IV4 15r - San Fernando Senior High School

IMPROVING VOCABULARY SKILLS Fourth Edition

Sherrie L. Nist

© 2010 Townsend Press

Unit Three: Chapter 15 • abstain

• deficit

• affiliate

• dissent

• agnostic

• diversion

• aspire

• lucrative

• benevolent

• mandatory

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 abstain

– verb

• Although Luis has given up high-calorie desserts, he doesn’t abstain completely from chocolate. He allows himself one small square of a Hershey bar a day. • My sister called off her engagement to Clayton because he wouldn’t abstain from dating other women.

Abstain means A. to desire. B. to believe in. C. to deny oneself.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 abstain

– verb

• Although Luis has given up high-calorie desserts, he doesn’t abstain completely from chocolate. He allows himself one small square of a Hershey bar a day. • My sister called off her engagement to Clayton because he wouldn’t abstain from dating other women.

Abstain means A. to desire. B. to believe in. C. to deny oneself. In the first item, the words given up suggest that Luis is not denying himself chocolate. And if the sister called off her engagement, Clayton must not have denied himself the pleasure of dating other women.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 affiliate

– verb

• Diane is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. She isn’t affiliated with any political party. • The young singer could have earned more if she had been affiliated with the musicians’ union, but she couldn’t afford the membership dues.

Affiliate means A. to join. B. to study. C. to hold back.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 affiliate

– verb

• Diane is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. She isn’t affiliated with any political party. • The young singer could have earned more if she had been affiliated with the musicians’ union, but she couldn’t afford the membership dues.

Affiliate means A. to join. B. to study. C. to hold back. If Diane is neither a Democrat or a Republican, she has not joined either party. If the young singer couldn’t afford the membership dues, she must not have joined the union.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 agnostic

– noun

• Iris believes there is a God, and Marcia feels sure there isn’t. Jean, an agnostic, feels that we can’t be certain one way or the other. • My uncle, who was an agnostic, used to say, “Humans cannot understand a flower, let alone whether or not there’s a God.”

Agnostic means A. one who denies God’s existence. B. one who feels we can’t know if God exists. C. one who is sure there is a God.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 agnostic

– noun

• Iris believes there is a God, and Marcia feels sure there isn’t. Jean, an agnostic, feels that we can’t be certain one way or the other. • My uncle, who was an agnostic, used to say, “Humans cannot understand a flower, let alone whether or not there’s a God.”

Agnostic means A. one who denies God’s existence. B. one who feels we can’t know if God exists. C. one who is sure there is a God. If Jean feels we can’t be sure one way or the other, she feels we can’t know if God exists. If the uncle believes humans can’t understand whether or not there’s a God, he feels we can’t know if God exists.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

4 aspire

– verb

• Twelve-year-old Derek, who loves drawing buildings, aspires to be an architect. • Millions of young people aspire to be professional athletes, but only a few will succeed.

Aspire means A. to fear. B. to wish. C. to volunteer.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

4 aspire

– verb

• Twelve-year-old Derek, who loves drawing buildings, aspires to be an architect. • Millions of young people aspire to be professional athletes, but only a few will succeed.

Aspire means A. to fear. B. to wish. C. to volunteer. If Derek loves drawing buildings, it is logical that he wishes to be an architect. Millions of young people wish to become professional athletes, but very few achieve it.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

5 benevolent

– adjective

• People are more benevolent at Christmas, the “season for giving.” • In 1878, William Booth founded a benevolent association to help the poor of London. He called it the Salvation Army.

Benevolent means A. recreational. B. profitable. C. charitable.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

5 benevolent

– adjective

• People are more benevolent at Christmas, the “season for giving.” • In 1878, William Booth founded a benevolent association to help the poor of London. He called it the Salvation Army.

Benevolent means A. recreational. B. profitable. C. charitable. If Christmas is the season for giving, people are more charitable. The Salvation Army is a charitable organization.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

6 deficit

– noun

• Our club has spent much more money than it has taken in, so it now has a huge budget deficit. • Residents are asked not to water their lawns because a deficit of rain has dangerously lowered the water supply.

Deficit means A. a lack. B. an overflow. C. a collection.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

6 deficit

– noun

• Our club has spent much more money than it has taken in, so it now has a huge budget deficit. • Residents are asked not to water their lawns because a deficit of rain has dangerously lowered the water supply.

Deficit means A. a lack. B. an overflow. C. a collection. If a club spends more than it takes in, it ends up with a lack of money. If the water supply is dangerously lower, there must have been a lack of rain.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

7 dissent

– noun

• The committee was so torn by dissent that its members could not even agree on whether or not to schedule another meeting. • The dictator permitted people to agree with his policies or keep silent about them, but not to express dissent.

Dissent means A. plans. B. opposition. C. relief. Protesters expressing dissent over a proposed state budget

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

7 dissent

– noun

• The committee was so torn by dissent that its members could not even agree on whether or not to schedule another meeting. • The dictator permitted people to agree with his policies or keep silent about them, but not to express dissent.

Dissent means A. plans. B. opposition. C. relief. Protesters expressing dissent over a proposed state budget

If the members can’t agree, there must be opposition among the committee members. If one must agree or keep quiet, there is no opportunity to express opposition.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

8 diversion

– noun

• My history teacher says that one of her favorite diversions during summer vacation is reading mystery novels. • Skip likes his job, but he also enjoys such diversions as playing video games, watching baseball, and reading humorous stories.

Diversion means A. a way to relax. B. something easy. C. an assignment.

“I’m going crazy swimming around and around in this bowl all day! I need a diversion!”

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

8 diversion

– noun

• My history teacher says that one of her favorite diversions during summer vacation is reading mystery novels. • Skip likes his job, but he also enjoys such diversions as playing video games, watching baseball, and reading humorous stories.

Diversion means A. a way to relax. B. something easy. C. an assignment.

“I’m going crazy swimming around and around in this bowl all day! I need a diversion!”

Reading mystery novels, playing video games, watching baseball, and reading humorous stories are all ways to relax.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

9 lucrative

– adjective

• Investments in the stock market can be lucrative. However, they can also result in great financial loss. • “Teaching at a small college isn’t lucrative,” Professor Baum admitted, “but I’ve never felt the need to make lots of money.”

Lucrative means A. required. B. financially rewarding. C. risky.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

9 lucrative

– adjective

• Investments in the stock market can be lucrative. However, they can also result in great financial loss. • “Teaching at a small college isn’t lucrative,” Professor Baum admitted, “but I’ve never felt the need to make lots of money.”

Lucrative means A. required. B. financially rewarding. C. risky. The words great financial loss are a clue that lucrative means the opposite—“financially rewarding.” If Professor Baum doesn’t need lots of money, he or she would be contented with a job that is not financially rewarding.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

10 mandatory

– adjective

• Members of the basketball team have to follow strict rules. For example, it’s mandatory that each player attend at least 80 percent of the practices. • “A research paper isn’t mandatory,” the instructor said, “but if you write one, you’ll get extra credit.”

Mandatory means A. unimportant. B. helpful. C. essential.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

10 mandatory

– adjective

• Members of the basketball team have to follow strict rules. For example, it’s mandatory that each player attend at least 80 percent of the practices. • “A research paper isn’t mandatory,” the instructor said, “but if you write one, you’ll get extra credit.”

Mandatory means A. unimportant. B. helpful. C. essential. If the rules are strict, then it must be essential to attend 80 percent of the practices. If students can choose whether or not to write a research paper, the paper is not essential to passing the course.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

1. My kid brother _________s to become the video-game champion of the world. 2. The __________ fund at my church collects money to help poor families in our parish.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

1. My kid brother __________ aspires to become the video-game champion of the world. The brother desires to become the world champion.

2. The __________ benevolent fund at my church collects money to help poor families in our parish. If the fund collects money for the poor, it is a charitable fund.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

3. My parents enjoy card games, but my sister and I prefer such _________s as computer games and music videos. 4. An entrance fee wasn’t __________, but a sign at the museum entrance suggested that visitors make a donation.

5. Because Hank needs to lose weight, his doctor recommended that he __________ from all sweets and fatty foods.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

3. My parents enjoy card games, but my sister and I prefer such __________ diversions as computer games and music videos. Card games, computer games, and videos are pastimes.

4. An entrance fee wasn’t __________, mandatory but a sign at the museum entrance suggested that visitors make a donation. If the museum only suggested a donation, an entrance fee was not required.

5. Because Hank needs to lose weight, his doctor recommended that he __________ from all sweets and fatty foods. abstain If Hank needs to lose weight, he should refrain from eating sweets and fatty foods.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

6. We could overcome a(n) _______ of organs for transplants if more people would agree to have their organs donated after they die. 7. There was no __________ in the family on whether or not to start a vegetable garden this year. We all agreed it was a great idea.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

6. We could overcome a _________ deficit of organs for transplants if more people would agree to have their organs donated after they die.

The shortage could be overcome if more people donated their organs.

7. There was no __________ dissent in the family on whether or not to start a vegetable garden this year. We all agreed it was a great idea. If they all agreed, there was no disagreement.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

8. Yong could have joined the all-male club, but he prefers to __________ with organizations that welcome both men and women. 9. “When someone who believes in God marries someone who does not,” the comic asked, “do they give birth to a(n) __________?” 10. Acting is __________ for only a small percentage of performers. The rest need additional sources of income, such as waiting on tables or parking cars.

SENTENCE CHECK 1 Complete each item with the correct word from the box. A. abstain

B. affiliate

C. agnostic

D. aspire

E. benevolent

F. deficit

G. dissent

H. diversion

I. lucrative

J. mandatory

8. Yong could have joined the all-male club, but he prefers to __________ affiliate with organizations that welcome both men and women. The word joined tells you the meaning of affiliate.

9. “When someone who believes in God marries someone who does not,” the comic asked, “do they give birth to an __________?” agnostic The joke is that their child would feel we can’t know if God exists.

10. Acting is __________ lucrative for only a small percentage of performers. The rest need additional sources of income, such as waiting on tables or parking cars. If most actors need additional sources of income, acting must be well-paying for only a few actors.