Unit 9: Vocabulary 2

By Karen Shields

​impress (V)
If you impress someone, you make them feel admiration and respect.

Example 1: A talented actor can impress you with a grand performance.

Example 2: Everyone in the office was impressed with her hard work and dedication.

Example 3: I tried to impress my guests by baking a fancy cake for dessert.

Multiple Choice

You received first prize for an art project. Did you impress the judges?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You forgot to turn in your homework. Have you impressed your teacher?

• Yes

• No

​talent (n)
If you have talent, you have special abilities.

Example 1: Her mathematical talent was apparent from a young age; in school she worked several grades beyond her age.

Example 2: Able to speak five different languages, he showed talent in communication

Example 3: The intricate steps showed off the dancers' talent.

Multiple Choice

Your friend forgot his lines during the school play. Does he show acting talent?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You practice your instrument every day and are able to play the difficult piece for a recital. Do you show talent?

• Yes

• No

​analytic (adj)
Analytic means "having to do with the careful study of something"

Example 1: To be a good programmer, a computer engineer must have an analytic mind.

Example 2: Scientists use analytic tools to research

Multiple Choice

You and a friend played a game of Go Fish. Did you use an analytic brain to play?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You just solved a complicated riddle.
Were you being analytic?

• Yes

• No

​calculate (v)
When you calculate something, you figure it out or solve a problem.

Example1: She was able to calculate the answer to the math problem.

Example 2: Meteorologists look at data and calculate what the weather will be like.

Example 3: They used the builders' measurements to calculate the total square footage of the house.

Multiple Choice

You want to know if your friends like your new haircut. Will you calculate this?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You need to figure out how many cookies to make for the bake sale. Do you need to calculate the number of cookies?

• Yes

• No

​confidence (n)
If something or someone makes you feel confidence, you feel that something or someone has the ability to succeed.

Example 1: When you study for a test, you can have confidence that you will do well.

Example 2: For a musician, a good way to boost confidence is to practice before a concert.

Example 3: If a bridge across a river looks like it is broken, it is difficult to have the confidence to walk across it.

Multiple Choice

You forget to study for the vocabulary quiz. Do you have confidence that you will do well on the quiz?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You have to memorize a poem and you practice every night for two weeks. Do you have confidence that you will perform it well?

• Yes

• No

​research (n)
Research is the act of studying something or gathering information about it.

Example 1 When I want to make fun weekend plans, I go online to do research on various possibilities.

Example 2: Scientists are doing research to discover the causes of climate change.

Example 3: A research paper would require you to find information about a topic in several different sources.

Multiple Choice

You want to buy a particular pair of sunglass. You look online to find local stores that sell them. Are you doing research?

• Yes

• No

​capable (adj)
If something is capable, it means it "has what is needed to do something."

Example 1: A tornado is capable of overturning a car.

Example 2: She has a lot of experience and is a capable employee.

Example 3: Ned has driven a bus for 15 years and is a very capable driver.

Multiple Choice

A chair broke when your father sat on it. Is the chair capable of holding him?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You use a special formula to clean your clothes because it works really well. Is the formula capable of cleaning?

• Yes

• No

​determine (v)
To determine something means "to learn or find out by getting information."

Example 1: After talking with both drivers, the police determined the cause of the accident.

Example 2: Mrs. Smith said she will determine how much food to buy after she knows how many people will attend the party.

Example 3: When we know how warm it is, we will determine whether we eat outside or inside.

Multiple Choice

You figure out that a bumblebee was causing a buzzing noise in your room. Did you determine the cause of the buzzing?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You accidently hit your head on a low-hanging tree branch. Did you determine to hit your head?

• Yes

• No

​reaction (n)
When two substances meet and act on each other, a change takes place.

Example 1: Applying a fertilizer to the soil and watering it will create a reaction that releases phosphorus, a food plants can use.

Example 2: Explosions occur when a chemical reaction transforms explosive materials into gas.

Example 3: A firefly's light is produced by a reaction involving a special protein, a pigment called luciferin and oxygen.

Multiple Choice

You just swallowed a spoonful of soup. Acids in your stomach quickly began to break down the food. Did a reaction occur in your stomach?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Lucas dropped an empty pickle jar and it shattered. After picking up the large pieces, all that was left was a powdery looking mess. Did the powdery glass form from a chemical reaction?

• Yes

• No

​astonishing (adj)

When something is astonishing, it is very surprising or amazing

Example 1: To see it snow in June was astonishing.

Example 2: My mother said it was astonishing when I made my bed four days in a row.

Example 3: The results of the experiment were astonishing; many scientists couldn't believe they were true.

Multiple Choice

You suddenly find out that you can fly. Is this astonishing?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

You go to the lunchroom to have lunch with your friends. Is this astonishing?

• Yes

• No