UNIT 9 VOCABULARY
Word
Pg. 1
Meaning
1. complex (adj.)
having many varied interrelated part or
elements, and therefore hard to understand;
complicated; intricate
(ant.) simple
2. equilibrium (n.)
state of balance or adjustment between
opposing forces; balance; poise
3. exuberance (n.)
1. state of being exuberant (joyously
unrestrained and enthusiastic); overflowing
fullness of joy, vigor, and vitality
2. abundant productiveness; profuseness
superabundance
(ant.) sterility
4. hone (v.)
sharpen; improve the sharpness of; whet
5. hypnotic (adj.)
1. tending to induce sleep; sleep-inducing
2. of or relating to hypnosis (induced state
resembling sleep)
6. languor (n.)
lack of energy or vitality; dreamy inactivity;
lethargy
(ant.) alacrity
7. makeshift (adj.)
serving as a temporary expedient; substitute
8. meekness (n.)
state of being meek (humbly or overly patient
or submissive); tameness; submissiveness;
humility
(ant.) arrogance
9. trance (n.)
state of deep mental absorption accompanied
by exaltation; ecstasy
10. universal (adj.)
1. present or occurring throughout the whole
world; world-wide
2. effective everyrwhere, or in all cases;
applicable to, or intended for, everyone
3. commonly or unanimously followed; general
APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
Pg 2
Exercise 1. Which of the two choices makes the sentence correct? Write the
letter of your answer in the space provided.
1. A knife has two edges, one honed and one ______________..
A. sharp
B. blunt
2. The novelist is popular __________, but she has not yet achieved universal fame.
A. in her country
B. throughout the world
3. To _________, you must have a fine sense of equilibrium.
A. qualify as a voter
B. walk a tightrope
4. A languor settled over the market in the afternoon. Trading was __________.
A. dull
B. brisk
5. Tomorrow we will leave our makeshift headquarters and move to a ________
location.
A. temporary
B. permanent
6. You said the problem is complex, but I find it _______ to understand.
A. difficult
B. easy
7. From __________, I thought you were in a trance.
A. the deeply absorbed expression on
your face
B. your calm and relaxed manner
8. The candidate had the problem of curbing the exuberance of some of his more
_____________ supporters.
A. apathetic
B. zealous
9. Apparently, the lecturer had a hypnotic effect on one of the listeners who _____
five minutes.
A. walked out after
B. fell asleep within
10. Knowing the meekness of our members, I would expect them to ________ the
contract worked out by their negotiating committee.
A. reject
B. approve
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
Pg 3
Exercise 2. Fill the blanks in column A with the required synonyms and
antonyms, selecting them from column B.
Column A
Column B
_____________________ 1. synonym for sharpen
equilibrium
_____________________ 2. synonym for superabundance
languor
_____________________ 3. synonym for balance
trance
_____________________ 4. antonym for arrogance
universal
_____________________ 5. synonym for ecstasy
hone
_____________________ 6. synonym for worldwide
hypnotic
_____________________ 7. antonym for simple
makeshift
_____________________ 8. synonym for sleep-inducing
exuberance
_____________________ 9. antonym for alacrity
complex
____________________ 10. synonym for substitute
meekness
USING FEWER WORDS
Pg 4
Exercise 3. Replace the italicized words with a single word from the vocabulary list.
Vocabulary List
hone
meekness
complex
trance
exuberance
hypnotic
makeshift
universal
equilibrium
languor
1. One rosebush did not bloom; the other amazed us by
its abundant productiveness.
1. ________________
2. The instructions packaged with the lawn mower show
how to improve the sharpness of the blade.
2. ________________
3. Plastic refuse floating in the mid-Atlantic suggests
that pollution is present throughout the whole world.
3. ________________
4. The instructions are technical and quite hard to
understand.
4. ________________
5. Isn’t it about time that you emerged from your dreamy
inactivity?
5. ________________
6. All structures, even if serving as a temporary
expedient, must conform to the safety code.
6. ________________
7. Have you even been in a (an) deeply absorbed and
exalted mental state?
7. ________________
8. Absolute monarchs expected blind loyalty and
humble submissiveness from their subjects.
8. ________________
9. The state of balance between the rival firms was
upset when one of them introduced a new product.
9. ________________
10. If you recline in the lounger, you will soon be dozing;
it has a (an) sleep-inducing effect.
10. ________________
IDENTIFICATION
Pg 5
Exercise 4. Read the following statements. Then complete each sentence by
inserting the most appropriate proper name from these statements.
Once Diane found a log we could sit on, she put some stones together for a
fireplace, and we were able to dine comfortably.
Imagine the ecstasy that Balboa felt in
1513, when he first stared at the
Pacific from a mountaintop!
Harvey should have used the
electric slicer when Pearl asked
him to cut the roast; her kitchen
knives were very dull.
Chaplin communicated through gestures and bodily movements, and as a
result everyone in the world could understand what he was portraying.
My cousin and her guests had a
wonderful time at her sixteenth
birthday party, but it got so noisy that
1 a.m., Mrs. Evans, a neighbor, called
the police.
After the swim, Bert usually
napped under the beach umbrella,
lulled by the motion of the waves,
but it never had that effect on his
brother Phil.
Hannibal, like many another dreamy town along the Mississippi, suddenly
sprang to life whenever a steamboat docked.
When Melanie, as a practical joke,
got off her end of the seesaw
without warning, Andy was injured.
Mark was a good soul who never
complained when others took
advantage of him, as they often
did.
During her step-by-step explanation of how the machine operates, Gertrude
paused frequently to answer questions.
Pg 6
1. ____________________ had a reputation for meekness.
2. ____________________ devised makeshift accommodations.
3. ____________________ ‘s implements needed honing.
4. ____________________ escaped from the grip of languor.
5. ____________________ upset an equilibrium.
6. ____________________ was immune to a hypnotic force.
7. ____________________ dealt with a complex matter.
8. ____________________ had universal appeal.
9. ____________________ complained about youthful exuberance.
10. ____________________ fell into a trance.