Vocabulary in Context Flashcards
6 cards from real Reading Comprehension practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Vocabulary in Context flashcards as text
In the sentence 'The politician tried to mollify the angry crowd by promising immediate tax relief,' what does 'mollify' most likely mean?
Answer: Calm or soothe
The context shows the politician responding to an angry crowd with promises — the logical intent is to calm them down, making 'mollify' mean to soothe or appease.
In the passage 'The detective's tenacious pursuit of the truth led her to reexamine evidence that others had dismissed years ago,' what does 'tenacious' mean?
Answer: Persistent and determined
Reexamining evidence 'dismissed years ago' shows extreme persistence — someone who won't give up even when others have, which defines tenacious.
In the sentence 'The once-pristine beach was now littered with debris, and the crystal-clear water had turned a murky brown,' what does 'pristine' mean?
Answer: Pure and unspoiled
The word 'once' signals a contrast with the current state (littered, murky). Since the beach is now polluted, 'pristine' must mean the opposite: pure and unspoiled.
In the sentence 'Her sardonic comment about the company's record profits silenced the room, as everyone realized she was criticizing management's refusal to raise wages,' what does 'sardonic' mean?
Answer: Mocking or cynically humorous
The comment criticized management through an ironic observation about profits versus wages — this cutting, cynical humor defines sardonic.
In the passage 'The company's CEO described the merger as a synergy of two great organizations, but employees feared it was merely a euphemism for massive layoffs,' what does 'euphemism' mean?
Answer: A mild or indirect expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one
Employees suspected that 'synergy' was being used to disguise the unpleasant reality of layoffs — using a pleasant word to mask a harsh truth is exactly what a euphemism does.
In the sentence 'The professor's lecture was so esoteric that only students with advanced backgrounds in quantum physics could follow it,' what does 'esoteric' mean?
Answer: Understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge
The context indicates that only students with advanced, specialized knowledge could understand the lecture — this restricted accessibility defines esoteric.