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

2. Unit Two: Chapter 7 • clamor • rescind • contract • stagnant
• duplicity • uniform
• equivocal • untenable
• irresolute • vilify
Page 40 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 clamor – noun Clamor means A. loud noise.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 clamor
– noun
• By the time the basketball game was over, I had an awful headache from the constant clamor of the fans as they cheered for their team.
• The hungry parakeets began an excited clamor when they saw their owner enter the room.
Clamor means
A. loud noise.
B. tense silence.
C. whispers.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: Daniel Latorre

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 clamor – noun Clamor means A. loud noise.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 clamor
– noun
• By the time the basketball game was over, I had an awful headache from the constant clamor of the fans as they cheered for their team.
• The hungry parakeets began an excited clamor when they saw their owner enter the room.
Clamor means
A. loud noise.
B. tense silence.
C. whispers.
Page 40 in textbook.
If fans cheered enough to give someone a headache, then they must have made a loud noise. Hungry parakeets tend to make a loud noise when they get excited about being fed.
Photo: Daniel Latorre

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 contract – verb Contract means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 contract
– verb
• That company can’t seem to decide whether to grow or to contract. First it hired a hundred extra workers; then it laid off two hundred.
• The universe is expanding, but scientists do not know whether it will continue to expand or whether it will eventually start to contract, becoming more and more dense until it collapses on itself.
Contract means
A. to become visible.
B. to become smaller.
C. to become weaker.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: Tilman Scheinpflug

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 contract – verb Contract means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 contract
– verb
• That company can’t seem to decide whether to grow or to contract. First it hired a hundred extra workers; then it laid off two hundred.
• The universe is expanding, but scientists do not know whether it will continue to expand or whether it will eventually start to contract, becoming more and more dense until it collapses on itself.
Contract means
A. to become visible.
B. to become smaller.
C. to become weaker.
Page 40 in textbook.
The opposite of the phrase to grow is to become smaller. The the opposite of the phrase to expand is to become smaller.
Photo: Tilman Scheinpflug

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 duplicity – noun Duplicity means A. repetition.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 duplicity
– noun
• “I can’t tolerate duplicity,” said the teacher. “If you didn’t get around to writing your paper on time, say so. Don’t make up some story about death or illness in your family.”
• Dogs seem incapable of duplicity. If a dog soils the rug, he will slink around guiltily. He won’t try to pretend that the cat did it.
Duplicity means
A. repetition.
B. exaggeration.
C. deceit.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 duplicity – noun Duplicity means A. repetition.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 duplicity
– noun
• “I can’t tolerate duplicity,” said the teacher. “If you didn’t get around to writing your paper on time, say so. Don’t make up some story about death or illness in your family.”
• Dogs seem incapable of duplicity. If a dog soils the rug, he will slink around guiltily. He won’t try to pretend that the cat did it.
Duplicity means
A. repetition.
B. exaggeration.
C. deceit.
Page 40 in textbook.
Making up stories is a form of deceit. Pretending that someone else is responsible for one’s own mistakes is another form of deceit.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 equivocal – adjective Equivocal means A. vague.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 equivocal
– adjective
• Akira seemed equivocal about whether he’d gotten the job or not. First he said it was “a sure thing,” but then he added that he had to go back for another interview.
• After her first date with Chris, Karen was equivocal about how she felt toward him. She said he was “interesting,” which could mean almost anything.
Equivocal means
A. vague.
B. the same.
C. discouraged.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 equivocal – adjective Equivocal means A. vague.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 equivocal
– adjective
• Akira seemed equivocal about whether he’d gotten the job or not. First he said it was “a sure thing,” but then he added that he had to go back for another interview.
• After her first date with Chris, Karen was equivocal about how she felt toward him. She said he was “interesting,” which could mean almost anything.
Equivocal means
A. vague.
B. the same.
C. discouraged.
Page 40 in textbook.
By leaving out the fact that he needed a second interview, Akira was vague and misleading about his job prospects. Since the word interesting can mean “almost anything,” Karen’s response was vague and open to more than one interpretation.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 irresolute – adjective Irresolute means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 irresolute
– adjective
• In Hamlet, why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius sooner? Is it because he is too irresolute to act, or because he is prevented from carrying out his purpose?
• Carleton is irresolute about marrying Tania. He’s sure they are in love, but he’s not sure about getting married because they fight all the time.
Irresolute means
A. unable to decide.
B. lacking self-control
C. unknowing.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 irresolute – adjective Irresolute means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 irresolute
– adjective
• In Hamlet, why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius sooner? Is it because he is too irresolute to act, or because he is prevented from carrying out his purpose?
• Carleton is irresolute about marrying Tania. He’s sure they are in love, but he’s not sure about getting married because they fight all the time.
Irresolute means
A. unable to decide.
B. lacking self-control
C. unknowing.
Page 40 in textbook.
One explanation for his taking so long to kill Claudius is that Hamlet is unable to decide whether or not to act. Torn between his love for Tania and his concern about their constant fighting, Carleton is unable to decide whether or not to marry her.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 rescind – verb Rescind means A. to renew.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 rescind
– verb
• The state can rescind the licenses of people arrested for driving while drunk.
• It’s very rude to rescind your invitation to one person just because you’ve met someone else you’d prefer to invite.
Rescind means
A. to renew.
B. to cancel.
C. to abuse.
Page 40 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 rescind – verb Rescind means A. to renew.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 rescind
– verb
• The state can rescind the licenses of people arrested for driving while drunk.
• It’s very rude to rescind your invitation to one person just because you’ve met someone else you’d prefer to invite.
Rescind means
A. to renew.
B. to cancel.
C. to abuse.
Page 40 in textbook.
The state has the authority to issue drivers’ licenses, as well as to cancel them for drunk driving. Once you’ve invited someone to do something, it’s rude to cancel your plans with that person, take back the invitation, and offer it to someone else.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 stagnant – adjective Stagnant means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 stagnant
– adjective
• At age forty, Ira is considering a midlife career change. He feels that his present career is stagnant: he’s going nowhere in his job.
• The pond was stagnant, and algae and weeds were growing so thickly that they covered the still water underneath.
Stagnant means
A. out of control.
B. motionless.
C. spread thin.
Page 41 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: EPA

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 stagnant – adjective Stagnant means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 stagnant
– adjective
• At age forty, Ira is considering a midlife career change. He feels that his present career is stagnant: he’s going nowhere in his job.
• The pond was stagnant, and algae and weeds were growing so thickly that they covered the still water underneath.
Stagnant means
A. out of control.
B. motionless.
C. spread thin.
Page 41 in textbook.
The phrase going nowhere suggests that Ira’s career is motionless. The phrase still water suggests that the pond was motionless.
Photo: EPA

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 uniform – adjective Uniform means A. alike.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 uniform
– adjective
• To give hand-sewing a professional appearance, it’s important to make the stitches uniform. Take the trouble to make them all the same size—the result will be worth it.
• People whose teeth are unevenly spaced and discolored may benefit from a dental technique called bonding, which makes teeth look more uniform.
Uniform means
A. alike.
B. different.
C. insupportable.
Page 41 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: Tomtchik

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 uniform – adjective Uniform means A. alike.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 uniform
– adjective
• To give hand-sewing a professional appearance, it’s important to make the stitches uniform. Take the trouble to make them all the same size—the result will be worth it.
• People whose teeth are unevenly spaced and discolored may benefit from a dental technique called bonding, which makes teeth look more uniform.
Uniform means
A. alike.
B. different.
C. insupportable.
Page 41 in textbook.
If the stitches are all the same size, then they are all alike. Teeth that are unevenly spaced and of different colors are not all alike.
Photo: Tomtchik

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 untenable – adjective Untenable means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 untenable
– adjective
• In the exam room, the teacher looked grimly at the math formulas penciled on my T-shirt. “Your story that you don’t know how they got there is untenable,” she said. “You can’t expect me to believe you!”
• Jocelyn’s theory that the explorers missing at the South Pole had been eaten by polar bears was interesting but untenable. Polar bears live at the North Pole.
Untenable means
A. uninteresting.
B. unable to be defended.
C. unclear.
Page 41 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 untenable – adjective Untenable means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 untenable
– adjective
• In the exam room, the teacher looked grimly at the math formulas penciled on my T-shirt. “Your story that you don’t know how they got there is untenable,” she said. “You can’t expect me to believe you!”
• Jocelyn’s theory that the explorers missing at the South Pole had been eaten by polar bears was interesting but untenable. Polar bears live at the North Pole.
Untenable means
A. uninteresting.
B. unable to be defended.
C. unclear.
Page 41 in textbook.
The teacher thought she could not be expected to believe a story so improbable that it could not be defended. The theory that explorers were eaten by polar bears at the South Pole could not be defended because polar bears don’t live there.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 vilify – verb Vilify means A. to argue with.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vilify
– verb
• Most of Mr. Jones’s students praise him, but a few vilify him. It’s strange that he should be so respected by some and so harshly criticized by others.
• “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify an entire college just because one fraternity has behaved badly,” said Liam. “People should aim their dislike at the right target.”
Vilify means
A. to argue with.
B. to assault physically.
C. to speak evil of.
Page 41 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 vilify – verb Vilify means A. to argue with.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vilify
– verb
• Most of Mr. Jones’s students praise him, but a few vilify him. It’s strange that he should be so respected by some and so harshly criticized by others.
• “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify an entire college just because one fraternity has behaved badly,” said Liam. “People should aim their dislike at the right target.”
Vilify means
A. to argue with.
B. to assault physically.
C. to speak evil of.
Page 41 in textbook.
Students who harshly criticize their professor are likely to speak evil of him. If one fraternity behaves badly, people should speak evil of only that specific group of students, rather than aim their dislike at the entire college.