Question

choosing the right word
select the boldface word that better completes each sentence. you might refer to the essay on pages 88 - 89 to see how most these words are used in context.

1. i feel that a symphony orchestra is just as important to a (vagrant, metropolis) as a big department store or a major - league sports team.
2. the (tirade, advent) of texting has revolutionized the way in which people communicate with one another.
3. his talk (maligned, meandered) aimlessly through memories of his youth, descriptions of his children, and criticisms of the administration.
4. i have no respect for people who are unfailingly courteous to their superiors but (sprightly, surly) to the employees under them.
5. i dont know which is worse - your failure to keep your promise to me or your (shoddy, momentous) excuse for lying about it.
6. the bylaws state that any member who speaks in a(n) (obstreperous, perilous) manner is to be quieted by the sergeant at arms.
7. i lay there quietly, looking at the clouds and allowing (vagrant, surly) thoughts to pass through my mind.
8. when we asked for suggestions on how to improve our schools athletic program, we were (assimilated, inundated) by \bright ideas\ from all sides.
9. the governor appointed a member of the state assembly to serve as a(n) (bogus, interim) senator until a new election can be held.
10. only after lincolns death did most people appreciate the great qualities of the man who had been so (maligned, inundated) in his own lifetime.
11. churchill once said that if a nation tries to avoid everything that is hard and (shoddy, perilous), it will weaken its own security.
12. i suffered a substantial financial loss and an even greater loss of faith in human nature when i tried to cash his (obstreperous, bogus) check.
13. most people agree that elizabethan drama reached its (apex, metropolis) in the matchless plays of shakespeare.
14. one of the glories of america has been its ability to (assimilate, inundate) immigrants from every part of the globe.
15. you have reached the stage of life where you must expect to say (interim, adieu) to childhood and take on the responsibilities of a young adult.

Explanation:

1. A symphony orchestra is important to a large - city (metropolis). A vagrant is a homeless person.
2. The arrival (advent) of texting changed communication. A tirade is an angry speech.
3. His talk wandered (meandered) aimlessly. To malign is to speak of someone maliciously.
4. People who are rude (surly) to subordinates while being polite to superiors are unrespectable. Sprightly means lively.
5. A bad (shoddy) excuse is worse than a broken promise. Momentous means of great importance.
6. A noisy (obstreperous) member should be quieted. Perilous means dangerous.
7. Random (vagrant) thoughts pass through the mind. Surly means bad - tempered.
8. We were flooded (inundated) with ideas. To assimilate is to incorporate or absorb.
9. An interim senator serves temporarily. Bogus means fake.
10. Lincoln was spoken of maliciously (maligned) in his lifetime. Inundated means flooded.
11. A nation should not avoid what is dangerous (perilous). Shoddy means of poor quality.
12. A fake (bogus) check causes loss. Obstreperous means noisy and unruly.
13. Elizabethan drama reached its peak (apex) with Shakespeare's plays. A metropolis is a large city.
14. America has the ability to incorporate (assimilate) immigrants. Inundate means to flood.
15. One says goodbye (adieu) to childhood. Interim means temporary.

Answer:

1. metropolis
2. advent
3. meandered
4. surly
5. shoddy
6. obstreperous
7. vagrant
8. inundated
9. interim
10. maligned
11. perilous
12. bogus
13. apex
14. assimilate
15. adieu