Question

using context
for each item, determine whether the boldface word from pages 62–63 makes sense in the context of the sentence. circle the item numbers next to the six sentences in which the words are used correctly.

1. i opened the box to peruse the instructions before putting the furniture together, but i still could not understand what i was supposed to do.
2. the energy of the losing team only seemed to muster as the game went on, ensuring that they would not score enough points to win.
3. because they had signed a lease saying they would pay rent for the next year, their only recourse to get out of the obligation early was to find a new tenant
4. it’s hard to believe that the now - famous chef was once a nonentity who had to beg people to taste his exotic recipes.
5. while new parents may try to soothe their newborns’ every cry, parents of older children can sometimes seem blasé toward their toddlers’ frequent tantrums.
6. i realized i would need to annul my speech in order to meet the five - minute minimum
7. the house, usually decorated very simply, was almost unrecognizable due to the ornate decorations at the new year’s party
8. she could not sustain such intense concentration for long periods of time, so she made sure to schedule some study breaks throughout the day
9. the marathon winner stood on the promontory that was stationed by the finish line, holding up her medal for everyone to see
10. his solicitous disregard for the well - being of everyone but himself can only be described as rude and unfeeling

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each sentence to check if the boldface word is used correctly:

1. "peruse" (to read carefully):

Opening a box to read instructions makes sense. Correct.

2. "muster" (to gather/raise):

A losing team’s energy “mustering” to not score is illogical (should muster to score). Incorrect.

3. "recourse" (a course of action):

Finding a new tenant as a way to exit a lease is a logical recourse. Correct.

4. "nonentity" (a person of no importance):

A chef who was once unimportant (had to beg people to taste recipes) makes sense. Correct.

5. "blasé" (unconcerned/indifferent):

Parents of older kids being indifferent to toddlers’ tantrums is logical. Correct.

6. "annul" (to cancel/void):

“Annul” a speech (to shorten it) is incorrect (annul means cancel, not shorten). Incorrect.

7. "ornate" (elaborate/decorated):

A simply decorated house with elaborate New Year’s decorations is logical. Correct.

8. "sustain" (to maintain):

Not maintaining concentration, so scheduling breaks makes sense. Correct.

9. "promontory" (a high point):

A marathon winner on a high point (finish line area) is logical. Correct? Wait, “promontory” is a high, cliff-like area—unlikely at a finish line. Recheck: Maybe misused. But earlier 1,3,4,5,7,8 are correct (6 total). Wait, let’s recount:

1 (correct), 3 (correct), 4 (correct), 5 (correct), 7 (correct), 8 (correct) – that’s 6. Let’s confirm:

• 1: peruse (read) – correct.
• 3: recourse (action) – correct.
• 4: nonentity (unimportant) – correct.
• 5: blasé (indifferent) – correct.
• 7: ornate (elaborate) – correct.
• 8: sustain (maintain) – correct.

Answer:

The item numbers with correct word usage are: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8.