IMPROVING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 15
• abstain
• deficit
• affiliate
• dissent
• agnostic
• diversion
• aspire
• lucrative
• benevolent
• mandatory
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 abstain
– verb
• Although Luis has given up high-calorie desserts, he doesn’t
abstain completely from chocolate. He allows himself one small
square of a Hershey bar a day.
• My sister called off her engagement to Clayton because he
wouldn’t abstain from dating other women.
Abstain means
A. to desire.
B. to believe in.
C. to deny oneself.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 abstain
– verb
• Although Luis has given up high-calorie desserts, he doesn’t
abstain completely from chocolate. He allows himself one small
square of a Hershey bar a day.
• My sister called off her engagement to Clayton because he
wouldn’t abstain from dating other women.
Abstain means
A. to desire.
B. to believe in.
C. to deny oneself.
In the first item, the words given up suggest that Luis is not denying
himself chocolate. And if the sister called off her engagement, Clayton
must not have denied himself the pleasure of dating other women.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 affiliate
– verb
• Diane is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. She isn’t
affiliated with any political party.
• The young singer could have earned more if she had been
affiliated with the musicians’ union, but she couldn’t afford the
membership dues.
Affiliate means
A. to join.
B. to study.
C. to hold back.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 affiliate
– verb
• Diane is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. She isn’t
affiliated with any political party.
• The young singer could have earned more if she had been
affiliated with the musicians’ union, but she couldn’t afford the
membership dues.
Affiliate means
A. to join.
B. to study.
C. to hold back.
If Diane is neither a Democrat or a Republican, she has not joined
either party. If the young singer couldn’t afford the membership
dues, she must not have joined the union.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 agnostic
– noun
• Iris believes there is a God, and Marcia feels sure there isn’t.
Jean, an agnostic, feels that we can’t be certain one way or the
other.
• My uncle, who was an agnostic, used to say, “Humans cannot
understand a flower, let alone whether or not there’s a God.”
Agnostic means
A. one who denies God’s existence.
B. one who feels we can’t know if
God exists.
C. one who is sure there is a God.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 agnostic
– noun
• Iris believes there is a God, and Marcia feels sure there isn’t.
Jean, an agnostic, feels that we can’t be certain one way or the
other.
• My uncle, who was an agnostic, used to say, “Humans cannot
understand a flower, let alone whether or not there’s a God.”
Agnostic means
A. one who denies God’s existence.
B. one who feels we can’t know if
God exists.
C. one who is sure there is a God.
If Jean feels we can’t be sure one way or the other, she feels we can’t
know if God exists. If the uncle believes humans can’t understand
whether or not there’s a God, he feels we can’t know if God exists.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 aspire
– verb
• Twelve-year-old Derek, who loves drawing buildings, aspires to
be an architect.
• Millions of young people aspire to be professional athletes, but
only a few will succeed.
Aspire means
A. to fear.
B. to wish.
C. to volunteer.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 aspire
– verb
• Twelve-year-old Derek, who loves drawing buildings, aspires to
be an architect.
• Millions of young people aspire to be professional athletes, but
only a few will succeed.
Aspire means
A. to fear.
B. to wish.
C. to volunteer.
If Derek loves drawing buildings, it is logical that he wishes to be
an architect. Millions of young people wish to become professional
athletes, but very few achieve it.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 benevolent
– adjective
• People are more benevolent at Christmas, the “season for
giving.”
• In 1878, William Booth founded a benevolent association to help
the poor of London. He called it the Salvation Army.
Benevolent means
A. recreational.
B. profitable.
C. charitable.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 benevolent
– adjective
• People are more benevolent at Christmas, the “season for
giving.”
• In 1878, William Booth founded a benevolent association to help
the poor of London. He called it the Salvation Army.
Benevolent means
A. recreational.
B. profitable.
C. charitable.
If Christmas is the season for giving, people are more charitable.
The Salvation Army is a charitable organization.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 deficit
– noun
• Our club has spent much more money than it has taken in, so it
now has a huge budget deficit.
• Residents are asked not to water their lawns because a deficit of
rain has dangerously lowered the water supply.
Deficit means
A. a lack.
B. an overflow.
C. a collection.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 deficit
– noun
• Our club has spent much more money than it has taken in, so it
now has a huge budget deficit.
• Residents are asked not to water their lawns because a deficit of
rain has dangerously lowered the water supply.
Deficit means
A. a lack.
B. an overflow.
C. a collection.
If a club spends more than it takes in, it ends up with a lack of money.
If the water supply is dangerously lower, there must have been a lack
of rain.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 dissent
– noun
• The committee was so torn by dissent that its members could not
even agree on whether or not to schedule another meeting.
• The dictator permitted people to agree with his policies or keep
silent about them, but not to express dissent.
Dissent means
A. plans.
B. opposition.
C. relief.
Protesters expressing dissent
over a proposed state budget
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 dissent
– noun
• The committee was so torn by dissent that its members could not
even agree on whether or not to schedule another meeting.
• The dictator permitted people to agree with his policies or keep
silent about them, but not to express dissent.
Dissent means
A. plans.
B. opposition.
C. relief.
Protesters expressing dissent
over a proposed state budget
If the members can’t agree, there
must be opposition among the
committee members. If one must
agree or keep quiet, there is no
opportunity to express opposition.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 diversion
– noun
• My history teacher says that one of her favorite diversions
during summer vacation is reading mystery novels.
• Skip likes his job, but he also enjoys such diversions as playing
video games, watching baseball, and reading humorous stories.
Diversion means
A. a way to relax.
B. something easy.
C. an assignment.
“I’m going crazy swimming around
and around in this bowl all day!
I need a diversion!”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 diversion
– noun
• My history teacher says that one of her favorite diversions
during summer vacation is reading mystery novels.
• Skip likes his job, but he also enjoys such diversions as playing
video games, watching baseball, and reading humorous stories.
Diversion means
A. a way to relax.
B. something easy.
C. an assignment.
“I’m going crazy swimming around
and around in this bowl all day!
I need a diversion!”
Reading mystery novels, playing video
games, watching baseball, and reading
humorous stories are all ways to relax.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 lucrative
– adjective
• Investments in the stock market can be lucrative. However, they
can also result in great financial loss.
• “Teaching at a small college isn’t lucrative,” Professor Baum
admitted, “but I’ve never felt the need to make lots of money.”
Lucrative means
A. required.
B. financially rewarding.
C. risky.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 lucrative
– adjective
• Investments in the stock market can be lucrative. However, they
can also result in great financial loss.
• “Teaching at a small college isn’t lucrative,” Professor Baum
admitted, “but I’ve never felt the need to make lots of money.”
Lucrative means
A. required.
B. financially rewarding.
C. risky.
The words great financial loss are a clue that lucrative means the
opposite—“financially rewarding.” If Professor Baum doesn’t need
lots of money, he or she would be contented with a job that is not
financially rewarding.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 mandatory
– adjective
• Members of the basketball team have to follow strict rules. For
example, it’s mandatory that each player attend at least 80
percent of the practices.
• “A research paper isn’t mandatory,” the instructor said, “but if
you write one, you’ll get extra credit.”
Mandatory means
A. unimportant.
B. helpful.
C. essential.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 mandatory
– adjective
• Members of the basketball team have to follow strict rules. For
example, it’s mandatory that each player attend at least 80
percent of the practices.
• “A research paper isn’t mandatory,” the instructor said, “but if
you write one, you’ll get extra credit.”
Mandatory means
A. unimportant.
B. helpful.
C. essential.
If the rules are strict, then it must be essential to attend 80 percent of
the practices. If students can choose whether or not to write a research
paper, the paper is not essential to passing the course.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
1. My kid brother _________s to become the video-game
champion of the world.
2. The __________ fund at my church collects money to
help poor families in our parish.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
1. My kid brother __________
aspires to become the video-game
champion of the world.
The brother desires to become the world champion.
2. The __________
benevolent fund at my church collects money to
help poor families in our parish.
If the fund collects money for the poor, it is a charitable fund.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
3. My parents enjoy card games, but my sister and I prefer
such _________s as computer games and music videos.
4. An entrance fee wasn’t __________, but a sign at the
museum entrance suggested that visitors make a donation.
5. Because Hank needs to lose weight, his doctor recommended
that he __________ from all sweets and fatty foods.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
3. My parents enjoy card games, but my sister and I prefer
such __________
diversions as computer games and music videos.
Card games, computer games, and videos are pastimes.
4. An entrance fee wasn’t __________,
mandatory but a sign at the
museum entrance suggested that visitors make a donation.
If the museum only suggested a donation, an entrance fee was
not required.
5. Because Hank needs to lose weight, his doctor recommended
that he __________
from all sweets and fatty foods.
abstain
If Hank needs to lose weight, he should refrain from eating sweets
and fatty foods.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
6. We could overcome a(n) _______ of organs for transplants
if more people would agree to have their organs donated
after they die.
7. There was no __________ in the family on whether or
not to start a vegetable garden this year. We all agreed it
was a great idea.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
6. We could overcome a _________
deficit of organs for transplants
if more people would agree to have their organs donated
after they die.
The shortage could be overcome if more people donated their organs.
7. There was no __________
dissent in the family on whether or
not to start a vegetable garden this year. We all agreed it
was a great idea.
If they all agreed, there was no disagreement.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
8. Yong could have joined the all-male club, but he prefers
to __________ with organizations that welcome both
men and women.
9. “When someone who believes in God marries someone who
does not,” the comic asked, “do they give birth to a(n)
__________?”
10. Acting is __________ for only a small percentage of
performers. The rest need additional sources of income,
such as waiting on tables or parking cars.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. abstain
B. affiliate
C. agnostic
D. aspire
E. benevolent
F. deficit
G. dissent
H. diversion
I. lucrative
J. mandatory
8. Yong could have joined the all-male club, but he prefers
to __________
affiliate with organizations that welcome both
men and women.
The word joined tells you the meaning of affiliate.
9. “When someone who believes in God marries someone who
does not,” the comic asked, “do they give birth to an
__________?”
agnostic
The joke is that their child would feel we can’t know if God exists.
10. Acting is __________
lucrative for only a small percentage of
performers. The rest need additional sources of income,
such as waiting on tables or parking cars.
If most actors need additional sources of income, acting must be
well-paying for only a few actors.