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

2. Unit One: Chapter 2 • collaborate • rudimentary • despondent • scoff
• instigate • squelch
• resilient • venerate
• retrospect • zealot
Page 12 in textbook.

3. Navy trainees collaborating on a task
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 collaborate
– verb
• When Sarah and I were asked to collaborate on an article for the school newspaper, we found it difficult to work together.
• Several writers and editors have collaborated in preparing this vocabulary text, sharing their knowledge and skills.
Collaborate means
A. to compete.
B. to stop work.
C. to act as a team.
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Navy trainees collaborating on a task
Photo: U.S. Navy

4. Navy trainees collaborating on a task
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 collaborate
– verb
• When Sarah and I were asked to collaborate on an article for the school newspaper, we found it difficult to work together.
• Several writers and editors have collaborated in preparing this vocabulary text, sharing their knowledge and skills.
Collaborate means
A. to compete.
B. to stop work.
C. to act as a team.
Page 12 in textbook.
The words work together suggest that collaborate means “to act as a team.” In the second item, since the writers and editors shared their skills, they acted as a team.
Navy trainees collaborating on a task
Photo: U.S. Navy

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 despondent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 despondent
– adjective
• Devon becomes despondent too easily. If he gets even one bad grade, he loses all hope of succeeding in school.
• For months after his wife died, Mr. Craig was despondent. No matter how hard they tried, his family and friends could not cheer him up.
Despondent means
A. ill.
B. depressed.
C. angry.
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 despondent 2 despondent – adjective – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 despondent
2 despondent
– adjective
– adjective
• Devon becomes despondent too easily. If he gets even one bad grade, he loses all hope of succeeding in school.
• For months after his wife died, Mr. Craig was despondent. No matter how hard they tried, his family and friends could not cheer him up.
Despondent means
A. ill.
B. depressed.
C. angry.
Page 12 in textbook.
If Devon loses all hope, he must become depressed. Since Mr. Craig’s family and friends could not cheer him up, he was depressed.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 instigate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 instigate
– verb
• An English captain named Robert Jenkins instigated a war in 1738 by displaying his pickled ear, which he said had been cut off by a Spanish patrol. The horrified British declared war on Spain—the “War of Jenkins’ Ear.”
• The rock group’s violent performance instigated a riot in the audience.
Instigate means
A. to prevent.
B. to predict.
C. to cause.
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 instigate 3 instigate – verb – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 instigate
3 instigate
– verb
– verb
• An English captain named Robert Jenkins instigated a war in 1738 by displaying his pickled ear, which he said had been cut off by a Spanish patrol. The horrified British declared war on Spain—the “War of Jenkins’ Ear.”
• The rock group’s violent performance instigated a riot in the audience.
Instigate means
A. to prevent.
B. to predict.
C. to cause.
Page 12 in textbook.
Since the British declared war, Jenkins caused the war by claiming his ear was cut off by a Spanish patrol. A rock group’s violent performance could cause the audience to riot.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 resilient – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 resilient
– adjective
• Children can be amazingly resilient. Even after a sad or frightening experience, they often bounce back to their normal cheerful selves.
• Plant life is resilient. For example, a few weeks after the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted in Washington in 1980, flowers were growing in the ashes.
Resilient means
A. widespread.
B. slow to recover.
C. quick to recover.
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 resilient 4 resilient – adjective – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 resilient
4 resilient
– adjective
– adjective
• Children can be amazingly resilient. Even after a sad or frightening experience, they often bounce back to their normal cheerful selves.
• Plant life is resilient. For example, a few weeks after the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted in Washington in 1980, flowers were growing in the ashes.
Resilient means
A. widespread.
B. slow to recover.
C. quick to recover.
Page 12 in textbook.
In the first item, the words bounce back suggest that resilient means “quick to recover.” In the second item, since the flowers were growing again in only a few weeks, plant life must be quick to recover.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 retrospect – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 retrospect
– noun
• After hobbling around on her broken foot for a week before seeing a doctor, Maethen needed surgery. In retrospect, it’s clear she should have gotten help sooner.
• When I took Ms. Klein’s writing course, I thought she was too demanding. In retrospect, though, I realize that she taught me more than anyone else.
Retrospect means
A. looking back.
B. looking for excuses.
C. looking ahead.
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 retrospect 5 retrospect – noun – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 retrospect
5 retrospect
– noun
– noun
• After hobbling around on her broken foot for a week before seeing a doctor, Maethen needed surgery. In retrospect, it’s clear she should have gotten help sooner.
• When I took Ms. Klein’s writing course, I thought she was too demanding. In retrospect, though, I realize that she taught me more than anyone else.
Retrospect means
A. looking back.
B. looking for excuses.
C. looking ahead.
Page 12 in textbook.
Looking back, it is clear that Maethen might not have needed surgery if she had gotten help sooner. Similarly, looking back, it is clear the teacher who seemed too demanding was actually teaching the speaker a lot.

13. A rudimentary math problem
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 rudimentary
– adjective
• A grammar book usually starts with rudimentary skills, such as identifying nouns and verbs.
• I’m so used to adding and subtracting on a calculator that I’ve probably forgotten how to do those rudimentary mathematical calculations on my own.
Rudimentary means
A. basic.
B. intermediate.
C. advanced.
2 + 1 = 3
Page 12 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A rudimentary math problem

14. A rudimentary math problem
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 rudimentary
6 rudimentary
– adjective
– adjective
• A grammar book usually starts with rudimentary skills, such as identifying nouns and verbs.
• I’m so used to adding and subtracting on a calculator that I’ve probably forgotten how to do those rudimentary mathematical calculations on my own.
Rudimentary means
A. basic.
B. intermediate.
C. advanced.
2 + 1 = 3
Page 12 in textbook.
A rudimentary math problem
Identifying nouns and verbs are basic grammar skills. And adding and subtracting are basic mathematical calculations.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 scoff – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 scoff
– verb
• 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.
• Tony scoffed at reports that a hurricane was coming until he saw the winds knocking down trees and overturning cars.
Scoff means
A. to laugh at.
B. to watch.
C. to take seriously.
Page 13 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 scoff 7 scoff – verb – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 scoff
7 scoff
– verb
– verb
• 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.
• Tony scoffed at reports that a hurricane was coming until he saw the winds knocking down trees and overturning cars.
Scoff means
A. to laugh at.
B. to watch.
C. to take seriously.
Page 13 in textbook.
The words making fun of him suggest that scoff means “to laugh at.” If Tony didn’t believe that a hurricane was coming, he would laugh at the reports.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 squelch – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 squelch
– verb
• My history teacher shot me a dirty look during class when I couldn’t quite manage to squelch a burp.
• Decades of communism in Eastern Europe didn’t squelch the desire for freedom. As soon as they could, the people in these countries began to form democracies.
Squelch means
A. to encourage.
B. to hold back.
C. to release.
Page 13 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 squelch 8 squelch – verb – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 squelch
8 squelch
– verb
– verb
• My history teacher shot me a dirty look during class when I couldn’t quite manage to squelch a burp.
• Decades of communism in Eastern Europe didn’t squelch the desire for freedom. As soon as they could, the people in these countries began to form democracies.
Squelch means
A. to encourage.
B. to hold back.
C. to release.
Page 13 in textbook.
Since the teacher was annoyed, the student must not have been able to hold back a burp. Since the people in Eastern Europe formed democracies as soon as they could, decades of communism must not have held back their desire for freedom.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 venerate – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 venerate
– verb
• The Tlingit Indians venerate the wolf and the raven, and their totem poles illustrate stories in praise of these animals.
• The guests at our dean’s retirement banquet made it clear that they venerated her; when she entered the room, everyone rose.
Venerate means
A. to pity.
B. to honor.
C. to remember.
Page 13 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 venerate 9 venerate – verb – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 venerate
9 venerate
– verb
– verb
• The Tlingit Indians venerate the wolf and the raven, and their totem poles illustrate stories in praise of these animals.
• The guests at our dean’s retirement banquet made it clear that they venerated her; when she entered the room, everyone rose.
Venerate means
A. to pity.
B. to honor.
C. to remember.
Page 13 in textbook.
The word praise suggests that venerate means “to honor.” Since everyone stood up when the dean entered the room, it is clear that the guests honored her.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 zealot – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 zealot
– noun
• Annie, a zealot about health, runs a hundred miles a week and never lets a grain of sugar touch her lips.
• The Crusaders were Christian zealots during the Middle Ages who left their homes and families and went off to try to capture the Holy Land.
Zealot means
A. an extremist.
B. an observer.
C. a doubter.
Page 13 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 zealot 10 zealot – noun – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 zealot
10 zealot
– noun
– noun
• Annie, a zealot about health, runs a hundred miles a week and never lets a grain of sugar touch her lips.
• The Crusaders were Christian zealots during the Middle Ages who left their homes and families and went off to try to capture the Holy Land.
Zealot means
A. an extremist.
B. an observer.
C. a doubter.
Page 13 in textbook.
Someone who runs a hundred miles a week and never touches sugar is an extremist about health. Since the Crusaders left their homes and families to try to capture the Holy Land, they must have been Christian extremists.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
1. My ability to speak Spanish is ___________, but I can at least manage to ask directions or order a meal.
2. Jaime was __________ over the death of his dog, his companion for fourteen years.
Page 14 in textbook.
Answers: 1. rudimentary; 2. despondent
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
1. My ability to speak Spanish is ___________, but I can at least manage to ask directions or order a meal.
rudimentary
Asking directions and ordering a meal indicate a basic ability in a foreign language.
2. Jaime was __________ over the death of his dog, his companion for fourteen years.
despondent
Page 14 in textbook.
Losing a companion of fourteen years would make Jaime downhearted.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
3. The novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which exposed the horrors of slavery, helped to _________ the American Civil War.
4. Dawn is a __________ about banning nuclear weapons. She has walked for miles in protest marches and stood in the rain for hours during demonstrations.
Page 14 in textbook.
Answers: 3. instigate; 4. zealot; 5. venerate
The next slide explains the answers.
5. Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to helping the poor, is ________(e)d by some people as a twentieth-century saint.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
3. The novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which exposed the horrors of slavery, helped to _________ the American Civil War.
instigate
A book exposing the horrors of slavery would help bring about the Civil War.
4. Dawn is a __________ about banning nuclear weapons. She has walked for miles in protest marches and stood in the rain for hours during demonstrations.
zealot
Page 14 in textbook.
Dawn’s actions show she is totally devoted to the cause.
5. Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to helping the poor, is ___________ by some people as a twentieth-century saint.
venerated
Since people think she is a saint, they must respect her deeply.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
6. The Cord, in the 1920s, was the first car with front-wheel drive, but in those days most people considered the idea ridiculous and ________(e)d at it.
7. Marie and Pierre Curie _______(e)d on important scientific experiments involving radioactivity.
Page 14 in textbook.
Answers: 6. scoff; 7. collaborate
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
6. The Cord, in the 1920s, was the first car with front-wheel drive, but in those days most people considered the idea ridiculous and ___________ at it.
scoffed
People would mock an idea they considered ridiculous.
7. Marie and Pierre Curie __________ on important scientific experiments involving radioactivity.
collaborated
Page 14 in textbook.
The Curies worked together on the experiments.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
8. Kim’s parents nagged her so hard about practicing the piano that they finally _______(e)d any interest she might have had in music.
9. Since I’d like to be a photographer, I can see, in _________, that I would have gained valuable experience if I’d taken pictures for the school newspaper.
Page 14 in textbook.
Answers: 8. squelch; 9. retrospect; 10. resilient
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Athletes need to be _________. After a defeat, an individual or a team must be able to come back and fight for victory the next time.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. collaborate B. despondent C. instigate
D. resilient
E. retrospect
F. rudimentary G. scoff H. squelch
I. venerate
J. zealot
8. Kim’s parents nagged her so hard about practicing the piano that they finally __________ any interest she might have had in music.
squelched
Constant nagging can crush a person’s interest.
9. Since I’d like to be a photographer, I can see, in _________, that I would have gained valuable experience if I’d taken pictures for the school newspaper.
retrospect
Page 14 in textbook.
Looking back, the speaker can see the value of taking pictures for the paper.
10. Athletes need to be _________. After a defeat, an individual or a team must be able to come back and fight for victory the next time.
resilient
The words able to come back tell you athletes must be quick to recover.