300 KEY VOCABULARY WORDS to help high school students score higher on standardized tests

Vocabulary HS

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Vocabulary HS

This vocabulary book has been designed as a supplement to enhance high school students’ academic performance. Varying in difficulty, the questions will challenge all students and provide them with an outlet to improve their vocabulary knowledge. Some questions have been designed with advanced students in mind and will force them to think creatively in order to find a suitable solution. We believe that students with advanced vocabulary may express themselves better and excel in standardized tests. This book contains 20 four-page units. The first two pages of each unit introduce new vocabulary words, which are then followed by two pages of exercises that test comprehension. Answers are included at the back of the book for student reference. How to use this book: Teachers can use this book as a supplement to their curriculum to ensure students are better prepared for their academic future. The activities can also be used as quizzes to evaluate students’ vocabulary levels, giving teachers an idea on which skills students need to improve. Teachers may also want to choose units with content correlating with specific subject areas already in the curriculum, or interest students to further enhance academic competence in selected areas. Students can utilize this book as a supplement to their classes to improve their general academic performance. They can study the vocabulary independently at their own pace to improve their general academic knowledge and improve their verbal skills. Students will find that they score better on standardized tests after improving their overall vocabulary competence. Ace Test Prep Team

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary HS

Table of Contents Unit

1 …………………………………………………………………………………………..

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2 …………………………………………………………………………………………..

5

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3 …………………………………………………………………………………………..

9

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4 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13

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5 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17

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6 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21

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7 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25

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8 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29

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9 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 33

Unit 10 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37 Unit 11 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41 Unit 12 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45 Unit 13 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 49 Unit 14 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 Unit 15 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 57 Unit 16 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 61 Unit 17 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65 Unit 18 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 69 Unit 19 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 73 Unit 20 ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 77 Answers

Vocabulary HS

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Assuage, Baneful, Crass, Crevice, Dauntless, Dispel, Exacerbate, Imbroglio,

UNIT 1 Lavish, Pervade, Rectify, Regale, Tawdry, Travesty, Zealous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Assuage – To soften or mitigate by providing relief from anything painful or uncomfortable Sample 1: The lawyers are inflicting more pain on the suffering in order to assuage their own pain. Sample 2: The building developers assuaged the fears of the community by picking a new location away from the school. 2. Baneful – Characterized as causing harm, destruction or ruin Sample 1: George Washington warned about “the baneful effect,” on factitious parties. Sample 2: The baneful effects of eating fatty foods have only worsened his condition. 3. Crass – 1. Characterized as rude, tactless and vulgar; 2. Characterized as being flagrant or stupid Sample 1: His crass remarks injured the singer’s ego. Sample 2: We feel our representatives show a crass indifference to our problems. 4. Crevice – Narrow crack, opening, or split Sample 1: Weeds were growing from the crevices along the sidewalk. Sample 2: I found a dollar bill in the crevice between the desk and the wall. 5. Dauntless – Characterized as unable to be discouraged or frightened Sample 1: Our troops have proved to be courageous and dauntless in the pursuit of the enemy. Sample 2: The bully looked dauntless, but underneath he was weak and afraid. 6. Dispel – 1. To drive away unwanted thoughts or ideas; 2. To dismiss or disprove something Sample 1: Volunteers set out to dispel myths about the refugees. Sample 2: The book dispels the rumors against the family. 7. Exacerbate – To worsen or to make more severe Sample 1: Fred’s cough was exacerbated by the cold air. Sample 2: Continued missile strikes against the north will only exacerbate the already strained relations. 8. Imbroglio – 1. A confused or complicated situation; 2. A messy misunderstanding stemming from an argument or disagreement Sample 1: The political imbroglio kept the parties from reaching an agreement. Sample 2: Other countries beyond the Middle East have found themselves caught up within the imbroglio.

Vocabulary HS

1

Assuage, Baneful, Crass, Crevice, Dauntless, Dispel, Exacerbate, Imbroglio,

UNIT 1 Lavish, Pervade, Rectify, Regale, Tawdry, Travesty, Zealous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Lavish – 1. Characterized as abundant, profuse and extravagant; 2. Characterized as generous and kind from giving profusely; 3. To give or spend freely or excessively Sample 1: Joan spent millions for a lavish wedding. Sample 2: Marcus lavished his children with love and praise. 10. Pervade – To diffuse or to spread out throughout Sample 1: Humor pervades his writing. Sample 2: Crime has pervaded the city since the prison was built in the center of town. 11. Rectify – 1. To correct or adjust something; 2. To purify something, such as through distillation; Sample 1: To rectify the problem, the store issued an apology. Sample 2: Until the problems in the house are rectified, Lynn refuses to pay the rent. 12. Regale – 1. To entertain someone with stories, jokes, or other form of amusement; 2. To entertain someone with plenty of food and drinks like that of a feast Sample 1: The clients were regaled with dinner at the finest restaurant. Sample 2: The comedian regaled the audience with his jokes and stories about the past. 13. Tawdry – 1. Characterized as being cheap and showy; 2. Characterized as being tasteless and mean spirited Sample 1: Motels and their tawdry neon vacant signs are blemishes in our otherwise beautiful city. Sample 2: Reality television shows are too tawdry to be taken seriously. 14. Travesty – 1. Distorted or debased interpretation of something or someone; 2. A grotesque imitation of something or someone meant as a parody; 3. To mock or imitate something or someone grotesquely Sample 1: Cosmetic surgery is making a travesty of the old. Sample 2: Huckleberry Finn is considered to be a travesty of what it was to live in the south. 15. Zealous – Characterized as being actively enthusiastic and full of zeal Sample 1: Zealous football fans began rioting after the team’s loss. Sample 2: Network viewers have become zealous followers of the party.

Vocabulary HS

2

Assuage, Baneful, Crass, Crevice, Dauntless, Dispel, Exacerbate, Imbroglio,

UNIT 1 Lavish, Pervade, Rectify, Regale, Tawdry, Travesty, Zealous Fill in the Blanks

Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1.

Some pendants are used to ward off the ______________ effect of the evil eye.

2.

The political ______________ on Capitol Hill involves more than just the traditional tugof-war between Democrats and Republicans; rather it has become more complicated by lobbyists, Progressives and Independents.

3.

______________ high unemployment rates have plagued Japan for what seems like forever.

4.

Mark tried to ______________ the shortcomings of his science project by redoing some of the experiments.

5.

The elite of Hollywood ______________ the whole night through at the singer’s Oscar Party.

6.

The ______________ spectacle of events at the MTV music awards can never overshadow the glitz and glamour of Hollywood at the Academy Awards.

7.

The publicist worked overtime to ______________ malicious rumors that could potentially prove damaging to the actor’s career.

8.

Riots in Istanbul started with ______________ fans breaking windows.

9.

The thief tried to hide the loot in the small ______________ of the floor in the corner of the room.

10. What happened here today is a mockery and ______________ of justice. 11. Her ______________ remarks about the squad offended the other girls. 12. Jason ______________ his new bride with gifts. 13. The governor remained ______________ in the face of adversity and continued on as the true hero he was. 14. Playing again before you are fully healed will only ______________ your injury. 15. The recent diplomatic success in the Middle East is unlikely to ______________ critics’ fears.

Vocabulary HS

3

Assuage, Baneful, Crass, Crevice, Dauntless, Dispel, Exacerbate, Imbroglio,

UNIT 1 Lavish, Pervade, Rectify, Regale, Tawdry, Travesty, Zealous Synonyms

Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Baneful Tawdry Rectify Dauntless Imbroglio

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Harmful Sleazy Audacious Misunderstanding To revise

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Dispel Crass Zealous Lavish Exacerbate

Antonyms a. Tactful b. To relieve c. Apathetic d. Meager e. To accept

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Crevice Pervade Assuage Travesty Regale

Definitions a. b. c. d. e.

To entertain with a feast To lessen the intensity of or to soften Distorted Interpretation of someone To spread out A narrow opening

4

UNIT 2

Alacrity, Ambivalence, Augment, Charlatan, Delusional, Guffaw, Incense, Malleable, Multifarious, Opprobrium, Posterior, Repudiate, Scintilla, Simulate, Transparent

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Alacrity – Briskness or eager and quick readiness Sample 1: He accepted his enormous pay raise with alacrity. Sample 2: The huge truck pushed the golf cart with ease and alacrity. 2. Ambivalence – 1. The coexistence of opposing ideas, attitudes or opinions towards the same thing; 2. Uncertainty because of internal turmoil Sample 1: John felt some ambivalence when confronted to make a choice between studying for his test and going out with his friends. Sample 2: Recent reports suggest a deep ambivalence about creating new sanctions against North Korea. 3. Augment – To grow or to increase Sample 1: Upper management was solely concerned with augmenting production output while minimizing costs. Sample 2: Philanthropists have augmented donations by twenty-five percent. 4. Charlatan – An imitator and imposter Sample 1: This charlatan has conned thousands out of naïve investors for years. Sample 2: A lot of the theories that have been created have been promoted by charlatans dubbing themselves as scientific researchers. 5. Delusional – Characterized as having a false belief due to a mental illness Sample 1: Shoppers are more cautious and less delusional about having money. Sample 2: Richard is delusional; I never said that. 6. Guffaw – 1. To laugh loudly and hysterically; 2. A loud laugh Sample 1: His ridiculous comments provoked derisive guffaws from the audience. Sample 2: Jason was awakened by the guffaws and howling from his friends who had painted his face. 7. Incense – To inflame someone with anger Sample 1: Michael became incensed after hearing all the excuses from his son. Sample 2: Jane’s lies incensed her mother to the point of cursing. 8. Malleable – Characterized as being easily influenced, manipulated, or persuaded; 2. Characterized as being easy to shape or bend Sample 1: Certain metals are very malleable and are choice for making jewelry. Sample 2: Bribery and blackmail usually will make the most stubborn of people malleable.

Vocabulary HS

5

UNIT 2

Alacrity, Ambivalence, Augment, Charlatan, Delusional, Guffaw, Incense, Malleable, Multifarious, Opprobrium, Posterior, Repudiate, Scintilla, Simulate, Transparent

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Multifarious – Characterized as being made from or including different parts, things or peoples Sample 1: Leonard engaged in multifarious activities ranging from playing chess to skydiving. Sample 2: The professor is a man of multifarious dimensions such as historian, scholar, and writer. 10. Opprobrium – 1. Severe and harsh criticism; 2. Disgust and scorn due to shameful behavior or conduct Sample 1: Most honor students fail to attract the opprobrium delinquent students face. Sample 2: Amid the scandal, the president faced the opprobrium of the voting public. 11. Posterior – 1. Characterized as being near or at the back or rear; 2. Coming after or later Sample: Post erior in anatomy refers to the back of the human torso, and so is synonymous with dorsal. 12. Repudiate – 1. To disprove of or deny something as true; 2. To refuse to accept something as true Sample 1: My client has ardently repudiated all the claims against him. Sample 2: Katherine Hepburn never repudiated or aimed to correct information written about her. 13. Scintilla – A small amount of something Sample 1: His story doesn’t contain even a scintilla of truth. Sample 2: There’s not a scintilla of hope for the dog’s return home. 14. Simulate – 1. To fake or pretend to experience something; 2. To mimic something or someone; 3. To reproduce elements of something Sample 1: The heart pump is meant to simulate the normal beatings of a real heart. Sample 2: Some programs, in order to better aid research, are able to simulate real life scenarios. 15. Transparent – 1. Characterized as being easily seen through; 2. Characterized as being easy and clear to understand to Sample 1: It’s become transparent, based on your answers, that you’ve cheated on the test. Sample 2: Accounting practices must become more transparent; no more under the table negotiations and no more hiding funds.

Vocabulary HS

6

UNIT 2

Alacrity, Ambivalence, Augment, Charlatan, Delusional, Guffaw, Incense, Malleable, Multifarious, Opprobrium, Posterior, Repudiate, Scintilla, Simulate, Transparent

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. The player deserved the ___________of the public for rigging the game. 2. The video game was meant to ___________last year’s NFL season by relying on the league’s team rosters. 3. There wasn’t a ___________of truth in what he said; it was totally fabricated. 4. The London transit system is moving with ___________ to accommodate the onslaught of visitors coming for the Olympics. 5. Most think she’s ___________and bonkers; I rather believe she’s just senile. 6. The public demands more ___________in how we use their tax dollars. 7. John is ___________about Health Care Reform; either way he’ll have to pay. 8. I usually sit in the ___________of the classroom so I can fall asleep without the teacher noticing. 9. Members are counting on recruiting people who will follow any ___________who claims to commit to lowering taxes. 10. It’s surprising that low-brow comedy can still create ___________from viewers. 11. We thought about ___________the length of the dress, but it didn’t look right longer. 12. Mark’s parents became ___________after discovering he cheated on his test. 13. Lawyers brought in new evidence that would help to ___________claims their client bilked millions from investors. 14. The orchestra is composed of a ___________mix of musical instruments. 15. Jason is so ___________that he will do anything anyone tells him.

Vocabulary HS

7

UNIT 2

Alacrity, Ambivalence, Augment, Charlatan, Delusional, Guffaw, Incense, Malleable, Multifarious, Opprobrium, Posterior, Repudiate, Scintilla, Simulate, Transparent

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Transparent 2. Multifarious 3. Alacrity 4. Scintilla 5. Charlatan

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Bit Lucid A fraud Quickness Heterogeneous

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Simulate 2. Augment 3. Opprobrium 4. Malleable 5. Incense

Antonyms a. To unmask b. Adulation c. To degrade d. To allay e. Rigid

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Ambivalence 2. Posterior 3. Repudiate 4. Guffaw 5. Delusional

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Characterized as having a false belief Characterized as coming after Coexistence of opposing ideas To disprove or deny something A loud laugh

8

UNIT 3

Amalgamate, Blithesome, Cackle, Collude, Didactic, Egalitarian, Epithet, Hegemony, Mercurial, Preface, Profundity, Requisite, Sinew, Theoretical, Zany

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Amalgamate – 1. To mix or merge together into a single unit; 2. To unite Sample 1: The amalgamated international peacekeeping forces are starting to withdraw from the war torn country one country at a time. Sample 2: In 1965, both schools amalgamated together to form Central Lee High School. 2. Blithesome – Characterized as cheerful and merry Sample 1: That blithesomeness you feel now won’t always last; soon you’ll be an adult. Sample 2: How can you not be happy in such a blithesome atmosphere? 3. Cackle – 1. To laugh with a harsh or loud shrill, usually with broken vocal sounds; 2. A loud shrill or laughter; 3. Silly or aimless talk Sample 1: Her laugh resembled a hyena’s cackle. Sample 2: The mad scientist cackled and then proceeded to concoct the toxic mixture. 4. Collude – To conspire and plot with intent of harming or defrauding Sample 1: The opposition colluded with members of his cabinet to bring him down. Sample 2: Secret forces colluded with rebels in order to overthrow the government. 5. Didactic – Designed or intended to teach Sample 1: The student rolled her eyes when she realized the “story” was actually just another didactic ruse. Sample 2: The narrative was returned with the criticism of being too didactic. 6. Egalitarian – 1. Promoting or characterized by a belief that equal rights in various spheres such as social, politics and economics, should be shared by all; 2. Someone who shares and follows egalitarian beliefs Sample 1: While Norway may not be a utopia, it does exist as an egalitarian society where everyone is equal. Sample 2: Policies like affirmative action were meant to break down barriers created by antiegalitarian ideologies. 7. Epithet – 1. A title or name used to describe someone, something or its attribute; 2. A word or phrase used for someone often in a derogatory manner Sample 1: The President, because of his quirky mannerisms, earned the epithet “Old Hickory.” Sample 2: Having lost, Michael began yelling crude epithets against the winning team. 8. Hegemony – 1. Influence or leadership extended by a dominant group or majority over others; 2. Leadership or the dominant majority Sample 1: Some feel modern television has been threatening the hegemony of the country with subversive and decadent ideas. Sample 2: Many white settlers came in and threatened the hegemony of Sub-Saharan African states.

Vocabulary HS

9

UNIT 3

Amalgamate, Blithesome, Cackle, Collude, Didactic, Egalitarian, Epithet, Hegemony, Mercurial, Preface, Profundity, Requisite, Sinew, Theoretical, Zany

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Mercurial – 1. Characterized as having qualities like that of the Greek God Mercury – eloquent, clever, skilled; 2. Characterized as being cunning and shrewd; 3. Characterized as being quick, fickle, wishy-washy Sample 1: The modern business woman has become a mercurial model of extreme aptness and shrewdness. Sample 2: Artists were lining up for the mercurial songwriting talent of DJ Rex. 10. Preface – The opening or introductory statement or part to a book, plan, etc.; 2. An introductory part to something else; 3. To introduce or open something with a statement of some kind Sample 1: The preface at the beginning of the book was written by the author’s close friend. Sample 2: The book comes with a preface explaining the author’s insight into the field. 11. Profundity – 1. Intellectual and emotional depth; 2. Something characterized as profound and deep Sample 1: Many considered Hawthorne’s works as bland on account of its lack of profundity. Sample 2: Most pop songs lack the profundity found in Indie-Rock or Street Rap music. 12. Requisite – 1. Characterized as essential, necessary, and required; 2. Something required and essential Sample 1: The main requisites for living are air and water. Sample 2: The only requisite for getting a US identification card is your foreign passport. 13. Sinew – 1. Tendon; 2. Constant and continuous force or strength; 3. Source of power, strength or support Sample 1: Democratic and Republican parties have been using scandals to weaken the sinews of the controlling party. Sample 2: The ultrarunner looked like nothing but skin, sinew, and bone. 14. Theoretical – 1. Characterized as relating to or having theory; 2. Characterized as limited to or based on theory alone- never have been applied; 3. Characterized as having the tendency to theorize or speculate Sample 1: Jane has taken a theoretical approach to writing. Sample 2: The seminar addressed the problem from a purely theoretical perspective. 15. Zany – 1. A silly buffoon who acts to merely amuse; 2. Characterized as silly, foolish, or extremely comical Sample 1: Everyone’s a little zany and crazy in his or her own way. Sample 2: I considered it somewhat zany that his research paper would focus on social conditions of cats and dogs.

Vocabulary HS

10

UNIT 3

Amalgamate, Blithesome, Cackle, Collude, Didactic, Egalitarian, Epithet, Hegemony, Mercurial, Preface, Profundity, Requisite, Sinew, Theoretical, Zany

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Despite the somberness of the occasion, Jorge’s lighthearted jokes kept the family somewhat ___________. 2. The discussion of the war was ___________with opening remarks from the President. 3. The ___________performance of the ensemble cast awed critics and people alike. 4. The president was intent on making ___________and sweeping changes that would alter the course of American mercantilism. 5. She mustered every ounce of ___________she had to rescue her family from the devastating crash. 6. Splinter groups have decided to ___________together to become a larger voice within the party. 7. Although no one thought the joke was all that funny, she could be heard ___________from down the hall. 8. The modern family has become more ___________as spouses have started to share duties and responsibilities. 9. The boxer used derisive ___________against his opponent. 10. Lady Gaga has been made famous in part because of her ___________appearance. 11. The problem with historical films is that they appear less entertaining and more ___________. 12. Jane is one to apply ___________ideas to real life situations. 13. Passing the test is the primary ___________for Marcus to be accepted. 14. The ___________of the medical industry lies in the hands of insurance profiteers. 15. Her reputation has been long tarnished in a concerted ___________between media insiders and rival actors.

Vocabulary HS

11

UNIT 3

Amalgamate, Blithesome, Cackle, Collude, Didactic, Egalitarian, Epithet, Hegemony, Mercurial, Preface, Profundity, Requisite, Sinew, Theoretical, Zany

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Collude 2. Amalgamate 3. Requisite 4. Cackle 5. Sinew

Synonyms a. Force b. To guffaw c. Imperative d. To plot e. To intermix

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Didactic Blithesome Theoretical Profundity Hegemony

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Informal Shallowness Sorrowful Impotence Practical

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Mercurial 2. Preface 3. Epithet 4. Zany 5. Egalitarian

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Opening speech Someone sharing in the belief of equality for all A name used to describe someone Characterized as being conniving Crazy

12

UNIT 4

Acerbic, Bombard, Bombastic, Contumacious, Dissimilitude, Exonerate, Fastidious, Maelstrom, Meritorious, Opulent, Propensity, Requiem, Sagacious, Tutelage, Ubiquitous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Acerbic – 1. Characterized as sharp and harsh in temper, mood, or character; 2. Sour and harsh Sample 1: John’s acerbic tongue was prone to offend even the most patient of people. Sample 2: His book gives an acerbic and pessimistic take on life. 2. Bombard – 1. To attack vigorously, continuously and without restraint; 2. To attack with bombs, shells, or missiles Sample 1: The students bombarded with questions one after another. Student 2: The capital was bombarded with heavy artillery fire from invading forces. 3. Bombastic – Characterized as using pompous language or hubris Sample 1: Rap music often includes bombastic lyrics of petty arrogance. Sample 2: Political ads are usually bombastic and self-serving in nature. 4. Contumacious – Characterized as obstinately disobedient and resistant to authority Sample 1: The teacher sent the contumacious student to the office. Sample 2: His contumacious attitude has often caused him trouble. 5. Dissimilitude – A lack of resemblance; difference Sample 1: The blouses were nothing the same; it was obvious there was an acute color dissimilitude between them. Sample 2: Professor Lingu has been researching the economic dissimilitude between the regions for some time now. 6. Exonerate – 1. To excuse from or relieve of a responsibility or duty; 2. To clear from blame, charge, or guilt Sample 1: After the evidence proved his innocence, the court exonerated the convict of any wrongdoing. Sample 2: Federal laws do not exonerate local merchants from ignoring state laws. 7. Fastidious – 1. Characterized as very critical and difficult to satisfy or please; 2. Characterized as overly sensitive, demanding, or easily disgusted Sample 1: Some professors are too fastidious to talk with laymen. Sample 2: John’s fastidious attention to detail caught the mistake. 8. Maelstrom – 1. A powerful and violent whirlpool; 2. A state of mind or emotions characterized as violent and confused Sample 1: Bishkek experienced another maelstrom of civilian unrest with people taking to the street. Sample 2: Flooding in Pakistan has created a maelstrom of uncertainty. Vocabulary HS

13

UNIT 4

Acerbic, Bombard, Bombastic, Contumacious, Dissimilitude, Exonerate, Fastidious, Maelstrom, Meritorious, Opulent, Propensity, Requiem, Sagacious, Tutelage, Ubiquitous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Meritorious – Characterized as deserving reward, honor, or praise Sample 1: The president recognized the marine for his meritorious heroism. Sample 2: Everyone earned perfect scores because of the meritorious work that was performed. 10. Opulent – 1. Characterized as lavishly wealthy or rich; 2. Characterized by abundance or luxury Sample 1: The wedding took place in a very elegant and opulent garden by the lake. Sample 2: The lives of politicians today are now marked by the decadent and opulent lifestyles of royalty. 11. Propensity - An often or unbending inclination or tendency Sample 1: Many third world governments possess an unyielding propensity for corruption. Sample 2: My students possess an alarming propensity to cheat. 12. Requiem – 1. A mass held for the deceased; 2. A musical song, chant or composition for the deceased; 3. A musical setting of the mass for the dead Sample 1: Many of the world’s best singers came to perform a requiem in memory of the great leader. Sample 2: The family decided to compose a requiem to honor soldiers who had fallen during war. 13. Sagacious – Characterized as having a keen perception or sense of discernment and wisdom and foresight Sample 1: Roosevelt’s sagacious words helped lead the nation out of the worst economic crisis. Sample 2: The Elders of Turkmenistan form a special assembly that honors the sagacious insight they have acquired through their many years of living. 14. Tutelage – 1. Administered guardianship, care or protection; 2. Instruction under a guide; A guiding influence; Sample 1: Jane learned how to play harp under the tutelage of Mrs. Barker. Sample 2: The company will be expanding under the tutelage of an advisory committee. 15. Ubiquitous – Characterized as being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time Sample 1: The Beatles developed into a ubiquitous force during the 1960’s. Sample 2: The internet became a ubiquitous part of social communication during the late 1990’s.

Vocabulary HS

14

UNIT 4

Acerbic, Bombard, Bombastic, Contumacious, Dissimilitude, Exonerate, Fastidious, Maelstrom, Meritorious, Opulent, Propensity, Requiem, Sagacious, Tutelage, Ubiquitous

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. The documentary explores the _________ of pop singers like The Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson. 2. Anthropologists have long been fascinated with the human _________ for mythmaking. 3. The singer’s _________ tweet was filled with self-aggrandizing comments about himself. 4. New DNA results have led to the _________ of several prisoners who have spent years behind bars for crimes they never committed. 5. The music award show was called out for playing politics once again after recognizing lackluster performers over more _________ artists. 6. The funeral scene opened up with a chorus filled _________. 7. The Treaty of Sevres, under the _________ of the Wilson administration, partitioned away lands formerly part of the Ottoman Empire. 8. The singer’s _________ of mind was called into question after dangling a baby from the balcony of the 13th floor. 9. The Danish Navy _________ pirates off the coast of Somalia with non-stop rapid fire. 10. Be careful of where you eat because not every restaurant prepares their meals in a sterile environment by _________, glove wearing chefs. 11. Once described as a _________, out-of-control young actress, Barrymore is now regarded as an agreeable, mature lady. 12. The hotel is renowned the world over for its lavishly _________ designs. 13. It’s worth noting the _________ between the Lapp communities of Norway and that of Russia that distinguishes the two groups from one another. 14. Jane’s _________ rhetoric deeply hurt her daughter-in-law. 15. The media _________ created at the onset of her breakdown shows no sign of letting down. Vocabulary HS

15

UNIT 4

Acerbic, Bombard, Bombastic, Contumacious, Dissimilitude, Exonerate, Fastidious, Maelstrom, Meritorious, Opulent, Propensity, Requiem, Sagacious, Tutelage, Ubiquitous

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Bombastic Maelstrom Propensity Bombard Meritorious

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Exemplary Inclination To Besiege Commotion Ostentatious

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Sagacious Acerbic Opulent Ubiquitous Contumacious

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Foolish Sporadic Obedient Needy Mild

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Fastidious Requiem Exonerate Dissimilitude Tutelage

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Characterized as difficult to please A Funeral Mass Lacking similarities Instruction under a guide To relieve of duty

16

UNIT 5

Affable, Axiom, Bungle, Capricious, Disparage, Enthrall, Explicit, Instigate, Lament, Malaise, Nimble, Oppugn, Ponder, Unabashed, Verbose

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Affable – 1. Characterized as being pleasant and easy to talk to; 2. Characterized as being amiable and friendly; 3. Characterized as being gentle and kindly Sample 1: Unlike the other teachers, Mrs. Porter’s affable smile brought comfort to the new students. Sample 2: It’s important that the interviewer have an affable personality anyone can warm up to. 2. Axiom – 1. A statement or maxim accepted as universally true and needing no proof; 2. An established principle or law Sample 1: Customer service adheres to one and only one axiom: the customer is always right. Sample 2: Most geometry postulates are regarded as axioms. 3. Bungle – 1. To spoil or negatively affect the outcome of something because of clumsy work or actions; 2. To do or make things badly; 3. A clumsy act Sample 1: The police force admitted that an ill-trained task force had bungled the hostage situation. Sample 2: Both parties, with their adoption of new legislation, have bungled the economy. 4. Capricious – 1. Characterized as flighty, impulsive, erratic and without reason Sample 1: Houston is known for its capricious weather; one minute it’s down pouring and the next it’s sunny. Sample 2: The capricious whims of the public have made actors relevant. 5. Disparage – 1. To lower or reduce in esteem or rank; 2. To belittle Sample 1: Don’t disparage the team because of their initial loss. Sample 2: Martha made some extremely disparaging remarks about the school. 6. Enthrall – 1. To enslave; 2. To captivate, spellbind, or fascinate Sample 1: The magician enthralled the audience with his out-of-this-world tricks. Sample 2: Lou Ann found herself enthralled with the story. 7. Explicit – 1. Characterized as distinctly expressed without vagueness or ambiguity; 2. Characterized as completely obvious; 3. Characterized as saying what is meant without restraint or reservation Sample 1: He should know what to do because I gave him explicit instructions. Sample 2: The troops refuse to act without the general’s explicit consent. 8. Instigate – 1. To push forward or provoke someone to (do) something especially something bad or evil; Sample 1: The argument between the two boys was instigated by an older girl. Sample 2: The DA instigated a criminal investigation into the matter without a formal complaint. Vocabulary HS

17

UNIT 5

Affable, Axiom, Bungle, Capricious, Disparage, Enthrall, Explicit, Instigate, Lament, Malaise, Nimble, Oppugn, Ponder, Unabashed, Verbose

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Lament – 1. To express deep sorrow and mourn for; 2. To regret something strongly; 3. A demonstration of expressive sorrow; Sample 1: John lamented hurting his younger sister. Sample 2: It was not unusual for knights to lament the deaths of their kings. 10. Malaise – 1. A sense of physical discomfort or lack of easiness, especially at the onset of an illness; 2. A sense of moral or social decline Sample 1: Stocks continued to slide on Wall Street as investor s’ malaise continued. Sample 2: The sudden surge in crime serves as an indicator of social malaise. 11. Nimble – 1. Characterized as mentally quick, alert, and able to easily comprehend; 2. Characterized as having the ability to move quickly and lightly Sample 1: One must be nimble to be a good gymnast. Sample 2: Megan has become quite nimble in reading the language. 12. Oppugn – 1. To fight against or criticize something with argument; 2. To call something into question Sample 1: The students began to oppugn the classroom rules. Sample 2: The far left oppugned the radical measures adopted by government. 13. Ponder – 1. To consider and weigh in on something; 2. To think deeply about and reflect on Sample 1: James pondered his chances of winning. Sample 2: John took a moment to ponder the meaning of his life. 14. Unabashed – Unapologetic and not embarrassed Sample 1: John was unabashed about asking the Prom Queen out on a date. Sample 2: Melody was unabashed by her intentions to ruin the company. 15. Verbose – Characterized as being to wordy and long-winded Sample 1: It is better to be concise than verbose. Sample 2: Although the candidate was verbose on the issues, he hit all the crucial points.

Vocabulary HS

18

UNIT 5

Affable, Axiom, Bungle, Capricious, Disparage, Enthrall, Explicit, Instigate, Lament, Malaise, Nimble, Oppugn, Ponder, Unabashed, Verbose

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. He is the least ________ person I know; he’s argumentative and temperamental. 2. The players ________the team’s loss after the game. 3. The political right and political left seem to revel in ________the other side as weaker and less competent. 4. His offbeat remarks, seen as a political ________, cost him the election. 5. Industries seen as ________are now swiftly picking up speed and hiring additional workers and increasing production output. 6. I’ve often ________about marrying her, but I’m not sure yet. 7. The defense team ________the verdict handed down by the jury. 8. Our retail success is due to our adherence to the ________that declares the customer as always being right. 9. We all suffered a slight disorientation and ________after coming off the wild ride. 10. Her brash and ________rendition of the song was a travesty of the original. 11. Many are using the debate as an excuse to ________counterattacks against the other side. 12. Be wary of cluttering your essay with ________; keep it simple. 13. The actor’s career ________and captivated audiences for years. 14. Jane tried to be as ________as possible in her instructions by giving as much detail as she could. 15. It seems the review committee is too capricious to accept my paper; regardless of the changes I make, they always find ________else to criticize.

Vocabulary HS

19

UNIT 5

Affable, Axiom, Bungle, Capricious, Disparage, Enthrall, Explicit, Instigate, Lament, Malaise, Nimble, Oppugn, Ponder, Unabashed, Verbose

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Malaise 2. Capricious 3. Oppugn 4. Axiom 5. Ponder

Synonyms a. Fickle b. To negate c. An aphorism d. To deliberate e. Frustration

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Unabashed 2. Verbose 3. Explicit 4. Affable 5. Bungle

Antonyms a. Surly b. To manage c. Shamed d. Concise e. Implicit

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Disparage Lament Instigate Nimble Enthrall

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To lower in rank Characterized as mentally quick To captivate and spell bind To regret something To provoke someone to something (bad)

20

UNIT 6

Adumbrate, Assiduous, Conundrum, Dichotomy, Effigy, Exculpate, Innocuous, Jubilant, Malefactor, Monetary, Oblique, Pliant, Resonate, Serenade, Vernacular

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Adumbrate – 1. To suggest or to foreshadow in a vague way; 2. To suggest or outline Sample 1: The assassination and back-to-back rallies in March adumbrated the eventual coup in April. Sample 2: Many stand by the belief that verses written by Nostradamus adumbrate future catastrophes. 2. Assiduous – 1. Characterized as diligent and in constant application; 2. Characterized as unrelenting and persistent Sample 1: Harold Bloom’s assiduous reading has allowed him to become the highly esteemed scholar he is today. Sample 2: Her success is due to her assiduous nature and her unwillingness to quit in the face of adversity. 3. Conundrum – A difficult and insoluble problem, question, or riddle Sample 1: George is dealing with a conundrum he just can’t solve. Sample 2: The economic crisis is a huge conundrum for the current administration. 4. Dichotomy – 1. A division into two exclusively distinct or opposing parts, groups, or entities; 2. A division or branching into two exclusive parts Sample 1: Historians are exploring the city’s dichotomy of old versus modern. Sample 2: An apparent dichotomy exists between the middle and upper classes. 5. Effigy – 1. A crude representation such as a portrait, statue, in the likeness of a person that is despised; 2. A likeness or image especially that of a person Sample 1: Marchers were burning effigies of the corporate politicians. Sample 2: The sculptor carved effigies of actors out of wood. 6. Exculpate – To free from alleged fault or guilt Sample 1: New details seem to exculpate the administration of any wrongdoing. Sample 2: The evidence was meant to exculpate the defendant. 7. Innocuous – 1. Characterized as causing no harm; 2. Characterized as not offensive, controversial, or interesting Sample 1: The toast was filled with innocuous jabs at the senior senator. Sample 2: The drugs were deemed innocuous and as having no adverse effect. 8. Jubilant – Exultingly joyful and triumphant Sample 1: The Inaugural Ball could be described as no less than jubilant. Sample 2: John was jubilant after finding out he had the winning lottery ticket.

Vocabulary HS

21

UNIT 6

Adumbrate, Assiduous, Conundrum, Dichotomy, Effigy, Exculpate, Innocuous, Jubilant, Malefactor, Monetary, Oblique, Pliant, Resonate, Serenade, Vernacular

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Malefactor – 1. A criminal or evildoer; 2. A person who causes harm or does evil to another person Sample 1: The school is full of malefactors acting as bullies. Sample 2: The legal system runs rampant with malefactors known as lawyers. 10. Monetary – Characterized as of or relating to money Sample 1: There’s more to worry about than my monetary concerns. Sample 2: The crisis has left many families without monetary resources. 11. Oblique – 1. Characterized as being indirect and not straight to the point; 2. Characterized as being devious and evasive Sample 1: Why do politicians give oblique answers in interviews? Sample 2: Jane gave John an oblique look out of the corner of her eye as he passed by. 12. Pliant – 1. Characterized as being easily adaptable or influenced; 2. Characterized as being easily bent Sample 1: Voters have decided to elect representatives less pliant to lobbyists. Sample 2: People are more pliant when they need something. 13. Resonate – 1. To correspond to something harmoniously; 2. To cause feelings of similar emotions Sample 1: The movie’s theme resonated with the public. Sample 2: His message of peace and tolerance powerfully resonated more than ever. 14. Serenade – 1. The singing or playing of music outdoors at night; 2. An instrumental composition; 3. To play or sing for someone Sample 1: Tchaikovsky wrote numerous serenades. Sample 2: John serenaded Joan before proposing to her. 15. Vernacular – 1. Characterized as using the native language of a region; 2. Characterized as the nonstandard and commonly spoken language of a people of a certain region; 3. The common or native language or dialect of a country; 4. The common or everyday language of a people of a certain region Sample 1: I don’t think people speak Shakespearean English in the vernacular. Sample 2: Most professors use only spoken vernaculars in everyday conversation rather than literary or scientific language.

Vocabulary HS

22

UNIT 6

Adumbrate, Assiduous, Conundrum, Dichotomy, Effigy, Exculpate, Innocuous, Jubilant, Malefactor, Monetary, Oblique, Pliant, Resonate, Serenade, Vernacular

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. The president was _________ by Marilyn Monroe on his birthday. 2. A _________ coach couldn’t contain his excitement after watching his team’s sudden win in overtime. 3. Trade unions refused to budge or to be seen as _________ by caving in to company demands. 4. Democracy, freedom, and independence are virtues _________ in every American heart. 5. Are the secretary’s comments meant to _________ the President’s speech later tonight? 6. Trained in the art of sophistry, the attorney gave an _________ response that was seen as evasive yet satisfactory. 7. The new evidence _________ the man from any wrongdoing. 8. We were left in a real _________ as our car broke down in the heavy downpour on what would have been our son’s high school graduation. 9. His extremely _________ nature led people to dub him another Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 10. The goal of the county is to isolate repeat _________ from the rest of society. 11. Angry protestors began burning _________ of corporate executives responsible for the spill. 12. In an effort to relate to the masses, candidates began giving speeches in local _________. 13. The university was looking for _________ support to ease its debt. 14. What someone deems as _________ may actually be offensive to someone else. 15. Pay _________ attention to your spelling, grammar, and syntax; any error will cost you dearly. Vocabulary HS

23

UNIT 6

Adumbrate, Assiduous, Conundrum, Dichotomy, Effigy, Exculpate, Innocuous, Jubilant, Malefactor, Monetary, Oblique, Pliant, Resonate, Serenade, Vernacular

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Conundrum 2. Malefactor 3. Pliant 4. Monetary 5. Dichotomy

Synonyms a. A split b. A criminal c. Financial d. Docile e. An enigma

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Assiduous 2. Exculpate 3. Oblique 4. Innocuous 5. Vernacular

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Standard Direct Neglectful Effervescent To Condemn

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Serenade Jubilant Adumbrate Effigy Resonate

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions A crass representation of someone To cause feelings of similar emotions To foreshadow in a vague way To sing for someone Joyful

24

UNIT 7

Antipathy, Autonomous, Belligerent, Bicker, Clamor, Deride, Erroneous, Laceration, Parsimonious, Platitude, Pernicious, Retrospective, Subjacent, Tribulation, Undulate

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Antipathy – 1. Contrary or opposing in feeling; 2. An object of natural dislike, distaste or aversion to something; Sample 1: Mr. Robbins had a well-known antipathy to dogs. Sample 2: Both groups share a deep antipathy against each another. 2. Autonomous – 1. Characterized as possessing the right to self-rule or self-government; 2. Characterized as being carried out independent of others; Sample 1: While most public schools fall under the jurisdiction of a larger entity like a school district, charter schools can function as autonomous systems. Sample 2: Karakalpakstan is an autonomous region within Uzbekistan. 3. Belligerent – 1. Characterized as at war; 2. Characterized as relating to or of war or of fighting; 3. Characterized as having a tendency to fight Sample 1: John became belligerent and threatened to punch the referee after being ejected from the game. Sample 2: Wrestling is a game filled with belligerent hoodlums. 4. Bicker – 1. To quarrel or squabble over little or petty topics; 2. To move quickly and with a rippling noise; 3. A quarrel or squabble Sample 1: The sisters often bickered over who would sit in the front seat. Sample 2: Just like any other couple, we do bicker from time to time. 5. Clamor – 1. A loud and continuous outcry or noise; 2. An aggressive and vehement public expression like a demand or complaint; 3. To make an insistent demand; 4. To make a loud and continuous outcry or noise Sample 1: The threat of new taxes left the citizens of the city clamoring for weeks. Sample 2: The clamor was coming from disgruntled buyers who were refused refunds. 6. Deride – To belittle and make fun of in a contemptuous manner Sample 1: His music was derided as too simple. Sample 2: Neighborhood authorities derided the reports on city corruption. 7. Erroneous – Characterized by error Sample 1: Jason’s actions were driven by an erroneous judgment. Sample 2: It’s erroneous to assume that someone will clean up after you. 8. Laceration – A roughly torn and jagged cut or wound Sample 1: Jane had to receive several stitches after receiving lacerations on her arms. Sample 2: John suffered facial lacerations from the fall.

Vocabulary HS

25

UNIT 7

Antipathy, Autonomous, Belligerent, Bicker, Clamor, Deride, Erroneous, Laceration, Parsimonious, Platitude, Pernicious, Retrospective, Subjacent, Tribulation, Undulate

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Parsimonious – 1. Characterized by parsimony; 2. Characterized as being so sparing and frugal that one is seen as stingy Sample 1: Her parsimonious nature kept her from even charitable work. Sample 2: While the president tried to remain calm and reserved, it was never his intention to offer parsimonious explanations on the state of the economy. 10. Pernicious – Characterized as causing great harm, injury, or destruction Sample 1: Rage and obsession are the pernicious effects of jealousy. Sample 2: Today’s music has a pernicious impact on youth. 11. Platitude – 1. A dull, trite remark or statement; 2. A quality or state marked by a lack of originality Sample 1: An effective politician relies on more than platitude to sway voter interest. Sample 2: Her lyrics - lacking the innovative quality of her previous works - were full of awful platitudes. 12. Retrospective – 1. Characterized as of or relating to memory or the past; 2. Characterized as looking or directing backward or to the past; 3. A collection or exhibition of a lifetime of work Sample 1: The anthology provides a retrospective view of the author’s works. Sample 2: Television award shows are becoming more retrospective by honoring the legends of yesterday. 13. Subjacent – 1. Characterized as lying directly under or below; 2. Characterized as being lower but not necessarily directly below Sample 1: The scenery of Kyrgyzstan is filled with high mountains and subjacent rolling hills. Sample 2: The bank is located subjacent to The Pavilion Apartments. 14. Tribulation – Great distress or suffering because of the likes of oppression or persecution; 2. Something that causes great suffering or distress Sample 1: Families have suffered great tribulations since the economic crisis started. Sample 2: The people have suffered under the tribulations caused by the dictator. 15. Undulate – 1. To cause to or to move in waves; 2. To have a wavy form or surface Sample 1: The rural countryside of the Mongolia is composed of undulating hills that stretch for miles on end. Sample 2: His grade undulated between A’s and C’s from semester to semester.

Vocabulary HS

26

UNIT 7

Antipathy, Autonomous, Belligerent, Bicker, Clamor, Deride, Erroneous, Laceration, Parsimonious, Platitude, Pernicious, Retrospective, Subjacent, Tribulation, Undulate

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. With voter frustration at an all time high, this year’s midterm elections have been mired by voter _________ towards incumbents. 2. It’s time we adopt a more _________ lifestyle rather than living the life of a spendthrift. 3. The media has made some _________ claims that couldn’t be any further from the truth. 4. The _________ of the protesters startled local business owners. 5. In _________ I would have done something different if I would have been more cognizant of the consequences. 6. The parties have been _________ over the best course to be taken for the country. 7. My brother decided to move into the _________ apartment on the first floor. 8. The _________ of building a prison in close proximity to the school was of great concern to local parents. 9. The Republic of Dagestan is an _________ republic within Russia that has its own president independently elected by its citizens. 10. Bullies use _________ comments to make others feel inferior. 11. Unlike other speakers, Sarah stays clear of meaningless _________ and relies on the sincerity of her heart. 12. George had to get eight stitches for the _________ on his arm. 13. A good cardio work-out should include running along the _________ of rolling hills. 14. James blamed his _________ and fighting nature on his bad upbringing. 15. After several coup-d’états and a massive earthquake, the recent flooding in Pakistan is one more _________ its people must get through.

Vocabulary HS

27

UNIT 7

Antipathy, Autonomous, Belligerent, Bicker, Clamor, Deride, Erroneous, Laceration, Parsimonious, Platitude, Pernicious, Retrospective, Subjacent, Tribulation, Undulate

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Undulate Bicker Belligerent Laceration Clamor

Synonyms a. To surge b. To dispute c. A tear d. Pugnacious e. An uproar

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Deride Pernicious Platitude Tribulation Parsimonious

Antonyms a. A nuance b. To commend c. Lavish d. Consolation e. Innocuous

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Retrospective Autonomous Erroneous Subjacent Antipathy

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Characterized as of or relating to memory Characterized as independent Characterized as being below Contrary feelings Characterized by error

28

UNIT 8

Ambulate, Bifurcate, Catalyst, Declivity, Encapsulate, Incongruous, Levity, Malcontent, Ominous, Precedent, Pretext, Quintessential, Subvert, Verisimilitude, Whimsical

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Ambulate – To move or walk around from one place to another Sample 1: The stress on your knees will compromise your ability to ambulate. Sample 2: I no longer need crutches to assist me in ambulating. 2. Bifurcate – 1. To split or to be split or divided into two parts 2. Branching or dividing into two parts Sample 1: The court decided to bifurcate and try the issues separately. Sample 2: Today’s economic crisis has created a bifurcated society between the “haves” and the “have nots.” 3. Catalyst – A substance or cause that makes change occur Sample 1: His lack of financial support has been a key catalyst in his decision to abandon his campaign. Sample 2: It may be that space availability has been the main catalyst of evolution. 4. Declivity – A gradual decline or gradual downward slope Sample 1: The abrupt declivity of the slopes made our passage all the more toilsome. Sample 2: Crime’s point of declivity began in 1999 with the introduction of harsher punishments for repeat offenders. 5. Encapsulate – 1. To encase or enclose something; 2. To concisely express something Sample 1: The book encapsulates theories surrounding the fall of the Roman Empire. Sample 2: Mike ingeniously encapsulated the complicated ideas of Freud into one very concise sentence. 6. Incongruous – 1. Characterized as not in keeping with its surroundings or environment; 2. Characterized as inharmonious, discordant, inappropriate, or inconsistent with something else Sample 1: The judge’s verdict seemed incongruous and out of touch with public sentiment. Sample 2: The lavish mansion appeared incongruous next to the more modest homes surrounding it. 7. Levity – Silly and unserious remarks or behavior not especially suited with an occasion seen as serious Sample 1: Mark’s levity was a welcomed change to the already dreary dinner. Sample 2: I decided to add a touch of levity to the composition by increasing the rhythm and by adding more percussion. 8. Malcontent – Characterized as being dissatisfied with the current state of things; 2. Someone dissatisfied with things Sample 1: The corruption throughout various departments has left employees malcontent. Sample 2: A radical group of malcontents has pushed for the removal of the president.

Vocabulary HS

29

UNIT 8

Ambulate, Bifurcate, Catalyst, Declivity, Encapsulate, Incongruous, Levity, Malcontent, Ominous, Precedent, Pretext, Quintessential, Subvert, Verisimilitude, Whimsical

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Ominous – Characterized as a signal or indicator of things bad to come Sample 1: Disappointing first quarter sales became quite ominous for the annual outlook. Sample 2: Ominous clouds started to crowd the sky before the tornado touched down. 10. Precedent – A previous occurrence or something similar that may serve as an example or model for a rule or justification in the future Sample 1: Does the new ruling set up some kind of precedent for how we handle insurance costs in the future? Sample 2: It wasn’t without precedent that I administered the tests; I followed the example of those before me. 11. Pretext – A false reason or motive assigned for a given action in order to conceal the real reason Sample 1: The country went to war with the pretext of liberating the citizens, but it was soon discovered the country had other motives. Sample 2: Jane didn’t go out with Jim on the pretext that she had a headache, but the real reason was because she didn’t like him. 12. Quintessential – 1. Characterized as being the most typical example of something; 2. Characterized as being the purest form or state of something Sample 1: Superman is the quintessential superhero. Sample 2: Ronaldo is considered to be the league’s quintessential soccer player. 13. Subvert – 1. To overthrow and utterly destroy something established; 2. To corrupt by undercutting what is moral Sample 1: The defense team was working to subvert the ongoing investigation. Sample 2: Democrats are willing to subvert Republican plans to reform the bill. 14. Verisimilitude – Something having the quality of or appearance of truth Sample 1: The false accusations against him were made only more believable by the verisimilitude of the claimant’s testimony. Sample 2: Most reality TV shows lack verisimilitude and are really concocted story lines acted out by acting interns. 15. Whimsical – 1. Something full of whims; 2. Something characterized or resulting from a whim; 3. Characterized as odd and erratic Sample 1: The song was both whimsical and flighty. Sample 2: Ellen’s comedic genius can be found within her whimsical nature.

Vocabulary HS

30

UNIT 8

Ambulate, Bifurcate, Catalyst, Declivity, Encapsulate, Incongruous, Levity, Malcontent, Ominous, Precedent, Pretext, Quintessential, Subvert, Verisimilitude, Whimsical

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Jason entered the competition under the ________ of accomplishing something new, but in reality he set out to win the heart of a girl. 2. CIA operatives worked behind the scenes to ________ plans carried out by the rogue regime. 3. By turning the team around, the new quarterback became the team’s ________ to a winning season. 4. The department’s ________ into two branches translated into more efficiency for the company. 5. Given the state of her finances, her ________ shopping spree led people to speculate that she won the lottery or something. 6. Michael’s witticism brought an air of ________ to the somber occasion. 7. With his perfect attendance, participation in extracurricular activities, and straight A’s, Leon is the ________ top student. 8. Margaret and Li decided to ________ to the store rather than drive. 9. The upcoming elections will test public ________ with the president. 10. His speech ________ his views on the issue, the steps needed to be taken to resolve it, and the likely outcome of these steps. 11. His display of a mild mannered demeanor seemed ________ with his otherwise agitated temperament. 12. The performer’s new 120 million dollar contract has set a new ________ for how future artists deal with record labels. 13. The success of reality TV lies in the ________ of characters that are on display in opposition to the two dimensional fictional characters found in comedy or TV dramas. 14. The team’s preseason losses can be taken as ________ signs to a losing season ahead of them. 15. After years of upward sales, the music industry has encountered a ________ for two years running.

Vocabulary HS

31

Ambulate, Bifurcate, Catalyst, Declivity, Encapsulate, Incongruous, Levity, Malcontent, Ominous, Precedent, Pretext, Quintessential, Subvert, Verisimilitude, Whimsical

UNIT 8

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Subvert Ambulate Malcontent Pretext Whimsical

Synonyms a. A Guise b. To walk c. To overturn d. Capricious e. A killjoy

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Declivity Ominous Bifurcate Incongruous Quintessential

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Atypical Ascent To combine Corresponding Auspicious

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Precedent Verisimilitude Levity Encapsulate Catalyst

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Something that brings about change Silly remarks or behavior Having the appearance of truth A previous occurrence serving as a standard To enclose something

32

UNIT 9

Cacophony, Conflate, Destitute, Dubious, Embark, Grotesque, Inculcate, Languor, Metastasize, Obdurate, Pragmatic, Progenitor, Sacrosanct, Sycophant, Trifle

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Cacophony – discordant and unpleasant noise or sounds Sample 1: Being from the tranquil suburbs, I still haven’t adjusted to the cacophony of car horns in the big city. Sample 2: The song was panned by critics as being nothing more than a cacophony of discordant sounds. 2. Conflate – to join together into a unified whole Sample 1: Critics are quick to conflate the term patriotism with nationalism. Sample 2: The rationale tends to conflate passivism with acceptance. 3. Destitute – 1. Characterized as lacking something that is needed or wanted; 2. Characterized as being in utter want of Sample 1: Mother Theresa lived an altruistic life marked by helping the destitute of India. Sample 2: Born during the worst part of the Great Depression, many children were born to destitute families. 4. Dubious – 1. Characterized as causing doubt or suspicion; 2. Characterized by uncertainty; Sample 1: The charitable motives of some questionable politicians can best be described as dubious. Sample 2: Be weary of dubious emails asking for personal information like bank account and social security information. 5. Embark – 1. To start an activity or enterprise Sample 1: Morgan thought about embarking on a new career path after losing interest in his current one. Sample 2: In order to revamp the image of the company, executives decided to embark upon a new marketing strategy. 6. Grotesque – 1.Characterized as fanciful and disturbingly decorative; 2. Characterized as absurd and bizarre Sample 1: Some of the commercial laws in place are grotesque and absurd. Sample 2: The recent protest was a grotesque spectacle of the self-righteous. 7. Inculcate – To educate or teach by way of admonition or by frequent repetition Sample 1: Celebrities have been called upon to help inculcate the young with moral values. Sample 2: Medieval schools of the Reconquista period of the 15th century worked tirelessly to inculcate the values of the church. 8. Languor – 1. State of being faint or weak or weary; 2. State of being inactive or listless Sample 1: The housing market witnessed another month of languor as sales dipped slightly. Sample 2: I’d rather have a vacation filled with languor and relaxation as opposed to a holiday adventure. Vocabulary HS

33

UNIT 9

Cacophony, Conflate, Destitute, Dubious, Embark, Grotesque, Inculcate, Languor, Metastasize, Obdurate, Pragmatic, Progenitor, Sacrosanct, Sycophant, Trifle

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Metastasize – To grow or spread like cancer Sample 1: The team was worried that their off season struggles would metastasize and follow them into the season against the Big Ten. Sample 2: If we fail to contain the violence it may metastasize to other stable areas and undercut our efforts in the country. 10. Obdurate – 1. Characterized as unyielding and resistant to change; 2. Characterized as being hardened in heart or feelings Sample 1: Laws against ethnic minority groups in the South have created an obdurate disdain against the government. Sample 2: Menacing and obdurate knee injuries continue to plague the team. 11. Pragmatic – 1. Characterized as being concerned with what is practical more than what is artistic, fantastic, or theoretical; 2. Characterized as practical or very matter of fact Sample 1: It’s important that we take a pragmatic approach to the problem. Sample 2: The reason is entirely pragmatic; in practice people tend to favor change. 12. Progenitor – An originator or predecessor; 2. A direct ancestor or ancestor Sample 1: The progenitors of the event received a standing ovation for their dedication to its continued existence. Sample 2: Super Mario Bros and Pac Man are considered the progenitors of outstanding games. 13. Sacrosanct – 1. Characterized as sacred and holy; 2. Characterized as worthy of being revered Sample 1: Take any book you want, but don’t touch my Tolstoy collection; it’s considered sacrosanct. Sample 2: His works were always considered sacrosanct until he made crude remarks about the President. 14. Sycophant – Characterized as a servile self-flatterer for self serving purposes Sample 1: Politicians that gravel for support during election periods are the most obvious sycophants. Sample 2: Never wanting to be seen as a sycophant I refused to compliment the boss. 15. Trifle – 1. Characterized as unimportant and of little value; 2. To act and talk in a silly manner without seriousness Sample 1: Bribery at any level is no trifle. Sample 2: I found it a bit trifling to try to convince a four year old why politics is overrated.

Vocabulary HS

34

UNIT 9

Cacophony, Conflate, Destitute, Dubious, Embark, Grotesque, Inculcate, Languor, Metastasize, Obdurate, Pragmatic, Progenitor, Sacrosanct, Sycophant, Trifle

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. A shadowy group of conspiracy theorists are intent on debunking _______ claims made by the FBI agents. 2. The _______ of noise coming from the construction site continues to annoy people. 3. The Cowboys are _______ on another whirlwind ride to the Superbowl. 4. With this year’s fall lineup we can expect another _______ season of dull TV programming. 5. Breakdancing, which goes back to the eighties, can be considered as the _______ of today’s crunk. 6. Kyrgyzstan has adopted _______ agricultural solutions rather than experimenting with impossibilities. 7. We have a hard time believing you because your story seems to be _______ from two different experiences. 8. Many are worried that the proposed economic package is _______ expensive. 9. Many presidents invoke the words of Lincoln simply because they are _______. 10. The debate is over who is responsible for the _______ of values in children – the parents or the entertainment industry. 11. Clinton, steadfast in not quitting, remained an _______ candidate during the last presidential campaign. 12. The recent earthquake has left many families homeless and _______. 13. Why should we listen to the _______ of someone who isn’t even an adult yet? 14. To the discontent of those in office, riots have rapidly _______ beyond the borders of the city into other regions. 15. Celebrities rely on Twitter and Facebook to manipulate their _______ followers.

Vocabulary HS

35

UNIT 9

Cacophony, Conflate, Destitute, Dubious, Embark, Grotesque, Inculcate, Languor, Metastasize, Obdurate, Pragmatic, Progenitor, Sacrosanct, Sycophant, Trifle

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Destitute 2. Obdurate 3. Cacophony 4. Trifle 5. Progenitor

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Forebear Inflexible Impoverished A fraction Dissonance

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Grotesque 2. Sycophant 3. Dubious 4. Languor 5. Pragmatic

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Unreasonable Strength Reliable Unadorned A leader

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Conflate 2. Sacrosanct 3. Metastasize 4. Embark 5. Inculcate

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To educate using repetition To start an activity To grow like cancer Characterized as sacred To join together

36

UNIT 10

Apex, Ascribe, Bellicose, Circuitous, Contingent, Deluge, Ensconce, Formidable, Impute, Jettison, Ornery, Prudent, Purport, Subterfuge, Vociferous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Apex – 1. The highest point; 2. The climax or highest point of interest Sample 1: Jane reached the apex of her career as CEO of the company. Sample 2: The plane crashed at the apex of the mountain. 2. Ascribe – 1. To attribute something to a supposed cause or source; 2. To consider something as belonging to someone Sample 1: Tabloids have ascribed the actor’s overwhelming success to his underhanded dealings. Sample 2: Opponents have unfairly ascribed negative attributes to the president. 3. Bellicose – 1. Characterized as being inclined to fight; 2. Characterized as aggressively hostile and pugnacious Sample 1: Tensions reached an all time high as the countries intensified bellicose border rhetoric. Sample 2: The country cannot afford to cave in to narrow radicalism or bellicose nationalism. 4. Circuitous – 1. Characterized as indirect and roundabout; 2. Characterized as devious Sample 1: Rather than driving directly to the restaurant, Megan decided to take a circuitous route. Sample 2: The publicist made circuitous statements that kept everyone wondering about the state of her client’s condition. 5. Contingent – 1. Characterized as a possibility; 2. Characterized as dependent on something else; 3. A group created from a larger group Sample 1: Your health is contingent on your habits. Sample 2: A small contingent will remain behind to ensure the security of the town. 6. Deluge – 1. An overflow of water like a flood; 2. Drenching heavy rain; 2. An overwhelming rush; 3. To flood; 4. To overwhelm as in a flood Sample 1: A deluge of calls were made from angry parents wanting to remove their children from the school. Sample 2: Small towns situated along the Missouri River prepared themselves for a deluge. 7. Ensconce – 1. To hide and conceal; 2. To shelter; 3. To establish or settle into a place Sample 1: Armed opposition surrounding the congressional house convinced the president to ensconce himself within a secure barrack. Sample 2: The thieves remained undetected as they ensconced themselves within the swarm of people. 8. Formidable – 1. Characterized as causing fear; 2. Characterized as discouragingly difficult to overcome; 3. Characterized as awe-inspiring and captivating Sample 1: A formidable category five hurricane is approaching the Gulf Coast. Sample 2: AC Milan seems like a formidable challenge against Real Madrid. Vocabulary HS

37

UNIT 10

Apex, Ascribe, Bellicose, Circuitous, Contingent, Deluge, Ensconce, Formidable, Impute, Jettison, Ornery, Prudent, Purport, Subterfuge, Vociferous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Impute – 1. To attribute responsibility or blame to someone; 2. To attribute goodness or guilt to a person or source Sample 1: It’s not our place to impute your intentions. Sample 2: The government is free to impute taxes on every citizen. 10. Jettison – 1. To overthrow items overboard; 2. To get rid of that which is useless or burdensome; 3. The throwing overboard of items in order to lighten up a load Sample 1: Small companies are worried that though employees will be jettisoned, they will not be able to recoup losses made during the crisis. Sample 2: Residents are asked to jettison less trash over the next couple of months as the city finds another trash collection agency. 11. Ornery – 1. Characterized as having a mean and irritable disposition; Characterized as being stubborn Sample 1: It’s typical of NBA coaches to be ornery and explosive. Sample 2: Although the clients are generally nice, they can become ornery. 12. Prudent – 1. Characterized as wise, judicious; 2. Characterized as cautious and practical Sample 1: During a crisis one must act in a cautious and prudent manner. Sample 2: Nurses are trained to be prudent so as to not make any deadly misdiagnosis. 13. Purport – 1. The meaning or sense or something; 2. The intended meaning or aim of something; 3. To claim (often falsely) by inference either by appearance or by intention; 4. To claim as its meaning Sample 1: The video purports to show incriminating evidence against the suspect despite claims he was nowhere near the crime scene. Sample 2: Recent polls made by the opposition party purport to measure public dissent. 14. Subterfuge – Deceptive plan or strategy in order to hide something or to evade an uncomfortable situation Sample 1: The candidate was caught employing some kind of subterfuge and underhanded dealings to ensure a November win. Sample 2: Rather than paying a large amount of taxes, the firm made calculations with subterfuge in mind. 15. Vociferous – Characterized as loud and noisy; 2. Characterized as or by a vehement outcry Sample 1: The parents were vociferous in their dismay against the school board. Sample 2: It’s important to keep the debates from becoming vociferous or passionately biased.

Vocabulary HS

38

UNIT 10

Apex, Ascribe, Bellicose, Circuitous, Contingent, Deluge, Ensconce, Formidable, Impute, Jettison, Ornery, Prudent, Purport, Subterfuge, Vociferous

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Soviet documentaries of the 1930’s and 1940’s were made with a combination of panache and ________ to manipulate the beliefs and traditions of its peoples. 2. The actor never recovered from the slanderous ________ made against him by the media. 3. In the wake of the trial, the defendant passionately ________ his innocence. 4. The university expansion program is ________ on the charitable donations of its alumni. 5. Although not a Republican, I ________ to most Republican fiscal views. 6. Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean, was seen as ________ for her evil temperament. 7. The Joker is Batman’s ________ foe. 8. A ________ of rain fell so quickly that the city soon became flooded. 9. During a routine game of hide-n-seek, the boys ________ themselves within a small box in order not to be detected. 10. Use credit cards only with the utmost ________ and sagacity. 11. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay are regarded as the first mountaineers to reach the ________ of Mount Everest. 12. Dubious travel agents are conning gullible tourists out of thousands of dollars by leading them to ________ ancient burial sites. 13. Some fear that the spirit of ________ currently sweeping the country may lead to war fever. 14. The football team decided to ________ players who had performed poorly over the last year and to recruit new promising players. 15. Given his ________ response, the police figured he knew more than what he was letting on to.

Vocabulary HS

39

UNIT 10

Apex, Ascribe, Bellicose, Circuitous, Contingent, Deluge, Ensconce, Formidable, Impute, Jettison, Ornery, Prudent, Purport, Subterfuge, Vociferous

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Deluge 2. Circuitous 3. Jettison 4. Formidable 5. Bellicose

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Meandering Pernicious To eject To inundate Belligerent

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Vociferous 2. Prudent 3. Apex 4. Subterfuge 5. Ornery

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Sincerity Restrained Injudicious Cooperative Bottom

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Contingent 2. Purport 3. Ensconce 4. Impute 5. Ascribe

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To hide or conceal To attribute something as a cause of Characterized as dependent on something else The meaning of something To attribute responsibility for something

40

UNIT 11

Acute, Brandish, Chivalry, Countenance, Diabolic, Eminence, Epitomize, Expiate, Malign, Penitential, Privy, Prowess, Rudimentary, Sublime, Vagabond

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Acute – 1. Characterized by sharpness or severity; 2. Characterized by keen intellect and discernment Sample 1: One third of all patients who have suffered from an acute heart attack die within the first 24 hours. Sample 2: After undergoing surgery, his sense of hearing became more acute. 2. Brandish – 1. To shake or wave something in a menacing or challenging manner; 2. To show an aggressive manner Sample 1: Viewers were shocked to see the network carelessly brandish such provocative imagery without any warning. Sample 2: The knights brandished their swords before engaging in warfare. 3. Chivalry – 1. Archaic noble qualities such as courage and honor; 2. Knights and gallant gentlemen; 3. The display of knightly qualities Sample 1: Women are treated with less chivalry than before. Sample 2: His gentlemanly actions prove chivalry is not dead. 4. Countenance – 1. The look on someone’s face that serves as an indication of one’s mood, feelings, or character; 2. Calm control and mental composure; 3. Look of approval or support; 4. To support or approve Sample 1: His gloomy countenance was of much concern to everybody. Sample 2: The opposition is not ready to countenance a drawback of their troops. 5. Diabolic – Characterized as devilish, very wicked, and cruel Sample 1: Comics are filled with diabolic characters intent on conquering the world. Sample 2: Torture is cruel, diabolic, and grotesque. 6. Eminence – 1. Any position of superiority or prominence; 2. Someone of high rank; 3. Any natural elevation Sample 1: The President rose to eminence by lying to the people. Sample 2: Madonna continues to fortify her legacy and eminence as the Queen of Pop. 7. Epitomize – 1. To sum up or make an epitome of something; 2. To exemplify or to be the quintessential representation of Sample 1: The nation epitomizes concepts of freedom and equality. Sample 2: To win the players work together, the epitome of a unified team. 8. Expiate – 1. To make amends or to correct a wrong; 2. To suffer for by paying the penalty of Sample 1: Do you agree that the lower class continues to expiate the greed of the upper class? Sample 2: Her recent charitable donations are attempts to expiate her selfish image. Vocabulary HS

41

UNIT 11

Acute, Brandish, Chivalry, Countenance, Diabolic, Eminence, Epitomize, Expiate, Malign, Penitential, Privy, Prowess, Rudimentary, Sublime, Vagabond

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Malign – 1. To speak in a defamatory manner of; 2. Characterized as showing malice or ill will towards; 3. Characterized as evil and harmful Sample 1: George maligned Lesley by divulging her secrets. Sample 2: Fake videos can be made to malign somebody because anything is possible in this age of technology. 10. Penitential – 1. Characterized as showing true sorrow or sincere apology for having committed a sin or wrong; 2. Characterized as being repentant Sample 1: The “Rape of the Lock” by Alexander Pope was meant to be penitential. Sample 2: The newly indicted criminal made a penitential speech detailing his acceptance of the verdict and his responsibility in suffering the consequences. 11. Privy – Characterized as sharing or participating in knowledge deemed as private or concealed; 2. Characterized as secretive and hidden Sample 1: Only a few were made privy to the changes. Sample 2: The public is not privy to the private affairs of the president. 12. Prowess – 1. Extraordinary skill and ability; 2. Bravery and strength in battle Sample 1: The star athlete showed his prowess during the game. Sample 2: Penthesileia came to aid the Trojans, and even though she showed great prowess, was killed by Achilles. 13. Rudimentary – 1. Characterized as elementary, incomplete or undeveloped Sample 1: With the number of air catastrophes, it’s silly to solely rely on a rudimentary set of safety guidelines. Sample 2: The writer relied on a rudimentary knowledge of history, and as a result, recreated a flawed medieval Europe. 14. Sublime – 1. Characterized as noble and grand in expression or manner; 2. Characterized as awe-inspiring and transcendental in spirit because of beauty or grandeur Sample 1: Tchaikovsky’s Serenade in C Minor is intensely touching and sublime. Sample 2: The exhibit showcased some of the most sublime pieces of art to be created in the last ten years. 15. Vagabond – 1. Characterized as moving from one place to another; 2. Characterized as unsettled, irresponsible and bohemian; 3. Characterized as having no aim Sample 1: His vagabond lifestyle created a need to indulge in crime. Sample 2: Rather than being a vagabond for the rest of your life, why not get a job?

Vocabulary HS

42

UNIT 11

Acute, Brandish, Chivalry, Countenance, Diabolic, Eminence, Epitomize, Expiate, Malign, Penitential, Privy, Prowess, Rudimentary, Sublime, Vagabond

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Jason suffered from _______ tendinitis. 2. James can’t translate the document with his _______ German; he’s nowhere close to being fluent in the language. 3. I love a _______ man who can escort me to a car and open the door for me. 4. The evil nemesis _______ schemed for another world takeover. 5. Jane felt as though political opponents were openly _______ her character with false innuendoes and accusations. 6. Esra’s parents found it difficult to _______ her late night antics. 7. The proposed new methods of instruction have been slammed by the most _______ scholars in the field of education and not by just any educator. 8. The company made financial _______ to the family against which it wrongfully discriminated. 9. The museum’s exhibit of great inventions was simply _______ and left many visitors inspired. 10. The man’s _______ comments moved the victim’s family to tears. 11. The singer has been like a _______ jumping from one label to the next. 12. That monster is known for _______ its tentacle-like arms. 13. The Fonz is the _______ of the typical teenage rebel of the 1950’s. 14. Only upper management is _______ to the list of layoffs happening Friday. 15. The university was accused of valuing athletic _______ over academic achievement.

Vocabulary HS

43

Acute, Brandish, Chivalry, Countenance, Diabolic, Eminence, Epitomize, Expiate, Malign, Penitential, Privy, Prowess, Rudimentary, Sublime, Vagabond

UNIT 11

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Synonyms

Malign Sublime Acute Countenance Eminence

a. b. c. d. e.

Keen Noble Peak To scandalize Visage

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Antonyms

Vagabond Chivalry Rudimentary Diabolic Penitential

a. b. c. d. e.

Angelic Cowardice Defiant Inhabitant Nonessential

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Epitomize Expiate Brandish Prowess Privy

Definitions a. b. c. d. e.

Bravery and strength in the face of adversity Characterized as hidden To exemplify To make amends for a wrong To wave something around

- 44 -

UNIT 12

Depredation, Dispensation, Ferocious, Homogeneous, Idiosyncratic, Incursion, Invoke, Marshal, Milieu, Peril, Propagate, Reification, Repellent, Sanctification, Tenuous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Depredation – 1. The act of laying waste to or of pillaging; 2. A predatory attack or raid Sample 1: Many East European villages suffered depredation at the hand of plundering crusaders. Sample 2: A half century after the depredation of France by the Germans, the nation is one of the leading post-industrial countries in the world. 2. Dispensation – 1. The act of distributing or dispensing; 2. An exemption from rule or responsibility Sample 1: Citizens involved in the hurricane are seeking dispensation from paying higher taxes. Sample 2: The special dispensation allowed the homeowner to keep her flag waving. 3. Ferocious – 1. Characterized as savage, fierce, and extremely violent; 2. Characterized as extremely brutal and intense Sample 1: Beware of feeding bears at the park; they can be ferocious! Sample 2: John was attacked by a pack of ferocious dogs. 4. Homogeneous – 1. Characterized as having or being from the same kind of nature or as having a unified composition throughout Sample 1: The party with its many splinter groups is no longer homogenous like it once was. Sample 2: Japan and Finland, unlike Canada and the U.S., are nation states with homogeneous cultures. 5. Idiosyncratic – Characterized with a peculiarity of temperament or constitution Sample 1: Given the idiosyncratic character of the organization, it was inevitable for it to sell off all its assets. Sample 2: Andy Warhol was known for his idiosyncratic tendencies and for his downright weird outlook on life. 6. Incursion – An abruptly sudden and often short-lived or temporary invasion or raid Sample 1: More than 400 years ago, Europeans began to make incursions to the New World. Sample 2: While some people feel more secure knowing a camera may snap a picture of someone stealing a car, others believe all the monitoring is an incursion on individual rights. 7. Invoke – 1. To call on or pray for help or protection; 2. To implore or appeal for support; Sample 1: The rally in Washington invoked the spirit of King. Sample 2: With the temperature rising to the mid-90’s, the tournament was prompted to invoke its extreme weather policy and reschedule the match. 8. Marshal – 1. To guide or usher; 2. To arrange in order Sample 1: The quarterback did everything he could to marshal his team to another victory. Sample 2: Rescuers worked to marshal their resources together to find the missing students.

Vocabulary HS

45

UNIT 12

Depredation, Dispensation, Ferocious, Homogeneous, Idiosyncratic, Incursion, Invoke, Marshal, Milieu, Peril, Propagate, Reification, Repellent, Sanctification, Tenuous

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Milieu – Environment or setting especially a social one Sample 1: The new play works to shift its milieu from the ancient Romans’ war against the Huns to the more modern conflict in Iraq. Sample 2: Las Vegas has long been dubbed as a spurious milieu for spendthrifts, crooks, and gangsters. 10. Peril – Danger or exposure to such; 2. To endanger or to expose to danger Sample 1: Conversationalists want to further protect the marshes bordering the Gulf from future peril. Sample 2: With the splintering of both political parties, the reelection bids of many incumbents remain in peril. 11. Propagate – 1. To publicize or to cause to spread out; 2. To increase in extent or influence Sample 1: Celebrities have a tendency to use disasters to propagate their careers under the pretext of donating to charity. Sample 2: Congress isn’t too thrilled about propagating the influence of lobbyists. 12. Reification – 1. The act of considering something as a material or concrete thing; 2. The act of converting something into something concrete Sample 1: Reification is used by many writers to give abstract subjects like nature human qualities. Sample 2: The state educational system believes the reification of education through GPA’s and conduct sheets are necessary to identify student progress. 13. Repellent – Characterized as causing to drive away or ward off; 2. Characterized as repugnant, repulsive and causing aversion Sample 1: Crime and high prices serve as tourist repellants. Sample 2: Many of the customers left without eating because of the repellent odor coming from the kitchen. 14. Sanctification – 1. the act of sanctifying or separating as sacred; 2. The act of purifying Sample 1: Americans value the sanctification of individual rights. Sample 2: I’m not impressed with the public’s sanctification of Hollywood stars adopting children from third world countries. 15. Tenuous – Characterized as weak, flimsy, and having little to no strength Sample 1: The state of the economy remains tenuous and unstable. Sample 2: With her series of box office flops, the actress’ career has become tenuous at best.

Vocabulary HS

46

UNIT 12

Depredation, Dispensation, Ferocious, Homogeneous, Idiosyncratic, Incursion, Invoke, Marshal, Milieu, Peril, Propagate, Reification, Repellent, Sanctification, Tenuous

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Some bug sprays are better than others in _______ bugs. 2. It has reached the point that fast food has made an _______ into our dinner menu. 3. A _______ windstorm swept over the town, knocking out electric lines and destroying homes. 4. Mark’s playlist contains a _______ set of music with only a narrow range of heavy metal hits. 5. The new march in Washington was meant to _______ the spirit of the civil rights movement, but it was only seen as anything but. 6. Film companies are attracted to the dusty and rugged _______ of the Southwest. 7. Teenagers who cut into an old abandoned warehouse were indicted on charges of trespassing and _______ of private property. 8. The inauguration of the new company CEO _______ in a new era of prosperity and success. 9. Although on suspension, the player had requested for a _______ that would allow him to play in Saturday’s game. 10. The story of Adam and Eve _______ concepts of good and evil. 11. The media is _______ the myth that members of Congress are engaging in corruption. 12. With no support from private donors, the program remains in _______. 13. The contestant’s lead is _______ and small. 14. Freedom and equality for all men have been _______ as unbreakable tenants in the Bill of Rights. 15. My grandmother held onto her _______ tradition of believing in weird superstitions.

Vocabulary HS

47

UNIT 12

Depredation, Dispensation, Ferocious, Homogeneous, Idiosyncratic, Incursion, Invoke, Marshal, Milieu, Peril, Propagate, Reification, Repellent, Sanctification, Tenuous

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Dispensation Sanctification Depredation Repellent Milieu

Synonyms a. Environment b. Atrocious c. Pillage d. Beatitude e. Endowment

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Tenuous Reification Ferocious Idiosyncratic Homogenous

Antonyms a. Exclusion b. Sinewy c. Civilized d. Indistinctive e. Heterogeneous

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Marsh 2. Propagate 3. Incursion 4. Peril 5. Invoke

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

48

Definitions To call on for help To spread out A short-lived invasion Exposure to danger To herald

UNIT 13

Accursed, Avatar, Exhort, Immure, Incite, Occidental, Paean, Perennial, Perforate, Periphery, Precursor, Supersede, Tendentious, Valiant, Vigilance

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Accursed – 1. Characterized as being under a curse; 2. Characterized as being detestable Sample 1: Black has long been considered an accursed color representing evil. Sample 2: All of the contestants have stumbled over that accursed question. 2. Avatar – 1. An embodiment or representation of a higher being in human form; 2. A representation or incarnation from a previous form Sample 1: The latest reports look nothing like their former avatars. Sample 2: The technology fair launched the industry’s latest HD avatar. 3. Exhort – 1. To strongly and earnestly urge a person to do something or to take a particular course of action; 2. To warn Sample 1: Political candidates have been working behind the scenes in exhorting supporters to donate funds to election campaigns. Sample 2: Workers exhorted management to give new raises. 4. Immure – 1. To enclose within walls; 2. To shut oneself up or imprison Sample 1: The sixteenth century icon was taken and immured by communists in the 1930’s. Sample 2: China’s decadent emperors were immured behind the Great Wall. 5. Incite – 1. To urge into action; 2. To arouse or stir up Sample 1: The latest series of violence incited disorder on a massive scale. Sample 2: The actor was shunned by Hollywood for inciting uneasiness through his racially driven remarks. 6. Occidental – Of the West, such as Europe and the Americas Sample 1: Many in the East have often thought of the Occidental cultures as maligned and exploited. Sample 2: Occidental studies focus on Western Europe whereas Oriental studies focus on the Far East. 7. Paean – a song or hymn of triumph and praise often joyous in nature Sample 1: Elton John’s performance was meant as a paean to the late Princess. Sample 2: Before his ascendancy to the office, people were quick to give him paeans of praise for reaching historically new heights. 8. Perennial – 1. Characterized as perpetual and lasting indefinitely or continuous without interruption; 2. Characterized as lasting through the year, present through all the seasons Sample 1: Lady Gaga has become a perennial artist on the pop charts. Sample 2: Small businesses are negatively affected by the perennial economic crisis.

Vocabulary HS

49

UNIT 13

Accursed, Avatar, Exhort, Immure, Incite, Occidental, Paean, Perennial, Perforate, Periphery, Precursor, Supersede, Tendentious, Valiant, Vigilance

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Perforate – To pierce through or to make hole(s) through Sample 1: The condition appears as a skin ulcer perforating the inner lining of the stomach. Sample 2: Oi Naani bread from Uzbekistan is made by perforating designs in the center of the dough. 10. Periphery – The outer bounds or boundary of a body or group; 2. The external area beyond the bounds of something Sample 1: Countries in the periphery of the European Union, like Greece, Latvia, and Romania, have been more vulnerable to the economic crisis. Sample 2: The epidemic has been contained to only the outer periphery of the city. 11. Precursor – a forerunner and predecessor that also signals the approach of another Sample 1: Winning the Golden Globe is a precursor for winning the Oscars. Sample 2: A company’s preliminary safety evaluation of the product is considered a precursor to a recall. 12. Supersede – 1. To replace or set aside as if unnecessary; 2. To take the place of something considered inferior or less necessary Sample 1: District policies supersede individual school policies. Sample 2: My mother’s decision usually supersedes mine. 13. Tendentious – Characterized as having a tendency or bias in favor of something usually with an already set purpose Sample 1: Washington is marred by tendentious politicians. Sample 2: The hype created about the President’s actions was spurred by tendentious journalism. 14. Valiant – 1. Characterized as strong and brave; 2. Characterized as heroic Sample 1: Our valiant men have fought bravely in the face of adversity. Sample 2: The valiant efforts of their father saved the children. 15. Vigilance – The alert watchfulness or circumspection in order to avoid danger or disaster Sample 1: We watched over my ailing father’s health with vigilance. Sample 2. Community members have urged vigilance to safeguard against crime.

Vocabulary HS

50

UNIT 13

Accursed, Avatar, Exhort, Immure, Incite, Occidental, Paean, Perennial, Perforate, Periphery, Precursor, Supersede, Tendentious, Valiant, Vigilance

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. ________ reports from Western news outlets alleged that Russia had a different agenda behind the peace process. 2. Mariah Carey and Madonna have been ________ powerhouses within pop music. 3. When producers decided to reincarnate the popular character, they never realized finding a replacement for the original ________ would be so tedious. 4. ________ winds , blowing towards the southeast, brought freezing temperatures with them. 5. Our art teacher taught us how to make decorations from ________ sheets of paper. 6. Egyptian mummies were ________ within alabaster tombs for thousands of years. 7. The Huns are generally recognized as ________ to Eastern European peoples. 8. Veterans’ Day is marked with tributes and ________ dedicated to fallen soldiers. 9. Nurses were hired to keep an around-the-clock deteriorating health.

________ watch over our uncle’s

10. Economic disparities were to blame for ________ animosity between the groups. 11. According to our charter, the bylaws ________ the codes; in other words, we must ensure we abide by the bylaws before proceeding. 12. The ________ collection agency persisted in harassing us for weeks until we were able to pay the bill. 13. George Washington ________ and heroically led his country to victory. 14. Industry insiders reportedly plan to ________ Congress to exempt them from huge tax fines. 15. Rather than focus on core issues related to the country, Washington has been sidetracked by ________ matters such as brokering peace between countries.

Vocabulary HS

51

UNIT 13

Accursed, Avatar, Exhort, Immure, Incite, Occidental, Paean, Perennial, Perforate, Periphery, Precursor, Supersede, Tendentious, Valiant, Vigilance

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Immure 2. Avatar 3. Precursor 4. Occidental 5. Tendentious

Synonyms a. Archetype b. Forerunner c. To enclose d. Western e. Partisan

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Perennial 2. Accursed 3. Paean 4. Valiant 5. Vigilance

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Prose Negligence Intermittent Blessed Timid

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Supersede 2. Incite 3. Periphery 4. Exhort 5. Perforate

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To petition someone to do something To arouse or stir up To puncture To set something not needed aside External region of a group

52

UNIT 14

Abridge, Adduce, Amorphous, Chiliasm, Circumlocution, Consolation, Ecclesiastical, Embellish, Eschatology, Lurid, Monograph, Obsolete, Preposterous, Recalcitrant, Wane

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Abridge – 1. To shorten or lessen; 2. To shorten or reduce by using fewer words Sample 1: Should we abridge our freedom for security? Sample 2: John gave me an abridged version of his novel. 2. Adduce – To offer as example, reason, or proof in discussion or analysis Sample 1: Without the receipt, the customer could not adduce that she bought the blouse from the department store. Sample 2: What you did will be a major issue with your parents, but not for the reasons you may adduce. 3. Amorphous – Characterized as being shapeless or as having no definite shape Sample 1: The angry employee made amorphous claims about his employer that were obviously without any base. Sample 2: When melted the metal resembles an amorphous blob. 4. Chiliasm – Pertaining to 1000 or 1000 years or the millennium (regarding Christianity’s belief of Jesus bringing peace for 1000 years) Sample 1: The chiliasts preached about the Second Coming of Christ during which he will reign on earth in peace. Sample 2: Chiliasm ran rampant at the turn of the millennium with the spread of theories surrounding Y2K. 5. Circumlocution – 1. Roundabout and evasive speech; 2. The use of too many words to express something relatively simple Sample 1: Senator Thurmond was known for speaking in a roundabout way and for resorting to circumlocution in order to stall the passage of several bills. Sample 2: It was painful to sit there for what seemed like hours listening to his circumlocution. 6. Consolation – 1. The act of consoling or giving comfort; 2. The state of being consoled Sample 1: The governor was offered a consolation meeting after being denied a meeting with the president. Sample 2: Friends and family began giving consolation and support to Betty after the death of her husband. 7. Ecclesiastical – Of or relating to established institutions such as a church Sample 1: Ecclesiastical support from the Pope gave Charlemagne the legitimacy he needed. Sample 2: Please don’t speak to me in ecclesiastical terms; use laymen’s terms. 8. Embellish – To heighten the beauty or allure of something by decorating and ornamenting it Sample 1: My aunt has a knack for buying plain purses and embellishing them with buttons and trims like pompoms. Sample 2: Jane embellished the story a tad to save her audience from boredom. Vocabulary HS

53

UNIT 14

Abridge, Adduce, Amorphous, Chiliasm, Circumlocution, Consolation, Ecclesiastical, Embellish, Eschatology, Lurid, Monograph, Obsolete, Preposterous, Recalcitrant, Wane

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Eschatology – A doctrine concerned with death, judgment and the state of the human soul after death Sample 1: Many sci-fi films share a similar eschatology, where the galaxy becomes enclosed in a huge clash of worlds. Sample 2: Eschatology and questions about life after death are captivating for most people. 10. Lurid – Characterized as sensational and shocking with ghastly or horrid details Sample 1: The drive gave a very lurid account of what happened at the accident. Sample 2: The newspaper is prone to give lurid headlines to attract new readership. 11. Monograph – 1. A treatise written on a particular subject; 2. A written account or record of something Sample 1: Many social scientists rely on monographs to save and refer to collected information. Sample 2: Dr. Cirtautas is a distinguished author in her field with many published monographs. 12. Obsolete – Characterized as no longer in use; 2. Characterized as outmoded and archaic Sample 1: Atari and other older game consoles have become obsolete since the birth of internet gaming. Sample 2: The advent of the cell phone has made landlines at home obsolete. 13. Preposterous – Characterized as illogical and absurd because of its lacking reason or going against nature Sample 1: It’s preposterous to think I would do something so invasive. Sample 2: Dropping out of school with only one year left is a preposterous idea. 14. Recalcitrant – Characterized as obstinate and or disobediently defiant against authority Sample 1: North Korea and Iran and other recalcitrant states are urged to rejoin the community of nations in open dialogue. Sample 2: The government is intent on putting more pressure on recalcitrant banking investors to reform lending regulations. 15. Wane – 1. To decrease, lessen or diminish as in intensity or brightness; 2. To grow smaller or to become less Sample 1: We went outside to survey the damage after the storm had waned. Sample 2: Voter confidence started to wane after party members stopped listening to them.

Vocabulary HS

54

UNIT 14

Abridge, Adduce, Amorphous, Chiliasm, Circumlocution, Consolation, Ecclesiastical, Embellish, Eschatology, Lurid, Monograph, Obsolete, Preposterous, Recalcitrant, Wane

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Signing away your rights to somebody sounds absolutely absurd and _________ ! 2. The theory of a thousand year reign was supported by so-called _________, betterknown as millenarians. 3. Despite the _________ headlines of bitter acrimony, betrayal, and ongoing bickering surrounding the divorce, Cheryl and her husband are still in daily contact. 4. The older telephone models have become nearly _________ and non-functional as newer models have begun replacing them. 5. His new work schedule meant he would have to _________ his sleep from 9 hours to 6 hours. 6. A fully illustrated _________ with essays by many prominent scholars accompanies the exhibition at the Museum of Natural Sciences. 7. If it’s any _________, I really didn’t enjoy my time in Paris. 8. The politician, instead of giving a typical _________ response, answered the question in a simple and direct manner. 9. It has reached the point that parents are no longer able to discipline _________ children without repercussions from the government. 10. The prosecution brought in new evidence to _________ the verity of their claims. 11. The dough may initially appear like an _________ lump, but after kneading the dough nicely for fifteen minutes, it should take shape. 12. My three year old son decided to _________ the walls with an artistic flair of crayons and markers. 13. Science has been weighing in on the _________ questions of immortality and death. 14. Gregorian Chants and other _________ forms of music have found a renewed popularity among New Age listeners. 15. Increased bans on smoking have led to smoking _________ among the general public. Vocabulary HS

55

UNIT 14

Abridge, Adduce, Amorphous, Chiliasm, Circumlocution, Consolation, Ecclesiastical, Embellish, Eschatology, Lurid, Monograph, Obsolete, Preposterous, Recalcitrant, Wane

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Wane Abridge Ecclesiastical Monograph Adduce

Synonyms a. To abate b. To condense c. Record d. To cite e. Religious

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Recalcitrant Circumlocution Consolation Obsolete Amorphous

Antonyms a. Current b. Coherent c. Obedient d. Antagonism e. Directness

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Eschatology Embellish Chiliasm Preposterous Lurid

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions Characterized as shocking and ghastly Characterized as illogical and impossible Study of death and the hereafter Pertaining to 1000 years To adorn or heighten the beauty of

56

UNIT 15

Altruistic, Atavism, Ephemeral, Esoteric, Exigency, Feign, Inexplicable, Layman, Lugubrious, Marauder, Presuppose, Repute, Stammer, Talisman, Unequivocal

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Altruistic – 1. Characterized as having an interest in the well-being of others; 2. Characterized as acting for the benefits of others despite a lack of benefit for or the resulting harm to one’s self Sample 1: People in the United States donate to charity for more than simply altruistic reasons; many are seeking credits come income tax season. Sample 2: Houstonians have demonstrated their altruistic natures by opening their homes to Katrina victims. 2. Atavism – 1. Appearance of or the reoccurrence of characteristics typical of more primitive ancestors; 2. The turning back towards a more primitive type Sample 1: The heavy metal band wanted to show their caveman-like atavism by thrashing up and down in a flurry. Sample 2: Buck experienced a serious atavism as he retrogressed towards a more primitive state along his journey. 3. Ephemeral – Characterized as lasting for a short time only Sample 1: Many pop artists are more worried that their careers will be ephemeral and without legacy. Sample 2: The Bulgars had an ephemeral period of greatness during the 9th century. 4. Esoteric – 1. Characterized as being understood by a select few; 2. Characterized as knowledge or information limited to a small group Sample 1: Traditionally more esoteric teachings like that of the Kabbalah have become more widespread over the last decade. Sample 2: The summit, composed of the world’s wealthiest, is more esoteric than your monthly PTA meeting, to say the least. 5. Exigency – Characterized as a situation demanding or strongly needing an immediate action or solution Sample 1: The scope of the search is determined by the exigency of the matter. Sample 2: The officers were trained to deal with most any exigency that may arise. 6. Feign – 1. To pretend or to give a false appearance of something; 2. To fabricate or to invent something that is not true; 3. To copy someone or something Sample 1: Sophie feigned her happiness for Mark getting a promotion when she didn’t really want the resulting change in their lives. Sample 2: Mary feigned sickness to get attention. 7. Inexplicable – Impossible to be explained or interpreted Sample 1: His actions were inexplicable and unforgivable. Sample 2: Megan tried in vain to explain the seemingly inexplicable. 8.

Layman – Someone not part of the clergy or of a given profession Sample 1: Many lawyers work to corrupt laymen for financial gain. Sample 2: The marketing team was working to target the product towards both laymen and professionals alike.

Vocabulary HS

57

UNIT 15

Altruistic, Atavism, Ephemeral, Esoteric, Exigency, Feign, Inexplicable, Layman, Lugubrious, Marauder, Presuppose, Repute, Stammer, Talisman, Unequivocal

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Lugubrious – Characterized as exaggeratingly dismal and mournful Sample 1: The popular actor’s death proved to be a lugubrious piece of news. Sample 2: The film marked by extreme melancholy utilized a lugubrious melody to carry the film. 10. Marauder – Someone given to roam about with intentions to plunder Sample 1: Marauders from distant tribes pillaged the village. Sample 2: Be careful when you walk at night as the streets are filled with marauders. 11. Presuppose – 1. To assume or to suppose beforehand; 2. To make something as a necessary antecedent Sample 1: The band change would presuppose that the album release has been delayed. Sample 2: Jane presupposed her professor would accept late homework, but she was wrong. 12. Repute – 1. To consider or deem someone or something as according to what the general thought is; 2. Good reputation or high esteem of someone Sample 1: Marcus was reputed to be a weak spot on the team. Sample 2: Rather than damage the repute of the ambassador, newspapers ignored the scandal and refused to publish anything about it. 13. Stammer – 1. To speak as if stuttering with involuntary stops and repetition; 2. A faltering mode of speaking or uttering Sample 1: George suffered from a stammer that got the best of him when he became nervous. Sample 2: Jill, nervous to speak in front of a crowd, stammered through her speech. 14. Talisman – A charm such as a ring or pendant carved with symbols used as magic for protective influence Sample 1: The players are known to wear a talisman that would bring them good luck in the game. Sample 2: Certain jewelry was reputed to serve as a talisman against disease. 15. Unequivocal – Characterized as clear and emphatic Sample 1: The actor was unequivocal about his involvement in the scheme. Sample 2: The Russians have given their unequivocal support to the Mid-East peace process.

Vocabulary HS

58

UNIT 15

Altruistic, Atavism, Ephemeral, Esoteric, Exigency, Feign, Inexplicable, Layman, Lugubrious, Marauder, Presuppose, Repute, Stammer, Talisman, Unequivocal

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. They think they know what really happened, but in reality they are merely coming to conclusions based on __________. 2. Whether nervous or simply excited, Regan __________ her way through the opening speech. 3. Joan abruptly hurried out of the meeting after hearing of some excruciatingly __________matter she needed to deal with. 4. __________ hordes pillaged towns along the northern regions of the Roman Empire. 5. Unlike Madonna and The Rolling Stones, most musical acts remain __________ and short-lived. 6. The vacant property was __________. to be owned by original settlers in the area although there is no evidence of it. 7. Hyper-specialization in the field has resulted in the pursuit of status through __________ and lesser-known language fluency. 8. World billionaires are coming together out of pure __________ to encourage philanthropic gift giving. 9. Medical professionals and __________ alike have taken a huge interest in stem-cell research. 10. The wake was attended by __________ friends and family wishing to pay their last respects to the newly deceased. 11. If he’s so good at acting, why can’t he at least __________ interest in my cooking? 12. The public was befuddled by the vagueness of his statement; it was neither __________ nor explicit about its plans. 13. For some __________ reason, the frontrunner just bolted out of the competition and quit. 14. Governments shrouded in corruption will remain __________ and backward. 15. Before every game, Megan would grasp her lucky __________ and pray for success. Vocabulary HS

59

UNIT 15

Altruistic, Atavism, Ephemeral, Esoteric, Exigency, Feign, Inexplicable, Layman, Lugubrious, Marauder, Presuppose, Repute, Stammer, Talisman, Unequivocal

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Marauder 2. Talisman 3. Exigency 4. Atavism 5. Lugubrious

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Regression Contingency Hooligan Dismal Amulet

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Altruistic 2. Inexplicable 3. Esoteric 4. Unequivocal 5. Ephemeral

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Commonplace Ambiguous Selfish Obvious Permanent

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Stammer 2. Layman 3. Repute 4. Feign 5. Presuppose

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To speak with stutters To give the false impression or appearance To assume beforehand Good reputation Someone not part of a clergy

60

UNIT 16

Advent, Ascetic, Asperse, Boreal, Cauldron, Euphemism, Fallow, Frail, Incarnate, Inexorable, Recondite, Requite, Sedentary, Stipulate, Torrid

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Advent – The arrival or coming of Sample 1: The influence of the internet has been so pervasive since the advent of the twentyfirst century. Sample 2: The magical realism movement marked the advent of modern art. 2. Ascetic – 1. Someone who practices an austere life of strict self-denial especially for religious reasons; 2. Characterized as extremely and harshly simple and restrained Sample 1: Ghandi, with his strict sense of self-denial, was considered an ascetic. Sample 2: Though the menu is chock-full of nutrients and no meat, by no means is it ascetic. 3. Asperse – To slander and to attack either with false charges or malicious reports Sample 1: The harsh critic aspersed the play and its actors. Sample 2: It is painful to listen to someone asperse your character. 4. Boreal – Characterized as a region having a northern or mountainous-like temperate climate Sample 1: Unlike the boreal forests of the north, the forests along the Gulf Coasts are sparse. Sample 2: Human migration has negatively affected the boreal caribou of Alaska. 5. Cauldron – (also caldron) 1. A large kettle or boiler; 2. Something resembling a boiling cauldron, such as a situation of extreme tension and unrest Sample 1: Central Asia has become a cauldron of unrest since the fall of the Soviet Union. Sample 2: Horror flicks are known to stir up a cauldron of emotions challenging morality and religion. 6. Euphemism – The usage of an otherwise agreeable or inoffensive word or phrase to express that which is offensive or suggestive of something unpleasant Sample 1: Until the organization can open up its membership to university students and senior citizens, “exclusive” will just have to remain a euphemism for “empty.” Sample 2: “Practical” is just another euphemism for his inability to deal with complicated situations. 7. Fallow – 1. Plowed land left unseeded; 2. To plow land without seeding Sample 1: It isn’t wise to leave the corn fields of Central Valley fallow during times of famine and high unemployment. Sample 2: To appease the indigenous tribes of the South the President is seeking to give away acres of fallow land. 8. Frail – Characterized as morally or physically weak and easy to break Sample 1: The aging actress looked and felt frail after her hip-replacement surgery. Sample 2: Contrary to what young people may think, at 88 years old I’m neither frail nor weak.

Vocabulary HS

61

UNIT 16

Advent, Ascetic, Asperse, Boreal, Cauldron, Euphemism, Fallow, Frail, Incarnate, Inexorable, Recondite, Requite, Sedentary, Stipulate, Torrid

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Incarnate – 1. Characterized as embodying a human in nature and form; 2. To give bodily form to Sample 1: With his gritty and grey beard he’s the Wild West incarnate. Sample 2: The 1920’s witnessed a period when Chicago’s corruption was becoming incarnate under the rule of organized crime. 10. Inexorable – Characterized as not being moved by plea or by entreaty Sample 1: The inexorable decline of the industrial age is a tragic episode in the history of the world. Sample 2: Executives could only watch the inexorable crash of the stock market. 11. Recondite – 1. Characterized as deep and profound; 2. Characterized as perplexing and difficult to understand; 3. Characterized as concealed and not in view to be seen Sample 1: The history of the imperial family is so recondite that interest in them has never waned. Sample 2: The universe beyond our galaxy remains shrouded in so many mysteries that it is recondite and impossible to understand. 12. Requite – 1. To pay back either with a likewise benefit or injury; 2. To avenge Sample 1: Tegan’s bosses decided to requite her time at the company with a pay raise. Sample 2: How should the government requite natives of the land for all the senseless killings it performed against them? 13. Sedentary – 1. Characterized as settled and not migratory or nomadic; 2. Characterized as doing or requiring much sitting; 3. Characterized as permanently attached Sample 1: Unlike the nomadic people of the North, the sedentary people of Uzbekistan have retained their language and history. Sample 2: Couch potatoes are likely to seek sedentary jobs not requiring a lot of physical action. 14. Stipulate – 1. To demand or require as a condition to an agreement; 2. To make an agreement to do something for something else Sample 1: The contract stipulates that you should finish school before receiving the money. Sample 2: The government stipulates that financial endorsements of candidates not exceed the maximum dollar amount allowed. 15. Torrid – 1. Characterized as intense and passionate; 2. Characterized as intensely hot; 3. Characterized as dry or parched heat Sample 1: Megan gave a very torrid and graphic response to the offending young man. Sample 2: The torrid growth of new home sales has confounded pessimistic economists. Vocabulary HS

62

UNIT 16

Advent, Ascetic, Asperse, Boreal, Cauldron, Euphemism, Fallow, Frail, Incarnate, Inexorable, Recondite, Requite, Sedentary, Stipulate, Torrid

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. The impassioned contestant flew off in a rage after giving a ______ account why she is better than everyone else. 2. Celebrity is a ______ for “well known for having no talent.” 3. The Bulgars were a nomadic people who adopted a ______ lifestyle after arriving in Europe. 4. The first ______ of the Nintendo game system was the Nintendo 64 console. 5. The ______ of Spring is marked by showers and the colorful blossoming of flowers. 6. It’s only right that the city ______ those who have been wrongly accused of criminal activity. 7. I’m shocked that my boss would cast ______ that would damage my reputation. 8. Orthodox monks of the 8th century lived very ______ lives; they were taught to lead very meager and disciplined lives. 9. Osh pilaf, a rice based meal typically made after someone dies, is made in a huge ______ to support visiting neighbors and relatives. 10. Human civilization, with its ______ impulse to increase human numbers, is depleting Mother Earth of her resources. 11. An agreement was finally reached but only after both parties agreed to the ______ of the contract. 12. Katherine Hepburn became ______ and weak with age. 13. The ______ landscape of Alaska has been a major tourist attraction for those visiting from the Southern United States. 14. The ______ lands of the ancient site serve as evidence that a sudden and abruptly catastrophic event forced the people to quickly abandon everything. 15. Even the most complicated and ______ ideas are easy to express. Vocabulary HS

63

UNIT 16

Advent, Ascetic, Asperse, Boreal, Cauldron, Euphemism, Fallow, Frail, Incarnate, Inexorable, Recondite, Requite, Sedentary, Stipulate, Torrid

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Fallow 2. Frail 3. Inexorable 4. Advent 5. Recondite

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Uncultivated Esoteric Weak Onset Implacable

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Incarnate 2. Sedentary 3. Torrid 4. Ascetic 5. Requite

Antonyms a. Intangible b. Nomadic c. Cold d. To refuse e. Gluttonous

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Cauldron 2. Euphemism 3. Boreal 4. Asperse 5. Stipulate

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To demand something as a condition Usage of a word to suggest something unpleasant Characterized as a northern region To slander with false charges An extremely stressful condition

64

UNIT 17

Augur, Circumscribe, Confute, Convalesce, Dissonance, Enmity, Inauspicious, Incessant, Malady, Obfuscate, Precocious, Remunerate, Reproof, Stupefy, Succinct

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Augur – 1. Someone like a prophet who can foresee the future based on omens or signs; 2. To predict the future using signs and omens Sample 1: Declining first quarter sales don’t augur well for the outlook of the economy. Sample 2: Early voter returns augur an overwhelming victory for the incumbent. 2. Circumscribe – 1. To draw a line around; 2. To draw a line as if enclosing another subject; 3. To make narrow or restrict Sample 1: The issue is how to circumscribe the rights of rehabilitated ex-cons without infringing on the safety of others. Sample 2: City council decided to circumscribe all major parks with bicycle and walking paths. 3. Confute – To prove something as false with overwhelming evidence and arguments Sample 1: A new movement of scientists is working to confute theories related to Darwinism. Sample 2: It’s not worth the time to confute what has already been proven. 4. Convalesce – Characterized as improving health and strength as if getting better Sample 1: Zsa Zsa was expected to recuperate and convalesce after surgery. Sample 2: Giving patients more freedom reduces unnecessary stress and therefore helps as patients convalesce. 5. Dissonance – 1. A harsh and unpleasant sound; 2. Discordance Sample 1: The parties decided to do away with dissonance by working together for the common aims of the people. Sample 2: I’m afraid those sounds don’t work well together; all I hear is dissonance. 6. Enmity – Mutual hatred or ill will Sample 1: I hold no enmity against you; you’re my best friend. Sample 2: It’s no secret that personal enmity exists between Mr. Clyde and his first wife. 7. Inauspicious – Characterized as not being a good omen Sample 1: What seemed like an inauspicious start ended up being a good year after all for the football team. Sample 2: October 29th marks the inauspicious date the world crashed. 8. Incessant – Characterized as never stopping and constant Sample 1: His incessant talking annoyed everybody in the library. Sample 2: Control your spending habits or face the incessant wrath of creditors!

Vocabulary HS

65

UNIT 17

Augur, Circumscribe, Confute, Convalesce, Dissonance, Enmity, Inauspicious, Incessant, Malady, Obfuscate, Precocious, Remunerate, Reproof, Stupefy, Succinct

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Malady – Any type of ailment or disorder like a disease or illness of the body or mind Sample 1: Jiam has been in and out of the hospital with one malady after the other. Sample 2: A team of Oregon high school football players have fallen prey to a rare softtissue malady. 10. Obfuscate – To confuse and to make obscure Sample 1: Hackers intend to obfuscate JavaScript codes that major software companies use. Sample 2: Instead of obfuscating the issue by pointing fingers and making stuff up, just come forward and confess to what you did. 11. Precocious – 1. Characterized as exceptionally mature or developed at a young age; 2. Characterized as arriving exceptionally early at a stage of development Sample 1: The 16 year old star was called a precocious little brat that thinks he knows everything. Sample 2: Despite the student’s precocious exam results, his parents never asked much of him for fear of pressuring him. 12. Remunerate – To repay back or to compensate for a loss, service or expense Sample 1: Programs initiated by the organization plan on remunerating families negatively affected by the hurricane. Sample 2: The government remunerated those who had been censored inappropriately. 13. Reproof – 1. To rebuke or to censure for a fault; 2. Rebuke or censure Sample 1: The judge decided the young actress deserved reproof for her out-of-control life. Sample 2: Lindsay looked at her son with a gentle reproof after learning of his behavior at school. 14. Stupefy – 1. To shock and confuse; 2. To make stupid or insensible Sample 1: The crowd was stupefied by the magician’s trick. Sample 2: Pop artists are keen in stupefying fans out of a mere necessity for attention. 15. Succinct – 1. Characterized as short and concise Sample 1: Rather than given a long winded overview of the situation, she gave a succinct explanation of the events. Sample 2: Michael’s answer was succinct in his summation of what happened on the field: “We lost.”

Vocabulary HS

66

UNIT 17

Augur, Circumscribe, Confute, Convalesce, Dissonance, Enmity, Inauspicious, Incessant, Malady, Obfuscate, Precocious, Remunerate, Reproof, Stupefy, Succinct

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. James ______ the allegations made against him about skipping school by showing a doctor’s note. 2. The only way to show ______ against those in government is to vote them out. 3. The politician ______ his controversial views and feigned belief in more moderately popular ones. 4. After not compensating employees for work done, the company finally ______ them with back pay and bonuses. 5. As the star player ______ from back surgery, the team brought in substitutions to play. 6. Without any games having been played yet, it’s far too early to ______ the outcome of the football season. 7. Everyone caught on to his ______ lies and stopped trusting him. 8. Discordant or ______ music is not music at all; it’s a hodgepodge of noise. 9. The team suffered an ______ losing streak for eight years until they recruited the number one player in the world. 10. I don’t need some ______ little brat telling me how to act. 11. It’s difficult to cure yourself of this ______, and that’s why I strongly encourage you to visit a specialist trained to deal with such illnesses. 12. A well documented ______ has existed for years between the two rivals. 13. Unlike some of her more ambiguous music, her latest single seems rather ______ and straight-to-the-point. 14. John and his family were ______ with astonishment after hearing how he was miraculously cured. 15. The goal of ______ the number of students that can enter into the program was to make it more competitive. Vocabulary HS

67

UNIT 17

Augur, Circumscribe, Confute, Convalesce, Dissonance, Enmity, Inauspicious, Incessant, Malady, Obfuscate, Precocious, Remunerate, Reproof, Stupefy, Succinct

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Convalesce 2. Augur 3. Malady 4. Inauspicious 5. Circumscribe

Synonyms a. Ominous b. To restrict c. An illness d. To recover e. To predict

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Precocious 2. Succinct 3. Dissonance 4. Incessant 5. Enmity

Antonyms a. Harmony b. Affinity c. Immature d. Verbose e. Ephemeral

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Reproof 2. Confute 3. Remunerate 4. Obfuscate 5. Stupefy

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

68

Definitions To compensate for a loss To rebuke for a fault To shock To prove something as false To cloud up

UNIT 18

Accredit, Adept, Bastion, Comprehensive, Deduction, Eclectic, Epithelial, Exegesis, Herald, Inaugurate, Inveigh, Polemic, Recourse, Synergy, Tantamount

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1

Accredit – 1. To give authorization or approval; 2. To recognize or credit; Sample 1: Only journalists were accredited with access to the meeting.

Sample 2: The man was accredited for his heroic deeds with an official plaque given by the mayor himself. 2. Adept – Characterized as highly skilled and well-trained Sample 1: At only 8 years old, Colin Boris is as adept in painting as any professional twice his age. Sample 2: In addition to being quite skilled in acting, he has also proven himself an adept musician. 3. Bastion – A stronghold or fortified place used for defense Sample 1: The Houston Livestock and Rodeo is a bastion of traditional Texas culture. Sample 2: The United States welcomes millions of immigrants a year that consider it a bastion of liberty. 4. Comprehensive – 1. Characterized as covering or dealing with a wide range of relevant details; 2. Characterized as having a broad mental understanding or knowledge Sample 1: Good research should be precise and comprehensive in scope rather than simple and narrow. Sample 2: Yao-Fang provided a comprehensive expense report to her accountant explaining her spending habits in detail. 5. Deduction – 1. The act of taking away; 2. A sum or amount to be deducted Sample 1: Rather than adding to the list, deductions were made to save money. Sample 2: I was shocked that there were unauthorized deductions from my wages. 6. Eclectic– 1. Characterized as being made up of or composed of elements from various sources; 2. Someone who uses eclectic methods in research, experimentation, or creation Sample 1: Ashley’s taste in furniture can best be described as eclectic and all over the place. Sample 2: Dubbed as an eclectic festival, The Venice Film Festival highlights a variety of films from every genre of film. 7. Epithelial – Of or relating to tissue covering the surface of body tissue or layers of closely packed cells Sample 1: Today we focused on epithelial cells. Sample 2: Genetic researchers have uncovered new methods for dealing with epithelial cancers. 8. Exegesis – A critical explanation, analysis, or interpretation of a piece of work such as a literary passage or religious text Sample 1: Philosophers have for centuries committed themselves to giving an exegesis of Aristotle’s works. Sample 2: The artist is behind a hip-hop exegesis interpreting the foundation of early rap.

Vocabulary HS

69

UNIT 18

Accredit, Adept, Bastion, Comprehensive, Deduction, Eclectic, Epithelial, Exegesis, Herald, Inaugurate, Inveigh, Polemic, Recourse, Synergy, Tantamount

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Herald – 1. Someone or something that like a forerunner precedes or conveys the arrival of something; 2. Someone that promotes or strongly proclaims; 3. To usher in and great with eagerness; 4. To signal or indicate the arrival or coming of something Sample 1: The real estate boom of the 90’s heralded a new era of wealth and spending. Sample 2: Novruz, a traditional Central Asian holiday, heralds in the spring harvest. 10. Inaugurate – 1. To ceremoniously dedicate or observe the formal start of something; 2. To induct into an office with some type of formal ceremony Sample 1: Eisenhower was inaugurated into office on January 20, 1953. Sample 2: Today, the mayor will inaugurate the new water project. 11. Inveigh – To attack verbally or to complain vehemently against Sample 1: Political opponents inveighed against the President one after another. Sample 2: Why are so many defectors so quick to inveigh against his ideals? 12. Polemic – 1. Characterized as involving dispute or arguing; 2. Characterized as controversial and argumentative; 3. An aggressive argument or discussion deemed as controversial; 2. Someone given to arguing Sample 1: Before the advent of today’s pop scene, artists engaged in subjects more polemic than personal. Sample 2: Most cable news networks invest in polemics against opposing political parties. 13. Recourse – 1. The seeking for aid or support such as safety; 2. The source of assistance or support Sample 1: The government is committed to offering recourse for veterans. Sample 2: The company provides online users with information on how to find recourse in case of technological problems. 14. Synergy – Cooperative and mutual interaction for a combined effect Sample 1: A Sister-City Association relies on a synergy between two different cities. Sample 2: In order to maximize the synergy between both companies a merger was being considered. 15. Tantamount – Characterized as being equal to in value, effect or significance Sample 1: Being exiled to Siberia is tantamount to a death sentence. Sample 2: Obviously, the safety of our students is tantamount with the quality of their education.

Vocabulary HS

70

UNIT 18

Accredit, Adept, Bastion, Comprehensive, Deduction, Eclectic, Epithelial, Exegesis, Herald, Inaugurate, Inveigh, Polemic, Recourse, Synergy, Tantamount

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. As a successful linguist, Roco is quite _______ in speaking more than a dozen languages. 2. The candidates decided to take a more pragmatic approach to the debate forum as voters were turned off by the provocative _______ of Washington. 3. Voters felt inclined to choose the candidate most likely to favor tax _______ for small businesses. 4. The agreement with our partners overseas allows for greater _______ and mutual support to combat evil. 5. James was finally _______ with the opportunity to sell food at football games. 6. Thousands of mothers marched on Capitol Hill _______ against capital punishment. 7. We watched the President’s _______ ceremony online. 8. For weeks there was no _______ taken by local government officials to help devastated flood victims. 9. Your commitment to the project is _______ to a life sentence; you’ll be here for a very, very long time. 10. Despite the onslaught of attacks against democracy during the 1980’s, Poland became the first _______ of democratic reform within the Eastern former Bloc. 11. The course is a _______ study of world affairs covering a broad range of topics since the 17th century. 12. The museum contains an _______ gallery of art encompassing a diverse range of creations from all over the world. 13. The author has written an extensive _______ on Shakespeare’s sonnets. 14. _______ tissues are typically found on the surface and are distinguished by their shape and orientation. 15. The governor vowed to _______ in a revolution of quality education at all levels. Vocabulary HS

71

UNIT 18

Accredit, Adept, Bastion, Comprehensive, Deduction, Eclectic, Epithelial, Exegesis, Herald, Inaugurate, Inveigh, Polemic, Recourse, Synergy, Tantamount

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Comprehensive Exegesis Herald Polemic Deduction

Synonyms a. Extensive b. A debate c. A write-off d. To announce e. Exposition

Synonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Eclectic 2. Synergy 3. Adept 4. Recourse 5. Tantamount

Antonyms a. Revocation b. Hindrance c. Narrow d. Inept e. Unworthy

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Inveigh 2. Epithelial 3. Accredit 4. Bastion 5. Inaugurate

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To recognize or credit for something To attack verbally A fortified stronghold Related to surface tissue To ceremoniously observe the formal start of

72

UNIT 19

Acumen, Analogous, Apocryphal, Bequeath, Conjectural, Corporeal, Dissension, Existential, Habitual, Jurisprudence, Locus, Specious, Spurious, Subsist, Usurp

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Acumen – Depth, keenness, and quickness of perception or understanding in given situations Sample 1: Oprah has been praised for her business acumen and leadership qualities. Sample 2: James used his sales acumen in order to sell his home. 2. Analogous – Characterized as being similar or comparable Sample 1: Winning a tournament is analogous to putting together a jigsaw puzzle: there are hundreds of pieces that must fall perfectly into place. Sample 2: My son came up with three analogous adjectives that describe his mother: strong, caring, and nurturing. 3. Apocryphal – 1. Characterized as being not genuine or authentic; 2 Characterized as being of a questionable source Sample 1: Recent rumors about the author can best be described as bogus and apocryphal. Sample 2: His intent for giving the money seemed apocryphal and calculated. 4. Bequeath – 1. To give or leave to another as through a will; 2. To pass down Sample 1: We must be more cautious about the type of world we bequeath to future generations. Sample 2: The world expects the ruler to bequeath the leadership to his son. 5. Conjectural – 1. Characterized as being based on predictions or theories; 2. Characterized as given to making predictions, theories, or conjectures Sample 1: Conjectural inquiries come from our failure to anticipate future events. Sample 2: Conjectural or speculative comments about the state of their marriage are injurious. 6. Corporeal – Characterized as having or consisting of the physical body; 2. Characterized as being of material nature or being tangible Sample 1: The song was described as dreamy and out of this world, unlike the previous song and its corporeal sound and lyrics. Sample 2: The documentary explores paranormal beings and how they afflict the corporeal world. 7. Dissension – 1. A disagreement or contentious difference of opinion; 2. Discontent with authority Sample 1: The general was dismissed for his dissension. Sample 2: The execution of a key party member erupted into dissension among party loyalists. 8. Existential – 1. Characterized as being based on actualities and not possibilities; 2. Characterized as being of or related to claiming existence; 3. Characterized as being based on the idea of a unique and isolated individual experience Sample 1: Nuclear war is an existential threat that we must do away with. Sample 2: The novel creates an existential environment created from fear and manipulation. Vocabulary HS

73

UNIT 19

Acumen, Analogous, Apocryphal, Bequeath, Conjectural, Corporeal, Dissension, Existential, Habitual, Jurisprudence, Locus, Specious, Spurious, Subsist, Usurp

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Habitual – 1. Characterized as doing or practicing something frequently; 2. Characterized as being or doing something by habit; Sample 1: Mark is a habitual binge eater and can’t seem to break himself of it. Sample 2: Habitual offenders will suffer the severest penalties. 10. Jurisprudence – Science or philosophy of law Sample 1: The senate committee probed the appointed Supreme Court candidate to gain better insight into her jurisprudence. Sample 2: Judges rely on more than just a hunch to make court decisions; they refer to jurisprudence and experience. 11. Locus – 1. A place of activity; 2. The center of attention or concentration; Sample 1: The classroom is the locus of the school, so it, rather than the cafeteria or gymnasium, demands our greatest focus. Sample 2: Texans are used to their state being the locus of energy technology in the US. 12. Specious – 1. Characterized as deceptively good or alluring; 2. Characterized as seeming plausible but not genuine Sample 1: His ex-wife made some specious remarks about him in an effort to tarnish his character. Sample 2: Given his bias against the opposition, his article is expected to suffer from a fair amount of speciousness. 13. Spurious – Characterized as counterfeit and not true or genuine; 2. Characterized as being of a deceitful nature or quality Sample 1: Teachers must be weary of students producing spurious notes from doctors. Sample 2: The downtrodden artist has made a series of spurious accusations against other more successful artists. 14. Subsist – 1. To continue to exist; 2. To continue to be in use; 2. To persist and continue Sample 1: The miners must subsist only on small amounts of protein injections for the next several weeks while waiting for a rescue mission to reach them. Sample 2: The typical Kyrgyz family subsists on monthly earnings less than two hundred dollars. 15. Usurp – To take or use by force or without right; Sample 1: The emperor was worried about relatives and enemies working to usurp the throne. Sample 2: Do politicians aim at usurping Martin Luther King’s legacy to fit their own agendas? Vocabulary HS

74

UNIT 19

Acumen, Analogous, Apocryphal, Bequeath, Conjectural, Corporeal, Dissension, Existential, Habitual, Jurisprudence, Locus, Specious, Spurious, Subsist, Usurp

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Remi has for years seen things different from me; he’s __________ arguing with me day-in and day-out. 2. Tabloid magazines typically rely on rumors and __________ reports to generate news. 3. Marcus was hired on because of his years of experience and remarkable business __________. 4. Tossing out the __________ data will save us from reaching an erroneous conclusion. 5. Forty years as a judge, Ashley has built a career on __________. 6. Silicon Valley has become a technological __________ over the course of the last two decades. 7. Relatives worry the aging heiress will __________ all her fortune to her lawyer. 8. While angels may not be __________ beings, many have claimed to have seen them. 9. There are so many __________ misleading stories concerning the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa. 10. Humans are able to __________ without meat. 11. Latvians resent the people responsible for the __________ of their land. 12. The tyrant sent troops to quash public __________ against him and his cronies. 13. The present is replete with __________ situations occurring throughout history. 14. His actions, though ineffective in changing the viewpoints of those around him, shows some type of __________ understanding of where he is in life. 15. __________ or hypothetical statements will not be admitted into the trial.

Vocabulary HS

75

UNIT 19

Acumen, Analogous, Apocryphal, Bequeath, Conjectural, Corporeal, Dissension, Existential, Habitual, Jurisprudence, Locus, Specious, Spurious, Subsist, Usurp

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Bequeath Jurisprudence Specious Dissension Apocryphal

a. b. c. d. e.

Synonyms Discord Doubtful To bestow Law Misleading

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary Corporeal Spurious Analogous Habitual Conjectural

Antonyms a. Cerebral b. Uncommon c. Genuine d. Disparate e. Certain

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vocabulary HS

Vocabulary Locus Acumen Subsist Usurp Existential

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions To continue to exist Pertaining to existence Center point To take by force Depth and keenness of perception

76

UNIT 20

Abode, Affectation, Behemoth, Canton, Enfeeble, Extant, Inviolable, Hearth, Hubris, Nostrum, Pariah, Pompous, Presage, Promulgate, Rapine

Definitions and Sample Sentences 1. Abode – 1. A place where one lives or resides Sample 1: John lives in a rich abode atop the hill. Sample 2: His not so humble abode includes a swimming pool, home theater, a hand carved marble mantle, and two tennis courts. 2. Affectation – 1. Pretending to be like; 2. Artificially showing an attitude, manner, or quality not genuinely felt in order to impress others; Sample 1: Although George was quite young, he carried himself with the affectation of an eighty year old. Sample 2: We’re looking for artists with genuinely creative works, not artists with works indulgent in affectations. 3. Behemoth – Something huge in size and power Sample 1: Microsoft, compared to other IT companies, seemingly became a software behemoth overnight. Sample 2: The hurricane turned from a timid tropical storm to a ferocious behemoth that wrecked havoc on the Eastern coast. 4. Canton – 1. A small territorial division of a country; Sample 1: The country is divided into six cantons called oblasts. Sample 2: The river divides the cantons of Edinburgh and North Berwick. 5. Enfeeble – 1. To make weak and feeble; 2. Sample 1: The bourgeoisie made a sudden move as soon as the enfeebled legitimacy of the upper nobility began to crack. Sample 2: Her growingly enfeebled health is of great concern to her children. 6. Extant – Characterized as still in existence and not lost Sample 1: Despite the severity of the economy, commerce still remains extant. Sample 2: The extant members of the original band reunited for a one time only show. 7. Inviolable – Characterized as not able to be violated or attacked Sample 1: Our relationship with Canada shall be inviolable and unbreakable. Sample 2: Our political framework is inviolable and cannot be ruined by the attempts of some political ideologues keen on usurping it. 8. Hearth – 1. Family life or home; 2. A brick, stone or concrete in front of a fireplace Sample 1: The hearth was the center of the home in ancient Rome. Sample 2: Home is where the hearth is.

Vocabulary HS

77

UNIT 20

Abode, Affectation, Behemoth, Canton, Enfeeble, Extant, Inviolable, Hearth, Hubris, Nostrum, Pariah, Pompous, Presage, Promulgate, Rapine

Definitions and Sample Sentences 9. Hubris – Arrogance resulting from excessive and overbearing pride or confidence Sample 1: Anna, never modest, always speaks with hubris when talking about her achievements. Sample 2: Wrestlers of the WWE typically challenge opponents with an air of hubris. 10. Nostrum – Some type of questionable remedy or solution with exaggerated claims Sample 1: Governments in Asia should not flat out accept nostrums adopted by China without first considering the full ramifications. Sample 2: I rely on herbal remedies to deal with minor ailments although my sister only regards them as ineffective nostrums. 11. Pariah – An outcast despised and rejected Sample 1: Kanye West became another pop-culture pariah for usurping Taylor Swift’s big win. Sample 2: An unwanted pariah of gypsies was sent back east to Romania. 12. Pompous – 1. Excessively and overbearingly proud and pretentious in manner or speech Sample 1: Jacob’s pompous attitude keeps him from mingling with us common people. Sample 2: Jenny’s pompous outlook was deflated when the department rejected her proposal without a second thought. 13. Presage – 1. A sign or warning of things to come; 2. A feeling or intuition of things to come; 3. To give warning; 4. To make or express a prediction Sample 1: The usage of mercenaries presaged the decline of the Roman Empire. Sample 2: There’s nothing to worry about in the slight decline in home sales; it doesn’t presage a depression. 14. Promulgate – 1. To publish or make known; 2. To make widespread Sample 1: Defectors have used the internet to promulgate the tyranny in the isolated republic. Sample 2: It’s not easy to trust people in Hollywood – especially those who are diabolic enough to promulgate hateful gossip about others. 15. Rapine – Act of violently seizing and plundering property Sample 1: The company was accused of corporate rapine after acquiring the competition for far less than its value. Sample 2: The former administration fell because they were too occupied with loot and rapine instead of being concerned with the welfare of the country.

Vocabulary HS

78

UNIT 20

Abode, Affectation, Behemoth, Canton, Enfeeble, Extant, Inviolable, Hearth, Hubris, Nostrum, Pariah, Pompous, Presage, Promulgate, Rapine

Fill in the Blanks Directions: Use the words at the top of the page to complete the following sentences. If necessary, change the part of speech in order to be grammatically correct. Ex. N-kindness; adjkind 1. Everyone is susceptible to losing his or her job with the economy being so _______ . 2. Don’t trust the polite _______ of your competition; they’re all cutthroat and are hungry for blood. 3. Consumer debt has reached a new high, in part because of an underlying reliance on financial _______ like credit cards to pay off existing debts. 4. Before becoming a big star she was so humble and down-to-earth; now she’s _______ and too lavish. 5. Some say the sighting of relatives who have previously died _______ death. 6. Marcus lives in a small _______ north of Uvalde County. 7. The album Thriller has become a _______ that looms large over other albums before and after. 8. Nomads of Siberia live in portable, felt covered, wooden lattice-framed _______ called yurts. 9. _______ manuscripts of the lost empire written on paper dating from the 8th century have been recently discovered by an archeological team excavating in North Western China. 10. Parents are supportive of the government’s decision to _______ a National Education Policy that will hopefully bring about change to the current system. 11. Tandirs were clay _______ on which bread and other foods were heated and prepared. 12. Once the central mover in politics, the embattled senator is now a _______ within his own party. 13. Our rights are made _______ and unbreakable by the Bill of Rights. 14. Kanye West has understood the public uproar over his _______ and now appears to be taking a more modest approach. 15. The commercialization and _______ of public land by corporate giants angered locals who viewed the land as sacrosanct. Vocabulary HS

79

UNIT 20

Abode, Affectation, Behemoth, Canton, Enfeeble, Extant, Inviolable, Hearth, Hubris, Nostrum, Pariah, Pompous, Presage, Promulgate, Rapine

Synonyms Directions: Match the each vocabulary word with its appropriate synonym. Vocabulary 1. Abode 2. Affectation 3. Rapine 4. Behemoth 5. Hearth

Synonyms a. Fireplace b. Devastation c. Monstrous d. Simulation e. Dwelling

Antonyms Directions: Match each vocabulary words with its appropriate antonym. Vocabulary 1. Enfeeble 2. Extant 3. Nostrum 4. Pompous 5. Inviolable

a. b. c. d. e.

Antonyms Disease Unassuming Penetrable Extinct To strengthen

Definitions Directions: Match each vocabulary word with its appropriate definition. Vocabulary 1. Promulgate 2. Canton 3. Hubris 4. Pariah 5. Presage

Vocabulary HS

a. b. c. d. e.

Definitions A rejected outcast Overbearing arrogance To predict something To make something widespread A small territory of a country

80

ANSWERS

Vocabulary HS

81

ANSWERS

Fill in the Blanks UNIT 1 1. baneful 2. imbroglio 3. pervasive 4. rectify 5. regaled 6. tawdry 7. dispel 8. zealous 9. crevice 10. travesty 11. crass 12. lavished 13. dauntless 14. exacerbate 15. assuage

UNIT 2 1. opprobrium 2. simulate 3. scintilla 4. alacrity 5. delusional 6. transparency 7. ambivalent 8. posterior 9. charlatan 10. guffaws 11. augmenting 12. incensed 13. repudiate 14. multifarious 15. malleable

UNIT 3 1. blithesome 2. prefaced 3. mercurial 4. profound 5. sinew 6. amalgamate 7. cackling 8. egalitarian 9. epithets 10. zany 11. didactic 12. theoretical 13. requisite 14. hegemony 15. collusion

UNIT 4 1. ubiquity 2. propensity 3. bombastic 4. exoneration 5. meritorious 6. requiem 7. tutelage 8. sagacity 9. bombarded 10. fastidious 11. contumacious 12. opulent 13. dissimilitude 14. acerbic 15. maelstrom

UNIT 5 1. affable 2. lamented 3. disparaging 4. bungle 5. nimble 6. pondered 7. oppugned 8. axiom 9. malaise 10. unabashed 11. instigate 12. verbosity 13. enthralled 14. explicit 15. something

UNIT 6 1. serenaded 2. jubilant 3. pliant 4. resonating 5. adumbrate 6. oblique 7. exculpates 8. conundrum 9. dichotomous 10. malefactors 11. effigies 12. vernaculars 13. monetary 14. innocuous 15. assiduous

UNIT 7 1. antipathy 2. parsimonious 3. erroneous 4. clamor 5. retrospect 6. bickering 7. subjacent 8. perniciousness 9. autonomous 10. derisive 11. platitudes 12. laceration 13. undulations 14. belligerence 15. tribulation

UNIT 8 1. pretext 2. subvert 3. catalyst 4. bifurcation 5. whimsical 6. levity 7. quintessential 8. ambulate 9. malcontent 10. encapsulated 11. incongruous 12. precedent 13. verisimilitude 14. ominous 15. declivity

UNIT 9 1. dubious 2. cacophony 3. embarking 4. languorous 5. progenitor 6. pragmatic 7. conflated 8. grotesquely 9. sacrosanct 10. inculcation 11. obdurate 12. destitute 13. trifles 14. metastasized 15. sycophant

UNIT 10 1. subterfuge 2. imputations 3. vociferated 4. contingent 5. ascribe 6. ornery 7. formidable 8. deluge 9. ensconced 10. prudence 11. apex 12. purported 13. bellicosity 14. jettison 15. circuitous

UNIT 11 1. acute 2. rudimentary 3. chivalrous 4. diabolically 5. maligning 6. countenance 7. eminent 8. expiations 9. sublime 10. penitential 11. vagabond 12. brandishing 13. epitome 14. privy 15. prowess

UNIT 12 1. repelling 2. incursion 3. ferocious 4. homogeneous 5. invoke 6. milieu 7. depredation 8. marshaled 9. dispensation 10. reifies 11. propagating 12. peril 13. tenuous 14. sanctified 15. idiosyncratic

UNIT 13 1. Tendentious 2. perennial 3. avatar 4. Occidental 5. perforated 6. immured 7. precursors 8. paeans 9. vigilant 10. inciting 11. supersede 12. accursed 13. valiantly 14. exhort 15. peripheral

UNIT 14 1. preposterous 2. chiliasts 3. chiliasts 4. obsolete 5. abridge 6. monograph 7. consolation 8. circumlocutory 9. recalcitrant 10. adduce 11. amorphous 12. embellish 13. eschatological 14. ecclesiastical 15. waning

UNIT 15 1. presuppositions 2. stammered 3. exigent 4. Marauding 5. ephemeral 6. reputed 7. esoteric 8. altruism 9. laymen 10. lugubrious 11. feign 12. unequivocal 13. inexplicable 14. atavistic 15. talisman

Vocabulary HS

82

ANSWERS

UNIT 16 1. torrid 2. euphemism 3. sedentary 4. incarnation 5. advent 6. requite 7. aspersions 8. ascetic 9. cauldron 10. inexorable 11. stipulations 12. frail 13. boreal 14. fallow 15. recondite

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 UNIT 5 UNIT 6 UNIT 7 UNIT 8 UNIT 9 UNIT 10 UNIT 11 UNIT 12 UNIT 13 UNIT 14 UNIT 15 UNIT 16 UNIT 17 UNIT 18 UNIT 19 UNIT 20

Synonyms 1 2 3 a b e b e d d e c e d b e a b e b e a b d c b e c b e d a c d b a e d c c a b a b e c e b a c e d e c a e d c d b e d b

Vocabulary HS

UNIT 17 1. confuted 2. reproof 3. obfuscated 4. remunerated 5. convalesced 6. augur 7. incessant 8. dissonant 9. inauspicious 10. precocious 11. malady 12. enmity 13. succinct 14. stupefied 15. circumscribing

4 c a b c c d c a d b e b d c a d a b a c

5 d c a a d c e d a e c a e d d b b c e a

UNIT 18 1. adept 2. polemics 3. deductions 4. synergy 5. accredited 6. inveighing 7. inauguration 8. recourse 9. tantamount 10. bastion 11. comprehensive 12. eclectic 13. exegesis 14. Epithelial 15. herald

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 UNIT 5 UNIT 6 UNIT 7 UNIT 8 UNIT 9 UNIT 10 UNIT 11 UNIT 12 UNIT 13 UNIT 14 UNIT 15 UNIT 16 UNIT 17 UNIT 18 UNIT 19 UNIT 20

Antonyms 1 2 3 e a c d c b a c e a e d c d e c e b b e a b e c d e c b c e d b e b a c c d a c e d c a d a b c c d a c b d a e d e d a

83

UNIT 19 1. habitually 2. specious 3. acumen 4. spurious 5. jurisprudence 6. locus 7. bequeath 8. corporeal 9. apocryphally 10. subsist 11. usurpation 12. dissent 13. analogous 14. existential 15. Conjectural

4 d e d b a d d d b a a d e a b d e a b b

5 b a b c b a c a a d c e b b e e b e c c

UNIT 1 UNIT 2 UNIT 3 UNIT 4 UNIT 5 UNIT 6 UNIT 7 UNIT 8 UNIT 9 UNIT 10 UNIT 11 UNIT 12 UNIT 13 UNIT 14 UNIT 15 UNIT 16 UNIT 17 UNIT 18 UNIT 19 UNIT 20

UNIT 20 1. enfeebled 2. affectations 3. nostrums 4. pompous 5. presages 6. canton 7. behemoth 8. abodes 9. Extant 10. promulgate 11. hearths 12. pariah 13. inviolable 14. hubris 15. rapine

Definitions 1 2 3 e d b c b d d a c a b e a d e d e c a b e d c b e d c c d a c d e a b c d b e c e d a e d e b c b d a b d a c e a d e b

4 c e e c b a c e b b a d a b b d e c d a

5 a a b d c b d a a e b e c a c a c e b c