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4.6 A. Words in Context

1. Tick the word closest in meaning to that of the each boldfaced word. Use the context of the sentences to help you figure out each word’s meaning.

admonish (v) Mainstream schools are often admonished for the lack of personal approach to students.

Admonish means a. to lead b. to criticize c. to irritate

ambiguous (adj) Checking a job applicant’s references, the personnel manager was puzzled by one ambiguous comment: “You will be lucky if you can get her to work for you.”

Ambiguous means a. unclear b. unintentional c. unplesant

deride (v) When Craig called Peggy “the perfect secretary,” she was offended. He was complimenting her, bit she misconstrued his comment, thinking that he derided her by saying she belonged in a subordinate position.

Deride means a. misunderstand b. mock c. argue with

distraught (adj) As the snowstorm got worse and worse and my wife still had not arrived home from work, I became increasingly distraught.

Distraught means a. anxious b. busy c. forgetful

embellish (v) The cover of the biology textbook was embellished with a pattern of colorful seashells.

Embellish means a. to hide b. to decorate c. to damage

estrange (v) Rosina used to be friendly, but since her promotion, she has become so cold that she has estranged her former coworkers.

Estrange means a. frighten b. drive away c. dislike

facilitate (v) Computers can be used to facilitate language learning.

Facilitate means a. to decrease b. to cause c. to assist

grievous (adj) Child abuse is a grievous crime, but children are often reticent about it. Their silence may prevent them from collaborating with the police or the courts to bring the abusers to justice.

Grievous means a. preventable b. unavoidable c. terrible

mesmerize (v) The novel has a provocative opening scene, in which a young woman and her parrot sneak out of a house on a ladder. The novel goes on to mesmerize the reader with one spellbinding episode after another.

Mesmerize means a. to amuse b. to fascinate c. to distort

precarious (adj) For someone allergic to insect bites, beekeeping would be a precarious occupation.

Precarious means a. unsafe b. illegal c. unusual

reiterate (v) “My company is so bureaucratic,” Nick complained, “that we are buried in paperwork. Sometimes we have to reiterate the same information on five different forms.”

Reiterate means a. to repeat b. to forget c. to exclude

travesty (n) The trial was a travesty of justice because several of the jurors had been bribed.

Travesty means a. disrespectful imitation b. exact copy

c. simple version

2. Write the word next to its definition. The sentences in the previous exercise will help you decide on the meaning of each word.

……………. To decorate; beautify by adding details

…………… Dangerous, risky; dangerously uncertain

…………… Causing grief and pain, very serious or severe

………….. To hypnotize or fascinate; hold spellbound

……………. To scold gently but seriously

……………. Able to be interpreted in more than one way, not clear

…………. To make unsympathetic or unfriendly; to alienate

………….. To make fun of; ridicule

………….. A crude, exaggerated, or ridiculous representation; mockery

………….. To state again or repeatedly

………….. Very troubled; distressed

…………… To make easier to do or to get

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