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

2. Unit Four: Chapter 21 • affirm • essence • alleged • immunity
• allude • impair
• coerce • query
• elite • sadistic
Page 118 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 affirm – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 affirm
– verb
• The witness affirmed in court that he had seen the defendant commit the robbery.
• During the wedding ceremony, Lana did affirm that she would love and honor Joseph, but she did not state that she would obey him.
Affirm means
A. to fear.
B. to state.
C. to write.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 affirm – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 affirm
– verb
• The witness affirmed in court that he had seen the defendant commit the robbery.
• During the wedding ceremony, Lana did affirm that she would love and honor Joseph, but she did not state that she would obey him.
Affirm means
A. to fear.
B. to state.
C. to write.
Page 118 in textbook.
A witness would state in court what he had seen. In the second item, the word state tells you the meaning of affirm.

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 alleged – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 alleged
– adjective
• The alleged killer was never proven guilty in court, but many people believe he committed the murder.
• Nan, who believed Luther was innocent of starting the fire, reminded her friends that his guilt was only alleged.
Alleged means
A. assumed.
B. admired.
C. harmless.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 alleged – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 alleged
– adjective
• The alleged killer was never proven guilty in court, but many people believe he committed the murder.
• Nan, who believed Luther was innocent of starting the fire, reminded her friends that his guilt was only alleged.
Alleged means
A. assumed.
B. admired.
C. harmless.
Page 118 in textbook.
If people believe the man is guilty but his guilt is not proven, he is only the assumed killer. Nan reminds her friends that the man she believes is innocent is only assumed to be guilty.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 allude – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 allude
– verb
• Although the mayor won’t use her opponent’s name, she plans to allude to him by mentioning the scandal he’s involved in.
• Tracy alluded to Santiago’s weight gain by calling him “Santa.”
Allude means
A. to clearly mention.
B. to hint at.
C. to keep.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 allude – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 allude
– verb
• Although the mayor won’t use her opponent’s name, she plans to allude to him by mentioning the scandal he’s involved in.
• Tracy alluded to Santiago’s weight gain by calling him “Santa.”
Allude means
A. to clearly mention.
B. to hint at.
C. to keep.
Page 118 in textbook.
The mayor will hint at her opponent’s name by mentioning the scandal. By calling Santiago “Santa,” Tracy is hinting at his weight gain.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 coerce – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 coerce
– verb
• To coerce the general into giving up, the rebels kidnapped his daughter.
• Our gym teacher used to coerce us into doing fifty sit-ups by refusing to let anyone leave before we all had finished.
Coerce means
A. to talk.
B. to join.
C. to force.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
“Do you ever get the feeling that the boss is trying
to coerce us into taking shorter coffee breaks?”

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 coerce – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 coerce
– verb
• To coerce the general into giving up, the rebels kidnapped his daughter.
• Our gym teacher used to coerce us into doing fifty sit-ups by refusing to let anyone leave before we all had finished.
Coerce means
A. to talk.
B. to join.
C. to force.
Page 118 in textbook.
Kidnapping the general’s daughter might force him into giving up. By refusing to let anyone leave, the gym teacher forces the class into doing fifty sit-ups.
“Do you ever get the feeling that the boss is trying
to coerce us into taking shorter coffee breaks?”

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 elite – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 elite
– adjective
• The 57th was the elite military unit. Its members were the toughest and the smartest and had trained the longest.
• The elite neighborhood in town is surrounded by a high fence and has a guard at its gates.
Elite means
A. worst.
B. best.
C. least important.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 elite – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 elite
– adjective
• The 57th was the elite military unit. Its members were the toughest and the smartest and had trained the longest.
• The elite neighborhood in town is surrounded by a high fence and has a guard at its gates.
Elite means
A. worst.
B. best.
C. least important.
Page 118 in textbook.
If the members are the toughest, the strongest, and the most trained, the 57th is the best military unit. A high fence and a guard at the gates suggests that the neighborhood is the best or most privileged.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 essence – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 essence
– noun
• Trust is the essence of a good relationship; without it, the relationship won’t last.
• Boiled down to its essence, the lecture can be stated in one short sentence: Much important work gets done in America by volunteers.
Essence means
A. the main part.
B. the opposite.
C. the sad part.
Page 118 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 essence – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 essence
– noun
• Trust is the essence of a good relationship; without it, the relationship won’t last.
• Boiled down to its essence, the lecture can be stated in one short sentence: Much important work gets done in America by volunteers.
Essence means
A. the main part.
B. the opposite.
C. the sad part.
Page 118 in textbook.
If a good relationship won’t last without trust, trust must be the main part of a good relationship. The heart or main part of the lecture can be stated in one sentence.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 immunity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 immunity
– noun
• Foreign ambassadors often park in no-parking zones because they have immunity from parking fines.
• When the actor punched a police officer, even his wealth and fame didn’t get him immunity from jail.
Immunity means
A. recognition.
B. freedom.
C. an income.
Page 119 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 immunity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 immunity
– noun
• Foreign ambassadors often park in no-parking zones because they have immunity from parking fines.
• When the actor punched a police officer, even his wealth and fame didn’t get him immunity from jail.
Immunity means
A. recognition.
B. freedom.
C. an income.
Page 119 in textbook.
Having freedom from parking fines results in ambassadors often parking in no-parking zones. Wealth and fame were not enough to get the actor freedom from jail.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 impair – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 impair
– verb
• Listening to very loud music for extended periods of time impairs hearing by damaging the inner ear.
• The auto accident impaired my ability to walk, leaving me with a limp.
Impair means
A. to involve.
B. to repair.
C. to harm.
Page 119 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 impair – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 impair
– verb
• Listening to very loud music for extended periods of time impairs hearing by damaging the inner ear.
• The auto accident impaired my ability to walk, leaving me with a limp.
Impair means
A. to involve.
B. to repair.
C. to harm.
Page 119 in textbook.
Loud music harms the hearing. The word damaging is a clue. If one limps, one’s ability to walk has been harmed by the accident.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 query – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 query
– verb
• If no printed schedule is available, please query the person at the information booth to learn the time of your train’s arrival or departure.
• Reporters repeatedly queried the candidate about whether he would raise taxes, but his only reply was “No comment.”
Query means
A. to ask.
B. to quote.
C. to answer.
Page 119 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 query – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 query
– verb
• If no printed schedule is available, please query the person at the information booth to learn the time of your train’s arrival or departure.
• Reporters repeatedly queried the candidate about whether he would raise taxes, but his only reply was “No comment.”
Query means
A. to ask.
B. to quote.
C. to answer.
Page 119 in textbook.
You need to ask at the information booth to learn the arrival or departure time. Reporters would ask the candidate about raising taxes.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 sadistic – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 sadistic
– adjective
• Cats seem to be naturally sadistic. Instead of killing their victims quickly, they like to make the process slow and drawn-out.
• Our sadistic science teacher had a strange way of teaching about electrical currents. First, he had us hold hands in a circle. Then he put one student’s hand on a wire with a slight electrical charge.
Sadistic means
A. sad.
B. cruel.
C. rude.
Page 119 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 sadistic – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 sadistic
– adjective
• Cats seem to be naturally sadistic. Instead of killing their victims quickly, they like to make the process slow and drawn-out.
• Our sadistic science teacher had a strange way of teaching about electrical currents. First, he had us hold hands in a circle. Then he put one student’s hand on a wire with a slight electrical charge.
Sadistic means
A. sad.
B. cruel.
C. rude.
Page 119 in textbook.
To kill in a slow and drawn-out way is cruel. Teaching students about electrical currents by giving them electric shocks is cruel.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
1. The Puritan colonists ________(e)d Native Americans into slavery by capturing and selling them to buyers in the West Indies.
2. The __________ war criminal had laughed while he tortured his victims.
Page 120 in textbook.
Answers: 1. coerce; 2. sadistic
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
1. The Puritan colonists ___________ Native Americans into slavery by capturing and selling them to buyers in the West Indies.
coerced
Capturing and selling the Native Americans forced them into slavery.
2. The __________ war criminal had laughed while he tortured his victims.
sadistic
Page 120 in textbook.
A person who laughs while torturing victims must take pleasure from being cruel.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
3. Drugs and alcohol __________ a person’s ability to drive.
4. The __________ of a paragraph is stated in its topic sentence.
Page 120 in textbook.
Answers: 3. impair; 4. essence; 5. immunity
The next slide explains the answers.
5. As a child, I didn’t enjoy total __________ from punishment, but my parents rarely spanked me.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
3. Drugs and alcohol __________ a person’s ability to drive.
impair
Drugs and alcohol weaken a person’s ability to drive.
4. The __________ of a paragraph is stated in its topic sentence.
essence
Page 120 in textbook.
The main idea (main part) of the paragraph is stated in its topic sentence.
5. As a child, I didn’t enjoy total __________ from punishment, but my parents rarely spanked me.
immunity
If the parents occasionally spanked the child, he or she didn’t have total freedom from punishment.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
6. During the spelling bee, the judge would__________ that a spelling was correct by nodding silently.
7. The __________ car thief could not possibly be guilty. Not only was he out of town on the day of the theft, but he cannot drive.
Page 120 in textbook.
Answers: 6. affirm; 7. alleged
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
6. During the spelling bee, the judge would__________ that a spelling was correct by nodding silently.
affirm
The judge’s nod indicated that the spelling was correct.
7. The __________ car thief could not possibly be guilty. Not only was he out of town on the day of the theft, but he cannot drive.
alleged
Page 120 in textbook.
If he can’t even drive, the supposed car thief could not be guilty.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
8. A(n) __________ group of doctors, including the country’s top brain surgeons, met to discuss a new operation.
9. When two people are arrested for the same crime, the police __________ them separately to see if they give the same answers.
Page 120 in textbook.
Answers: 8. elite; 9. query; 10. allude
The next slide explains the answers.
10. My brother and I used secret names to __________ to certain relatives. For example, if we wished to speak about Aunt Dotty, we instead spoke about “an old Chevy.”

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. affirm B. alleged C. allude
D. coerce
E. elite
F. essence G. immunity H. impair
I. query
J. sadistic
8. A ____________ group of doctors, including the country’s top brain surgeons, met to discuss a new operation.
elite
A group including the top brain surgeons would be a superior group.
9. When two people are arrested for the same crime, the police __________ them separately to see if they give the same answers.
query
Page 120 in textbook.
The police would question the two people separately. The word answers is a clue.
10. My brother and I used secret names to __________ to certain relatives. For example, if we wished to speak about Aunt Dotty, we instead spoke about “an old Chevy.”
allude
Using “an old Chevy” to speak about Aunt Dotty is to refer to her indirectly.