Lesson 8

Question 0

crush (v)
SYN grind
(n) crush

Answer 0

(crush a can)
to press together so as to completely distort the shape or nature of the object.
* the machine crushes corn to produce cornmeal.
* passage of the legislation was a crushing blow to the president’s program.

Question 1

accelerate (v)
SYN hasten
(n) acceleration , accelerator

Answer 1

• the action of molecules accelerates when they are heated.

* the poor condition of the motor made acceleration difficult.

Question 2

cultivate (v)
SYN grow
(adj) cultivated
(n) cultivation

Answer 2

(cultivate a working relationship )

• the professional had common interest that allowed them to cultivate a working relationship with each other.
• the cultivation of diverse crops in pre-Colombian America is well documented.

Question 3

distinguish (v)
SYN discriminate
(adj) distinguished, distinguishable, distinguishing

Answer 3

• some people can’t distinguish colors well

* anteaters are distinguished by their long noses.

Question 4

engender (v)

SYN produce

Answer 4

(engender trust in children.)

• the politicians charisma engendered enthusiasm.
• economic conditions in the 1950s engendered an era of industrial growth.

Question 5

engross (v)
SYN interested in
(n) engrossment
(adj) engrossing

Answer 5

• the teacher’s lecture engrossed the entire class.

* Henry’s short stories engross readers all the way to their surprise endings.

Question 6

flaw (n)
SYN defect
(adj) flawed

Answer 6

• there’s a flaw in his theory.

* they noticed that the contract was flawed.

Question 7

harvest (n) (v)
SYN gather
(adj) harvested

Answer 7

• the United States had a comparatively good grain harvest this year.
• they were able to harvest the crop before the rain.

Question 8

mirror (v)
SYN reflect
(n) mirror

Answer 8

to show, as in a mirror

• the results of the study mirror public opinion.
• the strength of the economy is mirrored in the standard of the living of the people.

Question 9

obtain (v)
SYN gain
(adj) obtainable

Answer 9

( gain experience, obtain information/results, achieve successes)

• the university obtained a new particle accelerator.
• the painting by Whistler was not obtainable.

Question 10

particle (n)

SYN fragment

Answer 10

(dust particles)

• particles of dust can destroy electronic instruments.
• small particles of matter hold the keys to understanding the origin of life.

Question 11

settle (v)
SYN colonize
(adj) settled
(n) settlement

Answer 11

(settle their differences)

• people arriving from the south settled in California.
• the lawyers settled their differences and came to an agreement.