BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 17
• defer
• inevitable
• endeavor
• malicious
• equate
• option
• impose
• passive
• indignant
• patron
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 defer
– verb
• The children showed great respect for their grandmother and
deferred to her every wish.
• When it comes to fixing cars, I defer to my brother’s judgment.
He knows much more about auto mechanics than I do.
Defer means
A. to object.
B. to give in.
C. to want.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 defer
– verb
• The children showed great respect for their grandmother and
deferred to her every wish.
• When it comes to fixing cars, I defer to my brother’s judgment.
He knows much more about auto mechanics than I do.
Defer means
A. to object.
B. to give in.
C. to want.
One way for the children to show their respect is to give in to their
grandmother’s every wish. If the brother knows more about auto
mechanics, it makes sense to give in to his judgment on fixing cars.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 endeavor
– verb
• Becky endeavored to raise money for Christmas presents by
selling candy and cookies door to door.
• Your company would be wise to hire Jesse. He will endeavor to
do his best at whatever jobs you give him.
Endeavor means
A. to try.
B. to pretend.
C. to step aside.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 endeavor
– verb
• Becky endeavored to raise money for Christmas presents by
selling candy and cookies door to door.
• Your company would be wise to hire Jesse. He will endeavor to
do his best at whatever jobs you give him.
Endeavor means
A. to try.
B. to pretend.
C. to step aside.
Selling candy and cookies is a way to try to raise money. If the
company would be wise to hire Jesse, it must be because he
will try to do his best.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 equate
– verb
• It would be a mistake to equate the two teams just because they
both have perfect records. One team has played much stronger
opponents.
• Don’t equate all homework assignments with busywork.
Homework can increase one’s understanding of a subject.
Equate means
A. to exchange.
B. to consider to be the same.
C. to enjoy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 equate
– verb
• It would be a mistake to equate the two teams just because they
both have perfect records. One team has played much stronger
opponents.
• Don’t equate all homework assignments with busywork.
Homework can increase one’s understanding of a subject.
Equate means
A. to exchange.
B. to consider to be the same.
C. to enjoy.
If one team has played much stronger opponents, it would be a
mistake to say the two teams are equal (the same). A homework
assignment that increases one’s understanding cannot be
considered the same as busywork.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 impose
– verb
• Our neighbor pounded on our door as we were sitting down to eat.
“I’m sorry to impose on you during dinner,” he said, “but I need to
borrow a fire extinguisher.”
• Roy is always asking favors, yet people never seem to notice how
much he imposes on them.
Impose means
A. to selfishly bother.
B. to improve.
C. to spy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 impose
– verb
• Our neighbor pounded on our door as we were sitting down to eat.
“I’m sorry to impose on you during dinner,” he said, “but I need to
borrow a fire extinguisher.”
• Roy is always asking favors, yet people never seem to notice how
much he imposes on them.
Impose means
A. to selfishly bother.
B. to improve.
C. to spy.
The neighbor apologizes for bothering the family during dinner.
If Roy is always asking favors, he is selfishly bothering people.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 indignant
– adjective
• My mother becomes indignant when she sees parents treat their
children with disrespect.
• When she was falsely accused of stealing a classmate’s gold
chain, the student became very indignant.
Indignant means
A. angry.
B. patient.
C. amused.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 indignant
– adjective
• My mother becomes indignant when she sees parents treat their
children with disrespect.
• When she was falsely accused of stealing a classmate’s gold
chain, the student became very indignant.
Indignant means
A. angry.
B. patient.
C. amused.
Seeing parents treat their children with disrespect would make
the mother angry. Being falsely accused of theft would make the
student angry.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 inevitable
– adjective
• I am such a chocoholic that if you put a brownie in front of me, it
is inevitable that I will eat it.
• We try so hard to look and stay young, but aging is inevitable.
Inevitable means
A. unlikely.
B. surprising.
C. unavoidable.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 inevitable
– adjective
• I am such a chocoholic that if you put a brownie in front of me, it
is inevitable that I will eat it.
• We try so hard to look and stay young, but aging is inevitable.
Inevitable means
A. unlikely.
B. surprising.
C. unavoidable.
Being a chocoholic would make eating the brownie unavoidable.
Aging is unavoidable.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 malicious
– adjective
• Bullies are malicious—they take pleasure in hurting others.
• Raquel loves malicious gossip. The more spiteful it is, the more
she likes it, and the more likely she is to repeat it.
Malicious means
A. mean.
B. ambitious.
C. common.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 malicious
– adjective
• Bullies are malicious—they take pleasure in hurting others.
• Raquel loves malicious gossip. The more spiteful it is, the more
she likes it, and the more likely she is to repeat it.
Malicious means
A. mean.
B. ambitious.
C. common.
Someone who takes pleasure in hurting others is mean. Rachel
likes mean gossip. The word spiteful is a clue.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 option
– noun
• When my overweight uncle was told, “Stop eating so much or
you’ll have a heart attack within five years,” he didn’t like either
option.
• Noah thinks a multiple-choice test allows him to choose more
than one option.
Option means
A. an opinion.
B. an advantage.
C. a choice.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 option
– noun
• When my overweight uncle was told, “Stop eating so much or
you’ll have a heart attack within five years,” he didn’t like either
option.
• Noah thinks a multiple-choice test allows him to choose more
than one option.
Option means
A. an opinion.
B. an advantage.
C. a choice.
The uncle was given the choice of stopping eating so much or
having a heart attack. In the second item, the words choice
and choose suggest the meaning of option.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 passive
– adjective
• Taylor is very passive. He waits for things to happen instead of
making them happen.
• Students learn more when they take part in class discussions
instead of simply being passive listeners.
Passive means
A. insincere.
B. inactive.
C. flexible.
A passive dog
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 passive
– adjective
• Taylor is very passive. He waits for things to happen instead of
making them happen.
• Students learn more when they take part in class discussions
instead of simply being passive listeners.
Passive means
A. insincere.
B. inactive.
C. flexible.
A passive dog
If Taylor simply waits for things
to happen, he is inactive. In the
second item, being an inactive
listener is contrasted with taking
part in discussions.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 patron
– noun
• The punk-rock star was a good patron of the beauty shop. She
came in at least once a week to change her hair color.
• Many of the diner’s patrons were stagehands who worked at the
theater across the street.
Patron means
A. an advertiser.
B. an owner.
C. a customer.
Patrons at an outdoor café
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 patron
– noun
• The punk-rock star was a good patron of the beauty shop. She
came in at least once a week to change her hair color.
• Many of the diner’s patrons were stagehands who worked at the
theater across the street.
Patron means
A. an advertiser.
B. an owner.
C. a customer.
Patrons at an outdoor café
If the star came into the beauty shop
to change her hair color, she was a
customer of the shop. The stagehands
were customers of the diner.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
1. When rats are crowded together, it’s __________ they
will fight with each other.
2. I have only two _________s at work: I can do what my
boss asks, or I can be fired.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
1. When rats are crowded together, it’s __________
inevitable they
will fight with each other.
If rats are crowded together, it is unavoidable that they will fight.
2. I have only two __________
options at work: I can do what my
boss asks, or I can be fired.
The only choices at work are to do what the boss asks or be fired.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
3. In our society, we too often __________ happiness with
money.
4. Mort isn’t a(n) _________ football fan. He actively
participates by jumping out of his seat and yelling until he’s
hoarse.
5. I was the store’s most loyal __________ until new
management raised the prices, and then I started shopping
elsewhere.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
3. In our society, we too often __________
happiness with
equate
money.
We too often consider happiness and money to be the same.
4. Mort isn’t a ____________
football fan. He actively
passive
participates by jumping out of his seat and yelling until he’s
hoarse.
A fan who jumps and yells is not inactive. The word actively is a clue.
5. I was the store’s most loyal __________
patron until new
management raised the prices, and then I started shopping
elsewhere.
If the person used to shop at the store, he or she was a loyal customer.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
6. Heidi is so __________ that she makes up lies to ruin
other people’s reputations.
7. “I don’t want to __________ on you,” Scott said, “but if
you’re going to the post office, would you get me some
stamps?”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
6. Heidi is so __________
malicious that she makes up lies to ruin
other people’s reputations.
Someone who makes up lies to ruin the reputations of others is mean.
7. “I don’t want to __________
impose on you,” Scott said, “but if
you’re going to the post office, would you get me some
stamps?”
Scott does not want to take unfair advantage by asking the person
to get stamps for him.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
8. When his wife accused him of never helping around the
house, Mac was __________. Hadn’t he just built a deck off
the kitchen?
9. Our instructor doesn’t expect us to __________ to his
opinions just because he’s the teacher; he wants us to think
for ourselves.
10. Many climbers who have _________(e)d to reach the top
of Mount Everest have died on the way.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. defer
B. endeavor
C. equate
D. impose
E. indignant
F. inevitable
G. malicious
H. option
I. passive
J. patron
8. When his wife accused him of never helping around the
house, Mac was __________.
indignant Hadn’t he just built a deck off
the kitchen?
If Mac just built the deck, he’d be angry at his wife’s accusation.
9. Our instructor doesn’t expect us to __________
to his
defer
opinions just because he’s the teacher; he wants us to think
for ourselves.
If the instructor wants them to think for themselves, he wouldn’t
expect them to give in to his opinions.
10. Many climbers who have ____________
endeavored to reach the top
of Mount Everest have died on the way.
Mountain climbers would attempt to reach the top of Mount Everest.