ESL Sentence Meaning Flashcards

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: Michael looked for oncoming traffic then walked ____ the street to meet his friend.

Answer: across

The word 'across' means from one side to the other. When someone walks 'the street' to meet a friend, they are typically moving from one side of the street to the opposite side. This preposition accurately describes the action of traversing the width of the street.

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: Miles Davis was a ____ jazz artist, recording more than 35 studio albums in his career.

Answer: prolific

The sentence provides a clear clue: 'recording more than 35 studio albums in his career.' The word 'prolific' means producing a large number of works or results. This perfectly describes an artist who has recorded a significant volume of albums, indicating a high output.

Jeff was always good at making people laugh, but he finally found a way to get paid for it. What is Jeff’s most likely profession?

Answer: a comedian

The sentence states that Jeff was 'always good at making people laugh' and 'finally found a way to get paid for it.' A comedian's profession is specifically centered around entertaining audiences and making them laugh for a living. This makes 'a comedian' the most logical and direct inference for Jeff's profession.

Gary never takes advice; he always insists on doing things his own way. Which word would best describe Gary?

Answer: stubborn

The description 'never takes advice' and 'always insists on doing things his own way' directly defines the trait of stubbornness. A stubborn person is unwilling to change their mind or actions, even when presented with good reasons or alternative suggestions. Therefore, 'stubborn' is the best word to describe Gary.

When the storm flooded the theater, Richard thought his play would be canceled, but the director was able to find another venue at the last minute. Where will the play be performed?

Answer: at a new location

The sentence explicitly states that the director was able to find 'another venue' for the play. A venue is the location where an event takes place. Since the original theater was flooded, finding 'another venue' means the play will be performed at a different, new location.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: My sister Hannah is known as one of the most talented and ____ actresses in her local theater community.

Answer: beautiful

The blank requires an adjective to describe 'actresses,' similar to 'talented.' 'Beautiful' is an adjective that correctly modifies the plural noun 'actresses.' The other options are either an adverb ('beautifully'), redundant ('very beautiful' with 'most talented'), or grammatically incorrect ('beautifulest').

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: I told everyone to come to my party at 8 p.m., but most people arrived much ____, long after the party had already started.

Answer: later

The sentence indicates that people arrived 'long after the party had already started,' implying a comparison in time to the scheduled 8 p.m. start. 'Later' is the comparative form of 'late' and correctly conveys that their arrival time was subsequent to the planned time. This makes it the most appropriate adverb of time in this context.

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: Because of his strength, speed, and skills on the field, Dwayne ____ a perfect candidate for the NBA draft when he graduated from college.

Answer: was

The phrase 'when he graduated from college' clearly places the entire statement in the past. Therefore, the past tense form of the verb 'to be' is required. 'Was' correctly indicates that Dwayne *was* a perfect candidate at that specific point in the past.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: Tanya ____ lots of new bicycle equipment, when she acquired her first sponsorship, because of her great abilities as a rider.

Answer: was given

The sentence implies that Tanya *received* the equipment due to her abilities and sponsorship, rather than her giving it away. This requires the passive voice, where the subject is the recipient of the action. 'Was given' correctly forms the past tense passive voice, indicating that the equipment was provided to her by someone else.

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: General Carter held strategy meetings ____ his most trusted advisors to help him decide the best plan of action.

Answer: with

When someone holds strategy meetings and involves others in the discussion, they typically do so 'with' those individuals. The preposition 'with' indicates collaboration, participation, or accompaniment. This accurately describes General Carter's interaction with his trusted advisors.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: Because she has already gained 20 pounds since we bought her a month ago, our new puppy is surely ____ very large indeed.

Answer: going to be

The sentence describes a current situation ('gained 20 pounds') that serves as strong evidence for a future outcome. 'Going to be' is used to express a future event that is certain or highly probable based on present facts or intentions. The puppy's current growth makes it highly likely it will be very large.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: After my little brother graduates from high school, my whole family ____ on vacation in Hawaii!

Answer: is going

The sentence describes a definite future plan or arrangement that will occur after another future event (graduation). The present continuous tense, 'is going,' is commonly used to express such pre-arranged future actions. It conveys a sense of certainty about the family's upcoming vacation.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: When we removed the old carpet in the second floor of our house, I was dismayed to find a hole that reached all the way ____ to the lower floor.

Answer: through

The hole 'reached all the way ____ to the lower floor,' indicating a passage or connection from one floor to the other. 'Through' accurately describes this movement or extension from one side or level to another. It implies the hole completely penetrated the floor.

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: I looked up and found an old bird’s nest ____ my window in the gutter on the roof.

Answer: above

The sentence states 'I looked up' and the nest was 'in the gutter on the roof.' Gutters on a roof are always positioned higher than a window. Therefore, 'above' correctly indicates the nest's position relative to the window.

Choose the correct words for the blank in this sentence: My teacher encouraged me to ____ the answer on my own, rather than simply asking him for the solution.

Answer: look up

The phrasal verb 'look up' means to search for and find information, typically in a reference source or by researching. In this context, the teacher encourages the student to independently discover the answer, aligning perfectly with the meaning of 'look up.'

Choose the correct words for the blank in this sentence: Jamie’s father decided that she was old enough to ____ on dates with boys her age.

Answer: go out

The phrase 'to go out on dates' is a common idiom meaning to engage in social or romantic outings. After the infinitive marker 'to,' the base form of the verb is required. 'Go out' is the correct and grammatically appropriate form for this phrasal verb.

Choose the correct word for the blank in this sentence: John’s great-grandfather was the ____ man I had ever met, and he was still healthy and active.

Answer: oldest

The phrase 'the ____ man I had ever met' indicates a comparison among all men the speaker has encountered, requiring the superlative form of the adjective. For the adjective 'old,' the superlative form is 'oldest,' meaning the most advanced in age.

Choose the correct word(s) for the blank in this sentence: Nancy’s new pug is the ____-looking dog I have ever seen, with its beady eyes and wrinkly face.

Answer: funniest

The phrase 'the ____-looking dog I have ever seen' indicates a comparison among all dogs the speaker has encountered, requiring the superlative form of the adjective. For the adjective 'funny,' the superlative form is 'funniest,' describing the dog as having the most amusing appearance.

Don was taller than his four sisters but shorter than his father and older brother. Which sibling was taller than Don?

Answer: Don’s older brother.

The sentence explicitly states, 'Don was ... shorter than his father and older brother.' Since the question asks which *sibling* was taller than Don, his older brother is the correct answer. His father is not a sibling.

I may have had them longer than any of my other shoes, but my hiking boots are easily my favorite. How do my boots compare to other shoes I own?

Answer: They are the oldest shoes.

The statement 'I may have had them longer than any of my other shoes' directly implies that the hiking boots have been owned for the longest duration compared to all other shoes. Therefore, they are the oldest shoes in the speaker's possession.