Transcript Slide 1

ADVANCED
WORD POWER
Second Edition
BETH JOHNSON
JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
© 2011 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 13
• acquiesce
• delineate
• articulate
• diffident
• belittle
• laconic
• bombastic
• scanty
• conciliatory
• subjugate
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 acquiesce
– verb
• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information
about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail.
• The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were
pleased when the teacher acquiesced.
Acquiesce means
A. to consent.
B. to conquer.
C. to refuse.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 acquiesce
– verb
• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information
about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail.
• The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were
pleased when the teacher acquiesced.
Acquiesce means
A. to consent.
B. to conquer.
C. to refuse.
The reporter had to decide whether to consent to the judge’s order
or to refuse and go to jail. Students would be pleased if their teacher
consented to their request to use notes during a test.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 articulate
– adjective
• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He
expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just
joking with reporters.
• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in
complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.
Articulate means
Photos: Abbie Rowe (John Kennedy); Pospiech (baby)
A. artificial.
B. using words effectively.
C. quiet.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 articulate
– adjective
• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He
expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just
joking with reporters.
• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in
complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.
Articulate means
Photos: Abbie Rowe (John Kennedy); Pospiech (baby)
A. artificial.
B. using words effectively.
C. quiet.
If Kennedy expressed himself beautifully,
then he was skilled at using words
effectively. A three-year-old who uses
complete sentences and adult words is
good at using words effectively.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 belittle
– verb
• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the
other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer
clothes than that?”
• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s
cooking.
Belittle means
A. to praise.
B. to emphasize.
C. to put down.
Photo: girlshealth.gov
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 belittle
– verb
• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the
other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer
clothes than that?”
• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s
cooking.
Belittle means
A. to praise.
B. to emphasize.
C. to put down.
Photo: girlshealth.gov
The unpleasant girl tries to put down
the other children by implying that
their clothes aren’t nice and their
parents poor. It is rude for guests to
put down their hosts’ cooking.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 bombastic
– adjective
• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores
everyone with his endless pretentious talk.
• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected
perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying,
“The crook got away.”
Bombastic means
A. wordy and pretentious.
B. down-to-earth.
C. fascinating.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 bombastic
– adjective
• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores
everyone with his endless pretentious talk.
• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected
perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying,
“The crook got away.”
Bombastic means
A. wordy and pretentious.
B. down-to-earth.
C. fascinating.
Someone who bores people by talking endlessly and pretentiously is
wordy and pretentious. It is wordy to use 19 words when 4 are sufficient,
and pretentious to use long words and phrases (“suspected perpetrator”)
when a single, short word (“crook”) has the same meaning.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 conciliatory
– adjective
• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the
clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something
wrong to it.”
• When a small child throws a temper tantrum, should a parent be
conciliatory and try to comfort the child? Or is it better to use firm
discipline?
Conciliatory means
A. soothing.
B. persistent.
C. proud.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 conciliatory
– adjective
• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the
clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something
wrong to it.”
• When a small child throws a temper tantrum, should a parent be
conciliatory and try to comfort the child? Or is it better to use firm
discipline?
Conciliatory means
A. soothing.
B. persistent.
C. proud.
Rather than soothing the customer by apologizing for the defective
toaster, the clerk accused the customer of damaging it. In the second
item, the phrase try to comfort the child suggests that the parent is
trying to be soothing.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 delineate
– verb
• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where
the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where
the nearby towns and roads were located.
• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate
something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.
Delineate means
A. to change.
B. to recall.
C. to describe.
Photo: noaa.gov
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 delineate
– verb
• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where
the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where
the nearby towns and roads were located.
• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate
something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.
Delineate means
A. to change.
B. to recall.
C. to describe.
Photo: noaa.gov
The teacher described the scene by
giving the locations of troops, towns,
and roads. Words, phrases, sentences,
pictures, and drawings are different
ways to describe something.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 diffident
– adjective
• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with
women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.
• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident
little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.
Diffident means
Photos: Ambo100 (cat); Robert Kaufmann, FEMA (dog)
A. different.
B. angry.
C. hesitant.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 diffident
– adjective
• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with
women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.
• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident
little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.
Diffident means
Photos: Ambo100 (cat); Robert Kaufmann, FEMA (dog)
A. different.
B. angry.
C. hesitant.
The word shy suggests that Jay is
hesitant about approaching women.
The words hung back timidly suggest
that the puppy was hesitant about
playing with other dogs.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 laconic
– adjective
• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an
impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to
marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”
• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division
gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was
demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”
Laconic means
A. sweet.
B. brief.
C. secretive.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 laconic
– adjective
• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an
impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to
marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”
• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division
gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was
demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”
Laconic means
A. sweet.
B. brief.
C. secretive.
The one-word reply “sure” is brief—especially in response to a twentypage letter of proposal. The one-word reply “nuts” is brief—especially
during important international negotiations.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 scanty
– adjective
• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their
own pens and note pads.
• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it
is barely growing.
Scanty means
Photo: Eneas De Troya from Mexico
A. insufficient.
B. plentiful.
C. permanent.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 scanty
– adjective
• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their
own pens and note pads.
• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it
is barely growing.
Scanty means
Photo: Eneas De Troya from Mexico
A. insufficient.
B. plentiful.
C. permanent.
The company must have insufficient
supplies if workers have to buy their
own writing materials. Unhealthy
trees often drop their leaves, leaving
an insufficient number on the tree.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 subjugate
– verb
• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But
keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.
• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years
past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.
Subjugate means
A. to explore.
B. to dominate.
C. to study.
Painting: Carlos Julião (ca 1770)
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 subjugate
– verb
• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But
keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.
• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years
past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.
Subjugate means
A. to explore.
B. to dominate.
C. to study.
Painting: Carlos Julião (ca 1770)
To keep emotions under tight control,
one must dominate them. If the
developing nations suffered defeat by
colonial powers, they were dominated
by those conquering forces.