1. Second Edition BETH JOHNSON JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
ADVANCED WORD POWER
Second Edition
BETH JOHNSON
JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
© Townsend Press

2. Unit One: Chapter 4 • brevity • querulous • clemency • reproach
• frivolous • respite
• heist • torpor
• lampoon • unscathed
Page 20 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 brevity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 brevity
– noun
• Everyone was surprised by the brevity of the principal’s speech at graduation. He spoke for less than five minutes.
• President Calvin Coolidge was famous for the brevity of his remarks. When a woman told him, “I have a bet that I can get you to say three words to me!” his response was, “You lose.”
Brevity means
A. strength.
B. intelligence.
C. briefness.
The brevity
of a flash
of lightning
captured
on camera
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: NOAA

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 brevity – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 brevity
– noun
• Everyone was surprised by the brevity of the principal’s speech at graduation. He spoke for less than five minutes.
• President Calvin Coolidge was famous for the brevity of his remarks. When a woman told him, “I have a bet that I can get you to say three words to me!” his response was, “You lose.”
Brevity means
A. strength.
B. intelligence.
C. briefness.
The brevity
of a flash
of lightning
captured
on camera
Page 20 in textbook.
A graduation speech lasting for less than five minutes is unusually brief. Coolidge’s two-word refusal to speak even three words illustrates his characteristic briefness in speaking.
Photo: NOAA

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 clemency – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 clemency
– noun
• A good teacher knows when to show clemency. For instance, if a student has been working very hard but does poorly on one quiz, the teacher might offer not to count that score.
• The convicted murderer was executed, even though religious leaders asked the court to show clemency and reduce his sentence to life in prison.
Clemency means
A. mercy.
B. haste.
C. strength.
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 clemency – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 clemency
– noun
• A good teacher knows when to show clemency. For instance, if a student has been working very hard but does poorly on one quiz, the teacher might offer not to count that score.
• The convicted murderer was executed, even though religious leaders asked the court to show clemency and reduce his sentence to life in prison.
Clemency means
A. mercy.
B. haste.
C. strength.
Page 20 in textbook.
Not counting an unusual low quiz score shows the teacher’s mercy for a hard-working student. Instead of showing mercy by allowing the convict to remain alive, the court ordered him to be executed.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 frivolous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 frivolous
– adjective
• Do you feel like seeing a serious movie, or one that’s more frivolous?
• We were laughing over some ridiculous joke when the news of our friend’s injury put an end to our frivolous mood.
Frivolous means
A. lighthearted.
B. cold-hearted.
C. brokenhearted.
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 frivolous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 frivolous
– adjective
• Do you feel like seeing a serious movie, or one that’s more frivolous?
• We were laughing over some ridiculous joke when the news of our friend’s injury put an end to our frivolous mood.
Frivolous means
A. lighthearted.
B. cold-hearted.
C. brokenhearted.
Page 20 in textbook.
A serious movie is contrasted with one that is lighthearted.
A ridiculous joke had put the friends in a lighthearted mood.

9. A bank heist in progress
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 heist
– noun
• Hollywood loves making heist movies. A few of the robbery-themed movies of recent years include Ocean’s Eleven, Catch Me If You Can, and Snatch.
• The police believe three people were involved in the jewelry-store heist: the lookout, the thief, and the driver of the getaway car.
Heist means
A. a purchase.
B. an imitation.
C. a theft.
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.
A bank heist in progress
Photo: FBI

10. A bank heist in progress
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 heist
– noun
• Hollywood loves making heist movies. A few of the robbery-themed movies of recent years include Ocean’s Eleven, Catch Me If You Can, and Snatch.
• The police believe three people were involved in the jewelry-store heist: the lookout, the thief, and the driver of the getaway car.
Heist means
A. a purchase.
B. an imitation.
C. a theft.
Page 20 in textbook.
The word robbery suggests that heist means “theft.” The words lookout, thief, and getaway car suggest that these three people were involved in a theft.
A bank heist in progress
Photo: FBI

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 lampoon – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 lampoon
– verb
• Someone in our office lampooned all our paperwork by circulating a six-page form to be submitted, in triplicate, by anyone who wanted a pencil. Several humorless employees actually filled it out.
• The funny movie Tropic Thunder lampoons a number of targets: the washed-up action star, the rapper-turned-actor, and the obnoxious Hollywood agent.
Lampoon means
A. to summarize.
B. to make fun of.
C. to praise.
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 lampoon – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 lampoon
– verb
• Someone in our office lampooned all our paperwork by circulating a six-page form to be submitted, in triplicate, by anyone who wanted a pencil. Several humorless employees actually filled it out.
• The funny movie Tropic Thunder lampoons a number of targets: the washed-up action star, the rapper-turned-actor, and the obnoxious Hollywood agent.
Lampoon means
A. to summarize.
B. to make fun of.
C. to praise.
Page 20 in textbook.
The humorless employees didn’t realize that the phony six-page form was intended to make fun of all the actual paperwork required. In the second item, the word funny suggests that lampoon means “to make fun of.”

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 querulous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 querulous
– adjective
• Although Mr. Hackman frequently says, “I don’t like to complain,” his conversation is full of querulous comments about all the things that upset him.
• The spoiled little boy looked at his pile of birthday presents and said in a querulous voice, “There aren’t very many of them, are there?”
Querulous means
A. shaky.
B. dishonest.
C. discontented.
Page 20 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 querulous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 querulous
– adjective
• Although Mr. Hackman frequently says, “I don’t like to complain,” his conversation is full of querulous comments about all the things that upset him.
• The spoiled little boy looked at his pile of birthday presents and said in a querulous voice, “There aren’t very many of them, are there?”
Querulous means
A. shaky.
B. dishonest.
C. discontented.
Page 20 in textbook.
Since Mr. Hackman fills his conversation with complaints about things that upset him, he must be quite discontented. The spoiled boy must be discontented if he thinks he didn’t receive many presents.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 reproach – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 reproach
– noun
• The kids deserve some words of reproach for making such a mess of the house while their parents were away.
• During the campaign, both candidates drew reproach from the newspapers for making untruthful statements and generally behaving very badly.
Reproach means
A. thanks.
B. disapproval.
C. respect.
Page 21 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 reproach – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 reproach
– noun
• The kids deserve some words of reproach for making such a mess of the house while their parents were away.
• During the campaign, both candidates drew reproach from the newspapers for making untruthful statements and generally behaving very badly.
Reproach means
A. thanks.
B. disapproval.
C. respect.
Page 21 in textbook.
Most parents would express disapproval if their children made a mess of the house while they were away. Most newspapers would express disapproval if candidates lied and behaved badly.

17. A moment of respite for heroic firefighters
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 respite
– noun
• Emergency-room doctors work long shifts. Their only respite is a short nap on a couch.
• Twice a week, a nurse spends an afternoon at the Hendersons’ house, so that Mrs. Henderson can have some respite from caring for her sick husband.
Respite means
A. time off.
B. a salary.
C. a mark of respect.
Page 21 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
Photo: Michael Rieger/FEMA
A moment of respite for heroic firefighters

18. A moment of respite for heroic firefighters
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 respite
– noun
• Emergency-room doctors work long shifts. Their only respite is a short nap on a couch.
• Twice a week, a nurse spends an afternoon at the Hendersons’ house, so that Mrs. Henderson can have some respite from caring for her sick husband.
Respite means
A. time off.
B. a salary.
C. a mark of respect.
Page 21 in textbook.
Short naps give doctors time off from their duties. The visiting nurse gives Mrs. Henderson time off from caring for her sick husband.
Photo: Michael Rieger/FEMA
A moment of respite for heroic firefighters

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 torpor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 torpor
– noun
• When Brendan took a midwinter vacation in Florida, the unaccustomed heat drained his energy. His torpor was so overwhelming that all he wanted to do was lie in a hammock.
• The sleepy little town seemed to doze peacefully through the summer afternoon. It looked as if nothing could rouse it from its torpor.
Torpor means
A. hostility.
B. curiosity.
C. drowsiness.
Page 21 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 torpor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 torpor
– noun
• When Brendan took a midwinter vacation in Florida, the unaccustomed heat drained his energy. His torpor was so overwhelming that all he wanted to do was lie in a hammock.
• The sleepy little town seemed to doze peacefully through the summer afternoon. It looked as if nothing could rouse it from its torpor.
Torpor means
A. hostility.
B. curiosity.
C. drowsiness.
Page 21 in textbook.
If Brendan was so drained of energy that all he wanted to do was lie in a hammock, he must have been overwhelmed by drowsiness. The words sleepy and doze suggest that torpor means “drowsiness.”

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 unscathed – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 unscathed
– adjective
• “Thanks to my seat belt,” said Jermaine, “I was able to walk away from the collision unscathed. Without it, I would probably have been badly injured.”
• When her best friend began dating her ex-boyfriend, Mimi lamented, “I wish I could say that this has left me unscathed. But the truth is I feel hurt and betrayed.”
Unscathed means
A. strengthened.
B. angry.
C. unhurt.
Page 21 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 unscathed – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 unscathed
– adjective
• “Thanks to my seat belt,” said Jermaine, “I was able to walk away from the collision unscathed. Without it, I would probably have been badly injured.”
• When her best friend began dating her ex-boyfriend, Mimi lamented, “I wish I could say that this has left me unscathed. But the truth is I feel hurt and betrayed.”
Unscathed means
A. strengthened.
B. angry.
C. unhurt.
Page 21 in textbook.
In the first item, being badly injured is contrasted with being unhurt. In the second item, feeling hurt and betrayed is contrasted with remaining unhurt.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
1. Feeling __________ on a sunny Saturday morning, I treated myself to a manicure rather than doing the housework that was waiting for me.
2. In the action movie, the attempted __________ of a famous painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, was prevented by a beautiful young art student and a quick-thinking security guard.
Page 22 in textbook.
Answers: 1. frivolous; 2. heist
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
1. Feeling __________ on a sunny Saturday morning, I treated myself to a manicure rather than doing the housework that was waiting for me.
frivolous
Getting a manicure is less serious and sensible than doing housework.
2. In the action movie, the attempted __________ of a famous painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, was prevented by a beautiful young art student and a quick-thinking security guard.
heist
Page 22 in textbook.
The job of security guards is to prevent acts of stealing.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
3. Since the shoplifting incident was James’s first such offense, the court showed __________ and only fined him, rather than sending him to jail.
4. That teacher’s classes are famous for their __________. He frequently runs out of material halfway through the class and, with a brusque° “That’s all for today,” lets his students leave early.
Page 22 in textbook.
Answers: 3. clemency; 4. brevity; 5. querulous
The next slide explains the answers.
5. At a restaurant last night, I could not help overhearing the incredibly __________ man at the next table. He complained to the waiter that the napkins were too thin, the soup was too hot, the ice cubes were too small, and the holes in the salt shaker were too large.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
3. Since the shoplifting incident was James’s first such offense, the court showed __________ and only fined him, rather than sending him to jail.
clemency
A fine is a more lenient judgment than a jail sentence.
4. That teacher’s classes are famous for their __________. He frequently runs out of material halfway through the class and, with a brusque° “That’s all for today,” lets his students leave early.
brevity
Page 22 in textbook.
The classes must be short in duration if they last only half the period.
5. At a restaurant last night, I could not help overhearing the incredibly __________ man at the next table. He complained to the waiter that the napkins were too thin, the soup was too hot, the ice cubes were too small, and the holes in the salt shaker were too large.
querulous
The man’s constant fault-finding shows he was whining and complaining.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
6. After a snake eats, it generally falls into a state of __________ for a day or more, barely moving or even breathing.
7. Our cat fell out of an attic window but walked away __________.
Page 22 in textbook.
Answers: 6. torpor; 7. unscathed
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
6. After a snake eats, it generally falls into a state of __________ for a day or more, barely moving or even breathing.
torpor
A snake that is barely moving is in a state of physical inactivity.
7. Our cat fell out of an attic window but walked away __________.
unscathed
If the cat was able to walk away after falling from an attic, it must not have been injured by the plunge.
Page 22 in textbook.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
8. The very funny online Onion News Network ________s 24-hour news networks with absurd stories like “NASCAR Coach Reveals Winning Strategy: ‘Drive Fast.’”
9. I spend Thursday mornings at my sister’s house, giving her some __________ from her very active two-year-old twins.
Page 22 in textbook.
Answers: 8. lampoon; 9. respite; 10. reproach
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Charisse is a very forgiving person. Although she had every right to be angry at me for what I did, she accepted my apology without a word of __________.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. brevity B. clemency C. frivolous
D. heist
E. lampoon
F. querulous G. reproach H. respite
I. torpor
J. unscathed
8. The very funny online Onion News Network _________ 24-hour news networks with absurd stories like “NASCAR Coach Reveals Winning Strategy: ‘Drive Fast.’”
lampoons
The item describes a humorous imitation of a news story.
9. I spend Thursday mornings at my sister’s house, giving her some __________ from her very active two-year-old twins.
respite
Page 22 in textbook.
Once a week, the sister has a short period of relief from caring for her children.
10. Charisse is a very forgiving person. Although she had every right to be angry at me for what I did, she accepted my apology without a word of __________.
reproach
The word forgiving suggests that Charisse accepted the apology without criticism or blame.