Vocabulary in Context
Instructions: Read each passage carefully. Use context clues to work out the meaning of the underlined word or phrase. Write your answer on the line provided.
1. The old lighthouse stood sentinel on the rocky cliff, its beam sweeping across the dark ocean every night, warning ships of the dangerous coastline.
What does sentinel mean? ___________________________________________
2. After months of preparation, the debate team felt confident. However, their opponents proved to be formidable, presenting arguments that were difficult to counter.
What does formidable mean? ___________________________________________
3. The scientist's theory was met with scepticism by her colleagues, who questioned whether her findings could be replicated in other experiments.
What does scepticism mean? ___________________________________________
4. Unlike her brother, who was always energetic and outgoing, Maria was rather reticent, preferring to listen quietly during family gatherings.
What does reticent mean? ___________________________________________
5. The abandoned house had a melancholy atmosphere, with its faded curtains, overgrown garden, and the sound of wind whistling through broken windows.
What does melancholy mean? ___________________________________________
6. The politician's speech was full of rhetoric—impressive-sounding words and phrases designed to persuade the audience, though some felt it lacked real substance.
What does rhetoric mean? ___________________________________________
7. The detective examined the crime scene with a meticulous eye, carefully photographing every detail and measuring distances down to the millimetre.
What does meticulous mean? ___________________________________________
8. Despite the team's valiant efforts in the final quarter, fighting hard until the very last second, they couldn't overcome the twenty-point deficit.
What does valiant mean? ___________________________________________