Vocabulary List
Every Friday, I collect my __________ from my dog-walking job.
wages
The children danced to the music with merry JUBILATION. What does JUBILATION mean?
a) delight b) distress c) surprise
a) delight
The principal DICTATED that all students would be required to follow the school dress code. What word would be a synonym for DICTATED?
a) asked b) knew c) commanded
c) commanded
Mary only wanted to help, but unfortunately, her speech had the opposite effect on ESCALATED the argument. What does ESCALATED mean?
To ESCALATE something means to make it worse. So, to have ESCALATED the argument means to have made the argument worse.
Julia wasn't sure exactly what time they would arrive, but she thought the APPROXIMATE time would be around 5:00. What does APPROXIMATE mean? Give the context clues you used in the sentence to determine the meaning. a) estimated b) unknown c) exact
a) estimated (clues: wasn't sure exactly, thought, around)
Can you __________ to replace this book? It has water damage.
afford
The substitute teacher felt EXASPERATED because she could not get the students to stop talking and listen. What does EXASPERATED mean?
a) lonely b) frustrated c) depressed
b) frustrated
The full moon ILLUMINATED the sky so much that we did not need our flashlights. What would be a synonym for ILLUMINATED?
a) lit b) darkened c) filled
a) lit
People always comment about much Lucy RESEMBLES her mother. They have the same eyes, hair, and smile. What does RESEMBLES mean?
To resemble means to "be, look, or act alike". Some synonyms for this use of the word would be "looks like" or "is like".
Dad thought the spaghetti sauce was too BLAND, so he added more garlic. What does BLAND mean? Give the context clues from the sentence that helped you determine the meaning. a) salty b) spicy c) mild
c) mild (clues: added more garlic)
When rain is __________, the grass on the hills turns brown because it is so dry.
sparce
Arnold approached the snake CAUTIOUSLY. He thought it was dead, but he didn't know for sure. What does CAUTIOUSLY mean?
a) quickly b) carefully c) carelessly
b) carefully
Even though Paul was excited about the project, he wanted the other kids to think he was cool, so he answered the teacher's question in a NONCHALANT tone. What would be a synonym for NONCHALANT?
a) relaxed b) enthusiastic c) angry
a) relaxed
Joan decided to WITHDRAW her support for Calvin for class president when she learned that he had cheated on a test. What does WITHDRAW mean?
WITHDRAW means to remove, take away or take back.
The black plague swept through Europe in the Middle Ages killing millions of people. In some villages, half the population PERISHED. What does PERISHED mean? Give the context clues from the sentences that helped you determine the meaning. a) got sick b) died c) escaped
b) died (clues: killing, people, population)
I hope we all __________, or do well, in life.
prosper
Susie could smell the AROMA of freshly baking bread as soon as she walked into the kitchen. What does AROMA mean?
a) scent b) sound c) stink
a) scent
Mrs. Olsen used to love to play the piano. But since she started to lose her hearing, she SELDOM plays anymore. What would be a synonym for SELDOM?
a) often b) usually c) rarely
c) rarely
Denise stared at the IMMENSE pile of laundry and wondered how her children could go through so many clothes in a week. What does IMMENSE mean?
Some synonyms for IMMENSE would be, "big, large, massive, huge, overwhelming, enormous".
That movie had an INTENSE effect on me. I could not stop thinking about it! What does INTENSE mean? Give the context clues from the sentences that helped you determine the meaning. a) powerful b) mild c bad
a) powerful (clues: not stop thinking about it)
Starting a new business is a __________ because you don't know if it will succeed.
risk
Luke was COMPENSATED for the yard work he had done over the summer. What does COMPENSATED mean?
a)thanked b) complimented c) paid
c) paid
Tanya's mother drives slowly when she gets close to the school and is careful to watch for PEDESTRIANS. What would be a synonym for PEDESTRIANS?
a) people walking b) pretty scenery c) fruit stands
a) people walking
Tamara was shocked when she learned about the SENSELESS killing of thousands of buffalos by settlers in the early 1800's. What does SENSELESS mean?
SENSELESS means without meaning; meaningless. To have no purpose.
Angela knew that there were NUMEROUS reasons why she should take the job, but she just did not want it. What does NUMEROUS mean? Give the context clues from the sentence that helped you determine the meaning. a) a few b) many c) none
b) many (clues: reasons why)