BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit Four: Chapter 16
• consequence
• simultaneous
• destiny
• strategy
• detain
• tedious
• diminish
• transaction
• procrastinate
• vital
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 consequence
– noun
• As a consequence of her heavy spending at the mall, Lily was
short of cash until her next paycheck.
• Small children reach for hot things and sharp objects because
they don’t know the consequences of such actions.
Consequence means
A. an effect.
B. a cause.
C. a rule.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 consequence
– noun
• As a consequence of her heavy spending at the mall, Lily was
short of cash until her next paycheck.
• Small children reach for hot things and sharp objects because
they don’t know the consequences of such actions.
Consequence means
A. an effect.
B. a cause.
C. a rule.
Heavy spending would have the effect of making Lily short of cash.
Children don’t know the effects of touching hot things and sharp
objects.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 destiny
– noun
• Believing in fate, the soldier wondered if his destiny was to die
in the coming battle.
• Omar believes that he and Nadia were born for each other and
that it was their destiny to meet.
Destiny means
A. a habit.
B. fate.
C. a hope.
“Destiny has brought us together by
putting us in the same fish bowl!”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 destiny
– noun
• Believing in fate, the soldier wondered if his destiny was to die
in the coming battle.
• Omar believes that he and Nadia were born for each other and
that it was their destiny to meet.
Destiny means
A. a habit.
B. fate.
C. a hope.
“Destiny has brought us together by
putting us in the same fish bowl!”
In the first item, the word fate tells
you the meaning of destiny. If Omar
and Nadia were born for each other,
it must have been their fate to meet.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 detain
– verb
• Paul’s history teacher detained him after class to speak privately
about his surprisingly low grade on the test.
• Detained at home by a friend in urgent need of advice, Gloria
was late for work.
Detain means
A. to delay.
B. to leave.
C. to avoid.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 detain
– verb
• Paul’s history teacher detained him after class to speak privately
about his surprisingly low grade on the test.
• Detained at home by a friend in urgent need of advice, Gloria
was late for work.
Detain means
A. to delay.
B. to leave.
C. to avoid.
If the teacher wanted to speak privately with Paul, he would delay
Paul after class. If Gloria was late for work, she must have been
delayed at home.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 diminish
– verb
• After Mother yelled, “Turn that thing down!” the sound from the
stereo diminished from a roar to a soft hum.
• I waited for my anger to diminish before discussing the problem
with my boss.
Diminish means
A. to grow.
B. to remain.
C. to become less.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 diminish
– verb
• After Mother yelled, “Turn that thing down!” the sound from the
stereo diminished from a roar to a soft hum.
• I waited for my anger to diminish before discussing the problem
with my boss.
Diminish means
A. to grow.
B. to remain.
C. to become less.
If the sound went from a roar to a dull hum, it became less. It
would be wise to wait for one’s anger to become less before
talking with the boss.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 procrastinate
– verb
• Morgan procrastinated so long that when she finally returned
the dress to the store, it was too late for a refund.
• I can’t procrastinate any longer. I must study tonight because
the final exam is tomorrow morning.
Procrastinate means
A. to do something efficiently.
B. to remember something.
C. to put off doing something.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 procrastinate
– verb
• Morgan procrastinated so long that when she finally returned
the dress to the store, it was too late for a refund.
• I can’t procrastinate any longer. I must study tonight because
the final exam is tomorrow morning.
Procrastinate means
A. to do something efficiently.
B. to remember something.
C. to put off doing something.
If Morgan returned the dress too late for a refund, she must have
put off taking it back to the store. If the exam is tomorrow morning,
one cannot put off studying any longer.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 simultaneous
– adjective
• In a fair race, all starts must be simultaneous.
• Lightning and thunder don’t seem to be simultaneous—we see
the lightning before we hear the thunder.
Simultaneous means
A. similar.
B. happening at the same time.
C. delayed.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 simultaneous
– adjective
• In a fair race, all starts must be simultaneous.
• Lightning and thunder don’t seem to be simultaneous—we see
the lightning before we hear the thunder.
Simultaneous means
A. similar.
B. happening at the same time.
C. delayed.
For a race to be fair, everyone would have to start at the same time.
If we see the lightning before we hear the thunder, the two do not
seem to be happening at the same time.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 strategy
– noun
• The best strategy for teaching children manners is for adults to
use good manners themselves.
• The general’s strategy was to surround the enemy troops during
the night.
Strategy means
A. a reason.
B. a place.
C. a plan.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 strategy
– noun
• The best strategy for teaching children manners is for adults to
use good manners themselves.
• The general’s strategy was to surround the enemy troops during
the night.
Strategy means
A. a reason.
B. a place.
C. a plan.
The first item describes a plan for teaching children good manners.
In the second item, surrounding the enemy troops at night is a plan.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 tedious
– adjective
• Tedious chores, like washing dishes, are less boring if you do
them while listening to music or talking with a friend.
• John found the homework assignment very tedious; the
questions were dull and repetitious.
Tedious means
A. uninteresting.
B. serious.
C. unnecessary.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 tedious
– adjective
• Tedious chores, like washing dishes, are less boring if you do
them while listening to music or talking with a friend.
• John found the homework assignment very tedious; the
questions were dull and repetitious.
Tedious means
A. uninteresting.
B. serious.
C. unnecessary.
In the first item, the word boring suggests that tedious means
“uninteresting.” In the second item, the words dull and repetitious
also suggest that tedious means “uninteresting.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 transaction
– noun
• Transactions at flea markets often involve bargaining.
• Among some business people, a transaction is concluded with a
handshake. These business deals are never put in writing.
Transaction means
A. a mood.
B. a business interaction.
C. an instruction.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 transaction
– noun
• Transactions at flea markets often involve bargaining.
• Among some business people, a transaction is concluded with a
handshake. These business deals are never put in writing.
Transaction means
A. a mood.
B. a business interaction.
C. an instruction.
Bargaining is a form of business interaction. In the second item, the
words business deals suggests that transaction means “a business
interaction.”
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vital
– adjective
• Water is vital to the survival of all living things. For example,
people who stop drinking liquids will die in just a few days.
• For Teresa to pass her math course, it is vital that she pass the
final exam.
Vital means
A. unimportant.
B. essential.
C. not harmful.
Fuel is vital to make a car run.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 vital
– adjective
• Water is vital to the survival of all living things. For example,
people who stop drinking liquids will die in just a few days.
• For Teresa to pass her math course, it is vital that she pass the
final exam.
Vital means
A. unimportant.
B. essential.
C. not harmful.
Fuel is vital to make a car run.
If people die without liquids, water
must be essential to survival. If
Teresa is wants to pass math, it is
essential she pass the final exam.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
1. The ___________ at the checkout counter was delayed
by an incorrect price label.
2. The afternoon sunshine caused the snowman’s height to
__________ from six feet to three.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
1. The ___________
transaction at the checkout counter was delayed
by an incorrect price label.
A checkout counter is a place where exchanges of money for goods
takes place.
2. The afternoon sunshine caused the snowman’s height to
__________
diminish from six feet to three.
If the snowman’s height went from six feet to three, the height
decreased.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
3. To ___________ is to follow the old saying “Never do
today what you can put off until tomorrow.”
4. As a ___________ of his staying out too late, Wilson wasn’t
allowed out for a week.
5. The dancers’ movements were meant to be ___________.
But when the ballerina leaped, her partner failed to move in
time to catch her.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
3. To ___________
procrastinate is to follow the old saying “Never do
today what you can put off until tomorrow.”
The old saying tells you that procrastinate means “to put off doing
something.”
4. As a ___________
consequence of his staying out too late, Wilson wasn’t
allowed out for a week.
Not being allowed out for a week is the result of Wilson’s staying
out too late.
5. The dancers’ movements were meant to be ___________.
simultaneous
But when the ballerina leaped, her partner failed to move in
time to catch her.
In order for the partner to catch the ballerina, he would have to
move at the same time she did.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
6. Nikki’s chess __________ is to make her moves so
quickly that her opponent believes she’s an expert.
7. Ryan felt it was his wife’s __________ to die in the fire.
He refused to believe her death was meaningless.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
6. Nikki’s chess __________
strategy is to make her moves so
quickly that her opponent believes she’s an expert.
Making her chess moves quickly is her plan for fooling her opponent.
7. Ryan felt it was his wife’s __________
destiny to die in the fire.
He refused to believe her death was meaningless.
If Ryan believed that his wife’s death had meaning, he must have
felt that the death was bound to happen. It was her fate.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
8. To make raking autumn leaves less __________, my sister
and I took turns jumping into the newly created piles.
9. “If my science teacher didn’t __________ us every day, I
wouldn’t be late for my next class,” explained George.
10. The secret agent paid for information he thought was
__________ to our national safety, but he had been tricked
into buying useless knowledge.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. consequence B. destiny
C. detain
D. diminish
E. procrastinate
F. simultaneous G. strategy
H. tedious
I. transaction J. vital
8. To make raking autumn leaves less __________,
my sister
tedious
and I took turns jumping into the newly created piles.
Jumping into the piles would make raking leaves less boring.
9. “If my science teacher didn’t __________
us every day, I
detain
wouldn’t be late for my next class,” explained George.
If George is late for his next class, the science teacher must delay him.
10. The secret agent paid for information he thought was
__________
to our national safety, but he had been tricked
vital
into buying useless knowledge.
The useless knowledge is contrasted with information necessary to
national security.