BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Two: Chapter 8
• compensate
• moderate
• conceive
• supplement
• derive
• surpass
• diversity
• tentative
• inhibit
• verify
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 compensate
– verb
• Some companies still don’t compensate women for their work
as much as they pay men who do similar work.
• When an oil rig explosion killed Sam, the company
compensated his widow with $100,000. However, nothing could
really repay her for his loss.
Compensate means
A. to notice.
B. to pay.
C. to hire.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 compensate
– verb
• Some companies still don’t compensate women for their work
as much as they pay men who do similar work.
• When an oil rig explosion killed Sam, the company
compensated his widow with $100,000. However, nothing could
really repay her for his loss.
Compensate means
A. to notice.
B. to pay.
C. to hire.
In the first item, the word pay is a clue. In the second item the
word repay is a clue. The company paid Sam’s widow $100,000.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 conceive
– verb
• When studying Australia in school, I conceived an interesting
class project—each student could write to an Australian pen pal.
• Most people in the 1800s could not have imagined such things as
TV and heart transplants. What will the next hundred years bring
that we cannot yet conceive of?
Conceive means
A. to think of.
B. to expect.
C. to remember.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 conceive
– verb
• When studying Australia in school, I conceived an interesting
class project—each student could write to an Australian pen pal.
• Most people in the 1800s could not have imagined such things as
TV and heart transplants. What will the next hundred years bring
that we cannot yet conceive of?
Conceive means
A. to think of.
B. to expect.
C. to remember.
When studying Australia, the student thought of an interesting project.
Just as people in the 1800s couldn’t think of such things as TV, we
cannot now think of things that will exist a hundred years from now.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 derive
– verb
• We derive plastics from oil. As a result, when oil prices go up, so
do the prices of plastic products.
• Sarah derived pleasure from visiting and reading to old people
after school. She enjoyed their company and felt she was doing
something worthwhile.
Derive means
A. to recognize.
B. to get.
C. to want.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 derive
– verb
• We derive plastics from oil. As a result, when oil prices go up, so
do the prices of plastic products.
• Sarah derived pleasure from visiting and reading to old people
after school. She enjoyed their company and felt she was doing
something worthwhile.
Derive means
A. to recognize.
B. to get.
C. to want.
Because we get plastics from oil, the price of plastic products goes up
when oil prices go up. If Sarah enjoys their company and feels she is
doing something worthwhile, she must get pleasure from visiting and
reading to old people.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 diversity
– noun
• There’s a great diversity of breakfast cereals at the supermarket.
There are so many different kinds that they take up half an aisle.
• “One thing I’m looking for in a college,” Janelle told her
counselor, “is diversity. I want to meet many different kinds of
people.”
Diversity means
A. sameness.
B. need.
C. variety.
“Our office has been nominated
to receive an award for
Diversity in the Workplace!”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 diversity
– noun
• There’s a great diversity of breakfast cereals at the supermarket.
There are so many different kinds that they take up half an aisle.
• “One thing I’m looking for in a college,” Janelle told her
counselor, “is diversity. I want to meet many different kinds of
people.”
Diversity means
A. sameness.
B. need.
C. variety.
“Our office has been nominated
to receive an award for
Diversity in the Workplace!”
If there are so many different kinds of
cereals, there must be a great variety of
cereals. If Janelle wants to meet many
different kinds of people, she wants her
college to have a variety of people.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 inhibit
– verb
• Steve wanted to drive fast in his new car, but the fact that he had
already gotten two speeding tickets inhibited him.
• Many people believe exercise makes one eat more, but I find that
exercise inhibits my urge to snack.
Inhibit means
A. to hold back.
B. to get into the habit.
C. to satisfy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 inhibit
– verb
• Steve wanted to drive fast in his new car, but the fact that he had
already gotten two speeding tickets inhibited him.
• Many people believe exercise makes one eat more, but I find that
exercise inhibits my urge to snack.
Inhibit means
A. to hold back.
B. to get into the habit.
C. to satisfy.
Having already gotten two speeding tickets would hold
Steve back from driving fast. In contrast with people who
think exercise makes one eat more, the speaker finds it
holds back his or her urge to snack.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 moderate
– adjective
• The trail was neither flat nor extremely steep—it was moderate,
suitable for the average hiker.
• The prices at this restaurant aren’t dirt cheap, but they are
moderate. So we should be able to have a nice dinner without
spending too much.
Moderate means
A. modern.
B. average.
C. difficult.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 moderate
– adjective
• The trail was neither flat nor extremely steep—it was moderate,
suitable for the average hiker.
• The prices at this restaurant aren’t dirt cheap, but they are
moderate. So we should be able to have a nice dinner without
spending too much.
Moderate means
A. modern.
B. average.
C. difficult.
If the trail is not flat or extremely steep, it must be average.
The word average is a clue. If the prices aren’t dirt cheap
but one can have a nice meal without spending too much,
the prices must be average.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 supplement
– verb
• Many people supplement their diet with vitamins.
• At busy times of the year, the department store supplements its
sales staff with temporary workers.
Supplement means
A. to replace.
B. to add to.
C. to reduce.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 supplement
– verb
• Many people supplement their diet with vitamins.
• At busy times of the year, the department store supplements its
sales staff with temporary workers.
Supplement means
A. to replace.
B. to add to.
C. to reduce.
These pills add calcium
to one’s diet.
Vitamins are something people add
to their diet. The department store
would add temporary workers to
their sales staff to handle the extra
customers.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 surpass
– verb
• With hard work, you can reach and even surpass many of your
highest goals.
• Denise was disappointed that she had only matched Rhonda’s
record leap in the high jump—she had hoped to surpass it.
Surpass means
A. to go beyond.
B. to avoid.
C. to equal.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 surpass
– verb
• With hard work, you can reach and even surpass many of your
highest goals.
• Denise was disappointed that she had only matched Rhonda’s
record leap in the high jump—she had hoped to surpass it.
Surpass means
A. to go beyond.
B. to avoid.
C. to equal.
Not only can you reach your highest goals; you can even go
beyond them. If Denise was disappointed to have only matched
Rhonda’s record, she must have hoped to go beyond it.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 tentative
– adjective
• My parents’ wedding anniversary party date is tentative. Before
we finalize the date, we have to be sure that everyone can be with
us that weekend.
• Class membership was tentative because many students were
still dropping and adding courses.
Tentative means
A. clear.
B. uncertain.
C. early.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 tentative
– adjective
• My parents’ wedding anniversary party date is tentative. Before
we finalize the date, we have to be sure that everyone can be with
us that weekend.
• Class membership was tentative because many students were
still dropping and adding courses.
Tentative means
A. clear.
B. uncertain.
C. early.
If they have not finalized the date yet, the date must be uncertain.
If students were still dropping and adding courses, class
membership would be uncertain.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 verify
– verb
• Race officials verified who the winner was by checking a photo
of the horses at the finish line.
• We’d love to come to the party, but I have to check my calendar
to verify that we’re free that evening.
Verify means
A. to predict.
B. to deny.
C. to make sure.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 verify
– verb
• Race officials verified who the winner was by checking a photo
of the horses at the finish line.
• We’d love to come to the party, but I have to check my calendar
to verify that we’re free that evening.
Verify means
A. to predict.
B. to deny.
C. to make sure.
Race officials would want to make sure who the winner was. One
would check one’s calendar to make sure he or she was available
on the evening of the party.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
1. The Mississippi River __________s its name from Native
American words meaning “big river.”
2. To __________ that his checkbook balance was correct,
Craig added the numbers again.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
1. The Mississippi River ___________
its name from Native
derives
American words meaning “big river.”
The Mississippi River gets its name from Native American words.
2. To __________
that his checkbook balance was correct,
verify
Craig added the numbers again.
Craig would add the numbers again to check the accuracy of his
checkbook balance.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
3. If you aren’t very hungry, then take only a __________
helping of food.
4. The exact cast of the movie remains __________ until the
director finds out if Will Smith is available.
5. Babe Ruth’s record number of home runs in a single
baseball season was __________(e)d first by Roger Maris in
1961, then by Mark McGwire in 1998, and most recently by
Barry Bonds in 2001.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
3. If you aren’t very hungry, then take only a __________
moderate
helping of food.
A medium helping of food would be enough if you aren’t very hungry.
4. The exact cast of the movie remains __________
tentative until the
director finds out if Will Smith is available.
If the director does not yet know if Will Smith is available, the exact cast
would not be final.
5. Babe Ruth’s record number of home runs in a single
baseball seasonsurpassed
was _____________ first by Roger Maris in
1961, then by Mark McGwire in 1998, and most recently by
Barry Bonds in 2001.
In 1961, 1998, and 2001, other players went beyond Babe Ruth’s
record number of homeruns.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
6. The Motor Vehicle Bureau now __________s its driver’s
manual with an attached publication on the new driving
laws.
7. Even with her relatives, shy Yoko didn’t feel free to be
herself. Their noisy talk __________(e)d her.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate B. conceive
F. moderate
C. derive
G. supplement H. surpass
D. diversity
E. inhibit
I. tentative
J. verify
6. The Motor Vehicle Bureau now ___________
supplements its driver’s
manual with an attached publication on the new driving
laws.
An attached publication would add to the driver’s manual.
7. Even with her relatives, shy Yoko didn’t feel free to be
herself. Their noisy talk _____________
her.
inhibited
The noisy talk of others would prevent a shy person from feeling free to
be herself.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate
dialog
B. conceive
erratic
F. moderate
illuminate
C. derive
extensive
G. supplement
isolate
H. surpass
refuge
D. forfeit
diversity
E.
E. fortify
inhibit
I. reminisce
tentative
J.
J. urban
verify
8. Artists feel frustrated when what they __________ in their
minds fails to appear on the painted canvas.
9. “Hearing a __________ of opinions is fine,” said Lynn. “But
it would be nice if everyone in this family could agree once
in a while.”
10. When my uncle helped me pay for college, he said I could
__________ him by helping someone else pay for college
when I can afford to.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. compensate
dialog
B. conceive
erratic
F. moderate
illuminate
C. derive
extensive
G. supplement
isolate
H. surpass
refuge
D. forfeit
diversity
E.
E. fortify
inhibit
I. reminisce
tentative
J.
J. urban
verify
8. Artists feel frustrated when what they __________
conceive in their
minds fails to appear on the painted canvas.
Artists would be frustrated when they fail to create on canvas what they
imagine in their minds.
9. “Hearing a __________
diversity of opinions is fine,” said Lynn. “But
it would be nice if everyone in this family could agree once
in a while.”
If the family members can’t agree, they must have a variety of opinions.
10. When my uncle helped me pay for college, he said I could
__________
compensate him by helping someone else pay for college
when I can afford to.
Helping someone else pay for college would repay the uncle.