ADVANCED
WORD POWER
Second Edition
BETH JOHNSON
JANET M. GOLDSTEIN
© 2011 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 18
• aberration
• formidable
• composure
• inscrutable
• congenital
• precocious
• elusive
• trepidation
• extol
• virulent
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 aberration
– noun
• Yes, we had a poor meal at Antonio’s Restaurant, but that was an
aberration. Generally the food there is excellent.
• We have seen many aberrations in the weather this year. For instance, it
snowed in June, and it reached 70 degrees on Christmas Day.
Aberration means
A. something abnormal.
B. something typical.
C. something impossible.
Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 aberration
– noun
• Yes, we had a poor meal at Antonio’s Restaurant, but that was an
aberration. Generally the food there is excellent.
• We have seen many aberrations in the weather this year. For instance, it
snowed in June, and it reached 70 degrees on Christmas Day.
Aberration means
A. something abnormal.
B. something typical.
C. something impossible.
Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Since the food is generally excellent, a
poor meal would be something abnormal.
Snow in June and warm temperatures in
December are so rare they suggest
something abnormal about the weather.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 composure
– noun
• When Kaylin served as a juror, she was impressed by the foreman’s composure as
he announced the jury’s verdict. Afterward, though, he said to her, “I may have
looked calm, but I was shaking inside.”
• Grandma’s composure was legendary. When her house was flooded, the Red Cross
arrived to find her perched in an upstairs window, calmly knitting. “Why fuss?” she
said. “I knew you’d get here sooner or later.”
Composure means
A. understanding.
B. cool-headedness.
C. selfishness.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 composure
– noun
• When Kaylin served as a juror, she was impressed by the foreman’s composure as
he announced the jury’s verdict. Afterward, though, he said to her, “I may have
looked calm, but I was shaking inside.”
• Grandma’s composure was legendary. When her house was flooded, the Red Cross
arrived to find her perched in an upstairs window, calmly knitting. “Why fuss?” she
said. “I knew you’d get here sooner or later.”
Composure means
A. understanding.
B. cool-headedness.
C. selfishness.
The word calm suggests that composure means “cool-headedness.”
Knitting calmly while waiting to be rescued from a flooded house is
an example of cool-headedness.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 congenital
– adjective
• Before the Jacksons’ baby son was born, doctors knew he had a
congenital heart defect. He had surgery to correct it when he was only
two months old.
• Both of Ravi’s parents are deaf. His father’s deafness is congenital, but
his mother’s was caused by an ear infection when she was very young.
Congenital means
A. unusual.
B. existing from birth.
C. insufficient.
Photos: U.S. Air Force
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 congenital
– adjective
• Before the Jacksons’ baby son was born, doctors knew he had a
congenital heart defect. He had surgery to correct it when he was only
two months old.
• Both of Ravi’s parents are deaf. His father’s deafness is congenital, but
his mother’s was caused by an ear infection when she was very young.
Congenital means
A. unusual.
B. existing from birth.
C. insufficient.
Photos: U.S. Air Force
If the defect was apparent before he
was born, it was existing from birth.
Deafness existing from the father’s
birth is contrasted with deafness
caused by an ear infection.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 elusive
– adjective
• Marta tried to follow the lecture, but the ideas seemed elusive. “The
point escaped me,” she admitted later.
• There was a faint, elusive scent in the air. Was it flowers, or was it
someone’s perfume? We couldn’t be sure.
Elusive means
A. difficult to capture.
B. horrible.
C. common.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 elusive
– adjective
• Marta tried to follow the lecture, but the ideas seemed elusive. “The
point escaped me,” she admitted later.
• There was a faint, elusive scent in the air. Was it flowers, or was it
someone’s perfume? We couldn’t be sure.
Elusive means
A. difficult to capture.
B. horrible.
C. common.
The ideas must have been difficult to capture if the point escaped
her in spite of her efforts. In the second item, the people could not
identify the scent because it was so faint and difficult to capture as
it wafted in the air.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 extol
– verb
• Advertisements all extol whatever product they are selling, saying that it
is the best of its type.
• The review of this movie extols it as one of the best films of the year.
Photo: U.S. Library of Congress, from a print by Hughes Lithographers, Chicago.
Extol means
A. to glorify.
B. to combine.
C. to complete.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 extol
– verb
• Advertisements all extol whatever product they are selling, saying that it
is the best of its type.
• The review of this movie extols it as one of the best films of the year.
Photo: U.S. Library of Congress, from a print by Hughes Lithographers, Chicago.
Extol means
A. to glorify.
B. to combine.
C. to complete.
Ads often try it to glorify their
products by calling them “the best.”
The review glorified the movie by
calling it “one of the best.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 formidable
– adjective
• The movers stood on the sidewalk, considering the formidable task of
getting a grand piano up a long, narrow flight of stairs.
• When Joe and Mia learned they were going to have triplets, they
wondered how they could handle such a formidable responsibility.
Formidable means
A. formless.
B. previous.
C. difficult.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 formidable
– adjective
• The movers stood on the sidewalk, considering the formidable task of
getting a grand piano up a long, narrow flight of stairs.
• When Joe and Mia learned they were going to have triplets, they
wondered how they could handle such a formidable responsibility.
Formidable means
A. formless.
B. previous.
C. difficult.
Carrying a large, heavy piano up a long, narrow stairway would be a
difficult task. Caring for three newborn children would be a difficult
and challenging responsibility.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 inscrutable
– adjective
• “How can I write a paper on the meaning of this poem when I don’t
understand it myself?” Kiri moaned. “It’s completely inscrutable to me.”
• When the artist Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear, his motive seemed
completely inscrutable. One possible solution to the mystery is that he
may have been poisoned by the lead in his paints, leading to brain damage.
Inscrutable means
A. looked at closely.
B. mysterious.
C. clear.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 inscrutable
– adjective
• “How can I write a paper on the meaning of this poem when I don’t
understand it myself?” Kiri moaned. “It’s completely inscrutable to me.”
• When the artist Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear, his motive seemed
completely inscrutable. One possible solution to the mystery is that he
may have been poisoned by the lead in his paints, leading to brain damage.
Inscrutable means
A. looked at closely.
B. mysterious.
C. clear.
The meaning is mysterious to Kiri because she can’t understand it.
In the second item, the word mystery suggests that van Gogh’s
motive was mysterious.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 precocious
– adjective
• Matilda is an amusing book by Roald Dahl about a precocious little girl
who reads an entire library of books before she begins first grade.
• Ms. Wolf is quite excited about one of her piano students, a precocious
boy who not only plays very well but is already composing his own music.
Precocious means
A. prejudiced.
B. advanced for one’s age.
C. tending to misbehave.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 precocious
– adjective
• Matilda is an amusing book by Roald Dahl about a precocious little girl
who reads an entire library of books before she begins first grade.
• Ms. Wolf is quite excited about one of her piano students, a precocious
boy who not only plays very well but is already composing his own music.
Precocious means
A. prejudiced.
B. advanced for one’s age.
C. tending to misbehave.
A girl would have to be advanced for her age to read an entire library
of books before entering first grade. One would have to be advanced
for one’s age to play piano very well and compose music while still a
young boy.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 trepidation
– noun
Photo: U.S. Navy – Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass
• “It is with some trepidation that I put my plan before you,” the
consultant told the board of directors nervously, “since it involves
moving the company to Siberia.”
• “Yes,” Grandpa remembered, “I experienced some trepidation on my
wedding day. In fact, you could say I was scared to death.”
Trepidation means
A. enthusiasm.
B. boredom.
C. anxiety.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 trepidation
– noun
Photo: U.S. Navy – Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass
• “It is with some trepidation that I put my plan before you,” the
consultant told the board of directors nervously, “since it involves
moving the company to Siberia.”
• “Yes,” Grandpa remembered, “I experienced some trepidation on my
wedding day. In fact, you could say I was scared to death.”
Trepidation means
A. enthusiasm.
B. boredom.
C. anxiety.
The word nervously suggests that
trepidation means “anxiety.” In the
second item, the phrase scared to
death suggests that trepidation
means “anxiety.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 virulent
– adjective
• The mayor bitterly protested the newspaper’s virulent attacks on her
administration: “I demand an end to these attempts to poison the public’s mind
against me.”
• Lung cancer is one of the most virulent forms of cancer, but though it is deadly,
it is also highly preventable. Quitting smoking reduces the risk dramatically.
Virulent means
A. constant.
B. inconsistent.
C. destructive.
Photo: Florian Boyd
test
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 virulent
– adjective
• The mayor bitterly protested the newspaper’s virulent attacks on her
administration: “I demand an end to these attempts to poison the public’s mind
against me.”
• Lung cancer is one of the most virulent forms of cancer, but though it is deadly,
it is also highly preventable. Quitting smoking reduces the risk dramatically.
Virulent means
A. constant.
B. inconsistent.
C. destructive.
Photo: Florian Boyd
Newspaper attacks that poisoned
the public’s mind must have been
destructive. In the second item, the
word deadly suggests that virulent
means “destructive.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
1. That little boy’s good nature is _________; he’s been smiling
since the day he was born.
2. Heidi adores her new job. She ________s everything about it,
from her affable° coworkers to the great coffee in the
lunchroom.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
1. That little boy’s good nature is _________;
congenital he’s been smiling
since the day he was born.
Smiling from the day he was born suggests his good nature was present
from birth.
2. Heidi adores her new job. She ________
extols everything about it,
from her affable° coworkers to the great coffee in the
lunchroom.
Since she adores her job, she highly praises everything about it,
describing even the coffee as “great.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
3. Wendy’s friends vowed to maintain their _________ at her
funeral, no matter how much they might break down and cry
later in private.
4. As the great detective peered through his magnifying glass at the
fingerprint, his expression was _________. No one could tell what
he might be thinking.
5. Jian had a terrifying experience during the blackout—he was stuck in
an elevator for seven hours. Now he never enters an elevator
without _________.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
3. Wendy’s friends vowed to maintain their _________
composure at her
funeral, no matter how much they might break down and cry
later in private.
Emotionally breaking down is contrasted with calmness of manner.
4. As the great detective peered through his magnifying glass at the
fingerprint, his expression was inscrutable
_________. No one could tell what
he might be thinking.
No one knew his thoughts because his expression was difficult to interpret.
5. Jian had a terrifying experience during the blackout—he was stuck in
an elevator for seven hours. Now he never enters an elevator
trepidation
without _________.
His terrifying experience left him feeling dread about entering elevators.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
6. One of Mrs. Thompson’s first-graders is so _________ that she is
reading at a high-school level and actually helps teach the other
children.
7. After an hour of angry, _________ criticism from the audience,
the company president stalked out of the stockholders’ meeting.
“I quit,” he said. “Let someone else take all this abuse.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
precocious that she is
6. One of Mrs. Thompson’s first-graders is so _________
reading at a high-school level and actually helps teach the other
children.
A first-grader with high-school skills shows unusually early mental maturity.
virulent criticism from the audience,
7. After an hour of angry, _________
the company president stalked out of the stockholders’ meeting.
“I quit,” he said. “Let someone else take all this abuse.”
The words angry and abuse suggest that the criticism was very injurious.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
8. Jermain was trying to write a song, but the melody remained _________.
Bits of it drifted into his mind but proved to be evanescent°, fading away
before he could write them down.
9. Keeping up with housework, raising children, holding a job, and
maintaining friendships is a(n) ________ task, yet many people somehow
manage to do it all with only brief respites° from all their responsibilities.
10. Chicken eggs with two yolks are a(n) ________, but although they are
unusual, you do find one from time to time.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. aberration
B. composure
C. congenital
D. elusive
E. extol
F. formidable
G. inscrutable
H. precocious
I. trepidation J. virulent
8. Jermain was trying to write a song, but the melody remained _________.
elusive
Bits of it drifted into his mind but proved to be evanescent°, fading away
before he could write them down.
The phrase “fading away” suggests the melody tended to escape his mind.
9. Keeping up with housework, raising children, holding a job, and
maintaining friendships is a __________
formidable task, yet many people somehow
manage to do it all with only brief respites° from all their responsibilities.
Continually managing multiple responsibilities would be very challenging.
10. Chicken eggs with two yolks are an _________,
aberration but although they are
unusual, you do find one from time to time.
The word unusual suggests that eggs with double yolks are an oddity.