Lesson 15: TANG / TACT

Practice 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

1. The ancient vase arrived safely and was completely __________.

a) intact
b) tangible
c) tactile
d) contagious

2. Laughing is often ________; when one person starts, everyone joins in.

a) contingent
b) contagious
c) tactful
d) intangible

3. We lost __________ with the satellite when it went behind the moon.

a) tact
b) contingency
c) contact
d) tangent

4. He went off on a __________ and started talking about dinosaurs instead of math.

a) contact
b) tangent
c) contingency
d) tact

5. Braille is a __________ system that allows blind people to read with their fingers.

a) tactile
b) visual
c) auditory
d) contagious

6. The reward was __________, a gold trophy we could hold.

a) intangible
b) tangible
c) tactful
d) contingent

7. You need to use __________ when telling someone bad news so you don't hurt their feelings.

a) contact
b) contagion
c) tact
d) tangent

8. Love and hope are __________ things; you can't put them in a box.

a) intact
b) tactile
c) intangible
d) tangible

9. The outdoor concert is __________ on the weather; if it rains, it's canceled.

a) tactful
b) contact
c) contingent
d) contagious

10. The kitten managed to __________ itself in the ball of yarn.

a) tangent
b) contact
c) tact
d) entangle

11. She gave a very __________ response, politely declining the invitation.

a) tactile
b) intangible
c) tactful
d) contagious

12. We have a __________ plan in case the first plan fails.

a) contact
b) tangent
c) contingency
d) tact

Practice 2: Fill in the Blank

Use each word from the word bank exactly once.

Word Bank: tangible, contact, intact, tactile, contagious, intangible, tactful, tangent, entangle, contingency, tact, contingent

1. Please keep your hands to yourself and avoid physical __________.

2. The museum has a __________ exhibit where kids can touch the rocks and shells.

3. We need __________ proof, not just rumors, to convict him.

4. The flu is highly __________, so stay home if you are sick.

5. She showed great __________ by not mentioning his recent failure.

6. The old bridge is still __________, despite the heavy storm.

7. Don't let the fishing line __________ with the weeds.

8. The teacher asked us to stick to the subject and not go off on a __________.

9. Good will is an __________ asset for a company; you can't sell it, but it has value.

10. Our picnic is __________ on whether or not it rains.

11. He is not very __________; he always says the wrong thing and offends people.

12. We prepared a __________ fund for emergencies.

Practice 3: Reading Passage

The Artifact

The archaeologist gently brushed the dirt away. The clay pot was intact! It was a tangible piece of history, something a person had held 2,000 years ago. She felt a thrill of connection, almost like physical contact with the past.

She knew she had to be careful. The artifact was fragile. It required a tactile delicacy to remove it from the ground without breaking it. It wasn't just an object; it was an intangible link to a lost civilization.

Reading PassageQuestions

1. The pot was "intact," meaning:

a) It was broken into pieces
b) It was whole and undamaged
c) It was contagious
d) It was soft

2. It was a "tangible" piece of history, meaning:

a) It was an idea only
b) It was real and touchable
c) It was invisible
d) It was funny

3. She felt "contact" with the past. This implies:

a) A physical or emotional connection/touch
b) A tangent
c) A contingency
d) A disease

4. "Tactile" delicacy refers to:

a) The sense of smell
b) The sense of touch/handling
c) The sense of hearing
d) The sense of sight

5. An "intangible" link is:

a) Made of metal
b) Not physical (spiritual or abstract)
c) Broken
d) Tangled