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Worksheets

Vocabulary in Context

Total questions: 52

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The soldier was given medicine to abate the pain in his leg after the war was over. He was in intense pain when he went to the hospital. What does abate mean?

a)

become more intense

b)

become less intense

c)

remain the same

2.

After the business trip, the man returned to his humble abode. He was excited to finally be home and sleeping in his own bed. What does abode mean?

a)

large area of open land

b)

hotel

c)

house or home

3.

The two countries went to war because the king would not abdicate his throne. The king refused to allow them to become allies. They felt he was the worst ruler the country had ever seen. What does abdicate mean?

a)

renounce or resign

b)

have success

c)

fulfill a responsibility

4.

The paper mill put off an acrid smell. The people in town stated that it made their eyes water and their noses burn. What does acrid mean?

a)

pleasant taste or smell

b)

wanting to taste or smell

c)

strong, unpleasant taste or smell

5.

The students were admonished for plagiarizing their reports. The next time they get caught, they will be expelled. What does admonished mean?

a)

firmly reprimanded

b)

praised

c)

shared excitedly

6.

Carl, an astute student, was constantly called to tutor the students who were failing. The teachers couldn't believe how quickly Carl learned the new material. What does astute mean?

a)

to help others

b)

mentally sharp

c)

unable to understand information

7.

The con artist tried to bamboozle the banker out of millions of dollars. He tricked the banker into giving him access to several bank accounts. What does bamboozle mean?

a)

having the quality of honesty

b)

to give false information

c)

to deceive or cheat someone

8.

The man became belligerent when he thought no one was willing to help him. All of the bystanders were scared he would try to start a fight with them. What does belligerent mean?

a)

unwilling to help

b)

hostile or aggressive

c)

friendly

9.

The mayor's candor both worked in her favor and against her. While some people loved her open and honest communication, others only wanted to hear positive things. What does candor mean?

a)

pretend things do not exist

b)

open and honest quality in someone

c)

private; someone who hides information

10.

The word "pig" has a negative connotation when you are talking about a person. That is one animal people don't like being called. What does connotation mean?

a)

a neutral feeling

b)

a literal meaning

c)

idea or feeling perceived by a word

11.

The docile horse made its way along the beginner's trail. He was easily led by the farmhand. What does docile mean?

a)

easily led or controlled; obedient

b)

new with little knowledge

c)

hostile; not easily controlled

12.

After the supply drive, there were copious amounts of school supplies to give out. There definitely won't be a shortage of supplies this year. What does copious mean?

a)

an adequate amount

b)

an abundance amount

c)

a lack or very little

13.

The innocent man was exonerated when the police found new evidence to charge someone else with the crime. What does exonerated mean?

a)

to find guilty

b)

to have an abundance of evidence

c)

to free from blame or guilt

14.

When they were finally rescued, the men were famished. They had spent four days lost at sea with no supplies. What does famished mean?

a)

full; satisfied

b)

needing nothing

c)

very hungry

15.

My boss tends to inundate people with projects. I am so busy some days that I don't even have time to sit down. What does inundate mean?

a)

engage with others

b)

give few tasks

c)

overwhelm with things to be done

16.

Most people think the idea of astronauts making it to Mars is ludicrous. What does ludicrous mean?

a)

completely plausible

b)

foolish; ridiculous

c)

a rapper from the 2000's

17.

During the hurricane, the officials received a mandate from the mayor to evacuate the city. The residents of the town had no other choice. What does mandate mean?

a)

an independent task

b)

fear of completion

c)

an official order to do something

18.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was a beautiful oration discussing the need for equal rights, regardless of the color of a person's skin. What does oration mean?

a)

a device for giving speeches

b)

a brief conversation

c)

a formal speech

19.

You at least need a rudimentary knowledge of programming before you try to create your own website. What does rudimentary mean?

a)

having extensive knowledge

b)

having no knowledge at all

c)

limited to basic principles

20.

I thought "The Office" would be funny and exciting, but after watching it, I found it to be rather stodgy. What does stodgy mean?

a)

without care

b)

dull or uninspired

c)

funny and exciting

21.

After failing her history final, Kayla was sullen for a whole week. Not even her new puppy could cheer her up. What does sullen mean?

a)

being in a great mood

b)

gloomy

c)

even-tempered; unaffected

22.

In line 3, the word "widow" means......

a)

a type of poison

b)

the dead male spider

c)

the human victim of the spider

d)

a female whose mate has died

23.

The word "ample" in line 7 indicates that the spider is.....

a)

feminine

b)

large

c)

dotted with colors

d)

normal

24.

The word "propel" in line 7 could best be replaced by......

a)

move

b)

develop

c)

destroy

d)

inhibit

25.

The word "rough" in line 1 is closest in meaning to......

a)

unsmooth

b)

mean

c)

approximate

d)

heavy

26.

A 'school' in line 3 is....

a)

a common belief

b)

a college

c)

a university

d)

an educational institution

27.

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word 'free' in line 4?

a)

cheap

b)

no cost

c)

uncontrolled

d)

democratic

28.

The word 'multipurpose' in line 3 is closest in meaning to.....

a)

health

b)

singular

c)

recognized

d)

varied

29.

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word 'season' in line 4?

a)

divide

b)

forecast

c)

spice

d)

put a time limit

30.

The word 'unnatural' in line 2 is closest in meaning to......

a)

wild

b)

violent

c)

domesticated

d)

abnormal

31.

Which of the following could be used to replace the word 'survives' in line 6?

a)

Rises to

b)

Succumbs to

c)

Denies

d)

Lives through

32.
Again they searched meticulously, but no keys. If you did something meticulously, you would be-
a)
feeling silly.
b)
working very carefully.
c)
trying to finish quickly.
d)
trying to find something.
33.
Tanya loved her dad, but she wondered why she was so organized when he was so haphazard.  A person who is haphazard is- 
a)
lost
b)
lovable 
c)
worried
d)
disorganized
34.
Tonya was relaxing with a magazine when her father walked in, looking perturbed and sounding annoyed, too. What words give you clues to the meaning of perturbed?
a)
can you help me
b)
her father walked in 
c)
sounding annoyed, too
d)
relaxing with a magazine
35.
The continents are slowly drifting apart.  Since they are not stationary, North and South America will one day separate entirely.
What does stationary mean? 
a)
Paper to write letters with
b)
Staying in one place
c)
Land
d)
Melting quickly
36.
Based on the context clues in the sentence below, ecstatic means:

They were ecstatic at the birth of their baby.  They couldn't stop smiling for days. 
a)
Nervous
b)
Discouraged
c)
Excited
d)
Relieved
37.
Which is the correct meaning of the word patient in the sentence?
The patient had to wait in the waiting room to see the doctor.
a)
Quietly waiting for someone
b)
Someone who is being seen by a doctor
38.
Which is the correct meaning of the word spell in the sentence?
The man told us he needed to sit for a spell.
a)
A short, indefinite period of time.
b)
A word or formula believed to be magic.
c)
To form words by means of letters.
39.
Which is the correct meaning of the word post in this sentence?
I will post a flyer to advertise the lunch specials.
a)
A long piece of wood or other material set upright into the ground.
b)
The bar-like part of a stud earring.
c)
To display in a place for public view such as an announcement.
d)
To publish (a name) on a list.
40.
Which is the correct meaning of the word spring in this sentence?
A spring popped through the mattress.
a)
To move upward or forward in a single quick motion.
b)
The season of new growth.
c)
A small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth.
d)
An elastic coil of metal.
41.
Grandpa was in a jovial mood, making jokes and laughing at everything. 
a)
crazy
b)
happy
c)
irritable
d)
angry
42.
Dan did not enjoy his job as a dishwasher. It was monotonous work, doing the same thing over and over 
a)
inspiring
b)
disgusting
c)
boring
d)
dangerous
43.
Marcia is a novice soccer player. It is her first day of practice.
a)
skilled
b)
beginner
c)
professional
44.
Jaki is a wonderful piano player. But Emily is more VERSATILE; she sings, acts, paints and writes poetry, and also plays the piano. What does the word VERSATILE mean?
a)
many abilities
b)
boring
c)
not skilled
d)
exciting
45.
Animals live in DIVERSE and varied communities. What is the meaning of the word DIVERSE?
 
a)
very different
b)
the same
c)
weird
d)
muggy
46.
Tristin couldn’t see the school building; it was SHROUDED by smoke and dust.” What does the word SHROUDED mean?
a)
Covered
b)
ruined
c)
bounced
d)
invisible
47.
We thought that Mrs. Kerner would be very DISTRAUGHT when told that Antonio broke Ms.Pate's pointer; however, she took the news very calmly. What does the word DISTRAUGHT mean?
.
a)
anxious
b)
upset
c)
happy
d)
fearful
48.
As the students generated
ideas for solving the
problem, Mr. Smith wrote them on the board so they would not be forgotten. 
a)
came up with 
b)
disscussed
c)
discovered
d)
applied 
49.
David knew that the
advanced studies program
was rigorous. It would require
a great deal of reading and homework. Still, he felt he was up for the challenge. 
a)
boring
b)
difficult
c)
surprising
d)
shocking
50.
It has been an extremely brutal summer with very hot temperatures.
What does brutal mean? 
a)
Harsh
b)
Windy
c)
Gentle
d)
Pleasant
51.
Hunter's plan for his group project looks good. It's time to IMPLEMENT it and see if works.
Based on the sentence above, what does IMPLEMENT mean?
a)
carry out
b)
change
c)
ignore
d)
illustrate
52.
What does the word PREPARED mean in the sentence below? Chandler prepared brownies for Ms.Pate's class.  
a)
ruined
b)
licked
c)
made
d)
blew his nose