IMPROVING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit One: Chapter 4
• deterrent
• innovation
• implication
• revitalize
• inequity
• sparse
• infirmity
• subjective
• infringe
• succinct
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 deterrent
– noun
• As a deterrent to burglars, my father put a sign on our lawn that
says, “Beware of pit bull.”
• If the dangers of skydiving aren’t a big enough deterrent for
Ben, maybe the high cost will be.
Deterrent means
A. a reward.
B. a prevention.
C. a reason.
A deterrent to drivers
who would run red lights
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 deterrent
– noun
• As a deterrent to burglars, my father put a sign on our lawn that
says, “Beware of pit bull.”
• If the dangers of skydiving aren’t a big enough deterrent for
Ben, maybe the high cost will be.
Deterrent means
A. a reward.
B. a prevention.
C. a reason.
A deterrent to drivers
who would run red lights
The sign was intended as a prevention
to keep burglars away. Dangers and
high cost might be preventions that
would keep Ben from skydiving.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 implication
– noun
• When the boss said that company profits were down, the
implication was that nobody would be getting a raise.
• When the salesman winked, the implication was that he would
give Joaquin a special deal on a car.
Implication means
A. a minor fault.
B. a demand.
C. something suggested.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 implication
– noun
• When the boss said that company profits were down, the
implication was that nobody would be getting a raise.
• When the salesman winked, the implication was that he would
give Joaquin a special deal on a car.
Implication means
A. a minor fault.
B. a demand.
C. something suggested.
That no one will be getting a raise is suggested by the boss’s
announcement. That Joaquin will get a special deal is suggested
by the salesman’s wink.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 inequity
– noun
• In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi experienced an inequity that
was all too common at the time—he was thrown off a “whites
only” train.
• Most Americans consider it an inequity that some millionaires
pay less in taxes than ordinary citizens do.
Inequity means
A. an injustice.
B. a physical weakness.
C. a question.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 inequity
– noun
• In South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi experienced an inequity that
was all too common at the time—he was thrown off a “whites
only” train.
• Most Americans consider it an inequity that some millionaires
pay less in taxes than ordinary citizens do.
Inequity means
A. an injustice.
B. a physical weakness.
C. a question.
Having “whites only” trains is an injustice. Millionaires paying less
taxes than ordinary citizens is an injustice.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 infirmity
– noun
• Rick uses a wheelchair, but he doesn’t let his infirmity keep him
from traveling.
• Certain infirmities, such as arthritis and diabetes, are more likely
to affect the elderly.
Infirmity means
A. a relationship.
B. a disability.
C. a secret.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 infirmity
– noun
• Rick uses a wheelchair, but he doesn’t let his infirmity keep him
from traveling.
• Certain infirmities, such as arthritis and diabetes, are more likely
to affect the elderly.
Infirmity means
A. a relationship.
B. a disability.
C. a secret.
If Rick uses a wheelchair, he must have a disability. Arthritis and
diabetes are disabilities.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 infringe
– verb
• The protesters may picket the nuclear power plant as long as they
don’t infringe on other people’s right to enter and exit freely.
• When my mother is doing her homework, no one is allowed to
infringe on her quiet time.
Infringe means
A. to interfere with.
B. to protect.
C. to recognize.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 infringe
– verb
• The protesters may picket the nuclear power plant as long as they
don’t infringe on other people’s right to enter and exit freely.
• When my mother is doing her homework, no one is allowed to
infringe on her quiet time.
Infringe means
A. to interfere with.
B. to protect.
C. to recognize.
If the protesters don’t interfere with other people’s rights to
enter and exit, they may picket. If the mother is doing her
homework, no one would be allowed to interfere with her quiet
time.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 innovation
– noun
• When commercial bakers first offered sliced bread, it was
considered an exciting innovation.
• The high cost of college has led to such financial innovations as
savings accounts for children’s education begun while the
children are still infants.
Innovation means
A. something new.
B. a weakness.
C. an imitation.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 innovation
– noun
• When commercial bakers first offered sliced bread, it was
considered an exciting innovation.
• The high cost of college has led to such financial innovations as
savings accounts for children’s education begun while the
children are still infants.
Innovation means
A. something new.
B. a weakness.
C. an imitation.
If sliced bread was being offered for the first time, it must have
been something new. Educational savings accounts for infants
were not offered in the past; therefore, they are something new.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 revitalize
– verb
• When DeShawn is tired after work, he finds a brief nap
revitalizes him for an evening out with friends.
• The City Council hopes to revitalize the currently lifeless
shopping district by offering tax breaks for new businesses.
Revitalize means
A. to refresh.
B. to amuse.
C. to tire out.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 revitalize
– verb
• When DeShawn is tired after work, he finds a brief nap
revitalizes him for an evening out with friends.
• The City Council hopes to revitalize the currently lifeless
shopping district by offering tax breaks for new businesses.
Revitalize means
A. to refresh.
B. to amuse.
C. to tire out.
If DeShawn is tired, a brief nap would refresh him. If the shopping
district is lifeless, City Council would want to refresh it.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 sparse
– adjective
• There are thick pine forests at the foot of the mountain, but
higher up, the trees become sparse.
• Unfortunately, the turnout for the team’s first pep rally was
sparse. Organizers hope to have better attendance at the next one.
Sparse means
A. long.
B. thin.
C. crowded.
Sparse hair
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 sparse
– adjective
• There are thick pine forests at the foot of the mountain, but
higher up, the trees become sparse.
• Unfortunately, the turnout for the team’s first pep rally was
sparse. Organizers hope to have better attendance at the next one.
Sparse means
A. long.
B. thin.
C. crowded.
Sparse hair
The thick forests at the foot of the mountain
are contrasted with the thin scattering of
trees higher up. If the organizers hope for
better attendance next time, the turnout
must have been thin.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 subjective
– adjective
• Martina, a highly subjective judge of her son’s abilities, feels
he’s brilliant in every respect. The boy’s father, however, has a
less emotional view of him.
• The reporter refused to write about his friend’s trial. He knew
any story he wrote would be too subjective to be published as an
unbiased article.
Subjective means
A. one-sided.
B. boring.
C. impersonal.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 subjective
– adjective
• Martina, a highly subjective judge of her son’s abilities, feels
he’s brilliant in every respect. The boy’s father, however, has a
less emotional view of him.
• The reporter refused to write about his friend’s trial. He knew
any story he wrote would be too subjective to be published as an
unbiased article.
Subjective means
A. one-sided.
B. boring.
C. impersonal.
If Martina feels her son is brilliant in every respect, she must be a
one-sided judge of his abilities. If the reporter’s story would be
biased, it would be one-sided.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 succinct
– adjective
• Text messages are usually succinct. People don’t want to type
any more words than necessary to get their messages across.
• “What’s new?” is a succinct way of asking, “Has anything of
interest happened to you lately, my friend?”
Succinct means
A. wordy.
B. prejudiced.
C. brief and clear.
A succinct sign
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 succinct
– adjective
• Text messages are usually succinct. People don’t want to type
any more words than necessary to get their messages across.
• “What’s new?” is a succinct way of asking, “Has anything of
interest happened to you lately, my friend?”
Succinct means
A. wordy.
B. prejudiced.
C. brief and clear.
A succinct sign
If people don’t want to type any more
words than necessary, their text
messages must be brief and clear.
“What’s new?” is brief and clear.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
1. Although Marie joked about her broken leg, it was an
__________ that kept her from work for a month.
2. When a restaurant’s tables have ashtrays, the
__________ is that smoking is permitted.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
1. Although Marie joked about her broken leg, it was an
__________
infirmity that kept her from work for a month.
A broken leg is a physical defect.
2. When a restaurant’s tables have ashtrays, the
__________
implication is that smoking is permitted.
Ashtrays on the table would be a suggestion that the restaurant
permits smoking.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
3. Our democratic rights do not include the freedom to
__________ on other people’s rights.
4. “Now” is a __________ way of saying, “At this particular
point in time.”
5. Our grass is __________ along a path at the corner of
the lot, where kids take a shortcut through our yard.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
3. Our democratic rights do not include the freedom to
__________
infringe on other people’s rights.
We do not have the right to intrude on other people’s rights.
4. “Now” is a __________
succinct way of saying, “At this particular
point in time.”
“Now” is a concise way of saying “At this particular point in time.”
5. Our grass is __________
along a path at the corner of
sparse
the lot, where kids take a shortcut through our yard.
If kids take a shortcut through the yard and have worn a path there,
the grass must be thin.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
6. An interesting __________ in food packaging is a bottle
from which salad dressing is sprayed, rather than
poured.
7. The seminar for company employees _______(e)d my
aunt’s interest in her job by giving her new skills and
suggesting new goals.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
6. An interesting __________
innovation in food packaging is a bottle
from which salad dressing is sprayed, rather than
poured.
A bottle that sprays dressing is a new method for putting it on salad.
7. The seminar for company employees __________
revitalized my
aunt’s interest in her job by giving her new skills and
suggesting new goals.
If the aunt gained new skills and goals, her interest in her job would
be renewed.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
8. The Diary of Anne Frank is a __________ view of events
during World War II, from the point of view of a young
Jewish girl in hiding.
9. The company was accused of creating a(n) _________ by
paying women less than men for doing the same work.
10. The fact that Beethoven was totally deaf by age 50 was not
a(n) _________ to his composing, at the age of 53, one of
his most ambitious and beloved works, the Ninth Symphony.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. deterrent
B. implication
C. inequity
D. infirmity
E. infringe
F. innovation
G. revitalize
H. sparse
I. subjective
J. succinct
8. The Diary of Anne Frank is a __________
subjective view of events
during World War II, from the point of view of a young
Jewish girl in hiding.
A diary written by a young girl would be based on personal feelings.
9. The company was accused of creating an __________
inequity by
paying women less than men for doing the same work.
If the company pays women less than men for the same work, it has
created an injustice.
10. The fact that Beethoven was totally deaf by age 50 was not
a ___________
deterrent to his composing, at the age of 53, one of
his most ambitious and beloved works, the Ninth Symphony.
Even Beethoven’s total deafness was not something that discouraged
him from writing a great symphony.