1. Monday February 27, 2012
Vocabulary Unit 11

2. At a recent auto show, President Obama reminded people how his administration has financially helped the auto industry.
He alluded to Mitt Romney when he said, “It’s good to remember there were some folks who were willing to let this industry die.”

3. allude-(v) to mention or to hint at without discussing at length
In her college essay, Dina only alluded to her full time after school job; she wanted most of the essay to be about her dreams for the future.
Synonym: to suggest

4. The police sometimes use clairvoyants to help them solve difficult missing-person cases.

5. clairvoyant-(adj) supernaturally perceptive; (n) one who possesses such power
Synonym:
insightful

6. When they weighed all the evidence in the case, the jury found the testimony of the expert witness to be conclusive.

7. conclusive-(adj) final;decisive.
Is there any conclusive evidence that UFO’s exist?
Synonym:
convincing

8. Supermarket tabloids frequently publish stories about the disreputable behavior of celebrities.

9. disreputable-(adj) not respectable
Polyphemus turns out to be quite a disreputable character in The Odyssey.
Synonym: disgraceful

10. Scientists have yet to identify many plant and animal species endemic to the rain forests.

11. endemic-(adj) native or confined to a particular region or people
Blue jeans were once endemic to the Cowboys of the American West.
Synonym: restricted to

12. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to U. S
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to U.S. civilians for exemplary contributions to national security, world peace, culture or other significant causes.

13. exemplary-(adj) worthy of imitation, serving as a model
Melanie Josselyn, a Keefe Tech graduate from Health Careers, was an exemplary student; she won a 5,000 dollar scholarship to UMASS and placed in the top 3 at the National Skills USA competition.
Synonym: praiseworthy

14. Parents sometimes find it difficult to fathom the motives behind their child’s behavior.
The great passenger liner Titanic lies buried several thousand fathoms below the ocean’s surface.

15. fathom-(v) to understand; (n) a measure of depth in the water
Synonym: grasp; comprehend

16. Folklore has it that a serpent’s most outstanding trait is guile; just as a fox’s is craftiness.

17. guile-(n) deceit
Guile, the street fighter, from the video game series, must have many tricks up his sleeve to be such a popular fighter.
Synonym: trickery

18. Having integrity means doing what is right, and saying what is true.

19. integrity-(n) honesty; high moral standards
Synonym:
completeness or wholeness

20. We planned the itinerary for our trip to South America
We planned the itinerary for our trip to South America. It looks like this:

21. itinerary-(n) a route of travel
We spent hours planning the itinerary for our trip across the United States.
Synonym: schedule

22. Sometimes students misconstrue what their teachers say.
Well, Maria that’s a good idea, but let’s look at it another way.
He thinks I don’t know anything!

23. misconstrue-(v) to interpret wrongly; mistake the meaning of
Young children sometimes misconstrue their parents’ motives.
Synonym: misjudge

24. Some drivers show obnoxious behavior when they are behind the wheel; they follow too closely, honk their horns or yell at the top of their lungs.

25. obnoxious-(adj) highly offensive; arousing strong dislike
Hitler gave speeches that were full of obnoxious language and racial slurs.
Synonym: hateful

26. Many parents give their children a pacifier to placate them when they are tired or crying.

27. placate-(v) to soothe or pacify; to make someone feel less annoyed
It is useless to try to placate a dissatisfied customer who enjoys being angry and making complaints.
Synonym: satisfy

28. There was no wind to disturb the placid surface of the lake.

29. placid-(adj) calm, peaceful
Canela was such a placid dog, she got adopted right away from the shelter.
Synoynm: tranquil; quiet

30. Johnny got in trouble because his teacher told him his work was full of plagiarism.

31. plagiarism-(n) using as one’s own, the writing or materials of another person
When the teacher spoke to Max about his plagiarized report, his reply was creative.
Synonym:theft

32. Music is a most potent force for making people forget their differences and live in harmony.

33. potent-(adj) powerful; highly effective
Juliet drinks a most potent potion to make her seem dead.
Synonym: forceful

34. What’s your favorite pretext for trying to get out of English class?

35. pretext-(n) a false reason
On the pretext of delivering a package, the burglar tried to enter the house.
Synonym:
pretense

36. Braces can correct teeth that protrude.

37. protrude-(v) to stick out
These unprotected steel bars are protruding from the construction site.
Synonym: project; jut out

38. When astronauts first walked on the moon, they discovered its surface to be stark.

39. stark-(adj) harsh
During adolescence is when many teens start to face the stark realities of life.
Synonym: grim

40. Good friends are not superficial; they understand each other deeply.

41. superficial-(ad) concerned only with what is on the surface; shallow
A superficial wound is when the top layer of the skin is damaged.
Synonym: skin deep; not substantial