Vocabulary in Context Flashcards

In the sentence 'The new law was *contentious*, sparking heated debate in both houses of Congress,' *contentious* means:

Answer: Causing disagreement and argument

'Heated debate' directly signals that *contentious* describes something that provokes controversy.

'She gave a *cursory* glance at the report before rushing to her next meeting.' The word *cursory* implies the glance was:

Answer: Quick and superficial

*Cursory* means hasty and therefore not thorough; rushing to a meeting reinforces the lack of depth.

The word *lucid* in 'Despite the complexity of quantum physics, her *lucid* explanation helped every student understand' means:

Answer: Clear and easy to understand

*Lucid* means expressed clearly; every student understanding confirms the explanation succeeded in clarity.

Which context clue strategy is used in: 'The *loquacious* student, who talked constantly and dominated every discussion, frustrated the teacher'?

Answer: Restatement clue

The phrase 'who talked constantly and dominated every discussion' restates the meaning of *loquacious* in different words.

'The *benevolent* donor funded the entire hospital wing anonymously, asking for nothing in return.' *Benevolent* most nearly means:

Answer: Well-meaning and generous

*Benevolent* describes a desire to do good for others; funding a hospital wing anonymously is a classic expression of goodwill.

In 'The treaty was *nullified* after one nation violated its core terms,' *nullified* means:

Answer: Made legally void and invalid

*Nullify* means to make something legally without effect; violating core terms triggers cancellation of the agreement.

Read: 'The explorer's account of the hidden valley seemed *implausible* until photographs confirmed every detail.' *Implausible* means:

Answer: Hard to believe

*Implausible* means not seeming reasonable or probable; the need for photographic proof signals initial disbelief.