IMPROVING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Three: Chapter 17
• congenial
• prone
• flippant
• rapport
• impasse
• rationale
• perception
• relentless
• prompt
• reprisal
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 congenial
– adjective
• I was nervous being at a party where I didn’t know anyone, but
the other guests were so congenial that I soon felt at ease.
• Beware of friendships that begin in Internet chat rooms. People
who seem congenial online may be anything but pleasant in real
life.
Congenial means
A. persistent.
B. intelligent.
C. friendly.
A congenial expression
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 congenial
– adjective
• I was nervous being at a party where I didn’t know anyone, but
the other guests were so congenial that I soon felt at ease.
• Beware of friendships that begin in Internet chat rooms. People
who seem congenial online may be anything but pleasant in real
life.
Congenial means
A. persistent.
B. intelligent.
C. friendly.
A congenial expression
If the guests put him or her at ease,
they must have been friendly. In the
second item, the word pleasant
suggests that congenial means
“friendly.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 flippant
– adjective
• “Don’t give me a flippant answer,” George’s father told him.
“Your financial situation is a serious matter.”
• When a teenage boy is asked to clean his room, he’s likely to
give a flippant response such as “Why should I? I just cleaned it
last month.”
Flippant means
A. rude.
B. serious.
C. incorrect.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 flippant
– adjective
• “Don’t give me a flippant answer,” George’s father told him.
“Your financial situation is a serious matter.”
• When a teenage boy is asked to clean his room, he’s likely to
give a flippant response such as “Why should I? I just cleaned it
last month.”
Flippant means
A. rude.
B. serious.
C. incorrect.
If George’s financial situation is serious, his father would not
tolerate a rude answer. The second item includes an example
of a rude response.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 impasse
– noun
• The jurors had reached an impasse. They couldn’t agree on a
verdict—some thought the defendant was the murderer, but
others were sure he was innocent.
• If you think you’ve reached an impasse when trying to solve a
problem, take a break. The solution may occur to you while
you’re doing something else. Impasse means
A. a deadlock.
B. a relationship.
C. an opportunity.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 impasse
– noun
• The jurors had reached an impasse. They couldn’t agree on a
verdict—some thought the defendant was the murderer, but
others were sure he was innocent.
• If you think you’ve reached an impasse when trying to solve a
problem, take a break. The solution may occur to you while
you’re doing something else. Impasse means
A. a deadlock.
B. a relationship.
C. an opportunity.
If some jurors think the defendant is guilty and some think he is
innocent, they have reached a deadlock. If the solution will not
come to you while you are working on the problem, you have
reached a deadlock.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 perception
– noun
• Brenda’s perceptions of others are usually accurate. She is a good
judge of character.
• “Our perceptions of our problem differ,” Tonya explained. “Sam
thinks money is the main issue, but I believe it’s a question of who
controls the purse strings.
Perception means
A. a memory.
B. a view.
C. a desire.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 perception
– noun
• Brenda’s perceptions of others are usually accurate. She is a good
judge of character.
• “Our perceptions of our problem differ,” Tonya explained. “Sam
thinks money is the main issue, but I believe it’s a question of who
controls the purse strings.
Perception means
A. a memory.
B. a view.
C. a desire.
If Brenda is a good judge of character, her view of others must be
accurate. Tonya states two different views of what the issue is.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 prompt
– verb
• To prompt her son Byron to get a job, Mrs. Davis pinned the
want ads to his pillow.
• Fast-food clerks prompt customers to spend more money by
asking such questions as “Would you like cookies or apple pie
with that?”
Prompt means
A. to allow.
B. to agree with.
C. to encourage.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 prompt
– verb
• To prompt her son Byron to get a job, Mrs. Davis pinned the
want ads to his pillow.
• Fast-food clerks prompt customers to spend more money by
asking such questions as “Would you like cookies or apple pie
with that?”
Prompt means
A. to allow.
B. to agree with.
C. to encourage.
If Mrs. Davis pinned the want ads to Byron’s pillow, she is encouraging
her son to get a job. In the second item, the question gives an example
of how the clerks encourage customers to spend more money.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 prone
– adjective
• Mr. Walker is prone to sleep problems, so he limits his intake of
caffeine.
• Prone to fits of laughter during class, Chris controls himself by
chewing on his pen.
Prone means
A. tending.
B. immune.
C. attracted.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 prone
– adjective
• Mr. Walker is prone to sleep problems, so he limits his intake of
caffeine.
• Prone to fits of laughter during class, Chris controls himself by
chewing on his pen.
Prone means
A. tending.
B. immune.
C. attracted.
If Mr. Walker has a tendency to sleep problems, he would limit his
intake of caffeine. And if Chris has a tendency to fits of laughter,
chewing a pen would be a way to control himself.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 rapport
– noun
• In high school, I had such good rapport with my gym teacher
that our close relationship continues to this day.
• If no rapport develops between you and your therapist after a
month or two, start looking for a counselor who makes you feel
comfortable.
Rapport means
A. a report.
B. a personal connection.
C. a financial situation.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 rapport
– noun
• In high school, I had such good rapport with my gym teacher
that our close relationship continues to this day.
• If no rapport develops between you and your therapist after a
month or two, start looking for a counselor who makes you feel
comfortable.
Rapport means
A. a report.
B. a personal connection.
C. a financial situation.
In the first item, the words close relationship suggest that rapport
means “a personal connection.” Having a personal connection with
one’s therapist would make one feel comfortable with that counselor.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rationale
– noun
• Danielle’s rationale for majoring in business was simple. She
said, “I want to make a lot of money.”
• The rationale for not lowering the drinking age to 18 is that selfcontrol and good judgment are still being developed at that age.
Rationale means
A. a situation.
B. an explanation.
C. a question.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 rationale
– noun
• Danielle’s rationale for majoring in business was simple. She
said, “I want to make a lot of money.”
• The rationale for not lowering the drinking age to 18 is that selfcontrol and good judgment are still being developed at that age.
Rationale means
A. a situation.
B. an explanation.
C. a question.
Danielle’s simple explanation for majoring in business is that she
wants to make a lot of money. In the second item, the explanation
for not lowering the drinking age is stated.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 relentless
– adjective
• The dog’s relentless barking got on my nerves. He barked the
entire two hours his owners were out.
• In a large city, the noise of crowds and heavy traffic is so
relentless that it can be difficult to find peace and quiet.
Relentless means
A. occasional.
B. exciting.
C. nonstop.
Relentless waves erode the beach.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 relentless
– adjective
• The dog’s relentless barking got on my nerves. He barked the
entire two hours his owners were out.
• In a large city, the noise of crowds and heavy traffic is so
relentless that it can be difficult to find peace and quiet.
Relentless means
A. occasional.
B. exciting.
C. nonstop.
Relentless waves erode the beach.
If the dog barked for the entire two
hours, he barked nonstop. In the
second item, if it is difficult to find
peace and quiet, the noise must be
nonstop.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 reprisal
– noun
• In reprisal for being fired, a troubled man shot several people at
the factory where he used to work.
• Fear of reprisal may keep children from telling parents or
teachers about a bully who has threatened them.
Reprisal means
A. disrespect.
B. revenge.
C. delay.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 reprisal
– noun
• In reprisal for being fired, a troubled man shot several people at
the factory where he used to work.
• Fear of reprisal may keep children from telling parents or
teachers about a bully who has threatened them.
Reprisal means
A. disrespect.
B. revenge.
C. delay.
The troubled man shot people in revenge for being fired. In the
second item, children may be afraid a bully will seek revenge if
they tell on him.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
1. Raquel is _________ to accidents, so her car insurance
rates are quite high.
2. You will get along better in life if you are __________ to
other people, rather than unpleasant.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
1. Raquel is _________
to accidents, so her car insurance
prone
rates are quite high.
If her car insurance rates are high, she must have a tendency to
have accidents.
2. You will get along better in life if you are __________
congenial to
other people, rather than unpleasant.
The word unpleasant suggests that congenial means the opposite—
“pleasant.”
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
3. My brother hides his lack of confidence by being
__________. He rarely treats anything seriously.
4. It took his best friend’s heart attack to __________ my dad
to start exercising and eating right.
5. There was instant __________ between Duke and Otis. They
talked as if they’d known each other for years.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
3. My brother hides his lack of confidence by being
__________.
He rarely treats anything seriously.
flippant
The words rarely treats anything seriously suggest that he hides his
lack of confidence by being disrespectful and not serious enough.
4. It took his best friend’s heart attack to __________
prompt my dad
to start exercising and eating right.
The friend’s heart attack would motivate the dad to improve his lifestyle.
5. There was instant __________
rapport between Duke and Otis. They
talked as if they’d known each other for years.
If Duke and Otis talked as if they’d known each other for years,
there must have been an instant relationship between them.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
6. At the movie’s turning point, the bad guys reached a(n)
_______. On one side of them was the police; on the
other was a steep cliff.
7. When Lacey and John divorced, she tried to get over half
his income. In __________, he tried not to give her any of
his income at all.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
6. At the movie’s turning point, the bad guys reached an
__________.
On one side of them was the police; on the
impasse
other was a steep cliff.
The criminals are in a situation with no way out.
7. When Lacey and John divorced, she tried to get over half
his income. In __________,
he tried not to give her any of
reprisal
his income at all.
As payback for Lacey’s trying to get too much money, John would
try to avoid giving her any money.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
8. Floyd’s __________ of human nature is strongly colored by
some bad experiences. He thinks everyone is basically
selfish.
9. During April and May, the rain was so __________ that
we thought we might have to start building an ark.
10. The __________ behind encouraging pregnant women to
gain about twenty-five pounds is that low weight gain can
lead to dangerously low birth weights.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. congenial
B. flippant
C. impasse
D. perception
E. prompt
F. prone
G. rapport
H. rationale
I. relentless
J. reprisal
8. Floyd’s __________
perception of human nature is strongly colored by
some bad experiences. He thinks everyone is basically
selfish.
Bad experiences would color one’s impression of human nature.
9. During April and May, the rain was so __________
relentless that
we thought we might have to start building an ark.
If they thought they might need an ark, the rains must have
been persistent.
10. The __________
rationale behind encouraging pregnant women to
gain about twenty-five pounds is that low weight gain can
lead to dangerously low birth weights.
The danger of a pregnant woman’s low weight is the logical basis
for encouraging her to gain weight.