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Unit 8 - Definitions - Note carefully the spelling, pronunciation,
part(s) of speech, and definition(s) of each of the following
words. Then write the word in the blank space(s) in the
illustrative sentence(s) following. Finally, study the lists of
synonyms and antonyms given at the end of each entry.
1. affluence (n.) wealth, riches, prosperity; great abundance,
plenty
Education, hard work, and a very strong desire to succeed can
raise a person from poverty to ---.
SYNONYM: opulence
ANTONYMS: poverty, want, destitution, scarcity
2. arrears (n., pl.) unpaid or overdue debts; an unfinished duty
Bad spending habits and unexpected expenses left my aunt in ---.
SYNONYMS: in default, in the red, late, overdue
3. cascade (n.) a steep, narrow waterfall; something falling or
rushing forth in quantity; (v.) to flow downward (like a
waterfall)
We were thrilled when we hit the jackpot, which produced a --of loudly jangling coins.
I watched the clear, sparkling water --- down the mountainside.
SYNONYMS: (v.) plunge, rush, tumble
ANTONYMS: (n.) drip, drop; (v.) trickle, ooze
4. cringe (v.) to shrink back or hide in fear or submissiveness
My father told me to be brave and not to --- when the doctor
vaccinated me.
SYNONYMS: flinch, duck, cower, fawn
ANTONYMS: strut, swagger
5. crotchety (adj.) cranky, ill-tempered; full of odd whims
It is unfortunate that the teacher asked me to work with the most -- partner in the class.
SYNONYMS: grumpy, grouchy, crabby, disagreeable
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ANTONYMS: sociable, friendly, agreeable, amiable
6. format (n.) the size, shape, or arrangement of something
The clear --- of the website makes it easy for users to find its key
features. SYNONYMS: layout, design
7. immobile (adj.) not movable; not moving
Models must remain --- for a long time in order for an artist to
draw or paint them accurately.
SYNONYMS: fixed, stationary, unmoving, rooted
ANTONYMS: movable, portable, nimble, agile
8. impassable (adj.) blocked so that nothing can go through
Fallen trees formed an --- barrier across the highway after the
storm.
SYNONYMS: closed, impenetrable
ANTONYMS: unblocked, clear, open, fit for travel
9. innovation (n.) something new, a change; the act of
introducing a new method, idea, device, etc.
Our furnace has an energy-saving --- that turns the heat on and
off at certain intervals.
SYNONYMS: novelty, modernization, new wrinkle
10. jovial (adj.) good-humored, in high spirits; merry
My --- friend is very entertaining and is always the life of the
party.
SYNONYMS: jolly, cheerful, festive
ANTONYMS: gloomy, morose, melancholy, cheerless
11. manacle (n., usually pl.) a handcuff, anything that chains or
confines; (v.) to chain or restrain (as with handcuffs)
The kidnappers clamped --- on their hostages.
The guards were told to --- the prisoner to the chair.
SYNONYMS: (v.) put in chains, fetter
ANTONYMS: (v.) unchain, set free, emancipate, release
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12. martial (adj.) warlike, fond of fighting; relating to war, the
army, or military life
The army band plays --- music as the troops formally march past
the visiting general.
SYNONYMS: military, hostile, bellicose
ANTONYMS: peace-loving, peaceable, pacific, unwarlike
13. minimum (n.) the smallest possible amount; (adj.) the lowest
permissible or possible
I need to sleep a --- of seven hours every night.
Sixteen is the --- age to get a driver's license in this state.
SYNONYM: (adj.) least
ANTONYMS: (n.) maximum; (adj.) highest, most
14. nimble (adj.) quick and skillful in movement, agile; clever
As the
--- climber scaled Mount Everest, it looked as if she
was barely exerting any energy at all.
SYNONYMS: lively, keen, flexible
ANTONYMS: awkward, clumsy, stiff, inflexible
15. onset (n.) the beginning, start (especially of something violent
and destructive); an attack, assault
At the --- of the heavy storm, frightened people ran to find
shelter.
SYNONYMS: outset, commencement
ANTONYMS: conclusion, close, end
16. partition (n.) something that divides (such as a wall); the
act of dividing something into parts or sections; (v.) to divide or
subdivide into parts or shares
A cloth --- in the study gave each of us some privacy.
We can --- the backyard into four separate play areas.
SYNONYMS: (n.) divider, separation
ANTONYMS: (v.) join, combine, consolidate, merge
17. perishable (adj.) likely to spoil or decay
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You must keep --- foods chilled or they will spoil.
SYNONYMS: short-lived, fleeting
ANTONYMS: long-lasting, durable, undying, permanent
18. retrieve (v.) to find and bring back, get back; to put right,
make good
I enjoy playing tennis, but I don't relish having to --- tennis balls
every time you hit them over the fence!
SYNONYMS: recover, regain, fetch, remedy, rectify
19. sinister (adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or
harm
A --- message left on our answering machine made us wonder if
we were safe at home.
SYNONYMS: frightening, menacing, ominous
ANTONYMS: cheering, encouraging, reassuring, benign
20. taut (adj.) tightly drawn, tense; neat, in good order
A --- chain kept the curious dog away from the swimming
pool.
SYNONYMS: tight, strained, orderly, shipshape
ANTONYMS: loose, slack, drooping, messy, sloppy
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Completing the Sentence - From the words for this unit,
choose the one that best completes each of the following
sentences. Write the word.
1. Sherlock Holmes detected in the wicked scheme the --- hand
of the evil Professor Moriarty.
2. I know that my payments on the car are in ---, but I will
catch up as soon as I get my next paycheck.
3. Unless you pull the ropes ---, the tennis net will sag.
4. The sunlight caught the waters of the stream as they --- over
the steep cliff and formed a brilliant rainbow.
5. The patients will have a much better chance to recover
quickly if they receive
treatment at the --- of the fever.
6. The --- mood of our cheerful little gathering changed
abruptly to sorrow when news of the tragedy came over the
radio.
7. Frank Lloyd Wright was a great American architect who
was responsible for many --- in the design of buildings.
8. I was able to --- my baggage promptly after leaving the
plane.
9. It's a pleasure to watch the expert typist's --- fingers move
swiftly over the keyboard.
10. The more we tried to humor the --- crossing guard, the
more irritable and demanding he seemed to become.
11. Today --- foods are shipped in refrigerated trucks to
prevent spoilage.
12. I don't expect you to be a hero, but do you have to
in
that cowardly fashion whenever anyone so much as disagrees
with you?
13. Although we are sure that the prisoners will make no
attempt to escape, the law requires us to place --- on them.
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14. The feeling of --- I had when I was paid lasted only until I
had finished taking care of my bills.
15. As a result of the record-breaking snowstorm, all roads in
the area became ---.
16. Can you explain why there is not only a maximum speed
limit but also a(n) --- speed limit on many modern highways?
17. His back injury was so severe that he has been placed in a
cast and will have to remain --- for months.
18. We made use of a(n) --- to break up the floor space into a
large number of small offices.
19. During the war years, the government tried by all kinds of
propaganda to arouse the --- spirit of the people.
20. We plan to change the --- of our school magazine to make
it more attractive and readable.
Synonyms - Choose the word from this unit that is the same
or most nearly the same in meaning as the boldface word or
expression in the given phrase. Write the word.
1. recover data from my computer
2. in the impenetrable section of the cave
3. under strict military law
4. a menacing look in his eyes
5. installed to make it remain stationary
6. begged not to be fettered
7. in default after losing her job
8. so short-lived in this climate
9. as if confetti tumbled onto the stage
10. resisting the latest modernization
11. stack of books as a temporary divider
12. disagreeable because he was so tired
13. according to the most recent design
14. as flexible as a ballet dancer
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15. to cower when the doctor approaches
Antonyms - Choose the word from this unit that is most
nearly opposite in meaning to the boldface word or
expression in the given phrase. Write the word.
16. assigned the maximum penalty
17. reacting to our melancholy host
18. taken as a sure sign of poverty
19. at the conclusion of the program
20. massaging my loose muscles
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Vocabulary in Context - Read the following passage, in which
some of the words you have studied in this unit appear in
boldface type. Then complete each statement given below the
passage by circling the letter of the item that is the same or
almost the same in meaning as the highlighted word.
Birth of a Puzzle
Crossword puzzles are so common that almost everyone
knows how they work. Yet crosswords as we know them first
appeared less than a hundred years ago. Before then, the only
known word puzzles were simple British children's games. In
these, letters could be arranged into connecting words. A clever
child could read words both across and down.
In 1913, newspaper editor Arthur Wynne wanted a unique
activity for the "Fun" page of his Sunday paper. He retrieved the
old idea of the children's word puzzle. Wynne's innovation was
to expand it into a larger written format. He drew interlocking
boxes in a diamond shape. He gave clues to help solvers fill the
boxes with letters to form linking words. Wynne's puzzle started
a trend that others would perfect.
In 1924, Margaret Farrar published the first book of
crossword puzzles. It became an instant best-seller. People did
crossword puzzles to relax, to improve their vocabulary, and to
keep their minds nimble.
Crossword puzzles quickly became a fad, and nearly every
American newspaper featured them. In the days before television,
people gathering to solve puzzles became a jovial social event.
The fad grew into a familiar feature of daily life. Soon,
serious puzzle solvers demanded more challenges. Puzzle makers
began to develop larger diagrams with a minimum of blank
spaces. They wrote hard clues based on obscure facts, current
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events, quotations, puns, and riddles. In 1942, the New York
Times added a Sunday puzzle, edited by Mrs. Farrar. This
happened at an opportune time—during World War II—when
war weary readers were glad for a break from bad news. Farrar's
puzzles were wildly popular. Today, you will find crossword
puzzles everywhere-in newspapers, magazines, books, at online
interactive websites, and even on place mats.
1. The meaning of retrieved is
a. copied b. researched c. brought back d. invented
2. The meaning of innovation is
a. change b. repetition c. outline d. separation
3. Format most nearly means
a. contract b. novel c. design d. box
4. Nimble most nearly means
a. stiff b. blocked c. jolly d. quick
5. Jovial is best defined as
a. gloomy b. cheerful c. crabby d. intellectual
6. Minimum is best defined as
a. great number b. small number c. equal number d. surplus