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

2. Unit Three: Chapter 13 • acquiesce • delineate
• articulate • diffident
• belittle • laconic
• bombastic • scanty
• conciliatory • subjugate
Page 72 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 acquiesce – verb Acquiesce means A. to consent.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 acquiesce
– verb
• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail.
• The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were pleased when the teacher acquiesced.
Acquiesce means
A. to consent.
B. to conquer.
C. to refuse.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 acquiesce – verb Acquiesce means A. to consent.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 acquiesce
– verb
• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail.
• The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were pleased when the teacher acquiesced.
Acquiesce means
A. to consent.
B. to conquer.
C. to refuse.
Page 72 in textbook.
The reporter had to decide whether to consent to the judge’s order or to refuse and go to jail. Students would be pleased if their teacher consented to their request to use notes during a test.

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 articulate – adjective Articulate means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 articulate
– adjective
• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just joking with reporters.
• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.
Articulate means
A. artificial.
B. using words effectively.
C. quiet.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
Photos: Abbie Rowe (John Kennedy); Pospiech (baby)

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 articulate – adjective Articulate means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 articulate
– adjective
• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just joking with reporters.
• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.
Articulate means
A. artificial.
B. using words effectively.
C. quiet.
Page 72 in textbook.
If Kennedy expressed himself beautifully, then he was skilled at using words effectively. A three-year-old who uses complete sentences and adult words is good at using words effectively.
Photos: Abbie Rowe (John Kennedy); Pospiech (baby)

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 belittle – verb Belittle means A. to praise.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 belittle
– verb
• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer clothes than that?”
• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s cooking.
Belittle means
A. to praise.
B. to emphasize.
C. to put down.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: girlshealth.gov

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 belittle – verb Belittle means A. to praise.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 belittle
– verb
• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer clothes than that?”
• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s cooking.
Belittle means
A. to praise.
B. to emphasize.
C. to put down.
Page 72 in textbook.
The unpleasant girl tries to put down the other children by implying that their clothes aren’t nice and their parents poor. It is rude for guests to put down their hosts’ cooking.
Photo: girlshealth.gov

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 bombastic – adjective Bombastic means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 bombastic
– adjective
• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores everyone with his endless pretentious talk.
• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying, “The crook got away.”
Bombastic means
A. wordy and pretentious.
B. down-to-earth.
C. fascinating.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 bombastic – adjective Bombastic means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 bombastic
– adjective
• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores everyone with his endless pretentious talk.
• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying, “The crook got away.”
Bombastic means
A. wordy and pretentious.
B. down-to-earth.
C. fascinating.
Page 72 in textbook.
Someone who bores people by talking endlessly and pretentiously is wordy and pretentious. It is wordy to use 19 words when 4 are sufficient, and pretentious to use long words and phrases (“suspected perpetrator”) when a single, short word (“crook”) has the same meaning.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 conciliatory – adjective Conciliatory means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 conciliatory
– adjective
• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something wrong to it.”
• When a small child throws a temper tantrum, should a parent be conciliatory and try to comfort the child? Or is it better to use firm discipline?
Conciliatory means
A. soothing.
B. persistent.
C. proud.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 conciliatory – adjective Conciliatory means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 conciliatory
– adjective
• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something wrong to it.”
• When a small child throws a temper tantrum, should a parent be conciliatory and try to comfort the child? Or is it better to use firm discipline?
Conciliatory means
A. soothing.
B. persistent.
C. proud.
Page 72 in textbook.
Rather than soothing the customer by apologizing for the defective toaster, the clerk accused the customer of damaging it. In the second item, the phrase try to comfort the child suggests that the parent is trying to be soothing.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 delineate – verb Delineate means A. to change.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 delineate
– verb
• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where the nearby towns and roads were located.
• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.
Delineate means
A. to change.
B. to recall.
C. to describe.
Page 72 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: noaa.gov

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 delineate – verb Delineate means A. to change.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 delineate
– verb
• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where the nearby towns and roads were located.
• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.
Delineate means
A. to change.
B. to recall.
C. to describe.
Page 72 in textbook.
The teacher described the scene by giving the locations of troops, towns, and roads. Words, phrases, sentences, pictures, and drawings are different ways to describe something.
Photo: noaa.gov

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 diffident – adjective Diffident means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 diffident
– adjective
• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.
• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.
Diffident means
A. different.
B. angry.
C. hesitant.
Page 73 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Photos: Ambo100 (cat); Robert Kaufmann, FEMA (dog)

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 diffident – adjective Diffident means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 diffident
– adjective
• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.
• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.
Diffident means
A. different.
B. angry.
C. hesitant.
Page 73 in textbook.
The word shy suggests that Jay is hesitant about approaching women. The words hung back timidly suggest that the puppy was hesitant about playing with other dogs.
Photos: Ambo100 (cat); Robert Kaufmann, FEMA (dog)

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 laconic – adjective Laconic means A. sweet.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 laconic
– adjective
• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”
• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”
Laconic means
A. sweet.
B. brief.
C. secretive.
Page 73 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 laconic – adjective Laconic means A. sweet.
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 laconic
– adjective
• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”
• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”
Laconic means
A. sweet.
B. brief.
C. secretive.
Page 73 in textbook.
The one-word reply “sure” is brief—especially in response to a twenty-page letter of proposal. The one-word reply “nuts” is brief—especially during important international negotiations.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 scanty – adjective Scanty means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 scanty
– adjective
• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their own pens and note pads.
• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it is barely growing.
Scanty means
A. insufficient.
B. plentiful.
C. permanent.
Page 73 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: Eneas De Troya from Mexico

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 scanty – adjective Scanty means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 scanty
– adjective
• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their own pens and note pads.
• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it is barely growing.
Scanty means
A. insufficient.
B. plentiful.
C. permanent.
Page 73 in textbook.
The company must have insufficient supplies if workers have to buy their own writing materials. Unhealthy trees often drop their leaves, leaving an insufficient number on the tree.
Photo: Eneas De Troya from Mexico

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 subjugate – verb Subjugate means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 subjugate
– verb
• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.
• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.
Subjugate means
A. to explore.
B. to dominate.
C. to study.
Page 73 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
Painting: Carlos Julião (ca 1770)

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 subjugate – verb Subjugate means
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 subjugate
– verb
• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.
• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.
Subjugate means
A. to explore.
B. to dominate.
C. to study.
Page 73 in textbook.
To keep emotions under tight control, one must dominate them. If the developing nations suffered defeat by colonial powers, they were dominated by those conquering forces.
Painting: Carlos Julião (ca 1770)