ADVANCING

VOCABULARY SKILLS
Fourth Edition

Sherrie L. Nist

2010 Townsend Press

Unit One: Chapter 4

berate

maudlin

estrange

regress

euphoric

relinquish

impetuous

ubiquitous

infallible

zenith

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 berate

verb

Nicksmotheroftenberateshim.Andwhensheisntyellingat
him,sheignoreshim.
Vanessacanacceptreasonablecriticism,butshewasupsetwhen
herbossberatedherloudlyinfrontofeveryoneelseinthe
office.
Berate means
A. to disappoint.
B. to neglect.
C. to scold angrily.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

1 berate

verb

Nicksmotheroftenberateshim.Andwhensheisntyellingat
him,sheignoreshim.
Vanessacanacceptreasonablecriticism,butshewasupsetwhen
herbossberatedherloudlyinfrontofeveryoneelseinthe
office.
Berate means
A. to disappoint.
B. to neglect.
C. that
to scold
angrily.
The words yelling at him suggest
berate
means to
scold angrily. In contrast with reasonable criticism,
Vanessas boss scolded her angrily.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 estrange

verb

Mycousinsrecentmoodinesshasestrangedsomeofhisold
friends.
Afterhisdivorce,Gavindidntwanttoestrangehischildren,so
hecalledandvisitedthemoften.
Estrange means
A. to frighten.
B. to drive away.
C. to dislike.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

2 estrange

verb

Mycousinsrecentmoodinesshasestrangedsomeofhisold
friends.
Afterhisdivorce,Gavindidntwanttoestrangehischildren,so
hecalledandvisitedthemoften.
Estrange means
A. to frighten.
B. to drive away.
C. to dislike.
The cousins moodiness would drive away his friends. Gavin
would frequently call and visit his children in order not to drive
them away.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 euphoric

adjective

IwaseuphoricwhenIreceivedmygrades.Tomyamazement
andjoy,theywereallAsandBs.
Nikkiiseuphorictoday,anditseasytoseewhyshesinsuch
highspirits.Shesjustgottentheleadroleinourschools
productionofBeautyandtheBeast.
Euphoric means
A. very happy.
B. boastful.
C. sentimental.

Euphoric members of a winning

handball team

Photo:Steindy

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

3 euphoric

adjective

IwaseuphoricwhenIreceivedmygrades.Tomyamazement
andjoy,theywereallAsandBs.
Nikkiiseuphorictoday,anditseasytoseewhyshesinsuch
highspirits.Shesjustgottentheleadroleinourschools
productionofBeautyandtheBeast.
Euphoric means
A. very happy.
B. boastful.
C. sentimental.
The word joy suggests that
euphoric means very happy. In
the second item, the words in
such high spirits tell you that
Euphoric members of a winning euphoric means very happy.
handball team

Photo:Steindy

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

4 impetuous

adjective

WheneverImakeanimpetuouspurchase,Iendupbeingdissatisfied:
theshoesarentcomfortable,theshirtisthewrongcolor,thejacket
coststoomuch.Fromnowon,IintendtothinkmorecarefullybeforeI
buy.
Childrentendtobeimpetuousandoftendontthinkaboutthe
consequencesoftheiractions.Forinstance,theyllthrowsnowballsat
passingcarswithoutworryingaboutpossiblycausinganaccident.
Impetuous means
A. impulsive.
B. considerate.
C. imaginative.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

4 impetuous

adjective

WheneverImakeanimpetuouspurchase,Iendupbeingdissatisfied:
theshoesarentcomfortable,theshirtisthewrongcolor,thejacket
coststoomuch.Fromnowon,IintendtothinkmorecarefullybeforeI
buy.
Childrentendtobeimpetuousandoftendontthinkaboutthe
consequencesoftheiractions.Forinstance,theyllthrowsnowballsat
passingcarswithoutworryingaboutpossiblycausinganaccident.
Impetuous means
A. impulsive.
B. considerate.
C. imaginative.
The words think more carefully tell you that impetuous
means the oppositeimpulsive. In the second item, the
words dont think about the consequences tell you that
impetuous means impulsive.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

5 infallible

adjective

Computersarentinfallible.Ifyouputthewrongdataintoa
computer,youllgetwronganswers.
Asignovermysistersdeskreads,Iminfallible.Inevermake
misteaks.
Infallible means
A. perfect.
B. imperfect.
C. everywhere.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

5 infallible

adjective

Computersarentinfallible.Ifyouputthewrongdataintoa
computer,youllgetwronganswers.
Asignovermysistersdeskreads,Iminfallible.Inevermake
misteaks.
Infallible means
A. perfect.
B. imperfect.
C. everywhere.
Since computers can give wrong answers, they are not
perfect. In the second item, the fact that the word
mistakes is spelled incorrectly on the sisters sign shows
that she is not perfect.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

6 maudlin

adjective

Theversesingreetingcardsareoftenfartoosentimental.I
preferhumortosuchmaudlinmessages.
Theauthorsofmaudlinsoapoperasmustfeelthattheyhavent
donetheirjobunlessviewersarecryingbytheendofeachshow.
Maudlin means
A. short.
B. comical.
C. overly emotional.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

6 maudlin

adjective

Theversesingreetingcardsareoftenfartoosentimental.I
preferhumortosuchmaudlinmessages.
Theauthorsofmaudlinsoapoperasmustfeelthattheyhavent
donetheirjobunlessviewersarecryingbytheendofeachshow.
Maudlin means
A. short.
B. comical.
C. overly emotional.
The words far too sentimental suggest that maudlin means
overly emotional. In the second item, if the viewers are
supposed to be crying by the end of each show, the soap
operas must be overly emotional.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

7 regress

verb

Whenhisbabysisterwasborn,sevenyearoldJeremyregressed
forawhileandbegansuckinghisthumbagain.
Adolescentsunderstresssometimesregresstochildishways:
dependency,tempertantrums,andsilliness.
Regress means
A. to go backward.
B. to reach a high point.
C. to act hastily.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

7 regress

verb

Whenhisbabysisterwasborn,sevenyearoldJeremyregressed
forawhileandbegansuckinghisthumbagain.
Adolescentsunderstresssometimesregresstochildishways:
dependency,tempertantrums,andsilliness.
Regress means
A. to go backward.
B. to reach a high point.
C. to act hastily.
If seven-year-old Jeremy began sucking his thumb again, he
had gone backwards and become less mature. Adolescents
would have to go backward to start acting childishly again.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

8 relinquish

verb

Nobeerisallowedinthefamilyareaofthestadium,sofans
mustrelinquishtheirsixpacksatthegatebeforetheytaketheir
seats.
Donnahadtorelinquishhershareinthebeachhousebecause
shecouldntafforditanymore.
Relinquish means
A. to buy.
B. to give up.
C. to enjoy.
Ill relinquish your chair
if youll get me my dinner!

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

8 relinquish

verb

Nobeerisallowedinthefamilyareaofthestadium,sofans
mustrelinquishtheirsixpacksatthegatebeforetheytaketheir
seats.
Donnahadtorelinquishhershareinthebeachhousebecause
shecouldntafforditanymore.
Relinquish means
A. to buy.
B. to give up.
C. to enjoy.
Since no beer is allowed, fans
have to give up their six-packs
Ill relinquish your chair at the gate. Since Donna
if youll get me my dinner!
couldnt afford her share, she
had to give it up.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

9 ubiquitous

adjective

Mitesareubiquitous.TheyliveontopofMt.Everest,inthe
depthsoftheocean,attheSouthPole,andevenaroundtheroots
ofyourhairs.
WepostponedourplantodrivehomeonSundaybecausea
densefogwasubiquitous.Itcoveredtheentiretown.
Ubiquitous means
A. scarce.
B. newly discovered.
C. found everywhere.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

9 ubiquitous

adjective

Mitesareubiquitous.TheyliveontopofMt.Everest,inthe
depthsoftheocean,attheSouthPole,andevenaroundtheroots
ofyourhairs.
WepostponedourplantodrivehomeonSundaybecausea
densefogwasubiquitous.Itcoveredtheentiretown.
Ubiquitous means
A. scarce.
B. newly discovered.
C. found everywhere.
Because mites live in all of the places listed, they are
found everywhere. If the dense fog covered the entire
town, it was found everywhere.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

10 zenith

noun

Florencereachedthezenithofhercareerwhenshebecame
presidentofAceProducts.
Atage50,myuncleisafraidthathehasalreadypassedthezenith
ofhislife;butatage52,myfatherthinksthebestisyettocome.
Zenith means
A. an end.
B. an earlier condition.
C. the highest point.

TEN WORDS IN CONTEXT

Choose the meaning closest to that of the boldfaced word.

10 zenith

noun

Florencereachedthezenithofhercareerwhenshebecame
presidentofAceProducts.
Atage50,myuncleisafraidthathehasalreadypassedthezenith
ofhislife;butatage52,myfatherthinksthebestisyettocome.
Zenith means
A. an end.
B. an earlier condition.
C. the highest point.
Becoming the president of the company would be the highest
point of Florences career. In contrast with the father thinking
the best is yet to come, the uncle is afraid hes passed the
highest point of his life.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

1. People in bombed-out, war-torn cities sometimes

________ to more primitive ways of life.

2. To many people, Mozarts works represent the

__________ of eighteenth-century music.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

1. People in bombed-out, war-torn cities sometimes

regress
________ to more primitive ways of life.
Living in a bombed-out, war-torn city could force people to
return to a more primitive way of life.

2. To many people, Mozarts works represent the

zenith
__________ of eighteenth-century music.
Some people consider Mozarts works the peak of eighteenthcentury music.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

3. Mei Lin was __________ when the college that was

her first choice accepted her.

4. When Dad lost his job, he had to _________ his

identification card, his employee parking permit, and
the key to his desk.
5. Kay used to be friendly, but since her promotion, she
has become so cold that she has _______(e)d former
coworkers.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

3. Mei Lin was __________

euphoric when the college that was
her first choice accepted her.

Mei Lin would be overjoyed at being accepted by her first-choice

college.

4. When Dad lost his job, he had relinquish

to _________ his
identification card, his employee parking permit, and
Since
Dad
was
the
key
to no
hislonger
desk.working for the company, he had to
surrender those items.

5. Kay used to be friendly, but since her promotion, she

has become so cold that she
has __________ former
estranged
By becoming
very cold, Kay would alienate her former
coworkers.
coworkers.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

6. I dont expect you to be ________, the boss said,

but I dont want you to make the same mistakes
over and over.
7. I know I was late, Liz said, but you could have
pointed it out quietly. You didnt have to __________
me.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

6. I dont expect you to be

________, the boss said,
infallible
but I dont want you to make the same mistakes
If the
bossand
expects
a person to make some mistakes, she
over
over.
does not expect the employee to be perfect.

7. I know I was late, Liz said, but you could have

pointed it out quietly. You didntberate
have to __________
Instead
of pointing out Lizs lateness quietly, the person
me.
criticized her harshly.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

8. In our neighborhood, litter is __________the

sidewalks are ankle-deep in trash. We need a
cleanup campaign.
9. Uncle Antonio becomes __________ when he talks
about his dear old mother in Italy. Tears also come to
the eyes of all who listen.
10.Joyce isnt usually __________, but last week she had a
sudden urge to try out her nephews skateboard.
Everyone in the office has already signed the cast on
her broken wrist.

SENTENCE CHECK 1
Complete each item with the correct word from the box.
A. berate

B. estrange

F. maudlin

G. regress

C. euphoric

D.
E. infallible
H. relinquish impetuous
I. ubiquitous J. zenith

8. In our neighborhood, litter ubiquitous

is __________the
sidewalks are ankle-deep in trash. We need a
If the
sidewalks
are ankle-deep in trash, litter must be
cleanup
campaign.
everywhere.

9. Uncle Antonio becomesmaudlin

__________ when he talks
about his dear old mother in Italy. Tears also come to
the eyes of all who listen.
If Antonio makes everyone cry, he must be tearfully sentimental.

10.Joyce isnt usuallyimpetuous

__________, but last week she had a
sudden urge to try out her nephews skateboard.
Everyone in the office has already signed the cast on
If Joyce
on wrist.
a sudden urge, she must have been impulsive.
her acted
broken