Vocabulary: Parts of Speech

Vocabulary: Parts of Speech

Consider the following sentences. Use the context (and a dictionary if necessary) to work out the meanings of the highlighted words. When you feel that you understand these words, take the quiz.

• The house’s wiring is complex.
  The situation is more complex than you realize.
  Her poetry is too complex for my taste.

• The loss would be one more humiliation for our team.
  Imagine the humiliation of having to apologize.
  I felt a deep humiliation and wanted the ground to swallow me up.

• It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time.
  As an actor, he’s a paradox. He loves being in the public eye but also deeply values and protects his privacy.
  It’s a curious paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty.
  

• If disease is allowed to spread, it will cause widespread devastation.
  The storm left behind it a trail of devastation.
  

• It has become clear to me that changes are necessary.
  She has made it abundantly clear that she does not support us.
  It’s not clear how much longer we’ll have to wait.

• Insulation helps prevent the dissipation of heat from houses in the winter.
  He sees a growing dissipation of our cultural values.
  Hurricanes typically dissipate when they cross over land.
  

• Exercise and diet play a role in the prevention of heart disease.
  The organization is committed to AIDS prevention and education.
  The neighborhood watch has been credited with the prevention of crime.
  

• She came with me to bolster my confidence.
  He received some very good news that bolstered his spirits.
  She is thinking of ways to bolster her career.

Now, test and refine your understanding of these words by taking the quiz below.