13.The trouble with being a(n) (underscore pessimist) is that you are so taken up with what is going wrong that you are unaware of what is going right
pessimist
14.It does not (prosecute detract) in the least from his reputation as a great player to say that all the team members deserve equal credit
detract
15.Before we can play properly for the upcoming school year, we must have accurate )beacons data) on the results of last year's programs
data
16.The news that I had been dropped from the football squad (detracted punctured) my dream of becoming a great gridiron hero
punctured
17.She had such a (celestial sham) expression on her face that I thought she'd seen a vision of heaven
celestial
All right again! :-)
13. The word "pessimist" means someone who tends to see and expect the worst outcome in any situation. To find the answer, we can break down the sentence and identify the word that fits the description. In this case, we are looking for a word that describes someone who is focused on what is going wrong and unaware of what is going right. By understanding the definition of "pessimist," we can determine that the correct word to fill in the blank is "pessimist."
14. To find the answer, we need to understand the meanings of the two words mentioned in the sentence: "prosecute" and "detract." "Prosecute" means to institute legal proceedings against someone, while "detract" means to diminish or take away from something's value or reputation. The sentence mentions that saying something about a great player does not diminish their reputation, suggesting that the correct word to fill in the blank is "detract," as it means to take away from something's reputation or value.
15. In this sentence, we are looking for a word that accurately describes the type of information that is needed for the upcoming school year. To find the answer, we can identify the context of the sentence. The sentence mentions that before playing properly for the upcoming school year, accurate information is required about the results of last year's programs. The word that accurately describes this type of information is "data," which refers to facts or information.
16. The sentence mentions that the news of being dropped from the football squad had a certain effect on the speaker's dream of becoming a great gridiron hero. To find the answer, we can determine the meaning of the words "detracted" and "punctured." While "detracted" means to diminish or take away from something, "punctured" means to make a hole or damage something. In the context of the sentence, it is clear that the news had a damaging or deflating effect on the speaker's dream, suggesting that the correct word to fill in the blank is "punctured."
17. To find the answer, we need to understand the meanings of the two words mentioned in the sentence: "celestial" and "sham." "Celestial" refers to things related to the sky or heavens, often associated with religious or divine connotations. On the other hand, "sham" means a deceptive or fake imitation of something. In the context of the sentence, it is mentioned that the person had an expression on their face that made the speaker think they had seen a vision of heaven. This suggests that the correct word to fill in the blank is "celestial," as it accurately describes the expression on the person's face.