BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 20
• elaborate
• indifferent
• emerge
• indulge
• exotic
• liberal
• frugal
• mediocre
• impulsive
• notable
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 elaborate
– adjective
• The dinner required elaborate preparation. Each course included
a complicated favorite dish of one of the guests.
• Irma’s quilt was very elaborate. She used tiny stitches to sew
together hundreds of fabric pieces.
Elaborate means
A. easy and simple to do.
B. detailed.
C. ordinary.
An elaborate
tile pattern
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 elaborate
– adjective
• The dinner required elaborate preparation. Each course included
a complicated favorite dish of one of the guests.
• Irma’s quilt was very elaborate. She used tiny stitches to sew
together hundreds of fabric pieces.
Elaborate means
A. easy and simple to do.
B. detailed.
C. ordinary.
An elaborate
tile pattern
If each course included a complicated dish,
the dinner must have required detailed
preparation. The word complicated is a
clue. If hundreds of pieces of fabric are
sewed together with tiny stitches, the quilt
must be very detailed.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 emerge
– verb
• Anna emerged from the dressing room, looking beautiful in a
blue prom gown.
• When the chick emerged from its egg, it was tired and wet, but a
day later it was a fluffy yellow ball of energy.
Emerge means
A. to come out.
B. to trip.
C. to call out.
A prairie dog emerging
from its hole
Photo: National Park Service
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 emerge
– verb
• Anna emerged from the dressing room, looking beautiful in a
blue prom gown.
• When the chick emerged from its egg, it was tired and wet, but a
day later it was a fluffy yellow ball of energy.
Emerge means
A. to come out.
B. to trip.
C. to call out.
A prairie dog emerging
from its hole
Photo: National Park Service
Anna would come out of the
dressing room looking beautiful.
A chick would be wet and tired
after it came out of its shell.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exotic
– adjective
• Orchids are grown in the United States, not just in foreign
countries. So Americans really should not consider these flowers
exotic.
• The kiwi fruit, grown in New Zealand, is one of several exotic
fruits now commonly sold in supermarkets.
Exotic means
A. local.
B. foreign.
C. rare.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 exotic
– adjective
• Orchids are grown in the United States, not just in foreign
countries. So Americans really should not consider these flowers
exotic.
• The kiwi fruit, grown in New Zealand, is one of several exotic
fruits now commonly sold in supermarkets.
Exotic means
A. local.
B. foreign.
C. rare.
If orchids are grown in the United States, Americans should not
consider them foreign. If kiwi is grown in New Zealand, it is a
foreign fruit (unless you live in New Zealand).
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 frugal
– adjective
• You can stretch your dollars by being frugal. For example, using
store coupons and waiting for expensive items to be on sale can
save a lot of money.
• Diane buys designer jeans, but because I need to be more frugal, I
buy store-brand jeans, which are much cheaper.
Frugal means
A. hardworking.
B. lucky.
C. thrifty.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 frugal
– adjective
• You can stretch your dollars by being frugal. For example, using
store coupons and waiting for expensive items to be on sale can
save a lot of money.
• Diane buys designer jeans, but because I need to be more frugal, I
buy store-brand jeans, which are much cheaper.
Frugal means
A. hardworking.
B. lucky.
C. thrifty.
Using coupons and waiting for sales are ways of being thrifty.
Buying cheaper store-brand jeans is also a way of being thrifty.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 impulsive
– adjective
• Ved is too impulsive to make plans. He always prefers to act on
the spur of the moment.
• Kids are usually more impulsive than adults. Children will
follow such sudden urges as the desire to climb a tree even if
they are wearing their best clothes.
Impulsive means
A. fearful.
B. careful.
C. acting without a plan.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 impulsive
– adjective
• Ved is too impulsive to make plans. He always prefers to act on
the spur of the moment.
• Kids are usually more impulsive than adults. Children will
follow such sudden urges as the desire to climb a tree even if
they are wearing their best clothes.
Impulsive means
A. fearful.
B. careful.
C. acting without a plan.
If Ved acts on the spur of the moment, he acts without a plan.
If children follow sudden urges, they are acting without a plan.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indifferent
– adjective
• Does our society have no interest in homeless children? Are we
indifferent to the many families who can no longer afford to pay
rent?
• Because her husband was indifferent to how the apartment
would be decorated, Kaylin felt free to do the job any way she
wanted.
Indifferent means
A. interested in.
B. unconcerned with.
C. insulted by.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 indifferent
– adjective
• Does our society have no interest in homeless children? Are we
indifferent to the many families who can no longer afford to pay
rent?
• Because her husband was indifferent to how the apartment
would be decorated, Kaylin felt free to do the job any way she
wanted.
Indifferent means
A. interested in.
B. unconcerned with.
C. insulted by.
If our society has no interest in homeless children, we are unconcerned
with them. If Kaylin could do the job any way she wanted, her husband
must have been unconcerned with how the apartment was decorated.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 indulgent
– adjective
• Monica’s grandparents are too indulgent with her. They don’t
scold her even when she splatters the walls with baby food.
• I’m surprised at Robin’s self-indulgent attitude. It never occurs
to her not to give in to every little desire she has.
Indulgent means
A. strict.
B. giving in.
C. not caring.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 indulgent
– adjective
• Monica’s grandparents are too indulgent with her. They don’t
scold her even when she splatters the walls with baby food.
• I’m surprised at Robin’s self-indulgent attitude. It never occurs
to her not to give in to every little desire she has.
Indulgent means
A. strict.
B. giving in.
C. not caring.
If Monica’s grandparents don’t even scold her when she splatters the
walls, they must give in to her no matter what she does or wants. In
the second item, the words give in tell you the meaning of indulgent.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 liberal
– adjective
• Being a chocolate lover, Amos puts liberal amounts of chocolate
chips in his Toll House cookies.
• Norma left the waiter a liberal tip because he had been especially
friendly and helpful.
Liberal means
A. average.
B. frequent.
C. generous.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 liberal
– adjective
• Being a chocolate lover, Amos puts liberal amounts of chocolate
chips in his Toll House cookies.
• Norma left the waiter a liberal tip because he had been especially
friendly and helpful.
Liberal means
A. average.
B. frequent.
C. generous.
If Amos is a chocolate lover, he would put generous amounts of
chocolate chips in his cookies. It the waiter was especially friendly
and helpful, Norma would leave a generous tip.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 mediocre
– adjective
• The mystery movie was neither terrible nor great; it was just
mediocre.
• Although Hank can be quite funny, his jokes are only mediocre
compared with those of the best comedians.
Mediocre means
A. ordinary.
B. awful.
C. short.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 mediocre
– adjective
• The mystery movie was neither terrible nor great; it was just
mediocre.
• Although Hank can be quite funny, his jokes are only mediocre
compared with those of the best comedians.
Mediocre means
A. ordinary.
B. awful.
C. short.
If the movie was neither terrible nor great, it was ordinary. Compared
with the jokes of the best comedians, Hank’s jokes are ordinary.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 notable
– adjective
• Winning the Nobel Prize can make a little-known scientist into a
notable world figure.
• Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is surely his most
notable speech, especially among the many Americans who
memorized it in school.
Notable means
A. ineffective.
B. well-known.
C. generous.
A notable statue
Photo: National Park Service
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 notable
– adjective
• Winning the Nobel Prize can make a little-known scientist into a
notable world figure.
• Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” is surely his most
notable speech, especially among the many Americans who
memorized it in school.
Notable means
A. ineffective.
B. well-known.
C. generous.
A notable statue
Photo: National Park Service
Scientists who win the Nobel Prize often
become well-known, even if they were littleknown before they won it. A speech that
many Americans memorized in school must
be a well-known speech.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
1. Although my father didn’t do badly in school, he wasn’t a
great student. So he’s proof it’s possible to have a
successful career despite __________ grades.
2. Overly __________ parents, who let young children do
whatever they please, will end up with problem
teenagers.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
1. Although my father didn’t do badly in school, he wasn’t a
great student. So he’s proof it’s possible to have a
successful career despite __________
mediocre grades.
If he wasn’t a great student, he must have gotten average grades.
2. Overly __________
indulgent parents, who let young children do
whatever they please, will end up with problem
teenagers.
Parents who let children do whatever they please would be lenient.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
3. The puppy ________(e)d from her bath much cleaner
than when she entered it, but we doubted that she’d
stay clean for long.
4. Tran is such a skilled public speaker that we all expect him
to become a __________ politician one day.
5. The boss gave such __________ bonuses that Gail was able
to buy a new sofa with the money.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
3. The puppy ____________
from her bath much cleaner
emerged
than when she entered it, but we doubted that she’d
stay clean for long.
The puppy’s coming out of the bath is contrasted with her entering it.
4. Tran is such a skilled public speaker that we all expect him
to become a __________
notable politician one day.
One might expect a skilled public speaker to become a widely known
politician.
5. The boss gave such __________
bonuses that Gail was able
liberal
to buy a new sofa with the money.
If Gail was able to buy a new sofa, the bonus must have been
generous.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
6. Ella embroidered a(n) _________ design on the back of
her sweatshirt. She used four colors in a complicated
pattern of swirls and flowers.
7. People walked past the bleeding, moaning man without
even pausing; they were __________ to his need for
help.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
6. Ella embroidered an __________
elaborate design on the back of
her sweatshirt. She used four colors in a complicated
pattern of swirls and flowers.
The word complicated tells you the meaning of elaborate.
7. People walked past the bleeding, moaning man without
even pausing; they were __________
indifferent to his need for
help.
If people did not even pause, they must have been unconcerned
about the man’s need for help.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
8. “Gowns are so expensive,” Cara said, “that I’ve decided to
be __________ and rent a wedding dress instead of
buying one.”
9. Bruce, as __________ as ever, suddenly changed his mind
about going to a restaurant and announced, “Let’s have a
picnic.”
10. A Native American rain dance may seem __________ to
many people in the United States, but it is actually more
native to this country than square-dancing.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. elaborate
B. emerge
C. exotic
D. frugal
E. impulsive
F. indifferent
G. indulgent
H. liberal
I. mediocre
J. notable
8. “Gowns are so expensive,” Cara said, “that I’ve decided to
be __________
and rent a wedding dress instead of
frugal
buying one.”
Renting an expensive gown instead of buying one is being thrifty.
9. Bruce, as __________
impulsive as ever, suddenly changed his mind
about going to a restaurant and announced, “Let’s have a
picnic.”
If Bruce suddenly changed his mind, he was acting on a sudden urge.
10. A Native American rain dance may seem __________
to
exotic
many people in the United States, but it is actually more
native to this country than square-dancing.
A Native American rain dance may seem foreign to many people in
the United States.