Without ___, the project would have failed.

___ planning to visit the new museum exhibit next weekend.

___ are always welcome to join us for dinner.

The manager praised ___ for our hard work.

The Vikings were skilled navigators. Historical records suggest that ___ able to travel across vast seas using only the stars for guidance.

Infer the meaning of the word "Novelty" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): Everyone leaned forward when the invention was unveiled for the first time. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the idea had never been tried, people flocked to see it. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While older designs felt predictable, this one was strikingly fresh.

Infer the meaning of the word "Portend" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): The sudden chill in the air hinted at a coming storm that had not yet reached the valley. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the birds migrated early, locals suspected harsher weather lay ahead. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some changes were meaningless, this shift suggested something larger approaching.

Infer the meaning of the word "Emanate" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): A warm glow radiated softly from the lantern, filling the room. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the scent drifted from the kitchen, everyone knew dinner was ready. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some sounds were absorbed by the walls, others spread outward distinctly.

Infer the meaning of the word "Disparage" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): After reading her draft, he muttered about how weak the ideas were. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the committee repeatedly spoke down about the proposal, it never advanced. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): Some classmates encouraged him, but others insulted his efforts.

Infer the meaning of the word "Melancholy" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): She sat quietly by the window, thinking of the friend she missed dearly. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the news was heartbreaking, the room filled with silence. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some tried to cheer up, the heaviness lingered.

Infer the meaning of the word "Contradicted" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): When he said he liked the idea, she immediately said the opposite. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because evidence proved otherwise, the scientist challenged the original claim. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some agreed quietly, others openly stated the reverse.

Infer the meaning of the word "Collaboration" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): The group shared responsibilities easily, each person contributing a different skill. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because everyone communicated clearly, the project finished ahead of schedule. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some classes worked separately, this group united around a single plan.

Infer the meaning of the word "Imperative" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): The doctor insisted that starting treatment immediately wasn’t just helpful but required to prevent lasting harm. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the deadline threatened major consequences, action became unavoidable. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While other tasks could wait, this one demanded immediate attention.

Infer the meaning of the word "Alluded" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): She mentioned a “certain past decision,” prompting him to shift uncomfortably, though she never stated specifics. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the author referenced an unnamed historical event, readers inferred the intended comparison. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While explicit explanations filled earlier chapters, this one merely gestured toward an idea.

Infer the meaning of the word "Engender" based on the context clues provided in the paragraphs. Paragraph 1 (Character Reaction): Her small kindness sparked a chain of goodwill among the group. Paragraph 2 (Cause and Effect): Because the policy shifted, it created frustration among employees. Paragraph 3 (Contrast): While some actions changed nothing, this one produced immediate results.

Organizers of an advanced mathematics summer camp surveyed attendees about what makes math enjoyable. Most campers selected “challenging problem-solving” as their favorite aspect. The camp attracts students who already excel in and enjoy mathematics. Proposed Conclusion: Most students prefer challenging problem-solving over other types of math activities. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Anthropologists discovered that pottery fragments from several islands shared a distinctive volcanic-ash chemical signature linked to a single eruption on one island. Radiocarbon dating shows the pottery postdates the eruption by centuries. No evidence suggests simultaneous eruptions elsewhere. Proposed Conclusion: The shared ash signature likely reflects inter-island trade or travel. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Neuroscientists comparing primate species found that those with the most complex vocal repertoires possessed highly similar neural structures in regions supporting vocal learning. Species with simpler repertoires showed greater anatomical variation. Proposed Conclusion: Vocal-learning complexity in primates is closely linked to specialized neural architecture. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

A university team surveyed residents living within two miles of a heavily polluted river. Participants overwhelmingly ranked water-quality concerns as their top environmental priority. Many respondents described decades of exposure to foul odors, unusual fish die-offs, and declining local wildlife. Proposed Conclusion: Water quality is the biggest environmental concern for people statewide. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

A study surveyed employees working full-time from home. They ranked flexible scheduling as their top priority. Researchers noted participants intentionally chose remote jobs. Proposed Conclusion: All employees value flexible scheduling most. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Marine biologists documented increased bleaching rates in a particular coral reef system over a decade of monitoring. Warming water temperatures combined with localized pollution caused algae expulsion in multiple coral species. Researchers emphasized the fragile ecological balance of the region. Proposed Conclusion: Coral reefs worldwide are bleaching at the same rate as the observed reef. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

A Pacific Northwest Indigenous group maintains ancestral stories describing specific moon phases associated with salmon spawning. Marine biologists compared these stories with modern tagging data and found the spawning peaks aligned closely with the phases mentioned. Proposed Conclusion: Researchers should explore whether other Indigenous oral histories describe long-term ecological patterns. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Agricultural researchers tested whether a symbiotic fungus enhances wheat growth under nutrient-poor conditions. Plots inoculated with the fungus produced significantly taller plants and higher grain output, whereas control plots showed stunted growth. Soil analysis revealed no differences apart from fungal presence. Proposed Conclusion: The increased yields were caused by the symbiotic fungus improving nutrient uptake. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Two groups of warblers differ in song type (trill vs buzz). Scientists hypothesized song type influences foraging success. Warblers from both groups foraged equally well in low, medium, and high background noise. Proposed Conclusion: The results do not support the idea that song type influences foraging success. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?

Visual-cognition researchers tested whether variations in eye shape among lemurs affect how they perceive group-movement patterns. Lemurs viewed coordinated group-motion clips and scrambled motion clips. Some showed sharper neural responses to differences. The team hypothesized eye-shape differences may account for these discrepancies. Proposed Conclusion: Lemurs with more elongated eyes better differentiate coherent from scrambled motion. Question: Is the proposed conclusion logically correct?