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

2. Unit Three: Chapter 13 • elaborate • indifferent • emerge • indulge
• exotic • liberal
• frugal • mediocre
• impulsive • notable
Page 114 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 elaborate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 elaborate
– adjective
• The dinner required elaborate preparation. Each course included a complicated favorite dish of one of the guests.
• Irma’s quilt was very elaborate. She used tiny stitches to sew together hundreds of fabric pieces.
Elaborate means
A. easy and simple to do.
B. detailed.
C. ordinary.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
An elaborate
tile pattern

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 elaborate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 elaborate
– adjective
• The dinner required elaborate preparation. Each course included a complicated favorite dish of one of the guests.
• Irma’s quilt was very elaborate. She used tiny stitches to sew together hundreds of fabric pieces.
Elaborate means
A. easy and simple to do.
B. detailed.
C. ordinary.
Page 114 in textbook.
If each course included a complicated dish, the dinner must have required detailed preparation. The word complicated is a clue. If hundreds of pieces of fabric are sewed together with tiny stitches, the quilt must be very detailed.
An elaborate
tile pattern

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 emerge – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 emerge
– verb
• Anna emerged from the dressing room, looking beautiful in a blue prom gown.
• When the chick emerged from its egg, it was tired and wet, but a day later it was a fluffy yellow ball of energy.
Emerge means
A. to come out.
B. to trip.
C. to call out.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A prairie dog emerging
from its hole
Photo: National Park Service

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 emerge – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 emerge
– verb
• Anna emerged from the dressing room, looking beautiful in a blue prom gown.
• When the chick emerged from its egg, it was tired and wet, but a day later it was a fluffy yellow ball of energy.
Emerge means
A. to come out.
B. to trip.
C. to call out.
Page 114 in textbook.
Anna would come out of the dressing room looking beautiful. A chick would be wet and tired after it came out of its shell.
A prairie dog emerging
from its hole
Photo: National Park Service

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 exotic – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exotic
– adjective
• Orchids are grown in the United States, not just in foreign countries. So Americans really should not consider these flowers exotic.
• The kiwi fruit, grown in New Zealand, is one of several exotic fruits now commonly sold in supermarkets.
Exotic means
A. local.
B. foreign.
C. rare.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 exotic – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exotic
– adjective
• Orchids are grown in the United States, not just in foreign countries. So Americans really should not consider these flowers exotic.
• The kiwi fruit, grown in New Zealand, is one of several exotic fruits now commonly sold in supermarkets.
Exotic means
A. local.
B. foreign.
C. rare.
Page 114 in textbook.
If orchids are grown in the United States, Americans should not consider them foreign. If kiwi is grown in New Zealand, it is a foreign fruit (unless you live in New Zealand).

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 frugal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 frugal
– adjective
• You can stretch your dollars by being frugal. For example, using store coupons and waiting for expensive items to be on sale can save a lot of money.
• Diane buys designer jeans, but because I need to be more frugal, I buy store-brand jeans, which are much cheaper.
Frugal means
A. hardworking.
B. lucky.
C. thrifty.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 frugal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 frugal
– adjective
• You can stretch your dollars by being frugal. For example, using store coupons and waiting for expensive items to be on sale can save a lot of money.
• Diane buys designer jeans, but because I need to be more frugal, I buy store-brand jeans, which are much cheaper.
Frugal means
A. hardworking.
B. lucky.
C. thrifty.
Page 114 in textbook.
Using coupons and waiting for sales are ways of being thrifty. Buying cheaper store-brand jeans is also a way of being thrifty.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 impulsive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 impulsive
– adjective
• Ved is too impulsive to make plans. He always prefers to act on the spur of the moment.
• Kids are usually more impulsive than adults. Children will follow such sudden urges as the desire to climb a tree even if they are wearing their best clothes.
Impulsive means
A. fearful.
B. careful.
C. acting without a plan.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 impulsive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 impulsive
– adjective
• Ved is too impulsive to make plans. He always prefers to act on the spur of the moment.
• Kids are usually more impulsive than adults. Children will follow such sudden urges as the desire to climb a tree even if they are wearing their best clothes.
Impulsive means
A. fearful.
B. careful.
C. acting without a plan.
Page 114 in textbook.
If Ved acts on the spur of the moment, he acts without a plan. If children follow sudden urges, they are acting without a plan.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 indifferent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indifferent
– adjective
• Does our society have no interest in homeless children? Are we indifferent to the many families who can no longer afford to pay rent?
• Because her husband was indifferent to how the apartment would be decorated, Kaylin felt free to do the job any way she wanted.
Indifferent means
A. interested in.
B. unconcerned with.
C. insulted by.
Page 114 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 indifferent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indifferent
– adjective
• Does our society have no interest in homeless children? Are we indifferent to the many families who can no longer afford to pay rent?
• Because her husband was indifferent to how the apartment would be decorated, Kaylin felt free to do the job any way she wanted.
Indifferent means
A. interested in.
B. unconcerned with.
C. insulted by.
Page 114 in textbook.
If our society has no interest in homeless children, we are unconcerned with them. If Kaylin could do the job any way she wanted, her husband must have been unconcerned with how the apartment was decorated.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 indulgent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 indulgent
– adjective
• Monica’s grandparents are too indulgent with her. They don’t scold her even when she splatters the walls with baby food.
• I’m surprised at Robin’s self-indulgent attitude. It never occurs to her not to give in to every little desire she has.
Indulgent means
A. strict.
B. giving in.
C. not caring.
Page 115 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 indulgent – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 indulgent
– adjective
• Monica’s grandparents are too indulgent with her. They don’t scold her even when she splatters the walls with baby food.
• I’m surprised at Robin’s self-indulgent attitude. It never occurs to her not to give in to every little desire she has.
Indulgent means
A. strict.
B. giving in.
C. not caring.
Page 115 in textbook.
If Monica’s grandparents don’t even scold her when she splatters the walls, they must give in to her no matter what she does or wants. In the second item, the words give in tell you the meaning of indulgent.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 liberal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 liberal
– adjective
• Being a chocolate lover, Amos puts liberal amounts of chocolate chips in his Toll House cookies.
• Norma left the waiter a liberal tip because he had been especially friendly and helpful.
Liberal means
A. average.
B. frequent.
C. generous.
Page 115 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 liberal – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 liberal
– adjective
• Being a chocolate lover, Amos puts liberal amounts of chocolate chips in his Toll House cookies.
• Norma left the waiter a liberal tip because he had been especially friendly and helpful.
Liberal means
A. average.
B. frequent.
C. generous.
Page 115 in textbook.
If Amos is a chocolate lover, he would put generous amounts of chocolate chips in his cookies. It the waiter was especially friendly and helpful, Norma would leave a generous tip.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 mediocre – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 mediocre
– adjective
• The mystery movie was neither terrible nor great; it was just mediocre.
• Although Hank can be quite funny, his jokes are only mediocre compared with those of the best comedians.
Mediocre means
A. ordinary.
B. awful.
C. short.
Page 115 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 mediocre – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 mediocre
– adjective
• The mystery movie was neither terrible nor great; it was just mediocre.
• Although Hank can be quite funny, his jokes are only mediocre compared with those of the best comedians.
Mediocre means
A. ordinary.
B. awful.
C. short.
Page 115 in textbook.
If the movie was neither terrible nor great, it was ordinary. Compared with the jokes of the best comedians, Hank’s jokes are ordinary.

21. Photo: National Park Service
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 notable
– adjective
• Winning the Nobel Prize can make a little-known scientist into a notable world figure.
• Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is surely his most notable speech, especially among the many Americans who memorized it in school.
Notable means
A. ineffective.
B. well-known.
C. generous.
Page 115 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.
A notable statue
Photo: National Park Service

22. Photo: National Park Service
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 notable
– adjective
• Winning the Nobel Prize can make a little-known scientist into a notable world figure.
• Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is surely his most notable speech, especially among the many Americans who memorized it in school.
Notable means
A. ineffective.
B. well-known.
C. generous.
Page 115 in textbook.
Scientists who win the Nobel Prize often become well-known, even if they were little-known before they won it. A speech that many Americans memorized in school must be a well-known speech.
A notable statue
Photo: National Park Service

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
1. Although my father didn’t do badly in school, he wasn’t a great student. So he’s proof it’s possible to have a successful career despite __________ grades.
2. Overly __________ parents, who let young children do whatever they please, will end up with problem teenagers.
Page 116 in textbook.
Answers: 1. mediocre; 2. indulgent
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
1. Although my father didn’t do badly in school, he wasn’t a great student. So he’s proof it’s possible to have a successful career despite __________ grades.
mediocre
If he wasn’t a great student, he must have gotten average grades.
2. Overly __________ parents, who let young children do whatever they please, will end up with problem teenagers.
indulgent
Page 116 in textbook.
Parents who let children do whatever they please would be lenient.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
3. The puppy ________(e)d from her bath much cleaner than when she entered it, but we doubted that she’d stay clean for long.
4. Tran is such a skilled public speaker that we all expect him to become a __________ politician one day.
Page 116 in textbook.
Answers: 3. emerge; 4. notable; 5. liberal
The next slide explains the answers.
5. The boss gave such __________ bonuses that Gail was able to buy a new sofa with the money.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
3. The puppy ____________ from her bath much cleaner than when she entered it, but we doubted that she’d stay clean for long.
emerged
The puppy’s coming out of the bath is contrasted with her entering it.
4. Tran is such a skilled public speaker that we all expect him to become a __________ politician one day.
notable
Page 116 in textbook.
One might expect a skilled public speaker to become a widely known politician.
5. The boss gave such __________ bonuses that Gail was able to buy a new sofa with the money.
liberal
If Gail was able to buy a new sofa, the bonus must have been generous.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
6. Ella embroidered a(n) _________ design on the back of her sweatshirt. She used four colors in a complicated pattern of swirls and flowers.
7. People walked past the bleeding, moaning man without even pausing; they were __________ to his need for help.
Page 116 in textbook.
Answers: 6. elaborate; 7. indifferent
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
6. Ella embroidered an __________ design on the back of her sweatshirt. She used four colors in a complicated pattern of swirls and flowers.
elaborate
The word complicated tells you the meaning of elaborate.
7. People walked past the bleeding, moaning man without even pausing; they were __________ to his need for help.
indifferent
Page 116 in textbook.
If people did not even pause, they must have been unconcerned about the man’s need for help.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
8. “Gowns are so expensive,” Cara said, “that I’ve decided to be __________ and rent a wedding dress instead of buying one.”
9. Bruce, as __________ as ever, suddenly changed his mind about going to a restaurant and announced, “Let’s have a picnic.”
Page 116 in textbook.
Answers: 8. frugal; 9. impulsive; 10. exotic
The next slide explains the answers.
10. A Native American rain dance may seem __________ to many people in the United States, but it is actually more native to this country than square-dancing.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate B. emerge C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent G. indulgent H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
8. “Gowns are so expensive,” Cara said, “that I’ve decided to be __________ and rent a wedding dress instead of buying one.”
frugal
Renting an expensive gown instead of buying one is being thrifty.
9. Bruce, as __________ as ever, suddenly changed his mind about going to a restaurant and announced, “Let’s have a picnic.”
impulsive
Page 116 in textbook.
If Bruce suddenly changed his mind, he was acting on a sudden urge.
10. A Native American rain dance may seem __________ to many people in the United States, but it is actually more native to this country than square-dancing.
exotic
A Native American rain dance may seem foreign to many people in the United States.