Question 1
If one were to look at the roster of physical handicaps, one would reach the somber conclusion that the list is a long one. Included would be stunted development of an arm or leg due to a birth anomaly. Others would be the result of a crippling disease that has caused muscles to atrophy. The list would go on with illnesses and injuries that maim and debilitate. Modern medicine has done much to ameliorate the physical problems. However, there are an inordinate number of problems of the handicapped that have still to be alleviated. People are not naturally callous, but in some perverse way they have the propensity to repress any concern with the physically handicapped. The social problems seem to be inherent in our own attitudes.
Sample Sentences: Use the new words in these sentences.
If you heap opprobrium on an impious child, it probably will not _____ the conditions that led to the rebelliousness.
Ameliorate means to improve or relieve a bad situation. The sentence says scolding a child harshly (heaping opprobrium) will probably not make the underlying conditions better, so ameliorate the conditions fits. The passage uses it the same way: medicine has done much to ameliorate the physical problems. Not stunt: that means to hold back growth, which does not fit 'will not … the conditions'.
Question 2
The coach knew he would have to add experienced players to the _____ to compensate for the spate of freshmen on the team.
A roster is a list of names, here the list of players on a team. The coach adds experienced players to the roster to balance the many freshmen. It is the only noun among the options, and the gap after the needs a noun.
Question 3
There seems to be voluminous evidence that the mother’s smoking will _____ the baby’s growth.
To stunt growth means to stop it from developing normally. Stunt collocates with growth: smoking can stunt a baby's growth. Not atrophy: it means 'waste away' and is usually intransitive (muscles atrophy), so it cannot take growth as an object here.
Question 4
The prodigy allowed his musical talent to _____ as he redirected his career.
To atrophy means to waste away or weaken through lack of use. The prodigy stopped using his musical talent when he changed careers, so it gradually weakened. Note the structure allowed his talent to atrophy: the verb has no object, which suits atrophy. Not stunt: that needs an object (stunt something).
Question 5
When it seemed that Reggie would _____ his opponent, we broke up the fight.
To maim means to injure someone badly enough to disable or cripple them. The clue is the fight: it looked as if Reggie would seriously hurt his opponent, so the others stopped it. Example: The accident maimed him for life.
Question 6
Definitions: Match the new words with their definitions.
roster
A roster is a list of names, for example of players on a team or workers on duty. In the passage, a roster of physical handicaps means a list of them. Example: Her name is on the team roster.
Question 7
stunted
Stunted means held back in natural growth, so not as big or developed as normal. The passage mentions the stunted development of an arm or leg. Example: stunted trees on the windy hillside.
Question 8
atrophy
To atrophy means to waste away, especially from disease or lack of use. In the passage, a disease has caused muscles to atrophy. Example: Unused skills tend to atrophy. Don't confuse it with stunted, which means 'never grew properly'.
Question 9
maim
To maim means to disable or cripple someone with a serious injury. The passage speaks of illnesses and injuries that maim and debilitate. Example: Landmines kill and maim thousands of people.
Question 10
ameliorate
To ameliorate means to improve something bad or make it easier to bear. The passage says modern medicine has done much to ameliorate the physical problems. Example: New laws helped ameliorate working conditions.
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Free worksheets for class or home
NEW WORDS
- roster [ros´ tər]
“The roster of stars for our gala celebration includes Cher, Meatloaf, and Lyle Lovett.” Las Vegas hotel ad
- stunted [stunt´ id]
“Their physical and mental development became stunted during childhood.” Roger Pineles, Shame of the Cities
- atrophy [at´ rə fē]
“Some people thought that too much reading would atrophy a girl’s brain forever.” Ann McGovern, The Secret Soldier
- maim [mām]
“Films in which characters are maimed or destroyed seem to be most popular with today’s youngsters.” Harold Owen, Jr., “The Motion Picture”
- ameliorate [ə mē´ lyə rāt]
“Our aim should be to ameliorate human affairs.” John Stuart Mill
TODAY’S IDIOM
to burn the midnight oil—to study or work until very late
The radio was such an enigma* that he had to burn the midnight oil* for several nights in order to get it working.