English Vocab Unit 9

Only choosing the right word

In a democracy, the average citizen should be and active participation in public affairs, not just a quiet _________

Bystander

After weeks of no rain, the ________ earth turned to dust that was blown away by the strong winds

Parched

The soundness of the basic ideas of the U.S. Constitution has been _________ by the experience of more than 200 years

Ratified

In spite of all the setbacks we have had, we must _______ in our efforts to achieve the goal we have set for ourselves

Persist

“ How can you compare a union employee” , the factory owner asked “ to the ______ serfs and slaves of the earlier times?

Downtrodden

Aided by diagrams on the chalkboard, she gave a summary of her plan so clear and _______ that it won the full support of the audience

Graphic

It is hard to believe that this sturdy, six-foot basketball star was a ________ 100-pounder only a few years ago

Puny

If you press the gas pedal just a little, this car will _____ like a racing vehicle

Accelerate

Wearing that thick scarf and ski mask, as well as a heavy coat over layers of clothing, he must have felt hot and _____ even in the chilly air

Stifled

I think it showed bad judgment on your part to tell such a ________ story to a child who is so easily frightened

Gruesome

With her ____ bearing and imperious manner, Elizabeth I looked every inch the queen she in fact was

Regal

Instead of continuing to ______ we must decide on a goal and start to move toward it

flounder

You will never do well in school as long as your attitude toward your studies remains _______ and unconcerned

Casual

In the heat of the desert afternoon, we felt ________ despite drinking from our canteens every few minutes

Parched

The assistant principal ______ the faculty for ways of improving the educational standards of the school

Canvassed

If you have prepared properly for the exams, there will be no reason to regard them as such a terrible_______

Ordeal

No doubt he has our best interest at heart, but my faith in him has been ______ by repeated evidence of his poor judgment

Eroded

She made what proved to be a _______ mistake when she gave the job to one of the applicants without checking his references first

Vital

In spite of the brightest sunshine and the happiest crowds, a strange mood of ______ seem to take possession of me

Melancholy

“ this case is much more than a mere _______ between former friends” said the layer during the closing remarks

Quibble

Do her efforts to ______ our departure mean that she is trying to help us, or just to get rid of us?

Accelerate

I find your offer most ___, But my better judgment tells me to have nothing to do with it

Enticing

The dictator used fear and violence to___disconnect among the people he ruled

Stifle

When I asked you what that meant by those words I wasn’t ___But trying to discover what the problem was

quibbling

Sunset on a cold autumn day can be a wistful _____ sight

Melancholy