ADVANCING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 15
• analogy
• placebo
• annihilation
• proficient
• criterion
• staunch
• emanate
• subversive
• holistic
• vindicate
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 analogy
– noun
• To help students understand vision, teachers often draw an
analogy between the eye and a camera.
• The commencement address, titled “You Are the Captain of Your
Ship,” used the analogy of life as an ocean-going vessel that the
captain must steer between rocks.
Analogy means
A. a picture.
B. a comparison.
C. a standard.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 analogy
– noun
• To help students understand vision, teachers often draw an
analogy between the eye and a camera.
• The commencement address, titled “You Are the Captain of Your
Ship,” used the analogy of life as an ocean-going vessel that the
captain must steer between rocks.
Analogy means
A. a picture.
B. a comparison.
C. a standard.
Teachers would draw a comparison between the eye and a camera
to explain vision. In the second item, the title and description of the
address suggest that the word analogy means “a comparison.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 annihilate
– verb
• The movie was about a plot to annihilate entire cities by
poisoning their water supply.
• “Universal Destroyer” is a warlike video game in which the aim
is to annihilate the opponents.
Annihilate means
A. to escape from.
B. to seize.
C. to wipe out.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 annihilate
– verb
• The movie was about a plot to annihilate entire cities by
poisoning their water supply.
• “Universal Destroyer” is a warlike video game in which the aim
is to annihilate the opponents.
Annihilate means
A. to escape from.
B. to seize.
C. to wipe out.
Poisoning a city’s water supply would wipe out the city. The name
“Universal Destroyer” suggests that the aim of the game is to wipe
out the opponents.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 criterion
– noun
• One criterion by which writing teachers judge a paper is clear
organization.
• Some advertisers aren’t concerned about telling the truth. Their
only criterion for a good commercial is selling the product.
Criterion means
A. a standard.
B. a beginning.
C. an answer.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 criterion
– noun
• One criterion by which writing teachers judge a paper is clear
organization.
• Some advertisers aren’t concerned about telling the truth. Their
only criterion for a good commercial is selling the product.
Criterion means
A. a standard.
B. a beginning.
C. an answer.
Writing teachers use standards (such as clear organization) to judge a
paper. Telling the truth is one standard advertisers could use to judge
a commercial (but some advertisers choose to ignore that standard).
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 emanate
– verb
• As the cinnamon bread baked, a wonderful smell emanated from
the kitchen.
• The screeching and scraping emanating from Keisha’s bedroom
tell me that she is practicing her violin.
Emanate means
A. to disappear.
B. to come out.
C. to expand.
Light emanating from the setting sun
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 emanate
– verb
• As the cinnamon bread baked, a wonderful smell emanated from
the kitchen.
• The screeching and scraping emanating from Keisha’s bedroom
tell me that she is practicing her violin.
Emanate means
A. to disappear.
B. to come out.
C. to expand.
Light emanating from the setting sun
Baking cinnamon bread would cause a
wonderful smell to come out of the
kitchen. If Keisha is practicing her
violin, the screeching and scraping
would come out of her room.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 holistic
– adjective
• A good drug center takes a holistic approach to treatment, seeing
each client not just as “an addict” but as a whole person. Along with
medical aid, it provides emotional support, individual and family
counseling, and follow-up services.
• Eastern cultures tend to take a more holistic view of learning than
Western societies, focusing on the whole rather than analyzing parts.
Holistic means
A. easygoing.
B. concerned with the whole.
C. nonfinancial.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 holistic
– adjective
• A good drug center takes a holistic approach to treatment, seeing
each client not just as “an addict” but as a whole person. Along with
medical aid, it provides emotional support, individual and family
counseling, and follow-up services.
• Eastern cultures tend to take a more holistic view of learning than
Western societies, focusing on the whole rather than analyzing parts.
Holistic means
A. easygoing.
B. concerned with the whole.
C. nonfinancial.
In both items, the word whole suggests that holistic means
“concerned with the whole.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 placebo
– noun
• When the little boy had a headache and there was no aspirin in the
house, his mother gave him a placebo: a small candy that she told
him was a “pain pill.” It seemed to work—his headache went away.
• The doctor lost his license when it was found that the pills for
depression he had been giving to many of his patients were actually
a placebo—just sugar pills.
Placebo means
A. a fake medicine.
B. a over-the-counter pill.
C. an expensive cure.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 placebo
– noun
• When the little boy had a headache and there was no aspirin in the
house, his mother gave him a placebo: a small candy that she told
him was a “pain pill.” It seemed to work—his headache went away.
• The doctor lost his license when it was found that the pills for
depression he had been giving to many of his patients were actually
a placebo—just sugar pills.
Placebo means
A. a fake medicine.
B. a over-the-counter pill.
C. an expensive cure.
If the mother gave the little boy a small candy and said it was a
“pain pill,” she gave him a fake medicine. If the doctor gave his
patients sugar pills instead of pills for depression, he was giving
them fake medicine.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 proficient
– adjective
• It’s not all that hard to become proficient on a computer. Be
patient, and you’ll develop the necessary skill.
• Wayne is a proficient woodworker. He is able to make
professional-quality desks, bookshelves, and cabinets.
Proficient means
A. expert.
B. hard-working.
C. enthusiastic.
A proficient pair
of high wire performers
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 proficient
– adjective
• It’s not all that hard to become proficient on a computer. Be
patient, and you’ll develop the necessary skill.
• Wayne is a proficient woodworker. He is able to make
professional-quality desks, bookshelves, and cabinets.
Proficient means
A. expert.
B. hard-working.
C. enthusiastic.
A proficient pair
of high wire performers
The word skill suggests that
proficient means “expert.” If Wayne
makes professional-quality furniture,
he is an expert woodworker.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 staunch
– adjective
• Although the mayor had been accused of taking bribes, he still
had some staunch supporters.
• The newspaper’s astrological predictions are often way off the
mark, yet Teresa remains a staunch believer in astrology and
checks her horoscope every day.
Staunch means
A. busy.
B. unsteady.
C. faithful.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 staunch
– adjective
• Although the mayor had been accused of taking bribes, he still
had some staunch supporters.
• The newspaper’s astrological predictions are often way off the
mark, yet Teresa remains a staunch believer in astrology and
checks her horoscope every day.
Staunch means
A. busy.
B. unsteady.
C. faithful.
In spite of the accusations, the mayor had some faithful supporters.
If Teresa checks her horoscope every day (in spite of the inaccuracy
of the predictions), she must be a faithful believer in astrology.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 subversive
– adjective
• To some Americans, criticizing the President is a subversive act,
aimed at undermining his power. To others, it is simply an
example of freedom of speech.
• The so-called “consulting company” was a cover for subversive
activities; it was actually a ring of antigovernment agents.
Subversive means
A. having faith.
B. intended to destroy.
C. blameless.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 subversive
– adjective
• To some Americans, criticizing the President is a subversive act,
aimed at undermining his power. To others, it is simply an
example of freedom of speech.
• The so-called “consulting company” was a cover for subversive
activities; it was actually a ring of antigovernment agents.
Subversive means
A. having faith.
B. intended to destroy.
C. blameless.
An act aimed at undermining the President’s power would be an act
that is intended to destroy him. A ring of antigovernment agents
would carry out activities intended to destroy the government.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vindicate
– verb
• When Kai was accused of cheating on a geometry test, he
vindicated himself by reciting several theorems from memory,
proving that he knew the material.
• In our society, people falsely accused of crimes often must spend
a great deal of money on legal fees in order to vindicate
themselves.
Vindicate means
A. to prove innocent.
B. to make a commitment.
C. to weaken.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vindicate
– verb
• When Kai was accused of cheating on a geometry test, he
vindicated himself by reciting several theorems from memory,
proving that he knew the material.
• In our society, people falsely accused of crimes often must spend
a great deal of money on legal fees in order to vindicate
themselves.
Vindicate means
A. to prove innocent.
B. to make a commitment.
C. to weaken.
If Kai proved he knew the material, he proved himself innocent of the
accusation of cheating on the test. People falsely accused would want
to prove themselves innocent.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
1. During the Vietnam War, some protesters poured blood
over draft records. Supporters of the war considered this
a __________ act.
2. Passenger pigeons no longer exist. They were _______(e)d
by hunters.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
1. During the Vietnam War, some protesters poured blood
over draft records. Supporters of the war considered this
a __________
subversive act.
To war supporters, the act seemed intended to undermine the government.
2. Passenger pigeons no longer exist. They were __________
annihilated
by hunters.
If passenger pigeons no longer exist, they must have been destroyed
completely.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
3. I’m a __________ fan of Alicia Keys. I have all her recordings.
4. One __________ used to judge the children’s artwork was
their use of vivid colors.
5. Although I’m quite a good cook, I’m not very __________ at
baking. My pies tend to be runny, and my bread won’t rise.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
3. I’m a __________
staunch fan of Alicia Keys. I have all her recordings.
Someone who has all of Keys’s recordings must be a loyal fan.
4. One __________
criterion used to judge the children’s artwork was
their use of vivid colors.
People use standards when judging artwork.
5. Although I’m quite a good cook, I’m not very __________
proficient at
baking. My pies tend to be runny, and my bread won’t rise.
If the pies are runny and the bread won’t rise, the person is not a
very skilled baker.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
6. As the garbage-collectors’ strike went into its third week, a
dreadful odor began to __________ from all the garbage
bags piled up in the city streets.
7. Explaining the importance of using a search engine to find
information on the Internet, the instructor used a(n) _______.
“The Internet is a huge ocean. The search engine is a guide
showing you the best places to fish.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
6. As the garbage-collectors’ strike went into its third week, a
dreadful odor began to __________
emanate from all the garbage
bags piled up in the city streets.
A dreadful odor would come out of the piled-up bags of garbage.
7. Explaining the importance of using a search engine to find
information on the Internet, the instructor used an ________.
analogy
“The Internet is a huge ocean. The search engine is a guide
showing you the best places to fish.”
The instructor’s statement is an example of a comparison used to
clarify a point.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
8. A __________ view of business would take into account not
just profits but also such things as the work environment and
employees’ job satisfaction.
9. Accused of shoplifting, the customer insisted that she had
already paid for the items. She was _______(e)d when she
pulled the receipt out of her purse.
10. To test a new painkiller, researchers gave it to one group of
volunteers, while a second group got a __________,
identical in appearance to the new medicine but with no
built-in power to relieve pain.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. analogy
B. annihilate
C. criterion
D. emanate
E. holistic
F. placebo
G. proficient
H. staunch
I. subversive
J. vindicate
8. A __________
holistic view of business would take into account not
just profits but also such things as the work environment and
employees’ job satisfaction.
The sentence describes a business view that emphasizes the whole picture.
9. Accused of shoplifting, the customer insisted that she had
already paid for the items. She was __________
vindicated when she
pulled the receipt out of her purse.
Having the receipt would clear her from the accusation of shoplifting.
10. To test a new painkiller, researchers gave it to one group of
volunteers, while a second group got a __________,
placebo
identical in appearance to the new medicine but with no
built-in power to relieve pain.
The second group got a substance that was a fake medicine.