ADVANCED
WORD POWER
Second Edition
BETH JOHNSON
JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
© 2011 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 19
• accommodate
• officious
• clairvoyant
• preclude
• contiguous
• spurn
• debilitate
• stealthy
• obliterate
• taciturn
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 accommodate
– verb
• Most minivans can accommodate seven passengers.
• The hotel accommodated the extra children by putting cots in their
parents’ room.
Accommodate means
A. to accompany.
B. to eliminate.
C. to hold.
Photo: Daniel Schwen
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 accommodate
– verb
• Most minivans can accommodate seven passengers.
• The hotel accommodated the extra children by putting cots in their
parents’ room.
Accommodate means
A. to accompany.
B. to eliminate.
C. to hold.
If
Photo: Daniel Schwen
Large minivans are designed to hold
more passengers than standard-size
cars. The cots allowed the room to
hold extra people without making
them sleep on the floor.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 clairvoyant
– adjective
• The back pages of many magazines are filled with ads for fortunetellers, palmreaders, psychics, and other supposedly clairvoyant people.
• The famous magician Harry Houdini exposed many people who falsely
claimed to be clairvoyant. Being trained in stage magic, Houdini
recognized the tricks used by those who pretended to see the future or
talk with the dead.
Clairvoyant means
A. seeing beyond the senses.
B. well educated.
C. well traveled.
Photo: U.S. Library of Congress
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 clairvoyant
– adjective
• The back pages of many magazines are filled with ads for fortunetellers, palmreaders, psychics, and other supposedly clairvoyant people.
• The famous magician Harry Houdini exposed many people who falsely
claimed to be clairvoyant. Being trained in stage magic, Houdini
recognized the tricks used by those who pretended to see the future or
talk with the dead.
Clairvoyant means
A. seeing beyond the senses.
B. well educated.
C. well traveled.
Photo: U.S. Library of Congress
Fortunetellers, palm-readers, and
psychics claim to see beyond the
senses. People pretending to see
the future or talk with the dead
claim to see beyond the senses.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 contiguous
– adjective
• Portugal is unusual in that it is contiguous to just one other country. It
shares a border only with Spain.
• The shopping center in Rodrigo’s town has two contiguous
supermarkets. No one can figure out why they were built side by side.
Contiguous means
A. contrasting.
B. alternating.
C. adjoining.
Hawaii
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 contiguous
– adjective
• Portugal is unusual in that it is contiguous to just one other country. It
shares a border only with Spain.
• The shopping center in Rodrigo’s town has two contiguous
supermarkets. No one can figure out why they were built side by side.
Contiguous means
A. contrasting.
B. alternating.
C. adjoining.
Hawaii
Since the two countries share a border,
Portugal is adjoining to Spain. Since
the two shopping centers are side by
side, they are adjoining to each other.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 debilitate
– verb
• Influenza can seriously debilitate elderly patients, so older people
should be sure to get a flu shot each year.
• Six of our star basketball players are graduating this year. That is likely
to debilitate the team next season.
Debilitate means
A. to improve slightly.
B. to weaken.
C. to encourage.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 debilitate
– verb
• Influenza can seriously debilitate elderly patients, so older people
should be sure to get a flu shot each year.
• Six of our star basketball players are graduating this year. That is likely
to debilitate the team next season.
Debilitate means
A. to improve slightly.
B. to weaken.
C. to encourage.
Illnesses tend to weaken people, especially the elderly. Losing six
star players would be likely to weaken the team.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 obliterate
– verb
• At the ancient battlefield, the years had obliterated all traces of the
bloody conflict. Nothing could be seen but grass and wildflowers.
• The commencement speaker said, “This is a proud day in your lives. I
hope that time will never obliterate your memories of it.”
Obliterate means
A. to preserve.
B. to add to.
C. to wipe out.
Photo: Masser
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 obliterate
– verb
• At the ancient battlefield, the years had obliterated all traces of the
bloody conflict. Nothing could be seen but grass and wildflowers.
• The commencement speaker said, “This is a proud day in your lives. I
hope that time will never obliterate your memories of it.”
Obliterate means
A. to preserve.
B. to add to.
C. to wipe out.
Photo: Masser
Time was able to wipe out all traces of
the battle, leaving visible only native
plants. The commencement speaker
hoped time would not wipe out students’
memories of this proud occasion.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 officious
– adjective
• Every college dorm seems to have one officious person who takes it upon
himself or herself to monitor the noise level, reorganize the laundry room,
and generally make everyone toe the line.
• Jayson’s marriage is under a severe strain because his in-laws are too
officious. They constantly intrude on him and his wife with suggestions,
plans, and unasked-for help.
Officious means
A. interfering.
B. easily offended.
C. boring.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 officious
– adjective
• Every college dorm seems to have one officious person who takes it upon
himself or herself to monitor the noise level, reorganize the laundry room,
and generally make everyone toe the line.
• Jayson’s marriage is under a severe strain because his in-laws are too
officious. They constantly intrude on him and his wife with suggestions,
plans, and unasked-for help.
Officious means
A. interfering.
B. easily offended.
C. boring.
Only someone who likes interfering in other people’s lives would
choose to monitor noise, reorganize public spaces, and make
classmates toe the line. The in-laws are so interfering that they
intrude on Jayson’s private life by offering unwanted advice and
direction.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 preclude
– verb
• When Sean asked if I liked the short story he’d written, my natural
politeness precluded me from answering honestly.
• The president of the Acme Company told the employees, “Declining
sales and a costly lawsuit preclude any pay raises this year.”
Preclude means
A. to rule out.
B. to include.
C. to predict.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 preclude
– verb
• When Sean asked if I liked the short story he’d written, my natural
politeness precluded me from answering honestly.
• The president of the Acme Company told the employees, “Declining
sales and a costly lawsuit preclude any pay raises this year.”
Preclude means
A. to rule out.
B. to include.
C. to predict.
Natural politeness led the first speaker to rule out an honest answer
because the truth might hurt Sean’s feelings. By reducing revenue,
lower sales and legal expenses caused the company to rule out any
pay raises.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 spurn
– verb
• After he was spurned by the first girl he invited to the prom, Taylor felt
too scared to ask anyone else.
• The employees spurned the contract their company offered them and
went on strike instead.
Spurn means
A. to accept.
B. to reject.
C. to meet.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 spurn
– verb
• After he was spurned by the first girl he invited to the prom, Taylor felt
too scared to ask anyone else.
• The employees spurned the contract their company offered them and
went on strike instead.
Spurn means
A. to accept.
B. to reject.
C. to meet.
The first girl must have chosen to reject Taylor’s invitation, since
he could have asked someone else—if he weren’t so scared. The
employees must have voted to reject the company’s offer since
they went out on strike instead of accepting the contract and
returning to work.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 stealthy
– adjective
• The cat crept up on the bird in a slow, stealthy manner, keeping low to
the ground and making no sound.
• All the preparations for Raymond’s surprise party had to be stealthy. We
didn’t want him to know what was going on, so we kept our activities
hidden.
Stealthy means
A. secretive.
B. stupid.
C. unsteady.
Photo: Jennifer Barnard
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 stealthy
– adjective
• The cat crept up on the bird in a slow, stealthy manner, keeping low to
the ground and making no sound.
• All the preparations for Raymond’s surprise party had to be stealthy. We
didn’t want him to know what was going on, so we kept our activities
hidden.
Stealthy means
A. secretive.
B. stupid.
C. unsteady.
Photo: Jennifer Barnard
The cat’s manner—creeping slowly,
silently, and close to the ground—
suggests it was trying to be secretive.
The words surprise and hidden suggest
the preparations were secretive.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 taciturn
– adjective
• Uncle Maury is a taciturn man. At dinner this Thanksgiving, he made
only one remark: “Please pass the gravy.”
• Joelle listens very sympathetically to other people’s troubles, but she’s
taciturn about her own. If she has a problem, you’re unlikely to hear
about it from her.
Taciturn means
A. opinionated.
B. uninformed.
C. reluctant to talk.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 taciturn
– adjective
• Uncle Maury is a taciturn man. At dinner this Thanksgiving, he made
only one remark: “Please pass the gravy.”
• Joelle listens very sympathetically to other people’s troubles, but she’s
taciturn about her own. If she has a problem, you’re unlikely to hear
about it from her.
Taciturn means
A. opinionated.
B. uninformed.
C. reluctant to talk.
Uncle Maury must have been reluctant to talk if he made only
one remark during the entire Thanksgiving dinner. Joelle must
be reluctant to talk if she listens to other people’s troubles but
is unlikely to speak about her own.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
1. The children sitting on the beach burst into tears when the tide
came in and a wave ________(e)d their elaborate sand drawing.
2. If you are naturally _________, don’t become a TV sportscaster.
Sports announcers have to be garrulous°—they’re expected to
talk nonstop.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
1. The children sitting on the beach burst into tears when the tide
came in and a wave ___________
obliterated their elaborate sand drawing.
Children cry when waves destroy or completely erase their sand drawings.
2. If you are naturally _________,
taciturn don’t become a TV sportscaster.
Sports announcers have to be garrulous°—they’re expected to
talk nonstop.
Talking nonstop is contrasted with being habitually nontalkative or
uncommunicative.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
3. Moving with slow, _________ steps, the hungry leopard approached
the unsuspecting antelope.
4. My brother ran for city council, but his campaign was _______(e)d
by lack of funds. In the end, he had to drop out of the race.
5. The army base where Dad was stationed was _________ to the
grounds of a mental hospital. The soldiers made a lot of jokes about
who belonged where.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
3. Moving with slow, _________
stealthy steps, the hungry leopard approached
the unsuspecting antelope.
To keep the antelope from suspecting its approach, the leopard moved in
a deceptive, sneaky way.
debilitated
4. My brother ran for city council, but his campaign was __________
by lack of funds. In the end, he had to drop out of the race.
A lack of funds would deprive a campaign of strength and energy.
5. The army base where Dad was stationed was _________
contiguous to the
grounds of a mental hospital. The soldiers made a lot of jokes about
who belonged where.
With the base and hospital sharing an edge or boundary, soldiers
and patients would be living near one another.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
6. “Don’t ask me to order your meal,” Liz pleaded with her mother at
the restaurant. “I’m not _________; I don’t know what you’ll like
or not like.”
7. In the fairy tale “King Thrushbeard,” a proud princess _________s
a good king’s offer of marriage but later learns to love and admire
him.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
6. “Don’t ask me to order your meal,” Liz pleaded with her mother at
the restaurant. “I’m not _________;
clairvoyant I don’t know what you’ll like
or not like.”
Unable to perceive the invisible, Liz can’t know her mother’s preferences.
7. In the fairy tale “King Thrushbeard,” a proud princess _________
spurns
a good king’s offer of marriage but later learns to love and admire
him.
The proud princess’s initial scornful refusal to marry is contrasted with
her later love and admiration for the king.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
8. Ron’s house is specially built to ____________ his wheelchair. It
has ramps instead of stairs, and extra-wide doors.
9. Reiko decided to get married in the winter, even though the cold
weather would _________ an outdoor reception.
10. Grandfather’s home health aide is too _________. Not content with
just doing her job, she bustles in each day full of self-importance
and tries to run his life.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. accommodate
B. clairvoyant
C. contiguous D. debilitate
E. obliterate
F. officious
G. preclude
H. spurn
J. taciturn
I. stealthy
8. Ron’s house is specially built to ____________
accommodate his wheelchair. It
has ramps instead of stairs, and extra-wide doors.
Ramps and extra-wide doors provide what’s needed for a wheelchair.
9. Reiko decided to get married in the winter, even though the cold
weather would _________
preclude an outdoor reception.
Cold weather would prevent in advance any possibility of outdoor events.
10. Grandfather’s home health aide is too _________.
officious Not content with
just doing her job, she bustles in each day full of self-importance
and tries to run his life.
A self-important aide who tries to run her client’s life is meddlesome;
she may also offer unwanted advice or services.