Vocabulary in context

In a prolonged space flight, besides the obvious hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation, astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy, brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when they return to Earth, they face a protracted period of weight training to rebuild their strength.

Q: What is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debris as it is used in the text?

• fragments

• decay

• bacteria

• alien life

Answer explanation

The clue is the word rocky. What else can be the answer when other answer choices have no relation at all to a piece of ROCK?

In a prolonged space flight, besides the obvious hazards of meteors, rocky debris, and radiation, astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy, brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when they return to Earth, they face a protracted period of weight training to rebuild their strength.

Q: The underlined word atrophy, most nearly means . . .

• pain

• wasting away

• weakening

• cramping

Answer explanation

Atrophy means to be reduced in size, especially for body parts, and thus strength. Synonymous with weakening.

The baseball player’s malice toward the referee was revealed in his spiteful remarks to the media, which almost ruined the referee’s career.

Q: What does the word spiteful means?

• vindictive

• crazy

• rude

• unpleasant

Answer explanation

To be spiteful means to be vindictive or vengeful. The key is the word malice and the phrase almost ruined the referee's career.

The spies conducted a covert operation.

Q: What does covert means?

• dangerous

• foreign

• hidden

• illegal

Answer explanation

It is something done by a SPY. James Bond does thing hidden behind the scene, not things like Rambo does.

The designer window treatments in her house, installed 17 years ago, were outmoded.

Q: What does outmoded means?

• unnecessary

• pointless

• out-of-date

• worthless

Answer explanation

To be outmoded means to be old-fashioned or out-of-date. The clue is in the context of the phrase installed 17 years ago.

Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the night of the party, Tanya’s outfit was uncharacteristically modest.

Q: What does flamboyant mean?

• impeccable

• showy

• sloppy

• unassuming

Answer explanation

Something flamboyant means something that is so flashy and showy, so much as it might even beat a peacock. The clue is the antonym in the phrases "usually described as flamboyant, but . . . uncharacteristically modest"

Mr. Powers was so gullible that he believed even the most outlandish excuses of his insincere employees.

Q: What does gullible means?

• intelligence

• naïve

• dishonest

• critical

Answer explanation

To be gullible means easy to fool or naïve. The clue can be found in the context that the person believe even the most outlandish excuses.

Charles, aware of his susceptibility to gum disease, is diligent about flossing.

Q: What does diligent means?

• uncomfortable

• excited

• thorough

• ambivalent

Answer explanation

To be diligent means to be painstaking and thorough in doing something.

You cannot become a certified teacher without completing the prerequisite student-teaching assignment.

Q: What does prerequisite means?

• required

• optional

• preferred

• advisable

Answer explanation

Prerequisite means something that is necessary or required. The sentence explains that one can't become a certified teacher without completing the assignment, which means that the assignment MUST be done in order to get the certification.

She showed a blatant disregard for the rules, such as smoking in the classroom when the teachers aren't present and showing up late to the class every morning.

Q: What does blatant means?

• hidden

• rebellious

• obvious

• last-minute

Answer explanation

Something blatant means something done openly and boldly, often in plain sight for all to see.