Unit 5
Vocabulary Unit 5
1. attenuate (v.) To make slender, fine, or small; to reduce in force, value, amount, or degree
OR (adj.)reduced or weakened, as in strength, value, or virulence
attenuate the fever
an attenuate fever
2. assent (v.) to express agreement OR
(n.) agreement
forced to assent to their demands
3.
benefactor (n.) one who does good to others
became my benefactor in time of need
4.
chivalrous (adj.) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly
praised for his chivalrous act
5.
consequently (adv.) by natural or logical sequence or connection
consequently he was innocent
6. daub (n.) A viscous, sticky application; a smear OR
(v.) to apply to a surface with hasty
or crude strokes
a daub of mud on his pants
daub the plaster on the wall
7. diffident (adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
amused by the diffident suitor
8. discrepancy (n.) a difference; a lack of agreement
a discrepancy between their stories
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9. epiphany (n.) a sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something; a
comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization
experience an epiphany
10. faction (n.) a group of persons forming a cohesive, usually contentious minority within a
larger group; conflict within an organization or nation
a faction within the government
11. indomitable (adj.) unconquerable, refusing to yield
admire her indomitable courage
12. infallible (adj.) free from error; absolutely dependable
his infallible judgement
13. predecessor (n.) one who precedes another in time; Something that has been succeeded by
another
a predecessor to the new firm
14. pungent (adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting
the pungent odor of the onion soup
15. remiss (adj.) neglectful in performance of one’s duty, careless
remiss in doing daily chores
16. repose (v.) to rest; place OR
(n.) relaxation; peace of mind, calmness
a much-needed period of repose
17. temerity (n.) rashness, boldness
have the temerity to answer back
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18. truculent (adj.) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh
shocked by his truculent disposition
19. unfeigned (adj.) sincere, real, without pretense
the unfeigned emotions of a child
20. virulent (adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice, spiteful
a virulent racist
Bonus Phrases:
carte blanche: (
) [white card] full authority to make all decisions
gave the director carte blanche during the production
modus operandi: (
ee,
) [mode of operating] a way of
doing or making, an established procedure, how one works
the criminal’s modus operandi included dark alleys
Complete the Sentence
Due____________
From the words for this unit, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.
Write the word in the space provided.
1. He is not merely unpleasant, but actually dangerous whenever he gets into one of his
_____________________ moods.
2. Marty thanked her _____________________ for setting up such a great department to which
she would now become supervisor.
3. When making his collage, the kindergartner ____________________ paste all over the
construction paper, making a very sticky mess.
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4. His _____________________ joy when it was announced that I had won the scholarship
meant more to me than all the polite congratulations I received.
5. History tells us that many men and women considered “failures” in their own lifetimes were
really major ___________________ of humanity.
6. My parents’ records are so old that the ___________________ sound is hard to make out
even when the volume is turned up.
7. Mr. Jones taught the basics of integers for half the block before many of his students had a
sudden ___________________ and understood the lesson.
8. As a school cafeteria guard, I would be _____________________ in my duties if I failed to
report any serious disorder.
9. Brendan continued to have migraine headaches and _____________________ returned to the
doctor.
10. Do you really think it is ______________________ to give your seat to a pretty girl when an
aged and infirm lady is standing nearby?
11. The brash young lieutenant had the _______________________ to disregard the express
orders of his commanding officer.
12. Paula’s parents will not ______________________ to her going to the dance unless she
promises faithfully to be home no later than 1:00a.m.
13. I did not realize how beautiful the child was until she fell asleep and I saw her face in
complete ____________________.
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14. The custom of putting erasers on pencils is one way of recognizing the fact that no one is
______________________.
15. Leonard rarely joins in the discussions, not because he lacks information and ideas but rather
because he is ________________________.
16. Doctors attributed the epidemic to the rampant spread of a particularly
________________________ strain of influenza virus.
17. Refusing to admit defeat even when things looked completely hopeless, our
_______________________ football team drove 85 yards in the last few minutes to score the
winning touchdown.
18. The principal claimed that there were major _____________________ between what actually
happened in the school and the way the incident had been reported on TV.
19. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Our own beloved country... is now afflicted with
_____________________ and civil war.”
20. How the ______________________ smell of burning leaves in autumn arouses memories of
happier days!
___________________________________________________________________________
Synonyms
Due____________
For each of the following sets of words, identify the word from this unit that is most similar in
meaning. Write the word on the line given.
1. negligent, lax, slack
_____________________
2. fittingly, accordingly, hence
_____________________
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3. timid, bashful; unassertive, withdrawn
_____________________
4. venomous; noxious, baneful; hateful
_____________________
5. brutal, savage, belligerent, vitriolic
_____________________
6. weaken, lessen, reduce
_____________________
7. unbeatable, invincible, unyielding
_____________________
8. gallant, civil; valiant
_____________________
9. recklessness, foolhardiness; effrontery
_____________________
10. a disagreement, divergence, inconsistency
_____________________
11. understanding, comprehension, perception
_____________________
12. sharp, spicy, piquant; caustic; racy
_____________________
13. dissention, clique, cabal
_____________________
14. unerring, certain
_____________________
15. to concur, agree, consent, accede
_____________________
16. selfless, rising above personal interests
_____________________
17. smear, smudge, coat
_____________________
18. forerunner, precursor
_____________________
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19. sleep; tranquility; a respite
_____________________
20. one who helps others, a patron, humanitarian
_____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Antonyms
Due____________
For each of the following sets of words, identify the word from this unit that means the opposite.
Write the word on the line given.
1. convergence; agreement, consistency
______________________
2. scrupulous, dutiful, punctilious
______________________
3. open to error, imperfect
______________________
4. successor, heir, descendent
______________________
5. a misanthrope, a malefactor
______________________
6. gentle, mild; meek, unthreatening
______________________
7. bold, brash, audacious; self-confident, jaunty
______________________
8. exertion; wakefulness; tumult, bustle, ado
_______________________
9. to disagree, differ, dissent
_______________________
10. innocuous, harmless, benign
______________________
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11. crude, uncouth, churlish, loutish
______________________
12. strengthen, reinforce, intensify
______________________
13. insincere, stimulated, phony
______________________
14. yielding, surrendering, submissive
______________________
15. inappropriately, incongruously, unsuitably
______________________
16. timidity, fearfulness, diffidence, humility
______________________
17. bland, unappetizing, colorless, insipid
______________________
Choosing the Right Word
Due____________
Encircle the boldface word that best completes each of the following sentences.
1.
After boasting to me of his family’s great wealth, he had the (discrepancy, temerity) to
ask me for a loan.
2.
By 1781, George Washington’s green recruits of a few years earlier had been forged into
an (infallible, indomitable) army.
3.
Lucille is a popular young woman because people realize that her interest in them is
sympathetic and (remiss, unfeigned).
4.
Phil is not too well informed on most matters, but when it comes to big-league baseball,
he is all but (indomitable, infallible).
5.
American Presidents often point to one of their school teachers as the (discrepancy,
benefactor) who helped shape their character and ideas.
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6.
The small (repose, faction) of radicals conspired to overthrow the government.
7.
We had no inkling of Calvin’s deep-seated aversion to modern pop music until we
overheard his (attenuate, virulent) comments about punk rock.
8.
The horse-drawn carriage, the (predecessor, benefactor) to the automobile, was a lot
less swift and a lot more malodorous.
9.
In the violent world of today’s pro football, good sportsmanship and (pungent,
chivalrous) behavior still have a place.
10.
We soon learned that behind his apathetic and (truculent, diffident) manner, there was a
keen mind and a strong will.
11.
As a state legislator, you should not give your (assent, chivalry) to any measure unless
you truly believe in it.
12.
With all the deductions, there is a (temerity, discrepancy) of forty dollars between my
official salary and my weekly paycheck.
13.
Her (pungent, truculent) comments during the TV panel show were not only amusing
but very much to the point.
14.
I experienced an (predecessor, epiphany), which changed the way I view myself and the
world.
15.
Chris was grateful for the opportunities which they had made available to him and which
(consequently, indomitably) led to the good position he now held.
16.
We breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the supposedly missing set of keys (assenting,
reposing) in the desk drawer.
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17.
The picture was (assented, daubed) with many bright and glaring colors, ruining it in
the eyes of the critic.
18.
Maggie underwent surgery to (repose, attenuate) the pain in her arthritic hands.
19.
You will surely win more support for your view by quiet discussion than by (chivalrous,
truculent) attacks on your opponents.
20.
It would be (indomitable, remiss) of me, as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, not
to express appreciation of the help of our faculty advisor.