Question

directions. scan the definitions in column a. then, think about how the boldface words are used in the sentences in column b. to complete the exercise, match each definition in column a with the correct vocabulary word from column b. write the letter of your choice on the line provided; then write the vocabulary word on the line preceding the definition.
column a
column b

1. word:

adj. aggressive in support of a belief or cause; n. an individual prepared to fight for a cause; an activist
(a) what was my incentive for reading war and peace? i was inspired by my cousins claim that my mothers side of the family is very distantly re - lated to leo tolstoy.

1. word:

adj. passing quickly; lasting only a short time; temporary
(b) the novel is long because it encompasses so much of russian life during the early 1800s. it even includes napoleons invasion of russia in 1812.

1. word:

n. motivation; encouragement;
adj. motivating; encouraging
(c) pivotal to the story are the lives of three aristo - cratic families. the story especially revolves around two characters, andrey and pierre.

1. word:

v. to contain or include; to surround
(d) as you would expect, some of the characters are strong and implacable, while others are weak and easily pacified.

1. word:

n. an assumption; a fundamental truth or doctrine; v. to assume without proof
(e) among tolstoys basic principles is the postulate that people should be of service to others. that belief comes across in the novel.

1. word:

adj. tight in finances or credit; strict; severe
(f) the number of characters in war and peace - more than five hundred - certainly transcends, or goes beyond, the number in any other novel ive read.

1. word:

adj. relentless; not capable of being calmed or appeased
(g) there are, of course, many characters in the novel whose roles are transitory; they are in the story for only a brief time and are consequently not very important.

1. word:

n. something given to make up for a wrong done; punishment
(h) some of the war heroes in the novel become very vigorous in defending their sides. they actually are too militant for my tastes.

1. word:

adj. on which something turns or depends; crucial; vitally important
(i) my favorite character was natasha, so i didnt want her to suffer any retributions in the story. i didnt care so much if other characters were punished, though.

1. word:

v. to surpass the limits of; to exceed
(j) reading war and peace was a welcome break from my work at the bank, where i keep track of the stringent, or rigidly controlled, money markets.

Explanation:

1. In Column B, option (H) has the word "militant" which means aggressive in support of a belief or cause (as an activist).
2. Column B's option (G) has "transitory" which means passing quickly, lasting only a short time (temporary).
3. Column B's option (A) has "incentive" which is a motivation/encouragement (noun) or motivating/encouraging (adjective).
4. Column B's option (B) has "encompasses" which means to contain or include, to surround.
5. Column B's option (E) has "postulate" which can be a noun (an assumption, a fundamental truth or doctrine) or a verb (to assume without proof).
6. Column B's option (J) has "stringent" which means tight in finances or credit, strict, severe.
7. Column B's option (D) has "implacable" which means relentless, not capable of being calmed or appeased.
8. Column B's option (I) has "retributions" which is something given to make up for a wrong done, punishment.
9. Column B's option (C) has "pivotal" which means on which something turns or depends, crucial, vitally important.
10. Column B's option (F) has "transcends" which means to surpass the limits of, to exceed.

Answer:

1. H
2. G
3. A
4. B
5. E
6. J
7. D
8. I
9. C
10. F