altruistic (adj) – unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others In Divergent, the point of being in the Abnegation faction was to live an altruistic life.

assent (verb) to express agreement Will you assent to giving blood today? (noun) agreement Mom gave her assent for me to borrow her car!

benefactor (noun) – one who does good to others Robin Hood was a benefactor to his fellow citizens.

chivalrous (adj) marked by honor, courtesy, and courtesy; knightly Many women appreciate a chivalrous man! Chivalrous knights represented King Arthur and his Round Table.

clemency (noun) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness The prisoner begged the judge for clemency; he did not want to spend his life in jail.

dearth (noun) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine Because he was a poor college student, Freddie had a dearth of food in his kitchen.

diffident (adj) – shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved Kevin’s diffident personality is going to make changing schools very difficult for him.

discrepancy (noun) a difference; a lack of agreement There was a discrepancy among the referees about whether or not a touchdown had occurred.

embark (verb) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest The tourists were very excited to embark on their Caribbean cruise!

facile (adj) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt For Julie, dancing is facile and effortless.

Practice 1. A generous __________ has given scholarship money to the school.

1. A generous benefactor has given scholarship money to the school.

2. After graduation, each student will ________ upon the next phase of life, college.

2. After graduation, each student will embark upon the next phase of life, college.

3. There seems to be a _________ between the story Johnny told his mother and the story Jimmy told her. Of course, each boy blamed the other for the broken vase.

3. There seems to be a discrepancy between the story Johnny told his mother and the story Jimmy told her. Of course, each boy blamed the other for the broken vase.

4. Because his parents speak it at home, speaking Spanish is _______ for Enrique.

4. Because his parents speak it at home, speaking Spanish is facile for Enrique.

5. During their first date, Tony was quite ______ to Kate; he opened doors, pulled out her chair at dinner, and walked her to her door at the end of the night.

5. During their first date, Tony was quite chivalrous to Kate; he opened doors, pulled out her chair at dinner, and walked her to her door at the end of the night.

6. Without your parents’ _______, you cannot come on the field trip.

6. Without your parents’ assent, you cannot come on the field trip.

7. We have a _______ of volunteers to help with the fundraiser; how can we get more people involved?

7. We have a dearth of volunteers to help with the fundraiser; how can we get more people involved?

8. Nursing, teaching, and counseling could be called _______ professions; in each, the focus is on taking care of other people.

8. Nursing, teaching, and counseling could be called altruistic professions; in each, the focus is on taking care of other people.

9. Because she is a freshman, the administrator showed Kelli ________ on her first dress code violation.

9. Because she is a freshman, the administrator showed Kelli clemency on her first dress code violation.

10. Sometimes the more ________ students are overshadowed in the classroom by the ones with more boisterous personalities.

10. Sometimes the more diffident students are overshadowed in the classroom by the ones with more boisterous personalities.