Speaking rudely to the judges was rash behavior. You really hurt your chances of winning! In this context, what does “rash” mean?

Some people are always bashing the preseident just like others bashed the one before him. Wouldn't you think that everyone could find something to praise him for, at least once in awhile? What does “bashing” mean in the above selection?

Wherever he goes, the esteemed Dr. Sanchez is applauded for his life saving research. What does "esteemed" mean?

I believe that if you lower taxes so that people can keep more of the money they earn, it will be an incentive for them to work harder. What is the meaning of "incentive?"

Most of America's Founding Fathers did not believe in women's sufferage. Only men could vote in the United States until 1920. What is "suffrage?"

Some people are sure that the new health care law will mean better care for everyone. Others argue that the law will

mean less care and longer waiting lines for those who need to see doctors. It's a controversy that will not go away

soon. A "controversy" is something that people __________.

Removing seeds from cotton plants was a slow job until Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. What is a cotton gin?

In the early 1600s, a dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean was a daunting idea. The Europeans, who would someday be known as the Pilgrims, must have been a very determined and brave group of settlers.

A "daunting" task is one that would _______ someone.

The original Pilgrims called themselves the “Saints” and referred to others who joined with them for the voyage as the “Strangers.” In this context, “original” means _______.

The Saints and Strangers argued about how they would live in the New World. After much discussion, they came together and signed the Mayflower Compact.

The "Compact" was _________.

When the Pilgrims landed in what is now Massachusetts, they were fearful that the Native Americans would attack them. However, the people that they encountered, the Wampanoag Indians, were a peaceful and generous tribe.

To encounter, is to ________.

As the summer sun sent scattered rays through the maple and oak leaves overhead, the young deer stood frozen, making it almost impossible for the hikers to see her.

In the above passage, the word “frozen” means _________.

Christmas is a time when Dad reverts to his childhood. I really think he looks forward to Santa’s visit more than any other member of the family. Mom says that he’ll always be a child during this season.

What does the word “reverts” mean in the above passage?

Fortunately, the explosion diverted the asteroid from a course that would have sent it hurdling into our planet.

To "divert" is to _________.

A wonderful 98-year-old woman is working day and night to knit scarves to send as gifts for the troops. What a selfless person she is!

What does "selfless" mean in this example?

The United States has a vast amount of newly discovered clean geothermal (natural heat from the Earth’s crust) energy. Tapping into this energy source could provide at least 10 times the energy that can be obtained from the nation’s known

coal reserves. What does “vast” mean?

The United States has a vast amount of newly discovered clean geothermal (natural heat from the Earth’s crust) energy. Tapping into this energy source could provide at least 10 times the energy that can be obtained from the nation’s known

coal reserves. Which word in the paragraph means "supplies that are available to be used?"

Using IQ tests and MRI brain scans, researchers have found that the measurable intelligence of teenagers can rise and fall over time. We used to believe that intelligence was static. But now, because of new studies, we know that teens and

even fully mature adults can grow more brain cells when needed. What does “static” mean in this paragraph?

Using IQ tests and MRI brain scans, researchers have found that the measurable intelligence of teenagers can rise and fall over time. We used to believe that intelligence was static. But now, because of new studies, we know that teens and

even fully mature adults can grow more brain cells when needed. What are researchers?

Poor Farmer Chevez labors sixteen hours a day and never has time for a vacation. He deserves better! Everyone should have at least one day a week for rest and relaxation. What does "labors" mean in this context?

It's not that I'm unfriendly, but sometimes I want to leave society behind and be alone for awhile. What does "society" mean in this context?

Our new alarm system will wake up the entire neighborhood if an intruder gets in the house. An intruder is someone who intrudes. To intrude is to __________.

Those scientists want to hear what our professor thinks about their theory because he is the foremost expert in their field. What does "foremost" mean in the context of this paragraph?

Your cousin claimed to be late because the doors of his house were frozen shut. Even though I have my doubts, his explanation is plausible. It got really cold last night. I'll just have to take his word for it. If a statement is plausible, __________.

If you don't curtail your spending, you'll be broke in no time at all! Which word is a synonym of "curtail?"

No word must ever leak out about this military action! It has to be a clandestine operation in order to succeed. Which word is a synonym of "clandestine?"

Put this medicine on your arm and rub it into your skin until it's invisible. It will inhibit the infection's attempt to spread. What does “inhibit” mean?

Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was able to continue playing within seconds and had no trouble winning the match. When you describe an event as “transient,” you are saying that __________.

Brea and Elizabeth are having a dispute over which radio station to play at work. It would be so much simpler if they both liked the same kind of music. A dispute is a __________.

When they heard the good news about the court’s decision, the angry crowd cheered and then began to disperse. “It looks like everyone is going home,” one reporter stated. Which would be the opposite of “disperse”?

It’s a wonder to me how anyone can still be undecided about this election. These two candidates are certainly distinct. Each would lead our nation in opposite directions. What does “distinct” mean?

Mr. Huge was very proud of his auto superstore. “We have such an extensive selection of cars,” he said, “so everyone should find a vehicle that he or she will love!” The word “extensive” means __________.

Friendship is a priceless thing. If Chris put a price, or conditions, on her friendship, it’s no longer priceless. In fact, it’s not real friendship at all! If something is priceless, __________.

The news story was based on a letter that was a fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote the story is in big trouble. Will anyone believe him again? A fabrication is __________.

The reporter insisted that the letter he used was authentic. He said that he had shown it to many experts before he used it in his story. When something is authentic, it’s __________.

In 1975, Governor James promised to do something about the high taxes in our state. She didn’t present a tax cut bill to lawmakers until 1985. It took her a decade to keep her promise, but better late than never. How long is a decade?

Your plan looks good. I hope it will really work. It’s time to implement it and see if it’s as brilliant as you claim. What does the word "implement" mean?

If your plan fails, we’ll have to find someone who can devise a better one. What does the word "devise" mean?

Of course, I’m not saying that your plan is no good. I tend to be optimistic, so I won’t be surprised when you succeed. What does the word "optimistic" mean?

When your plan brings us great wealth, you will be rewarded for your sagacity. What does "sagacity" mean?

No matter what happens, I assure you that I will not forget how hard you have worked on this project. What does "assure" mean?

Marsha is really an introvert. When I took her to Jason’s party, she sat in a corner without speaking to anyone. All she did was eat most of the snacks. The only reason she hangs out with me is because I never try to force her to be sociable. She would never forgive me if I introduced her to anyone. An introvert is usually ________.

Sunshine said, “Amber, why are you making such a big deal about Robert’s hair? Yes, he did dye it purple. It is rather unusual for a guy to have purple hair. On the other hand, it’s not exactly going to change the course of world history. It’s

really quite a trivial matter.” What does “trivial” mean?

Both sides in the election contest are throwing accusations at each other. The Gore supporters claim that Governor Bush is trying to thwart the will of the people. The Bush supporters say that Mr. Gore is trying to create votes or assign choices to people who did not really cast votes for president. What does "thwart" mean?

There is a legal battle raging and the judges are concerned that time is running out. Lawyers are being asked to expedite the matter by getting their paperwork in early. What does “expedite” mean?

The Florida legislature believes that it has the power to choose the winner of the election if the courts haven’t finished their work by December 12. Both houses are controlled by Republicans and they would surely resolve the matter in Bush’s favor.

What does “resolve” mean?

The election could actually end up being decided in the U.S. Congress. Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate, Joe Lieberman, and perhaps Mr. Gore himself, would be able to vote on the matter. Some would argue that they should

recuse themselves, but they would probably exercise their right to vote. What does "recuse" mean?

If you count all the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate A, and only some of the votes in an area that heavily supports candidate B, you’ll skew the results in favor of candidate A. What does “skew” mean?

The home team made sure that the officials were on their side. They won a close game and the championship with many questionable decisions from the officials. However, no one from any other town would accept the winners as legitimate champions.

What does “legitimate” mean?

Some people believe that lawyers are always working to see that justice is done. On the other hand, some believe that lawyers only want to manipulate the legal system to get what they want. Could both sides be right?

What does the word “manipulate” mean?

We walked slowly down the trail with great trepidation. No one who had gone this way had ever been heard from again. Had they simply found a better place to settle on this dark planet? We doubted that. Which word is a synonym of “trepidation”?

Only an hour or so had passed before a tremendous roar shook the ground. At that very moment, a strange grey creature materialized before our eyes. It resembled a lizard in shape. It was about ten feet high at the shoulders and at least fifty feet long. What did the creature do?

Kathy was looking for a strong but light material to use for making her water jugs. Unfortunately, she chose noodelite. It proved to too porous to hold jelly. A porous material _______.

We have rather lofty expectations for you, son. You will attend college. You will become rich and famous. You will be elected president of the United States before you turn forty. Which word is a synonym of “lofty”?

Ashlee was not happy with her friend Samantha. “I’ve been waiting here for an hour!” she growled into her cell phone. “You’d better hie yourself over here,” she continued, “or we’ll leave without you. What does the word "hie" mean?

When Beth and Donna were fighting over a boy who didn’t like either one of them, Shana stepped in as a mediator. She sat them both in a corner and kept them talking to each other. Finally, Shana’s efforts resulted in her two friends

making up. What does the word "mediator" mean?

No one suspected that Jerry was a spy. On the surface he behaved like any normal citizen. When his covert activity was discovered and announced to the world, we were all shocked. What does the word "covert" mean?

The workers stood in front of the factory and wondered what to do next. The doors were locked and the windows were boarded up. They doubted that they would even collect their final pay checks now that the company was

insolvent. What does the word "insolvent" mean?

Kim was a very good substitute teacher. She liked working with third and fourth graders most of all. She especially liked discussing important current events issues with the kids. She had expected them to be indifferent to such grown-up topics as taxes and social security. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that they were really interested in those issues and wanted to learn more about them. What does "indifferent" mean?

Mr. Burke stood before his employees. They had never seen him in such a serious mood. “I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that your future with this company depends on how hard you work,” he stated firmly. What does "remiss" mean?

“I am going to rescind the permission I gave you to use my toys!” T. J. announced angrily. “I thought you would take good care of them, but I was wrong!” What does the word "rescind" mean?

I am working very hard for the same candidate that you support. You are doing it for pay. I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing it out of conviction. What does the word "conviction" mean in this context?

It was a sad and haunting strain that met our ears as we entered the old theater. There was a beauty in the voice that we’d never forget. This would be a special concert. What does “strain” mean in this context?

I want you to weigh his words carefully. He seems sincere and presents his arguments well. There is, however, something that doesn’t quite ring true about the candidate. What does “weigh” mean in this context?

Michael is an ardent supporter of his presidential candidate. That became obvious to me when I found out how much time he’s donated to the campaign. Perhaps Michael knows what he’s doing. What does “ardent” mean in this context?

Mary, of course you’re overweight. You eat too much junk food. Even worse, you exercise infrequently. What does the word “infrequently” mean?

Your uncle wouldn’t even part with a dime to help the kids pay for their trip. That’s just one more example of his penurious ways. In contrast, many people who have much less money have donated a great deal to the cause. What does “penurious” mean?

There is a very interesting article about solar storms in the February 14, 2000 issue of Time magazine. It tells about how these disturbances not only affect spacecraft, but can also disrupt terrestrial life. For example, they have even caused automatic garage doors to open in one town. What does “terrestrial” mean?

“Michelle, I’m very upset about what you said,” Rosie stated firmly. “You didn’t come right out and accuse me of eating all your candy. On the other hand, your remarks about my love of chocolate were made for a reason. You are insinuating that I’m the candy thief!” What does “insinuate” mean?

I think it would help our basketball team, if we allowed girls to play. I’ve seen how Patty has a knack for making the tough shots when they’re needed most. She wants to play on our team and we’d win more games with her help. What does “knack” mean?

Connie is never happy when everyone is getting along. She always instigates fights and then acts like little Miss Innocent. When you instigate something, you __________.

73. I like that store. All the employees strive to make the customers feel right at home. Which word is a synonym of “strive”?

This is a clandestine operation. It is extremely important that no one discovers what you’re doing! A clandestine operation is supposed to be __________.

If you don’t recover quickly from your condition, it could become chronic. Then you might have to take medicine for the rest of your life. If something is chronic, it __________.

David hoped that nobody would know that he was in the building. Didn’t he realize that parking his new car in the driveway made his presence rather conspicuous? If something is conspicuous, it is __________.

Prunella and Paula are sisters, but they’re very different. Just look at how they dress. Prunella doesn’t care what she wears. Paula, on the other hand, is quite chic [sheek]. What does the word "chic" mean?

I looked at the plans for your new house. This is earthquake country. You need to fortify the frame or you’ll have a disaster with the first tremor. What does "fortify" mean?

Helen’s attitude toward dealing with criminals has changed over the years. She used to believe that everyone can change and deserves a second chance. She now believes that some crimes are so heinous that those responsible should be shown no mercy. What does "heinous" mean?

There may be some parts of my plan to arrest the thieves that should be changed. But I feel very strongly that renting the apartment over their headquarters is the linchpin of the scheme. We must do that immediately! What does the word "linchpin" mean?

Amy was feeling low. Every business she tried lost money or made only pennies a day. Her newest idea was selling chocolate-covered baby shoes. She was convinced that it would be a lucrative business. Her friends tried to warn her

that it was not a certain road to riches.

The signal from the cable is too strong for our television. We’ll have to use a filter to attenuate it. When you attenuate something, you _______________.

“If you knew the gravity of the situation, you wouldn’t be laughing,” Mr. Farmer said quietly. He didn’t have to say more to get everyone’s attention. What does “gravity” mean in this context?

Her cardinal rule is this: Be kind to others! She believes that everything else in life will fall properly into place if one follows that rule. What does “cardinal” mean in this context?

The owner of the restaurant wouldn’t allow Samantha to walk through the door. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but you started a food fight the last time you were here. You may not have ingress to my restaurant!” What does “ingress” mean in this paragraph?

Murphy Mole is the protagonist in the new novel by Trent Troll. Murphy must stop Oscar Rat and Shrimpy Shark from enslaving the inhabitants of Lazy Woods Park. He risks his life in a series of events that lead to a final battle between good and evil. What is a protagonist?

I just can’t beat Paula when we play chess! Every time I make a move that should lead me to victory, she makes a better move that thwarts my plan. If you thwart a robbery, you __________.

Don’t feel stupid. Yes, you thought this worthless replica was a valuable work of art. But it even fooled a lot of experts. It certainly looked like the real thing! A replica is __________.

Your poster is very good. The drawing really lets people know what our club is all about. I do think that you could enhance it by adding some more color. That will tend to grab everyone’s attention. When you enhance something, you __________.

Turner almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella. He would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning. Which probably happened?

“Larry, as your boss, I must say it’s been very interesting working with you,” Miss Valdez said. “However, it seems that our company’s needs and your performance style are not well matched. Therefore, it makes me very sad to have to ask you to resign your position effective today.” What was Miss Valdez telling Larry?

No, Honey, I don’t want you to spend a lot of money on my birthday present. Just having you for a husband is the only gift I need. In fact, I’ll just drive my old rusty bucket of bolts down to the mall and buy myself a little present. And if the poor old car doesn't break down, I’ll be back soon. What is the message?

Bill and Jessica were almost done taking turns choosing the players for their teams. It was Jessica’s turn to choose, and only Kurt was left.

Jessica said, “Kurt.” We can infer that ________