Unit Three Chapter 15 Put the words below

Unit Three: Chapter 15 Put the words below in Alphabetical Order • usurp • heed • paragon • callous • indigent • provincial • desecrate • supercilious • steadfast • evanescent

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 callous – adjective • Only the most callous person is not touched by pictures of starving children in refugee camps. • Doctors and nurses in emergency rooms may seem callous, but if they let themselves become upset by the suffering they see, they could not do their jobs. Callous means A. unfamiliar. B. unfeeling. C. unqualified.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1 callous – adjective • Only the most callous person is not touched by pictures of starving children in refugee camps. • Doctors and nurses in emergency rooms may seem callous, but if they let themselves become upset by the suffering they see, they could not do their jobs. Callous means A. unfamiliar. B. unfeeling. C. unqualified. Only unfeeling people would remain unmoved by such disturbing images. Healthcare professionals’ need to remain calm on the job explains why they sometimes appear unfeeling.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 desecrate – verb • Food vendors, postcard stands, and the like are not allowed at the war memorial. Such commercial ventures would desecrate this shrine to the war dead. • New Englanders feel that clam chowder is desecrated by the addition of tomatoes. There’s not a speck of tomato in pure New England chowder. Desecrate means A. to adorn. B. to dishonor. C. to finish. Photo: Armenia-Wales

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2 desecrate – verb • Food vendors, postcard stands, and the like are not allowed at the war memorial. Such commercial ventures would desecrate this shrine to the war dead. • New Englanders feel that clam chowder is desecrated by the addition of tomatoes. There’s not a speck of tomato in pure New England chowder. Desecrate means A. to adorn. B. to dishonor. C. to finish. Photo: Armenia-Wales Using the memorial site to make money would dishonor those who died. New Englanders who view their original recipe as sacred think tomatoes dishonor ”their” chowder.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 evanescent – adjective • My grandmother seemed to have an evanescent of vanilla about her. When I hugged her, I would sometimes catch a sweet whiff of it. • It is a wonderful, rare thing to get a glimpse of the northern lights, which appear as evanescent flickers of color on the horizon. Evanescent means A. briefly present. B. long-lasting. C. imaginary.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3 evanescent – adjective • My grandmother seemed to have an evanescent of vanilla about her. When I hugged her, I would sometimes catch a sweet whiff of it. • It is a wonderful, rare thing to get a glimpse of the northern lights, which appear as evanescent flickers of color on the horizon. Evanescent means A. briefly present. B. long-lasting. C. imaginary. If the speaker could catch a whiff of vanilla only during the hug, then the scent must have been only briefly present. The words rare, glimpse, and flickers suggest that the northern lights are only briefly present.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 heed – verb • Parents often wish that children were more willing to heed their advice. • The senator was voted out of office after just one term because he refused to heed the voters’ wishes. Heed means Photo: Arlo K. Abrahamson, U. S. Navy A. to listen to. B. to misunderstand. C. to ignore.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4 heed – verb • Parents often wish that children were more willing to heed their advice. • The senator was voted out of office after just one term because he refused to heed the voters’ wishes. Heed means Photo: Arlo K. Abrahamson, U. S. Navy A. to listen to. B. to misunderstand. C. to ignore. When people give advice, they usually want others to listen to it. To be reelected, it is important for politicians to listen to the wishes of those who vote for them.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 indigent – adjective • The nun Mother Teresa was famous for her work among the indigent people of India, the people she called “the poorest of the poor. ” • A soup kitchen and free clothing outlet has opened on West Avenue to help the city’s indigent population. Indigent means A. important. B. well-behaved. C. needy. Photo: Matthew Woitunski

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5 indigent – adjective • The nun Mother Teresa was famous for her work among the indigent people of India, the people she called “the poorest of the poor. ” • A soup kitchen and free clothing outlet has opened on West Avenue to help the city’s indigent population. Indigent means A. important. B. well-behaved. C. needy. Photo: Matthew Woitunski The phrase “poorest of the poor” suggests that Mother Teresa tried to help needy people. Soup kitchens and clothing outlets offer free food and clothes to needy people.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 paragon – noun • The Acme Company presented itself as a paragon of business ethics. Therefore, the public was surprised at reports that Acme was dumping toxic wastes into streams and that its executives had fled the country with the stockholders’ money. • The New England town meeting is frequently described as a paragon of democracy. All citizens can participate and make their voices heard. Paragon means A. an ancestor. B. an imitation. C. an ideal example.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6 paragon – noun • The Acme Company presented itself as a paragon of business ethics. Therefore, the public was surprised at reports that Acme was dumping toxic wastes into streams and that its executives had fled the country with the stockholders’ money. • The New England town meeting is frequently described as a paragon of democracy. All citizens can participate and make their voices heard. Paragon means A. an ancestor. B. an imitation. C. an ideal example. The company’s image as an ideal example of high ethical standards is contrasted with the reality of its unethical and illegal practices. A meeting where all citizens are welcome to exercise their right to free speech is an ideal example of a participatory democracy.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 provincial – adjective • Just because Ivan lives in the country, do not think he is provincial. On the contrary, he is a well-educated man who reads a great deal and keeps up with what’s going on in the world. • The local paper is too provincial for me. Its stories are written from a very limited point of view that doesn’t consider other ways of looking at questions. Provincial means A. narrow-minded. B. broad-minded. C. calm.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7 provincial – adjective • Just because Ivan lives in the country, do not think he is provincial. On the contrary, he is a well-educated man who reads a great deal and keeps up with what’s going on in the world. • The local paper is too provincial for me. Its stories are written from a very limited point of view that doesn’t consider other ways of looking at questions. Provincial means A. narrow-minded. B. broad-minded. C. calm. The assumption that Ivan is narrow-minded because he lives in the country is contrasted with the reality that he is well-educated and worldly-wise. The phrase “very limited point of view” suggests that the local paper is narrow-minded and doesn’t consider other perspectives.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 steadfast – adjective • For the last 11 years, my grandmother has been a steadfast volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, no matter what the weather, she delivers meals to neighbors who cannot leave their homes. • On their golden anniversary, Dad made a touching toast to Mom, saying that she had been his “steadfast companion for half a century. ” Steadfast means A. forgetful. B. faithful. C. grateful.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8 steadfast – adjective • For the last 11 years, my grandmother has been a steadfast volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, no matter what the weather, she delivers meals to neighbors who cannot leave their homes. • On their golden anniversary, Dad made a touching toast to Mom, saying that she had been his “steadfast companion for half a century. ” Steadfast means A. forgetful. B. faithful. C. grateful. Since the grandmother consistently delivers meals, regardless of weather conditions, she is a faithful volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Since the father is celebrating his fiftieth wedding anniversary with a touching toast to his wife, he probably considers her a faithful companion.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 supercilious – adjective • After a conference with her son’s teacher, Jane was fuming because of the teacher’s supercilious attitude. “She treated me like dirt under her feet, ” Jane said bitterly. • The supercilious hotel clerk lost his job when he asked a plainly-dressed foreign-looking woman in the lobby to leave. She was the hotel owner’s mother. Supercilious means Photo: Oscar Gustave Rejlander, 1872 A. snobbish. B. sensitive. C. supportive.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9 supercilious – adjective • After a conference with her son’s teacher, Jane was fuming because of the teacher’s supercilious attitude. “She treated me like dirt under her feet, ” Jane said bitterly. • The supercilious hotel clerk lost his job when he asked a plainly-dressed foreign-looking woman in the lobby to leave. She was the hotel owner’s mother. Supercilious means Photo: Oscar Gustave Rejlander, 1872 A. snobbish. B. sensitive. C. supportive. The teacher must have a snobbish attitude to treat other people like dirt. Only a snobbish clerk would make someone leave simply because her clothing wasn’t very fancy.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 usurp – verb • In the novel, the evil prince arranged to have the elderly king kidnapped. He then usurped the throne, declaring himself king and threatening to hang as a traitor anyone who objected. • If you get a puppy, it is important to reassure your old dog that the newcomer won’t usurp his place in your affections. Give the old dog plenty of extra love to show him he still comes first—the puppy won’t mind. Usurp means A. to share. B. to take over. C. to support.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10 usurp – verb • In the novel, the evil prince arranged to have the elderly king kidnapped. He then usurped the throne, declaring himself king and threatening to hang as a traitor anyone who objected. • If you get a puppy, it is important to reassure your old dog that the newcomer won’t usurp his place in your affections. Give the old dog plenty of extra love to show him he still comes first—the puppy won’t mind. Usurp means A. to share. B. to take over. C. to support. If the evil prince kidnapped the elderly ruler and declared himself king in his place, then he was able to take over the throne. The second item shows how to reassure an old dog that a new puppy will not be able to take over his place as coming first in the owner’s affections.