Using Context Clues

The politician went on and on with his harangue while his fellow senators were fired to keep listening.

• noisy laughter

• simple explanation

• prolonged speech

• short conversation

Manic depression is an emotional disorder in which the patient alternates between feeling euphoric and being plunged into deep gloom.

• bored

• overjoyed

• exhausted

• curious

By giving military aid to dictatorships in Latin America, the U.S. has seemed to sanction their cruel policies.

• criticize

• approve of

• remember

• create

Being unable to write clearly is a liability in a business career, in which one must often express opinions and ideas in writing.

• drawback

• surprise

• necessity

• penalty

To carry out his economic programs, Roosevelt had to contend with a Supreme Court that was deeply opposed to them.

• agree

• surrender

• struggle

• join

Because she enjoyed her work, the new job offer left Elena in a quandary. She couldn't decide what to do.

• state of fear

• state of anger

• state of uncertainty

• state of confidence

Test results sometimes show that a person who only has a tenuous grasp of mathematics nevertheless has very strong verbal abilities.

• acquired

• thorough

• confusing

• weak

To forestall the need for last minute cramming, keep up with each course throughout the semester. Keeping up will also prevent "text anxiety."

• insure

• allow

• prevent

• defeat

There is a growing disparity between the rich and the poor in the U.S. The richest 20 percent of Americans own more than 75 percent of all the nation's wealth.

• mistrust

• understanding

• inequality

• violence

Unhappy with British rule, the American colonists fought to become autonomous.

• well-known

• taxed

• independent

• armed