Hmmmm….what do you think these underlined words in the following sentences mean? Write your educated guess in the space provided beneath each context clue.
1. One of the reasons I don’t like to use medicines like cough syrup is that the taste is absolutely vile; if I’m supposed to be able to tolerate it, you’d think that the makers would make it less disgusting.
2. Mrs. Hatcher announced that in all her years of teaching second grade, she had never experienced a more impudent bunch of students; this year’s class was so disrespectful and rude that she actually called in the principal to observe their awful behavior.
3. The Coca-Cola Company is credited with helping create the image of a jovial, merry Santa Clause that we know today; before 1862, Santa was more of an elf-like figure than the round, jolly man seen in popular culture now.
4. “Jenny, if this mess isn’t cleaned up, there will be no iPhone 5 in your future. Ever.” The peremptory tone of her mother’s voice made it clear to Jenny that there was no room for argument or disobedience, and she cleaned up the kitchen without another word.
5. I totally get that teenagers and young adults got excited about the last Twilight movie, but I was shocked at the effusive behavior of the “Twi-Moms”; their boundless enthusiasm and sudden disregard for social behavioral norms was unbelievable.
6. Finally, the Latin teacher got fed up at the inane questions that the students were asking and informed them that if they were not going to ask questions expected of mature students in a proper classroom setting, then she would offer them all failing grades and an invitation back to daycare, where they could continue with their silly, pointless behavior and questions.
7. Walking into the bakery, I had to quell the sudden urge to order one of each truffle behind the glass;