Lesson 8

Question 1

To go faster (v./n./n., 1 syn)

Answer 1

Accelerate, acceleration, accelerator
Hasten
(the action of the molecules accelerates when they are heated - the poor condition of the motor made acceleration difficult)

Question 2

To move slowly and quietly close to the ground; to begin to happen (v./adj., 1 syn)

Answer 2

Creep, creeping
Crawl
(some mistakes are beginning to creep into his work - Ivy is a creeping variety of plant)

Question 3

To press together so as to completely distort the shape or nature of the object (v./adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 3

Crush, crushing, crush
Grind
(the machine crushes corn to produce cornmeal - passage of the legislation was a crushing blow to the president’s program)

Question 4

To plant and raise a crop; to encourage growth of a relationship or friendship (v./adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 4

Cultivate, cultivated, cultivation
Grow
(the professionals had common interests that allowed them to cultivate a working relationship with each other - the cultivation of diverse crops in pre-Columbian America is well-documented)

Question 5

To state demands with the power to enforce (v./adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 5

Dictate, dictatorial, dictator
Impose
(the workers were not in a position to dictate demands to management - his boss resembled a dictator)

Question 6

To hear, see, or recognize differences (v./adj./adj./adj., 1 syn)

Answer 6

Distinguish, distinguishable, distinguished, distinguishing

Discriminate

Question 7

Easy to control or train (adj./adv./n., 1 syn)

Answer 7

Docile, docilely, docility
Manageable
(the moose is typically a very docile animal - many rebellious young people see docility as a weakness)

Question 8

To cause something new to exist; to create (v., 1 syn)

Answer 8

Engender
Produce
(the politician’s charisma engendered enthusiasm - economic conditions in the 1950s engendered an era of industrial growth)

Question 9

To become completely occupied or involved in an activity (v./n./adj., 1 syn)

Answer 9

Engross, engrossment, engrossing
Engage
(the teacher’s lecture engrossed the entire class - O. Henry’s short stories engross readers all the way to their surprise endings)

Question 10

A small sign of damage that makes an item imperfect (n./adj., 1 syn)

Answer 10

Flaw, flawed
Defect
(there is a flaw in his history - they noticed that the contract was flawed)

Question 11

The act of collecting a crop (n./adj;/v., 1 syn)

Answer 11

Harvest, harvested, harvest
Gather
(the US has a comparatively good grain harvest this year - they were able to harvest the crop before the rain)

Question 12

Very large (adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 12

Mammoth, mammoth
Enormous
(the successful entrepreneur is now known as a mammoth in the computer world - the physics teacher required the students to purchase a mammoth textbook)

Question 13

To show, as in a mirror (v./n., 1 syn)

Answer 13

Mirror, mirror
Reflect
(the results of the study mirror public opinion - the strength of the economy is mirrored in the standard of living of the people)

Question 14

To gain or secure something (v./adj., 1 syn)

Answer 14

Obtain, obtainable
Gain
(the university obtained a new particle accelerator - the painting by Whistler was not obtainable)

Question 15

A very small piece of something (n., 1 syn)

Answer 15

Particle
Fragment
(Particles of dust can destroy electronic instruments - small particles of matter hold the keys to understanding the origin of life)

Question 16

To establish a home; to resolve a disagreement (v./adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 16

Settle, settled, settlement
Colonize
(people arriving from the South settled in California - the lawyers settled their differences and came to an agreement)

Question 17

To move from one place to another (v./adj./adj./n., 1 syn)

Answer 17

Transport, transportable, transported, transportation
Carry
(flying is not always the fastest way to transport passengers to their destination - the transportation expenses of products increase the final cost of the item)