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

2. Unit Three: Chapter 17 • exhort • masochist • flamboyant • meticulous
• foible • rancor
• innocuous • recrimination
• magnanimous • repugnant
Page 92 in textbook.

3. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 exhort – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 exhort
– verb
• The school counselor gave an impassioned speech to the parents, in which she exhorted them to make every effort to keep their children off drugs.
• On the eve of the invasion, the general exhorted the troops to fight bravely for their homeland.
Exhort means
A. to accuse.
B. to praise.
C. to urge.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

4. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 1 exhort – verb
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 exhort
– verb
• The school counselor gave an impassioned speech to the parents, in which she exhorted them to make every effort to keep their children off drugs.
• On the eve of the invasion, the general exhorted the troops to fight bravely for their homeland.
Exhort means
A. to accuse.
B. to praise.
C. to urge.
Page 92 in textbook.
The school counselor would give an impassioned speech urging parents to keep their children off drugs. A general would urge the troops to fight bravely for their homeland.

5. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 flamboyant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 flamboyant
– adjective
• Lily can’t resist flamboyant clothes. She’d wear a hot-pink dress with gold satin trim to a funeral.
• The flamboyant pianist always wore sequined suits and glittering jewelry when he sat down at his silver piano.
Flamboyant means
A. flashy.
B. self-centered.
C. concerned with details.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A flamboyant house

6. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 2 flamboyant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 flamboyant
– adjective
• Lily can’t resist flamboyant clothes. She’d wear a hot-pink dress with gold satin trim to a funeral.
• The flamboyant pianist always wore sequined suits and glittering jewelry when he sat down at his silver piano.
Flamboyant means
A. flashy.
B. self-centered.
C. concerned with details.
Page 92 in textbook.
A hot-pink dress with gold satin trim is an example of flashy clothes. Sequined suits, glittering jewelry, and a silver piano suggest that the pianist is flashy.
A flamboyant house

7. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 foible – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 foible
– noun
• Serious character flaws, such as abusiveness, are hard to overlook, but foibles—such as drinking soup through a straw—can often be easily tolerated.
• “I accept my husband’s foible of leaving clothes lying around,” Kia remarked, “because it lets me be messy without feeling guilty.”
Foible means
A. a serious problem.
B. a minor fault.
C. a complaint.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

8. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 3 foible – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 foible
– noun
• Serious character flaws, such as abusiveness, are hard to overlook, but foibles—such as drinking soup through a straw—can often be easily tolerated.
• “I accept my husband’s foible of leaving clothes lying around,” Kia remarked, “because it lets me be messy without feeling guilty.”
Foible means
A. a serious problem.
B. a minor fault.
C. a complaint.
Page 92 in textbook.
In contrast with serious character flaws, drinking soup through a straw is a minor fault. Leaving clothes lying around is also a minor fault.

9. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 innocuous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 innocuous
– adjective
• Although most children engage in innocuous pranks on Halloween, some get out of control and do serious damage.
• Experts at the Poison Information Center can tell you if a household substance is harmful or innocuous.
Innocuous means
A. without bad effects.
B. expensive.
C. satisfying.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

10. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 4 innocuous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 innocuous
– adjective
• Although most children engage in innocuous pranks on Halloween, some get out of control and do serious damage.
• Experts at the Poison Information Center can tell you if a household substance is harmful or innocuous.
Innocuous means
A. without bad effects.
B. expensive.
C. satisfying.
Page 92 in textbook.
In contrast with pranks that get out of control and do serious damage, most children’s Halloween pranks do not have bad effects. In the second item, a substance that is without bad effects is the opposite of a harmful substance.

11. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 magnanimous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 magnanimous
– adjective
• At age 5, Jonathan is already learning to be magnanimous. He hugs his baby sister, even when she hits him on the head with a wooden block.
• Last Thanksgiving, someone at work drew a funny picture of our boss as an enormous turkey. When the boss saw it, he was magnanimous—he laughed, said it was terrific, and even hung it up over his desk.
Magnanimous means
A. forgiving.
B. consistent.
C. resentful.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

12. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 5 magnanimous – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 magnanimous
– adjective
• At age 5, Jonathan is already learning to be magnanimous. He hugs his baby sister, even when she hits him on the head with a wooden block.
• Last Thanksgiving, someone at work drew a funny picture of our boss as an enormous turkey. When the boss saw it, he was magnanimous—he laughed, said it was terrific, and even hung it up over his desk.
Magnanimous means
A. forgiving.
B. consistent.
C. resentful.
Page 92 in textbook.
Hugging someone who hits you on the head with a wooden block is being forgiving. The boss’s reaction to the picture of him as an enormous turkey shows that he was forgiving.

13. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 masochist – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 masochist
– noun
• Psychologists are trying to understand why masochists obtain satisfaction from suffering.
• “A masochist’s idea of a good time,” said the comedian, “is getting hit by a truck on the way home from having all his teeth pulled.
Masochist means
A. someone filled with hatred.
B. someone who enjoys being hurt.
C. someone who enjoys hurting others.
Page 92 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

14. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 6 masochist – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 masochist
– noun
• Psychologists are trying to understand why masochists obtain satisfaction from suffering.
• “A masochist’s idea of a good time,” said the comedian, “is getting hit by a truck on the way home from having all his teeth pulled.
Masochist means
A. someone filled with hatred.
B. someone who enjoys being hurt.
C. someone who enjoys hurting others.
Page 92 in textbook.
Someone who gets satisfaction from suffering must be someone who enjoys being hurt. And only someone who enjoys being hurt would think that having his teeth pulled and being hit by a truck was a good time.

15. A meticulously kept garden
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 meticulous
– adjective
• When you proofread your own writing, be meticulous—check every detail.
• Marcus is meticulous about his appearance. He never has a wrinkle in his clothing or a hair out of place.
Meticulous means
A. very careful.
B. bold.
C. unconcerned.
Page 93 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.
A meticulously kept garden
Photo: Daderot

16. A meticulously kept garden
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 meticulous
– adjective
• When you proofread your own writing, be meticulous—check every detail.
• Marcus is meticulous about his appearance. He never has a wrinkle in his clothing or a hair out of place.
Meticulous means
A. very careful.
B. bold.
C. unconcerned.
Page 93 in textbook.
If you check every detail you are being very careful. If Marcus never has a wrinkle in his clothing or a hair out of place, he is very careful about his appearance.
A meticulously kept garden
Photo: Daderot

17. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 rancor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rancor
– noun
• The rancor between my uncles has lasted for twenty years, ever since Uncle Dmitri married the woman to whom Uncle Sergei had proposed.
• When there is long-lasting rancor between divorced parents, their children may also start to share this bitterness.
Rancor means
A. a minor fault.
B. deep hostility.
C. secrecy.
Page 93 in textbook.
Answer: B
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 8 rancor – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rancor
– noun
• The rancor between my uncles has lasted for twenty years, ever since Uncle Dmitri married the woman to whom Uncle Sergei had proposed.
• When there is long-lasting rancor between divorced parents, their children may also start to share this bitterness.
Rancor means
A. a minor fault.
B. deep hostility.
C. secrecy.
Page 93 in textbook.
If Dmitri married the woman Sergei wanted to marry, there would be deep hostility between the two men. In the second item, the word bitterness suggests that rancor means “deep hostility.”

19. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 recrimination – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 recrimination
– noun
• The couple’s session with the marriage counselor failed miserably; it began with the husband and wife hurling accusations at each other, and it never progressed beyond these recriminations.
• When Lainie’s father and her teacher met to discuss Lainie’s poor grades, they exchanged recriminations—each accused the other of not helping her do better.
Recrimination means
A. an urgent plea.
B. a detailed suggestion.
C. an accusation in reply.
Page 93 in textbook.
Answer: C
The next slide explains the answer.

20. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 9 recrimination – noun
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 recrimination
– noun
• The couple’s session with the marriage counselor failed miserably; it began with the husband and wife hurling accusations at each other, and it never progressed beyond these recriminations.
• When Lainie’s father and her teacher met to discuss Lainie’s poor grades, they exchanged recriminations—each accused the other of not helping her do better.
Recrimination means
A. an urgent plea.
B. a detailed suggestion.
C. an accusation in reply.
Page 93 in textbook.
The description of the husband and wife hurling accusations at each other tells you that recriminations are accusations in reply. If Lainie’s father and the teacher accused each other, the exchanged accusations in reply.

21. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 repugnant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 repugnant
– adjective
• My parents find some of my eating habits repugnant, but I see nothing offensive about mixing peas and ketchup into mashed potatoes.
• A snake is repugnant to many people—“Slimy!” they say, shivering with distaste. However, snakes are not at all slimy, and most are harmless.
Repugnant means
A. disgusting.
B. amusing.
C. remarkable.
Page 93 in textbook.
Answer: A
The next slide explains the answer.

22. TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT 10 repugnant – adjective
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 repugnant
– adjective
• My parents find some of my eating habits repugnant, but I see nothing offensive about mixing peas and ketchup into mashed potatoes.
• A snake is repugnant to many people—“Slimy!” they say, shivering with distaste. However, snakes are not at all slimy, and most are harmless.
Repugnant means
A. disgusting.
B. amusing.
C. remarkable.
Page 93 in textbook.
In the first item, the word offensive suggests that repugnant means “disgusting.” In the second item, people who shiver with distaste must find snakes disgusting.

23. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
1. Why is it that bats seem so __________? Do we think a flying mouselike creature is distasteful, or do we associate bats with vampires?
2. It was ____________ of the Greens to forgive the driver who ran over their dog.
Page 94 in textbook.
Answers: 1. repugnant; 2. magnanimous
The next slide explains the answers.

24. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
1. Why is it that bats seem so __________? Do we think a flying mouselike creature is distasteful, or do we associate bats with vampires?
repugnant
The word distasteful suggests a word meaning “repulsive” is needed.
2. It was ____________ of the Greens to forgive the driver who ran over their dog.
magnanimous
Page 94 in textbook.
If the Greens forgave the drive who ran over their dog, they must be very generous in forgiving.

25. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
3. Battered women who stay with their abusive partners aren’t necessarily ________s; they don’t enjoy being hurt, but often they can’t see any way to escape.
4. Although nail-biting is only a __________, it can become maddening to a companion who observes it day after day.
Page 94 in textbook.
Answers: 3. masochist; 4. foible; 5. exhort
The next slide explains the answers.
5. Before the football game, the coach gave a fiery pep talk. He _______(e)d the players to fight for the honor of the team and the school.

26. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
3. Battered women who stay with their abusive partners aren’t necessarily _________; they don’t enjoy being hurt, but often they can’t see any way to escape.
masochists
The words enjoy being hurt suggest masochist.
4. Although nail-biting is only a __________, it can become maddening to a companion who observes it day after day.
foible
Page 94 in textbook.
Nail-biting is only a minor fault.
5. Before the football game, the coach gave a fiery pep talk. He __________ the players to fight for the honor of the team and the school.
exhorted
A fiery pep talk would strongly urge the players to fight.

27. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
6. To an allergic person, foods that are normally __________, such as milk or wheat, can cause discomfort and even serious illness.
7. The long-standing __________ between the two women finally came to an end when one of them fell and the other rushed over to help her.
Page 94 in textbook.
Answers: 6. innocuous; 7. rancor
The next slide explains the answers.

28. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
6. To an allergic person, foods that are normally __________, such as milk or wheat, can cause discomfort and even serious illness.
innocuous
For people without allergies, milk and wheat are harmless foods.
7. The long-standing __________ between the two women finally came to an end when one of them fell and the other rushed over to help her.
rancor
Page 94 in textbook.
One woman helping the other would end the long-standing intense hatred.

29. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
8. The angry neighbors traded ___________s: “Your wild kids trampled all over my flower bed!” “Well, your crazy dog dug up my lawn!”
9. Some jobs needn’t be done in a(n) ______ way. For instance, why sweep every speck of dust off a floor that’s only going to get dirty again in an hour?
Page 94 in textbook.
Answers: 8. recrimination; 9. meticulous; 10. flamboyant
The next slide explains the answers.
10. On New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, string bands called “Mummers” strut their stuff in __________ costumes designed to outshine all other bands in the parade.

30. SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. exhort B. flamboyant C. foible
D. innocuous
E. magnanimous
F. masochist G. meticulous H. rancor
I. recrimination
J. repugnant
8. The angry neighbors traded ____________: “Your wild kids trampled all over my flower bed!” “Well, your crazy dog dug up my lawn!”
recriminations
The sentence gives examples of countercharges.
9. Some jobs needn’t be done in a _________ way. For instance, why sweep every speck of dust off a floor that’s only going to get dirty again in an hour?
meticulous
Page 94 in textbook.
Sweeping up every speck of dust is sweeping in an extremely careful way.
10. On New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, string bands called “Mummers” strut their stuff in __________ costumes designed to outshine all other bands in the parade.
flamboyant
In order to outshine all other bands, the costumes would have to be very showy.