Question

18 using words
if the word (or a form of the word) in bold fits in a sentence in the group below it, write the word in the blank. if the word does not fit, leave the space empty.

1. garish

(a) wilber gave me a ____ look when i mistook his wife for his daughter.
(b) the school gym was covered with ____ decorations for the dance.
(c) the multicolored sequined dress was a little too ____ for my taste.

1. penchant

(a) trinas ____ for long words sometimes makes her sound pretentious.
(b) isolation from the company of others had made him increasingly ____.
(c) a ____ for stretching the truth gave jamie a reputation for being unreliable.

1. buffoon

(a) with his ill - fitting suit and mismatched socks, he looked like a ____.
(b) the salesperson tried to ____ us into paying twice what the watch was worth.
(c) whenever angela tried to ____ her brother, he got annoyed and walked away.

1. bane

(a) our neighbors caused us so much ____ we were forced to move.
(b) mosquitoes are the ____ of people camping in the northern woods this season.
(c) the ____ effects of ddt led to the banning of this toxic pesticide in the united states.

1. repertoire

(a) the magicians ____ included making rabbits disappear into thin air.
(b) the 1929 model was the prize object in the antique car collectors ____.
(c) kevin demonstrated for us his incredible ____ of bird calls.

1. undermine

(a) your constant criticism will seriously ____ his confidence in his ability.
(b) reports of mismanagement ____ the publics confidence in the agency.
(c) interfering with her practice sessions will ____ her chances of winning the cello competition.

1. instigate

(a) a mutiny doesnt start by itself; someone has to ____ it.
(b) the amateur detective vowed to ____ the dreadful crime.
(c) the college will ____ its new admissions policy immediately.

1. imbue

(a) the stump was so deeply ____ in the ground that we couldnt remove it.
(b) all their children were ____ with a deep love of learning.
(c) she ____ in her followers a deep loyalty to her beliefs.

Explanation:

1. (a) "garish" doesn't fit as it doesn't describe a look in this context. (b) "garish" can describe over - the - top decorations. (c) "garish" is appropriate for a dress that is too showy for one's taste.
2. (a) "penchant" means a strong liking, so it fits for having a liking for long words. (c) A "penchant" for stretching the truth gives someone a bad reputation.
3. (a) A person with ill - fitting clothes can look like a "buffoon". The other two sentences don't fit the meaning of "buffoon".
4. (a) Neighbors causing trouble can be a "bane". (b) Mosquitoes are a "bane" for campers. (c) The harmful effects of DDT are not well - described by "bane".
5. (a) A magician's tricks are part of his "repertoire". (c) A collection of bird calls is a "repertoire".
6. (a) Criticism can "undermine" confidence. (b) Mismanagement reports can "undermine" public confidence. (c) Interfering can "undermine" chances.
7. (a) Someone has to "instigate" a mutiny. (b) An amateur detective can "investigate" a crime, not "instigate" it. (c) A college doesn't "instigate" a new policy.
8. (b) Children can be "imbued" with a love of learning. (c) A leader can "imbue" followers with loyalty.

Answer:

1. (b) garish, (c) garish
2. (a) penchant, (c) penchant
3. (a) buffoon
4. (a) bane, (b) bane
5. (a) repertoire, (c) repertoire
6. (a) undermine, (b) undermine, (c) undermine
7. (a) instigate
8. (b) imbued, (c) imbued