Unit 6 Vocabulary

Unit 6 Vocabulary

by Colleen Barnes

Multiple Choice

We live in an acquisitive society which views success primarily in terms of money and material possessions.

Based on this sentence, what does acquisitive mean?

• concerned with acquiring wealth or property

• concerned with altruism and giving

• capitalistic

​Acquisitive

• ​adjective

• ​Able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property

Multiple Choice

She had an insatiable thirst for attention; she was constantly trying to one-up everyone around her and be the topic of discussion.

Based on this sentence, what does insatiable mean?

• Annoying; causing irritation

• So great or demanding as not to be satisfied

• overwhelming; over the top

​Insatiable

• ​adjective

• ​So great or demanding as not to be satisfied

• ​Note: You can have an insatiable appetite for anything; it doesn't have to be food-related

Multiple Choice

His behavior estranged him from his brother, and they haven't spoken at all in the years since their father's funeral.

Based on this sentence, what does estranged mean?

• to become friendly, close

• to annoy and irritate

• to alienate or drive away

​Estrange

• ​verb

• ​To alienate, drive away

• ​estrangeD is an adjective, and describes people who are not in contact

Multiple Choice

I agree I am ambitious, and I don't see that as a pejorative term. Why shouldn't I work hard and try to succeed?

Based on this sentence, what does pejorative mean?

• derogatory; belittling

• complimentary; esteem-building

• confusing; hard to understand

​Pejorative

• ​adjective

• ​Expressing disapproval or disparagement; derogatory; belittling

• ​Please note: this is not the same as decry! (Decry implies you are complaining about an issue. Pejorative is just mean.)

Multiple Select

The women in that family were unusually fecund; the sisters had 4, 6, and 5 children, respectively.

Based on this sentence, what does fecund mean?

• outgoing; sociable

• not showing good sense or understanding

• ​Fruitful in offspring or vegetation

​Fecund

• ​adjective

• ​Fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive

Multiple Choice

Emma is such a gregarious and outgoing person; she is always busy and surrounded by a group of friends.

Based on this sentence, what does gregarious mean?

• outgoing; sociable

• introverted; withdrawn

​Gregarious

• ​adjective

• ​Outgoing; sociable

Multiple Choice

His main grouse is that he isn't paid enough for all the work they ask him to do. He brings up his salary at least once a week

Based on this sentence, what does grouse mean?

• annoyance

• complaint

• benefit

​Grouse

• ​noun= A complaint

• verb= to complain, grumble

• ​Note: a grouse is also a type of bird

Multiple Choice

The houses on this block are derelict. The city never bothered to rebuild them after a fire, and now they are an eyesore and a safety concern.

Based on this sentence, what does derelict mean?

• beautiful and thriving

• abandoned or neglected

• charred beyond all recognition

​Derelict

• ​adjective

• ​Someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; let abandoned; neglectful of duty

• ​If you are using this to describe a person, you say they have been derelict IN their duty

Multiple Choice

The police fired wildly into the crowd at the protest, and seventy people were killed by indiscriminate gunfire, even a few innocent bystanders.

Based on this sentence, what does indiscriminate mean?

• unnecessary; over the top

• ​Not chosen carefully; not based on careful selection

• justified; carefully considered and thoughtful

​Indiscriminate

• ​adjective

• ​Not chosen carefully; not based on careful selection

Multiple Choice

A fast-growing category of people is the indigent elderly population in nursing homes. They need ongoing care, but often cannot afford a lengthy stay in a nice facility.

Based on this sentence, what does indigent mean?

• ​Needy, impoverished

• well-off; comfortable

• unhealthy; weak and frail

​Indigent

• ​adjective

• ​Needy, impoverished