ADVANCING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Five: Chapter 25
• disparity
• obsequious
• forestall
• omnipotent
• insidious
• opportune
• insinuate
• permeate
• interrogate
• retribution
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 disparity
– noun
• There’s an enormous disparity between the multi-million-dollar
incomes of top executives and the modest paychecks most people
earn.
• Shirley and Jason don’t let the disparity in their ages weaken
their marriage, but Jason’s mother isn’t happy with a daughter-inlaw her own age.
Disparity means
There is a
disparity
between the
height of the
man in the red
coat and that
of the girl in
the blue shirt.
A. a combination.
B. a gap.
C. a closeness.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 disparity
– noun
• There’s an enormous disparity between the multi-million-dollar
incomes of top executives and the modest paychecks most people
earn.
• Shirley and Jason don’t let the disparity in their ages weaken
their marriage, but Jason’s mother isn’t happy with a daughter-inlaw her own age.
Disparity means
There is a
disparity
between the
height of the
man in the red
coat and that
of the girl in
the blue shirt.
A. a combination.
B. a gap.
C. a closeness.
There is a large gap between multimillion-dollar incomes and modest
paychecks. If Shirley is the same age
as Jason’s mother, there must be a gap
between her age and Jason’s age.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 forestall
– verb
• The owners of the failing store hoped that the huge sale would
bring in enough cash to forestall bankruptcy.
• When the environmentalists were unable to forestall the
destruction of the forest by legal means, they lay down in front of
the developer’s bulldozers.
Forestall means
A. to keep from happening.
B. to predict.
C. to pay for.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 forestall
– verb
• The owners of the failing store hoped that the huge sale would
bring in enough cash to forestall bankruptcy.
• When the environmentalists were unable to forestall the
destruction of the forest by legal means, they lay down in front of
the developer’s bulldozers.
Forestall means
A. to keep from happening.
B. to predict.
C. to pay for.
The owners would hope to bring in enough cash to keep bankruptcy
from happening. If the environmentalists lay down in front of the
bulldozers, they must have been trying to keep the destruction from
happening.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 insidious
– adjective
• Lyme disease is insidious because although it is very serious, it
starts with a nearly invisible tick bite, and its early symptoms are
mild.
• Many people fear that farm chemicals have insidious effects. The
chemicals don’t seem harmful, but cancer rates have started to
increase.
Insidious means
A. badly timed.
B. subtly harmful.
C. all-powerful.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 insidious
– adjective
• Lyme disease is insidious because although it is very serious, it
starts with a nearly invisible tick bite, and its early symptoms are
mild.
• Many people fear that farm chemicals have insidious effects. The
chemicals don’t seem harmful, but cancer rates have started to
increase.
Insidious means
A. badly timed.
B. subtly harmful.
C. all-powerful.
Since the cause of Lyme disease is nearly invisible and the early
symptoms mild, the disease is subtly harmful. If the farm chemicals
don’t seem harmful but eventually cause cancer, the chemicals are
subtly harmful.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 insinuate
– verb
• He didn’t come right out and say it, but Mr. Shriber insinuated
that someone in the class had gotten hold of the test ahead of time.
• “You always find time to help Sandy with her homework,” my
sister said to me, as if to insinuate that I was flirting with Sandy.
Insinuate means
A. to hint.
B. to wish.
C. to state directly.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 insinuate
– verb
• He didn’t come right out and say it, but Mr. Shriber insinuated
that someone in the class had gotten hold of the test ahead of time.
• “You always find time to help Sandy with her homework,” my
sister said to me, as if to insinuate that I was flirting with Sandy.
Insinuate means
A. to hint.
B. to wish.
C. to state directly.
If Mr. Shriber didn’t actually say it, he must have only hinted someone
had gotten hold of the test. In the second item, the sister’s doesn’t
say the speaker is flirting—she only hints at it.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 interrogate
– verb
• Before the police interrogated the suspect, they informed him of
his right not to answer their questions.
• “You never just ask me if I had a nice time with my date,” Tyrell
complained to his parents. “Instead, you sit me down at the
kitchen table and interrogate me.”
Interrogate means
A. to ask questions.
B. to delay.
C. to abuse.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 interrogate
– verb
• Before the police interrogated the suspect, they informed him of
his right not to answer their questions.
• “You never just ask me if I had a nice time with my date,” Tyrell
complained to his parents. “Instead, you sit me down at the
kitchen table and interrogate me.”
Interrogate means
A. to ask questions.
B. to delay.
C. to abuse.
In the first item, the word questions indicates that interrogate means
“to ask questions.” In the second item, in contrast with just asking
Tyrell if he had a nice time, he says they ask him many questions.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 obsequious
– adjective
• Each of the queen’s advisers tried to be more obsequious than
the others, bowing as low as possible and uttering flowery
compliments.
• Marge constantly flatters the boss, calls him “sir,” and agrees
loudly with everything he says. However, her obsequious
behavior only annoys him.
Obsequious means
A. unequal in rank.
B. overly eager to please.
C. methodical.
“Being obsequious will get you
nowhere with me, Wilson!”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 obsequious
– adjective
• Each of the queen’s advisers tried to be more obsequious than
the others, bowing as low as possible and uttering flowery
compliments.
• Marge constantly flatters the boss, calls him “sir,” and agrees
loudly with everything he says. However, her obsequious
behavior only annoys him.
Obsequious means
A. unequal in rank.
B. overly eager to please.
C. methodical.
“Being obsequious will get you
nowhere with me, Wilson!”
If the queen’s advisors bow as low as
possible and utter flowery compliments, they
seem overly eager to please. The description
of Marge’s actions suggests that she is overly
eager to please the boss.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 omnipotent
– adjective
• The American government is designed so that no one branch can
be omnipotent. Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court
share power and hold each other in check.
• Small children think of their parents as omnipotent—able to do
anything, control everything, and grant whatever a child might
wish for.
Omnipotent means
A. totally good.
B. willing to serve.
C. all-powerful.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 omnipotent
– adjective
• The American government is designed so that no one branch can
be omnipotent. Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court
share power and hold each other in check.
• Small children think of their parents as omnipotent—able to do
anything, control everything, and grant whatever a child might
wish for.
Omnipotent means
A. totally good.
B. willing to serve.
C. all-powerful.
If the three branches of the government share power, no one branch
is all-powerful. People who can do anything, control everything, and
grant all wishes are all-powerful.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 opportune
– adjective
• Althea thought that her parents’ anniversary would be an
opportune time to announce her own engagement. They could
have a double celebration.
• The job offer came at an especially opportune time. I had just
decided that I might like to work for a year or so before returning
to school.
Opportune means
A. appropriate.
B. difficult.
C. early.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 opportune
– adjective
• Althea thought that her parents’ anniversary would be an
opportune time to announce her own engagement. They could
have a double celebration.
• The job offer came at an especially opportune time. I had just
decided that I might like to work for a year or so before returning
to school.
Opportune means
A. appropriate.
B. difficult.
C. early.
Althea’s parents’ anniversary would be an appropriate time for her
to announce her own impending marriage. If the speaker has just
decided that he or she wants to work, the job offer came at an
appropriate time.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 permeate
– verb
• The strong scent of Kate’s perfume soon permeated the entire
room.
• The weather was so rainy and damp that moisture seemed to
permeate everything: curtains hung limply, towels wouldn’t dry,
and windows were fogged over.
Permeate means
A. to harm.
B. to penetrate.
C. to make unclear.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 permeate
– verb
• The strong scent of Kate’s perfume soon permeated the entire
room.
• The weather was so rainy and damp that moisture seemed to
permeate everything: curtains hung limply, towels wouldn’t dry,
and windows were fogged over.
Permeate means
A. to harm.
B. to penetrate.
C. to make unclear.
If the scent of the perfume was strong, it would penetrate the
whole room. In the second item, if the curtains hung limp, the
towels wouldn’t dry, and the windows were fogged over, the
moisture seems to have penetrated everything.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 retribution
– noun
• Some “sins” in life have their own built-in retribution. For
example, if you get drunk, you’ll have a hangover; if you
overeat, you’ll gain weight.
• For much of human history, before science could explain
diseases, many people believed that any illness was a retribution
for immoral behavior.
Retribution means
A. an inequality.
B. an obstacle.
C. a penalty.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 retribution
– noun
• Some “sins” in life have their own built-in retribution. For
example, if you get drunk, you’ll have a hangover; if you
overeat, you’ll gain weight.
• For much of human history, before science could explain
diseases, many people believed that any illness was a retribution
for immoral behavior.
Retribution means
A. an inequality.
B. an obstacle.
C. a penalty.
A hangover is a built-in penalty for getting drunk and gaining weight
a built-in penalty for overeating. Many people used to believe that
illness was a penalty for immoral behavior.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
1. When our dog was sprayed by a skunk, the smell soon
_______(e)d the house.
2. To __________ complaints about unrepaired potholes,
the township set up a “pothole hotline” and promised to
fill in any reported hole within two days.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
1. When our dog was sprayed by a skunk, the smell soon
__________
permeate the house.
The smell of the skunk would spread throughout the house.
2. To __________
forestall complaints about unrepaired potholes,
the township set up a “pothole hotline” and promised to
fill in any reported hole within two days.
By quickly filling potholes the township is trying to prevent complaints.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
3. Because no one else’s hand was raised, I considered it
a(n) _______ moment to ask a question.
4. In many countries, political prisoners who are being
_______(e)d by the secret police are likely to be tortured in
an attempt to force answers from them.
5. When the Earl of Essex plotted against his queen, Elizabeth I
of England, __________ was swift and harsh: she had him
beheaded for treason.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
3. Because no one else’s hand was raised, I considered it
an __________
opportune moment to ask a question.
If no one else had a question, it was a suitable moment to ask one.
4. In many countries, political prisoners who are being
__________
interrogated by the secret police are likely to be tortured in
an attempt to force answers from them.
If the police want answers, they must be questioning the prisoners.
5. When the Earl of Essex plotted against his queen, Elizabeth I
of England, __________
retribution was swift and harsh: she had him
beheaded for treason.
Being beheaded was the punishment the queen gave Essex for his treason.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
6. “There seems to be quite a _________,” Shannon objected
to the car dealer “between your cost and the sticker price.”
7. The effects of certain prescription drugs, such as Valium,
can be __________. People who take them may slip into
addiction without being aware of it.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
6. “There seems to be quite a _________,”
disparity Shannon objected
to the car dealer “between your cost and the sticker price.”
There is a difference between the dealer’s cost and the sticker price.
7. The effects of certain prescription drugs, such as Valium,
can be __________.
insidious People who take them may slip into
addiction without being aware of it.
A drug that addicts people without their being aware of it is subtly
harmful.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
8. According to legend, King Canute—an ancient ruler of England,
Denmark, and Norway—thought he was __________. He
actually ordered the tide to stop rising.
9. Instead of directly saying “Buy our product,” many ads use
slick images to __________ that the product will give the
buyer sex appeal, power, or prestige.
10. The headwaiter’s manner toward customers who looked rich
was __________. Ignoring the rest of us, he gave them the
restaurant’s best tables and hovered over them, all smiles.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. disparity
B. forestall
C. insidious
F. obsequious
G. omnipotent H. opportune
D. insinuate
E. interrogate
I. permeate
J. retribution
8. According to legend, King Canute—an ancient ruler of England,
Denmark, and Norway—thought he was __________.
omnipotent He
actually ordered the tide to stop rising.
Ordering the tide to stop rising shows he thought he was all-powerful.
9. Instead of directly saying “Buy our product,” many ads use
slick images to __________
insinuate that the product will give the
buyer sex appeal, power, or prestige.
The slick ads try to suggest slyly that the product will offer these things.
10. The headwaiter’s manner toward customers who looked rich
was __________.
obsequious Ignoring the rest of us, he gave them the
restaurant’s best tables and hovered over them, all smiles.
The headwaiter’s actions show he is overly eager to please the rich
customers.