unit 23

Question 1

amid

Answer 1

prep. If something is amid something else’ then it is in the middle of it. The bee was busily flying amid the flowers in the garden.

Question 2

backstage

Answer 2

adv. If something happens backstage’ it occurs behind a theater’s stage. After the show’ the director went backstage and thanked the actors.

Question 3

billionaire

Answer 3

n. A billionaire is someone who has at least one billion dollars. The sale of his inventions made the inventor a billionaire.

Question 4

brute

Answer 4

n. A brute is someone who behaves or looks like a violent animal. My older brother can act like a brute when he doesn’t get his way.

Question 5

clumsy

Answer 5

adj. If someone is clumsy’ then they are awkward in handling things. The businessman was clumsy and dropped his work files.

Question 6

collide

Answer 6

v. To collide with something means to hit it while moving. The two cars collided with each other because their drivers were not careful.

Question 7

culprit

Answer 7

n. A culprit is someone who has committed a crime or other bad deed. The police were still searching for the culprit from the robbery.

Question 8

evacuate

Answer 8

v. To evacuate means to leave a place of danger to a place of safety. During the flood’ many families were evacuated to higher ground.

Question 9

flammable

Answer 9

adj. If something is flammable’ then it is able to catch on fire. Be careful with that blanket near the candle. It is extremely flammable.

Question 10

mob

Answer 10

n. A mob is a large crowd of people that often wants to cause violence. The copier was destroyed by a mob of angry workers.

Question 11

premature

Answer 11

adj. If something is premature’ then it is done too early or before the proper time. Mark’s celebration was premature because the ball hadn’t fallen in the hole.

Question 12

resent

Answer 12

v. To resent something means to have bad feelings about it. He resented the fact that he had never been able to play an instrument.

Question 13

satire

Answer 13

n. A satire is a work of art that uses humor and irony to make fun of something. This book is a satire of what life was like in the army.

Question 14

scrutiny

Answer 14

n. Scrutiny is the careful examination of something. A scientist should always practice scrutiny with their work.

Question 15

segregate

Answer 15

v. To segregate something means to place it in a group apart from other things. In gym class’ the children were segregated into two groups: boys and girls.

Question 16

subject

Answer 16

v. To subject someone to something means to force them to do or experience it. The officers subjected everyone to a careful search before they left the plane.

Question 17

testify

Answer 17

v. To testify means to give evidence as a witness. The judge listened while the victim testified about the robbery.

Question 18

tumult

Answer 18

n. A tumult is a loud and confused noise made by a large crowd of people. She couldn’t hear her friend over the tumult of the other excited guests.

Question 19

underestimate

Answer 19

v. To underestimate something or someone means to think less of them than they really are. We lost the game because we underestimated the other team’s skill.

Question 20

uproar

Answer 20

n. Uproar is loud noise caused by people who are very angry or upset. The fans made a great uproar when their team lost the game.