Context

Clues Practice
Edwards ENG II

1) Read the following excerpt from a magazine article and the

directions that follow.
"A World in Fear: What Should We Do About Ebola?" by Ada
McNair
The current Ebola crisis that is spreading throughout West Africa has
led to great worldwide concern. Some countries have banned travel
to and from impacted countries and others have created stricter travel
guidelines. Voluntary and involuntary quarantines have also been
established for those who have come in contact with the virus. All of
these practices have been put in place in an attempt to curtail the
spread of the deadly virus.
However, many health officials believe that some fears are
unwarranted. Based upon where one lives and the fact that most
people will never encounter someone with the Ebola virus, most
people are actually inoculated from the disease. However fear still
prevails and some believe that they are still at risk. This, in turn, has
led to some people purchasing "Ebola Survival kits" and taking other
precautions that they hope will prevent them from contacting the
virus.
Health officials applaud the general public for wanting to be more
informed, but they caution that some actions are based on
misinformation and fear, not actual scientific evidence and facts. This
has led to certain ideas being misconstrued as fact.
What is the meaning of the word curtail in the first paragraph?
A.
to eventually end
B.
to cure
C.
to slow down
D.
to remove

Context Clues Practice

Edwards ENG II

2) Read the following excerpt from U.S. President Lyndon B.

Johnsons speech upon signing the Civil Rights Act in 1967.
Remarks Upon Signing the Civil Rights Bill (July 2, 1967) by
Lyndon B. Johnson
[...]One hundred and eighty-eight years ago this week a small
band of valiant men began a long struggle for freedom. They
pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor not only
to found a nation, but to forge an ideal of freedomnot only for
political independence, but for personal libertynot only to
eliminate foreign rule, but to establish the rule of justice in the
affairs of men.
[...]We believe that all men are entitled to the blessings of liberty.
Yet millions are being deprived of those blessingsnot because
of their own failures, but because of the color of their skin. The
reasons are deeply imbedded in history and tradition and the
nature of man. We can understandwithout rancor or hatred
how this all happened. But it cannot continue. Our Constitution,
the foundation of our Republic, forbids it. The principles of our
freedom forbid it. Morality forbids it. And the law I will sign tonight
forbids it.
[...]That law is the product of months of the most careful debate
and discussion. It was proposed more than one year ago by our
late and beloved President John F. Kennedy. It received the
bipartisan support of more than two-thirds of the Members of
both the House and the Senate. An overwhelming majority of
Republicans as well as Democrats voted for it. It has received
the thoughtful support of tens of thousands of civic and religious
leaders in all parts of this Nation. And it is supported by the great
majority of the American people.
Based on clues in the text, we can assume that the word valiant
in the first sentence of the excerpt means:
A.
B.
C.
D.

diverse
powerful
patriotic
courageous