ADVANCING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 17
• complement
• implement
• discreet
• impromptu
• fastidious
• inference
• flout
• intuition
• heinous
• obtrusive
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 complement
– verb
• The new singer’s voice complemented the other voices,
rounding out the group’s sound.
• A red tie would complement Pedro’s gray suit and white shirt,
giving the outfit a needed touch of color.
Complement means
A. to go perfectly with.
B. to reach out for.
C. to overpower.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 complement
– verb
• The new singer’s voice complemented the other voices,
rounding out the group’s sound.
• A red tie would complement Pedro’s gray suit and white shirt,
giving the outfit a needed touch of color.
Complement means
A. to go perfectly with.
B. to reach out for.
C. to overpower.
If the new singer’s voice rounds out the group’s sound, it must go
perfectly with the other voices. If a red tie would give Pedro’s outfit
the needed touch of color, it would go perfectly with his outfit.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 discreet
– adjective
• Once the teacher realized Jared could not read well, she made
discreet efforts to give him extra help. She didn’t want to embarrass
him in front of his classmates.
• “Be discreet about these drawings, Wilson,” the boss said. “Don’t
show them to just anyone. We don’t want another company stealing
our designs”
Discreet means
A. honest.
B. cautious.
C. obvious.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 discreet
– adjective
• Once the teacher realized Jared could not read well, she made
discreet efforts to give him extra help. She didn’t want to embarrass
him in front of his classmates.
• “Be discreet about these drawings, Wilson,” the boss said. “Don’t
show them to just anyone. We don’t want another company stealing
our designs”
Discreet means
A. honest.
B. cautious.
C. obvious.
If the teacher didn’t want to embarrass Jared, she would be cautious
in her efforts to give him extra help. Since the boss doesn’t want the
designs stolen, he warns Wilson to be cautious about showing the
drawings to others.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 fastidious
– adjective
• Tilly was a fastidious housekeeper who vacuumed every day,
dusted twice a day, and never allowed so much as a pencil or
safety pin to be out of place.
• A fastidious dresser, Mr. Lapp never leaves his home without
looking as if he has just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Fastidious means
A. working quickly.
B. having insight.
C. very particular.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 fastidious
– adjective
• Tilly was a fastidious housekeeper who vacuumed every day,
dusted twice a day, and never allowed so much as a pencil or
safety pin to be out of place.
• A fastidious dresser, Mr. Lapp never leaves his home without
looking as if he has just stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Fastidious means
A. working quickly.
B. having insight.
C. very particular.
If Tilly vacuums every day, dusts twice a day, and never lets anything
be out of place, she must be a very particular housekeeper. If Mr. Lapp
always looks as if he just stepped out of a fashion magazine, he must
be a very particular dresser.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 flout
– verb
• My neighbors were evicted from their apartment because they flouted
the building’s rules. They threw trash in the hallway, had loud allnight parties, and just laughed at anyone who complained.
• The men in the warehouse are flouting regulations about eating on
the job. Wastebaskets are filled with sandwich wrappers and empty
chip, pretzel, and nacho bags.
Flout means
A. to mock and defy.
B. to put into effect.
C. to show off.
Flouting a “No Parking” sign
Photo: Kenneth Allen
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 flout
– verb
• My neighbors were evicted from their apartment because they flouted
the building’s rules. They threw trash in the hallway, had loud allnight parties, and just laughed at anyone who complained.
• The men in the warehouse are flouting regulations about eating on
the job. Wastebaskets are filled with sandwich wrappers and empty
chip, pretzel, and nacho bags.
Flout means
A. to mock and defy.
B. to put into effect.
C. to show off.
Flouting a “No Parking” sign
Photo: Kenneth Allen
The evicted neighbors’ actions show they
mocked and defied the building’s rules.
The items found in the wastebaskets
show that the men mock and defy the
regulations about eating.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 heinous
– adjective
• The child murderer’s final heinous act was taunting the victim’s
father as the guilty verdict was announced.
• Millions of people were shocked recently by news reports of a
heinous act: a woman had locked her little daughter in the
basement and starved her to death.
Heinous means
A. wicked.
B. unplanned.
C. detailed.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 heinous
– adjective
• The child murderer’s final heinous act was taunting the victim’s
father as the guilty verdict was announced.
• Millions of people were shocked recently by news reports of a
heinous act: a woman had locked her little daughter in the
basement and starved her to death.
Heinous means
A. wicked.
B. unplanned.
C. detailed.
Taunting the murdered child’s father is a wicked act. Locking
one’s daughter up and starving her to death is a wicked act.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 implement
– verb
• NASA expects to implement its plan for a mission to Mars in 2015.
• Brett is full of ideas about starting his own business, but he never
follows through and implements them.
Implement means
A. to recall.
B. to put into effect.
C. to criticize.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 implement
– verb
• NASA expects to implement its plan for a mission to Mars in 2015.
• Brett is full of ideas about starting his own business, but he never
follows through and implements them.
Implement means
A. to recall.
B. to put into effect.
C. to criticize.
NASA would expect to put its plan into effect. If Brett never follows
through, he never puts his ideas into effect.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 impromptu
– adjective
• My speech at my cousin’s birthday dinner was impromptu; I
hadn’t expected to be called on to say anything.
• When Maya discovered that she and Barry had both brought
guitars to the party, she suggested an impromptu duet.
Impromptu means
A. not rehearsed.
B. not very good.
C. very quiet.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 impromptu
– adjective
• My speech at my cousin’s birthday dinner was impromptu; I
hadn’t expected to be called on to say anything.
• When Maya discovered that she and Barry had both brought
guitars to the party, she suggested an impromptu duet.
Impromptu means
A. not rehearsed.
B. not very good.
C. very quiet.
If the person hadn’t expected to speak, his or her speech would not
be rehearsed. If Maya hadn’t known Barry was bringing his guitar,
their duet would not be rehearsed.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 inference
– noun
• Ruby said with a wink, “Did you notice how Uncle Joe’s hair has
miraculously grown back?” My inference was that he was
wearing a toupee.
• “Where did you buy these pork chops?” asked Harry. “Why?
What’s wrong with them?” Maria asked, making the inference
that he didn’t like them.
Inference means
A. a statement.
B. a conclusion.
C. a secret.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 inference
– noun
• Ruby said with a wink, “Did you notice how Uncle Joe’s hair has
miraculously grown back?” My inference was that he was
wearing a toupee.
• “Where did you buy these pork chops?” asked Harry. “Why?
What’s wrong with them?” Maria asked, making the inference
that he didn’t like them.
Inference means
A. a statement.
B. a conclusion.
C. a secret.
Ruby’s comment and wink lead to the conclusion the Uncle Joe
was wearing a toupee. Maria’s questions suggest she has drawn
the conclusion that Harry doesn’t like the pork chops.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 intuition
– noun
• “I paint by intuition,” the artist said. “In a flash, I see how a
work should look. I don’t really think it out.”
• “The minute I met your mother,” my father said, “my intuition
told me that we’d get married someday.”
Intuition means
A. careful study.
B. memory.
C. instinct.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 intuition
– noun
• “I paint by intuition,” the artist said. “In a flash, I see how a
work should look. I don’t really think it out.”
• “The minute I met your mother,” my father said, “my intuition
told me that we’d get married someday.”
Intuition means
A. careful study.
B. memory.
C. instinct.
If the artist doesn’t think out his paintings, he must paint by instinct.
If the man knew from the moment he met the woman that he was
going to marry her, his instinct must have told him so.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 obtrusive
– adjective
• The huge, sprawling new mall seemed obtrusive in the quiet
little country town.
• My brother’s stutter is often hardly noticeable, but when he is
nervous or in a hurry, it can become obtrusive.
Obtrusive means
A. overly obvious.
B. unplanned.
C. greatly improved.
A mask with
an obtrusive nose
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 obtrusive
– adjective
• The huge, sprawling new mall seemed obtrusive in the quiet
little country town.
• My brother’s stutter is often hardly noticeable, but when he is
nervous or in a hurry, it can become obtrusive.
Obtrusive means
A. overly obvious.
B. unplanned.
C. greatly improved.
A mask with
an obtrusive nose
In contrast with the quiet little country
town, the huge sprawling mall would seem
overly obvious. In contrast with the stutter
being hardly noticeable, under some
circumstances it can be overly obvious.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
1. Rachel’s __________ told her not to date a man who kept
tropical fish in his bathtub.
2. After Rudy _______(e)d his 11 p.m. curfew—breezing in
at 2 a.m. with a cheerful “Hi, folks!”—his parents took
away his car keys for a month.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
1. Rachel’s __________
intuition told her not to date a man who kept
tropical fish in his bathtub.
Rachel’s instinctive knowledge would tell her not to date such a man.
2. After Rudy __________
his 11 p.m. curfew—breezing in
flouted
at 2 a.m. with a cheerful “Hi, folks!”—his parents took
away his car keys for a month.
Rudy’s attitude shows he was mocking and defying the curfew.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
3. In the American system of justice, anyone charged with a
crime, no matter how _________ the offense, is entitled to
be defended by a lawyer.
4. The _________ press conference turned out to be a bad idea.
The senator should have planned his remarks beforehand.
5. “Loose lips sink ships” was a famous World War II slogan. It
warned Americans to be _________ and not say anything
that might reveal military plans.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
3. In the American system of justice, anyone charged with a
crime, no matter how _________
heinous the offense, is entitled to
be defended by a lawyer.
Anyone charged is entitled to a lawyer, no matter how evil the crime.
4. The _________
impromptu press conference turned out to be a bad idea.
The senator should have planned his remarks beforehand.
If the senator didn’t plan his remarks, they were not rehearsed.
5. “Loose lips sink ships” was a famous World War II slogan. It
warned Americans to be _________
discreet and not say anything
that might reveal military plans.
Americans were warned to be cautious and not accidentally reveal
military plans.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
6. To __________ their plan for a surprise attack on the girls’
club, the boys needed squirt guns and a gallon of grape
juice.
7. The writer Ernest Hemingway had a “tough guy” image
but was __________ about using words; he rewrote the
ending of one novel forty-four times.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
6. To __________
implement their plan for a surprise attack on the girls’
club, the boys needed squirt guns and a gallon of grape
juice.
Without squirt guns and grape juice, they could not carry out the attack.
7. The writer Ernest Hemingway had a “tough guy” image
but was __________
fastidious about using words; he rewrote the
ending of one novel forty-four times.
If he rewrote the ending forty-four times, he must have been very
fussy about using words.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
8. Wendy is an excellent hair stylist, because she doesn’t just
cut hair. She also advises her customers about which
hairstyle will __________ their features.
9. Alicia signed her card to Manuel “Warm regards.” Manuel’s
__________ was that she meant “I feel only warm regards,
not love.”
10. The new partition between the restaurant’s smoking and
nonsmoking sections looks __________. Some plants or
flowers might help it blend in better.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. complement B. discreet
C. fastidious
D. flout
E. heinous
F. implement
H. inference
I. intuition
J. obtrusive
G. impromptu
8. Wendy is an excellent hair stylist, because she doesn’t just
cut hair. She also advises her customers about which
hairstyle will complement
__________ their features.
Wendy would suggest a hairstyle that would add to the client’s features.
9. Alicia signed her card to Manuel “Warm regards.” Manuel’s
__________
inference was that she meant “I feel only warm regards,
not love.”
Manuel makes an assumption about what Alicia’s words mean.
10. The new partition between the restaurant’s smoking and
nonsmoking sections looks __________.
obtrusive Some plants or
flowers might help it blend in better.
If the partition does not blend in, it must be undesirably noticeable.