Unit 3 - Improving Vocabulary skills EAP-0090 - Chapter 16

Unit 3 - Improving Vocabulary skills EAP-0090 - Chapter 16

Noun

Adjective

Verb

Adverb

Charisma: the quality of a leader which captures great popular devotion.

Charismatic

Synonyms: charms, personality, appeal, magnetism, attractiveness, captivation Antonyms: Mrs. Watson had such charisma that when she left one company to start her own business, all the people in her department asked her to hire them. They couldn't imagine working for someone else; Mrs. Watson had such personal magnetism that all her former workers were devoted to her. "Charisma" means "personal magnetism," as in: John F. Kennedy is remembered as much for his wit and charisma as for his policies. John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were two presidents who won people’s loyalty because of their CHARISMA. Even people who disagreed with them politically found them personally charming. Professor Dugan has a rather dry, colorless personality. Despite his lack of CHARISMA, his students admire him for his knowledge and dedication.

Contemporary

Contemporary: modern; up-to-date

Synonyms: modern, current, fashionable, present, ongoing Antonyms: old  Contemporary women are much more likely to be employed outside the home than women who lived fifty years ago; The sentence contrasts "contemporary" women with those "who lived fifty years ago." This suggests that "contemporary" women are modern ones. "Contemporary" means "modern," as in: I'm not a fan of most contemporary movies. The classics of the 1940s are more my style. Infant mortality is most PREVALENT in poor countries that can’t provide good prenatal care and medical treatment for early childhood diseases.

Contender

Contend: a search; pursuit

Synonyms: controvert, cope, argue, challenge Antonyms: Marilyn contends that she saw Georgia at a party Friday night, but Georgia insists she was not even in town at that time; Marilyn claims she saw Georgia at a party. "Contend" means "to claim," as in: Although the defendant admitted that he had killed the victim, his attorney contended that he was insane and so could not be found guilty of murder. Believers in “alien abductions” CONTEND that beings from other universes occasionally kidnap humans in order to study them. My father CONTENDS that I got all my good qualities from his side of the family; naturally, my mother disagrees.

Conversion

Converse

Converse

Conversely: in an opposite manner; in an altogether different way; in a reversed way

Synonyms: interchangeably, vice-versa, reciprocally, against Antonyms: When I shop, I take my time, stopping to look at and touch everything I pass. Conversely, my sister heads straight for the product she plans on buying, buys it quickly, and leaves the store. "Conversely" means "in a reversed way," as in: Ron actually doesn't enjoy eating; he simply eats what he has to in order to live. Conversely, Nate loves food so much that he seems to live to eat. Elena is a night owl who doesn’t feel energetic until at least 9 p.m. CONVERSELY, her sister is a morning person who is at her best at 9 a.m. Roberto is a very protective parent, watching over his children every second. CONVERSELY, Ethan gives his children a lot of freedom, thinking it is most important to make them independent.

Extrovert: a friendly person who likes being with and talking to other people

Extroverted

Synonyms: exhibitionist, socializer Antonyms: introvert Maya is such an extrovert that I was not surprised to hear she’d been offered a job as social director on a cruise ship; Maya is outgoing and sociable, the sort of person who would be a good social director. "Extrovert" means "an outgoing, expressive person," as in: You'd expect famous comedians to be extroverts offstage, but many of them are actually quiet and shy in real life. Unlike his quiet and shy brother, Vincent is an EXTROVERT who will talk to anyone, anytime. Being an EXTROVERT is an advantage in a sales job, where you need to enjoy meeting and talking with people.

Poignancy

Poignant: emotionally moving; touching

Poignantly

Synonyms: emotional, distressing, affecting, upsetting, tender, touching Antonyms: unemotional I am so easily moved by a touching movie that I sometimes have to visit the lobby during particularly poignant moments so that my crying won’t disturb the other viewers. "Poignant" means "touching," as in: Our town's Memorial Day services are always poignant. This year, a speech by a World War II veteran in honor of his dead comrades was especially touching. Before leaving for college, Ben had a POIGNANT visit with his beloved grandmother, who is very ill. Both knew they were unlikely to ever see one another again. The famous children’s story “The Velveteen Rabbit” is the POIGNANT tale of a stuffed rabbit that is brought to life by the love of a little boy. It has touched the hearts of many readers over the years.

Prevalence

Prevalent: widespread; common

Synonyms: predominant, customary, powerful, widespread, common, rampant Antonyms: Earthquakes are more   PREVALENT in the western part of the United States than they are in the East, although a few quakes have occurred in the East as well; The sentence is discussing how common earthquakes are in two parts of the country. "Prevalent" means "common," as in: Unemployment used to be rare in our city, but when many businesses left the area, it became prevalent. Infant mortality is most PREVALENT in poor countries that can’t provide good prenatal care and medical treatment for early childhood diseases.

Proponent:

Synonyms: supporter, advocate, exponent, follower, fan, champion, promoter Antonyms: opponent Douglas, a proponent of recycling, helped his town develop a recycling center for used paper, glass, and aluminum; Douglas is obviously a supporter of recycling. "Proponent" means "someone who supports a cause," as in: Since learning how dangerous breathing other people's cigarette smoke can be, I've become a proponent of smoke-free public buildings. Ira is a PROPONENT of free speech, and works to protect that basic right. But he does not think that gives people the right to spread vicious lies or hate messages about others. Michelle Obama is a PROPONENT of eating healthful foods. She planted a vegetable garden at the White House to encourage people to eat fresh produce, and she wants schools to provide nutritional lunches for children.

Quest: a search; pursuit

Quest

Synonyms: hunt, search, pursuit, mission, journey Antonyms: Some people, after being told they have cancer, travel all over the world in a quest for a cur; Some cancer patients, desperate for a cure, search for one all over the world. "Quest" means "a search," as in: The quest for a perfect pizza has taken my friends and me to fifteen different pizzerias in town. Although Christopher Columbus never found what he was looking for, his QUEST for a shorter trade route between Europe and Asia led him to the discovery of an entire continent. In their QUEST for an effective medicine to treat high blood pressure, researchers accidentally discovered a drug that could treat baldness.

Trauma

Traumatic: causing painful emotions, with possible long-lasting psychological effects.

Traumatize

Synonyms: shocking, upsetting, hurtful, painful, stressful, disturbing Antonyms: For Donna, the abuse she received in a foster home was even more traumatic than the death of her parents, which forced her to be placed there. "Traumatic" means "causing painful emotions, with possible long-lasting psychological effects," as in: Divorce will be less traumatic for children if they are convinced that they are not to blame for their parents' separation. Being trapped in an elevator for seven hours was TRAUMATIC for Lisa. Twenty years later, she is still terrified of entering any small, enclosed space. My uncle doesn’t talk about his military service in Viet Nam. “It was a TRAUMATIC experience,” is all he will say. “I’d rather not think about it.”