Improving Vocabulary Skills Chapter 23

1. bizarre (adj.) - ___________ Wally’s outfits may seem bizarre, but if you see him with his even stranger-looking friends, his clothing looks quite ordinary. bizarre means: limited ordinary C. odd

2. conducive (adj.) - ___________ Learning to budget an allowance at a young age is conducive to good spending habits later in life. conducive means: favorable similar C. damaging

3. falter (verb) - ___________ Vince faltered on the first few notes of his piano piece but then played the rest without pausing. falter means: to show off to hesitate C. to succeed

4. flaunt (verb) - ___________ Instead of enjoying their wealth quietly, the Stewarts flaunt every new thing they buy in front of their poor relatives. flaunt means: to interfere with to approve of C. to exhibit

5. frenzy (noun) - ___________ The holiday season always includes a frenzy of last-minute shopping. frenzy means: a calm condition an angry condition C. an excited condition

6. gist (noun) - ___________ We asked Alex to skip the details and get right to the gist of the argument. gist means: the small parts the main idea C. the benefit

7. hamper (verb) - ___________ The breakdown of telephone lines hampered business all along the West Coast today. hamper means: to restrict to show off C. to promote

8. paradox (noun) - ___________ When Della kept postponing her decision about whether or not to go back to school, I reminded her of the paradox “No decision is also a decision.” paradox means: an outburst a simple statement C. a seeming contradiction

9. repertoire (noun) - ___________ The actor’s repertoire includes drama, storytelling, song, and dance. repertoire means: a variety of skills a reason to do something C. a statement of intent

10. viable (adj.) - ___________ The little boy quickly learned that using plastic tape is not a viable solution to mending a broken vase. viable means: practical attractive C. expensive