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

2. Unit Four: Chapter 19 • benign • glib • blasé • haughty
• comprise • libel
• condescend • pseudonym
• facade • redundant
Page 110 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 benign – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 benign
– adjective
• Finding a stranger on our doorstep startled me, but the benign expression on his face told me not to worry.
• Gorilla mothers, usually loving and benign, have been known to attack their babies if they are put in the same cage.
Benign means
A. realistic.
B. kindhearted.
C. bored.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
A benign expression

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 benign – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 benign
– adjective
• Finding a stranger on our doorstep startled me, but the benign expression on his face told me not to worry.
• Gorilla mothers, usually loving and benign, have been known to attack their babies if they are put in the same cage.
Benign means
A. realistic.
B. kindhearted.
C. bored.
Page 110 in textbook.
A kindhearted expression would tell a person not to worry. If it is surprising that gorilla mothers attack their babies, they must usually be loving and kindhearted.
A benign expression

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 blasé – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 blasé
– adjective
• The new staff members were enthusiastic at the weekly meetings, but the old-timers were pretty blasé.
• No matter how many games I see, I will never become blasé about baseball. Each game is new and exciting to me.
Blasé means
A. unexcited.
B. obvious.
C. repetitive.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 blasé – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 blasé
– adjective
• The new staff members were enthusiastic at the weekly meetings, but the old-timers were pretty blasé.
• No matter how many games I see, I will never become blasé about baseball. Each game is new and exciting to me.
Blasé means
A. unexcited.
B. obvious.
C. repetitive.
Page 110 in textbook.
In contrast with the new staff members being enthusiastic, the old-timers are pretty unexcited by the weekly meetings. If each game is new and exiting, the person will never become unexcited about baseball.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 comprise – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 comprise
– verb
• The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Saliva comprises about sixty ingredients, including minerals that help repair tooth enamel.
Comprise means
A. to cause.
B. to reveal.
C. to be made up of.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 comprise – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 comprise
– verb
• The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Saliva comprises about sixty ingredients, including minerals that help repair tooth enamel.
Comprise means
A. to cause.
B. to reveal.
C. to be made up of.
Page 110 in textbook.
The United Kingdom is made up of the countries listed. Saliva is made up of about sixty ingredients.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 condescend – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 condescend
– verb
• The snobby millionaire wouldn’t condescend to associate with anyone who wasn’t also rich.
• Although everyone else in the office took turns making coffee, Bill would not condescend to perform “such a lowly task.”
Condescend means
A. to lower oneself.
B. to dare something frightening.
C. to remember.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 condescend – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 condescend
– verb
• The snobby millionaire wouldn’t condescend to associate with anyone who wasn’t also rich.
• Although everyone else in the office took turns making coffee, Bill would not condescend to perform “such a lowly task.”
Condescend means
A. to lower oneself.
B. to dare something frightening.
C. to remember.
Page 110 in textbook.
In order to associate with someone less rich, the snobby millionaire would have to lower himself. In the second item, the words such a lowly task suggest that condescend means “to lower oneself.”

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 facade – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 facade
– noun
• The facade of the old department store was cleaned this summer. Now the store’s brick front is an inviting bright orange-red.
• The facade of the hotel—facing Main Street—has marble, but the sides and back were made of steel.
Facade means
A. an inside.
B. a top.
C. a front.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
The facade of a cathedral

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 facade – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 facade
– noun
• The facade of the old department store was cleaned this summer. Now the store’s brick front is an inviting bright orange-red.
• The facade of the hotel—facing Main Street—has marble, but the sides and back were made of steel.
Facade means
A. an inside.
B. a top.
C. a front.
Page 110 in textbook.
In the first item, the word front tells you the meaning of facade. In the second item, if the back and the sides of the hotel are made of steel, the marble part must be the front.
The facade of a cathedral

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 glib – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 glib
– adjective
• Always ready with a slick promise, the glib politician smoothly talked his way into being re-elected.
• Jerome thought his conversation would impress Sofia, but she found it glib and insincere.
Glib means
A. bored.
B. strict.
C. smooth.
Page 110 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 glib – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 glib
– adjective
• Always ready with a slick promise, the glib politician smoothly talked his way into being re-elected.
• Jerome thought his conversation would impress Sofia, but she found it glib and insincere.
Glib means
A. bored.
B. strict.
C. smooth.
Page 110 in textbook.
In the first item, the words slick and smoothly suggest that glib means “smooth.” In the second item, Sofia finds Jerome’s conversation smooth and insincere.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 haughty – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 haughty
– adjective
• The Smiths acted as though they were better than anybody else. Not surprisingly, their haughty manner made them unpopular with their neighbors.
• After being promoted to manager, Gil was haughty with his old office buddies, saying he now had more important things to do than waste time with them.
Haughty means
A. snobbish.
B. angry.
C. wordy.
A portrait of
Queen Victoria
looking haughty
Page 111 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 haughty – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 haughty
– adjective
• The Smiths acted as though they were better than anybody else. Not surprisingly, their haughty manner made them unpopular with their neighbors.
• After being promoted to manager, Gil was haughty with his old office buddies, saying he now had more important things to do than waste time with them.
Haughty means
A. snobbish.
B. angry.
C. wordy.
A portrait of
Queen Victoria
looking haughty
Page 111 in textbook.
If the Smiths acted as though they were better than anyone else, they were snobbish. As described in the second item, Gil’s attitude toward his old office buddies is snobbish.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 libel – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 libel
– noun
• When Nick saw his name listed in the article as a gang member, he was furious. “That’s libel!” he yelled. “How dare they print such a lie about me?”
• Many magazine editors double-check the facts they publish about a person. Then, if they are accused of libel, they can prove that they stated the truth.
Libel means
A. a false name.
B. a printed falsehood.
C. a repeated expression.
Page 111 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 libel – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 libel
– noun
• When Nick saw his name listed in the article as a gang member, he was furious. “That’s libel!” he yelled. “How dare they print such a lie about me?”
• Many magazine editors double-check the facts they publish about a person. Then, if they are accused of libel, they can prove that they stated the truth.
Libel means
A. a false name.
B. a printed falsehood.
C. a repeated expression.
Page 111 in textbook.
The words print such a lie suggest that libel is a printed falsehood. If magazine editors double-check the facts, they must want protect themselves against charges of having printed falsehoods in their publications.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 pseudonym – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 pseudonym
– noun
• When writing a personal story for a family magazine, Bev used a pseudonym. She didn’t want everyone in town to know about her problems.
• The author Stephen King uses a pseudonym on some of his books so readers won’t be aware that so many of the horror novels on the market are his.
Pseudonym means
A. a weak vocabulary.
B. a personal experience.
C. a false name.
Page 111 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 pseudonym – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 pseudonym
– noun
• When writing a personal story for a family magazine, Bev used a pseudonym. She didn’t want everyone in town to know about her problems.
• The author Stephen King uses a pseudonym on some of his books so readers won’t be aware that so many of the horror novels on the market are his.
Pseudonym means
A. a weak vocabulary.
B. a personal experience.
C. a false name.
Page 111 in textbook.
If Bev didn’t want anyone to know about her problems, she would write the story under a false name. If Stephen King doesn’t want readers to know he wrote some of his books, he would use a false name.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 redundant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 redundant
– adjective
• The TV ad for a headache medicine was so redundant that it gave me a headache! The name of the product was repeated at least a dozen times.
• The teacher wrote “redundant” in several spots in the essay where Eric had repeated a point or used extra, unneeded words.
Redundant means
A. grammatical.
B. proud.
C. repetitious.
Page 111 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 redundant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 redundant
– adjective
• The TV ad for a headache medicine was so redundant that it gave me a headache! The name of the product was repeated at least a dozen times.
• The teacher wrote “redundant” in several spots in the essay where Eric had repeated a point or used extra, unneeded words.
Redundant means
A. grammatical.
B. proud.
C. repetitious.
Page 111 in textbook.
If the name of the product was repeated a dozen times, the ad was repetitious. In the second item, the word repeated tells you that redundant means “repetitious.”

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
1. A receptionist’s job ________s answering the phone, greeting customers, opening the mail, dealing with messengers, and smiling.
2. My aunt’s s are annoyingly __________, repeating “news” she has already given us by telephone.
Page 112 in textbook.
Answers: 1. comprise; 2. redundant
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
1. A receptionist’s job _________ answering the phone, greeting customers, opening the mail, dealing with messengers, and smiling.
comprises
A receptionist’s job is made up of the tasks listed.
2. My aunt’s s are annoyingly __________, repeating “news” she has already given us by telephone.
redundant
Page 112 in textbook.
If the aunt repeats in her s what she has already told them by telephone, the s are needlessly repetitive.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
3. Since becoming a fashion model, Nora has been very __________, even snubbing some of her old, unglamorous friends.
4. One actress sued a magazine for __________ because it printed a false and damaging story about her being drunk in public.
Page 112 in textbook.
Answers: 3. haughty; 4. libel; 5. glib
The next slide explains the answers.
5. Harry, always ready with some made-up excuse, is __________ enough to talk himself out of any difficulty at the snap of a finger.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
3. Since becoming a fashion model, Nora has been very __________, even snubbing some of her old, unglamorous friends.
haughty
If Nora snubs her old, unglamorous friends, she has become arrogant.
4. One actress sued a magazine for __________ because it printed a false and damaging story about her being drunk in public.
libel
Page 112 in textbook.
The words printed a false. . .story tell you the meaning of libel.
5. Harry, always ready with some made-up excuse, is ________ enough to talk himself out of any difficulty at the snap of a finger.
glib
The ease with which Harry tosses off his made-up excuses suggests he is smooth and insincere.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
6. In his usual ________ manner, my neighbor carefully picked up the ant in his kitchen, brought it outside, and gently put it down on the sidewalk.
7. When my sister first got her job at the recording studio, she was thrilled to go to work each day. Now, after ten years, she’s ________ about her work and wants to change jobs.
Page 112 in textbook.
Answers: 6. benign; 7. blasé
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
6. In his usual ________ manner, my neighbor carefully picked up the ant in his kitchen, brought it outside, and gently put it down on the sidewalk.
benign
The neighbor’s actions show that he is kind and gentle.
7. When my sister first got her job at the recording studio, she was thrilled to go to work each day. Now, after ten years, she’s ________ about her work and wants to change jobs.
Page 112 in textbook.
blasé
If she used to be thrilled about her job but now wants to change jobs, she must now be bored with her work.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
8. Lidia’s grandfather made her a dollhouse with a ________ just like the front of her family’s house: black shutters, a red front door, and even the same address.
9. The conceited young baseball player wouldn’t ___________ to talk to his fans until an old-timer reminded him that the fans were the ones who had made him a star.
Page 112 in textbook.
Answers: 8. facade; 9. condescend; 10. pseudonym
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Samuel Langhorne Clemens wasn’t the first author to use the ___________ Mark Twain. A newspaper writer of the time used the same pen name.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. benign B. blasé C. comprise
D. condescend
E. facade
F. glib G. haughty H. libel
I. pseudonym
J. redundant
8. Lidia’s grandfather made her a dollhouse with a ________ just like the front of her family’s house: black shutters, a red front door, and even the same address.
facade
The words front of house tell you the meaning of facade.
9. The conceited young baseball player wouldn’t ___________ to talk to his fans until an old-timer reminded him that the fans were the ones who had made him a star.
condescend
Page 112 in textbook.
If the ball player was conceited, he wouldn’t lower himself to talk to fans.
10. Samuel Langhorne Clemens wasn’t the first author to use the ___________ Mark Twain. A newspaper writer of the time used the same pen name.
pseudonym
The words pen name tell you the meaning of pseudonym.