Question

vocabulary in context test a
a. for each item below, underline the examples that suggest the meaning of the italicized term. then, in the space provided, write the letter of the meaning of that term.

1. devoted sports fans often behave in outlandish ways, such as painting their faces with the team colors and screaming at the tv during a game.

a. proper
b. peculiar
c. confusing
d. exciting

1. everyone has their foibles, and i admit that mine include eating with my hands and being late everywhere i go.

a. strengths
b. minor faults
c. hobbies
d. crimes

1. the supervisors day was filled with one minor calamity after another. in the morning, his car broke down; at lunchtime, he lost his wallet; and at the end of the day, his computer crashed and he lost a days work.

a. requirement
b. claim
c. question
d. disaster
b. each item below includes a word or words that are a synonym of the italicized word. write the synonym of the italicized word in the space provided.

1. you cant do algebra until you have mastered rudimentary math skills—basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
2. during the 1300s, the black death decimated one - third of the population of europe. two centuries later, smallpox wiped out 95 percent of the native population of mexico.
3. according to recent studies, a shortage of sleep due to long work or study hours will not cause any permanent damage to your health. one good night of sleep, researchers say, can make up for a week of sleep deficit.

c. each item below includes a word or words that are an antonym of the italicized word. underline the antonym of each italicized word. then write the letter of the meaning of the italicized word.

1. the children wanted us to adopt an older german shepherd from the pound, but we were told he was rather wild, so instead we chose a collie that was more docile.

a. manageable
b. disobedient
c. expensive
d. temporary

Explanation:

1. "Outlandish" means strange or unusual, so "peculiar" is the correct choice as it has a similar meaning. Painting faces and screaming are unusual behaviors.
2. "Foilbles" are small weaknesses or quirks, which is what "minor faults" represents. Eating with hands and being late are minor faults.
3. A "calamity" is a disaster. The supervisor's day - car breakdown, lost wallet, and computer crash - are all disasters.
4. "Rudimentary" means basic or fundamental. Basic math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are fundamental.
5. "Decimated" means to destroy a large proportion of something. The Black Death killed a large part of Europe's population, similar to how smallpox wiped out a large part of Mexico's native population.
6. "Deficit" means a shortage. Lack of sleep is a sleep shortage.
7. "Docile" means easily managed or controlled. The collie is more manageable compared to the wild German shepherd.

Answer:

1. B. peculiar
2. B. minor faults
3. D. disaster
4. basic
5. destroyed a large proportion of
6. shortage
7. A. manageable