Learn on PengiVocabulary for the College Bound Student (Grade 8)Chapter 3: Building Vocabulary Through Central Ideas

Lesson 3: Willingness-Unwillingness, Height, Lowness and depth, relatives, Smell

Grade 8 students using Vocabulary for the College Bound Student explore a rich set of thematic vocabulary groups in Chapter 3, Lesson 3, covering terms related to willingness and unwillingness (such as alacrity, volition, and loathe), height and elevation (including zenith, apogee, and consummate), lowness and depth (such as abject and abysmal), as well as vocabulary connected to relatives and smell. Students build college-level word knowledge by studying precise meanings, antonyms, and contextual usage for each term across these central idea categories.

Section 1

Willingness—Unwillingness

Key Words

Ready to express how you really feel? These words cover the spectrum from cheerful readiness to intense dislike.

alacrity (n.)aversion (n.)involuntary (adj.)
loath (adj.)loathe (v.)volition (n.)

Explanation

This group of words describes our level of willingness. They help us explain whether an action is performed enthusiastically, reluctantly, or automatically without any conscious thought. The core idea is the contrast between actions done by one's own free will and those that are forced or disliked.

Section 2

Height

Key Words

Let's climb to the top! These words all relate to reaching the highest point, both literally and figuratively.

acclivity (n.)acme (n.)apogee (n.)climactic (adj.)
consummate (adj.)eminence (n.)eminent (adj.)ethereal (adj.)
exalt (v.)precipice (n.)precipitous (adj.)preeminent (adj.)
sublimate (v.)sublime (adj.)vertex (n.)zenith (n.)

Explanation

These words take us to new heights! They describe the concept of high points in various forms. This includes physical peaks like a cliff or an upward slope, as well as figurative high points like the peak of a career, a moment of perfection, or a celestial, heavenly quality.

Section 3

Lowness and Depth

Key Words

What goes up must come down. This set of words explores concepts of lowness, depth, and humility.

abject (adj.)abysmal (adj.)abyss (n.)anticlimax (n.)
chasm (n.)declivity (n.)dregs (n. pl.)earthy (adj.)
humble (adj.)humiliate (v.)humility (n.)menial (adj.)
nadir (n.)plumb (v.)profound (adj.)ravine (n.)

Explanation

This group of words brings us down to earth, exploring themes of lowness and depth. This can be literal, like a downward slope or a deep ravine. It can also be figurative, referring to the lowest point in one's fortunes, a feeling of deep shame, or a state of humbleness and modesty.

Section 4

Relatives

Key Words

It's all relative! These words help us talk about family, ancestry, and the relationships that connect us.

consanguinity (n.)filial (adj.)fraternal (adj.)genealogy (n.)
gentility (n.)kith and kin (n. pl.)maternal (adj.)nepotism (n.)
paternal (adj.)progenitor (n.)progeny (n.)sibling (n.)

Explanation

This group is all about family and social ties. The words define our connections to others, from blood relationships (consanguinity) to the specific feelings associated with parents (maternal, paternal) and children (filial). They also cover ancestry, family lines, and even favoritism shown to relatives.

Section 5

Smell

Key Words

Something smells! Whether it's a sweet perfume or a foul odor, this list has a word for it.

aroma (n.)aromatic (adj.)fragrant (adj.)fusty (adj.)
incense (n.)malodorous (adj.)noisome (adj.)olfactory (adj.)
pungent (adj.)putrid (adj.)rancid (adj.)rank (adj.)
reek (v.)scent (n./v.)unsavory (adj.)

Explanation

Follow your nose to this vocabulary group, which is all about the olfactory sense. These words describe the entire range of smells, from the pleasant and aromatic to the stinking and malodorous. They can describe something with a sharp, stimulating smell or something that is simply stale and spoiled.

Book overview

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Chapter 3: Building Vocabulary Through Central Ideas

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Joy, Pleasure, Sadness, Stoutness, Thinness, Flattery

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Animal, Health and medicine, Praise, Defamation, Jest

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Willingness-Unwillingness, Height, Lowness and depth, relatives, Smell

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Age, Sobriety-Intoxication, Sea, Cleanliness-Uncleanliness, Nearness

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  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Reasoning, Shape, Importance-Unimportance, Modesty, Vanity

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Willingness—Unwillingness

Key Words

Ready to express how you really feel? These words cover the spectrum from cheerful readiness to intense dislike.

alacrity (n.)aversion (n.)involuntary (adj.)
loath (adj.)loathe (v.)volition (n.)

Explanation

This group of words describes our level of willingness. They help us explain whether an action is performed enthusiastically, reluctantly, or automatically without any conscious thought. The core idea is the contrast between actions done by one's own free will and those that are forced or disliked.

Section 2

Height

Key Words

Let's climb to the top! These words all relate to reaching the highest point, both literally and figuratively.

acclivity (n.)acme (n.)apogee (n.)climactic (adj.)
consummate (adj.)eminence (n.)eminent (adj.)ethereal (adj.)
exalt (v.)precipice (n.)precipitous (adj.)preeminent (adj.)
sublimate (v.)sublime (adj.)vertex (n.)zenith (n.)

Explanation

These words take us to new heights! They describe the concept of high points in various forms. This includes physical peaks like a cliff or an upward slope, as well as figurative high points like the peak of a career, a moment of perfection, or a celestial, heavenly quality.

Section 3

Lowness and Depth

Key Words

What goes up must come down. This set of words explores concepts of lowness, depth, and humility.

abject (adj.)abysmal (adj.)abyss (n.)anticlimax (n.)
chasm (n.)declivity (n.)dregs (n. pl.)earthy (adj.)
humble (adj.)humiliate (v.)humility (n.)menial (adj.)
nadir (n.)plumb (v.)profound (adj.)ravine (n.)

Explanation

This group of words brings us down to earth, exploring themes of lowness and depth. This can be literal, like a downward slope or a deep ravine. It can also be figurative, referring to the lowest point in one's fortunes, a feeling of deep shame, or a state of humbleness and modesty.

Section 4

Relatives

Key Words

It's all relative! These words help us talk about family, ancestry, and the relationships that connect us.

consanguinity (n.)filial (adj.)fraternal (adj.)genealogy (n.)
gentility (n.)kith and kin (n. pl.)maternal (adj.)nepotism (n.)
paternal (adj.)progenitor (n.)progeny (n.)sibling (n.)

Explanation

This group is all about family and social ties. The words define our connections to others, from blood relationships (consanguinity) to the specific feelings associated with parents (maternal, paternal) and children (filial). They also cover ancestry, family lines, and even favoritism shown to relatives.

Section 5

Smell

Key Words

Something smells! Whether it's a sweet perfume or a foul odor, this list has a word for it.

aroma (n.)aromatic (adj.)fragrant (adj.)fusty (adj.)
incense (n.)malodorous (adj.)noisome (adj.)olfactory (adj.)
pungent (adj.)putrid (adj.)rancid (adj.)rank (adj.)
reek (v.)scent (n./v.)unsavory (adj.)

Explanation

Follow your nose to this vocabulary group, which is all about the olfactory sense. These words describe the entire range of smells, from the pleasant and aromatic to the stinking and malodorous. They can describe something with a sharp, stimulating smell or something that is simply stale and spoiled.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 3: Building Vocabulary Through Central Ideas

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Joy, Pleasure, Sadness, Stoutness, Thinness, Flattery

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Animal, Health and medicine, Praise, Defamation, Jest

    LearnPractice
  3. Lesson 3Current

    Lesson 3: Willingness-Unwillingness, Height, Lowness and depth, relatives, Smell

    LearnPractice
  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Age, Sobriety-Intoxication, Sea, Cleanliness-Uncleanliness, Nearness

    LearnPractice
  5. Lesson 5

    Lesson 5: Reasoning, Shape, Importance-Unimportance, Modesty, Vanity

    LearnPractice