiresome, not exciting.

The classroom was in a state of turmoil after the fire alarm went off. Students were shouting, running for the door, and papers were flying everywhere. What does 'turmoil' mean in this context?

• quiet calm

• organized activity

• complete confusion

• group celebration

Answer explanation

The examples of shouting, running, and flying papers all point to a state of confusion and chaos, which is the meaning of 'turmoil'.

Unlike my sister who is very neat, my side of the room is always unkempt. Based on the contrast in this sentence, 'unkempt' means (a)   .

Answer explanation

The word 'unlike' signals a contrast. Since the sister is 'neat,' 'unkempt' must mean the opposite, such as 'messy' or 'untidy'.

My new puppy is quite brazen. For example, he steals food right off my plate while I'm looking! The phrase 'for example' introduces what kind of context clue for the word 'brazen'? (a)   .

Answer explanation

The phrase 'for example' directly signals that the following information (the puppy stealing food) is an example that illustrates the meaning of 'brazen' (bold, shameless).

The instructions for building the model airplane were so ambiguous that I couldn't figure out whether to glue part A to part B or part C.

• perfectly clear

• long and detailed

• written in another language

• unclear or confusing

Answer explanation

The result of the instructions—not being able to figure out the steps—is a clue that 'ambiguous' means unclear or open to more than one interpretation.

True or False: After Maria's friend moved away, she was melancholy for weeks. The word 'melancholy' suggests she was feeling very happy and excited.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The context of a friend moving away suggests a feeling of sadness. Therefore, 'melancholy' means sad or depressed, not happy.

The scientist needed to corroborate the surprising discovery, so she repeated the experiment three more times to see if she got the same results. Using the context, 'corroborate' means to (a)   something.

Answer explanation

The clue 'repeated the experiment three more times to see if she got the same results' shows that the scientist was trying to confirm or prove that her discovery was correct.

The soccer team's new uniforms were ostentatious, with neon stripes, glittery numbers, and huge logos that could be seen from the top of the bleachers.

• plain and simple

• designed for safety

• overly showy and flashy

• comfortable and cheap

Answer explanation

The list of examples—neon stripes, glittery numbers, and huge logos—all describe something that is designed to attract a lot of attention, which is the definition of 'ostentatious'.

What one word in this sentence acts as a clue that 'lethargic' is the opposite of 'energetic'? 'After running the race, I felt lethargic, while my friend was still energetic enough to play basketball.' (a)  

Answer explanation

The word 'while' is a signal word that introduces a contrast, showing that 'lethargic' and 'energetic' are opposites.