Lesson 35: TRACT

Practice 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

1. Please don't __________ me while I'm trying to focus.

a) attract
b) distract
c) extract
d) contract

2. The dentist had to __________ two wisdom teeth.

a) subtract
b) attract
c) extract
d) retract

3. The newspaper issued a __________ after discovering the story was false.

a) contraction
b) retraction
c) distraction
d) attraction

4. Strong __________ on the tires prevented the car from skidding.

a) subtraction
b) extraction
c) traction
d) contraction

5. The peace talks became __________, lasting months longer than expected.

a) retracted
b) protracted
c) distracted
d) subtracted

6. The new policies are meant to __________ talented workers to the company.

a) distract
b) detract
c) attract
d) retract

7. The issue proved __________, resisting every attempt at resolution.

a) tractable
b) attractive
c) retractable
d) intractable

8. His constant complaints __________ from the team's morale.

a) attracted
b) detracted
c) contracted
d) extracted

9. The farmer used a __________ to pull the heavy equipment across the field.

a) contraction
b) extraction
c) tractor
d) distraction

10. When you __________ 7 from 15, you get 8.

a) retract
b) extract
c) distract
d) subtract

11. Art critics often find __________ work difficult to interpret.

a) tractable
b) attractive
c) abstract
d) contracted

12. The two parties signed a legal __________ agreeing to the terms.

a) contraction
b) traction
c) contract
d) extraction

Practice 2: Fill in the Blank

Use each word from the word bank exactly once.

Word Bank: attract, distract, extract, contract, subtract, retract, protract, abstract, traction, tractor, detract, intractable

1. The colorful display was designed to __________ customers.

2. The ongoing conflict had become __________, with no end in sight.

3. Heavy snow reduced __________ on the mountain roads.

4. The concept remains too __________ for young students to grasp.

5. Loud noises __________ from my ability to concentrate.

6. The senator was forced to __________ her previous statements.

7. Workers used special tools to __________ oil from the ground.

8. Don't let minor issues __________ you from your main goal.

9. The negotiations were __________ by complex legal demands.

10. If you __________ 12 from 50, what do you get?

11. Muscles __________ when you lift heavy objects.

12. The old red __________ sat unused in the barn.

Practice 3: Reading Passage

When the small tech startup finally gained traction, its founders faced a dilemma. A larger company wanted to offer a contract—a lucrative deal that would attract major investors but might protract their timeline for years.

"This is abstract thinking versus reality," said Maya, the CEO. "We have something attractive here. A partnership could extract value we haven't yet found."

But her co-founder, Darius, was worried. "It could also distract us from what matters. We can't let side deals detract from our mission."

Maya agreed in principle. But the problem was intractable—there was no clear answer. Each path came with costs you'd have to subtract from the benefits.

Eventually, they chose to retract from negotiations. The larger company was disappointed, but Maya and Darius knew their team was more tractable when they controlled their own direction. A tractor didn't need someone else pulling the strings.

Months later, when their product launched to acclaim, Maya thought about that decision. They hadn't protracted their struggle, and the contract they had avoided would have extracted more than it gave. Sometimes the best deal is the one you don't make.

Questions

1. The startup "gained traction." This means:

a) It crashed on the road
b) It began to make progress and attract interest
c) It subtracted from its goals
d) It became intractable

2. The contract would "extract value." This means:

a) Add value for free
b) Pull out value from the company
c) Distract from value
d) Retract an offer

3. Darius worried the deal would "detract" from the mission. This means:

a) Add to the mission
b) Pull away from what mattered
c) Make the mission more abstract
d) Contract into the mission

4. The problem was "intractable." This means:

a) Easy to solve
b) Very difficult to manage or resolve
c) Attractive to investors
d) Related to tractors

5. They chose to "retract" from negotiations. This means:

a) They signed the contract
b) They pulled back from the talks
c) They protracted the process
d) They subtracted their losses