Vocabulary- Unit 1

Lesson B

adjourn

• v: close a meeting; suspend the business of a meeting; disband– When we visited Washington D.C., Congress

was not in session; it had adjourned for the Thanksgiving weekend.

astute

• adj: shrewd; wise; crafty; cunning– The only one to solve the riddle was Joel; he

is a very astute thinker.

censure

• n: act of blaming; expression of disapproval; hostile criticism; rebuke– Bill was about to reach for a third slice of cake

but was stopped by a look of censure in Mother’s eyes.

demolish

• v: tear down; destroy– It took several days for the wrecking crew to

demolish the old building.

discharge

• v: unload– After discharging its cargo, the ship will go

into dry dock for repairs.

dissent

• v: differ in opinion; disagree; object– There was nearly complete agreement on

Al’s proposal. Enid and Alice were the only ones who dissented.

equitable

• Adj. fair to all concerned; just

The only equitable way for the three partners to share the $600 profit is for each to receive $200.

exonerate

• v. free from blame; clear from accusationThe other driver exonerated Isabel of any

responsibility for the accident.

extemporaneous

• adj: composed or spoken without preparation; offhand; impromptu; improvised

It was easy to tell that the speaker’s talk was memorized, though she tried to make it seem extemporaneous.

extricate

• v: free from difficulties; disentangleIf you let your assignments pile up, you may

get into a situation from which you will not be able to extricate yourself.

forfeit

• v: lose or have to give up as a penalty for some error, neglect, or fault

One customer gave a $50 deposit on an order of slipcovers. When they were delivered, she decided she didn’t want them. Of course, she forfeited her deposit.

illegible

• adj: not able to read; very hard to read; not legible

It is fortunate that Roger types his reports because his handwriting is illegible.

inadvertently

• adv: not done on purpose; unintentionally; thoughtlessly; accidentally

First I couldn’t locate my glasses; but after a while I found them on the windowsill. I must have left them there inadvertently.

inappropriate

• adj: not fitting; unsuitable; unbecoming; not appropriate

Since I was the one who nominated Bruce, it would be inappropriate for me to vote for another candidate.

lucrative

• adj: money-making; profitableThis year’s school dance was not so

lucrative; we made only $70 compared to $240 last year.

permanent

• adj. lasting; enduring; intended to last; stable

Write to me at my temporary address, the Gateway Hotel. As soon as I find an apartment, I shall notify you of my permanent address.

prohibit

• v: forbid; banThe library’s regulations prohibit the

borrowing of reference books.

punctual

• adj: on time; promptBe punctual. If you are late, we shall have to

depart without you.

rebuke

• v: express disapproval of; criticize sharply; censure severely; reprimand; reprove

Our coach rebuked the two players who were late for practice, but praised the rest of the team for being punctual.

transient

• adj: not lasting; passing soon; fleeting; short-lived; momentary

It rained all day upstate, but here we had only a transient shower, it was over in minutes.

transient

• n: visitor or guest staying for only a short time

The hotel’s customers are mainly transients; only a few are permanent guests.

Exercise 1. On your paper, enter the letter of the word or expression that has most nearly the SAME

MEANING as the italicized word.1. vote to adjourn

(A) join (B) disband (C) disapprove (D) approve2. cater to transients

(A) civilians (B) short-time visitors (C) permanent guests(D) novices

3. severely censured(A) banned (B) objected (C) discharged (D) rebuked

4. record of punctuality (A) promptness (B) attendance (C) achievement (D) lateness

5. temporary filling(A) not intended to last (B) fragile (C) enduring (D) not painful

6. inequitable treatment(A) fair (B) crafty (C) unwise (D) unjust

7. omitted inadvertently (A) temporarily (B) on purpose (C) accidentally (D) permanently

8. discharging supplies(A) unloading (B) destroying (C) unsuitable (D) fleeting

9. impromptu remark(A) inappropriate (B) cunning (C) hostile (D) extemporaneous

10. completely exonerated(A) set free (B) freed from blame (C) disproved (D) prohibited

Exercise 2. On your paper, enter the letter of the word NOT RELATED in meaning to the other

words in each line.1. (A) object (B) disagree (C) demolish (D) dissent2. (A) ban (B) exonerate (C) prohibit (D) forbid3. (A) stable (B) legible (C) permanent (D) lasting4. (A) abundant (B) plentiful (C) lucrative (D) galore5. (A) hinder (B) overburden (C) encumber (D) discharge6. (A) improvised (B) softened (C) mitigated (D) lessened7. (A) temporary (B) momentary (C) prompt (D) short-lived8. (A) appropriate (B) transient (C) becoming (D) suitable9. (A) reprimand (B) forfeit (C) censure (reprove)10. (A) shrewd (B) extemporaneous (C) offhand (D) impromptu

Exercise 3. Which of the two terms makes the sentences correct? Enter the letter of the correct word on your paper.

1. The inscription on the old monument is hard to read; it is almost _________. (A) legible (B) illegible

2. If the jury’s verdict is ______________, the defendant will be exonerated.(A) guilty (B) not guilty

3. Rhoda has already had two slices of pizza, while some of us haven’t had even one. It isn’t ____________!

(A) inequitable (B) equitable4. If you are impatient, you may fall into a trap from which it will be hard to

______________ yourself.(A) extricate (B) raze

5. Should the new business prove lucrative, many investors will ___________ it.(A) enter (B) avoid