AWP2 ch 07

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ADVANCED

WORD POWER

Second Edition

B

ETH

J

OHNSON

J

ANET

M. G

OLDSTEIN

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Unit Two: Chapter 7

•

clamor

• rescind

• contract

• stagnant

• duplicity

• uniform

• equivocal

• untenable

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

–

noun

• By the time the basketball game was over, I had an awful headache from

the constant clamor of the fans as they cheered for their team.

• The hungry parakeets began an excited clamor when they saw their

owner enter the room.

Clamor

means

A. loud noise.

B. tense silence.

C.

whispers.

1

clamor

Ph

oto

: D

an

iel

La

tor

re

(4)

–

noun

• By the time the basketball game was over, I had an awful headache from

the constant clamor of the fans as they cheered for their team.

• The hungry parakeets began an excited clamor when they saw their

owner enter the room.

Clamor

means

A. loud noise.

B. tense silence.

C.

whispers.

1

clamor

If fans cheered enough to give someone a headache, then they must have made a loud noise. Hungry parakeets tend to make a loud noise when they get excited about being fed.

Ph oto : D an iel La tor re

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

2

contract

–

verb

• That company can’t seem to decide whether to grow or to contract. First

it hired a hundred extra workers; then it laid off two hundred.

• The universe is expanding, but scientists do not know whether it will

continue to expand or whether it will eventually start to contract, becoming more and more dense until it collapses on itself.

Contract

means

A. to become visible.

B. to become smaller.

C.

to become weaker.

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2

contract

–

verb

• That company can’t seem to decide whether to grow or to contract. First

it hired a hundred extra workers; then it laid off two hundred.

• The universe is expanding, but scientists do not know whether it will

continue to expand or whether it will eventually start to contract, becoming more and more dense until it collapses on itself.

Contract

means

A. to become visible.

B. to become smaller.

C.

to become weaker.

The opposite of the phrase to grow is to become smaller. The the

opposite of the phrase to expand is

to become smaller.

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3

duplicity

–

noun

• “I can’t tolerate duplicity,” said the teacher. “If you didn’t get around to

writing your paper on time, say so. Don’t make up some story about death or illness in your family.”

• Dogs seem incapable of duplicity. If a dog soils the rug, he will slink

around guiltily. He won’t try to pretend that the cat did it.

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

3

duplicity

–

noun

• “I can’t tolerate duplicity,” said the teacher. “If you didn’t get around to

writing your paper on time, say so. Don’t make up some story about death or illness in your family.”

• Dogs seem incapable of duplicity. If a dog soils the rug, he will slink

around guiltily. He won’t try to pretend that the cat did it.

Duplicity

means

A. repetition.

B. exaggeration.

C. deceit.

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4

equivocal

–

adjective

• Akira seemed equivocal about whether he’d gotten the job or not. First

he said it was “a sure thing,” but then he added that he had to go back for another interview.

• After her first date with Chris, Karen was equivocal about how she felt

toward him. She said he was “interesting,” which could mean almost anything.

Equivocal

means

A. vague.

B. the same.

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4

equivocal

–

adjective

• Akira seemed equivocal about whether he’d gotten the job or not. First

he said it was “a sure thing,” but then he added that he had to go back for another interview.

• After her first date with Chris, Karen was equivocal about how she felt

toward him. She said he was “interesting,” which could mean almost anything.

Equivocal

means

A. vague.

B. the same.

C.

discouraged.

By leaving out the fact that he needed a second interview, Akira was

vague and misleading about his job prospects. Since the word

interesting can mean “almost anything,” Karen’s response was vague

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

5

irresolute

–

adjective

• In Hamlet, why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius sooner? Is it because he is

too irresolute to act, or because he is prevented from carrying out his purpose?

• Carleton is irresolute about marrying Tania. He’s sure they are in love,

but he’s not sure about getting married because they fight all the time.

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

5

irresolute

–

adjective

• In Hamlet, why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius sooner? Is it because he is

too irresolute to act, or because he is prevented from carrying out his purpose?

• Carleton is irresolute about marrying Tania. He’s sure they are in love,

but he’s not sure about getting married because they fight all the time.

Irresolute

means

A. unable to decide.

B. lacking self-control

C.

unknowing.

One explanation for his taking so long to kill Claudius is that Hamlet is unable to decide whether or not to act. Torn between his love for Tania and his concern about their constant fighting, Carleton is

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

6

rescind

–

verb

• The state can rescind the licenses of people arrested for driving while

drunk.

• It’s very rude to rescind your invitation to one person just because

you’ve met someone else you’d prefer to invite.

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

6

rescind

–

verb

• The state can rescind the licenses of people arrested for driving while

drunk.

• It’s very rude to rescind your invitation to one person just because

you’ve met someone else you’d prefer to invite.

Rescind

means

A. to renew.

B. to cancel.

C.

to abuse.

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7

stagnant

–

adjective

• At age forty, Ira is considering a midlife career change. He feels that his

present career is stagnant: he’s going nowhere in his job.

• The pond was stagnant, and algae and weeds were growing so thickly

that they covered the still water underneath.

Stagnant

means

A. out of control.

B. motionless.

C.

spread thin.

Ph

oto

: E

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7

stagnant

–

adjective

• At age forty, Ira is considering a midlife career change. He feels that his

present career is stagnant: he’s going nowhere in his job.

• The pond was stagnant, and algae and weeds were growing so thickly

that they covered the still water underneath.

Stagnant

means

A. out of control.

B. motionless.

C.

spread thin.

The phrase going nowhere suggests that Ira’s career is motionless. The phrase still water suggests that the pond was motionless.

Ph

oto

: E

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8

uniform

–

adjective

• To give hand-sewing a professional appearance, it’s important to make

the stitches uniform. Take the trouble to make them all the same size— the result will be worth it.

• People whose teeth are unevenly spaced and discolored may benefit

from a dental technique called bonding, which makes teeth look more uniform.

Uniform

means

A. alike.

B. different.

C.

insupportable.

Ph

oto

: T

om

tch

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8

uniform

–

adjective

• To give hand-sewing a professional appearance, it’s important to make

the stitches uniform. Take the trouble to make them all the same size— the result will be worth it.

• People whose teeth are unevenly spaced and discolored may benefit

from a dental technique called bonding, which makes teeth look more uniform.

Uniform

means

A. alike.

B. different.

C.

insupportable.

If the stitches are all the same size, then they are all alike. Teeth that are unevenly spaced and of

different colors are not all alike.

Ph

oto

: T

om

tch

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9

untenable

–

adjective

• In the exam room, the teacher looked grimly at the math formulas

penciled on my T-shirt. “Your story that you don’t know how they got there is untenable,” she said. “You can’t expect me to believe you!”

• Jocelyn’s theory that the explorers missing at the South Pole had been

eaten by polar bears was interesting but untenable. Polar bears live at the North Pole.

Untenable

means

A. uninteresting.

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9

untenable

–

adjective

• In the exam room, the teacher looked grimly at the math formulas

penciled on my T-shirt. “Your story that you don’t know how they got there is untenable,” she said. “You can’t expect me to believe you!”

• Jocelyn’s theory that the explorers missing at the South Pole had been

eaten by polar bears was interesting but untenable. Polar bears live at the North Pole.

Untenable

means

A. uninteresting.

B. unable to be defended.

C.

unclear.

The teacher thought she could not be expected to believe a story so improbable that it could not be defended. The theory that explorers were eaten by polar bears at the South Pole could not be defended

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10

vilify

–

verb

• Most of Mr. Jones’s students praise him, but a few vilify him. It’s strange

that he should be so respected by some and so harshly criticized by others.

• “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify an entire college just because one

fraternity has behaved badly,” said Liam. “People should aim their dislike at the right target.”

Vilify

means

A. to argue with.

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10

vilify

–

verb

• Most of Mr. Jones’s students praise him, but a few vilify him. It’s strange

that he should be so respected by some and so harshly criticized by others.

• “I don’t think it’s fair to vilify an entire college just because one

fraternity has behaved badly,” said Liam. “People should aim their dislike at the right target.”

Vilify

means

A. to argue with.

B. to assault physically.

C. to speak evil of.

Students who harshly criticize their professor are likely to speak evil of

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

2.

Lenore insisted that she had paid all the rent she owed, but her claim was __________. She was unable to substantiate° it by producing any canceled checks or receipts.

1.

__________ about whether to take the subway or catch a bus, I vacillated° too long and managed to miss both.

Complete each item with the correct word from the box.

A. clamor B. contract C. duplicity D. equivocal E. irresolute

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

2.

Lenore insisted that she had paid all the rent she owed, but her claim was __________. She was unable to substantiate° it by producing any canceled checks or receipts.

1.

__________ about whether to take the subway or catch a bus, I vacillated° too long and managed to miss both.

F. rescind G. stagnant H. uniform I. untenable J. vilify

Undecided, the speaker hesitated so long that neither option was available.

Her claim could not be defended because she was unable to produce any supporting evidence.

Irresolute

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

4.

The candidate’s voice shook as he showed reporters an ugly cartoon attacking his wife. “________ me if you like—I can take abuse,” he said. “But leave my family alone.”

5.

It seems that every courtroom drama includes a scene in which a(n) __________ erupts, with the judge pounding the gavel and shouting “Order in the court!”

3.

Bodily movement results when our muscles first ________ and then relax.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

4.

The candidate’s voice shook as he showed reporters an ugly cartoon attacking his wife. “________ me if you like—I can take abuse,” he said. “But leave my family alone.”

5.

It seems that every courtroom drama includes a scene in which a __________ erupts, with the judge pounding the gavel and shouting “Order in the court!”

3.

Bodily movement results when our muscles first ________ and then relax.

Movement occurs as compressed muscles relax and become stretched out.

The candidate accepted abusive statements—but not attacks on his family.

When there is a hubbub in the courtroom, judges sometimes must shout louder than the outcries in order to restore order.

contract

Vilify

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

7.

Angry over a council member’s racist statements, a citizens’ group decided to __________ its invitation to have him speak at its annual fundraising dinner.

6.

When Ben asked Jenna if she loved him, her ________ response— “Oh, Ben, I love everybody”—left him more confused than ever. Complete each item with the correct word from the box.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

7.

Angry over a council member’s racist statements, a citizens’ group decided to __________ its invitation to have him speak at its annual fundraising dinner.

6.

When Ben asked Jenna if she loved him, her ________ response— “Oh, Ben, I love everybody”—left him more confused than ever. Complete each item with the correct word from the box.

A response that was open to more than one interpretation would leave the other person confused.

If a group of citizens became angered by an invited speaker’s racist remarks, they might take back their invitation to speak at their

fundraiser.

equivocal

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

9.

Sales had been __________ for months, so the company began an aggressive new ad campaign in the hope that merchandise would begin moving again.

10.

“No longer will each department handle billing its own way,” the boss announced. “From now on, we will all use identical forms and a(n) __________ set of procedures.”

8.

City supervisors said the repairs to our street would take a month, but they took almost a year. We don’t know if this was _________ on the city’s part, or an honest miscalculation.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

9.

Sales had been __________ for months, so the company began an aggressive new ad campaign in the hope that merchandise would begin moving again.

10.

“No longer will each department handle billing its own way,” the

boss announced. “From now on, we will all use identical forms and a __________ set of procedures.”

8.

City supervisors said the repairs to our street would take a month, but they took almost a year. We don’t know if this was _________ on the city’s part, or an honest miscalculation.

Deliberate deceptiveness is contrasted with an honest miscalculation.

Sales weren’t moving, so the ads were to get merchandise moving again.

The word identical means “all or always the same.”

duplicity

stagnant