Question

sadlierconnect.com: iwords audio program

1. tantalize

(v.) to tease, torment by teasing
(tan ta liz)
when i am on a diet, the treats in bakery windows seem
to have been put there to _ me.

1. terse

(adj.) brief and to the point
(tars)
the manuscript for my short story was returned to me
with a _ letter of rejection.
using context
for each item, determine whether the boldface word from pages 26 - 27
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. according to the inspectors report, the longtime presence of termites and exposure

to underground moisture would eventually fortify the buildings foundation.

1. the weather at this time of year can be erratic - pleasant and mild one day, cold

and stormy the next.

1. from her terse response to my message, i knew she had only a brief moment to

check her email before boarding the train.

1. the armadillos here in texas are alien to my cousin, who is from the northeast and

has never before seen creatures like these.

1. a good watchdog will alert its owners of danger by its jeer at intruders.
2. we could tell from the comely expression on our parents faces that they were not

amused by the twins practical joke.

1. the accused criminals refusal to answer questions added fodder to the investigators

suspicion that he had something to hide.

1. the fans rejoiced over the last - minute comeback of their team during the mediocre

ending of the basketball game.

1. despite weeks of fierce fighting, the kings forces were not able to subjugate the

invaders and make them retreat.

1. the balloons, toys, and treats offered by the vendors at the street fair tantalize the

child looking out from her window.

Explanation:

• Sentence 1: Termites and moisture would weaken, not fortify, a foundation. So "fortify" is used incorrectly.
• Sentence 2: "Erratic" means unpredictable. The weather being pleasant one day and stormy the next shows unpredictability. So "erratic" is used correctly.
• Sentence 3: "Terse" means brief. A brief response aligns with the definition. So "terse" is used correctly.
• Sentence 4: "Alien" can mean unfamiliar. The armadillos are unfamiliar to the cousin. So "alien" is used correctly.
• Sentence 5: A watchdog alerts by barking, not "jeer" (which means to mock). So "jeer" is used incorrectly.
• Sentence 6: "Comely" means attractive. An expression showing lack of amusement has no relation to being attractive. So "comely" is used incorrectly.
• Sentence 7: "Fodder" can mean something that feeds or supports. The refusal feeds suspicion. So "fodder" is used correctly.
• Sentence 8: A last - minute comeback during a "mediocre" (average) ending is a bit of a contradiction. But if the game was average overall and had a good comeback moment, it's a stretch. However, based on word - meaning, "mediocre" is used correctly as it describes the overall ending quality (before the comeback could be seen as a redeeming factor).
• Sentence 9: "Subjugate" means to conquer. The king's forces not being able to conquer invaders fits the definition. So "subjugate" is used correctly.
• Sentence 10: "Tantalize" means to tease. The treats teasing the child fits the definition. So "tantalize" is used correctly.

Answer:

1. The weather at this time of year can be erratic—pleasant and mild one day, cold and stormy the next.
2. From her terse response to my message, I knew she had only a brief moment to check her email before boarding the train.
3. The armadillos here in Texas are alien to my cousin, who is from the Northeast and has never before seen creatures like these.
4. The accused criminal's refusal to answer questions added fodder to the investigators' suspicion that he had something to hide.
5. The fans rejoiced over the last - minute comeback of their team during the mediocre ending of the basketball game.
6. Despite weeks of fierce fighting, the king's forces were not able to subjugate the invaders and make them retreat.
7. The balloons, toys, and treats offered by the vendors at the street fair tantalize the child looking out from her window.