Vocabulary in Context - 4 (Reading)

Tend

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Vagaries

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Handicap

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Fortify

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Decisive

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Peculiar

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

This passage sums up the two problems peculiar to the book trade which made it different from any other trade - the problem of selection and the problem of stocking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable, before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business, and how is he, at the same time, to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks, but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of safe items to a restricted circle of customers, but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms him to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publications, but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele. Readers remain faithful to their own discoveries. Failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.

Acclimatization

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Terrain

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Dilemma

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

This passage sums up the two problems peculiar to the book trade which made it different from any other trade - the problem of selection and the problem of stocking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable, before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business, and how is he, at the same time, to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks, but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of safe items to a restricted circle of customers, but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms him to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publications, but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele. Readers remain faithful to their own discoveries. Failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.

Detriment

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Refuge

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

This passage sums up the two problems peculiar to the book trade which made it different from any other trade - the problem of selection and the problem of stocking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable, before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business, and how is he, at the same time, to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks, but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of safe items to a restricted circle of customers, but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms him to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publications, but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele. Readers remain faithful to their own discoveries. Failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.

Clientele

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

This passage sums up the two problems peculiar to the book trade which made it different from any other trade - the problem of selection and the problem of stocking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable, before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business, and how is he, at the same time, to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks, but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of safe items to a restricted circle of customers, but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms him to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publications, but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele. Readers remain faithful to their own discoveries. Failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.

Dooms

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

This passage sums up the two problems peculiar to the book trade which made it different from any other trade - the problem of selection and the problem of stocking. How is the bookseller to tell what, in an enormous output, will prove saleable, before the full weight of unsold items affects the balance of his business, and how is he, at the same time, to hold a stock large enough to enable the public to choose freely? He may seek to escape from this dilemma by becoming the passive sales representative of large publishing houses or distribution networks, but he is then no longer a bookseller. He may take refuge in the sale of safe items to a restricted circle of customers, but he thereby cuts himself off from all that is vital in his trade and dooms him to mediocrity and stagnation. On the other hand, he may protect his business from the danger of idle stock by speculating on the latest publications, but this is a dangerous game in that it implies a constantly changing clientele. Readers remain faithful to their own discoveries. Failure to follow up a book, an author or a type of literature means dismissing the public responsible for their success.

Assault

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

Conspires

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.