Question

vocabulary in context: literary text. some of the words you have studied in this unit appear in boldface type. read the passage below, and then circle the letter of the correct answer for each word as it is used in context. homework may seem like something that has always been a part of education, but it was actually an invention of the nineteenth century. in the 1800s before the specific ages, many students left school by fifth grade to help their families. for the few students who continued to middle and high school, the specialized curriculum included drilling, recitation, and memorization. this homework required two to three hours of preparation, and for middle - school students, this amount of homework may not seem ghastly, but it often competed with the amount of money for their families. in the early twentieth century, the progressive education movement began to question whether recitation, drilling, and memorization were effective in educating students. when this concept came under scrutiny, so did the idea of homework. pediatricians suggested that extended time playing outdoors would be more beneficial for children than completing assignments in prim handwriting. in 1900, the editor of a respected children magazine wrote anti - homework articles that were widely read. other individuals and organizations delivered their own anti - homework taunts until the 1940s, resulting in many school districts eliminating homework in elementary and middle schools. after the russian launch of sputnik 1 in 1957, american leaders and educators viewed homework as a way for american children to compete globally. these days, homework is still a noteworthy topic. while 21st - century educators and policy leaders theorize about the excessive amount of homework that students are given, sardonic remarks about the best way to educate today’s students. the debate about the role of homework in learning will continue for years to come. 1. an impoverished family is a. poor b. resourceful c. young d. strict 2. something that is doleful, as homework is said to be, is usually a. exhilarating b. quick c. dreary d. beneficial 3. the word ghastly most nearly means a. unknown b. horrible c. unique d. manageable 4. prim handwriting can best be described as a. barely readable b. overly neat c. unusually small d. carelessly scribbled 5. a taunt is a. a theory b. an insult c. a compliment d. a prepared speech 6. sardonic remarks are a. carefully prepared b. hurriedly written c. scornfully mocking d. formally composed

Explanation:

1. "Impoverished" means lacking money, so it is similar to "poor".
2. "Doleful" implies sad or dreary, so "dreary" is the closest.
3. "Ghastly" means extremely unpleasant or horrible, so "horrible" is correct.
4. "Prim" in the context of handwriting means overly neat.
5. A "taunt" is an insulting remark, so "an insult" is the right choice.
6. "Sardonic" remarks are scornfully mocking.

Answer:

1. a. poor
2. c. dreary
3. b. horrible
4. b. overly neat
5. b. an insult
6. c. scornfully mocking