1. Vocabulary – Context (50) Adv. Voc. Skills
ACT Reading
Vocabulary – Context (50)
Adv. Voc. Skills

2. (1) berate (v.) to disappoint to yell to neglect to scold
Benita can accept reasonable criticism, but she was upset when her boss berated her loudly in front of everyone else in the office.
to disappoint
to yell
to neglect
to scold

3. (2) estrange (v.) To frighten To lose contact with to dislike
After his divorce, Garrett didn’t want to estrange his children, so he called and visited them often.
To frighten
To lose contact with
to dislike
to disappoint

4. (3) euphoric (adj.) anxious delighted proud ambivalent
Miranda is euphoric today because she’s just gotten the lead role in the school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. She had worked diligently in many productions.
anxious
delighted
proud
ambivalent

5. (4) impetuous (adj.) silly impulsive considerate imaginative
Children tend to be impetuous and don’t always think about the consequences of their actions. For instance, they’ll throw snowballs at passing cards without worrying about causing an accident.
silly
impulsive
considerate
imaginative

6. (5) infallible (adj.) perfect imperfect everywhere current
Computers aren’t infallible. If the wrong data is put into a computer, the answers will be wrong.
perfect
imperfect
everywhere
current

7. (6) maudlin (adj.) short made-for-tv comical emotional
The authors of maudlin movies must feel that they haven’t done their job unless viewers are crying by the end of each show.
short
made-for-tv
comical
emotional

8. (7) regress (v.) to try to get attention to go back to an earlier time
When his baby sister was born, seven-year-old Jason regressed for a while and began sucking his thumb again.
to try to get attention
to go back to an earlier time
to reach a high point
to act hastily

9. (8) relinquish (v.) to buy to give up to find to enjoy
Delanie had to relinquish her share in the vacation cabin because she couldn’t afford the payments anymore.
to buy
to give up
to find
to enjoy

10. (9) ubiquitous (adj.) scarce very small newly discovered
Dust mites are ubiquitous. They live on top of Mt. Everest, in the ocean, at the South Pole, and even in your house.
scarce
very small
newly discovered
found everywhere

11. recognition of hard work
(10) zenith (n.)
Miranda reached the zenith of her business career to date when she became manager of the Bell Street Bakery when she was just 21 years old.
an end
in the past
the highest point
recognition of hard work

12. Vocabulary Slides 1-10 berate estrange euphoric impetuous infallible
maudlin regress relinquish ubiquitous zenith

13. (11) charlatan (n.) an inventor a door-to-door salesman an expert
Aunt Edie once bought a set of magnetic bracelets from a charlatan, who assured her that they would cure her arthritis. The jewelry was worthless.
an inventor
a door-to-door salesman
an expert
a con artist

14. (12) corroborate (v.) to question to make it up to support
Mr. Jones claimed that he was at a basketball game when his vehicle was used to commit the crime. He needed someone to corroborate his story.
to question
to make it up
to support
to understand

15. (13) disseminate (v.) to print to spread to conceal to improve
What would be the best way to disseminate information about the next school give-a-way of free technology? Every student will be interested.
to print
to spread
to conceal
to improve

16. (14) diverge (v.) to become different to separate to come together
After college, the two friends’ paths diverged greatly. Miranda become an accountant and eventually a CEO of a major company; Ben became a veterinarian.
to become different
to separate
to come together
to disappear

17. (15) dormant (adj.) hidden not active ruined changing
Many insects lay eggs that remain dormant all winter and do not hatch until spring when the weather is warmer. A colder winter means fewer bugs in summer because some of the eggs will freeze.
hidden
not active
ruined
changing

18. (16) hoist (v.) to follow to put together to display to raise
The children enjoyed watching the crane at the construction site hoist the beams into place for the second floor of the new building.
to follow
to put together
to display
to raise

19. (17) illicit (v.) fake profitable unlawful unsafe
Tom’s business is illicit. He drives a van and picks up passengers along a route that should be used only by city buses.
fake
profitable
unlawful
unsafe

20. (18) irrevocable (adj.) can be changed cannot be changed due to change
The trust specifically stated that the land could not be used for a shopping mall, but the new owners of the property questioned whether the condition was irrevocable.
can be changed
cannot be changed
due to change
about to change

21. (19) precipitate (v.) to bring on to buy to prevent to permit
Ben’s move back to his hometown was precipitated by his getting a job as a veterinarian at the local practice.
to bring on
to buy
to prevent
to permit

22. (20) proliferation (n.) damage shortage scratching rapid increase
The proliferation of lady bugs in the windows on the screened-in porch is a matter of great concern. We need a solution fast.
damage
shortage
scratching
rapid increase

23. Vocabulary Slides 11-20
charlatan corroborate disseminate diverge dormant
hoist illicit irrevocable precipitate proliferation

24. (21) detriment (n.) an aid an obstacle a discovery a symptom
Not exercising is a detriment to good health. People who don’t exercise are more likely to be overweight and have heart disease.
an aid
an obstacle
a discovery
a symptom

25. (22) dexterous (adj.) skilled educated motivated awkward.
Although he has arthritis in his hands, Simon is still very dexterous. For example, he continues to build model airplanes.
skilled
educated
motivated
awkward.

26. (23) discretion (n.) skill education courage common sense
Some children haven’t developed discretion. One kindergarten child recently told his teacher, “You are very fat.”
skill
education
courage
common sense

27. (24) facetious (adj.) serious dishonest plastic humorous
A facetious sign on the door of the office read, “You don’t have to be crazy to work here. We will train you.” Ben wondered what it would be like to work there.
serious
dishonest
plastic
humorous

28. (25) gregarious (adj.) attractive introverted outgoing dramatic
Ben was gregarious and loved going to picnics and parties; his older brother Colton preferred gatherings of fewer people.
attractive
introverted
outgoing
dramatic

29. (26) optimum (n.) legal highest only posted
Under the snow was an inch of ice, and the optimum safe speed for the main highway was only about 15 MPH.
legal
highest
only
posted

30. (27) ostentatious (adj.) plain clean organized d. meant to impress
The lobby of the hotel was rather ostentatious with an archway of fake roses, lamps shaped like horses, and a race track outline on the carpet.
plain
clean
organized
d. meant to impress

31. (28) scrupulous (adj.) ethical economical fair unjust
The representative promised a scrupulous campaign, but her negative ads were filled with lies about her opponent.
ethical
economical
fair
unjust

32. (29) sensory (adj.) of being with people of being in a warm place
Walking through the amusement park was a sensory experience. The sounds of the rides, the scent of foods, and the jostling of the crowds added to the excitement of the day.
of being with people
of being in a warm place
of the senses
of social interest

33. (30) vicarious (adj.)
People love horror movies because they enjoy the vicarious experiences of being in great danger without having to live through them.
experienced through living
experienced through fear
experienced through technology
experienced through imagination

34. Vocabulary Slides 21-30
detriment dexterous discretion facetious gregarious
optimum ostentatious scrupulous sensory vicarious

35. (31) ambiguous (adj.) unclear unintentional unpleasant unimpressed
The portrait known as the “Pleasant Peasant” is famous for the subject’s ambiguous expression. Is he smiling or not?
unclear
unintentional
unpleasant
unimpressed

36. (32) dissident (n.) An uninformed person A rebel A dishonest person
In a dictatorship, dissidents are not tolerated. People who speak out against the government may be imprisoned or even executed.
An uninformed person
A rebel
A dishonest person
A foolish person

37. (33) fritter (v.) to earn to spend to count to waste
Miranda expected her little sister to fritter her money away on candy, but instead of spending it, she put it in her piggy bank.
to earn
to spend
to count
to waste

38. (34) inadvertent (adj.) not required not organized not finished
Fleming’s discovery of penicillin was inadvertent. He forgot to cover a dish of bacteria, and mold got into it. The next day, he realized the mold had killed the bacteria.
not required
not organized
not finished
not intended

39. (35) inane (adj.) inappropriate silly interesting shocking
The conversation at the party was inane, consisting mainly of foolish comments over whose shoes were the most awesome.
inappropriate
silly
interesting
shocking

40. (36) juxtapose (v.) to cover up to stretch across to put side by side
The power of photographs lies in presentation. The picture dramatically juxtaposed white birch trees and a dark gray sky.
to cover up
to stretch across
to put side by side
to put in front of

41. (37) lethargy (n.) weariness hopelessness boredom foolishness
As the temperature rose, lethargy descended on the class. The students had trouble staying awake, and even the instructor gazed out the window.
weariness
hopelessness
boredom
foolishness

42. (38) sporadic (adj.) steady heavy irregular long
It snowed without stopping until noon. After that, there were only sporadic bursts of flurries.
steady
heavy
irregular
long

43. (39) embellish (v.) to hide to decorate to damage to get points
The students worked to embellish the covers of their notebooks. One student placed a pattern of colored seashells on the hers.
to hide
to decorate
to damage
to get points

44. (40) subsidize (v.) to pay for to advertise to criticize
Public radio does not depend solely on advertising revenue because it is subsidized by various grants and ty individual and community donations.
to pay for
to advertise
to criticize
to make possible

45. Vocabulary Slides 31-40
collaborate despondent instigate resilient retrospect
rudimentary scoff squelch venerate zealot

46. (41) zealot (n.) an extremist a purist an observer a doubter
Annie, a zealot about health, runs a hundred miles a week and never lets a grain of sugar touch her lips.
an extremist
a purist
an observer
a doubter

47. (42) venerate (v.) To pity to respect to honor to remember
The guests at the dinner make is clear that they venerated Mother Sophia. When she entered the room, everyone rose.
To pity
to respect
to honor
to remember

48. (43) squelch (v.) to encourage to increase in volume to hold back
To most teachers, history is a very serious subject. Mr. Young glared at the students in the back row when they couldn’t squelch their giggles while watching a video.
to encourage
to increase in volume
to hold back
to release

49. (44) scoff (v.) to laugh to stand and watch to admire to scream
During celebrations, many entertainers appear. Bystanders scoffed at the street musician playing a tune on a row of tin cans, but he seemed unaware that people were making fun of him.
to laugh
to stand and watch
to admire
to scream

50. (45) rudimentary (adj.) addition problems basic intermediate advanced
Ben is so accustomed to adding and subtracting with a calculator that he’s probably forgotten how to do those rudimentary mathematical calculations on his own.
addition problems
basic
intermediate
advanced

51. (46) retrospect (n.)
When I took Dr. Kannon’s writing course, I thought she was too demanding. In retrospect, now that I am a technical writer, I realize she taught me more than anyone else.
looking back
looking at the present time
looking for excuses
looking to the future

52. (47) resilient (adj.) covering a wide area slow to recover
Plant life is resilient. A few weeks after Mt. St. Helens erupted in Washington in 1980, flowers were growing in the ashes.
covering a wide area
slow to recover
quick to recover
growing after fire

53. (48) instigate (v.) to prevent to predict to cause to begin
An English captain named Jenkins instigated a war with 1738 when he insisted that his ear had been cut off by a Spanish patrol. The British declared war on Spain— the “War of Jenkins.”
to prevent
to predict
to cause
to begin

54. ill anxious angry depressed (49) despondent (adj.)
Death is a major source of stress for those left behind. For months after his wife died, Mr. Craig was despondent. No matter how hard they tried, his friends could not change his outlook.
ill
anxious
angry
depressed

55. (50) collaborate (v.) to compete to stop working to act as a team
Usually reporters work by themselves. When Sarah and I were asked to collaborate on the article for the school newspaper, we found it difficult to work together.
to compete
to stop working
to act as a team
to contribute

56. Vocabulary Slides 41-50
ambiguous dissident embellish fritter inadvertent
inane juxtapose lethargy sporadic subsidize