Vocabulary Quiz Solutions for Tom Swift and His Motor Boat

I. Give the definition for the following vocabulary words:

peer - v. : look closely and searchingly

frantic : highly excited with strong emotion or frustration; frenzied

tachometer : device that indicates the revolutions per minute of a revolving shaft

turbine : an engine or motor driven by the pressure of steam, water, or air against the curved vanes of a wheel or set of wheels

gyroscope : a device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a base so that its axis can turn freely in one or more directions and thereby maintain its orientation regardless of any movement of the base

spurt : to gush forth suddenly, in a stream or jet

throttle : to regulate the speed of an engine

aeronaut : a pilot of a lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon

parachute : an apparatus used to retard free fall from an aircraft, consisting of a hemispherical canopy attached to a harness

process : the series of actions, operations, or motions involved in the accomplishment of an end

repress : to hold back

petulant : unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered

II. Correctly spell the vocabulary words defined below:

to dismantle in order to make repairs - overhaul

to lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of - humiliate

moderate; cautious; keeping within bounds - conservative

a long-time close friend or companion - crony

an occurrence or event that interrupts normal procedure or precipitates a crisis - incident

occurring by chance - casual

a modification, fluctuation, or correction - adjustment

unpleasing to the sight - ugly

the act of pulling behind with a rope or chain - tow

boat, ship, or airplane - craft - 1

marked by a strong, fearless, and bold belief in oneself and one's capabilities - confident

a device used to determine geographic direction - compass

III. Use the following vocabulary words in a complete sentence:

contraption : Bless my shoe laces if this cantankerous ... isn't going wrong again!

auction : The fine motor-boat, once the property of Mr. Bently Hastings, was being disposed of at ....

temporary : After ... bracing up the tank in the Arrow, it was shoved out into the lake and attached to Andy's craft.

propeller : Tom explained as clearly as he could how the gasoline exploded in the cylinders, about the electric spark, and about the ....

unexpected : So ... was his encounter with Andy that the young inventor hardly knew how to act.

implicate : The Happy Harry gang was ... in the jewel robbery, though they only got a small share of the plunder.

tourniquet : Giving the ... a few more twists to completely stop the flow of blood, Tom fastened the stick-lever in place by a bit of string.

sanitarium : Mr. Duncan wanted to be taken to the ..., a well-known resort for the treatment of various diseases and surgical cases.

physician : A man in the boathouse was sent on the run to the sanitarium for a ....

cockpit : A man was in the ... of the motor-boat and seemed to be doing something to the forward bulkhead.

systematic : At first he could not find the trouble, but being a persistent youth, Tom went at it ... and soon located the problem.

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