AWP2 ch 13

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ADVANCED

WORD POWER

Second Edition

B

ETH

J

OHNSON

J

ANET

M. G

OLDSTEIN

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Unit Three: Chapter 13

•

acquiesce

•

delineate

•

articulate

•

diffident

•

belittle

•

laconic

•

bombastic

•

scanty

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

–

verb

• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail. • The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were

pleased when the teacher acquiesced.

Acquiesce means

A.

to consent.

B.

to conquer.

C.

to refuse.

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–

verb

• When the reporter was ordered to reveal who had given her information about a gambling ring, she had to decide whether to acquiesce or go to jail. • The students asked if they could use their notes during the test. They were

pleased when the teacher acquiesced.

Acquiesce means

A.

to consent.

B.

to conquer.

C.

to refuse.

1

acquiesce

The reporter had to decide whether to consent to the judge’s order or to refuse and go to jail. Students would be pleased if their teacher

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2

articulate

–

adjective

• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just joking with reporters.

• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.

Articulate means

A.

artificial.

B.

using words effectively.

C.

quiet.

Ph oto s: A bb ie R ow e ( Jo hn K en ne_dy ); P osp iec h ( ba by

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2

articulate

–

adjective

• John Kennedy was known as one of our most articulate presidents. He expressed himself beautifully, whether he was giving a speech or just joking with reporters.

• Molly is unusually articulate for a three-year-old. She always speaks in complete sentences and uses a quite grown-up vocabulary.

Articulate means

A.

artificial.

B.

using words effectively.

C.

quiet.

Ph oto s: A bb ie R ow e ( Jo hn K en ne_dy ); P osp iec h ( ba by ) Articulate

If Kennedy expressed himself beautifully, then he was skilled at using words

effectively. A three-year-old who uses complete sentences and adult words is good at using words effectively.

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

3

belittle

–

verb

• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer clothes than that?”

• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s cooking.

Belittle means

A.

to praise.

B.

to emphasize.

C.

to put down.

Boys trying to belittle a girl

Ph

oto

: g

irls

he

alth

.go

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3

belittle

–

verb

• One unpleasant little girl at the daycare center constantly belittles the other children, saying things like, “Can’t your parents buy you nicer clothes than that?”

• It is rude to accept an invitation to dinner and then belittle your host’s cooking.

Belittle means

A.

to praise.

B.

to emphasize.

C.

to put down.

Boys trying to belittle a girl

Ph

oto

: g

irls

he

alth

.go

v

The unpleasant girl tries to put down

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4

bombastic

–

adjective

• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores everyone with his endless pretentious talk.

• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying, “The crook got away.”

Bombastic means

A.

wordy and pretentious.

B.

down-to-earth.

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4

bombastic

–

adjective

• I don’t like to invite Jerry to dinner because he is so bombastic. He bores everyone with his endless pretentious talk.

• “At this point in time there is little reason to think that the suspected perpetrator will soon be apprehended” is a bombastic way of saying, “The crook got away.”

Bombastic means

A.

wordy and pretentious.

B.

down-to-earth.

C.

fascinating.

Someone who bores people by talking endlessly and pretentiously is

wordy and pretentious. It is wordy to use 19 words when 4 are sufficient,

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5

conciliatory

–

adjective

• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something wrong to it.”

• When a small child throws a temper tantrum, should a parent be conciliatory and try to comfort the child? Or is it better to use firm discipline?

Conciliatory means

A.

soothing.

B.

persistent.

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5

conciliatory

–

adjective

Conciliatory means

A.

soothing.

B.

persistent.

C.

proud.

Rather than soothing the customer by apologizing for the defective toaster, the clerk accused the customer of damaging it. In the second item, the phrase try to comfort the child suggests that the parent is trying to be soothing.

• Our new toaster broke down after one use, but when we returned it, the clerk was not conciliatory. He said, “You must have done something wrong to it.”

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

6

delineate

–

verb

• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where the nearby towns and roads were located.

• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.

Delineate means

A.

to change.

B.

to recall.

C.

to describe.

A map delineating damage to the earth’s atmosphere

Ph

oto

: n

oa

a.g

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6

delineate

–

verb

• The history teacher carefully delineated the scene of the battle: where the opposing troops were, how the supply lines were set up, and where the nearby towns and roads were located.

• “One picture is worth a thousand words” suggests that to delineate something, a drawing is often more useful than phrases and sentences.

Delineate means

A.

to change.

B.

to recall.

C.

to describe.

Ph

oto

: n

oa

a.g

ov

The teacher described the scene by giving the locations of troops, towns, and roads. Words, phrases, sentences, pictures, and drawings are different ways to describe something.

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7

diffident

–

adjective

• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.

• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.

Diffident means

A.

different.

B.

angry.

C.

hesitant.

Ph oto s: A m bo 10 0 ( cat ); R ob ert K au fm an n, F EM A (d og )

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7

diffident

–

adjective

• Although Jay is outgoing with other men, he is shy and diffident with women and therefore finds it hard to get a date.

• Choosing a puppy out of the litter, Jeanine was drawn to a diffident little one who hung back timidly while the others played roughly.

Diffident means

A.

different.

B.

angry.

C.

hesitant.

Ph oto s: A m bo 10 0 ( cat ); R ob ert K au fm an n, F EM A (d og )

Diffident Not diffident

The word shy suggests that Jay is

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TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

8

laconic

–

adjective

• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an

impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”

• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”

Laconic means

A.

sweet.

B.

brief.

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8

laconic

–

adjective

• Frieda is a woman of very few words. When she received an

impassioned twenty-page letter from her boyfriend imploring her to marry him, she sent this laconic reply: “Sure.”

• During World War II, General McAuliffe of the 101st Airborne Division gained fame for his laconic reply to a German commander who was demanding that he surrender: “Nuts.”

Laconic means

A.

sweet.

B.

brief.

C.

secretive.

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9

scanty

–

adjective

• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their own pens and note pads.

• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it is barely growing.

Scanty means

A.

insufficient.

B.

plentiful.

C.

permanent.

Scanty supplies

Ph

oto

: E

ne

as

D

e T

roy

a f

rom

M

ex

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9

scanty

–

adjective

• Office supplies are so scanty this year that most people have to buy their own pens and note pads.

• The poor little maple tree is not doing well. Its leaves are scanty, and it is barely growing.

Scanty means

A.

insufficient.

B.

plentiful.

C.

permanent.

Scanty supplies

Ph oto : E ne as D e T roy a f rom M ex ico

The company must have insufficient

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10

subjugate

–

verb

• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.

• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.

Subjugate means

A.

to explore.

B.

to dominate.

C.

to study.

Subjugating a slave

Pa

int

ing

: C

arlo

s J

uli

ão

(c

a 1

77

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10

subjugate

–

verb

• Judges are expected to subjugate their feelings during a trial. But keeping their emotions under tight control is not always easy.

• Many developing nations were subjugated by colonial powers in years past. In some cases, the wounds of their earlier defeat remain painful.

Subjugate means

A.

to explore.

B.

to dominate.

C.

to study.

Subjugating a slave

Pa

int

ing

: C

arlo

s J

uli

ão

(c

a 1

77

0)

To keep emotions under tight control, one must dominate them. If the

developing nations suffered defeat by colonial powers, they were dominated

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

2.

Mr. Harrison is an unpopular teacher because of the way he _________s his students, making disparaging° remarks like, “I’ve given up expecting good work from you.”

1.

Knowing a lot does not necessarily make people effective

communicators. They need to be _________ in order to reach others with their words.

Complete each item with the correct word from the box.

A. acquiesce B. articulate C. belittle D. bombastic E. conciliatory

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

2.

Mr. Harrison is an unpopular teacher because of the way he _________ his students, making disparaging° remarks like, “I’ve given up expecting good work from you.”

1.

Knowing a lot does not necessarily make people effective

communicators. They need to be _________ in order to reach others with their words.

F. delineate G. diffident H. laconic I. scanty J. subjugate

People who communicate effectively with words are well-spoken.

The word disparaging and the teacher’s remark about having low expectations suggest that he makes students feel less worthy.

articulate

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

4.

My neighbor is so _________ that it’s difficult to hold a conversation with him. He usually confines his remarks to “Hmm,” “Oh,” and “I see.”

5.

When we asked the movie star for her autograph, she _______(e)d pleasantly, saying, “I’ll be happy to.”

3.

A(n) _______ person is not likely to do well in a sales job, where confidence and ease in talking to strangers are important qualities.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

4.

My neighbor is so _________ that it’s difficult to hold a conversation with him. He usually confines his remarks to “Hmm,” “Oh,” and “I see.”

5.

When we asked the movie star for her autograph, she __________ pleasantly, saying, “I’ll be happy to.”

3.

A _________ person is not likely to do well in a sales job, where confidence and ease in talking to strangers are important qualities.

Timid people lacking self-confidence have too little confidence for the job.

Such brief comments as “Oh” suggest he uses as few words as possible.

The words pleasantly and happy suggest she assented, or agreed, without protest.

diffident

laconic

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

7.

It’s obvious that the Hallers have not lived in their apartment very long. The furnishings are _________— just a couch, a bed, and a kitchen table.

6.

Prehistoric cave paintings in France and Spain _________ not just animals but the act of hunting—to show hunters what they were about to experience.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

7.

It’s obvious that the Hallers have not lived in their apartment very long. The furnishings are _________— just a couch, a bed, and a kitchen table.

6.

Prehistoric cave paintings in France and Spain _________ not just animals but the act of hunting—to show hunters what they were about to experience.

Paintings that show scenes portray, or describe, something in pictures.

Three pieces of furniture would be barely adequate to furnish an apartment.

delineate

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

9.

When we had to work over a weekend taking inventory, our boss was __________: she told us we could dress casually, and she kept sending out for food, coffee, and sodas.

10.

I’ve read this _________ editorial in the newspaper three times, and I’m still not sure what is being said. It’s a lot of fancy words, but what does it mean?

8.

The famous novel 1984 concerns a government that ________s its people by constantly spying on them and punishing them for any independent thought.

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SENTENCE CHECK 1

9.

When we had to work over a weekend taking inventory, our boss was __________: she told us we could dress casually, and she kept sending out for food, coffee, and sodas.

10.

I’ve read this _________ editorial in the newspaper three times, and I’m still not sure what is being said. It’s a lot of fancy words, but what does it mean?

8.

The famous novel 1984 concerns a government that _________ its people by constantly spying on them and punishing them for any independent thought.

Punishing independent thought is one way to bring people under control.

The boss tried to win over the employees by keeping them comfortable.

If the editorial used fancy words but was pointless, then it used high-sounding language without much meaning.

subjugates

conciliatory