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Paper 1a2

One  type of question asks you to choose the correct meaning of a word as used in the passage.

Example: She had gone to a lot of trouble to make it a very enjoyable lunch. We had a green salad, followed by roast chicken with new potatoes and a delicious homemade fool.

Look at the dictionary entry for 'fool' below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in the passage? Write the correct number.

fool (n)

1. a person who behaves in a silly way

2. a person whose job it is to amuse important people (mainly historical)

3. a cold dessert made from cooked fruit and cream

4. April Fool someone who has been taken in by a joke on April 1

This is an easy example. You probably have never  come across the word 'fool' meaning a sweet course to finish a meal with (a bit like a fruit yogurt), but you can see from the context that it is a type of food.  We do not eat silly people for lunch! There are four clues to show meaning 3 is a food: dessert, cooked, fruit and cream. You only need to spot one to get the answer.

Now try some more

1. They decided after much argument to ascend the south face. It was a much longer climb, but for most of the way it was out of sight of the castle and this greatly increased the chances of their surprising the enemy.

face (n)

1. front part of head

2. someone you know She's a familiar face

3. side of a high mountain

4. flat side of an object

5. pride and dignity to lose/give face

6. front of a clock

7. to put your face on to put makeup on

Hint: What exactly do you think the people in the passage are doing?

2. I think you need a brace. I know it's a nuisance but you will be glad later. I'll make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as possible.

brace (n)

1. a strong object that supports another

2. a support for an injured part of the body neck-brace

3. a pair of birds killed for food

4. wires put on the teeth to push them into the right position

5. braces straps to hold up the trousers

Hint: What do dentists look after?

3.She looked at him full of hope, but slowly the light in her eyes faded and went out. Lord Harold was a hard man and had no intention of letting her escape.

hard (adj)

1. strong, solid

2. difficult to do

3. full of problems

4. unkind

5. full of minerals hard water

6. can be proved hard facts

Hint: Which of the words can describe a person?

4. 'That's the first smart thing you have done this holiday,' said his aunt. 'You deserve a reward.'

smart (v)

1. hurt (adj)

2. looking tidy and nice

3. intelligent

4. cheeky, rudely clever Don't try to be smart

5. fashionable

6. used of high technology machines

Hint: First decide if 'smart' in the passage is a verb or adjective. Take note of the noun 'thing'.

5.The test proceeded. James filled in blanks, completed tables, underlined words and chose the correct options as a fast as he could.

table (n)

1. piece of furniture with flat top used for eating etc

2. a way of presenting information in rows and columns

3. on the table ready for discussion

4. (v) to suggest table a motion

Hint: What part of speech is 'table' in the passage? What is James doing?

Answers:

Page 8: 1. 3; 2. 4; 3. 4; 4. 3; 5.2



The meaning of words