Reading Comprehension Vocabulary in Context 2

Question 1

In the sentence 'The politician tried to mollify the angry crowd by promising immediate tax relief,' what does 'mollify' most likely mean?

Accepted Answer

Calm or soothe

Answer

The context shows the politician responding to an angry crowd with promises — the logical intent is to calm them down, making 'mollify' mean to soothe or appease.

Question 2

In the passage 'The detective's tenacious pursuit of the truth led her to reexamine evidence that others had dismissed years ago,' what does 'tenacious' mean?

Accepted Answer

Persistent and determined

Answer

Reexamining evidence 'dismissed years ago' shows extreme persistence — someone who won't give up even when others have, which defines tenacious.

Question 3

In the sentence 'The once-pristine beach was now littered with debris, and the crystal-clear water had turned a murky brown,' what does 'pristine' mean?

Accepted Answer

Pure and unspoiled

Answer

The word 'once' signals a contrast with the current state (littered, murky). Since the beach is now polluted, 'pristine' must mean the opposite: pure and unspoiled.

Question 4

In the sentence 'Her sardonic comment about the company's record profits silenced the room, as everyone realized she was criticizing management's refusal to raise wages,' what does 'sardonic' mean?

Accepted Answer

Mocking or cynically humorous

Answer

The comment criticized management through an ironic observation about profits versus wages — this cutting, cynical humor defines sardonic.

Question 5

In the passage 'The company's CEO described the merger as a synergy of two great organizations, but employees feared it was merely a euphemism for massive layoffs,' what does 'euphemism' mean?

Accepted Answer

A mild or indirect expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one

Answer

Employees suspected that 'synergy' was being used to disguise the unpleasant reality of layoffs — using a pleasant word to mask a harsh truth is exactly what a euphemism does.

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Practice Test

Reading Comprehension Vocabulary in Context 2