1. Second Edition BETH JOHNSON JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
ADVANCED WORD POWER
Second Edition
BETH JOHNSON
JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
© Townsend Press

2. Unit One: Chapter 3 • coalesce • insolvent • decadence • parsimonious
• exemplary • prodigal
• exuberance • surreptitious
• incidental • writhe
Page 16 in textbook.

3. Two coalescing galaxies
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 coalesce
– verb
• Four block associations in our neighborhood will coalesce to form a single task force.
• When I got caught in a rainstorm, I learned that the dyes in my new shirt weren’t waterproof. The red and blue stripes ran and coalesced into purple smears.
Coalesce means
A. to join.
B. to produce.
C. to prevent.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Two coalescing galaxies
Photo: NASA

4. Two coalescing galaxies
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 coalesce
– verb
• Four block associations in our neighborhood will coalesce to form a single task force.
• When I got caught in a rainstorm, I learned that the dyes in my new shirt weren’t waterproof. The red and blue stripes ran and coalesced into purple smears.
Coalesce means
A. to join.
B. to produce.
C. to prevent.
Page 16 in textbook.
Four different associations plan to join together to form a single task force. To make purple smears, the red and blue dyes would have to run, or join, together.
Two coalescing galaxies
Photo: NASA

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 decadence – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 decadence
– noun
• The older generation always seems to see decadence among young people, groaning that “kids today” are spoiled, lazy, and extravagant.
• Grandfather considers the internal combustion engine a sign of the decadence of Western civilization. “Stop the decay before it’s too late!” he says. “Get out of your cars, get on your feet, and walk!”
Decadence means
A. a disappointment.
B. a decline.
C. disapproval.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 decadence – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 decadence
– noun
• The older generation always seems to see decadence among young people, groaning that “kids today” are spoiled, lazy, and extravagant.
• Grandfather considers the internal combustion engine a sign of the decadence of Western civilization. “Stop the decay before it’s too late!” he says. “Get out of your cars, get on your feet, and walk!”
Decadence means
A. a disappointment.
B. a decline.
C. disapproval.
Page 16 in textbook.
If the “kids today” are more spoiled, lazy, and extravagant than their elders, then there has been a decline from one generation to the next. The word decay suggests that decadence means “a decline.”

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 exemplary – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exemplary
– adjective
• Christine has a glowing letter of recommendation from her former boss, in which he says, “She is an exemplary employee who always does more than is asked.”
• This year, the “Teacher of the Year” award was given to not one but two exemplary educators.
Exemplary means
A. excellent.
B. extra.
C. exotic.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
An exemplary paper

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 exemplary – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exemplary
– adjective
• Christine has a glowing letter of recommendation from her former boss, in which he says, “She is an exemplary employee who always does more than is asked.”
• This year, the “Teacher of the Year” award was given to not one but two exemplary educators.
Exemplary means
A. excellent.
B. extra.
C. exotic.
Page 16 in textbook.
If the letter of recommendation was glowing, then her former boss must have considered her an excellent employee. Only excellent educators earn awards for being the best teachers of the year.
An exemplary paper

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 exuberance – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 exuberance
– noun
• Justine called all her friends, shrieking with exuberance over being accepted at her first-choice college.
• Students may believe they are the only ones who are happy to see summer vacation arrive, but their teachers feel some exuberance, too!
Exuberance means
A. fear.
B. boredom.
C. joy.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 exuberance – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 exuberance
– noun
• Justine called all her friends, shrieking with exuberance over being accepted at her first-choice college.
• Students may believe they are the only ones who are happy to see summer vacation arrive, but their teachers feel some exuberance, too!
Exuberance means
A. fear.
B. boredom.
C. joy.
Page 16 in textbook.
Being accepted to one’s first-choice college would be a reason to shriek with joy. The word happy suggests that both teachers and students feel joy at the end of the school year.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 incidental – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 incidental
– adjective
• Selma chose her college because it has such a good nursing program, but an incidental reason was that it is located in a beautiful town.
• Although Rita and Zhen moved in together so they could split the rent, they later discovered an incidental effect: they can borrow each other’s clothes.
Incidental means
A. secondary.
B. incorrect.
C. secret.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 incidental – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 incidental
– adjective
• Selma chose her college because it has such a good nursing program, but an incidental reason was that it is located in a beautiful town.
• Although Rita and Zhen moved in together so they could split the rent, they later discovered an incidental effect: they can borrow each other’s clothes.
Incidental means
A. secondary.
B. incorrect.
C. secret.
Page 16 in textbook.
Selma’s primary reason for choosing the college was its program; a secondary reason was its location. Rita and Zhen’s primary reason for sharing an apartment was to save money; a secondary consequence of their decision was that they could share clothes.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 insolvent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 insolvent
– adjective
• Barry lost his head when he got his first credit card. He went on a spending spree, couldn’t pay his bills, and ended up insolvent.
• Compulsive gamblers often lose so much money that they become insolvent. Because they can’t control their urge to gamble, their debt keeps growing.
Insolvent means
A. without money.
B. without friends.
C. without goals.
Page 16 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 insolvent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 insolvent
– adjective
• Barry lost his head when he got his first credit card. He went on a spending spree, couldn’t pay his bills, and ended up insolvent.
• Compulsive gamblers often lose so much money that they become insolvent. Because they can’t control their urge to gamble, their debt keeps growing.
Insolvent means
A. without money.
B. without friends.
C. without goals.
Page 16 in textbook.
After the spending spree, he couldn’t pay his bills because he ended up without money. When compulsive gamblers keep losing bets, they end up without money and go into debt.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 parsimonious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 parsimonious
– adjective
• The boss, a parsimonious man, insists that all employees save their old memos and letters so they can use the backs of the pages as notepaper.
• Elena is a parsimonious cook. She creates cheap meals from old cheese rinds, stale bread, and wilted vegetables. They taste awful.
Parsimonious means
A. stingy.
B. mischievous.
C. talented.
Page 17 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 parsimonious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 parsimonious
– adjective
• The boss, a parsimonious man, insists that all employees save their old memos and letters so they can use the backs of the pages as notepaper.
• Elena is a parsimonious cook. She creates cheap meals from old cheese rinds, stale bread, and wilted vegetables. They taste awful.
Parsimonious means
A. stingy.
B. mischievous.
C. talented.
Page 17 in textbook.
The boss is too stingy to buy notepaper for his employees. The cook is too stingy to buy fresh ingredients, so she serves meals that are cheap, but taste awful.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 prodigal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 prodigal
– adjective
• Mary and Kim both make decent salaries. They could live comfortably on what they make if they weren’t such prodigal spenders.
• I don’t think it’s prodigal to spend some extra money to get well-made shoes. Cheap ones fall apart so fast that you soon end up buying another pair.
Prodigal means
A. useful.
B. extravagant.
C. careful.
Page 17 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 prodigal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 prodigal
– adjective
• Mary and Kim both make decent salaries. They could live comfortably on what they make if they weren’t such prodigal spenders.
• I don’t think it’s prodigal to spend some extra money to get well-made shoes. Cheap ones fall apart so fast that you soon end up buying another pair.
Prodigal means
A. useful.
B. extravagant.
C. careful.
Page 17 in textbook.
If they can’t live comfortably on salaries that are decent, they must spend their money extravagantly. The speaker explains why it is practical, not extravagant, to spend extra money on well-made shoes.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 surreptitious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 surreptitious
– adjective
• Students naturally want to know what will be covered on a test. Instead of trying to find out by surreptitious means, it is better simply to ask the instructor, who is often willing to provide at least a rough idea.
• As the wedding reception ended, several guests made surreptitious trips to the parking lot, where they tied tin cans and crepe paper to the newlyweds’ car.
Surreptitious means
A. straightforward.
B. useless.
C. secret.
A burglar
surreptitiously
entering a house
Page 17 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 surreptitious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 surreptitious
– adjective
• Students naturally want to know what will be covered on a test. Instead of trying to find out by surreptitious means, it is better simply to ask the instructor, who is often willing to provide at least a rough idea.
• As the wedding reception ended, several guests made surreptitious trips to the parking lot, where they tied tin cans and crepe paper to the newlyweds’ car.
Surreptitious means
A. straightforward.
B. useless.
C. secret.
A burglar
surreptitiously
entering a house
Page 17 in textbook.
Direct questioning is contrasted with secretive ways of finding out what will be on the test. The guests had to do their work in secret in order to surprise the newlyweds.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 writhe – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 writhe
– verb
• My great-uncle remembers the scratchy long underwear he wore to school in the winter: “It was so itchy that I would writhe and wriggle at my desk all day long.”
• The children writhed with impatience as they waited in line to board the plane. “Stop fidgeting before you drive me nuts,” their weary father begged them.
Writhe means
A. freeze.
B. squeeze.
C. squirm.
Page 17 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
A writhing snake
Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 writhe – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 writhe
– verb
• My great-uncle remembers the scratchy long underwear he wore to school in the winter: “It was so itchy that I would writhe and wriggle at my desk all day long.”
• The children writhed with impatience as they waited in line to board the plane. “Stop fidgeting before you drive me nuts,” their weary father begged them.
Writhe means
A. freeze.
B. squeeze.
C. squirm.
Page 17 in textbook.
The word wriggle means “squirm.” The word fidgeting suggests that the children were squirming, instead of standing still in line.
A writhing snake
Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
1. Three high schools in the county have _______(e)d to create a centralized “magnet” school.
2. Although the local newspaper is small, it has an excellent reputation. In fact, every year it wins statewide awards for its _________ reporting.
Page 18 in textbook.
Answers: 1. coalesce; 2. exemplary
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
1. Three high schools in the county have __________ to create a centralized “magnet” school.
coalesced
To create one centralized school, three separate schools merged together.
2. Although the local newspaper is small, it has an excellent reputation. In fact, every year it wins statewide awards for its _________ reporting.
Page 18 in textbook.
exemplary
To win awards and earn a reputation for excellence, the reporting must be worthy of praise.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
3. “Stopping smoking can save your life,” said the doctor. “And there are some __________ benefits as well: you won’t have stained teeth, yellow fingers, or bad breath.”
4. The school’s ____________ administration decided to save money by dimming all the lights. The students, who could barely see to read, protested angrily.
Page 18 in textbook.
Answers: 3. incidental; 4. parsimonious; 5. decadence
The next slide explains the answers.
5. “When the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” the economist warned, “that is a sign of __________: the society is starting to weaken.”

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
3. “Stopping smoking can save your life,” said the doctor. “And there are some __________ benefits as well: you won’t have stained teeth, yellow fingers, or bad breath.”
incidental
Beyond saving one’s life, stopping smoking has three minor consequences.
4. The school’s ____________ administration decided to save money by dimming all the lights. The students, who could barely see to read, protested angrily.
parsimonious
Page 18 in textbook.
If students can’t read, the school is being too thrifty in saving money.
5. “When the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” the economist warned, “that is a sign of __________: the society is starting to weaken.”
decadence
The word weaken suggests that the economist saw signs of moral deterioration or decay.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
6. Cell phone use is officially banned at school, but many students make __________ calls when they think no one is looking.
7. When stories came out about the senator’s luxurious offices, his many trips to upscale resorts, and his huge staff of underworked employees, taxpayers complained about such a(n) __________ waste of their money.
Page 18 in textbook.
Answers: 6. surreptitious; 7. prodigal
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
6. Cell phone use is officially banned at school, but many students make __________ calls when they think no one is looking.
surreptitious
The students must be stealthy if they don’t want to be seen making calls.
7. When stories came out about the senator’s luxurious offices, his many trips to upscale resorts, and his huge staff of underworked employees, taxpayers complained about such a __________ waste of their money.
Page 18 in textbook.
prodigal
Such luxuries are extravagant and reckless uses of taxpayers’ money.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
8. Trying to scratch an itchy spot on its back, the pig _______(e)d and twisted as it rubbed against the fence.
9. The shelter for the homeless has made an urgent appeal for donations. Without more contributions to pay its bills, it will soon be __________.
Page 18 in textbook.
Answers: 8. writhe; 9. insolvent; 10. exuberance
The next slide explains the answers.
10. As soon as Tony walked into the room, I knew he had good news. His __________ showed all over his face.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. coalesce B. decadence C. exemplary
D. exuberance
E. incidental
F. insolvent G. parsimonious H. prodigal
I. surreptitious
J. writhe
8. Trying to scratch an itchy spot on its back, the pig ________ and twisted as it rubbed against the fence.
writhed
The word twisted and the pig’s itchy discomfort are clues.
9. The shelter for the homeless has made an urgent appeal for donations. Without more contributions to pay its bills, it will soon be __________.
Page 18 in textbook.
insolvent
Without money to pay its bills, it will soon be unable to pay its debts.
10. As soon as Tony walked into the room, I knew he had good news. His __________ showed all over his face.
exuberance
The high-spirited enthusiasm on Tony’s face suggested he had good news.