1. ADVANCING VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© Townsend Press

2. Unit Five: Chapter 30 • abrasive • emulate • admonish • hierarchy
• antithesis • incapacitate
• culmination • prognosis
• docile • tumult
Page 164 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 abrasive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 abrasive
– adjective
• Pumice stone, a naturally abrasive substance, can be used for rubbing away rough spots on the feet.
• Roz has an abrasive personality—critical and negative. She always seems to rub people the wrong way.
Abrasive means
A. simple.
B. harsh.
C. common.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 abrasive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 abrasive
– adjective
• Pumice stone, a naturally abrasive substance, can be used for rubbing away rough spots on the feet.
• Roz has an abrasive personality—critical and negative. She always seems to rub people the wrong way.
Abrasive means
A. simple.
B. harsh.
C. common.
Page 164 in textbook.
If pumice stone can rub away rough spots on the feet, it must be a harsh or rough substance. If Roz is critical and negative and rubs people the wrong way, she must have a harsh or irritating personality.

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 admonish – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 admonish
– verb
• When the guide found the hikers deep in the woods but unhurt, he admonished them for straying off the trail.
• Because the little girl had spent her entire allowance on candy, her parents admonished her for wasting her money.
Admonish means
A. to lead.
B. to criticize.
C. to irritate.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 admonish – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 admonish
– verb
• When the guide found the hikers deep in the woods but unhurt, he admonished them for straying off the trail.
• Because the little girl had spent her entire allowance on candy, her parents admonished her for wasting her money.
Admonish means
A. to lead.
B. to criticize.
C. to irritate.
Page 164 in textbook.
If the hikers strayed from the trail, the guide would caution or criticize them when he found them. The little girl’s parents would criticize or scold her for spending her entire allowance on candy.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 antithesis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 antithesis
– noun
• My taste in music is the antithesis of my brother’s. I like heavy metal, played loud; he likes soft classical music.
• Pauline’s free-spirited second husband is the antithesis of her first, who was a very timid and cautious man.
Antithesis means
A. the reverse.
B. something superior.
C. an imitation.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 antithesis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 antithesis
– noun
• My taste in music is the antithesis of my brother’s. I like heavy metal, played loud; he likes soft classical music.
• Pauline’s free-spirited second husband is the antithesis of her first, who was a very timid and cautious man.
Antithesis means
A. the reverse.
B. something superior.
C. an imitation.
Page 164 in textbook.
A taste for heavy metal, played loud is the reverse of a taste for soft classical music. A free-spirited man is the reverse of a timid and cautious man.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 culmination – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 culmination
– noun
• For an actor or actress, receiving an Academy Award is often the culmination of many years of effort, progressing from drama school to bit parts to major roles.
• The Super Bowl is the culmination of the entire professional football season. All the rivalries, victories, and defeats lead up to this final contest.
Culmination means
A. a series.
B. a cause.
C. a final high point.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 culmination – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 culmination
– noun
• For an actor or actress, receiving an Academy Award is often the culmination of many years of effort, progressing from drama school to bit parts to major roles.
• The Super Bowl is the culmination of the entire professional football season. All the rivalries, victories, and defeats lead up to this final contest.
Culmination means
A. a series.
B. a cause.
C. a final high point.
Page 164 in textbook.
The first item describes a progression from drama school to the final high point of receiving an Academy Award. In the second item, the words lead up to this final contest suggest that culmination means “a final high point.”

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 docile – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 docile
– adjective
• After only a month of obedience training, our uncontrollable puppy calmed down, learned to pay attention to us, and became far more docile.
• Drugs and even surgery have been used in mental hospitals to make violent patients docile, so that they could be managed more easily.
Docile means
A. obedient.
B. strong.
C. curable.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A docile dog
Photo: US Navy

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 docile – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 docile
– adjective
• After only a month of obedience training, our uncontrollable puppy calmed down, learned to pay attention to us, and became far more docile.
• Drugs and even surgery have been used in mental hospitals to make violent patients docile, so that they could be managed more easily.
Docile means
A. obedient.
B. strong.
C. curable.
Page 164 in textbook.
If the puppy calmed down and learned to pay attention, it became obedient. If the violent patients could be managed more easily, they must have been made obedient.
A docile dog
Photo: US Navy

13. “It’s because I respect you
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 emulate
– verb
• Youngsters often want to emulate famous athletes. They train almost as hard as the champions do, with dreams of someday being as skilled as their heroes.
• Jessie has always tried to emulate her older sister; she tries hard to do just as well as her sister—if not better—in school, at sports, and in popularity.
Emulate means
A. to admire.
B. to imitate.
C. to submit to.
Page 164 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
“It’s because I respect you
that I emulate you.”

14. “It’s because I respect you
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 emulate
– verb
• Youngsters often want to emulate famous athletes. They train almost as hard as the champions do, with dreams of someday being as skilled as their heroes.
• Jessie has always tried to emulate her older sister; she tries hard to do just as well as her sister—if not better—in school, at sports, and in popularity.
Emulate means
A. to admire.
B. to imitate.
C. to submit to.
Page 164 in textbook.
If youngsters train as hard as famous athletes, they imitate them. If Jessie tries hard to do just as well as her sister in everything, she imitates her sister.
“It’s because I respect you
that I emulate you.”

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 hierarchy – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 hierarchy
– noun
• Eva soon learned that all requests and suggestions had to be passed up through the levels of the company hierarchy. She could communicate directly with her own boss, but not with the boss’s boss—let alone with the company president.
• The armed forces are a clear example of a strict hierarchy. Everyone has a specific rank and must follow the orders of those whose rank is higher.
Hierarchy means
A. a ranked system.
B. a training system.
C. a large system.
Page 165 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 hierarchy – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 hierarchy
– noun
• Eva soon learned that all requests and suggestions had to be passed up through the levels of the company hierarchy. She could communicate directly with her own boss, but not with the boss’s boss—let alone with the company president.
• The armed forces are a clear example of a strict hierarchy. Everyone has a specific rank and must follow the orders of those whose rank is higher.
Hierarchy means
A. a ranked system.
B. a training system.
C. a large system.
Page 165 in textbook.
Both items describe a ranked system—one is a company and the other is the military.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 incapacitate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 incapacitate
– verb
• The lecture was canceled because the speaker was incapacitated by the flu.
• My mother can’t tolerate alcohol. Even half a glass of wine incapacitates her; all she can do is giggle for a while and then go to sleep.
Incapacitate means
A. to irritate.
B. to be concerned with.
C. to disable.
Page 165 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 incapacitate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 incapacitate
– verb
• The lecture was canceled because the speaker was incapacitated by the flu.
• My mother can’t tolerate alcohol. Even half a glass of wine incapacitates her; all she can do is giggle for a while and then go to sleep.
Incapacitate means
A. to irritate.
B. to be concerned with.
C. to disable.
Page 165 in textbook.
If the lecture was canceled, the speaker must have been disabled by the flu. If all the mother can do is giggle and go to sleep, she is disabled by the wine.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 prognosis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 prognosis
– noun
• Nathan’s operation went well. The surgeon’s prognosis is that Nathan will fully recover.
• Unless something can be done to reduce global warming, the prognosis for the environment will remain poor.
Prognosis means
A. a forecast.
B. an illness.
C. an organization.
Page 165 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 prognosis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 prognosis
– noun
• Nathan’s operation went well. The surgeon’s prognosis is that Nathan will fully recover.
• Unless something can be done to reduce global warming, the prognosis for the environment will remain poor.
Prognosis means
A. a forecast.
B. an illness.
C. an organization.
Page 165 in textbook.
Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon would give a prediction or forecast of Nathan’s recovery. The effects of global warming make the forecast for the environment poor.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 tumult – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 tumult
– noun
• Spectators at a hockey match are often wild and noisy, and the tumult becomes even greater during a “sudden-death” overtime.
• On New Year’s Eve, the tumult in Times Square reaches such proportions that the crowd noise can be heard a mile away.
Tumult means
A. damage.
B. uproar.
C. friction.
Page 165 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 tumult – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 tumult
– noun
• Spectators at a hockey match are often wild and noisy, and the tumult becomes even greater during a “sudden-death” overtime.
• On New Year’s Eve, the tumult in Times Square reaches such proportions that the crowd noise can be heard a mile away.
Tumult means
A. damage.
B. uproar.
C. friction.
Page 165 in textbook.
The words wild and noisy tell us that tumult must mean “uproar.” If the crowd noise can be heard a mile away, a tumult must be an uproar.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
1. At the rock concert, the audience grew more and more excited and out of control. There was such __________ that no one could hear the music.
2. I ruined a nonstick frying pan by using a(n) __________ cleanser on it—the surface rubbed right off.
Page 166 in textbook.
Answers: 1. tumult; 2. abrasive
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
1. At the rock concert, the audience grew more and more excited and out of control. There was such __________ that no one could hear the music.
tumult
The commotion of an out-of-control crowd would mask the music.
2. I ruined a nonstick frying pan by using an __________ cleanser on it—the surface rubbed right off.
abrasive
Page 166 in textbook.
If the nonstick surface rubbed off, the person must have used a harsh cleanser.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
3. The runner was _________(e)d by a sprained ankle and had to miss the big race.
4. Wendell’s ideas about furniture are the __________ of mine. He likes colonial maple, but I like ultramodern tubular steel.
Page 166 in textbook.
Answers: 3. incapacitate; 4. antithesis; 5. hierarchy
The next slide explains the answers.
5. The __________ of the Roman Catholic Church goes from the parish priest up through bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, to the Pope at the head.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
3. The runner was ____________ by a sprained ankle and had to miss the big race.
incapacitated
If the runner had to miss the race, the sprained ankle must have disabled him or her
4. Wendell’s ideas about furniture are the __________ of mine. He likes colonial maple, but I like ultramodern tubular steel.
antithesis
Page 166 in textbook.
Colonial maple and tubular steel show their ideas are the exact opposite.
5. The __________ of the Roman Catholic Church goes from the parish priest up through bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, to the Pope at the head.
hierarchy
The sentence describes the ranked system of authority in the Roman Catholic Church.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
6. Mother _______(e)d us for spending too much money on her birthday gift, but we could see that she was pleased.
7. The company is financially sick, and unless some changes are made in top management, the __________ is poor—it could go out of business.
Page 166 in textbook.
Answers: 6. admonish; 7. prognosis
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
6. Mother __________ us for spending too much money on her birthday gift, but we could see that she was pleased.
admonished
Even though the mother was pleased, she would gently scold them for spending too much money on the gift.
7. The company is financially sick, and unless some changes are made in top management, the __________ is poor—it could go out of business.
prognosis
Page 166 in textbook.
If the company could go out of business, the prediction of the outcome is poor.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
8. In the prison movie, the convicts acted very _________ while planning a riot. The guards—who weren’t too bright— kept congratulating the inmates on being so well-behaved.
9. In colonial America, many people believed in and feared witches. Hysteria over “witch-hunting” reached its __________ in Salem, Massachusetts, where nineteen supposed witches were put to death.
Page 166 in textbook.
Answers: 8. docile; 9. culmination; 10. emulate
The next slide explains the answers.
10. “If you want to _________ Elvis Presley, fine,” my mother said. “But try to match his energy and warmth onstage—not his self-destructiveness.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abrasive B. admonish C. antithesis
D. culmination
E. docile
F. emulate G. hierarchy H. incapacitate
I. prognosis
J. tumult
8. In the prison movie, the convicts acted very _________ while planning a riot. The guards—who weren’t too bright— kept congratulating the inmates on being so well-behaved.
docile
If the convicts seemed well-behaved, they must have been easy to handle.
9. In colonial America, many people believed in and feared witches. Hysteria over “witch-hunting” reached its __________ in Salem, Massachusetts, where nineteen supposed witches were put to death.
culmination
Page 166 in textbook.
Salem is where the “witch-hunting” hysteria reached its final high point.
10. “If you want to _________ Elvis Presley, fine,” my mother said. “But try to match his energy and warmth onstage—not his self-destructiveness.
emulate
The words try to match suggest a word meaning “imitate” is needed.