ADVANCED WORD POWER Second Edition BETH JOHNSON JANET
ADVANCED WORD POWER Second Edition BETH JOHNSON JANET M. GOLDSTEIN © 2011 Townsend Press
Unit Five: Chapter 25 • capricious • phenomenon • catharsis • rectify • discrepancy • resolution • ephemeral • retract • induce • serene
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 capricious – adjective • It’s understandable when a child says “I want to be a firefighter” one day and “I want to be a doctor” the next, but it’s strange for an adult to be so capricious. • The actress is so spoiled and capricious that she’ll order an entire new wardrobe, then decide she doesn’t like any of it and throw all the clothes away. Capricious means A. impulsive. B. wicked. C. intelligent.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 capricious – adjective • It’s understandable when a child says “I want to be a firefighter” one day and “I want to be a doctor” the next, but it’s strange for an adult to be so capricious. • The actress is so spoiled and capricious that she’ll order an entire new wardrobe, then decide she doesn’t like any of it and throw all the clothes away. Capricious means A. impulsive. B. wicked. C. intelligent. An adult who changed career directions from day to day would be considered impulsive. It would be impulsive to buy all new clothes one day and throw them away the next.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 catharsis – noun • Some therapists advise their clients to punch and kick pillows. The idea is that the patients can experience catharsis by releasing their anger in this way. • People in some families never raise their voices, while others seem to need to achieve catharsis by yelling at each other occasionally. Catharsis means Photo: U. S. Navy - Kenneth R. Hendrix A. confusion. B. letting out feelings. C. love.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 catharsis – noun • Some therapists advise their clients to punch and kick pillows. The idea is that the patients can experience catharsis by releasing their anger in this way. • People in some families never raise their voices, while others seem to need to achieve catharsis by yelling at each other occasionally. Catharsis means Photo: U. S. Navy - Kenneth R. Hendrix A. confusion. B. letting out feelings. C. love. Releasing anger by punching pillows can be a way of letting out feelings. Yelling at people can be another way of letting out feelings.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 discrepancy – noun • After a discrepancy was found in the accounts, an investigation revealed that one of the bookkeepers had been stealing. • The police solved the homicide case by asking all the suspects to account for their movements on the night of the killing. There was a discrepancy in one person’s story—half an hour was missing—and he turned out to be the killer. Discrepancy means A. a reduction. B. an increase. C. a difference. Photo: Dang. Apricot
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 discrepancy – noun • After a discrepancy was found in the accounts, an investigation revealed that one of the bookkeepers had been stealing. • The police solved the homicide case by asking all the suspects to account for their movements on the night of the killing. There was a discrepancy in one person’s story—half an hour was missing—and he turned out to be the killer. Discrepancy means A. a reduction. B. an increase. C. a difference. Photo: Dang. Apricot Stolen money created a difference between the account’s expected and actual funds. There was a difference between the elapsed time and the suspect’s account of his activities.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 ephemeral – adjective • “Cooking is an ephemeral art, ” said Mom. “You create something beautiful, people gobble it up, and in minutes, it’s gone. ” • One theory about fireworks is that they fascinate us because they are so ephemeral: they burst and fade away almost immediately. Ephemeral means A. worthless. B. impossible to explain. C. brief. Photo: Pro 2
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 ephemeral – adjective • “Cooking is an ephemeral art, ” said Mom. “You create something beautiful, people gobble it up, and in minutes, it’s gone. ” • One theory about fireworks is that they fascinate us because they are so ephemeral: they burst and fade away almost immediately. Ephemeral means A. worthless. B. impossible to explain. C. brief. Photo: Pro 2 Since the food is gone in minutes, cooking produces only brief works of art. Since fireworks fade away almost immediately, they fascinate us because they are so brief.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 induce – verb • The hypnotist claimed to be able to induce a trance in any volunteer. • Whatever induced you to do your Bugs Bunny imitation at that very formal dinner? Induce means A. to cause. B. to prevent. C. to predict. Photo: Wing-Chi Poon
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 induce – verb • The hypnotist claimed to be able to induce a trance in any volunteer. • Whatever induced you to do your Bugs Bunny imitation at that very formal dinner? Induce means A. to cause. B. to prevent. C. to predict. Photo: Wing-Chi Poon Hypnotists try to cause trances. The second item asks what was able to cause or persuade someone to do a Bugs Bunny imitation.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 phenomenon – noun • “Déjà vu” is a common phenomenon. It is the sensation, when hearing or seeing something for the first time, that one has heard or seen it before. • A comet was a terrifying phenomenon in earlier times. No one knew what comets were, so when one appeared in the sky, people saw it as a sign of disaster. Phenomenon means A. something noticed. B. something imaginary. C. something that fails.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 phenomenon – noun • “Déjà vu” is a common phenomenon. It is the sensation, when hearing or seeing something for the first time, that one has heard or seen it before. • A comet was a terrifying phenomenon in earlier times. No one knew what comets were, so when one appeared in the sky, people saw it as a sign of disaster. Phenomenon means A. something noticed. B. something imaginary. C. something that fails. The first item describes something—a sensation—that is commonly noticed. The second item describes something—the appearance of a comet in the sky—that people noticed and feared.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 rectify – verb • According to an old story, when Abraham Lincoln was a store clerk, he shortchanged a customer by a nickel, then walked miles to her house to rectify the situation. • I put a cup of salt instead of a cup of sugar into the cake batter. There’s no way to rectify the mistake; I’ll have to throw the whole mess out. Rectify means A. to repeat. B. to discuss. C. to correct. Photo: Bill
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 rectify – verb • According to an old story, when Abraham Lincoln was a store clerk, he shortchanged a customer by a nickel, then walked miles to her house to rectify the situation. • I put a cup of salt instead of a cup of sugar into the cake batter. There’s no way to rectify the mistake; I’ll have to throw the whole mess out. Rectify means A. to repeat. B. to discuss. C. to correct. Photo: Bill “Honest Abe” would go to great lengths to correct an error in making change. Unable to correct the problem caused by substituting salt for sugar, the cook was forced to throw away the batter.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 resolution – noun • By increasing the police force, installing better street lights, and starting neighborhood watch programs, the new mayor demonstrated her resolution to make the city a safer place to live. • When Jane’s brother made a nasty remark about her husband, Jane forgot her resolution not to lose her temper. Resolution means A. a question. B. a solemn promise. C. a repetition.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 resolution – noun • By increasing the police force, installing better street lights, and starting neighborhood watch programs, the new mayor demonstrated her resolution to make the city a safer place to live. • When Jane’s brother made a nasty remark about her husband, Jane forgot her resolution not to lose her temper. Resolution means A. a question. B. a solemn promise. C. a repetition. Having made a solemn promise, the mayor demonstrated her determination to follow through on it by increasing police officers, improving lights, and starting neighborhood watches. Jane’s solemn promise not to lose her temper is contrasted with her response to her brother’s nasty remark.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 retract – verb • Jane says she will never speak to her brother again unless he will retract his insult to her husband. • No one can trust Harry’s promises: he retracts them as soon as he makes them. Retract means A. to withdraw. B. to strengthen. C. to remember.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 retract – verb • Jane says she will never speak to her brother again unless he will retract his insult to her husband. • No one can trust Harry’s promises: he retracts them as soon as he makes them. Retract means A. to withdraw. B. to strengthen. C. to remember. Jane might be willing to forgive her brother if he were willing to withdraw the nasty remark he made about her husband. No one would trust a person who rushes to withdraw his promises as soon as he makes them.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 serene – adjective • On a day like this, when the ocean is so smooth and serene, it is hard to imagine that it can be rough and stormy. • Shaken and upset after her accident, Jolene sat very still and had a cup of tea to try to make herself feel serene again. Serene means Photo: sam garza from Los Angeles A. quiet and at peace. B. anxious. C. angry.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 serene – adjective • On a day like this, when the ocean is so smooth and serene, it is hard to imagine that it can be rough and stormy. • Shaken and upset after her accident, Jolene sat very still and had a cup of tea to try to make herself feel serene again. Serene means Photo: sam garza from Los Angeles A. quiet and at peace. B. anxious. C. angry. A rough and stormy ocean is contrasted with one that is smooth, quiet and at peace. Feeling shaken and upset is contrasted with sitting still and feeling quiet and at peace.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 1. Whatever ____ed you to invite Seth and Reuben to the same small dinner party? Don’t you know that they are bitter enemies? 2. “I’m not a callous° person—I feel bad about what happened, and I’d like to ____ it, ” said our neighbor. “How much will it cost to fix the window my kids broke with their baseball? ”
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 1. Whatever _____ induced you to invite Seth and Reuben to the same small dinner party? Don’t you know that they are bitter enemies? The question asks what persuaded or influenced the person to invite enemies to the same party. 2. “I’m not a callous° person—I feel bad about what happened, and I’d like to ____ rectify it, ” said our neighbor. “How much will it cost to fix the window my kids broke with their baseball? ” Since the neighbor is offering to pay for the broken window, then he wants to remedy the situation and make right the damage done by his children.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 3. After a rough day at work, what makes you feel _____ again? For some people, the answer is a brisk walk; others prefer a hot bath or a brief nap. 4. When Leon gets his monthly bank statement, there is usually a(n) _____ between it and his own records. The gap isn’t large— just five or ten dollars—but it’s almost always there. 5. After years of being impassive° and holding back her anger, Mimi achieved _____ by writing her father a long, furious letter listing all the ways he had marred° her life—and then burning it.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 3. After a rough day at work, what makes you feel _____ serene again? For some people, the answer is a brisk walk; others prefer a hot bath or a brief nap. Walks, naps, and hot baths can help people feel more calm and placid. 4. When Leon gets his monthly bank statement, there is usually a _____ discrepancy between it and his own records. The gap isn’t large— just five or ten dollars—but it’s almost always there. The gap shows an inconsistency between his records and the statement. 5. After years of being impassive° and holding back her anger, Mimi achieved _____ catharsis by writing her father a long, furious letter listing all the ways he had marred° her life—and then burning it. Holding back her anger is contrasted with achieving emotional release by letting out her feelings of fury in a letter.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 6. An old French song describes the joys of love as _____, but the sorrows of love as lasting a lifetime. 7. “I said I would marry you, ” Marie told Hank. “But now that I know how you’ve lied to me, I _____ that promise. ”
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 6. An old French song describes the joys of love as _____, ephemeral but the sorrows of love as lasting a lifetime. Sorrows that last a lifetime are contrasted with fleeting joys that last for only a short time. 7. “I said I would marry you, ” Marie told Hank. “But now that I know how you’ve lied to me, I _____ retract that promise. ” Marie’s vow to marry Hank is contrasted with her decision to take back that promise.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 8. Superstitions are a puzzling ______. What is it that makes otherwise well-informed and sensible people step aside to avoid walking under a ladder? 9. Having decided that TV was taking up too much of her life, Angie made a(n) _____ not to watch it for a week. 10. Tina seems to take pleasure in being ____. One day she says she loves school; the next day she says she hates it. On Tuesday she decides that she likes being single; on Wednesday she’s upset that she’s not married.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. capricious B. catharsis C. discrepancy F. phenomenon G. rectify H. resolution D. ephemeral E. induce I. retract J. serene 8. Superstitions are a puzzling ______. phenomenon What is it that makes otherwise well-informed and sensible people step aside to avoid walking under a ladder? Superstitious behavior is something remarkable because it is so puzzling. 9. Having decided that TV was taking up too much of her life, Angie made a ______ resolution not to watch it for a week. The word decided suggests Angie made a firm decision not to watch TV. 10. Tina seems to take pleasure in being capricious ____. One day she says she loves school; the next day she says she hates it. On Tuesday she decides that she likes being single; on Wednesday she’s upset that she’s not married. Tina’s attitudes are unpredictable and changeable from day to day.
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