Question

part a
circle the vocabulary word that you would most likely use in writing about each boldface

1. history : chronicle, duration, tempo
2. music : backlog, imperative, tempo
3. laws : discord, endurance, infraction
4. meetings : agenda, spectacle, novice
5. speaking : specimen, eloquence, sibling

part b
circle the letter of the word that best completes the sentence.

1. the garden contains many beautiful tea roses, but this ______ is especially lovely.

a. sibling b. agenda c. fragment d. specimen

1. science for dummies features a(n) ______ article on cloning.

a. comprehensible b. indistinct c. consecutive d. independent

1. sled dogs have amazing ______; they can pull a loaded sled for hours.

a. serenity b. duration c. endurance d. discord

1. judy managed to ______ her sense of humor despite losing her bid for the job.

a. attain b. disclose c. divert d. retain

1. karen was sick for four ______ days, saturday through tuesday.

a. consecutive b. minimal c. imperative d. arbitrary

1. the banner hung ______, because the beam was crooked.

a. arbitrary b. indistinct c. luscious d. askew

1. the satisfying dinner included a(n) ______ selection of desserts.

a. deceptive b. luscious c. sullen d. indistinct

1. the librarians worked overtime to check in the ______ of returns.

a. duration b. discord c. backlog d. specimen

1. the ______ weather forecast caused the picnic to be canceled.

a. fortuitous b. bleak c. capable d. haughty

1. locating clean water was their top ______ on the deserted island.

a. priority b. intrigue c. imperative d. testimony
copyright © by the mcgraw-hill companies, inc.
vocabulary power

Explanation:

This problem involves vocabulary usage and sentence completion, which falls under the subfield of Linguistics (within Arts). We analyze each part:

PART A

1. For "history", a "chronicle" is a historical account, while "duration" (time length) and "tempo" (music speed) don't fit. So circle "chronicle".
2. In "music", "tempo" refers to the speed of music, "backlog" (unfinished work) and "imperative" (command) don't fit. Circle "tempo".
3. For "laws", "infraction" means a violation of law, "discord" (conflict) and "endurance" (stamina) don't fit. Circle "infraction".
4. In "meetings", an "agenda" is a meeting's schedule, "spectacle" (show) and "novice" (beginner) don't fit. Circle "agenda".
5. For "speaking", "eloquence" is fluent speaking, "specimen" (sample) and "sibling" (brother/sister) don't fit. Circle "eloquence".

PART B

1. The garden has a "specimen" (a sample/individual plant) of tea rose. "Sibling" (relative), "agenda" (schedule), "fragment" (piece) don't fit. So answer: d. specimen.
2. "Science for Dummies" has a "comprehensible" (understandable) article on cloning. "Indistinct" (unclear), "consecutive" (in a row), "independent" (self - reliant) don't fit. Answer: a. comprehensible.
3. Sled dogs have "endurance" (stamina) to pull sleds. "Serenity" (calm), "duration" (time length), "discord" (conflict) don't fit. Answer: c. endurance.
4. Judy "retain" (keep) her sense of humor. "Attain" (achieve), "disclose" (reveal), "divert" (distract) don't fit. Answer: d. retain.
5. Karen was sick for "consecutive" (in a row) days. "Minimal" (small), "imperative" (command), "arbitrary" (random) don't fit. Answer: a. consecutive.
6. The banner hung "askew" (crooked) because the beam was crooked. "Arbitrary" (random), "indistinct" (unclear), "luscious" (delicious) don't fit. Answer: d. askew.
7. The dinner had a "luscious" (delicious) dessert selection. "Deceptive" (misleading), "sullen" (gloomy), "indistinct" (unclear) don't fit. Answer: b. luscious.
8. Librarians checked in the "backlog" (accumulated work) of returns. "Duration" (time), "discord" (conflict), "specimen" (sample) don't fit. Answer: c. backlog.
9. A "bleak" (gloomy) weather forecast canceled the picnic. "Fortuitous" (lucky), "capable" (able), "haughty" (arrogant) don't fit. Answer: b. bleak.
10. Locating water was their top "imperative" (urgent necessity) on the island? Wait, no, "priority" is a top concern. Wait, "imperative" can mean a necessity, but "priority" is more about order. Wait, the options: "priority" (top concern), "intrigue" (interest), "imperative" (command/necessity), "testimony" (statement). So "priority" is better? Wait, the original options: a. priority, b. intrigue, c. imperative, d. testimony. So answer: a. priority? Wait, no, "imperative" can be a thing that is essential. But "priority" is the order of importance. Since finding water is the top thing to do, "priority" fits. Wait, maybe I made a mistake earlier. Let's re - check: "imperative" as a noun is a command or a necessity. "Priority" is a thing that is regarded as more important than others. So in the context of the deserted island, finding water is a top "priority" (the most important task). So answer: a. priority.

Answer:

PART A

1. chronicle
2. tempo
3. infraction
4. agenda
5. eloquence

PART B

1. d. specimen
2. a. comprehensible
3. c. endurance
4. d. retain
5. a. consecutive
6. d. askew
7. b. luscious
8. c. backlog
9. b. bleak
10. a. priority