Lesson 3

Question 1

1. typical

Answer 1

usual; of a kind
a. The sinister* character in the movie wore a typical costume, a
dark shirt, loud tie, and tight jacket.
b. The horse ran its typical race, a slow start and a slower finish,
and my uncle lost his wager.*
c. It was typical of the latecomer to conceal* the real cause of his
lateness.

Question 2

2. minimum

Answer 2

the least possible amount; the lowest amount
a. Studies show that adults need a minimum of six hours sleep.
b. The minimum charge for a telephone, even if no calls are made,
is about $60 a month.
c. Congress has set a minimum wage for all workers.

Question 3

3. scarce

Answer 3

hard to get; rare

a. Chairs that are older than one hundred years are scarce.
b. Because there is little moisture in the desert, trees are scarce.
c. How scarce are good cooks?

Question 4

4. annual

Answer 4

once a year; something that appears yearly or lasts
for a year
a. The annual convention of musicians takes place in Hollywood.
b. The publishers of the encyclopedia put out a book each year
called an annual.
c. Plants that live only one year are called annuals.

Question 5

5. persuade

Answer 5

win over to do or believe; make willing
a. Can you persuade him to give up his bachelor* days and get
married?
b. No one could persuade the captain to leave the sinking ship.
c. Beth’s shriek* persuaded Jesse that she was in real danger.

Question 6

6. essential

Answer 6

necessary; very important
a. The essential items in the cake are flour, sugar, and shortening.
b. It is essential that we follow the road map.
c. Several layers of thin clothing are essential to keeping warm in
frigid* climates.

Question 7

7. blend

Answer 7

mix together thoroughly; a mixture
a. The colors of the rainbow blend into one another.
b. A careful blend of fine products will result in delicious food.
c. When jose blends the potatoes together, they come out very
smooth.

Question 8

8. visible

Answer 8

able to be seen

a. The ship was barely visible through the dense fog.
b. Before the stars are visible, the sky has to become quite dark.
c. You need a powerful lens to make some germs visible.

Question 9

9. expensive

Answer 9

costly; high-priced
a. Because diamonds are scarce* they are expensive.
b. Margarine is much less expensive than butter.
c. Shirley’s expensive dress created a great deal of excitement at the
party.

Question 10

10. talent

Answer 10

natural ability

a. Medori’s talent was noted when she was in first grade.
b. Feeling that he had the essential* talent, Carlos tried out for the school play.
c. Hard work can often make up for a lack of talent.

Question 11

11. devise

Answer 11

think out; plan; invent
a. The burglars devised a scheme for entering the bank at night.
b. I would like to devise a method for keeping my toes from becoming numb* while I am ice
skating.
c. If we could devise a plan for using the abandoned* building, we could save thousands of dollars.

Question 12

12. wholesale

Answer 12

in large quantity; less than retail in price

a. The wholesale price of milk is six cents a quart lower than retail.
b. Many people were angered by the wholesale slaughter of birds.
c. By buying my eggs wholesale I save fifteen dollars a year.