BUILDING
VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition
Sherrie L. Nist
© 2010 Townsend Press
Unit One: Chapter 5
• endorse
• illusion
• erode
• impact
• gruesome
• imply
• hypocrite
• novice
• idealistic
• obstacle
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 endorse
– verb
• “If you endorse the new shopping mall,” said the speaker,
“you’re supporting a large increase in neighborhood traffic.”
• Some athletes earn more money endorsing such products as
cereal and footwear than they do playing their sport.
Endorse means
A. to buy.
B. to support.
C. to see.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
1 endorse
– verb
• “If you endorse the new shopping mall,” said the speaker,
“you’re supporting a large increase in neighborhood traffic.”
• Some athletes earn more money endorsing such products as
cereal and footwear than they do playing their sport.
Endorse means
A. to buy.
B. to support.
C. to see.
Supporting the new shopping mall means supporting increased traffic.
Some athletes are paid to support particular products. They appear in
ads for the products or allow companies to use their names.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 erode
– verb
• As water eroded the topsoil, the tree roots beneath it became
more and more visible.
• The team’s confidence in its coach was eroded by his
increasingly wild accusations against its opponents.
Erode means
A. to wear away.
B. to build up.
C. to escape.
Land that has been eroded
by weather
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
2 erode
– verb
• As water eroded the topsoil, the tree roots beneath it became
more and more visible.
• The team’s confidence in its coach was eroded by his
increasingly wild accusations against its opponents.
Erode means
A. to wear away.
B. to build up.
C. to escape.
Land that has been eroded
by weather
The roots would become visible if the
water wore away the topsoil. If the
coach is making wild accusations, he
is likely to wear away his team’s
confidence.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 gruesome
– adjective
• The automobile accident was so gruesome that I had to look
away from the horrible sight.
• The young campers sat around the fire and scared each other with
gruesome horror stories.
Gruesome means
A. unfair.
B. boring.
C. frightening.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
3 gruesome
– adjective
• The automobile accident was so gruesome that I had to look
away from the horrible sight.
• The young campers sat around the fire and scared each other with
gruesome horror stories.
Gruesome means
A. unfair.
B. boring.
C. frightening.
A horrible sight would be frightening. Young campers would scare
one another with frightening horror stories.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 hypocrite
– noun
• Dominic is such a hypocrite. He cheats his customers while
complaining about how hard it is to be an honest, struggling
salesman.
• I feel that the worst hypocrites are those who preach love and then
attack anyone of a different culture or faith.
Hypocrite means
A. an insincere person.
B. a religious person.
C. a loud person.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
4 hypocrite
– noun
• Dominic is such a hypocrite. He cheats his customers while
complaining about how hard it is to be an honest, struggling
salesman.
• I feel that the worst hypocrites are those who preach love and then
attack anyone of a different culture or faith.
Hypocrite means
A. an insincere person.
B. a religious person.
C. a loud person.
A salesman who cheats his customers while talking about being
honest is an insincere person. People who preach love and act
hatefully are insincere people.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 idealistic
– adjective
• Very idealistic people are drawn to professions like teaching or
the ministry, in which they feel they can help make the world a
better place.
• My sister is too idealistic ever to marry for wealth or fame—she
would marry only for love.
Idealistic means
A. full of ideas.
B. emphasizing principles.
C. young.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
5 idealistic
– adjective
• Very idealistic people are drawn to professions like teaching or
the ministry, in which they feel they can help make the world a
better place.
• My sister is too idealistic ever to marry for wealth or fame—she
would marry only for love.
Idealistic means
A. full of ideas.
B. emphasizing principles.
C. young.
To choose a profession in order to make the world a better
place is to emphasize one’s principles. To choose to marry
only for love (instead of wealth or fame) is to emphasize
one’s principles.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 illusion
– noun
• People lost in the desert sometimes experience the illusion that
there is a lake right in front of them.
• The idea that the sun sets and rises is an illusion. It is really the
Earth that is turning away from and then toward the sun.
Illusion means
A. a fact.
B. a new idea.
C. a false impression.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
6 illusion
– noun
• People lost in the desert sometimes experience the illusion that
there is a lake right in front of them.
• The idea that the sun sets and rises is an illusion. It is really the
Earth that is turning away from and then toward the sun.
Illusion means
A. a fact.
B. a new idea.
C. a false impression.
Thinking one sees a lake in the dessert would be a false
impression. The turning of the Earth creates the false
impression that the sun sets and rises.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 impact
– noun
• When birds accidentally fly into windows, the impact of hitting
the glass often kills them.
• That boxer punches with such power that the impact of his
uppercut can knock out most opponents.
Impact means
A. a force.
B. a possibility.
C. a sight.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
7 impact
– noun
• When birds accidentally fly into windows, the impact of hitting
the glass often kills them.
• That boxer punches with such power that the impact of his
uppercut can knock out most opponents.
Impact means
A. a force.
B. a possibility.
C. a sight.
The force of the bird hitting the window can kill the bird. The force
of the boxer’s uppercut is great enough to knock out opponents.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 imply
– verb
• To Sherlock Holmes, the clues implied that the murderer was an
elderly man who carried a cane.
• When my friend asked me, “Do you feel all right?” she implied
that I did not look well.
Imply means
A. to hide.
B. to overlook.
C. to suggest.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
8 imply
– verb
• To Sherlock Holmes, the clues implied that the murderer was an
elderly man who carried a cane.
• When my friend asked me, “Do you feel all right?” she implied
that I did not look well.
Imply means
A. to hide.
B. to overlook.
C. to suggest.
To a detective such as Sherlock Holmes, clues would suggest
information about the murderer. By asking “Do you feel all
right?” the friend suggests the person does not look well.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 novice
– noun
• Because my father has never played tennis, he will join the class
for novices.
• “Don’t buy an expensive camera for a novice,” said the
saleswoman. “Let your son first get some experience with a
cheaper camera.”
Novice means
A. a child.
B. a beginner.
C. a friend.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
9 novice
– noun
• Because my father has never played tennis, he will join the class
for novices.
• “Don’t buy an expensive camera for a novice,” said the
saleswoman. “Let your son first get some experience with a
cheaper camera.”
Novice means
A. a child.
B. a beginner.
C. a friend.
If the father has never played tennis, he must be a beginner. If the son
does not have experience using a camera, he must be a beginner.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 obstacle
– noun
• I’d better clean my apartment soon. There are too many
obstacles on the floor between my bed and the refrigerator.
• The major obstacle to Hal’s getting a promotion is his laziness.
Obstacle means
A. something hidden.
B. something helpful.
C. something that prevents
movement.
The hay wagon is
an obstacle to traffic.
TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT
Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.
10 obstacle
– noun
• I’d better clean my apartment soon. There are too many
obstacles on the floor between my bed and the refrigerator.
• The major obstacle to Hal’s getting a promotion is his laziness.
Obstacle means
A. something hidden.
B. something helpful.
C. something that prevents
movement.
The hay wagon is
an obstacle to traffic.
There are too many things that prevent
easy movement between the bed and the
refrigerator. Hal’s laziness would prevent
him from moving up in the organization.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
1. The horror movie became too __________ for me to
watch when the monster started eating people.
2. Year after year, the waves continue to __________ the
beach, wearing it away by constantly beating against it.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
1. The horror movie became too __________
gruesome for me to
watch when the monster started eating people.
A movie in which people are eaten would be horrible to watch.
erode
2. Year after year, the waves continue to __________
the
beach, wearing it away by constantly beating against it.
The constant beating of the waves would gradually wear the beach away.
The words wearing…away are a clue.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
3. Poems often __________ an idea. That is, they hint at
the idea rather than state it directly.
4. I was such a(n) __________ at computers that I didn’t
even know how to send an e-mail.
5. Karen is the least __________ person I know. She is guided
only by a desire to get ahead.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
3. Poems often __________
an idea. That is, they hint at
imply
the idea rather than state it directly.
Poems often suggest an idea. The words hint at are a clue.
4. I was such a ____________
at computers that I didn’t
novice
even know how to send an e-mail.
A person who doesn’t know how to send an e-mail must be a beginner
at using computers.
idealistic person I know. She is guided
5. Karen is the least __________
only by a desire to get ahead.
A person guided only by wanting to get ahead is a person who does not
emphasize ideals and principles.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
6. Don’t be such a(n) __________! If you don’t like Anitra,
then you shouldn’t pretend that you do.
7. An actress hired to __________ meat products on TV
was fired when the producer learned she was a
vegetarian.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
6. Don’t be such a ____________!
If you don’t like Anitra,
hypocrite
then you shouldn’t pretend that you do.
A person who pretends to like someone he or she really does not like is
an insincere person.
7. An actress hired to __________
endorse meat products on TV
was fired when the producer learned she was a
vegetarian.
The producer would not want to have a vegetarian in ads supporting
meat products.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
8. Ballet dancers sometimes break their toes when they land
with too great a(n) __________ after a leap.
9. We can never drive straight into our driveway because
there are always __________s there—tricycles, garbage
cans, or toys.
10. When the moon is low in the sky, it looks much larger than
when it is overhead. This difference in size, however, is
only a(n)__________.
SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. endorse
B. erode
C. gruesome
D. hypocrite
E. idealistic
F. illusion
G. impact
H. imply
I. novice
J. obstacle
8. Ballet dancers sometimes break their toes when they land
with too great an ___________
after a leap.
impact
If dancers’ toes break, they must strike the floor with great force.
9. We can never drive straight into our driveway because
obstacles there—tricycles, garbage
there are always ___________
cans, or toys.
Tricycles and such would be barriers to driving into the driveway.
10. When the moon is low in the sky, it looks much larger than
when it is overhead. This difference in size, however, is
only an ___________.
illusion
It is only a false impression that the moon seems to get smaller when
overhead.