Question

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ten words in context
in the space provided, write the letter of the meaning closest to that of each boldfaced word. use the context of the sentences to help you figure out each words meaning.
1 curt
(kûrt)
-adjective
● the fast-food manager trained workers to give polite, full answers to customers,
not curt responses.
● betsy doesnt mean to be curt. when shes with other people, she often says
just a few quick words to them because shes so shy.

• curt means

a. cautious. b. courteous c. rudely brief.
2 demoralize
(dī-môrə-līz)
-verb
● caras refusal to date my brother demoralized him so completely that for
months, he lacked the confidence to ask another woman out.
● when bonita gained a pound during her diet, it so demoralized her that she ate
a banana split.

• demoralize means

a. to cheat. b. to discourage. c. to excite.
3 dilemma
(dī-lěmə)
-noun
● the store manager faced a dilemma: either having an elderly, needy man
arrested or ignoring store rules about shoplifters.
● in old romantic movies, the heroines dilemma often involves choosing
between a rich boyfriend and the poor man she really loves.

• dilemma means

a. a hard choice. b. a great danger. c. a benefit.
4 inclination
(ǐn-klə-nāshan)
-noun
● my inclination is to major in nursing, but im going to speak to a few nurses
before i make my final decision.
● that two-year-old has some irritating habits, such as her inclination to say
o\
to everything.

• inclination means

a. a preference. b. a reason. c. a fate.
5 irate
(ī-rāt)
-adjective
● if kate got angry only occasionally, i could take her more seriously, but shes
always irate about something or other.
● ray gets mad when his wife misplaces the tvs remote control, and she becomes
equally irate when he writes a check and forgets to record it in the checkbook.

• irate means

a. thrilled. b. selfish. c. furious.
6 retort
(rī-tôrt)
-verb
● when i told my parents id put the dishes in the dishwasher the next morning,
my father retorted, \maybe we should serve you dinner in the mornings, too.\
● \what do you want?\ the young woman asked dracula. \only to drink in your
charms,\ he retorted.

• retort means

a. to approve. b. to reply. c. to ask.

Explanation:

1. In the first sentence, "polite, full answers" are contrasted with "curt responses", and in the second sentence, "just a few quick words" due to shyness implies a rude brevity.
2. In the first example, refusal led to lack of confidence (discouragement), and in the second, gaining a pound led to eating a banana split (discouragement from diet).
3. Both examples involve having to choose between two options (arrest or ignore; rich vs poor lover), which is a hard choice.
4. "Major in nursing" and "say 'no' to everything" show a preference.
5. "Got angry" and "gets mad" are related to being furious.
6. In both cases, one person is replying to another (father replying to child; Dracula replying to woman).

Answer:

1. C. rudely brief
2. B. to discourage
3. A. a hard choice
4. A. a preference
5. C. furious
6. B. to reply