Question

choosing the right word
select the boldface word that better completes each sentence. you might refer to the passage on pages 126–127 to see how most of these words are used in context.

1. the modern tv sitcom developed from the type of broad (surplus, farce) that slapstick comedians served up in the 1920s and 1930s.
2. since i was led to believe that she would approve my proposal, i was very much taken aback when it was (lavished, vetoed) out of hand.
3. beneath the (dismantled, dilapidated) body of the getaway car, there was a powerful, finely tuned motor capable of reaching high speeds.
4. after winning the award for best actress, she graciously (lavished, dismantled) praise on everyone who had worked with her on the movie.
5. the campaign to eliminate pollution will prove (futile, grueling) unless it has full public support.
6. he amazed us by reaching into the pile of (clutter, lair) on his desk and pulling out the exact the piece of paper he wanted.
7. “i discovered a really cool store with all kinds of (morbid, surplus) army and navy equipment,” joel told his friends excitedly.
8. i sometimes think that he enjoys being sick and having everyone wait on him, sympathize with him, and (shirk, pamper) him.
9. when he said he would “beard the lion in his (lair, bellow),” he merely meant that he was going to have it out with the boss.
10. what a difference between the (timidity, farce) of the typical freshman and the know - it - all confidence of a senior!
11. he is (hospitable, notorious) for his habit of taking small loans from his best friends and then conveniently forgetting about them.
12. even the toughest critics have been (lavish, dilapidated) in their praise of the new movie.
13. the first thing rick and maria do when they enter a room is to (clutter, shirk) it with their jackets, shoes, backpacks, books, electronic equipment, and pencils.
14. when i think back to my days of basic training, i can almost hear the drill sergeant (pampering, bellowing) commands across the field.
15. it would be impossible to (pamper, dismantle) our system of governmental checks and balances without destroying american democracy.

lucille ball starred in the television comedy i love lucy from 1951–1957

Explanation:

To solve these word - choice problems, we analyze the context of each sentence and the meanings of the boldface words:

1. For the first sentence, “farce” means a humorous or satirical performance, which fits the context of slapstick comedians' shows. “Surplus” means an excess, which doesn't fit. So the answer is farce.
2. In the second sentence, “vetoed” means to reject a proposal, while “lavished” means to give generously. Since the proposal was rejected, the answer is vetoed.
3. The third sentence describes a car body. “Dilapidated” means in a state of disrepair, and “dismantled” means taken apart. The context is about the body's appearance, so “dilapidated” is correct.
4. In the fourth sentence, “lavished” means to give a lot of praise, and “dismantled” means to take apart. So “lavished” is the right choice.
5. The fifth sentence is about a campaign. “Futile” means useless, and “grueling” means tiring. Without public support, the campaign is useless, so “futile” is correct.
6. The sixth sentence is about a pile on the desk. “Clutter” means a mess of things, and “lair” is a place of refuge (usually for animals). So “clutter” is right.
7. In the seventh sentence, “surplus” means excess military equipment, and “morbid” means related to death or disease. So “surplus” is correct.
8. The eighth sentence is about treating someone who is sick. “Pamper” means to spoil, and “shirk” means to avoid. So “pamper” is right.
9. The ninth sentence uses the phrase “beard the lion in his lair”, where “lair” is a lion's den. “Bellow” is a roar. So “lair” is correct.
10. The tenth sentence compares a freshman's quality. “Timidity” means shyness, and “farce” is a performance. So “timidity” is right.
11. The eleventh sentence is about a bad habit. “Notorious” means well - known for something bad, and “hospitable” means friendly to guests. So “notorious” is correct.
12. The twelfth sentence is about critics' praise. “Lavish” means to give a lot of praise, and “dilapidated” means in disrepair. So “lavish” is right.
13. The thirteenth sentence is about filling a room with things. “Clutter” means to fill with mess, and “shirk” means to avoid. So “clutter” is correct.
14. The fourteenth sentence is about a drill sergeant. “Bellowing” means shouting, and “pampering” means spoiling. So “bellowing” is right.
15. The fifteenth sentence is about a government system. “Dismantle” means to take apart, and “pamper” means to spoil. So “dismantle” is correct.

Answer:

1. farce
2. vetoed
3. dilapidated
4. lavished
5. futile
6. clutter
7. surplus
8. pamper
9. lair
10. timidity
11. notorious
12. lavish
13. clutter
14. bellowing
15. dismantle