Question

ten words in context
in the space provided, write the letter of the meaning closest to that of each boldfaced word. use the
context of the sentences to help you figure out each word’s meaning.
1 dubious
(doo’be·əs)
-adjective

• man lacked confidence in his math ability. even after a long tutoring session,

he was dubious about his ability to pass the geometry exam.

• aretha was dubious about graduate school as preparation for a career in

fashion design. she felt work experience might be better.
__ dubious means
a. certain.
b. unsure.
c. happy.
2 ecstatic
(ik·stat’ik)
-adjective

• i wouldn’t be just glad if i won the five - million - dollar lottery; i’d be absolutely

ecstatic.

• the smallest thing, like an ice cream cone on a hot day, a train ride, or a

ladybug in the grass, can make a child ecstatic.
__ ecstatic means
a. active.
b. patient.
c. full of joy.
3 encounter
(en·koun’tar)
-verb

• i never expected to encounter anyone i knew at the crowded concert, but my

friend jeff sat just two rows in front of me.

• i had a strange dream in which i encountered my old boyfriend while i was on

my honeymoon.
__ encounter means
a. to avoid.
b. to run into.
c. to go with.
4 evolve
(i·volv’)
-verb

• the women’s club began as an informal get - together and then evolved into an

educational and support group.

• how did the plan for a block party evolve into a citywide celebration?

__ evolve means
a. to grow gradually.
b. to fall apart.
c. to shrink.
5 fallacy
(fal’ə·sē)
-noun

• it is a fallacy for people to think that they can drink and still manage to drive

safely.

• to opponents of nuclear energy, the idea that nuclear power plants are safe for

humans is a fallacy.
__ fallacy means
a. a useful idea.
b. an error.
c. a goal.
6 fictitious
(fik·tish’əs)
-adjective

• the characters in novels are usually totally fictitious, but some are based on

real people.

• violence in tv movies may frighten very young children, who have not

learned the difference between true and fictitious events.
__ fictitious means
a. unreal.
b. future.
c. active.

Explanation:

1. For "dubious", the contexts show lack of confidence and doubt, matching "unsure".
2. For "ecstatic", examples of winning the lottery and small joys show extreme happiness, matching "full of joy".
3. For "encounter", the sentences describe unexpectedly meeting someone, matching "to run into".
4. For "evolve", the contexts show gradual development of a group and a plan, matching "to grow gradually".
5. For "fallacy", the examples describe wrong, unsafe ideas, matching "an error".
6. For "fictitious", the sentences contrast made-up characters/events with real ones, matching "unreal".

Answer:

1. B. unsure.
2. C. full of joy.
3. B. to run into.
4. A. to grow gradually.
5. B. an error.
6. A. unreal.