IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition Sherrie L Nist
IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition Sherrie L. Nist © 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Two: Chapter 8 • attest • enigma • attribute • exemplify • discern • mobile • dispatch • nocturnal • enhance • orient
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 attest – verb • Anyone who has seen the Golden Gate Bridge in the rose-gold light of sunset can attest to its beauty. • Witnesses attest to the fact that rainfall makes the ground of Death Valley so slippery that boulders slide across it. Attest means A. to declare to be true. B. to wish for. C. to forget easily.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 attest – verb • Anyone who has seen the Golden Gate Bridge in the rose-gold light of sunset can attest to its beauty. • Witnesses attest to the fact that rainfall makes the ground of Death Valley so slippery that boulders slide across it. Attest means A. to declare to be true. B. to wish for. C. to forget easily. Seeing such a sight would enable one to declare the truth of the beauty. People who are witnesses would be able to declare the event to be true.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 attribute – noun • A three-hundred-page novel written in 1939 has the odd attribute of containing no e, the most common letter in English. • Some cars have computerized attributes such as windshield wipers that automatically turn on when it rains. Attribute means A. a tendency. B. a defect. C. a characteristic.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 attribute – noun • A three-hundred-page novel written in 1939 has the odd attribute of containing no e, the most common letter in English. • Some cars have computerized attributes such as windshield wipers that automatically turn on when it rains. Attribute means A. a tendency. B. a defect. C. a characteristic. Not containing a single e is a characteristic of the novel. The second item gives an example of a computerized characteristic of some cars.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 discern – verb • An experienced jeweler can easily discern whether a diamond is genuine or fake. • People who are red-green colorblind can discern the colors of traffic lights by recognizing shades of gray. Discern means A. to see clearly. B. to disregard. C. to change.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 discern – verb • An experienced jeweler can easily discern whether a diamond is genuine or fake. • People who are red-green colorblind can discern the colors of traffic lights by recognizing shades of gray. Discern means A. to see clearly. B. to disregard. C. to change. If a jeweler is experienced, he or she would be able to see clearly whether a diamond is genuine or fake. If red-green colorblind people can recognize shades of gray, they would be able to see clearly the colors of a traffic light.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 dispatch – verb • I wanted to dispatch the letter as quickly as possible, so I took it to the post office instead of dropping it into a mailbox. • At work Harold is treated like an errand boy. His boss often dispatches him to the deli for sandwiches or donuts. Dispatch means A. to represent. B. to send. C. to drive.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 dispatch – verb • I wanted to dispatch the letter as quickly as possible, so I took it to the post office instead of dropping it into a mailbox. • At work Harold is treated like an errand boy. His boss often dispatches him to the deli for sandwiches or donuts. Dispatch means A. to represent. B. to send. C. to drive. A person would take the letter to the post office in order to send it as quickly as possible. The boss would send Harold to the deli for sandwiches or donuts.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 enhance – verb • Our gym teacher enhanced her appearance with a more attractive hairstyle. • The college catalogue stated that the writing course would “enhance all students’ writing skills” by improving their grammar and style. Enhance means A. to make better. B. to recognize. C. to reduce.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 enhance – verb • Our gym teacher enhanced her appearance with a more attractive hairstyle. • The college catalogue stated that the writing course would “enhance all students’ writing skills” by improving their grammar and style. Enhance means A. to make better. B. to recognize. C. to reduce. A more attractive hairstyle would make the teacher’s appearance better. In the second item, the word improving suggests that enhance means “to make better. ”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 enigma – noun • How the thief entered our house was an enigma until we remembered that the cellar door had been left unlocked. • The “singing sands” of Scotland remained an enigma until scientists learned that footsteps caused the round grains of sand the surrounding air pockets to make musical vibrations. Enigma means A. a comfort. B. a puzzle. C. an error.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 enigma – noun • How the thief entered our house was an enigma until we remembered that the cellar door had been left unlocked. • The “singing sands” of Scotland remained an enigma until scientists learned that footsteps caused the round grains of sand the surrounding air pockets to make musical vibrations. Enigma means A. a comfort. B. a puzzle. C. an error. How the thief entered the house would be a puzzle—until they remembered the unlocked cellar door. Until scientists came up with an explanation for the “singing sands, ” the sands would have been a puzzle.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 exemplify – verb • The many IRS employees who give citizens inaccurate information exemplify governmental incompetence. • Mr. Ramirez, who emphasizes original thinking and freedom of expression, exemplifies the best in teaching. Exemplify means A. to illustrate. B. to save. C. to oppose.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 exemplify – verb • The many IRS employees who give citizens inaccurate information exemplify governmental incompetence. • Mr. Ramirez, who emphasizes original thinking and freedom of expression, exemplifies the best in teaching. Exemplify means A. to illustrate. B. to save. C. to oppose. Specific government employees who give inaccurate information would illustrate general governmental incompetence. A teacher who emphasizes original thinking and freedom of expression would illustrate the best in teaching.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 mobile – adjective • My parents own a mobile home, which can be moved from place to place. • Every morning when I was in the hospital, a volunteer wheeled a mobile library into my room. Mobile means A. active. B. expensive. C. moveable.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 mobile – adjective • My parents own a mobile home, which can be moved from place to place. • Every morning when I was in the hospital, a volunteer wheeled a mobile library into my room. Mobile means A. active. B. expensive. C. moveable. If the home can be moved from place to place, it must be moveable. If the library was wheeled into the patient’s hospital room, it must have been a moveable library.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 nocturnal – adjective • I know when my brother has enjoyed one of his nocturnal feasts because I find a stack of dishes in the sink in the morning. • Since owls are nocturnal, they are rarely seen during the day. Nocturnal means A. noisy. B. busy. C. of the night. A nocturnal street scene
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 nocturnal – adjective • I know when my brother has enjoyed one of his nocturnal feasts because I find a stack of dishes in the sink in the morning. • Since owls are nocturnal, they are rarely seen during the day. Nocturnal means A. noisy. B. busy. C. of the night. A nocturnal street scene If the dishes are in the sink the next morning, the brother must have snacked during the night. If owls are rarely seen during the day, they must be creatures of the night.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 orient – verb • When coming up from the subway, I often need to look at a street sign to orient myself. • Certain cars let drivers orient themselves in unfamiliar places with the help of an electronic map that shows the car’s location. Orient means A. to locate. B. to welcome. C. to question.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 orient – verb • When coming up from the subway, I often need to look at a street sign to orient myself. • Certain cars let drivers orient themselves in unfamiliar places with the help of an electronic map that shows the car’s location. Orient means A. to locate. B. to welcome. C. to question. One would look at a street sign in order to locate oneself. In the second item, the word location suggests that orient means “to locate. ”
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient 1. Fresh garlic may not _____ the breath, but it certainly improves spaghetti sauce. 2. A witness _______(e)d to the truth of the defendant’s claim that she had loved the murdered man.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient enhance the breath, but it 1. Fresh garlic may not _____ certainly improves spaghetti sauce. The word improves tells you the meaning of enhance. attested to the truth of the defendant’s 2. A witness _____ claim that she had loved the murdered man. A witness would testify to the truth of the defendant’s statement.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient 3. When I was younger, my mother used to _____ me to the store for milk or some missing cooking ingredient as often as twice a day. 4. The lives of such reformers as Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King _____ greatness. 5. Science does not have enough evidence to solve the _____ of whether or not there is other intelligent life in the universe.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient dispatch 3. When I was younger, my mother used to _____ me to the store for milk or some missing cooking ingredient as often as twice a day. The mother would send the child to the store. 4. The lives of such reformers as Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma exemplify greatness. Gandhi, and Martin Luther King _____ The lives of such reformers are examples of greatness. 5. Science does not have enough evidence to solve the enigma of whether or not there is other intelligent life _____ in the universe. The question of other intelligent life is a mystery. The word solve is a clue.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient 6. The convicts decided on a(n) ____ escape. The darkness would hide them as they fled through the forest. 7. Sue’s hairpiece is so natural-looking that it’s impossible to _____ where the hairpiece ends and her own hair begins.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient nocturnal escape. The 6. The convicts decided on a _____ darkness would hide them as they fled through the forest. If the darkness would hide them, the escape must have been at night. 7. Sue’s hairpiece is so natural-looking that it’s impossible discern where the hairpiece ends and her own to _____ hair begins. If Sue’s hairpiece is natural-looking, it would be impossible to detect where it ends and her own hair begins.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient 8. The positions of the stars help sailors _____ themselves on the open seas. 9. My mother is unable to walk, but with her wheelchair she is _____ enough to get around her apartment, move along a sidewalk, and even shop at a mall. 10. Giant kelp, a form of seaweed, has some amazing _____s. Not only is it the world’s fastest-growing vegetable, but the more it is cut, the faster it grows.
SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. attest B. attribute C. discern D. dispatch E. enhance F. enigma G. exemplify H. mobile I. nocturnal J. orient 8. The positions of the stars help sailors _____ themselves on the open seas. The stars help sailors determine their location on the open seas. 9. My mother is unable to walk, but with her wheelchair she is mobile _____ enough to get around her apartment, move along a sidewalk, and even shop at a mall. If the mother moves along the sidewalk and shops at a mall, she must be able to move about. 10. Giant kelp, a form of seaweed, has some amazing attributes ______. Not only is it the world’s fastest-growing vegetable, but the more it is cut, the faster it grows. The second sentence lists two amazing qualities of giant kelp.
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