the ability to make quick, accurate judgments and decisions
Her business acumen helped the club choose the most practical fundraiser.
Tim's Teachers Vocabulary Mastery
High-Utility Vocabulary for ISEE & SSAT
Chapter
4
30 High-Utility Words
Name
Date
Section 1 Learn the Words
Read each word, its part of speech and its meaning. Say the word aloud, then read the example sentence. The Chinese is a quick support only.
acumen
noun 敏锐；精明
adverse
adjective 不利的；有害的
harmful, unfavorable, or likely to cause difficulty
Adverse weather forced the hikers to change their route.
altruistic
adjective 利他的；无私的
showing concern for others without seeking personal gain
Her altruistic decision to donate the prize money surprised her classmates.
austere
adjective 朴素的；严厉的；简朴的
plain, strict, or without unnecessary comfort or decoration
The cabin was austere, with bare walls and only basic furniture.
circumvent
verb 规避；绕过
to avoid or get around a rule, problem, or obstacle
The engineers redesigned the path to circumvent the flooded area.
complacent
adjective 自满的；安于现状的
too satisfied with a situation to notice possible problems
After several easy wins, the team became complacent and practiced less carefully.
concise
adjective 简明的；简洁的
expressing much in few words without unnecessary detail
Her concise summary explained the entire article in four sentences.
contentious
adjective 有争议的；好争论的
likely to cause disagreement or involving strong disagreement
The proposal to shorten lunch became a contentious issue at the meeting.
diligent
adjective 勤奋的；用功的
showing steady, careful, and persistent effort
The diligent student reviewed her notes every evening.
dogmatic
adjective 武断的；教条的
stubbornly treating opinions as unquestionably true
His dogmatic refusal to consider other viewpoints ended the discussion.
eclectic
adjective 兼收并蓄的；多样融合的
made up of ideas or styles chosen from many different sources
The festival offered an eclectic mix of jazz, folk music, dance, and poetry.
eloquent
adjective 雄辩的；有说服力的
fluent, persuasive, and effective in speaking or writing
Her eloquent speech persuaded the audience to support the project.
emulate
verb 效仿；努力赶上
to try to match someone's success by copying useful qualities
Young musicians often emulate performers they admire.
erratic
adjective 不稳定的；无规律的
unpredictable or irregular in movement, behavior, or quality
The bus service was erratic, arriving early one day and late the next.
evasive
adjective 回避的；含糊其辞的
avoiding a direct answer or trying to escape responsibility
The witness gave evasive answers whenever the lawyer asked about the missing money.
exemplary
adjective 模范的；典范的
excellent enough to serve as a model or example
Her exemplary teamwork gave the younger students a model to follow.
formidable
adjective 强大的；难以应付的
very difficult, powerful, or impressive
The defending champions were a formidable opponent.
frugal
adjective 节俭的；节约的
careful about spending money or using resources; not wasteful
The frugal committee reused decorations instead of buying new ones.
inherent
adjective 固有的；内在的
existing as a natural or essential part of something
Some uncertainty is inherent in long-term weather forecasts.
judicious
adjective 明智的；审慎的
showing good judgment and careful thought
The editor made a judicious choice to remove one weak paragraph.
meager
adjective 贫乏的；微薄的
too small in amount or quantity; insufficient
The hikers had only a meager supply of water left.
obsolete
adjective 过时的；淘汰的
no longer used because something newer has replaced it
Many old storage disks became obsolete when newer technology appeared.
paradox
noun 悖论；矛盾现象
a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may reveal a truth
It is a paradox that having more choices can sometimes make decisions harder.
pervasive
adjective 普遍的；无处不在的
spreading throughout or present in every part of something
The smell of fresh paint was pervasive throughout the building.
prudent
adjective 谨慎的；明智的
careful and sensible about future risks or consequences
It was prudent to bring extra water before hiking in the heat.
scrutinize
verb 仔细检查；审视
to examine something very carefully and closely
The judges scrutinized every entry before choosing a winner.
subtle
adjective 微妙的；不明显的
not obvious; difficult to notice or understand immediately
The author used a subtle change in tone to show that the character was uneasy.
tenacious
adjective 顽强的；坚持不懈的
determined and unwilling to give up
The tenacious runner kept training after several disappointing races.
transient
adjective 短暂的；暂时的
lasting only a short time; temporary
The power outage was transient and ended within ten minutes.
versatile
adjective 多才多艺的；多用途的
able to adapt to many different tasks, uses, or situations
The versatile tool could cut, measure, tighten screws, and open packages.
Section 2 Immediate Retrieval
Write the word that matches each meaning. Do not look back at the word cards.
1.
What word names a seeming contradiction that may still reveal a truth?
2.
What word describes a challenge or opponent that is powerful and difficult?
3.
What word describes someone determined and unwilling to give up?
4.
What word describes an answer that avoids being direct?
5.
What word describes something spread throughout an entire place or system?
6.
What word describes someone who insists an opinion must be true and refuses alternatives?
7.
What word means to get around a rule, obstacle, or problem?
8.
What word describes conditions that are harmful or unfavorable?
9.
What word describes something excellent enough to serve as a model?
10.
What word describes a choice that carefully considers future risks?
11.
What word describes steady, careful effort over time?
12.
What word describes an issue that causes strong disagreement?
13.
What word describes a quality that naturally belongs to something?
14.
What word describes sharp practical judgment in making decisions?
15.
What word describes an explanation that says a lot in very few words?
16.
What word describes something able to adapt to many different tasks or uses?
17.
What word describes something no longer used because newer technology replaced it?
18.
What word describes a place that is very plain and without extra comfort?
19.
What word describes helping others without expecting personal gain?
20.
What word describes speech or writing that is fluent and persuasive?
21.
What word describes something made from many different styles or sources?
22.
What word means to examine something extremely carefully?
23.
What word describes behavior that is irregular and unpredictable?
24.
What word describes an amount that is too small to be sufficient?
25.
What word describes a difference or effect that is difficult to notice at first?
26.
What word describes someone who is too satisfied to notice possible problems?
27.
What word describes something that lasts only a short time?
28.
What word describes a decision made with careful, sensible judgment?
29.
What word means to copy someone's successful qualities in order to match them?
30.
What word describes careful, non-wasteful use of money or resources?
Section 3 Review from Earlier Chapters
These words come from earlier lessons. Use what you remember - the meanings are not repeated here.
1.
The design team had to ______ its original plan after the budget was reduced.
2.
Which earlier word best completes this sentence about ambiguous?
□coherent
□ambiguous
□explicit
□concise
3.
Parents publicly supported a policy change. Which earlier vocabulary word fits?
4.
The coach gave a(n) ______ assessment of the team's poor performance instead of pretending everything had gone well.
5.
Which earlier word best completes this sentence about abate?
□intensify
□persist
□expand
□abate
6.
The treasurer estimated the amount roughly. Which earlier vocabulary word fits?
7.
When the first solution failed, the students tried a different ______ to the problem.
8.
Which earlier word best completes this sentence about analyze?
□analyze
□distort
□dismiss
□endorse
9.
The situation leaves the principal little choice but to act. Which earlier vocabulary word fits?
10.
The restriction seemed ______ because no one could explain why one club was affected while another identical club was not.
11.
Which earlier word best completes this sentence about coherent?
□inconsistent
□random
□coherent
□fragmented
12.
Additional evidence made the argument stronger. Which earlier vocabulary word fits?
Section 4 Context Practice
Choose the word that best completes each sentence. Fill in one box for each question.
1.
The engineers built a temporary bridge to ______ the damaged section of highway.
□inspect
□approach
□repair
□circumvent
2.
The excitement was ______; within a few hours, everyone had returned to normal routines.
□transient
□enduring
□permanent
□lasting
3.
The actor used a(n) ______ change in expression to show that the character had become suspicious.
□obvious
□dramatic
□analyze
□subtle
4.
Her ______ conduct during the emergency gave younger students a model to follow.
□ordinary
□abate
□exemplary
□careless
5.
The retreat center was ______, with plain rooms, simple meals, and almost no decoration.
□austere
□comfortable
□luxurious
□ornate
6.
Donating anonymously so that no one could praise him was a(n) ______ act.
□competitive
□altruistic
□compel
□strategic
7.
The museum displayed a(n) ______ collection that included sculpture, photography, folk art, and pottery.
□narrow
□eclectic
□uniform
□predictable
8.
The school stopped using the ______ software because newer programs were faster and more secure.
□current
□coherent
□obsolete
□modern
9.
After several easy victories, the team became ______ and stopped preparing seriously.
□diligent
□alert
□anxious
□complacent
10.
The director's financial ______ helped her recognize which proposal would save the most money.
□acumen
□curiosity
□patience
□experience
11.
The sound of construction was ______ throughout the building, even on the top floor.
□pervasive
□brief
□isolated
□limited
12.
When asked why the records were missing, the director gave a(n) ______ response instead of answering directly.
□frank
□evasive
□approach
□explicit
13.
Some degree of uncertainty is ______ in any long-term weather forecast.
□temporary
□avoidable
□accidental
□inherent
14.
The explorers had only a(n) ______ supply of food left after the storm delayed them.
□abundant
□generous
□meager
□abate
15.
Because Maya was ______, she checked each calculation before submitting the report.
□inconsistent
□diligent
□careless
□casual
16.
The scientists will ______ the unusual results before publishing their conclusions.
□scrutinize
□summarize
□assume
□ignore
17.
The ______ device could serve as a camera, notebook, reader, and drawing tablet.
□limited
□single-purpose
□specialized
□versatile
18.
The ______ student kept revising her design after three failed attempts.
□passive
□discouraged
□tenacious
□careless
Section 5 Semantic Discrimination
All four words are close in meaning. Choose the one that fits the situation most precisely.
1.
A family compares prices, avoids waste, repairs items, and saves carefully. Which word best fits?
□careful
□frugal
□economical
□approach
2.
A report explains the issue clearly in one short paragraph without unnecessary detail. Which word best fits?
□concise
□brief
□focused
□direct
3.
A traveler checks the weather, carries extra water, and tells someone the route before hiking alone. Which word best fits?
□careful
□sensible
□prudent
□cautious
4.
A young athlete copies a champion's training habits in hopes of reaching the same level. Which word best fits?
□practice
□follow
□imitate
□emulate
5.
A student gives a graceful, persuasive speech that holds the audience's attention. Which word best fits?
□fluent
□eloquent
□expressive
□articulate
6.
A debate team has won every major tournament for three years and is extremely difficult to defeat. Which word best fits?
□formidable
□arbitrary
□skilled
□powerful
7.
A speaker refuses to consider any evidence that challenges his belief because he insists his view must be correct. Which word best fits?
□unyielding
□rigid
□stubborn
□dogmatic
8.
A farm experiences drought, crop disease, and unusually high temperatures at the same time. Which word best fits?
□unusual
□temporary
□adverse
□intense
9.
A principal considers cost, safety, fairness, and long-term effects before making a decision. Which word best fits?
□advocate
□careful
□judicious
□thoughtful
10.
A student discovers that spending more time resting actually improves how much work she finishes. Which word best fits?
□advocate
□paradox
□contrast
□puzzle
11.
A student's scores jump from very high to very low with no clear pattern. Which word best fits?
□uneven
□unstable
□variable
□erratic
12.
A proposal divides a committee into angry opposing sides and causes repeated arguments. Which word best fits?
□contentious
□divisive
□controversial
□arbitrary
Section 6 Synonyms
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.
S1.
ECLECTIC:
□simple
□varied
□uniform
□narrow
S2.
DILIGENT:
□casual
□lazy
□careless
□industrious
S3.
ADVERSE:
□useful
□favorable
□neutral
□unfavorable
S4.
ELOQUENT:
□expressive
□silent
□awkward
□vague
S5.
SCRUTINIZE:
□glance
□inspect
□ignore
□assume
S6.
VERSATILE:
□rigid
□specialized
□adaptable
□limited
S7.
ACUMEN:
□hesitation
□routine
□ignorance
□insight
S8.
ALTRUISTIC:
□social
□selfish
□selfless
□ambitious
S9.
EXEMPLARY:
□flawed
□outstanding
□ordinary
□average
S10.
AUSTERE:
□plain
□ornate
□cheerful
□lavish
S11.
EMULATE:
□oppose
□imitate
□replace
□avoid
S12.
FORMIDABLE:
□daunting
□minor
□easy
□harmless
S13.
TRANSIENT:
□enduring
□permanent
□lasting
□temporary
S14.
JUDICIOUS:
□hasty
□foolish
□wise
□reckless
S15.
FRUGAL:
□lavish
□careless
□wasteful
□thrifty
S16.
PARADOX:
□certainty
□contradiction
□solution
□agreement
S17.
SUBTLE:
□bold
□dramatic
□faint
□obvious
S18.
ERRATIC:
□unpredictable
□reliable
□steady
□regular
S19.
COMPLACENT:
□humble
□anxious
□smug
□alert
S20.
CIRCUMVENT:
□bypass
□enter
□confront
□repair
S21.
CONCISE:
□vague
□ornate
□lengthy
□brief
S22.
OBSOLETE:
□modern
□outdated
□current
□useful
S23.
EVASIVE:
□candid
□frank
□explicit
□indirect
S24.
DOGMATIC:
□tentative
□flexible
□rigid
□curious
S25.
CONTENTIOUS:
□settled
□controversial
□simple
□peaceful
S26.
INHERENT:
□intrinsic
□temporary
□accidental
□external
S27.
TENACIOUS:
□persistent
□fragile
□hesitant
□passive
S28.
PERVASIVE:
□rare
□widespread
□isolated
□limited
S29.
MEAGER:
□generous
□abundant
□scanty
□ample
S30.
PRUDENT:
□impulsive
□careless
□reckless
□cautious
Section 7 Cumulative Reading
Read the passage carefully. You may underline words you recognise from this lesson and earlier lessons.
Designing a Better Media Room
When Riverton Middle School decided to replace its aging media room, the student design team faced a formidable task. Their budget was meager, several computers were obsolete, and opinions about the room's purpose were contentious. Some students wanted a quiet research area, while others advocated a flexible studio for video, art, and group projects. The faculty adviser warned them not to become complacent simply because the renovation had been approved.
The team began by scrutinizing how students actually used the room. Their survey revealed a subtle paradox: students wanted more technology, but they also wanted fewer fixed computer stations. Maya, whose organizational acumen was widely respected, proposed a versatile layout with movable tables, portable devices, and one small recording booth. Her plan was concise and pragmatic, but not everyone agreed. One member took a dogmatic position and insisted that every wall should be lined with desktop computers. Another offered an eloquent argument for a more eclectic space that could support reading, coding, drawing, and presentations.
The group eventually chose the flexible plan, but adverse conditions soon tested it. Prices rose, a shipment was delayed, and one supplier gave evasive answers about delivery dates. Rather than try to circumvent school purchasing rules, the students made a prudent decision to revise the schedule. They selected frugal alternatives and reused furniture that was still sound. A diligent student compared prices, while another analyzed the risks of relying on a single supplier.
By spring, the room was complete. Its austere white walls were softened by student artwork, and the furniture could be rearranged for many purposes. The principal praised the team's exemplary planning and their tenacious response to setbacks. What had seemed like a transient school project created a lasting change in how students worked together. Younger students began to emulate the team's process: gather evidence, consider competing ideas, and make judicious choices rather than rushing toward the first solution.
Section 8 Reading & Application
Answer the questions using the passage. For the written questions, reply in complete sentences on the lines provided.
1.
Why did the team choose movable tables and portable devices instead of filling the room with desktop computers?
□The team had already purchased all of the furniture.
□The students wanted the room used only for art classes.
□The principal banned desktop computers from the school.
□They wanted a flexible space that could support many different activities.
2.
What does the team's response to rising prices and delayed shipments reveal about its decision-making?
□The team ignored school rules to finish faster.
□The team continued with the original plan regardless of cost.
□The team adjusted its plan carefully while following the rules.
□The team abandoned the renovation once problems appeared.
3.
What was the paradox revealed by the student survey?
□Students wanted more technology but fewer fixed computer stations.
□Students wanted less technology and more fixed furniture.
□Students preferred desktop computers to portable devices.
□Students wanted the old media room to remain unchanged.
4.
How did the project influence younger students after the media room was completed?
5.
Describe a situation in which it would be prudent to scrutinize information before making a decision.
6.
Explain how a tenacious person might respond to adverse conditions.
7.
Give an example of a frugal purchase that is also versatile.
Section 9 Final Retrieval
Close the workbook to the previous sections. Write the word for each meaning from memory.
1.
A choice carefully considers future risks and consequences. Which lesson word fits?
2.
A team finds a way around an obstacle instead of confronting it directly. Which lesson word fits?
3.
A student refuses to give up after repeated setbacks. Which lesson word fits?
4.
A student's conduct is so good that others are told to follow it. Which lesson word fits?
5.
A family avoids waste and spends money carefully. Which lesson word fits?
6.
A summary communicates the main idea in very few words. Which lesson word fits?
7.
A room is plain and lacks decoration or comfort. Which lesson word fits?
8.
A younger athlete copies a champion's successful habits. Which lesson word fits?
9.
A situation seems contradictory but may still contain a truth. Which lesson word fits?
10.
A student works carefully and steadily every day. Which lesson word fits?
11.
A witness avoids giving a direct answer. Which lesson word fits?
12.
A pattern changes unpredictably from one day to the next. Which lesson word fits?
13.
The amount available is too small to be enough. Which lesson word fits?
14.
A proposal repeatedly causes heated disagreement. Which lesson word fits?
15.
The conditions are harmful and likely to create difficulty. Which lesson word fits?
16.
Someone examines evidence very closely before deciding. Which lesson word fits?
17.
A speaker refuses to consider any view except his own. Which lesson word fits?
18.
A device is no longer used because newer technology has replaced it. Which lesson word fits?
19.
A smell or influence is present throughout an entire place. Which lesson word fits?
20.
A speech is graceful, fluent, and persuasive. Which lesson word fits?
21.
A collection combines many different styles and sources. Which lesson word fits?
22.
A leader quickly recognizes the best option in a complicated situation. Which lesson word describes this ability?
23.
A tool can serve many different purposes. Which lesson word fits?
24.
A decision shows careful and sensible judgment. Which lesson word fits?
25.
Someone helps others without expecting a reward. Which lesson word fits?
26.
A problem lasts only a short time. Which lesson word fits?
27.
A successful group becomes too satisfied to notice new risks. Which lesson word fits?
28.
An opponent is extremely difficult and impressive. Which lesson word fits?
29.
A change is real but difficult to notice immediately. Which lesson word fits?
30.
A risk naturally belongs to the activity and cannot be completely removed. Which lesson word fits?