Week 1.5 Vocabulary in Context

During the school play, Luna noticed that Benjamin was always flattering the director to get the best roles. What does the word "sycophant" mean in this context?

• A person who criticizes others

• A person who flatters others for personal gain

• A person who works hard

• A person who is honest

Answer explanation

The word 'sycophant' refers to someone who flatters others, particularly those in power, to gain personal advantage. In the sentence, John flatters his boss for favor, making 'A person who flatters others for personal gain' the correct choice.

During a lively classroom debate, Luna asked with a curious smile, "In the sentence 'The harmful effects of the drug were not immediately apparent,' what does the word 'harmful' mean?"

• Beneficial

• Harmful

• Temporary

• Mild

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'pernicious' means harmful, indicating that the drug has negative effects. The other options, such as beneficial, temporary, and mild, do not accurately describe the nature of the effects mentioned.

Hey Zoe and Ethan, can you figure out the meaning of "ubiquitous" in this sentence: "Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society."? Let's see who gets it right first!

• Rare

• Expensive

• Widespread

• Obsolete

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'ubiquitous' means that smartphones are found everywhere in modern society, indicating they are widespread. The other options like 'rare' and 'obsolete' contradict this meaning, making 'widespread' the correct choice.

During a lively debate about economics, Harper suddenly exclaimed, "The weather is lovely today!" Rohan chuckled and said, "Well, that is a non sequitur." What does "non sequitur" mean in this context?

• A logical conclusion

• An irrelevant statement

• A supporting argument

• A factual statement

Answer explanation

In this context, "non sequitur" refers to an irrelevant statement, as the comment about the weather does not logically follow or relate to the discussion about economics.

During the lively school debate, Samuel turned to Ethan and exclaimed, "The politician's speech was a diatribe against his opponents!" What does "diatribe" mean?

• A calm discussion

• A bitter verbal attack

• A humorous anecdote

• A formal announcement

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'diatribe' refers to a bitter verbal attack, which aligns with the context of the politician's speech criticizing his opponents. The other options do not accurately capture this meaning.

Aria and Nora stumbled upon the word "analysis" in the sentence: "The scientist's analysis of the data revealed some surprising trends." Can you help them figure out what it means?

• A detailed examination

• A brief summary

• A random guess

• A creative story

Answer explanation

In the sentence, 'analysis' refers to a detailed examination of the data, which aligns with the correct choice. The scientist carefully studied the data to uncover trends, rather than providing a summary, guess, or story.

Imagine you're in a literature class with Samuel, Abigail, and Olivia. The teacher says, "The author uses figurative language to develop the theme." What does "develop" mean in this context?

• To destroy

• To create or build

• To ignore

• To simplify

Answer explanation

In this context, "develop" means to create or build the theme using figurative language, enhancing the reader's understanding and engagement with the text.

During an exciting classroom discussion, the teacher asked Scarlett, Abigail, and Grace: "What does 'connection' mean in the sentence: 'The teacher emphasized the connection between hard work and success'?"

• A separation

• A relationship

• A disagreement

• A coincidence

Answer explanation

In the sentence, "connection" refers to a relationship, indicating that hard work is linked to achieving success. The other options do not fit the context, making "a relationship" the correct choice.

Ava and James are having a lively discussion about poetry during lunch. Ava playfully asks, "James, what do you think 'figurative' means in the sentence: 'The poet's use of figurative language added depth to the poem'?" Just then, Elijah and Sophia join in, eager to share their thoughts.

• Literal

• Symbolic

• Simple

• Direct

Answer explanation

In this context, "figurative" refers to language that is symbolic rather than literal. The poet's use of figurative language enhances the poem's meaning by using symbols and imagery, making "symbolic" the correct choice.

Jackson and Samuel are having a lively debate about the sentence "The connotation of the word 'home' is more positive than 'house'." Can you join in and explain what "connotation" means?

• The literal meaning

• The implied or associated meaning

• The technical definition

• The pronunciation

Answer explanation

In this context, 'connotation' refers to the implied or associated meaning of a word, rather than its literal definition. 'Home' evokes warmth and comfort, while 'house' is more neutral, highlighting the difference in their connotations.