Reading 3
Practice with Vocabulary in Context—1
Example Method: Practice the example method.
1. A coyote’s prey includes squirrels, rabbits, and mice.
What does “prey” mean? ________________________________________
2. The car had defects such as a dented fender and torn seats, but I didn’t care. I had wanted a
Corvette sports car for years, and I was going to buy it.
What does “defects” mean? ________________________________________
3. There are some amazing things to see at Hearst Castle in central California. For instance,
there is an indoor swimming pool whose dimensions are a length of 100 feet, a width of 15
feet, and depth of 10 feet.
What does “dimensions” mean? ________________________________________
4. The notables at the charity event included actor Tom Cruise, tennis star Venus Williams, and
singer Janet Jackson.
What does “notables” mean? ________________________________________
5. The San Diego Zoo has not only such common zoo animals as lions and tigers, but also
exotic ones like giant pandas, snow leopards, and koala bears.
What does “exotic” mean? ________________________________________
6. Newspaper reporters have been fired for writing fictitious articles that included quotations
which were never said and events which never occurred.
What does “fictitious” mean? ________________________________________
7. We often communicate what we mean by gestures such as the thumbs-up sign, hands on the
hips, and a shrug of the shoulders.
What does “gestures” mean? ________________________________________
8. I don’t enjoy treacherous activities like mountain climbing and deep-sea diving. I’d rather
just float in a swimming pool.
What does “treacherous” mean? ________________________________________
9. Behavior such as belching in public and talking loudly in a movie theater is considered
obnoxious by most people.
What does “obnoxious” mean? ________________________________________
10. For better health and a longer life, doctors recommend wholesome habits, including
exercising daily and eating nutritious food.
What does “wholesome” mean? ________________________________________