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

2. Unit Two: Chapter 9 • austere • metamorphosis • esoteric • notorious
• facsimile • perfunctory
• grotesque • provocative
• mesmerize • travesty
Page 80 in textbook.

3. An austere piece of furniture
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 austere
– adjective
• Ms. Stone’s appearance was austere. She wore plain, dark-colored clothing with no jewelry, and she never used makeup.
• The walls in Mario’s den are white and nearly bare, and his white furniture has simple lines. This austere decor gives the room a pleasantly calm mood.
Austere means
A. very ugly.
B. very plain.
C. very youthful.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
An austere piece of furniture

4. An austere piece of furniture
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 austere
– adjective
• Ms. Stone’s appearance was austere. She wore plain, dark-colored clothing with no jewelry, and she never used makeup.
• The walls in Mario’s den are white and nearly bare, and his white furniture has simple lines. This austere decor gives the room a pleasantly calm mood.
Austere means
A. very ugly.
B. very plain.
C. very youthful.
Page 80 in textbook.
Plain, dark clothing, no jewelry, and no makeup would make Ms. Stone’s appearance very plain. Bare, white walls and white furniture with simple lines are very plain decor.
An austere piece of furniture

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 esoteric – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 esoteric
– adjective
• The instruction manuals that come with computer software often use such esoteric terms that they seem to be written in a foreign language.
• The poetry of Ezra Pound, filled with references to ancient Greek culture, is too esoteric for most readers.
Esoteric means
A. difficult to understand.
B. shallow.
C. unfavorable.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 esoteric – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 esoteric
– adjective
• The instruction manuals that come with computer software often use such esoteric terms that they seem to be written in a foreign language.
• The poetry of Ezra Pound, filled with references to ancient Greek culture, is too esoteric for most readers.
Esoteric means
A. difficult to understand.
B. shallow.
C. unfavorable.
Page 80 in textbook.
If the manuals seem to be written in a foreign language, they must use terms that are difficult to understand. Poetry filled with references to ancient Greek culture would be too difficult for most readers to understand.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 facsimile – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 facsimile
– noun
• When a facsimile of an old Sears-Roebuck catalog was published recently, it became a bestseller. People enjoyed seeing what was for sale a century ago.
• The word fax is short for facsimile. With a fax machine, you can send a precise image of a document across the country electronically in seconds.
Facsimile means
A. an original.
B. a distorted version.
C. an accurate copy.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 facsimile – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 facsimile
– noun
• When a facsimile of an old Sears-Roebuck catalog was published recently, it became a bestseller. People enjoyed seeing what was for sale a century ago.
• The word fax is short for facsimile. With a fax machine, you can send a precise image of a document across the country electronically in seconds.
Facsimile means
A. an original.
B. a distorted version.
C. an accurate copy.
Page 80 in textbook.
In order for people to see what Sears-Roebuck sold a century ago, the newly published catalog would have to be an accurate copy of the old catalog. In the second item, the words precise image tell you that a facsimile is an accurate copy.

9. (from Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream”)
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 grotesque
– adjective
• Most people found the movie character E.T. adorable, but I thought the little alien was grotesque, with its weird combination of babyish features and old, wrinkled skin.
• The clown made grotesque faces, squinting his eyes, pulling down the corners of his mouth, and sticking out his tongue.
Grotesque means
A. strange-looking.
B. hard to understand.
C. charming.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A grotesque face
(from Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream”)

10. (from Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream”)
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 grotesque
– adjective
• Most people found the movie character E.T. adorable, but I thought the little alien was grotesque, with its weird combination of babyish features and old, wrinkled skin.
• The clown made grotesque faces, squinting his eyes, pulling down the corners of his mouth, and sticking out his tongue.
Grotesque means
A. strange-looking.
B. hard to understand.
C. charming.
Page 80 in textbook.
The description “weird combination of babyish features and old, wrinkled skin” makes E.T. sound strange-looking. In the second item, the faces described sound strange-looking.
A grotesque face
(from Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream”)

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 mesmerize – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 mesmerize
– verb
• The intense eyes of the woman in the photograph mesmerized me. I couldn’t take my eyes off the picture.
• When driving at night, you can become mesmerized by the lines on the road or by other cars’ headlights or taillights. To avoid a hypnotic state, keep your eyes moving from front to side to rearview mirror.
Mesmerize means
A. to amuse.
B. to fascinate.
C. to distort.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 mesmerize – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 mesmerize
– verb
• The intense eyes of the woman in the photograph mesmerized me. I couldn’t take my eyes off the picture.
• When driving at night, you can become mesmerized by the lines on the road or by other cars’ headlights or taillights. To avoid a hypnotic state, keep your eyes moving from front to side to rearview mirror.
Mesmerize means
A. to amuse.
B. to fascinate.
C. to distort.
Page 80 in textbook.
Being unable to take his or her eyes off the picture suggests that the speaker was fascinated by the photograph. In the second item, the words hypnotic state suggest that you can become fascinated by the lines and the lights when driving at night.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 metamorphosis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 metamorphosis
– noun
• A caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly is a well-known example of metamorphosis.
• In Franz Kafka’s famous story “The Metamorphosis,” a man wakes up on his thirtieth birthday to discover that he has turned into an enormous insect.
Metamorphosis means
A. a change in form.
B. a disaster.
C. a scientific theory.
Page 80 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 metamorphosis – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 metamorphosis
– noun
• A caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly is a well-known example of metamorphosis.
• In Franz Kafka’s famous story “The Metamorphosis,” a man wakes up on his thirtieth birthday to discover that he has turned into an enormous insect.
Metamorphosis means
A. a change in form.
B. a disaster.
C. a scientific theory.
Page 80 in textbook.
A caterpillar can become a butterfly only by undergoing a change in form. For a man to turn into an enormous insect, he must undergo a change in form—as the title of the story indicates.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 notorious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 notorious
– adjective
• Batman and Robin matched wits with the Joker and the Penguin, who were notorious for their evil deeds.
• The local diner is notorious for bitter coffee, soggy vegetables, limp salads, and mystery meat.
Notorious means
A. regarded negatively.
B. regarded with curiosity.
C. ignored.
Page 81 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 notorious – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 notorious
– adjective
• Batman and Robin matched wits with the Joker and the Penguin, who were notorious for their evil deeds.
• The local diner is notorious for bitter coffee, soggy vegetables, limp salads, and mystery meat.
Notorious means
A. regarded negatively.
B. regarded with curiosity.
C. ignored.
Page 81 in textbook.
Because they are known for their evil deeds, the Joker and the Penguin are regarded negatively. Bitter coffee, soggy vegetables, limp salads, and mystery meat would insure that the diner would be regarded negatively.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 perfunctory – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 perfunctory
– adjective
• The doctor’s examination was perfunctory. He seemed to be just going through the motions without taking any interest in the patient.
• Most of the candidates were passionate on the subject of nuclear weapons, but one spoke in a very perfunctory way, apparently bored with the topic.
Perfunctory means
A. uninterested.
B. enthusiastic.
C. exaggerated.
Page 81 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 perfunctory – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 perfunctory
– adjective
• The doctor’s examination was perfunctory. He seemed to be just going through the motions without taking any interest in the patient.
• Most of the candidates were passionate on the subject of nuclear weapons, but one spoke in a very perfunctory way, apparently bored with the topic.
Perfunctory means
A. uninterested.
B. enthusiastic.
C. exaggerated.
Page 81 in textbook.
If the doctor is not taking any interest in the patient, he would seem uninterested in his examination. A speaker who is apparently bored with the topic would speak in an uninterested way.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 provocative – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 provocative
– adjective
• “A good essay is provocative,” said our English instructor. “It gets the reader interested and attentive, starting with the very first paragraph.”
• To arouse the viewers’ curiosity, the television ad began with a provocative image: a spaceship landing on a baseball field, at home plate.
Provocative means
A. predictable.
B. difficult to understand.
C. attention-getting.
Page 81 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 provocative – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 provocative
– adjective
• “A good essay is provocative,” said our English instructor. “It gets the reader interested and attentive, starting with the very first paragraph.”
• To arouse the viewers’ curiosity, the television ad began with a provocative image: a spaceship landing on a baseball field, at home plate.
Provocative means
A. predictable.
B. difficult to understand.
C. attention-getting.
Page 81 in textbook.
An essay that makes the reader interested and attentive would be attention-getting. The image of a spaceship landing on a baseball field would be attention-getting.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 travesty – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 travesty
– noun
• The fraternity skit, a travesty of college life, exaggerated and ridiculed many campus activities.
• The musical-comedy version of Hamlet was a travesty. The critics and audience agreed that it made a mockery of Shakespeare’s profound tragedy.
Travesty means
A. a joking, disrespectful imitation.
B. an exact copy.
C. a simple version.
Page 81 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 travesty – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 travesty
– noun
• The fraternity skit, a travesty of college life, exaggerated and ridiculed many campus activities.
• The musical-comedy version of Hamlet was a travesty. The critics and audience agreed that it made a mockery of Shakespeare’s profound tragedy.
Travesty means
A. a joking, disrespectful imitation.
B. an exact copy.
C. a simple version.
Page 81 in textbook.
A skit that exaggerated and ridiculed campus activities would be a joking, disrespectful imitation of college life. A version that made a mockery of a tragedy would be a joking, disrespectful imitation.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
1. The trial was a __________ of justice because several of the jurors had been bribed.
2. To capture readers’ attention, an author sometimes begins an article with a(n) _______ question, such as, “Which do you think is more dangerous, climbing stairs or parachuting out of an airplane?”
Page 82 in textbook.
Answers: 1. travesty; 2. provocative
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
1. The trial was a __________ of justice because several of the jurors had been bribed.
travesty
If several jurors were bribed, the trial would be a mockery of justice.
2. To capture readers’ attention, an author sometimes begins an article with a __________ question, such as, “Which do you think is more dangerous, climbing stairs or parachuting out of an airplane?”
provocative
Page 82 in textbook.
The sentence gives an example of a question that would arouse the reader’s interest.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
3. King Henry VIII of England was __________ not only for getting married six times, but also for having two of his wives executed.
4. In some modern paintings, human figures are distorted into such __________ shapes that it’s hard to recognize facial features and body parts.
Page 82 in textbook.
Answers: 3. notorious; 4. grotesque; 5. facsimile
The next slide explains the answers.
5. Lining the music school’s hallway are framed ________s of handwritten pages of music by great composers.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
3. King Henry VIII of England was __________ not only for getting married six times, but also for having two of his wives executed.
notorious
Executing two out of his six wives would give Henry a bad reputation.
4. In some modern paintings, human figures are distorted into such __________ shapes that it’s hard to recognize facial features and body parts.
grotesque
Page 82 in textbook.
The word distorted suggests the word grotesque.
5. Lining the music school’s hallway are framed _________ of handwritten pages of music by great composers.
facsimiles
A music school would be decorated reproductions of handwritten pages of music written by great composers.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
6. Legal documents are usually worded in such __________ language that most people need a lawyer to translate the “legalese” into plain English.
7. As I stood looking at the grandfather clock, I became _______(e)d by the shiny pendulum that swung back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
Page 82 in textbook.
Answers: 6. esoteric; 7. mesmerize
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
6. Legal documents are usually worded in such __________ language that most people need a lawyer to translate the “legalese” into plain English.
esoteric
If the document needs to be translated it must be difficult to understand.
7. As I stood looking at the grandfather clock, I became __________ by the shiny pendulum that swung back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
mesmerized
Page 82 in textbook.
Staring at the shiny pendulum swinging back and forth could hypnotize a person.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
8. Usually the therapist showed great interest in her patients, but today she was too worried about her own family to give more than __________ responses.
9. My sister’s dormitory room is rather _________, with cement-block walls and bare floors, but she’s made it less stark by hanging colorful posters and adding bright bedspreads and cushions.
Page 82 in textbook.
Answers: 8. perfunctory; 9. austere; 10. Metamorphosis
The next slide explains the answers.
10. The magician David Copperfield does a trick called “_____________.” One person is chained and locked in a box. When the box is opened, that person is gone, and someone else is chained there instead.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. austere B. esoteric C. facsimile
D. grotesque
E. mesmerize
F. metamorphosis G. notorious H. perfunctory
I. provocative
J. travesty
8. Usually the therapist showed great interest in her patients, but today she was too worried about her own family to give more than __________ responses.
perfunctory
Being worried about her family, she gave uninterested responses.
9. My sister’s dormitory room is rather _________, with cement-block walls and bare floors, but she’s made it less stark by hanging colorful posters and adding bright bedspreads and cushions.
austere
Page 82 in textbook.
If the room was stark, it was without decoration.
10. The magician David Copperfield does a trick called “_____________.” One person is chained and locked in a box. When the box is opened, that person is gone, and someone else is chained there instead.
Metamorphosis
The trick results in the transformation of one person into someone else.