Unit 4 Context Clues

The state legislators voted to annul the out-of-date law, so it will no longer need to be followed.

What does annul mean?

• To declare constitutional

• To declare open

• To declare invalid; no longer legal

• :)

After going on eight different cruises, I am blasé about the whole cruise experience.

What does blasé mean?

• Bored and unimpressed

• Excited and eager

• Silly and unimportant

• :)

When you write a research paper, you should always use relevant facts to bolster, not weaken, your argument.

What does bolster mean?

• To tear down, destroy

• To attack, harm

• To support, boost

• :)

Teachers deplore student behaviors that distract from the lesson.

What does deplore mean?

• To disapprove of

• To encourage and support

• To avoid

• :)

The police will only help serious cases; they have no time for frivolous arguments about balloons at a party.

What does frivolous mean?

• Not important, silly

• Serious and intense

• Social and personal

• :)

You will need to muster your courage before riding the huge rollercoaster.

What does muster mean?

• To clean up, tidy

• To push down, retreat

• To summon, gather

• :)

We may not be movie stars, but we did not deserve to be treated like dirt and as nonentities by the director.

What does nonentity mean?

• Ghosts, spirits

• People of no importance

• Celebrities, the elite

• :)

If you allow fear of failure to obsess you, you will find it difficult to focus on anything else.

What does obsess mean?

• To fill the mind, to haunt

• To leave open, free

• To focus, sharpen

• :)

I hate ornate engagement rings with a bunch of diamonds on it; I like a simple stone and band.

What does ornate mean?

• Simple, plain

• Elaborately decorated

• Golden, silver

• :)

I used air spray to try and oust the bad smell that stuck around after the water damage.

What does oust mean?

• To spread around

• To gather, summmon

• To drive out, remove

• :)