BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 24
• -able
• man
• cent-, centi-
• mem
• in-
• mono-, mon-
• -logy, -ology
• port
• mal-
• therm-, thermo-
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
1 -able
• The couch was too hard to be a comfortable bed.
• Come on, now. Can you really say a movie like Slaughter in the
Subway is enjoyable?
The word part -able means
A. hand.
B. able to.
C. theory.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
1 -able
• The couch was too hard to be a comfortable bed.
• Come on, now. Can you really say a movie like Slaughter in the
Subway is enjoyable?
The word part -able means
A. hand.
B. able to.
C. theory.
Because the couch is hard, it is not able to give comfort. Is a movie
like Slaughter in the Subway able to be enjoyed?
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
2 cent-, centi• Contrary to popular belief, the 21st century didn’t start in 2000.
It actually started in 2001 and will end in 2100.
• The centipede doesn’t really have a hundred feet; it just has so
many that it seems there are a hundred of them.
The word part cent- or centimeans
A. two.
B. hundred.
C. remember.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
2 cent-, centi• Contrary to popular belief, the 21st century didn’t start in 2000.
It actually started in 2001 and will end in 2100.
• The centipede doesn’t really have a hundred feet; it just has so
many that it seems there are a hundred of them.
The word part cent- or centimeans
A. two.
B. hundred.
C. remember.
2001 to 2100 is a period of a hundred years or a century. In the
second item, the word hundred tells you the meaning of the centipart of centipede.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
3 in• The glass on the door was so clean that it was invisible, which
explains why I walked into the door instead of opening it.
• “Only an inexperienced burglar leaves fingerprints,” said the
detective.
The word part in- means
A. not.
B. science.
C. heat.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
3 in• The glass on the door was so clean that it was invisible, which
explains why I walked into the door instead of opening it.
• “Only an inexperienced burglar leaves fingerprints,” said the
detective.
The word part in- means
A. not.
B. science.
C. heat.
If one walked into the door, it must have been so clean that it was
not visible. A burglar who is not experienced would leave fingerprints.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
4 -logy, -ology
• “I’d probably major in biology,” Suki explained, “if I didn’t have
to kill those little frogs.”
• To help them find petroleum, oil companies hire people who have
studied geology.
The word part -logy or -ology
means
A. good.
B. carry.
C. study of.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
4 -logy, -ology
• “I’d probably major in biology,” Suki explained, “if I didn’t have
to kill those little frogs.”
• To help them find petroleum, oil companies hire people who have
studied geology.
The word part -logy or -ology
means
A. good.
B. carry.
C. study of.
Biology is the study of life. Geology is the study of the earth.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
5 mal• What should we do about the many children suffering from
neglect and maltreatment?
• When the doctor gave his patient a medicine with harmful side
effects, the patient sued for malpractice.
The word part mal- means
A. in.
B. bad.
C. carry.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
5 mal• What should we do about the many children suffering from
neglect and maltreatment?
• When the doctor gave his patient a medicine with harmful side
effects, the patient sued for malpractice.
The word part mal- means
A. in.
B. bad.
C. carry.
Children would suffer from bad treatment. A doctor who harms
his patient would be sued for bad practice.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
6 man
• Mark Twain may have been the first author ever to give a
publisher an entire manuscript that was typed, rather than
handwritten.
• The worker’s rough hands show he’s done much manual labor.
The word part man means
A. against.
B. badly.
C. hand.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
6 man
• Mark Twain may have been the first author ever to give a
publisher an entire manuscript that was typed, rather than
handwritten.
• The worker’s rough hands show he’s done much manual labor.
The word part man means
A. against.
B. badly.
C. hand.
Before Mark Twain, authors wrote
their manuscripts by hand. The word
handwritten is a clue. Manual labor is
labor done by hand. The word hands
is a clue.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
7 mem
• I wrote a memo to remind me what to do today, but I forgot
where I put it.
• In the small cemetery, every flower left in memory of a loved
one shows up brightly.
The word part mem means
A. carry.
B. heat.
C. remember.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
7 mem
• I wrote a memo to remind me what to do today, but I forgot
where I put it.
• In the small cemetery, every flower left in memory of a loved
one shows up brightly.
The word part mem means
A. carry.
B. heat.
C. remember.
A memo helps you remember. The words remind and forgot are clues.
The flowers in the cemetery are left to show that the loved one is
remembered.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
8 mono-, mon• When Pastor Brook preached in a monotone, he found his
congregation snoring in stereo.
• Monogamy is not the only type of marriage relationship. In
many societies, a person may have more than one mate at the
same time.
The word part mono- or monmeans
A. one.
B. theory.
C. heat.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
8 mono-, mon• When Pastor Brook preached in a monotone, he found his
congregation snoring in stereo.
• Monogamy is not the only type of marriage relationship. In
many societies, a person may have more than one mate at the
same time.
The word part mono- or monmeans
A. one.
B. theory.
C. heat.
The congregation would fall asleep if Pastor
Brook spoke in one tone, without ever
changing the pitch of his voice. Monogamy
is having one mate at a time.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
9 port
• We had so many suitcases that we had a porter take them from
the airport to our car.
• “My daughter is truly generous,” said Salvador. “She volunteers,
donates clothing to shelters, and supports efforts to help the
homeless.”
The word part port means
A. write.
B. badly.
C. carry.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
9 port
• We had so many suitcases that we had a porter take them from
the airport to our car.
• “My daughter is truly generous,” said Salvador. “She volunteers,
donates clothing to shelters, and supports efforts to help the
homeless.”
The word part port means
A. write.
B. badly.
C. carry.
In the first item, they had the porter carry their suitcases to the car.
In the second item, Salvador’s daughter carries out efforts to help
the homeless.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
10 therm-, thermo• In the fall, a thermos full of hot soup is a great addition to any
hiking gear.
• A digital thermometer beeps when a person’s body heat has
been fully measured.
The word part therm- or
thermo- means
A. new.
B. science.
C. heat.
TEN WORD PARTS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning of the word part based on the boldfaced words.
10 therm-, thermo• In the fall, a thermos full of hot soup is a great addition to any
hiking gear.
• A digital thermometer beeps when a person’s body heat has
been fully measured.
The word part therm- or
thermo- means
A. new.
B. science.
C. heat.
A thermos keeps liquids hot. In the
second item, the word heat tells you
that a thermometer is something that
measures heat.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
1. The dogs had been fed so poorly that they suffered from
( . . . nutrition) ___.
2. Five ( . . . meters) ___ means 5/100 of a meter—the
length of an eyebrow.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
1. The dogs had been fed so poorly that they suffered from
_______________.
malnutrition
Dogs that had been fed poorly would suffer from bad nutrition.
2. Five ______________
centimeters means 5/100 of a meter—the
length of an eyebrow.
A centimeter is 1/100th of a meter.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
3. (Crimin . . . ) ___ now includes the study of computer
crime.
4. I always feel unsafe on a(n) ( . . . rail) ___. I think a train is
more safe running on two rails than on one.
5. To ( . . . orize) ___ the names of the five Great Lakes,
remember “HOMES,” which is made up of the lakes’ initials:
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
3. ______________
Criminology now includes the study of computer
crime.
Criminology is the study of crime—including computer crime.
4. I always feel unsafe on a _____________.
I think a train is
monorail
more safe running on two rails than on one.
The word one tells you that monorail means “one rail.”
5. To _____________
the names of the five Great Lakes,
memorize
remember “HOMES,” which is made up of the lakes’ initials:
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
The word remember tells you that to memorize means “to remember.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
6. Before there were machines and robots, everything had
to be ( . . . ufactured) ___ by hand.
7. Young children can take only small doses of (. . .activity)__,
and then they need to move around.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
6. Before there were machines and robots, everything had
to be ________________
manufactured by hand.
Manufactured literally means “made by hand.” The word hand is a clue.
7. Young children can take only small doses of __________,
inactivity
and then they need to move around.
Young children can take only a little lack of activity, and then they
need to be active.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
8. The union representative objected, saying, “Asking the
workers to take a 20 percent pay cut would be
(laugh . . . ) ___ if it weren’t so awful.”
9. When I visit my relatives in Alaska during the winter, I pack
several pairs of ( . . . al) ___ underwear.
10. In 1856, the U.S. Cavalry (im . . . ed) ___ thirty-three
camels from Egypt to use as mounts for its soldiers.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each italicized word with the correct word part from the box.
A. -able B. cent-, centi- C. inF. man
G. mem
D. -logy, -ology E. man
H. mono-, mon- I. port
J. therm-, thermo-
8. The union representative objected, saying, “Asking the
workers to take a 20 percent pay cut would be
_____________
if it weren’t so awful.”
laughable
If the pay cut weren’t so awful, it would be able to be laughed at.
9. When I visit my relatives in Alaska during the winter, I pack
several pairs of __________
thermal underwear.
If one were going to Alaska in the winter, one would need underwear
designed to keep body heat in.
10. In 1856, the U.S. Cavalry _____________
thirty-three
imported
camels from Egypt to use as mounts for its soldiers.
Literally, import means “carry in.” Here it has the sense of “brought in.”