Spanish language learning forums - More Vocab Exercises to Check!

Choosing the Right Meaning...
Read each sentence carefully. Then ~~circle~~ (in this case bold) the item that best defines the bolded vocab word.

1. Far from being the pliant figurehead that many politicians expected, Lincoln as president firmly proved himself his own man.

a. elastic
b. flexible
c. indeterminate
d. easily influenced

2. Environmentalists expressed concern that unchecked development would leave the region impoverished of wildlife.

a. indigent
b. rich
c. depleted
d. unpopulated

3. The young playwright was overwhelmed by the sudden access of fame occasioned by the phenomenal success of her second play.

a. passage
b. increase
c. diminishment
d. entry

4. Is he really opaque, I wondered, or is he merely pretending ignorance, the better to dupe me?

a. obtuse
b. transparent
c. murky
d. unclear

5. After a period of servitude in a penal colony, he became an evangelical minister and died in the odor of sanctity.

a. service
b. forced labor
c. illness
d. slavery

Building with Classical Roots
Correct match with word and meaning?

*sustenance - tbe means of support or subsistence; nourishment? :good:
*tenure - the time during which something is held; a permanent right to an office or position after a trial period? :good:
*pertain - to have reference to; to be suitable; to belong, as an attribute or accessory? :good:
*retinue - a body of followers, group of attendants? :good:
*abstention - the act of doing without; refraining?
*detention - confinement; holding in custody? :good:
*tenor - the flow of meaning through something written or spoken, drift; the highest adult male voice
*detain - to prevent from going on, delay, hold back; hold as a prisoner :good:

1. When their food supplies ran out, the desperate survivors turned to roots and berries for sustenance.
2. The librarian suggested references in which I might search for materials that pertain to the topic of my research paper.
3. They showed their dissatisfaction with both candidates running for office by widespread detaining from voting.
4. "My main goal during my tenure in office," pledged the new mayor, "is to ensure tha tour city will meet the needs of all its citizens".
5. We gathered from the tenor of his remarks that he doesn't share our opinion on this issue.
6. The detectives abstented :?: the suspect for more questioning after they noticed a discrepancy in his story.
7. After-hours detention is a prevalent method of punishment in schools.
8. The basketball star had a steady retinue of hangers-on who tuned his head with endless praise.

1. Although we objected to the prickly (tenure, tenor) of the review, the astute critic did make several valuable observations.
2. Total (abstention, detention) from caffeine includes avoiding chocolates and cola-flavored soft drinks, as well as tea and coffee.
3. The employee was denied (tenure, sustenance) on the grounds of his uneven performance record.
4. International rules demand that (retinue, detention) centers for prisoners of war must meet certain minimal standards of cleanliness and humane treatment.
5. "Your comments are very interesting," the teacher acknowledged, "but they do not actually (detain, pertain) to the issue we are trying to resolve.
6. The queen's (retinue, abstention) accompanied her in a fleet of smaller boats that sailed ahead of and behind the royal barge.
7. The koala takes its (sustenance, tenor)--both food and water--from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree.
8. U.S. Customs officials have the authority to (pertain,detain) anyone who tries to enter the United States without appropriate identity documents, such as a current passport or visa.