Vocabulary Practice – Unit 3
Exercise 1 – Words in Context
From the list below, supply the words needed to complete the paragraph. Some
words will not be used.
charisma
gist
ogre
bandy
advocate
mesmerize
Joan, who ____________________ the cleanup of the James River, is always trying to gain
supporters for her cause. The usual ____________________ of her speech focuses on the
effects of the river’s pollution on future generations. Her eloquent speech
____________________ audiences, and her ____________________ helps her to win the hearts of
people who are not even affected by the James River. Joan hopes someday to
____________________ the irresponsible dumping practices that continue to foul the
James River.
From the list below, supply the words needed to complete the paragraph. Some
words will not be used.
dastardly
ogre
gist
bandy
entity
charisma
jaded
The ____________________ athlete, accustomed to winning first place, wanted to be
happy with her third-place trophy, but deep down, she felt that months of intensive
training had gone to waste. On the bus ride home, she refused to ____________________
compliments or even joke about the race with her teammates. She could think only
about the ____________________ runner who intentionally tripped her early in the race
and likely cost her the win. Myra could not believe that such an unsportsmanlike
____________________ was allowed to compete in track meets. Myra didn’t see the other
girl after the race, but merely thinking of that horrid ____________________ would haunt
Myra for weeks to come.
From the list below, supply the words needed to complete the paragraph. Some
words will not be used.
nepotism
imbue
begrudged
enmity
glutinous
The ____________________ between Mike and Brad showed through the manner in which
they argued over the most trivial company decisions. Weeks before, Brad had been
promoted to regional manager in an obvious act of ____________________, since his uncle
is a member of the board of directors. Mike ____________________ Brad for the
promotion because it had taken fifteen years for Mike to become a regional
manager, and Brad had walked into the job with practically no experience at all.
Now, during any argument with Brad, Mike was sure to ____________________ him about
how “fifteen years of seniority and experience make my decisions practically
infallible.”
From the list below, supply the words needed to complete the paragraph. Some
words will not be used.
nepotism
imbue
declaim
mandarin
bibliophile
Corporate leaders, high-ranking government officials, and influential
____________________ gathered in the halls of Xavier’s mansion at least once a month.
Dinner was held in the ballroom, and then Xavier, a noted ____________________, usually
invited his guests to his colossal private library. Bookshelves towered over the
guests, and the presence of hundreds of rare, ancient tomes ____________________ them
with a sense of humility as they stood among the centuries of human thought that
had built the world in which they now lived.
From the list below, supply the words needed to complete the paragraph. Some
words will not be used.
nepotism
glutinous
declaim
gaff
quaff
When the whaling ship encountered a tiny skiff bobbing on the high seas, the
captain ordered a sailor to snag it with a(n) ____________________. To the sailor’s
surprise, a sun-beaten man lay on the bottom of the boat. He awoke to the voices of
his rescuers, and he immediately ____________________ the water they offered him.
Apparently, the man had kept himself alive by eating the ____________________ remnants
of wet rations that he salvaged before a violent storm sunk his ship.
Exercise 2 – Sentence Completion
Complete each sentence in a way that shows you understand the meaning of the
vocabulary word.
1. Sally described enough of the movie for Bill to get the gist of it, but not enough
to….
2. The jury was shocked when, during the trail, the dastardly criminal…
3. Mom would not bandy any comments about extending my curfew because she felt
that…
4. The jaded artist decided to find a new career when…
5. The revolutionaries effaced statues of the former dictator because…
6. Mondello the Great mesmerized the children at the birthday party by…
7. Someone who advocates good manners might become angry if you…
8. The overwhelming charisma of the cult leader made it easy for him to…
9. The linebackers on the football team looked like ogres compared to…
10. Mom had to explain to Maggie than an imaginary friend is not a real entity; it is…
11. During a break from toiling in the oppressive heat, the workers quaffed…
12. Dad spent all day fixing the car and then declaimed that…
13. The man working in the reptile exhibit used a gaff to…
14. Some parents accused the coach of nepotism because…
15. Working on a farm imbued Mary with…
16. The activists wanted Dorian’s support because he is a mandarin who can…
17. You knew Frank was a bibliophile because…
18. The scientist said that the glutinous substance had similar characteristics to…
19. There was enmity between the brother and sister ever since…
20. Gloria secretly begrudged her friend…
Exercise 3 – Inference
Complete the sentences by inferring information about the vocabulary word
from its context.
1. If you don’t understand the gist of the lecture, then you should find the teacher
after class and ask…
2. When someone who advocates energy conservation sees lights left on, he or she
might…
3. If you efface your fears about flying, then you might be willing to…
4. Nepotism is common in family businesses, where many of the employees are
hired because they…
5. Kelly attributed her artistic success to the fact that her mentor had imbued her
with…
6. If people avoid you because you always declaim your own skills, then you should
probably learn to…