ADVANCING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 11
• adept
• presumptuous
• encompass
• sordid
• entrepreneur
• standardize
• eradicate
• stint
• homogeneous
• stringent
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 adept
– adjective
• People enjoy visiting my parents, who are adept at making
guests feel welcome and at home.
• Justin is an adept liar. He always looks so innocent and sincere
that everyone believes his lies.
Adept means
A. skillful.
B. profitable.
C. awkward.
An adept rock climber
Photo: Jabez
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 adept
– adjective
• People enjoy visiting my parents, who are adept at making
guests feel welcome and at home.
• Justin is an adept liar. He always looks so innocent and sincere
that everyone believes his lies.
Adept means
A. skillful.
B. profitable.
C. awkward.
An adept rock climber
Photo: Jabez
If people enjoy visiting the parents,
the parents must be skillful at making
guests feel welcome. If everyone
believes Justin’s lies, he must be a
skillful liar.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 encompass
– verb
• Our history teacher’s broad knowledge of the subject
encompasses details of life in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
• Tomorrow’s test will be difficult because it encompasses all the
material covered this semester.
Encompass means
A. to suggest.
B. to omit.
C. to include.
A valley that encompasses
a small village
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 encompass
– verb
• Our history teacher’s broad knowledge of the subject
encompasses details of life in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
• Tomorrow’s test will be difficult because it encompasses all the
material covered this semester.
Encompass means
A. to suggest.
B. to omit.
C. to include.
A valley that encompasses
a small village
A broad knowledge of history would
include knowledge of the details of
life in ancient Egypt, Greece, and
Rome. The test will include all the
material covered this semester.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 entrepreneur
– noun
• Glenville has no shopping center, but the city is growing so
quickly that smart entrepreneurs are sure to start up new
businesses there soon.
• My ten-year-old neighbor is already an entrepreneur. He set up
a lemonade stand last summer and sold homemade cookies at
Halloween.
Entrepreneur means
A. a business investor.
B. an overconfident person.
C. a conformist.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 entrepreneur
– noun
• Glenville has no shopping center, but the city is growing so
quickly that smart entrepreneurs are sure to start up new
businesses there soon.
• My ten-year-old neighbor is already an entrepreneur. He set up
a lemonade stand last summer and sold homemade cookies at
Halloween.
Entrepreneur means
A. a business investor.
B. an overconfident person.
C. a conformist.
New businesses would be started by business investors. Someone who
sets up a lemonade stand in the summer and sells homemade cookies
at Halloween is a (small) business investor.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 eradicate
– verb
• In recent years, smallpox has been eradicated—the first time in
history that humans have been able to wipe out a disease.
• What makes so many people feel they must eradicate all signs of
aging? Why should we have to get rid of our wrinkles and gray
hair?
Eradicate means
A. to reveal.
B. to regulate strictly.
C. to erase.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 eradicate
– verb
• In recent years, smallpox has been eradicated—the first time in
history that humans have been able to wipe out a disease.
• What makes so many people feel they must eradicate all signs of
aging? Why should we have to get rid of our wrinkles and gray
hair?
Eradicate means
A. to reveal.
B. to regulate strictly.
C. to erase.
The words wipe out suggest that eradicate means “to erase.” Similarly,
in the second item, the words get rid of suggest that eradicate means
“to erase.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 homogeneous
– adjective
• The student body at the local college appears quite homogeneous,
but there are significant social and economic differences among the
students.
• “Homogenized” milk has been made homogeneous. This means that
it’s treated so it will be of uniform consistency, rather than having the
cream rise to the top.
Homogeneous means
A. strictly controlled.
B. the same throughout.
C. of high quality.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 homogeneous
– adjective
• The student body at the local college appears quite homogeneous,
but there are significant social and economic differences among the
students.
• “Homogenized” milk has been made homogeneous. This means that
it’s treated so it will be of uniform consistency, rather than having the
cream rise to the top.
Homogeneous means
A. strictly controlled.
B. the same throughout.
C. of high quality.
In spite of the significant differences among the students, the student
body appears to be the same throughout. If homogenized milk has a
uniform consistency, it is the same throughout.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 presumptuous
– adjective
• It was presumptuous of Eric to announce his engagement to
Phyllis before she had actually agreed to marry him.
• If you ask personal questions at a job interview, you’ll be
considered presumptuous. So, for example, don’t ask the
interviewer, “What are they paying you?”
Presumptuous means
A. too forward.
B. skilled.
C. cautious.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 presumptuous
– adjective
• It was presumptuous of Eric to announce his engagement to
Phyllis before she had actually agreed to marry him.
• If you ask personal questions at a job interview, you’ll be
considered presumptuous. So, for example, don’t ask the
interviewer, “What are they paying you?”
Presumptuous means
A. too forward.
B. skilled.
C. cautious.
Since Phyllis had not actually agreed to marry Eric, Eric was being too
forward by announcing their engagement. The second item gives an
example of a question that will make you seem too forward if you ask
it at a job interview.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 sordid
– adjective
• Supermarket tabloids sell well because many people want to know
the sordid details of celebrities’ addictions and messy divorces.
• The reformed criminal now lectures at high schools on how to
avoid the mistakes that led him into a sordid life as a drug dealer.
Sordid means
A. proud.
B. ugly.
C. natural.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 sordid
– adjective
• Supermarket tabloids sell well because many people want to know
the sordid details of celebrities’ addictions and messy divorces.
• The reformed criminal now lectures at high schools on how to
avoid the mistakes that led him into a sordid life as a drug dealer.
Sordid means
A. proud.
B. ugly.
C. natural.
The details of celebrities’ addictions and messy divorces are ugly.
A drug dealer’s life is corrupt and ugly.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 standardize
– verb
• When the company standardized its pay scale, the salary for
each type of job became identical throughout all the departments.
• If Jamila begins selling her homemade soup, she’ll have to
standardize the ingredients. Now she just puts in whatever she
has on hand, so the soup is never the same from one day to the
next.
Standardize means
A. to do away with.
B. to make the same.
C. to vary.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 standardize
– verb
• When the company standardized its pay scale, the salary for
each type of job became identical throughout all the departments.
• If Jamila begins selling her homemade soup, she’ll have to
standardize the ingredients. Now she just puts in whatever she
has on hand, so the soup is never the same from one day to the
next.
Standardize means
A. to do away with.
B. to make the same.
C. to vary.
If the salary for each type of job became identical, the company must
have made its pay scale the same throughout all departments. In
contrast with the soup never being the same from day to day, Jamila
will have to make the ingredients the same every day.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 stint
– noun
• My stint serving hamburgers and fries at a fast-food restaurant
convinced me that I needed to get a college degree.
• After traveling during her stint in the Navy, Alise wanted a job
that would let her continue to see the world.
Stint means
A. a length of time.
B. a risky undertaking.
C. future work.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 stint
– noun
• My stint serving hamburgers and fries at a fast-food restaurant
convinced me that I needed to get a college degree.
• After traveling during her stint in the Navy, Alise wanted a job
that would let her continue to see the world.
Stint means
A. a length of time.
B. a risky undertaking.
C. future work.
Spending a length of time serving hamburgers would convince one
to get a college degree. Alise spent a length of time in the Navy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 stringent
– adjective
• Ms. Jasper has the most stringent standards in the English
department. Passing her course is difficult; getting an A is next to
impossible.
• Elected officials should be held to a stringent code of ethics,
requiring them to avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing.
Stringent means
A. different.
B. flexible.
C. demanding.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 stringent
– adjective
• Ms. Jasper has the most stringent standards in the English
department. Passing her course is difficult; getting an A is next to
impossible.
• Elected officials should be held to a stringent code of ethics,
requiring them to avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing.
Stringent means
A. different.
B. flexible.
C. demanding.
If passing Ms. Japser’s course is difficult, she must have demanding
standards. A requirement to avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing
would be part of a demanding code of ethics.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
1. It’s ____________ of Amy to assume she’s got the job
when others are still being interviewed.
2. It takes years of study and practice to become __________
at acupuncture.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
1. It’s ____________
presumptuous of Amy to assume she’s got the job
when others are still being interviewed.
Amy is being overly confident if she assumes she has the job while
candidates are still being interviewed.
2. It takes years of study and practice to become __________
adept
at acupuncture.
To become highly skilled at acupuncture takes years of study and
practice.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
3. In the novel Oliver Twist, innocent young Oliver falls into the
hands of a gang of pickpockets, who teach him their
__________ trade.
4. My grandfather held many jobs during his life. He even did
a(n) ________ as a circus performer.
5. Joyce and Steven’s adopted son was abused in an earlier home.
They’re working hard to __________ the lingering effects on
him of that experience.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
3. In the novel Oliver Twist, innocent young Oliver falls into the
hands of a gang of pickpockets, who teach him their
__________
trade.
sordid
Picking pockets is a morally low trade.
4. My grandfather held many jobs during his life. He even did
a __________
as a circus performer.
stint
The grandfather did a specific period of work as a circus performer.
5. Joyce and Steven’s adopted son was abused in an earlier home.
They’re working hard to __________
eradicate the lingering effects on
him of that experience.
Joyce and Steven would want to wipe out the effects of abuse on him.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
6. The town is so close-knit and __________ that newcomers
feel out of place. Many of the residents are even related to
each other.
7. The articles in our small newspaper __________ local and
statewide news, but not national or international events.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
6. The town is so close-knit and ____________
homogeneous that newcomers
feel out of place. Many of the residents are even related to
each other.
If newcomers feel out of place, the residents must be similar throughout.
7. The articles in our small newspaper __________
encompass local and
statewide news, but not national or international events.
The newspaper articles include local and statewide news, but not
national or international events.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
8. My sister applied to several colleges, some with very high
admission standards for their students and others with less
__________ requirements.
9. Ramon has just opened an auto repair shop. Now that he’s
a(n) __________, he can join the National Association for
the Self-Employed.
10. Should the high-school curriculum be _______(e)d throughout
the state? Or should each school district be free to design its
own courses?
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. adept
B. encompass C. entrepreneur D. eradicate E. homogeneous
F. presumptuous G. sordid
H. standardize
I. stint
J. stringent
8. My sister applied to several colleges, some with very high
admission standards for their students and others with less
__________
stringent requirements.
The words very high…standards suggest strictly controlled requirements.
9. Ramon has just opened an auto repair shop. Now that he’s
an ____________,
entrepreneur he can join the National Association for
the Self-Employed.
Ramon organizes and takes the risk of the auto repair shop.
10. Should the high-school curriculum be standardized
__________ throughout
the state? Or should each school district be free to design its
own courses?
If each district designs its own courses, the curriculum would not be
consistent throughout the state.