GUESS THE MEANING FROM THE CONTEXT

A. CONTEXTS WITH SIMILAR WORDS

1. Her little brother has discovered the cache where she keeps her photos. She
has to find another hiding place.

2. The spine, backbone, runs along the back of human beings.

3. Why are you so timorous? I tell you there is nothing to be afraid of.

B. CONTEXTS WITH CONTRASTING WORDS

1. Be punctual. If you are late, we will have to go without you.

Punctual (adj) : on time

2. One sandwich for lunch usually suffices for you, but for me it isn’t enough.

To Suffice(v): to be enough

3. There are few theaters here, but on Broadway there are theaters galore.

Galore (adj): a lot of

4. Rain in the Sahara Desert is a rarity.

Rarity (n): something uncommon, rare

5. While I was walking to the board, I inadvertently stepped on Laura’s foot, but
she thought I did it on purpose.

Inadvertently (adv) : accidentally

6. Off duty, a police officer may wear the same clothes as a civilian.

Civilian (n) : Anyone who isn’t a member of the military forces or the police.

7. Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death
but once. William Shakespeare

The valiant : brave people

8. Before they construct the new hotel, they are going to demolish the two old
buildings now on the site.

To demolish (v) : to completely destroy a building

C. COMMONSENSE

1. If you stand up in the boat, it may capsize and we ‘ll find ourselves in the
water.

To capsize (v): to turn over into water

2. By car you can traverse the bridge in two minutes, on foot it takes about half
an hour.

To traverse (v): to cross

3. When I asked her how many chairs she needed, she said “five” would be
adequate.

Adequate (adj) : enough, sufficient

SPECIFY THE METHOD

1. Plastic dishes last a long time because they’re unbreakable. However, ordinary
ones are fragile.

2. Nina claims that I have started the fight, but I have witnesses to tell that
she initiated it.

3. Ruth is an experienced driver, but Harry is a novice; he began taking lessons

last month.

4. I had to stand for the first half of the performance because I couldn’t find a
vacant seat.

5. I tried reading her notes, but they were illegible. However, yours were easy
to read.
6. The only equitable way for the three partners to share the $600 profit is for
each to receive $200.

7. If you agree, write “yes”. If you dissent, write “no”.

EXERCISES

1. Be careful with that vase, it’s …….……………… .

Relations between the two countries are in a …….……………… state.

2. This computer course is ideal for …….……………… .

3. His handwriting is totally …….……………… , I can’t read it.

4. She’s always …….……………… for appointments.

Debbie, who has come late to every meeting, surprised us today by being
…….……………… .

5. Few historians will …….……………… from this view.

6. They have decided to …….……………… legal proceedings against the newspaper.

The politicians …….……………… a debate on terrorism last week.

7. A few more statistics will …….……………… to show the new trends.

A light lunch will …….……………… .

8. She has friends …….……………… .

There are shopping malls …….……………… in this city.

9. The police found a …….……………… of explosives last night.

10. Farmers are the …….……………… of a community.

11. Visitors are a …….……………… in our classroom.

12. Only a few apartments were …………… , so it was difficult to find a suitable one
for us.

13. She deleted Robinson’s name …….……………… from the list.

14. A few more statistics will …….……………… to show the trends of the time.
ANSWERS

SPECIFY THE METHOD

1. Plastic dishes last a long time because they’re unbreakable. However, ordinary
ones are fragile.

Fragile (adj) : breakable

2. Nina claims that I have started the fight, but I have witnesses to tell that
she initiated it.

To initiate (v) : to start

3. Ruth is an experienced driver, but Harry is a novice; he began taking lessons

last month.

Novice (n) : beginner

4. I had to stand for the first half of the performance because I couldn’t find a
vacant seat.

Vacant (adj) : Empty, unoccupied

5. I tried reading her notes, but they were illegible. However, yours were easy
to read.

Illegible (adj) : difficult to read

6. The only equitable way for the three partners to share the $600 profit is for
each to receive $200.

Equitable (adj) : equal, fair, just

7. If you agree, write “yes”. If you dissent, write “no”.

To dissent (v) : to disagree

 EXERCISES

1. Be careful with that vase, it’s fragile.

Relations between the two countries are in a fragile state. (not strong)

2. This computer course is ideal for novices.

3. His handwriting is totally illegible, I can’t read it.

4. She’s always punctual for appointments.

Debbie, who has come late to every meeting, surprised us today by being
punctual.

5. Few historians will dissent from this view.

6. They have decided to initiate legal proceedings against the newspaper.

The politicians initiated a debate on terrorism last week.

7. A few more statistics will suffice to show the new trends.

A light lunch will suffice.

8. She has friends galore.

There are shopping malls galore in this city.

9. The police found a cache of explosives last night.

10. Farmers are the backbone of a community.

11. Visitors are a rarity in our classroom.

12. Only a few apartments were vacant, so it was difficult to find a suitable one
for us.

13. She deleted Robinson’s name inadvertently from the list.

14. A few more statistics will suffice to show the trends of the time.

REFERENCE: Vocabulary for the High school Student, AMSCO School

Publications, Inc.