Chapter 13

Question 1

Squander

It’s sad to see such a wonderful artist squander her talent designing labels for baked-bean cans.

Answer 1

1. to misuse
2. to waste; spend or use foolishly

Question 2

Curtail

I need to curtail my volunteer activities so that I can spend more time earning money to pay back a loan.

Answer 2

1. to shorten
2. to cut short or reduce

Question 3

Incentive

The thought of myself in a bathing suit next summer provides me with an adequate incentive to exercise.

Answer 3

Encouragement to take action or work harder; Motivation

Question 4

Digress

Professor Rubin never digresses during a lecture. Even his jokes relate to the day’s topic.

Answer 4

1. to go off the subject
2. to turn aside, or stray, especially from the main topic in speaking or writing

Question 5

Rigor

The rigor of working at two part-time jobs while going to school proved too much for Jamal. Exhausted, he quit both jobs.

Answer 5

Great hardship or difficulty; harshness; severity

Question 6

Devastate

Vera is so fond of Andy. She’ll be devasted to hear he has cancer.

Answer 6

To upset greatly; overwhelm

Question 7

Succumb

Leah succumbed to her daughter’s begging and bought her a pet lizard for her birthday.

Answer 7

1. To yield
2. to give in; stop resisting

Question 8

Indispensable
When your broke, you find that many things you thought were indispensable aren’t actually necessary after all.

Answer 8

1. Needed
2. Necessary

Question 9

Incorporate

Jerry incorporated all of his favorite desserts into one: a chocolate-covered banana-cream pecan pie.

Answer 9

To join together; combine

Question 10

Intermittent

You have to work steadily with your dog to train him well. Intermittent practice won’t work.

Answer 10

Irregular; off-and-on