Question

read the passages carefully. then fill in each blank with the word that best fits the context.
a. toasters
a. current b. maintain c. minimum d. originate e. reliable
although the practice of eating toasted bread (1)________(ed) about 4,600 years ago, the pop - up electric toaster was not invented until 1919. these early pop - up toasters were not very (2)______. they broke down often. also, they werent able to (3)______ an even temperature, but grew hotter and hotter with each piece of bread toasted. some poor - quality machines even popped the toast all the way across the room. over the years, toasters have certainly improved. (4)______ ones are easy to utilize, and they give us a (5)________ number of problems with repairs and temperature control.
b. a mean man
f. advise g. deprive h. hesitate i. objection j. penalize
mr. barker says that he has no (6)________ to kids—as long as they dont come into his yard, as long as they dont (7)________ him of peace and quiet, and as long as they dont grow up to be teenagers.
neighborhood kids say hes the meanest man they ever met. who can blame them? if he sees them choosing up sides for a ball game in the street, for example, he doesnt (8)________ a minute. he runs right to his window and yells, \you cant do that in front of my house!\ the kids are afraid of him, but they yell back that the street belongs to everybody. \well, i (9)______ you to watch your step!\ he replies. \if you kids break my window or step on my flowers, you will be (10)________(ed).\ then he ends the dispute by slamming his window shut. maybe a hard life has made mr. barker the way he is, but its difficult to have warm feelings for someone so obnoxious.

Explanation:

1. "originate" means to start or come into existence, so "originated" fits for the first blank as it refers to the start - time of eating toasted bread.
2. "reliable" means trustworthy and not likely to fail. Early pop - up toasters were not trustworthy as they broke down often, so "reliable" for the second blank.
3. "maintain" means to keep at a certain level or state. Toasters couldn't keep an even temperature, so "maintain" for the third blank.
4. "current" means belonging to the present time. Current toasters are easy to use, so "current" for the fourth blank.
5. "minimum" means the least or smallest amount. Current toasters give a small number of problems, so "minimum" for the fifth blank.
6. "objection" means a feeling of opposition or disapproval. Mr. Barker has no opposition to kids under certain conditions, so "objection" for the sixth blank.
7. "deprive" means to prevent someone from having or using something. Kids shouldn't prevent him of peace and quiet, so "deprive" for the seventh blank.
8. "hesitate" means to pause in indecision before saying or doing something. He doesn't pause before yelling, so "hesitate" for the eighth blank.
9. "advise" means to give a suggestion as to what one should do. He gives a warning or advice to the kids, so "advise" for the ninth blank.
10. "penalize" means to subject to a penalty. Kids will be punished if they break his window or step on his flowers, so "penalize" for the tenth blank.

Answer:

(1) D. originate
(2) E. reliable
(3) B. maintain
(4) A. current
(5) C. minimum
(6) I. objection
(7) G. deprive
(8) H. hesitate
(9) F. advise
(10) J. penalize