Guessing the Meaning of Words from Context

Eleven words or expressions that will be important to your understanding of

the reading are presented below in contexts that should help you guess their meaning.

Choose the one word or phrase that would best keep the meaning of each sentence.

1. The oilmen had been drilling a hole for two weeks and they were
happy when they struck oil.

a. kept

b. discovered

c. knew

d. found

2. Very often the salt makers while digging a salt well found oil which
ruined the whole process of salt making. For them oil was an out-
and-out nuisance.

a. a complete damage

b. a real help.

c. an unknown substance

d. a successful business

3. Whales were rather rare sea animals. At last they became so scarce
that the whale-oil production dropped.

a. they became very important

b. they became deficient in quantity or number

c. they became useful

d. they became abundant

4. Oil is used to lubricate different kinds of machines.
a. to make machine parts new

16 Chapter One

b. to make machine parts smooth and slippery

c. to make machine parts repaired

d. to make machine parts old-fashioned

5. He hired several workers to repair his house.

a. asked

b. wanted

c. invited

d. employed

6. Oil Companies usually lease lands where oil has been discovered.
First they ask the owner of the land a lease allowing the company to
drill on this land.

a. refuse the permission to use this land under the terms of a
contract

b. receive the permission to use this land under the terms of a
contract

c. seek for the permission to use this land under the terms of a
contract

7. He has quickly learned how to run this machine.

a. to move

b. to switch on

c. to operate

d. to repair

8. At the beginning of the 19-th century when the oilmen were drilling a
hole, water and mud often got into the hole and caved it in.

a. fell

b. kept

c. stopped

d. ruined

9. One day the oilmen decided to use a casing for a well to prevent the
hole from caving in.

a. a special device to support the well

b. a trunk of a hollow tree to support the hole
c a metal pipe to support the well

d. a metal rod to support the well

10. He usually had many backers who wanted to work with Mm.
a. persons who knew him

The History of Oil 17

b. persons who were interested in him

c. persons who helped and supported him

d. persons whom he knew well

11.Your good knowledge of mathematics paid off when you were taking your final exams.

a. gave good returns or results

b. was useless

c. caused you to fail

d. gave you confidence