nostalgic
ironic
satirical
apathetic
chastising
bemused
r.l'himsical
exasperated
dubious
incredulous
Ten Words in Context
In tiie space provided, write the letter of the meaning closest to that of each bolclfacecl word.
use tlie context of the sentences to help you figure out each word's meaning.
1.
nostalgic * lrlostalgic
feelings mshed through rny sor.ri as I prepared to attend my
higir school class's ten year reuirion.
* IvIy grandfather always digresses into his nostalgic stories of how he
met and wooed mv grandmotlrer.
a.
f
. kremused
+
b.
neruous
c. augr]'
After sitting through calculus class. I feit bemused. I have always liked
English and never could grasp the concepts in math.
1'Vatching the television show lo,rl always leaves rne leeling bemused.
The shorv never anslvers all of rny questions.
+
a.
3. ironic
reflective
scared
b.
confused
c. fulny
* It's ironic that Mary accepted Doug's invitation io
go to the prorn with
him since she acts like she hates him everyday.
* No one thought that the 80-year-old rnan rvould n'in the Boston
Marathol. It's ironic that he would beat so manv other runners rvho are
halliris
a.
aee.
unexpected
b.
fmstratilg
c, erciting
4. rvhimsical * Jauri's purchase of those $100 orange pants
."ras whimsical. She should
have thoright about her decision beftlre squandering so much money.
+ Wlren I rvas voung. rriy hometorvn
-qot 12 inches of sirorv. My father
made a rvhimsical decision to go to Disnev World for a rveek because
he hated snorv.
a.
5,
satirical
annoying
b. skeptical
c. impulsive
* Tiie cotnedian's satirical joke about Hillary's claim that slie landed
rittder enemy fire was really funny. He said tr4r's. Clinton inrist have
been checking for guns when she was seen hug-Eing a little girl.
* I dotr't like when tly teacher has a satirical attitude. Everyone nakes
rnistakes.
sr'r
ilte teacher shouldn'a expose a sindent's rnistakes to the rest of the
class.
a.
rlepressing
b.
funny
c.
inc-rcking
exasperated * Molly felt exasperated rvhen her btts was late because slie didn't watrt to miss
the big test in her first block class.
t As a teacher. I get exasperated rvhen strdents are talking rvhile I'm trying to
teach.
a. ani:oyed
7. apathetic
b. sad
c. detennined.
* Tlre apathetic student riever does iris homework and never pafiicipates in class
+
voters
'41 Gore called the votin-q public apaih*tie rvhen oirly 2070 of re-sistered
actuallv voted in tlie election.
b. active
a. critical
L
dul':i*us
unccincented
* The elubi*us child couldn't decide whether he wanted to G. L .Ioe or the
transfbrrler.
* When Ken asked Balhie to trariy hitl, she repiied rvith a dubions answer,
saying she'd have to think about it.
b.
indecisive
9. chastising
c.
t'irm
c. scared
* My rnother yelled i:i e chastising tone, "You better get hotre rtor,v. It is 15
minutes past -vour cllrfelt',"
+ */hen the teacher retumed. she read a chastising letter fi'cirn her sub tira:
explained how badly irer class had beliaved.
a.
b. fearful
serlOus
c. critical
10. ix*redulous *Laura's ineredulous expression revealed that she didn't believe her husband
rvhen he annoui-iced he irad rvriir the lottery. lt rvas, after all. Aprii Fool's Day.
* Everl- time I hear the exclrse, "My printer brok-e." I just sigh anil give the
Eiudent an incredr:lous look.
b. skeptical
a. e:r:ited
c.
fi'ustrated
M a tc h i rs g
$*'or ds H' if k D e{i rc it! o rs s
Iollowing are definitior-is of ten words. Clearl-v" r.vriie or print each word next to its definition.
The selt*nces above and on the i:revioris page rvill iielp you decide oir the meaning of each rvord.
'|
severel,l'
criticizilg
2.
corltrary to r,vhat is erpected
_].
extremely annoyed. ilri:ated or irnpatieni
.4
having or shorving little or no emotiott, itrterest or coneent
detennined b3, chance or impulse rather tl':an reasoll
a bittersrveet longing for things, persons, or situatic'ns r'rf the past
-7
bervildered or confusedl lost in thonghtl preoccr-qriecl
indicating or shorvins unbelief; skeptical
9.
ivar,eriug or hesitating i1 opinion: of unceftain outcome
1n
exposing hnrnan rnistakes or foolishness to ridicule