Question

using context
for each item, determine whether the boldface word from pages 18 - 19 makes sense in the context of the sentence. circle the item numbers next to the six sentences in which the words are used correctly.

1. no matter how intelligent you are, no one will want to work with you if you keep up that servile attitude and continue bossing others around.
2. the temperature continued to hover above freezing for a week before it plummeted.
3. when the principal entered the noisy auditorium, he wasted no time in issuing a decree that everyone be quiet.
4. while using an adage or two can be effective when making a point, you need to include some original thoughts as well.
5. i wonder how two people with such discordant personalities can remain friends.
6. volunteers helped clean up the rubble after the hurricane struck the seaside town.
7. the teacher felt the students enthusiasm evolve as she handed out the pop quiz.
8. that broken - down old cottage is as good as a citadel.
9. im not sure why the customer continues to shop here, since she always proceeds to wrangle with the salespeople over the cost and quality of the products.
10. when i saw how stressed and distracted my mother was, i was able to preclude that now was not the best time to ask for a raise in my allowance.

Explanation:

1. "Servile" means submissive, but bossing others around is not servile, so it's incorrect.
2. "Hover" can mean to remain at a particular level, so temperature hovering above freezing makes sense.
3. A principal can issue a "decree" (an official order) for quiet.
4. Using "adage" (a proverb) can be effective when making a point.
5. "Discordant" personalities can explain how two people's friendship seems odd.
6. Volunteers cleaning up "rubble" (debris) after a hurricane is logical.
7. Enthusiasm usually decreases with a pop - quiz, not "evolve" in a positive sense here, so it's incorrect.
8. A broken - down cottage is not like a "citadel" (a fortified place), so it's incorrect.
9. A customer can "wrangle" (argue) with salespeople over cost and quality.
10. "Preclude" means to prevent or make impossible, and seeing a stressed mother can prevent asking for an allowance increase.

Answer:

1. The temperature continued to hover above freezing for a week before it plummeted.
2. When the principal entered the noisy auditorium, he wasted no time in issuing a decree that everyone be quiet.
3. While using an adage or two can be effective when making a point, you need to include some original thoughts as well.
4. I wonder how two people with such discordant personalities can remain friends.
5. Volunteers helped clean up the rubble after the hurricane struck the seaside town.
6. I'm not sure why the customer continues to shop here, since she always proceeds to wrangle with the salespeople over the cost and quality of the products.
7. When I saw how stressed and distracted my mother was, I was able to preclude that now was not the best time to ask for a raise in my allowance.