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

2. Unit One: Chapter 1 • absolve • antagonist • adamant • eccentric
• amiable • encounter
• amoral • epitome
• animosity • malign
Page 8 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 absolve – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 absolve
– verb
• Since there was not enough evidence of his guilt, the jury had to absolve Mr. Melman of the murder.
• Accused of taking bribes, the mayor said, “In the end, I’ll clear my name and be absolved of any wrongdoing.”
Absolve means
A. to accuse.
B. to clear of guilt.
C. to inform.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 absolve – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 absolve
– verb
• Since there was not enough evidence of his guilt, the jury had to absolve Mr. Melman of the murder.
• Accused of taking bribes, the mayor said, “In the end, I’ll clear my name and be absolved of any wrongdoing.”
Absolve means
A. to accuse.
B. to clear of guilt.
C. to inform.
Page 8 in textbook.
If there was not enough evidence of his guilt, the jury would have to clear Mr. Melman of the murder. In the second item, the words clear my name suggest that absolve means “clear of guilt.”

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 adamant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 adamant
– adjective
• Ron is adamant about not changing plans. He insists we should still camp out even though the weather report now says it will be cold and rainy.
• Adamant in his support of gun control, Senator Keen won’t give in to pressure from powerful opponents.
Adamant means
A. firm.
B. uncertain.
C. flexible.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 adamant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 adamant
– adjective
• Ron is adamant about not changing plans. He insists we should still camp out even though the weather report now says it will be cold and rainy.
• Adamant in his support of gun control, Senator Keen won’t give in to pressure from powerful opponents.
Adamant means
A. firm.
B. uncertain.
C. flexible.
Page 8 in textbook.
If Ron insists on camping out, he is being firm about not changing plans. If Senator Keen won’t give in, he is firm in his support of gun control.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 amiable – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 amiable
– adjective
• My amiable dog greets both strangers and old friends with a happy yip and energetic tail-wagging.
• At first, our history teacher doesn’t seem very friendly, but once you get to know her, she shows her amiable side.
Amiable means
A. intelligent.
B. uncaring.
C. good-natured.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Two people with amiable smiles

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 amiable – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 amiable
– adjective
• My amiable dog greets both strangers and old friends with a happy yip and energetic tail-wagging.
• At first, our history teacher doesn’t seem very friendly, but once you get to know her, she shows her amiable side.
Amiable means
A. intelligent.
B. uncaring.
C. good-natured.
Page 8 in textbook.
If the dog gives a happy yip and wags its tail, it must be a good-natured dog. In contrast to her not seeming friendly at first, the history teacher does have her good-natured side.
Two people with amiable smiles

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 amoral – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 amoral
– adjective
• Jerry is almost totally amoral. He cares only about making money and having fun and couldn’t care less about right or wrong.
• A former president of Uganda, Idi Amin, was truly amoral. He jailed, tortured, and killed innocent opponents without the slightest feeling of guilt.
Amoral means
A. cowardly.
B. lazy.
C. lacking ethical principles.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 amoral 4 amoral – adjective – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 amoral
4 amoral
– adjective
– adjective
• Jerry is almost totally amoral. He cares only about making money and having fun and couldn’t care less about right or wrong.
• A former president of Uganda, Idi Amin, was truly amoral. He jailed, tortured, and killed innocent opponents without the slightest feeling of guilt.
Amoral means
A. cowardly.
B. lazy.
C. lacking ethical principles.
Page 8 in textbook.
If Jerry couldn’t care less about right or wrong, he must be lacking in ethical principles. If Idi Amin jailed, tortured, and killed people without feeling any guilt, he lacked ethical principles.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 animosity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 animosity
– noun
• I was shocked when Sandy said she hated Lionel. I’d never realized she felt such animosity toward him.
• The bad feelings between the two families go back so many generations that nobody remembers what originally caused the animosity.
Animosity means
A. strong dislike.
B. admiration.
C. great fear.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 animosity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 animosity
– noun
• I was shocked when Sandy said she hated Lionel. I’d never realized she felt such animosity toward him.
• The bad feelings between the two families go back so many generations that nobody remembers what originally caused the animosity.
Animosity means
A. strong dislike.
B. admiration.
C. great fear.
Page 8 in textbook.
In the first item, the word hated suggests that animosity means “strong dislike.” In the second item, if there are bad feelings between the two families, there must be a strong dislike.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 antagonist – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 antagonist
– noun
• At the divorce hearing, the husband and wife were such bitter antagonists that it was hard to believe they had once loved each other.
• In the ring, the two boxers were antagonists, but in their private lives, they were good friends.
Antagonist means
A. a supporter.
B. an enemy.
C. an example.
Page 8 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 antagonist – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 antagonist
– noun
• At the divorce hearing, the husband and wife were such bitter antagonists that it was hard to believe they had once loved each other.
• In the ring, the two boxers were antagonists, but in their private lives, they were good friends.
Antagonist means
A. a supporter.
B. an enemy.
C. an example.
Page 8 in textbook.
A divorce can sometimes turn a husband and wife into bitter enemies. In the second item, the fact that the boxers were friends in private is contrasted with the fact that they were enemies in the ring.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 eccentric – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 eccentric
– adjective
• Bruce is quite eccentric. For example, he lives in a circular house and rides to work on a motorcycle, in a three-piece suit.
• Florence Nightingale, the famous nursing reformer, had the eccentric habit of carrying a pet owl around in one of her pockets.
Eccentric means
A. ordinary.
B. odd.
C. careful.
Page 9 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
Musicians in eccentric costumes
playing eccentric instruments

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 eccentric – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 eccentric
– adjective
• Bruce is quite eccentric. For example, he lives in a circular house and rides to work on a motorcycle, in a three-piece suit.
• Florence Nightingale, the famous nursing reformer, had the eccentric habit of carrying a pet owl around in one of her pockets.
Eccentric means
A. ordinary.
B. odd.
C. careful.
Page 9 in textbook.
The first item gives two examples of ways in which Bruce is odd—his house and his choice of motorcycle clothing. Carrying a pet owl in one’s pocket is an odd habit.
Musicians in eccentric costumes
playing eccentric instruments

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 encounter – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 encounter
– noun
• My encounter with Malik in a Los Angeles supermarket surprised me, since I thought he still lived in Chicago.
• I dislike returning to my small hometown, where I am likely to have encounters with people who knew me as a troubled kid.
Encounter means
A. a thought.
B. a dinner.
C. a meeting.
Page 9 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 encounter – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 encounter
– noun
• My encounter with Malik in a Los Angeles supermarket surprised me, since I thought he still lived in Chicago.
• I dislike returning to my small hometown, where I am likely to have encounters with people who knew me as a troubled kid.
Encounter means
A. a thought.
B. a dinner.
C. a meeting.
Page 9 in textbook.
If one thinks Malik lives in Chicago, meeting him in a Los Angeles supermarket would be a surprise. Returning to one’s small hometown, one is likely to have unexpected meetings with people from one’s past.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 epitome – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 epitome
– noun
• To many, the epitome of cuteness is a furry, round-eyed puppy.
• The great ballplayer and civil rights leader Jackie Robinson was the epitome of both physical and moral strength.
Epitome means
A. a perfect model.
B. an opposite.
C. a main cause.
Page 9 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 epitome – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 epitome
– noun
• To many, the epitome of cuteness is a furry, round-eyed puppy.
• The great ballplayer and civil rights leader Jackie Robinson was the epitome of both physical and moral strength.
Epitome means
A. a perfect model.
B. an opposite.
C. a main cause.
Page 9 in textbook.
Many would consider a furry, round-eyed puppy the perfect model of cuteness. If Robinson was a great ballplayer and a civil rights leader, he must have been the perfect model of physical and moral strength.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 malign – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 malign
– verb
• That vicious Hollywood reporter often maligns movie stars, forever damaging their public images.
• Stacy refuses to malign her ex-husband, even though he was the one who insisted on the divorce.
Malign means
A. to praise.
B. to recognize.
C. to speak ill of.
Page 9 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 malign – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 malign
– verb
• That vicious Hollywood reporter often maligns movie stars, forever damaging their public images.
• Stacy refuses to malign her ex-husband, even though he was the one who insisted on the divorce.
Malign means
A. to praise.
B. to recognize.
C. to speak ill of.
Page 9 in textbook.
If the vicious reporter forever damages the stars’ public images, he must speak ill of the stars. Stacy refuses to speak ill of her ex-husband, in spite of his insistence on the divorce.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
1. Lilly was ____________ in her belief that Sam was a genius at business. Even after his first two companies failed, she still had faith in him.
2. My brothers had planned to meet in the restaurant, but their __________ took place in the parking lot.
Page 10 in textbook.
Answers: 1. adamant; 2. encounter
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
1. Lilly was ____________ in her belief that Sam was a genius at business. Even after his first two companies failed, she still had faith in him.
adamant
If Lilly still had faith in Sam, she was stubborn in her belief.
2. My brothers had planned to meet in the restaurant, but their __________ took place in the parking lot.
encounter
Page 10 in textbook.
The word meet suggests that encounter means “a meeting.”

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
3. I’m tired of hearing the two candidates for governor __________ each other with stupid insults.
4. Because he doesn’t want to lose a sale, Mac remains polite and __________ even when he’s annoyed with a customer.
Page 10 in textbook.
Answers: 3. malign; 4. amiable; 5. amoral
The next slide explains the answers.
5. Some criminals are truly ____________—they don’t see that some actions are right and that others are wrong.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
3. I’m tired of hearing the two candidates for governor __________ each other with stupid insults.
malign
If the candidates are trading insults, they are speaking ill of one another.
4. Because he doesn’t want to lose a sale, Mac remains polite and __________ even when he’s annoyed with a customer.
amiable
Page 10 in textbook.
In contrast with Mac’s being annoyed, he remains polite and friendly.
5. Some criminals are truly ____________—they don’t see that some actions are right and that others are wrong.
amoral
A person who doesn’t see that some actions are right and others are wrong is lacking in moral sense.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
6. The __________ of refreshment is drinking an ice-cold lemonade on a sizzling hot day.
7. Jed was _______(e)d of stealing money from the company, but the damage the accusation did to his reputation remained.
Page 10 in textbook.
Answers: 6. epitome; 7. absolve
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
6. The __________ of refreshment is drinking an ice-cold lemonade on a sizzling hot day.
epitome
Ice-cold lemonade on a sizzling hot day would be the perfect example of refreshment.
7. Jed was __________ of stealing money from the company, but the damage the accusation did to his reputation remained.
absolved
Page 10 in textbook.
The damage to Jed’s reputation remained in spite of his being found innocent of stealing money.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
8. The owners of the department store were always competing with each other. They acted more like _________s than partners.
9. I avoid serious discussions with my sister because she shows great __________ toward me if I don’t share her opinion.
Page 10 in textbook.
Answers: 8. antagonist; 9. animosity; 10. eccentric
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Today it’s not odd for females to learn carpentry, but when my mother went to high school, girls who took wood shop were considered __________.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. absolve B. adamant C. amiable
D. amoral
E. animosity
F. antagonist G. eccentric H. encounter
I. epitome
J. malign
8. The owners of the department store were always competing with each other. They acted more like __________ than partners.
antagonists
If the owners were always competing, they acted like opponents.
9. I avoid serious discussions with my sister because she shows great __________ toward me if I don’t share her opinion.
animosity
Page 10 in textbook.
If the brother avoids serious discussions, it must be because his sister shows hostility toward him.
10. Today it’s not odd for females to learn carpentry, but when my mother went to high school, girls who took wood shop were considered __________.
eccentric
In the past, it would have been considered odd for a girl to take wood shop.