Vocabulary challenge for the young English learners Exercise -3-

Fit the right word in the right place.

Choose the right word from the list off three words given at the end of each sentence.

1. It was the first visit of the 8-year-old girl to the zoo. Her mother took her to the wire-fenced cage where the newly acquiritsRoyal Bengal Tiger had been kept. The beast did not, obviously, like the stream of onlookers outside his crammed abode. The visitors’ verbal taunts and giggles were an affront to its royal prowess and dignity. When the mother took the little girl a little near the fence, the tiger came charging at the duo with a big roar. The —— girl screamed in utter fear and clung to her mother with all her strength. (horrified, petrified, awed)
2. The girl belonged to the most affluent family in the town. She was an ace tennis player. She had been the tennis champion in the college many times. But all her trophies had been won within the confines of the women’s college’s tall walls where she played. The time came for her to take part in the inter-collegiate tennis championships. She had to go to the town’s stadium where thousands would watch her play. She was a bit nervous. True to her fears, scores of youngsters turned out to watch the ——– in action. (debutant, debutante, ace)
3. The conditions of the World Bank loan for the river dam project were clear and stiff. The government had to show progress of the project’s execution as per a jointly-agreed schedule before the next ——- of loan could be released. (portion, tranche, installment)
4. It was a serious literary magazine meant for serious lovers of literature. The editor was an extremely erudite lady in her early sixties who spent long hours in the editor’s office. She —– frivolous articles that lacked depth and had unnecessary mention of sex and violence. Such articles came mainly from young and novice contributors. (dismissed, abhorred, disqualified)
5. The earthquake had wreaked havoc on the mountain town the previous day. L8.oking at the flattened houses, the men beat their chests in despair, the women wailed, and the distraught children clung to their parents. The supposedly wise temple priest declared that it was God’s ——— for the sins of the people of the town. (ordeal, retribution, reward)
6. The intelligence gathering mission had been very carefully planned. As per strategy, an operative had to sneak into the enemy territory under the cover of darkness and contact his waiting colleague there. Unfortunately, the agent was detected by the enemy patrol and captured before he could accomplish his objective. The mission failed. Many junior officers in the army blamed their commander, the brain behind the plan, for the ——— operation. (botched, aborted, misfired)
7. The adolescent daughter did not like the restrictions put on her in matters of dress and going out with friends. She resented her mother’s interference in her ‘personal’ matters. At times, it led to ugly —– between the two which annoyed the father. (discordance, spar, rant)
8. The young recruit was not adequately skilled. During the training period, he lagged behind his peers in assimilating the new ideas. To hide his weakness, he often —– ——- with his trainer. Such tactics earned him a lot of derision from everyone in the training camp. (find fault, curry favour, stoop low)

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ANSWERS ..

The most appropriate word has been inserted in the gap. It has been typed in bold red. In some places, more than one choice have been chosen.

1. It was the first visit of the 8-year-old girl to the zoo. Her mother took her to the wire-fenced cage where the newly-acquired Royal Bengal Tiger had been kept. The beast did not, obviously, like the stream of onlookers outside his crammed abode. The visitors’ verbal taunts and giggles were an affront to its royal prowess and dignity. When the mother took the little girl a little near the fence, the tiger came charging at the duo with a big roar. The —horrified / petrified — girl screamed in utter fear and clung to her mother with all her strength. (horrified, petrified, awed)

2. The girl belonged to the most affluent family in the town. She was an ace tennis player. She had been the tennis champion in the college many times. But all her trophies had been won within the confines of the women’s college’s tall walls where she played. The time came for her to take part in the inter-collegiate tennis championships. She had to go to the town’s stadium where thousands would watch her play. She was a bit nervous. True to her fears, scores of youngsters turned out to watch the —debutant—– in action. (debutant, debutante, ace)
3. The conditions of the World Bank loan for the river dam project were clear and stiff. The government had to show progress of the project’s execution as per a jointly-agreed schedule before the next —tranche—- of loan could be released. (portion, tranche, installment)

4. It was a serious literary magazine meant for serious lovers of literature. The editor was an extremely erudite lady in her early sixties who spent long hours in the editor’s office. She —abhorred / dismissed – frivolous articles that lacked depth and had unnecessary mention of sex and violence. Such articles came mainly from young and novice contributors. (dismissed, abhorred, disqualified)

5. The earthquake had wreaked havoc on the mountain town the previous day. Looking at the flattened houses, the men beat their chests in despair, the women wailed, and the distraught children clung to their parents. The supposedly wise temple priest declared that it was God’s —retribution —— for the sins of the people of the town. (ordeal, retribution, reward)

6. The intelligence gathering mission had been very carefully planned. As per strategy, an operative had to sneak into the enemy territory under the cover of darkness and contact his waiting colleague there. Unfortunately, the agent was detected by the enemy patrol and captured before he could accomplish his objective. The mission failed. Many junior officers in the army blamed their commander, the brain behind the plan, for the —botched—— operation. (botched, aborted, misfired)

7. The adolescent daughter did not like the restrictions put on her in matters of dress and going out with friends. She resented her mother’s interference in her ‘personal’ matters. At times, it led to ugly —spat – between the two which annoyed the father. (discordance, spar, rant)

8. The young recruit was not adequately skilled. During the training period, he lagged behind his peers in assimilating the new ideas. To hide his weakness, he often —–found fault——- with his trainer. Such tactics earned him a lot of derision from everyone in the training camp. (find fault, curry favour, stoop low)