IXL | Use dictionary entries to determine correct usage

Look at this dictionary entry.

mitigate mit-i-geyt verb mitigating, mitigated 1 to make less severe The restaurant manager tried to mitigate the customers' annoyance by offering free desserts. from Latin (mitigaten)

Which sentence uses the word mitigate correctly?

When the subway was flooded, shuttle buses were provided to mitigate the inconvenience to commuters.

Scratching a poison ivy rash can mitigate the problem by causing an infection.

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question

Look at this dictionary entry.

exasperate ig-zas-puh-reyt verb exasperating, exasperated 1 to make very angry; to irritate Layla was exasperated by Jackie's constant complaining. from Latin (exasperare)

Which sentence uses the word exasperate correctly?

Shawn's reluctance to do basic household chores exasperated Dominic and Zach.

Mrs. Clark realized she was exasperating a bad situation when she failed to pay the parking ticket promptly.

key idea

A dictionary entry can give you many kinds of information about a word. It usually includes a definition for each of a word's meanings, or senses. If you come across a commonly misused word, check the dictionary to be sure you are using the word correctly.

capitalize kap-i-tl-ahyz verb capitalizing, capitalized 1 to write or print using a capital letter You should capitalize the first word of every sentence. 2 to gain an advantage from something Shawn capitalized on the heat wave by selling bottled water, sunglasses, and hats at the beach. from Latin (capitalis)

green checkmark, Shawn capitalized on his opponent's missed shot and rebounded the ball.

The use of capitalize matches the first sense of the word.

red X symbol, The politician eventually capitalized to the public's demands.

The use of capitalize does not match either sense of the word.

solution

The first sentence uses the word exasperate correctly. The usage matches the word's definition: 1. to make very angry; to irritate.

green checkmark, Shawn's reluctance to do basic household chores exasperated Dominic and Zach.

The second sentence does not use the word exasperate correctly. The usage does not match the word's definition.

red X symbol, Mrs. Clark realized she was exasperating a bad situation when she failed to pay the parking ticket promptly.

The second sentence would be correct with the word exacerbating instead.

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