IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS

1. IMPROVINGVOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition Sherrie L. Nist © 2010 Townsend Press

2. Unit One: Chapter 4 • deterrent • innovation • implication • revitalize • inequity • sparse • infirmity • subjective • infringe • succinct

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1deterrent – noun •As a deterrent to burglars, my father put a sign on our lawn that says, “Beware of pit bull.” • If the dangers of skydiving aren’t a big enough deterrent for Ben, maybe the high cost will be. Deterrent means A. a reward. B. a prevention. C.a reason. A deterrent to drivers who would run red lights

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 1deterrent – noun •As a deterrent to burglars, my father put a sign on our lawn that says, “Beware of pit bull.” • If the dangers of skydiving aren’t a big enough deterrent for Ben, maybe the high cost will be. Deterrent means A. a reward. B. a prevention. C.a reason. The sign was intended as a prevention to keep burglars away. Dangers and high cost might be preventions that would keep Ben from skydiving. A deterrent to drivers who would run red lights

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2implication – noun •When the boss said that company profits were down, the implication was that nobody would be getting a raise. • When the salesman winked, the implication was that he would give Joaquin a special deal on a car. Implication means A. a minor fault. B. a demand. C.something suggested.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 2implication – noun •When the boss said that company profits were down, the implication was that nobody would be getting a raise. • When the salesman winked, the implication was that he would give Joaquin a special deal on a car. Implication means A. a minor fault. B. a demand. C. something suggested. That no one will be getting a raise is suggested by the boss’s announcement. That Joaquin will get a special deal is suggested by the salesman’s wink.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3inequity – noun •In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi experienced an inequity that was all too common at the time—he was thrown off a “whites only” train. • Most Americans consider it an inequity that some millionaires pay less in taxes than ordinary citizens do. Inequity means A. an injustice. B. a physical weakness. C.a question.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 3inequity – noun •In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi experienced an inequity that was all too common at the time—he was thrown off a “whites only” train. • Most Americans consider it an inequity that some millionaires pay less in taxes than ordinary citizens do. Inequity means A. an injustice. B. a physical weakness. C.a question. Having “whites only” trains is an injustice. Millionaires paying less taxes than ordinary citizens is an injustice.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4infirmity – noun •Rick uses a wheelchair, but he doesn’t let his infirmity keep him from traveling. • Certain infirmities, such as arthritis and diabetes, are more likely to affect the elderly. Infirmity means A. a relationship. B. a disability. C.a secret.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 4infirmity – noun •Rick uses a wheelchair, but he doesn’t let his infirmity keep him from traveling. • Certain infirmities, such as arthritis and diabetes, are more likely to affect the elderly. Infirmity means A. a relationship. B. a disability. C.a secret. If Rick uses a wheelchair, he must have a disability. Arthritis and diabetes are disabilities.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5infringe – verb •The protesters may picket the nuclear power plant as long as they don’t infringe on other people’s right to enter and exit freely. • When my mother is doing her homework, no one is allowed to infringe on her quiet time. Infringe means A. to interfere with. B.to protect. C.to recognize.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 5infringe – verb •The protesters may picket the nuclear power plant as long as they don’t infringe on other people’s right to enter and exit freely. • When my mother is doing her homework, no one is allowed to infringe on her quiet time. Infringe means A. to interfere with. B.to protect. C.to recognize. If the protesters don’t interfere with other people’s rights to enter and exit, they may picket. If the mother is doing her homework, no one would be allowed to interfere with her quiet time.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6innovation – noun •When commercial bakers first offered sliced bread, it was considered an exciting innovation. • The high cost of college has led to such financial innovations as savings accounts for children’s education begun while the children are still infants. Innovation means A. something new. B.a weakness. C.an imitation.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 6innovation – noun •When commercial bakers first offered sliced bread, it was considered an exciting innovation. • The high cost of college has led to such financial innovations as savings accounts for children’s education begun while the children are still infants. Innovation means A. something new. B.a weakness. C.an imitation. If sliced bread was being offered for the first time, it must have been something new. Educational savings accounts for infants were not offered in the past; therefore, they are something new.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7revitalize – verb •When DeShawn is tired after work, he finds a brief nap revitalizes him for an evening out with friends. • The City Council hopes to revitalize the currently lifeless shopping district by offering tax breaks for new businesses. Revitalize means A. to refresh. B.to amuse. C.to tire out.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 7revitalize – verb •When DeShawn is tired after work, he finds a brief nap revitalizes him for an evening out with friends. • The City Council hopes to revitalize the currently lifeless shopping district by offering tax breaks for new businesses. Revitalize means A. to refresh. B.to amuse. C.to tire out. If DeShawn is tired, a brief nap would refresh him. If the shopping district is lifeless, City Council would want to refresh it.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8sparse – adjective •There are thick pine forests at the foot of the mountain, but higher up, the trees become sparse. • Unfortunately, the turnout for the team’s first pep rally was sparse. Organizers hope to have better attendance at the next one. Sparse means A. long. B.thin. C.crowded. Sparse hair

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 8sparse – adjective •There are thick pine forests at the foot of the mountain, but higher up, the trees become sparse. • Unfortunately, the turnout for the team’s first pep rally was sparse. Organizers hope to have better attendance at the next one. Sparse means A. long. B. thin. C.crowded. The thick forests at the foot of the mountain are contrasted with the thin scattering of trees higher up. If the organizers hope for better attendance next time, the turnout must have been thin. Sparse hair

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9subjective – adjective •Martina, a highly subjective judge of her son’s abilities, feels he’s brilliant in every respect. The boy’s father, however, has a less emotional view of him. • The reporter refused to write about his friend’s trial. He knew any story he wrote would be too subjective to be published as an unbiased article. Subjective means A.one-sided. B.boring. C.impersonal.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 9subjective – adjective •Martina, a highly subjective judge of her son’s abilities, feels he’s brilliant in every respect. The boy’s father, however, has a less emotional view of him. • The reporter refused to write about his friend’s trial. He knew any story he wrote would be too subjective to be published as an unbiased article. Subjective means A. one-sided. B.boring. C.impersonal. If Martina feels her son is brilliant in every respect, she must be a one-sided judge of his abilities. If the reporter’s story would be biased, it would be one-sided.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10succinct – adjective •Text messages are usually succinct. People don’t want to type any more words than necessary to get their messages across. • “What’s new?” is a succinct way of asking, “Has anything of interest happened to you lately, my friend?” Succinct means A.wordy. B.prejudiced. C.brief and clear. A succinct sign

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word. 10succinct – adjective •Text messages are usually succinct. People don’t want to type any more words than necessary to get their messages across. • “What’s new?” is a succinct way of asking, “Has anything of interest happened to you lately, my friend?” Succinct means A.wordy. B.prejudiced. C. brief and clear. If people don’t want to type any more words than necessary, their text messages must be brief and clear. “What’s new?” is brief and clear. A succinct sign

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 1. Although Marie joked about her broken leg, it was an __________ that kept her from work for a month. 2. When a restaurant’s tables have ashtrays, the __________ is that smoking is permitted.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 1. Although Marie joked about her broken leg, it was an __________ that kept her from work for a month. infirmity A broken leg is a physical defect. 2. When a restaurant’s tables have ashtrays, the __________ is that smoking is permitted. implication Ashtrays on the table would be a suggestion that the restaurant permits smoking.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 3. Our democratic rights do not include the freedom to __________ on other people’s rights. 4. “Now” is a __________ way of saying, “At this particular point in time.” 5. Our grass is __________ along a path at the corner of the lot, where kids take a shortcut through our yard.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 3. Our democratic rights do not include the freedom to __________ on other people’s rights. infringe We do not have the right to intrude on other people’s rights. 4. “Now” is a __________ way of saying, “At this particular point in time.” succinct “Now” is a concise way of saying “At this particular point in time.” 5. Our grass is __________ along a path at the corner of the lot, where kids take a shortcut through our yard. sparse If kids take a shortcut through the yard and have worn a path there, the grass must be thin.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 6. An interesting __________ in food packaging is a bottle from which salad dressing is sprayed, rather than poured. 7. The seminar for company employees _______(e)d my aunt’s interest in her job by giving her new skills and suggesting new goals.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 6. An interesting __________ in food packaging is a bottle from which salad dressing is sprayed, rather than poured. innovation A bottle that sprays dressing is a new method for putting it on salad. 7. The seminar for company employees __________ my aunt’s interest in her job by giving her new skills and suggesting new goals. revitalized If the aunt gained new skills and goals, her interest in her job would be renewed.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 8. The Diary of Anne Frank is a __________ view of events during World War II, from the point of view of a young Jewish girl in hiding. 9. The company was accused of creating a(n) _________ by paying women less than men for doing the same work. 10. The fact that Beethoven was totally deaf by age 50 was not a(n) _________ to his composing, at the age of 53, one of his most ambitious and beloved works, the Ninth Symphony.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. deterrent B. implication C. inequity D. infirmity E. infringe F. innovation G. revitalize H. sparse I. subjective J. succinct 8. The Diary of Anne Frank is a __________ view of events during World War II, from the point of view of a young Jewish girl in hiding. subjective A diary written by a young girl would be based on personal feelings. 9. The company was accused of creating an __________ by paying women less than men for doing the same work. inequity If the company pays women less than men for the same work, it has created an injustice. 10. The fact that Beethoven was totally deaf by age 50 was not a ___________ to his composing, at the age of 53, one of his most ambitious and beloved works, the Ninth Symphony. deterrent Even Beethoven’s total deafness was not something that discouraged him from writing a great symphony.