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

2. Unit Five: Chapter 27 • data • morbid • inept • obstinate
• innate • parallel
• intervene • perceptive
• lament • sedate
Page 152 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 data – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 data
– noun
• Marva considers the available data on a car—including its fuel economy, safety, and repair record—before deciding whether to buy it.
• Jane Goodall collected important data on chimpanzees by observing them in the wild.
Data means
A. dates.
B. information.
C. goals.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 data – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 data
– noun
• Marva considers the available data on a car—including its fuel economy, safety, and repair record—before deciding whether to buy it.
• Jane Goodall collected important data on chimpanzees by observing them in the wild.
Data means
A. dates.
B. information.
C. goals.
Page 152 in textbook.
Fuel economy, safety, and repair record are three examples of information that is available about cars. Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees in order to collect information on them.

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 inept – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 inept
– adjective
• I am so inept at carpentry that in my hand, a hammer is a dangerous weapon.
• Since the actress was inept at playing comic characters, she decided to try out only for dramatic roles.
Inept means
A. effective.
B. unskilled.
C. calm.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 inept – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 inept
– adjective
• I am so inept at carpentry that in my hand, a hammer is a dangerous weapon.
• Since the actress was inept at playing comic characters, she decided to try out only for dramatic roles.
Inept means
A. effective.
B. unskilled.
C. calm.
Page 152 in textbook.
One would have to be unskilled at carpentry for a hammer to be a dangerous weapon. If the actress decided to try out only for dramatic roles, she must be unskilled at playing comic characters.

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 innate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 innate
– adjective
• Rick’s musical ability must be innate. Even as a young child, he could play the piano by ear and make up his own songs.
• Psychologists try to learn which of our abilities and interests are innate and which of them we gain through experience.
Innate means
A. present from birth.
B. worthwhile.
C. learned through experience.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 innate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 innate
– adjective
• Rick’s musical ability must be innate. Even as a young child, he could play the piano by ear and make up his own songs.
• Psychologists try to learn which of our abilities and interests are innate and which of them we gain through experience.
Innate means
A. present from birth.
B. worthwhile.
C. learned through experience.
Page 152 in textbook.
If Rick could play the piano by ear as a young child, his musical ability must have been present from birth. In the second item, abilities gained through experience are contrasted with those that are present from birth.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 intervene – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 intervene
– verb
• The two boxers would have killed each other if the referee hadn’t finally intervened.
• When my brothers argue, I get out of the way rather than trying to intervene.
Intervene means
A. to leave.
B. to pass through.
C. to come between.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 intervene – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 intervene
– verb
• The two boxers would have killed each other if the referee hadn’t finally intervened.
• When my brothers argue, I get out of the way rather than trying to intervene.
Intervene means
A. to leave.
B. to pass through.
C. to come between.
Page 152 in textbook.
The referee would have to come between the boxers in order to prevent them from killing each other. In the second item, getting out of the way is contrasted with coming between the fighting brothers.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 lament – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 lament
– verb
• When her mother died, Evelyn lamented her passing for weeks, crying every day.
• Blues songs lament loneliness, sadness, and the hardships of life, rather than celebrating happy situations.
Lament means
A. to mourn.
B. to doubt.
C. to disturb.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 lament – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 lament
– verb
• When her mother died, Evelyn lamented her passing for weeks, crying every day.
• Blues songs lament loneliness, sadness, and the hardships of life, rather than celebrating happy situations.
Lament means
A. to mourn.
B. to doubt.
C. to disturb.
Page 152 in textbook.
If Evelyn cried every day, she must have mourned her mother’s death. In the second sentence, mourning sad situations is contrasted with celebrating happy situations.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 morbid – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 morbid
– adjective
• Great comedians can turn a topic as morbid as murder into a source of laughter.
• On Halloween, sweet little Nickie chose a morbid costume—a disgusting-looking monster with a “bloody” hand and hatchet.
Morbid means
A. horrible.
B. convenient.
C. boring.
Page 152 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 morbid – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 morbid
– adjective
• Great comedians can turn a topic as morbid as murder into a source of laughter.
• On Halloween, sweet little Nickie chose a morbid costume—a disgusting-looking monster with a “bloody” hand and hatchet.
Morbid means
A. horrible.
B. convenient.
C. boring.
Page 152 in textbook.
Murder is usually a horrible topic. In the second item, a disgusting-looking monster with a “bloody” hand and hatchet would be a horrible costume.

15. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 obstinate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 obstinate
– adjective
• No matter how much I urged him, Andrew remained obstinate— he refused to make up with Lonnell, who was once his best friend.
• My father is usually very obstinate, but not with his sister, who is even more stubborn than he is.
Obstinate means
A. lazy.
B. dishonest.
C. stubborn.
Page 153 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

16. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 7 obstinate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 obstinate
– adjective
• No matter how much I urged him, Andrew remained obstinate— he refused to make up with Lonnell, who was once his best friend.
• My father is usually very obstinate, but not with his sister, who is even more stubborn than he is.
Obstinate means
A. lazy.
B. dishonest.
C. stubborn.
Page 153 in textbook.
If Andrew refused to make up with his former best friend Lonnell, he was being stubborn. In the second item, the word stubborn tells you the meaning of obstinate.

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 parallel – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 parallel
– adjective
• To make the stripes he was painting parallel, Alexei measured to be sure there were exactly three inches between them at the top, middle, and bottom.
• Parallel lines run alongside each other but never meet.
Parallel means
A. clear.
B. apart an equal distance at every point.
C. going up and down.
Page 153 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 parallel – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 parallel
– adjective
• To make the stripes he was painting parallel, Alexei measured to be sure there were exactly three inches between them at the top, middle, and bottom.
• Parallel lines run alongside each other but never meet.
Parallel means
A. clear.
B. apart an equal distance at every point.
C. going up and down.
Page 153 in textbook.
In the first item, the lines are parallel because they are apart an equal distance at every point. In the second item, if the lines run alongside each other but never meet, they must be apart an equal distance at every point.

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 perceptive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 perceptive
– adjective
• Children are more perceptive than many people think. They can usually sense their parents’ moods and know whether or not it is a good time to ask for something.
• Professor Banks is very perceptive. She always seems to know which of her students are under unusual stress.
Perceptive means
A. detached.
B. aware.
C. selfish.
Page 153 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 perceptive – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 perceptive
– adjective
• Children are more perceptive than many people think. They can usually sense their parents’ moods and know whether or not it is a good time to ask for something.
• Professor Banks is very perceptive. She always seems to know which of her students are under unusual stress.
Perceptive means
A. detached.
B. aware.
C. selfish.
Page 153 in textbook.
If children can sense their parents’ moods, they must be aware. If Professor Banks always knows which students are under stress, she must be aware.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 sedate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 sedate
– adjective
• While the officer wrote out the ticket, Beverly remained sedate, and then she even wished him a pleasant day. But after he left, she pounded the steering wheel and screamed, “Why me!?”
• An experienced surgeon, Dr. Greenbaum remains sedate even in an emergency, performing the most complicated operations with complete self-control.
Sedate means
A. angry.
B. doubtful.
C. calm.
Page 153 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 sedate – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 sedate
– adjective
• While the officer wrote out the ticket, Beverly remained sedate, and then she even wished him a pleasant day. But after he left, she pounded the steering wheel and screamed, “Why me!?”
• An experienced surgeon, Dr. Greenbaum remains sedate even in an emergency, performing the most complicated operations with complete self-control.
Sedate means
A. angry.
B. doubtful.
C. calm.
Page 153 in textbook.
In contrast with pounding the steering wheel and screaming, Beverly remained calm while the officer was present. In the second item, the words complete self control suggest that sedate means “calm.”

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
1. For his psychology experiment, Rudy is gathering ________ to show which memory aids work best for students.
2. I’m so _________ at bowling that I usually roll the ball straight into the gutter.
Page 154 in textbook.
Answers: 1. data; 2. inept
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
1. For his psychology experiment, Rudy is gathering ________ to show which memory aids work best for students.
data
If Rudy is doing an experiment, he would gather information for his study.
2. I’m so _________ at bowling that I usually roll the ball straight into the gutter.
inept
Page 154 in textbook.
Someone who usually rolls the ball into the gutter must be unskillful at bowling.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
3. The child had nightmares after he listened to a(n) _______ story about Dracula that was full of attacks by vampires.
4. While my dog gets excited easily, my cat remains _________ even when everyone around her is in a whirl of activity.
Page 154 in textbook.
Answers: 3. morbid; 4. sedate; 5. parallel
The next slide explains the answers.
5. When you frame a picture, the picture’s edges should be __________ to those of the frame, not dipping down or slanting up.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
3. The child had nightmares after he listened to a _______ story about Dracula that was full of attacks by vampires.
morbid
A story that is full of attacks by vampires would be gruesome.
4. While my dog gets excited easily, my cat remains _________ even when everyone around her is in a whirl of activity.
sedate
Page 154 in textbook.
In contrast with the dog who get excited easily, the cat remains calm.
5. When you frame a picture, the picture’s edges should be __________ to those of the frame, not dipping down or slanting up.
parallel
The edge of a picture should be the same distance from the frame at every point.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. delete B. impartial C. integrity D. legitimate E. lenient
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. menace G. morale H. naive I. overt J. undermine
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
6. Kwan is so __________ that she often correctly judges a person’s character after a brief conversation.
7. When children get into a fight, it is sometimes best not to __________, but to let them work it out themselves.
Page 154 in textbook.
Answers: 6. perceptive; 7. intervene
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. delete B. impartial C. integrity D. legitimate E. lenient
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
F. menace G. morale H. naive I. overt J. undermine
I. perceptive
J. sedate
6. Kwan is so __________ that she often correctly judges a person’s character after a brief conversation.
perceptive
If Kwan can correctly judge a person’s character so quickly, she must be insightful.
7. When children get into a fight, it is sometimes best not to __________, but to let them work it out themselves.
intervene
Page 154 in textbook.
If the children are to work it out themselves, one must not come between them to influence their actions.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. delete B. impartial C. integrity D. legitimate E. lenient
A. data B. inept C. innate
D. intervene
E. lament
F. menace G. morale H. naive I. overt J. undermine
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
I. perceptive
J. sedate
8. Shawna tried to persuade her son to join the family for dinner, but he was __________, refusing to leave his room no matter what she said.
9. People all over the United States _______(e)d the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., who is now honored with a national holiday on his birthday.
Page 154 in textbook.
Answers: 8. obstinate; 9. lament; 10. innate
The next slide explains the answers.
10. Richard’s gift for fixing machines seems __________. Even as a child, he could take one look at a broken machine and know what was wrong with it.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. data B. inept C. innate
A. delete B. impartial C. integrity D. legitimate E. lenient
D. intervene
E. lament
F. morbid G. obstinate H. parallel
F. menace G. morale H. naive I. overt J. undermine
I. perceptive
J. sedate
8. Shawna tried to persuade her son to join the family for dinner, but he was __________, refusing to leave his room no matter what she said.
obstinate
If he refused to leave his room, he was being stubborn.
9. People all over the United States __________ the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., who is now honored with a national holiday on his birthday.
lamented
Page 154 in textbook.
If he is now remembered with a national holiday, people must have mourned his death when he was killed.
10. Richard’s gift for fixing machines seems __________. Even as a child, he could take one look at a broken machine and know what was wrong with it.
innate
If Richard could fix machines even as a child, he must have possessed the gift since birth.