Question

determine the meaning of the underlined words based on how they are used in the sentence.
sentence

1. while i know valeria can be churlish at times, i was thankful she was polite and respectful when she had dinner with my extremely proper grandparents.
2. a leaden weight laid on her heart as she hugged her son goodbye before he headed off to war.
3. as a salesman that has a quota i have to reach every month, i have found myself spending an inordinate amount of time on the phone trying to close deals. unfortunately, my family never sees me without my phone attached to my hand.
4. because the day was supposed to be a solemn event, my cousins and i had to suppress our exuberance when we found out the amount of money we were inheriting from our late uncle.
5. the change was hard to notice because it happened almost imperceptibly.
6. in the military you are asked to forsake your own needs for the needs of your country.
7. during the holidays, i indulge in cheesy hallmark christmas movies.

meaning

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each underlined word's context:

1. churlish

Context: Contrasted with "polite and respectful" (Valeria’s behavior with grandparents).
Meaning: Rude, ill - mannered (since the speaker is thankful she was polite, implying “churlish” is the opposite).

2. leaden

Context: Describes “weight” on her heart as she hugs her son goodbye.
Meaning: Heavy, oppressive (suggesting a burdensome, sorrowful feeling).

3. inordinate

Context: A salesman’s “amount of time on the phone” (trying to close deals) that’s excessive (family never sees him without phone).
Meaning: Excessive, unreasonable (more than usual or appropriate).

4. exuberance

Context: A “solemn event” (inheriting from uncle) where cousins and “I” had to “suppress” this.
Meaning: Enthusiasm, liveliness (something joyful/energetic that’s out of place in a solemn setting).

5. imperceptibly

Context: A “change” that was “hard to notice” (happened almost this way).
Meaning: Unnoticeably, in a way that’s hard to perceive.

6. forsake

Context: In the military, “you are asked to” give up “your own needs for the needs of your country”.
Meaning: Abandon, give up (one’s own needs for a greater cause).

7. indulge

Context: “During the holidays, I” do this “in cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies” (enjoy them, perhaps excessively).
Meaning: Allow oneself to enjoy, gratify (a desire for these movies).

Answer:

s (Meanings):

1. Rude, ill - mannered
2. Heavy, oppressive
3. Excessive, unreasonable
4. Enthusiasm, liveliness
5. Unnoticeably
6. Abandon, give up
7. Allow oneself to enjoy