1. Improving Vocabulary Skills Chapter 26

2. 1. condone (verb) - ___________ I cannot condone Barb’s smoking in public. It threatens other people’s health. condone means: A. to excuse B. to recall C. to punish

3. 2. contemplate (verb) - ___________ Because Ben hadn’t studied for the test, he contemplated cheating. He quickly realized, however, that the eagle-eyed teacher would spot him. contemplate means: A. to consider B. to pretend C. to avoid

4. 3. feasible (adj.) - ___________ It isn’t feasible for me to work full time and keep the house clean unless someone helps me with the cleaning chores. feasible means: A. wrong B. legal C. possible

5. 4. feign (verb) - ___________ Since I had heard about my surprise party, I had to feign shock when everyone yelled, “Surprise!” feign means: A. to wish for B. to prove C. to fake

6. 5. fiscal (adj.) - ___________ The gift shop closed because of fiscal problems. It simply didn’t make enough money to cover costs. fiscal means: A. emotional B. financial C. unfair

7. 6. furtive (adj.) - ___________ According to experts, teenagers who are furtive about where they are going and with whom may be involved with drugs. furtive means: A. secret B. dependable C. serious

8. 7. gape (verb) - ___________ Because drivers slowed down to gape at an accident in the southbound lanes, northbound traffic was backed up for miles. gape means: A. to yell B. to appreciate C. to stare

9. 8. pathetic (adj.) - ___________ Health care in some areas of the world is pathetic. People are dying of diseases that are easily treatable with modern medicine. pathetic means: A. ordinary B. miserable C. expensive

10. 9. precedent (noun) - ___________ When Jean’s employer gave her three months off after her baby was born, a precedent was set for any other woman in the firm who became pregnant. precedent means: A. a question B. a delay C. a model

11. 10. punitive (adj.) - ___________ Many parents find that reward is a better basis for teaching children than punitive action is. punitive means: A. punishing B. forgiving C. uneven