Rev. John A. Gumbs
The news story was based on a letter that was a fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote the story is in big trouble.
Will anyone believe him again?
A fabrication is ________________________
fake
It’s a wonder to me how anyone can still be undecided about this election. These two candidates are certainly distinct. Each would lead our nation in opposite directions.
What does distinct mean?
a. needing a bath
b. dishonest
c. clearly different
d. about the same age
different
What does inhibit mean?
a. Live in a certain place
b. Block or slow down
c. Itch or burn
d. Help to do something important
block or slow down
Which word is a synonym for “clandestine”?
a. family
b. useful
c. dangerous
d. secret
secret
Which word is a synonym of “curtail”?
a. Reduce
b. Follow
c. Behind
d. Buy
reduce
Your cousin claimed to be late because the doors of his house were frozen shut. Even though I have my doubts, his explanation is plausible. It got really cold last night. I’ll just have to take his word for it.
If a statement is plausible, __________________
a. You must always believe it.
b. You should never believe it
c. It’s hard to understand because it makes no sense.
d. It’s believable enough to possibly be true.
It's believable enough to be possibly true
Our new alarm system will wake up the entire neighborhood if an if an intruder gets in the house.
An intruder is someone who intrudes. To intrude is to:
a. Paint or repair old buildings
b. Wear ones shoes on the wrong feet
c. Go where one is not wanted or doesn’t belong
d. Be very noisy
Go where one is not wanted
It’s not that I’m unfriendly, but sometimes I want to leave society behind and be alone for a period of time.
That does the word society mean?
People living as members of a group
Poor farmer Sam labors sixteen hours a day and never has time for a vacation. He deserves better! Everyone should have at least one day a week for rest and relaxation.
The meaning of the word "labors" is
a. plays
b. eats
c. works
d. unions
works
The United States has a vast amount of geothermal (natural heat from the Earth’s crust) energy. Tapping into this energy source could provide at least 10 times the energy that can be obtained from the nation’s known coal reserves.
What does “vast”mean?
a. A large amount
b. Not enough
c. Dangerous
d. Having no known use
a large amount
A wonderful 98-year-old woman is working day and night to knit scarves to send as gifts fir the troops. What a selfless person she is?
A selfless woman is _______________
a. selfish
b. has no name
c. likes to wear scarves
d. cares more about others than herself
cares more about others than herself
Fortunately, the explosion diverted the asteroid from a course that would have sent it hurdling into our planet.
To divert is to _______________________________.
a. Change the direction of
b. Look for really high waves
c. Jump into a dry river
d. Look through a telescope
change direction
Christmas is a time when Dad reverts to his childhood. I really think he looks forward to Santa’s visit more than any other member of the family. Mom says that he’ll always be a child during this season.
What does “reverts” mean in the above passage?
a. Stands up straight
b. Peeks at presents.
c. Drinks too much egg nog
d. Goes back to being what he was
Goes back to being what we said it was
Removing seeds from cotton plants was a slow job until Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.
What is a cotton gin?
a. a drink
b. a book
c. a machine
d. a cloth
a machine
Some people are sure that the new health care law will mean better care for everyone. Others argue that the law will mean less care and longer waiting lines for those who need to see doctors. It’s a controversy that will not go away soon.
A controversy is something that people ___________
a. Have strong disagreement over
b. Blow their noses into
c. Need to pay for visit to a doctor
d. Eat with sweet candy
Have strong disagreement
Most of America’s Founding Fathers did not believe in women’s suffrage. Only men could vote in the United States until 1920.
What is suffrage?
Something that causes
a. physical pain
b. An early flag
c. Skirts that did not cover ankles
d. The right to vote
The right to vote
I believe that if you lower taxes so that people can keep more of the money they earn, it will be an incentive for them to work harder.
What is the meaning of “incentive”?
a. a reason to do something
b. a small amount of money
c. a tax
d. a good job
a reason to do something
Wherever he goes, the esteemed Dr. Sanchez is applauded for his life saving research.
What does “esteemed” mean?
a. Held over boiling water
b. Very old
c. Unable to chew gum
d. Greatly admired
greatly admired
Some people are always bashing the president just like others bashed the one before him. Wouldn’t you think that everyone could find something to praise him for, at least once in a while?
What does “bashing” mean in the above selection?
a. Hitting hard with a heavy tool
b. Going to too many expensive parties
c. Speaking or writing harshly about
d. Voting for different candidate
speaking or writing harshly about
No matter where you go, the internet is following you. Almost every portable device is being made with an internet connection. Most new TVs’ and many other appliances come with internet connection as well. The internet is truly ubiquitous.
If something is ubiquitous, _________________
a. It is fuzzy and will bite you.
b. It is everywhere
c. It costs too much money
d. It causes rashes
It is everywhere.
Her cardinal rule in life is this: Be kind to others! She believes that everything else in life will fall properly into place if one follows that rule.
What does "cardinal"mean in this context?
a. red
b. main, or most important
c. worth doing
d. sharing
main or most important
The right of the restaurant wouldnt allow Samantha to walk through the door. I'm sorry,"she said, "but youstarted a food fight the last time you were here. You may not have ingress to my restaurant!"
What does the word ingress mean in this selection?
a. a kind of bird thatlives by the sea
b. any food that can be thrown
c. a good price for a meal.
d. the right to enter
the right to enter.
Amy was feeling low. Every business she tried lost money or made only pennies a day. Her newest idea was selling chocolate baby shoes. She was convinced that it would be a lucrative business. Her friends tried to warn her that it was not a certain road to riches.
What does the word lucrative means?
a. tasting great with vanilla ice cream
b. helping young feet to grow correctly
c. showing no careful thought
d. bringing in a lot of money, or profit
bringing in a lot of money
Don't feel stupid. Yes, you thought this worthless replica was valuable work of art. But it even fooled a lot of experts. It certainly looked like the real thing!
A replica is _______________
a. dishonest act
b. something ugly
c. anything that has no value
d. a copy
a copy
Murphy Mole is the protagonist in the new novel by Trent Troll. Murphy must stop Oscar Rat and Shrimpy Shark from enslaving the inhabitants of Lazy Woods Park. He risks his life in a series of events that lead to a final battle between good and evil.
What is a protagonist?
a. main character of a story
b. an animal that lives underground
c. someone whose first and last names start with the same letter
d. someone with bad body odor
The main character in a story