IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition Sherrie L Nist
IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition Sherrie L. Nist © 2010 Townsend Press
Unit One: Chapter 3 • acclaim • exploit • adjacent • methodical • elicit • obsolete • engross • tangible • escalate • terminate
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 acclaim – noun • Any subway system that is clean, quiet, and safe deserves acclaim. • Although Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are now worth millions of dollars, the artist received little acclaim in his lifetime and died in poverty. Acclaim means A. criticism. B. praise. C. change.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 acclaim – noun • Any subway system that is clean, quiet, and safe deserves acclaim. • Although Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are now worth millions of dollars, the artist received little acclaim in his lifetime and died in poverty. Acclaim means A. criticism. B. praise. C. change. A clean, quiet, safe subway system would deserve praise. If Van Gogh died in poverty, he must have received little praise as an artist during his lifetime.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 adjacent – adjective • Because their desks are adjacent, Jeff and Kellie often exchange looks and comments. • If you keep your dishes in a cupboard that’s adjacent to the dishwasher, you won’t have to walk too far when putting away the clean dishes. Adjacent means A. close. B. similar. C. separated.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 adjacent – adjective • Because their desks are adjacent, Jeff and Kellie often exchange looks and comments. • If you keep your dishes in a cupboard that’s adjacent to the dishwasher, you won’t have to walk too far when putting away the clean dishes. Adjacent means A. close. B. similar. C. separated. Jeff and Kellie would be able to exchange looks and comments if their desks were close to one another. If the cupboard were close to the dishwasher, you wouldn’t have to walk too far to put away the dishes.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 elicit – verb • The movie star’s violet eyes always elicit admiration and wonder. • The basketball player’s three-point shot to win the game in its final seconds elicited a roar of delight from the excited fans. Elicit means A. to stop. B. to follow. C. to bring out.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 elicit – verb • The movie star’s violet eyes always elicit admiration and wonder. • The basketball player’s three-point shot to win the game in its final seconds elicited a roar of delight from the excited fans. Elicit means A. to stop. B. to follow. C. to bring out. Violet eyes would bring out admiration and wonder. A game-winning shot in the final seconds would bring out a roar of delight from the fans.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 engross – verb • The suspenseful TV movie so engrossed Bryan that he didn’t even budge when he was called to dinner. • The fascinating single-file march of black ants along the sidewalk engrossed me for several minutes. Engross means A. to hold the interest of. B. to disgust. C. to bore. A chocolate maker engrossed in his work
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 engross – verb • The suspenseful TV movie so engrossed Bryan that he didn’t even budge when he was called to dinner. • The fascinating single-file march of black ants along the sidewalk engrossed me for several minutes. Engross means A. to hold the interest of. B. to disgust. C. to bore. A chocolate maker engrossed in his work If Bryan didn’t budge when called for dinner, the suspenseful movie must have held his interest. If the ant march was fascinating, it would hold a person’s interest.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 escalate – verb • The fight between the two hockey players escalated into an allout battle among members of both teams. • “We need to escalate our fund-raising efforts, ” theater manager said. “Otherwise, the company won’t survive. ” Escalate means A. to expand. B. to delay. C. to weaken.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 escalate – verb • The fight between the two hockey players escalated into an allout battle among members of both teams. • “We need to escalate our fund-raising efforts, ” theater manager said. “Otherwise, the company won’t survive. ” Escalate means A. to expand. B. to delay. C. to weaken. If the fight began between two players and ended as an all-out battle among the members of both teams, it expanded. If the company’s survival is in danger (for lack of funds), the company would need to expand its fund-raising efforts.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 exploit – verb • At the turn of the century, factory owners exploited children by making them work in terrible conditions for as many as eighteen hours a day. • Although Ricky is the English teacher’s son, he refuses to exploit his status. He works as hard as anyone else in the class. Exploit means A. to forget. B. to take advantage of. C. to be sad about.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 exploit – verb • At the turn of the century, factory owners exploited children by making them work in terrible conditions for as many as eighteen hours a day. • Although Ricky is the English teacher’s son, he refuses to exploit his status. He works as hard as anyone else in the class. Exploit means A. to forget. B. to take advantage of. C. to be sad about. To make children work in terrible conditions for eighteen hours a day is to take advantage of children. If Ricky works as hard as anyone else, he is refusing to take advantage of his status.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 methodical – adjective • A methodical way to store spices is to shelve them in alphabetical order. • Juanita is so methodical about her diet that she classifies the foods in each meal into different nutritional categories. Methodical means A. accidental. B. out-of-date. C. orderly.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 methodical – adjective • A methodical way to store spices is to shelve them in alphabetical order. • Juanita is so methodical about her diet that she classifies the foods in each meal into different nutritional categories. Methodical means A. accidental. B. out-of-date. C. orderly. Putting spices in alphabetical order is an orderly way to store them. If Juanita classifies the foods in nutritional categories, she is being orderly.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 obsolete – adjective • Cell phones are so common now that they have made pagers almost obsolete. • In the United States, the automobile quickly made travel by horse and carriage obsolete. Obsolete means A. popular. B. useful. C. extinct. Obsolete farm equipment
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 obsolete – adjective • Cell phones are so common now that they have made pagers almost obsolete. • In the United States, the automobile quickly made travel by horse and carriage obsolete. Obsolete means A. popular. B. useful. C. extinct. Obsolete farm equipment Because of cell phones, pagers are almost extinct. Travel by horse and carriage became extinct when automobiles took over.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 tangible – adjective • The sculptor loved making her ideas tangible by giving them form in metal and stone. • Corn-chip crumbs, empty soda bottles, and dirty napkins were tangible evidence that a party had taken place the night before. Tangible means A. clever. B. solid. C. hidden.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 tangible – adjective • The sculptor loved making her ideas tangible by giving them form in metal and stone. • Corn-chip crumbs, empty soda bottles, and dirty napkins were tangible evidence that a party had taken place the night before. Tangible means A. clever. B. solid. C. hidden. Transforming ideas into metal and stone sculptures would make those ideas solid. Corn-chip crumbs, empty soda bottles, and dirty napkins are solid evidence of the party.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 terminate – verb • As the clock’s hands inched toward 3: 00, the students waited impatiently for the bell to terminate the last class before spring vacation. • The referee should have terminated the boxing match when he first saw the weaker fighter losing the ability to defend himself. Terminate means A. to end. B. to revive. C. to begin.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 terminate – verb • As the clock’s hands inched toward 3: 00, the students waited impatiently for the bell to terminate the last class before spring vacation. • The referee should have terminated the boxing match when he first saw the weaker fighter losing the ability to defend himself. Terminate means A. to end. B. to revive. C. to begin. The 3: 00 bell would end the last class before vacation. If the boxer was losing the ability to defend himself, the fight should have been ended.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 1. A wedding ring is a(n) _____ expression of a couple’s commitment to each other. 2. If solar energy becomes as cheap and plentiful as sunshine, nuclear energy, which is expensive, may become _____.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 1. A wedding ring is a ______ expression of a tangible couple’s commitment to each other. A wedding ring (an object that symbolizes a couple’s commitment) is something that can be touched. 2. If solar energy becomes as cheap and plentiful as sunshine, nuclear energy, which is expensive, may become _____. obsolete A plentiful and cheap energy source would make an expensive energy source become extinct.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 3. With movies like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Charlie Wilson’s War to his credit, actor Tom Hanks has won Oscars and the ____ of admiring critics. 4. Our house is _____ to one with a high wooden fence, so our view on that side is completely blocked. 5. The shouting match between Rose and her brother ______(e)d until it was so loud that the neighbors complained.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 3. With movies like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Charlie Wilson’s War to his credit, actor Tom Hanks has won Oscars and the ____ acclaim of admiring critics. Tom Hanks has won praise for his roles in movies such as these. 4. Our house is _____ adjacent to one with a high wooden fence, so our view on that side is completely blocked. If the high fence blocks their view, their house must be close to it. 5. The shouting match between Rose and her brother _____ escalated until it was so loud that the neighbors complained. The shouting match must have intensified if it became so loud that the neighbors complained.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 6. Sometimes an article I’m reading on the bus will _____me so much that I’ll pass my stop. 7. When workers feel _______(e)d by their employers, they often go on strike for larger salaries and better working conditions.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 6. Sometimes an article I’m reading on the bus will _____me so much that I’ll pass my stop. engross One would have to be absorbed in the article to miss one’s bus stop. 7. When workers feel _____ exploited by their employers, they often go on strike for larger salaries and better working conditions. If employees go on strike, they must feel they are being taken unfair advantage of by their employers.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 8. Diana is very _____ when it comes to cooking. She reads the recipe carefully, gathers all the ingredients, and gets out the utensils before beginning. 9. When Luke was caught stealing money on the job, the company _______(e)d his employment and brought him up on criminal charges. 10. In one disturbing survey, the question “Which do you like better, TV or Daddy? ” _______(e)d this response from a number of children: “TV. ”
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. acclaim B. adjacent C. elicit D. engross E. escalate F. exploit G. methodical H. obsolete I. tangible J. terminate 8. Diana is very _____ methodical when it comes to cooking. She reads the recipe carefully, gathers all the ingredients, and gets out the utensils before beginning. The second sentence describes three ways that Diana is systematic. 9. When Luke was caught stealing money on the job, the company _____ terminated his employment and brought him up on criminal charges. One would expect the company to stop Luke’s employment if he was caught stealing money on the job. 10. In one disturbing survey, the question “Which do you like better, TV or Daddy? ” _____ this response from a elicited number of children: “TV. ” Asking the question brought forth the response from the children.
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