Think You Know Your Vocabulary

8/8/2019 Think You Know Your Vocabulary

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THINK YOU KNOWYOUR VOCABULARY?


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THINK YOU KNOWYOUR VOCABULARY?

Specialized Words Everyone Needs to Know

N E W Y O R K


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Copyright 2009 Learning Express, LLC.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American CopyrightConventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC,New York.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009926366

A copy of this title is on le with the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 978-1-57685-687-1

Printed in the United States of America9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:2 Rector Street26th FloorNew York, NY 10006

Or visit us at:www.learnatest.com


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v

CONTENTS

Introduction: The Top 20 Reasons Why YouYes,YouNeed a Better Vocabulary v

Pretest: How Much Do You Know? 1

PART ONE Vocabulary Boot Camp: Just the Basics 7

Day 1 Person, Place, or Thing? Commonly Used Nouns 9

Day 2 Its Alive! Vivid, Vibrant Verbs 17

Day 3 Coming Close: Studying Synonyms 25

Day 4 When Opposites Attract: Awesome Antonyms 33

Day 5 Whats the Difference? Handling Homophones 39

Day 6 Make It Real: Adding Adjectives 49

Day 7 Make It RealAgain: Time for Adverbs 57


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CONTENTS

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PART TWO In No Uncertain Terms: Specialized Vocabularies Everyone Needs to Know 63

Day 8 How Are You Feeling Today? Emotional Terms 65

Day 9 Just the Facts, Maam: Mathematical Terms 71Day 10 Name That Tune: Musical Terms 77

Day 11 On the Hunt: Job Search Terms 83

Day 12 Sign on the Dotted Line: Contract Terms 91

Day 13 Politics on Parade: Political Terms 97

Day 14 The Weather Report: Meteorological Terms 103

Day 15 Where in the World? Geographical Terms 109

Day 16 Pieces and Parts: Mechanical Terms 115

Day 17 Patron of the Arts: Humanities Terms 121

Day 18 In the Doctors Ofce: Medical Terms 127

Day 19 The World Wide Web: Computer Terms 133

Day 20 Does It Take Batteries? Electronic Terms 139

Day 21 The Right Time and Place: Historical Terms 145

Day 22 Whats Cookin? Culinary Terms 151Day 23 If You Build It: Construction Terms 157

Day 24 Order in the Court: Legal Terms 163

Day 25 Between Your Ears: Psychological Terms 169

Day 26 Its a Science: Scientic Terms 175

Day 27 People-Watching: Anthropological Terms 181

Day 28 Play Ball! Sports Terms 187

Day 29 You Design It: Interior Design Terms 193

Day 30 School Days: Educational Terms 199

Posttest: How Much Do You Know Now? 205

Answers 211


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INTRODUCTIONThe Top 20 Reasons Why YouYes, You Need a Better Vocabulary

E veryone needs a strong, extensive vocabulary.Why, you ask? Simply put, a good vocabulary is something that youlluse every single day , in one way or another. Youll meet people all the time whouse specialized words, and if you dont understand them, you may be the one topay the price. Take a look at the following top 20 reasons for developing a strongvocabulary. Youll probably nd yourself in there somewhere.

Having an extensive vocabulary will help you to:

1. do better in school, from taking tests to writing papers. Better gradesmean better colleges, better resumes, and better job opportunities. In theend, that can mean a better income and ultimately, more money!

2. impress teachers, bosses, friends, parents, mentors, and other relevantpeople.

3. understand more quickly and easily any materials youre given in school or

on the job.


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INTRODUCTION

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4. express your emotions and thoughts in a more articulate and accurate way.5. be less likely to have people catch you off guard when they use words that

are unfamiliar to you.6. communicate easily with a wider variety of people.7. most likely score higher on tests like the ACT or SAT; higher scores may

mean more college opportunities.8. ace magazine and newspaper quizzes and puzzles.9. improve your overall self-condence.

10. avoid feeling lost or confused when talking to experts in different elds.11. watch PBS documentaries and History Channel shows without running

for a dictionary.12. ll up your conversations with more interesting words or phrases than

like, you know, and whatever .13. avoid being left out of conversations because youre struggling to gure

out what a certain word means.14. better formulate your ideas, goals, and plans when speaking or writing

about them.15. improve the quality of your letters, memos, e-mails, and maybe even your

text messages!16. read faster because you wont be slowed down by having to decipher, skip

over, or look up unfamiliar words.17. give stronger, more persuasive speeches whether going for a good grade,

convincing your boss to give you a raise, or persuading your parents to let you have a new mp3 player.

18. understand the world better because youll have a stronger knowledge of whats going on around you.

19. keep up with your favorite TV shows because youll nish your homeworkfaster.

20. race through this book, laughing maniacally because you know every singleword in it!

A word about these words: The rst thing to know is that almost all of thewords are ofcially considered to be at the eleventh-grade level and up. Some of the words may have more actual denitions than are included here. Youllmostly nd the main denitions of words as they are used in normal conversa-tion, but feel free to look up additional ones at your leisure.


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INTRODUCTION

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DO Try This at Home

Think your vocabulary is just ne? Try this simple experiment. For the nextseven days, every time you read or hear a word you cant easily dene, write itdown. This includes words you hear on television as well as in conversationsat home, school, and work. Write down any word you nd in your textbooks,newspapers, books, magazines, or on the Internet that you cant easily dene.When youre nished, you may be surprised at how many words you comeacross on a daily basis that, if you had to dene, you couldnt!


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1

PRETEST: HOW MUCHDO YOU KNOW?

B efore you begin reading and learning all thenew words in this book, test the strength of your vocabulary as it standsright now. This pretest gives you examples of words youll nd in each lesson.Good luck!

Read each statement below and circle the correct answer.

1. The word faction refers to aa. body part.b. clique.c. political party.d. equation.

2. To add decoration or embellishments to something is toa. admonish it.

b. chastise it.c. garnish it.d. redress it.


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THINK YOU KNOW YOUR VOCABULARY?

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3. A more descriptive word for pretty isa. accoutrement.b. belligerent.c. gregarious.d. winsome.

4. Someone who is laconic tends to bea. terse.b. wealthy.c. attractive.d. polite.

5. A person who is admired or worshipped is known asa. an idle.b. an idol.c. an idyll.d. idyllic.

6. A nebulous answer is one that isa. negative.

b. gruesome.c. offensive.d. confusing.

7. To behave ignominiously is to acta. dishonorably.b. anxiously.c. logically.

d. consistently.

8. A truly miserable person isa. credulous.b. bellicose.c. disconsolate.d. zealous.


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PRETEST: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

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9. The distance around a circle is thea. circumference.b. diameter.c. denominator.d. equation.

10. A maestro is aa. teacher.b. author.c. conductor.d. ofcer.

11. Another word for C.V. , or curriculum vitae , isa. reference.b. recommendation.c. resignation.d. resume.

12. The small statements at the bottom of a contract renouncing legal rightsare called

a. disclaimers.b. defaults.c. collateral.d. liabilities.

13. An anarchist believes that governments should bea. expanded.b. abolished.

c. revered.d. followed.

14. When temperatures rise with increased elevation, it is an example of a. evaporation.b. precipitation.c. inversion.d. condensation.


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15. Half of the globe is calleda. a biosphere.b. an isthmus.c. a hemisphere.d. a meridian.

16. A joule is a unit of a. electricity.b. inductance.c. temperature.d. energy.

17. A moment of insight is known asa. a hubris.b. an epiphany.c. a melodrama.d. an omniscience.

18. Keratin is found ina. ngernails.

b. clothing.c. vegetables.d. medicine.

19. Spamis the name of a meat product, but spam can also refer toa. snail mail.b. television commercials.c. unwanted e-mails.

d. instant messaging.

20. Xenon is a type of a. gas.b. alien.c. planet.d. metal.


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PRETEST: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

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21. Another word for armistice isa. peace.b. happiness.c. love.d. hope.

22. Bread that is unleavened doesnta. bake.b. taste good.c. rise.d. contain wheat.

23. Bonding two or more layers of materials together is known asa. merging.b. laminating.c. inltrating.d. partitioning.

24. A writ isa. an attorneys fee.

b. a witnesss testimony.c. a jurys verdict.d. a judges order.

25. Having a stigma is considereda. physically painful.b. temporarily frightening.c. socially unacceptable.

d. emotionally amusing.

26. An antioxidant is a substance that might help people ghta. Alzheimers.b. cancer.c. Parkinsons.d. acne.


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27. A matriarchy is a system that is run by a. priests.b. men.c. dictators.d. women.

28. A switch-hitter plays the game of a. baseball.b. football.c. soccer.d. basketball.

29. A certain style of couch is calleda. a valance.b. an armoire.c. a patina.d. a settee.

30. Someone who is bilingual isa. able to speak in two different languages.

b. allowed to have residency in two countries.c. born in one country but living in another.d. trained to speak English as a primary language.


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PARTONE

VOCABULARYBOOT CAMP:

JUST THE BASIC


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DAY

1

I f youve ever played 20 Questions, youve heardpeople ask, person, place, or thing? or animal, vegetable, or mineral?While the answer to these questions changes throughout the game, they all haveone thing in common: they are nouns.

Think back to grammar class. You probably remember that a noun is, quitesimply, a person, place, or thing. The dictionary further pins it down as a word

or group of words used as the name of a class of people, places, or things, or of aspecic person, place, or thing. Does that help? Need more of an explanation?

Just remember that a noun is something or someone. Its not an action(thats a verb). It doesnt describe anything (those are adjectives and adverbs).Many times, a noun is something you can touch, but not always. After all, affec-tion is a noun and so are faith, courage, dreams, and other things you canttouch. These qualify as generic things in the denition.

Without nouns, our words and speech wouldnt make much sense. For

example, imagine leaving this note:

Going to his with. Returning. Doing quickly.

PERSON, PLACE,OR THING?COMMONLYUSED NOUNS


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Is there a message there? No! The recipient of the note wouldnt know where you were going or with whom, when you would return, or what youre doing.

The denitions of 20 nouns follow; they are arbitrary selections (yes, look

that one up!). A few have more than one denition because theyre typically used in several ways. Now and then, youll spot some with interesting orunusual comments added. That doesnt mean the other words are any less inter-esting. It just means theres only so much space in this book!

D E F I N I T I O N S

alumnus a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school[The plural of alumnus is alumni .]

boycott the process of refusing to deal with a person, organization, or country,usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of terms

[This word can act as either a noun or a verb in a sentence.]

charlatan a person who pretends to have more knowledge, skill, or ability thanhe or she actually possesses

[The word comes from Italy and is based on people from the village of Cerreto, most of whom were deemed medical quacks.]

condiment something used to make food tastier, such as mustard, ketchup,salt, pepper, or other seasonings

Just Be Glad

Be thankful this is a vocabulary book and not a grammar book. If it was, youd see instructions on how nouns relate to appositives, articles, pronouns,compound-possessive forms, innitives, objective complements, plural pos-sessives, direct objects, and subordinate clauses. Whew. Dont you feel lucky right now?

Pet Peeve

Dont you just hate it when you look up a word in the dictionary and a formof the same word is in the denition? It can make you feel like your brain is

going in circles. This book tries not to repeat the word or a version of it in def-initions so that the meaning is as clear as possible.


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PERSON, PLACE, OR THING? COMMONLY USED NOUNS

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dissertation a long, usually written, thesis or essay on a subject, normally partof the process for earning a college degree

epoch (1) an event or time that begins a new period of development; (2) a

memorable event, date, or period; (3) a division of geologic time less than aperiod and greater than an age

facsimile (1) an exact copy; (2) a system of transmitting and reproducingprinted matter or pictures by means of signals sent over telephone lines

[This is where the word fax comes from, as in Im sending you a fax. Theword is also commonly used as a verb, as in Im faxing you a copy right now.]

faction a group or clique acting together within a larger body, party, govern-

ment, or organizationhabitat the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or nor-mally lives or grows; the natural environment of an organism

heretic a person who believes or teaches something opposed to the currentbeliefs of the majority; a person who doesnt conform to any established atti-tude, doctrine, or principle

iconoclast a breaker or destroyer of images, especially religious ones; a person

who attacks cherished beliefs or traditional institutions as being based on erroror superstition

[Most likely, a heretic and an iconoclast would be good friendsand a lotof trouble!]

interloper a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or without reason; aperson who thrusts him- or herself uninvited into the affairs of others

kindred a group of related individuals or a persons relatives, family, tribe, or race

[This is often shortened to kin or kinfolk in some communities.]labyrinth (1) a place full of passageways and blind alleys arranged to make itdifcult to nd ones way around or nd the exit; (2) something extremely complicated or twisting; (3) the bony and membranous part of the internal ear

[In classical mythology, the Labyrinth was a huge maze built in Crete by Daedalus, under the command of King Minos. It was used to cage theMinotaur, a creature that was part man, part bull.]

metropolis the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region; any large, busy city [In comics and lms, this is the name of Supermans favorite city.]


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Activity 2: WORD MATCHMatch each vocabulary word on the left with a word on the right that meansalmost the same thingalso known as a synonym (remember that for a latersection).

1. charlatan _____ a. conference

2. facsimile _____ b. genius

3. interloper _____ c. city

4. kindred _____ d. jargon

5. labyrinth _____ e. peacekeeper

6. nomenclature _____ f. intruder

7. symposium _____ g. copy

8. metropolis _____ h. family

9. pacist _____ i. maze

10. prodigy _____ j. impostor

Activity 3: PICK-A-WORDChoose the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.

1. If you and your high school buddies decided to get together after yougraduated, you would host a(n) _______________ party.

2. If you refused to serve a certain kind of chip dip because you discoveredthat the company that made it didnt pay their workers well, you started your own ______________.

3. Despite the lack of chip dip, you would make sure to serve more than one______________ for the hot dogs and burgers.

alumnusboycottcharlatancondimentdissertationepochfacsimile

factionhabitathereticiconoclastinterloperkindredlabyrinth

metropolisnomenclaturepacistprodigy restorationsymposium


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4. To get the party started, you might decide to stand up and read the fantas-tic _______________ you wrote as part of earning your honors status in your senior year.

5. Your teacher told you that it was so amazingly well written that a new______________ has begun in student essays, although he was rolling hiseyes when he said it.

6. Even though everyone at your party would be having fun, there would bethe typical ______________ who would sit in the corner, only interactingamong themselves.

7.You might be tempted to tell them to go back to their own______________, but youd just smile and keep playing the part of aperfect, polite host.

8. There could be a(n) ______________at the party, who doesnt agree withanyone elses attitudes or perspectives.

9. Hopefully, your neighbors wouldnt call and accuse you of being a(n)_______________ because you play music that they are opposed to inprinciple.

10. After all, youd be doing such a great job keeping the place from gettingtrashed that a(n) ______________ would not be required.

Activity 4: WORD MIX-UPUnscramble each vocabulary word and write it correctly.

1. chope __________________________

2. taanrachl __________________________

3. sidnoitrates __________________________

4. thataib __________________________

5. pretinlero __________________________


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Activity 5: TRUE OR FALSE?Read each statement. Write T if its true or F if its false.

_____ 1. A condiment is something that is added to food to improve the avor.

_____ 2. The people who go to the same school as you do are known as kindred.

_____ 3. An exact copy of a document or illustration is a facsimile.

_____ 4. Your neighborhood can be referred to as a metropolis.

_____ 5. A pacist is unlikely to be interested in negotiation.


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Activity 6: CROSS-A-WORDRead each clue. Write the correct vocabulary word in the puzzle.

Across Down2 someone opposed to a set of 1 where an animal lives

beliefs 3 an important event or period in6 a person who breaks and destroys history

images 4 a system of terms for a eld of 8 someone not willing to ght about knowledge

things 5 a clique10 the act of making something look 7 someone who is most

like it did originally unwelcome11 a person who claims to be 9 relatives, such as aunts, uncles,

something he/she is not and cousins

1 2 3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11


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DAY

2

A h, verbs. They may just seem like anotherpart of that gloomy world of grammar, but you would be lost with-out verbs. Well, actually, no, you wouldnt. You couldnt because lost , in oneform, is a verb. Verbs are the life force of writing and speaking. Theyre wherethe action is; they tell you whats happening. Without verbs, youd be unableto do anythingor at least, your communication about the things you were

doing would be seriously lacking in substance. Being able to use a wide vari-ety of verbs when you talk or write will make it far easier to explain what you mean.

For example, you might write, The wind blew. Thats straightforward,but also rather simple. How about:

The wind roared.The wind whispered.

ITS ALIVE!VIVID,VIBRANT VERBS


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The wind bellowed.The wind murmured.

Each of the verbs just listed creates an entirely different picture of whats actu-ally happening. By changing one wordthe verbthe entire sentence commu-nicates something new. Thats how powerful verbs can be.

Just as you cant communicate clearly without a noun, you cant do sowithout a verb. For a sentence to be complete, you need both nouns and verbs;they work hand in hand. Remember that message you left for your parents?Well, if you wrote another one with nouns but no verbs, youd end up withsomething like the following:

John and I the mall. Dinner too. My job today.

See? Still, there is no clear message. John and you what? What about dinner?What about your job? Without verbs, the message is a complete mystery!

Okay, so youve got itverbs are important. Using a variety of them iseven more important. Learning a lot of verbs and understanding how each hasits very own nuance (look it up!) and meaning can help you add spice, avor,and personality to your spoken or written words. Knowing the different deni-

tions of verbs can also help you better understand the words and meanings inother peoples communications.

Some verbs are useful, but theyre very overused. One of the best examplesis said. Its used so often that it gets old quickly. What are some alternatives tosaid? Here are just a few.

The following are some really fascinating verbs you can learn. As you readeach denition, imagine using that word in a sentence to become more familiarwith it.

Beyond Said

whispered shouted uttered stated

commented mumbled demanded mentionedadded declared cried repliedexclaimed pronounced answered articulated


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ITS ALIVE! VIVID, VIBRANT VERBS

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accrue (1) to increase in amount and value, especially over a period of time;(2) to come about as a natural growth or addition

admonish (1) to rebuke or scold someone mildly but sincerely; (2) to giveadvice to someone to do or not do something

atrophy (1) to waste away or shrink in size, especially a part of the body; (2)the lessening of an ability

beguile (1) to draw notice or interest with charm; (2) to deceive by cunning

capitulate to surrender, usually on terms that have been agreed on in advance

chastise (1) to criticize harshly; (2) to punish severely

delineate (1) to describe in sharp or vivid detail; (2) to indicate through linesor sketching

disseminate (1) to distribute; (2) to spread around as if sowing seeds

embody (1) to give denite form to or make something tangible; (2) to incor-porate things into an organized whole

garnish (1) to decorate; (2) to embellish or dress up[This is another word that can be used as either a noun or a verb. As a

noun, its a spiffy little bit of food, like parsley, added to a plate of food to makeit look pretty.]

imbibe (1) to drink something; (2) to receive into the mind and retain

inveigle (1) to win over or persuade through attery or cleverness; (2) to trickor con

modulate (1) to change sound to a certain key or pitch; (2) to alter or adjustsomething to the proper proportion

[In the world of electronics, this means varying the quality of an electro-magnetic wave for the transmission of information. Most likely, you wont everuse it that way, but there it is. You are more likely to use it to ask someone tolower his or her voice or music.]

ofciate (1) to perform a ceremony; (2) to enforce or referee the rules of a

game or sport


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5. If you are vacillating , it means you are __________.a. exhaustedb. undecidedc. educatedd. delighted

6. Your teacher would probably be very upset to nd out that youd__________.a. plagiarizedb. paraphrasedc. restoredd. redressed

7. When you redressa situation, you __________.a. ignore itb. correct itc. nish itd. report it

8. Which of the following words can be used as either a noun or a verb?

a. atrophy b. garnishc. imbibed. ostracize

9. Which of the following words has a specic meaning in electronics?a. accrueb. beguile

c. modulated. vacillate

10. If you bring separate things together into a whole, you ___________them.a. admonishb. capitulatec. disseminate

d. embody


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Activity 3: ANALOGIESIn these analogies, each set of verbs are antonyms, or opposites. Look at the rstset, then gure out which vocabulary word is missing from the second set.

1. accrue : dwindle :: ________ : decisive

2. atrophy : strengthen :: _________ : ignore

3. imbibe : refuse :: _________ : offend

4. ostracize : embrace :: _________ : original

5. admonish : praise :: _________ : strip


1. hisdamno __________________________

2. shinrag __________________________

3. gelvinie __________________________

4. sderser __________________________

5. latcavile __________________________


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Activity 5: PICK-A-WORDChoose the word from the box that best completes each sentence.

1. When the referee explained his reasons, I realized he was right and had noother choice but to ________________.

2. People in the back rows of the audience couldnt hear the speaker so hehad to ____________ his voice in order to reach them.

3. She is known for breaking into tears if you ____________ her.

4. The lawyer talked on and on for almost an hour, so in my essay I had to____________ what he said.

5. Could her song possibly ___________ everything I had been feeling about

myself for years?

6. My brother has been able to ___________ over my soccer games for aslong as I can remember.

7. My parents tried to convince me that if I ___________ my mistake I willfeel much better.

8. Mrs. Connors has been trying to _____________ her wildowers for adecade now.

9. Does the courses outline _____________ exactly what we have to do inorder to earn an A in the class?

10. A rumor can _________ throughout the school by lunch hour.

capitulate embody paraphrasechastise modulate propagatedelineate ofciate redressdisseminate


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DAY

3

S ynonyms are words that mean almost thesame thing as another word. Each one might have a certain shade ornuance that the other word doesnt, but often they can be used interchangeably.Knowing synonyms is important because it gives your writing and speakingmore variety. Each synonym gives a slightly different meaning to the sameaction. So you can avoid what your teacher might label vague and abstract

terms, like things or stuff .To give you an idea of how synonyms work, Ive organized this section a

little differently. Hopefully, it will give you a glimmer of how synonyms canimprove your writing and speaking, and show you the many options theEnglish language offers if you just take the time to go beyond the usual stuff.

COMING CLOSE:STUDYINGSYNONYMS


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To replace vague words like things or stuff , try the following.

accoutrement (noun) accessory items of personal clothing or equipment, usu-ally used in the plural form

appurtenance (noun) an important accessory, instrument, or piece of equipment

paraphernalia (noun) equipment, apparatus or personal belongings; can beused as singular or plural

Perhaps you would like to describe a pretty woman or handsome man.How about:

beauteous (adjective) lovely to look at

pulchritudinous (adjective) physically beautiful and appealing

winsome (adjective) innocently lovely or engaging

How about a grumpy, irritable person? You could use:

belligerent (adjective) hostile, waging war, or eager to be part of a ght

cantankerous (adjective) difcult or irritating to work or spend time with

pugnacious (adjective) ready and willing to start or join a battle of any kind

On the other hand, how about that really friendly person you enjoy run-ning into? You could describe the person as:

affable (adjective) at ease and pleasant, especially in conversation; polite, man-nerly

Thesaurus: No, Its Not a Dinosaur!

You already know that a dictionary is for looking up what a word means. Itmay list a synonym of the word, but what if you want to know as many syn-onyms as possible to enrich your vocabulary? Youre in luck. A thesaurus does just that. Words may be in alphabetical order, as in a dictionary, or organizedby categories. Either way, this resource can supply quite a few synonyms andoften antonyms. Your computer probably has a thesaurus you can access at theclick of a button. You can also nd online thesaurinote the plural ending.


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COMING CLOSE: STUDYING SYNONYMS

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convivial (adjective) friendly, fond of feasting and going to parties

gregarious (adjective) tending to associate with others, sociable[In the world of science, this means being part of a ock of animals or

plants growing in clusters.]

How about simple words like small and big? Do they have replacementsthat could spice up your descriptions? Of course!

colossal (adjective) extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic[In the world of architecture, it pertains to a classic style in which columns

span two or more stories of a building.]

diminutive (adjective) of small or tiny size, often with the quality of being lov-able or pitiful

[This can also be used as a noun to indicate a small person or thing.]

gargantuan (adjective) enormous or very large[The word rst appeared in the late 1600s in books by Rabelais about a

large-mouthed giant named Gargantua. The base word in Spanish means gul-let, and both gargantuan and gargle come from the same root. Imagine a gar-gantuan giant gargling!]

innitesimal (adjective) exceedingly small, almost immeasurably so[In the world of math, this means capable of having values approaching

zero as a limit.]

minuscule (adjective) very small

Verbs can be replaced also. Remember all the choices you read earlier forsaid? How about some alternatives to replace a word like walk?

amble (verb) to maintain a slow, easy pace, such as a stroll[This can also be used as a noun for a horse whose same-side legs move

together. The word ambulance comes from the same base but, hopefully, if someones being transported in one, its not moving at a slow, easy pace.]

saunter (verb) to take a leisurely walk

traipse (verb) to walk or wander about aimlessly or without reaching ones

goal


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Activity 1: THE SEARCH IS ON!All the vocabulary words from the previous pages are hidden in this puzzle.Look across, down, diagonally, and backward.

I S A I T U M O I R E T N U A S

N U U M O B G P L O I D M A I T

F O L O B U C O N V I V I A L R

I I A E I L U E A M E T N S A A

N C S C R R E K I A F E U U N I

I A S A C U A N E P E E S O R P

T N O E T O U G A P L A C E E SE G L O A T U R E U N H U T H E

S U O N I D U T I R H C L U P P

I P C V I U R N R T G I E A A S

M B E L L I G E R E N T E E R G

A L E M V E O E N N M I L B A P

L G A R G A N T U A N E U I P C

U S M S U O R E K N A T N A C OU I I A A A P M T C U E C T N G

G U N W I N S O M E L B A F F A

A L T A G I M T S S R I N U R L

accoutrementaffableambleappurtenancebeauteousbelligerentcantankerous

colossalconvivialdiminutivegargantuangregariousinnitesimalminuscule

paraphernaliapugnaciouspulchritudinoussauntertraipsewinsome


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Activity 2: WHAT AM I?Read each question, then choose an appropriate answer from this lessonsvocabulary words.

1. I replace the generic word things and can be used as both singular andplural. What am I?__________________________________________________________

2. I mean beautiful, but in a most innocent and charming way. What am I?__________________________________________________________

3. Im someone who no one seems to want to spend any time aroundbecause Im grumpy. What am I?__________________________________________________________

4. I describe someone you denitely would want to invite to your next party.What am I?__________________________________________________________

5. I mean huge but am so special that I have a double meaning in classical

architecture. What am I?__________________________________________________________

Activity 3: GET CREATIVEOn the lines below, write a story using at least ve of the vocabulary words inthis lesson._______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________


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Activity 4: CHOOSE-A-WORDRead each question and circle the correct answer.

1. When you look in the mirror, you hope this word comes to mind.a. winsomeb. appurtenancec. gargantuand. traipse

2. This is the kind of trouble you want to have in your life.a. belligerentb. minusculec. saunterd. beauteous

3. If youre ever stuck in an elevator, you should hope its lled with peoplewho exhibit this characteristic.a. pugnaciousb. amblec. affable

d. colossal

4. This could describe how you walk when you have no particular destination.a. accoutrementb. pulchritudinousc. innitesimald. traipse

5. If you have to ght any battles, you might want to take along someonewho is known for beinga. beauteous.b. convivial.c. diminutive.d. pugnacious.


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_____ 1. Belligerent people and convivial people behave the same way.

_____ 2. Gregarious is a term sometimes used about plants.

_____ 3. Minuscule and gargantuan are synonyms for each other.

_____ 4. An attractive person could add pulchritudinous to his or her list of attributes.

_____ 5. Amble and ambulance have the same base word.


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Across Down1 accessories, usually used in the plural 1 an important piece of equipment5 apparatus, can be used singular or plural 2 has a busy social calendar7 ready to ght it out with anyone 3 think tiny puppies

11 ready and willing for battle 4 extraordinarily huge13 horses legs come to mind 6 physically beautiful14 innocently engaging 8 invite to your next party 15 used for columns in architecture 9 really, really tiny 16 a real vision 10 a pleasure to chat with17 not much fun to hang out with 12 an aimless walk without a18 time to take a stroll destination

5 6

7

8 9

10

11 12

13

14

15

17

16

18

1 2 3 4


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DAY

4

N ow that weve explored synonyms, or wordsthat mean about the same thing, lets take a look at antonymswordsthat have opposite meanings. Theyre helpful to know because you dont want touse one when you mean the otherthat can cause terrible confusion, even chaos.Just think about the simple antonyms yesand no. Theres a huge difference betweenthem and what they mean. If someone asks if you want to spend your summer

vacation with your Aunt Ethel and Uncle Morris cleaning out their attic, youranswer will most likely be No! If youre asked if youd rather spend your vacationbackpacking through Europe with your best friends, your answers probably goingto be Yes! Just imagine what would ensue if you got those two reversed!

If you want to be truly picky and precise, antonyms come in three forms:gradable, complementary, and converse. Gradable antonyms are those that can bemeasured, like hot/cold or dry/wet . Complementary ones describe a matter of being, like male/female or alive/dead . Converse antonyms depend on one another,

like buy/sell or borrow/lend . You have to have the one word in order to have itsantonym.

The words in this days lesson are great antonyms to know, so enjoy!

WHEN OPPOSITE ATTRACT: AWESOME ANTONYMS


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anomaly an irregularity or difference, not following the general rule

benign kind, compassionate, or gentle[In the medical world, this is a happy wordit means harmless, the kind

of note you want to see on your medical records.]

cursory quick or supercial

decorum dignity or good manners/behavior, etiquette; the condition of beingcalm

effusive unrestrained in expressing feelings or emotions

incarcerate to imprison or conne

jocund merry or jolly

laconic terse, to the point, using few words

malevolent harmful, evil, wanting to cause harm[Remember the mean sorceress in Sleeping Beauty ? Her name was

Malecent. Coincidence? Methinks not.]

maudlin weak and overly sentimental

ostensible shown outwardly, genuine on the surface but open for doubt

placate to calm the anger of bitterness of; to make someone less angry

plethora a lot of, many, an excessive amount of something

recalcitrant stubbornly refusing to give in to authority; hard to do or handle

reprehensible worthy of or deserving blame, extremely guilty or at fault

sporadic occurring now and then; random or intermittent

succinct short and concise, without wasted words, brief and to the point

truculent ready and willing to ght; aggressively deant

veracity in agreement with truth; truthfulness

vitriolic expressing bitter hatred toward something or someone

[In the world of chemistry, this means to resemble a glassy metallic sulfate;thats a tough one to work into your average conversation.]


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WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT: AWESOME ANTONYMS

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Activity 1: WORD MATCHMatch each word on the left with its antonym(s) on the right.

1. anomaly _____ a. expressing love and affection

2. benign _____ b. enrage

3. cursory _____ c. strong and unemotional

4. decorum _____ d. the norm

5. effusive _____ e. verbose, wordy

6. incarcerate _____ f. profound and deep

7. jocund _____ g. very few

8. laconic _____ h. well-behaved or compliant

9. malevolent _____ i. completely innocent

10. maudlin _____ j. regular or repeated

11. ostensible _____ k. rambling or long-winded

12. placate _____ l. sad, full of sorrow

13. plethora _____ m. set free

14. recalcitrant _____ n. falsity, lies

15. reprehensible _____ o. ill-mannered, impolite16. sporadic _____ p. reserved, constrained

17. succinct _____ q. dangerous, harmful

18. truculent _____ r. good, helpful, kind

19. veracity _____ s. complacent, easy going

20. vitriolic _____ t. authentic, genuine

Activity 2: PICK-A-WORDRead each sentence below. Select the best vocabulary word to ll each blank sothat the sentence makes sense.

1. Sometimes it seems like a movie that has both excellent special effects and agood story line, plus quality actors, is a(n) _______________ in Hollywood.

2. If great amounts of money are spent on the effects, the plot usually getslittle more than a(n) _____________ glance.


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3. Dialogue is ____________ when it should be descriptive and wordy and___________ when it should be concise.

4. Im always disappointed when the ______________ villain gets overly __________ and confesses.

5. Most movies have a(n) ____________ of actors but a dearth of ones thatreally make you believe them.

6. Of course, not all movies are completely _______________; some areactually pretty entertaining.

7. Theyre ______________, popping up now and then when you leastexpect it.

8. That _____________ me for awhile; I act with enough ______________to make my parents proud.

9. In all _____________, I know that I can be a rather critical moviereviewer.

10. I guess its a good thing Im not mouthy and _____________ about it,huh?

Activity 3: WHAT AM I?Read the question, then choose the appropriate answer from this lessons vocab-ulary words.

1. Im a term you want to hear or see after youve had a medical test. Whatam I?__________________________________________________________

2. Im who you want at your side if youre heading into a ght! What am I?__________________________________________________________

3. I appear completely sincere at rst, but youve got your doubts. What am I?

__________________________________________________________


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WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT: AWESOME ANTONYMS

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4. Im pretty quiet, only talking when I have to and then in very few words.What am I?__________________________________________________________

5. Im a huge hit at your friends houses because of my excellent behavior.What am I?__________________________________________________________


1. nocjud __________________________

2. alteacp __________________________

3. yitrevac __________________________

4. tinracerace __________________________

5. mderouc __________________________

Activity 5: ANALOGIESIn these analogies, each set of words are synonyms, or mean about the same.Look at the rst set, then gure out which vocabulary word is missing in thesecond set.

1. anomaly : irregularity :: _________ : hatred

2. malevolent : evil :: __________ : random

3. truculent : deant :: __________ : merry

4. incarcerate : imprison :: __________ : concise

5. placate : calm :: __________ : supercial


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DAY

5

O kay, lets start with clearing up some under-standable confusion. There are homonyms and there are homophones.Are they the same thing? No. Are they similar? Yes. Simply put:

Homonyms are words that have the same spelling but different meanings.For example bear and mean . Bear can refer to a big, furry animal or

the verb to carry. Mean can be a nasty attitude or average in mathterms.

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellingsand meanings . (Those letters at the end, -phone, mean sound, as intelephone and microphone.)

In this lesson, well take a closer look at homophones. Youll most likely notice

that these words are simpler than those weve been working with so far. For themost part, homophones are simpler, but since they often get confusing, it isimportant to get a handle on them.

WHATS THEDIFFERENCE?HANDLINGHOMOPHONES


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If you enjoy this lesson and cannot wait to do even more work withhomophones, check out the Internet. Youll nd websites that have quizzes,games, and many more resources about homophones. Have fun!


allowed/aloud

allowed (verb) (1) permitted or let have; (2) took into consideration

aloud (adverb) to vocalize or say for others to hear

band/bannedband (noun) a company of persons joined together, a group of musicians;(verb) to unite together

banned (noun) prohibited by law; (verb) prohibited or barred

billed/build

billed (adjective) having a bill or beak; (noun) an itemized statement of fees

or charges

build (verb) to construct by assembling parts or materials, to establish,increase, or strengthen; (noun) the physical structure of a person

browse/brows

browse (verb) to eat or graze, to look through or glance at casually

brows (noun) the facial hair above the eyes

cymbal/symbol

cymbal (noun) a plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing soundwhen struck; an instrument that is often part of a drum set

symbol (noun) something used for or regarded as representing something elsesuch as a letter, gure, word, phrase, or image


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WHATS THE DIFFERENCE? HANDLING HOMOPHONES

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discreet/discrete

discreet (adjective) judicious or careful in ones conduct and speech, especially in regard to privacy or silence about a secret

discrete (adjective) apart or detached from others, separate or distinct

discussed/disgust

discussed (verb) talked over or wrote about

disgust (verb) a strong disapproval or revulsion; (noun) nausea, repugnance

gorilla/guerilla

gorilla (noun) the largest of the anthropoid apes

guerilla (noun) a member of an irregular military or paramilitary group

horse/hoarse

horse (noun) a large, solid-hoofed quadruped used for carrying people andloads

hoarse (adjective) having a husky, harsh voice, sometimes due to temporary illness

idle/idol/idyll

idle (adjective) not working or active, not in use or operation, frivolous ormeaningless, having no basis or reason, groundless or futile; (verb) to pass timedoing nothing

idol (noun) an image or other object representing a deity that is worshipped, aperson regarded with blind admiration, a gment of the mind or fantasy

idyll (noun) a poem or prose, an episode of charm

incite/insight

incite (verb) to stir, urge on, or prompt to action

insight (noun) a sudden understanding of the true nature of something, an

intuitive understanding often used in psychology


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lessen/lesson

lessen (verb) to reduce or make smaller

lesson (noun) something to be learned or studied, a section of a course of study or part of a book or exercise

morning/mourning

morning (noun) the rst part of the day, usually from dawn until noon;(adjective) pertaining to or occurring in the hours before noon

mourning (noun) the act of someone grieving or sorrowing, the outwardsymbols of sorrow; (adjective) describing the act of grieving

pair/pear/pare

pair (noun) this word has more than twenty denitions in some resourcesbut for now, lets stick with just two: two identical or similar things that arematched for use together; two individuals who are associated in some way, acouple

pear (noun) a kind of fruit, comes in multiple varieties

pare (verb) to cut off the outer layer, remove by cutting

stationary/stationery

stationary (adjective) standing still and not moving, a xed position

stationery (noun) writing paper, writing materials

tracked/tract

tracked (verb) followed the trail of, observed the progress of, followed; carriedon ones shoes

tract (noun) an expanse of land or other region; a brief publication of spiri-tual sayings

verses/versus

verses (noun) stanzas or sections of poetry or musicversus (preposition) against or in contrast to


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weather/whether

weather (noun) the state of the atmosphere (wind, temperature, precipitation,pressure, etc.) in a given place at a given time; (verb) to expose to the weather;

to bear up against something and survive itwhether (conjunction) used to introduce the rst of two or more alternatives

whirled/world

whirled (verb) revolved rapidly, rotated, or spun quickly

[Take a moment and picture the bumper sticker Imagine whirled peas.Chuckle softly. Okay, back to work.]

world (noun) the earth and all the people, places, and things inhabiting it

[Now picture that bumper sticker as saying Imagine world peace. What a dif-ference a homophone makes!]

whine/wine

whine (verb) to utter a cry or sound of unhappiness, irritation, or complaint;(noun) a peevish or cranky complaint

wine (noun) a drink made from the juice of fermented grapes

Activity 1: THIS ONE OR THAT?Read each sentence below. Write the best homonym(s) to make the sentencemake sense.

1. My parents recently told me that I was _____________ (allowed/aloud) to

join a _____________ (band/banned).

2. With a grin, my dad said that as long as he wasnt ____________(billed/build) for the supply of earplugs the family had to buy, he was happy.

3. I just raised my ______________ (browse/brows) at him and shook my head.

4. When I practice late at night, I try to be ______________ (discreet/discrete) when I hit the ____________ (cymbals/symbols) so I dont wakeanyone up.


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5. My mom had already _____________ (discussed/disgust) that problemwith me until she was almost _______________ (horse/hoarse).

6. Since I have better manners than the average ________________ (gorilla/guerilla), I tried to follow her rules.

7. One day, when I appear on American ____________ ( Idol/Idle/Idyll ), I canbuy my own recording studio and loud music will not _____________(incite/insight) a family riot.

8. Keeping my parents happy is an important ____________ (lessen/lesson)Ive learned because if I dont, _____________ (morning/mourning) is

sure to follow!

9. In the garage, I put one ____________ (pair/pear/pare) of speakers nextto my Dads ______________ (stationary/stationery) bike.

10. Under one speaker, I found a _____________ (tracked/tract) of old spiri-tual ______________ (verses/versus).

11. I didnt know ____________ (weather/whether) to keep it.

12. When I ______________ (whirled/world) around, I saw a spot on a shelf and hid it underneath a bottle of _____________ (whine/wine).

Activity 2: RIGHT HOMOPHONE?Read each statement. Write T if the underlined word is used correctly. Write F if it isnt.

_____ 1. My teacher asked me to read the Shakespeare sonnet aloud.

_____ 2. I just found out that his writing was once band from some schools.

_____ 3. Apparently there were some questions and controversy about thesymbols he used.

_____ 4. A few were less than discrete in their double meanings.

_____ 5. This was a brand new incite into his writing for me.


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_____ 6. It was a lessen I could actually be interested in, I thought.

_____ 7. I spent the morning poring over Shakespeares words.

_____ 8. I must have spent two hours just on his versus.

_____ 9. I dont know whether I missed the double meanings or if they justwerent there.

_____ 10. It was disappointing not to nd something controversial, I winedto my mother.


1. ldalewo __________________________

2. nndabe __________________________

3. eorwbs __________________________

4. aymcbl __________________________

5. derscite __________________________

6. distgsu __________________________

7. iarolgl __________________________

8. shoear __________________________

9. dlyli __________________________

10. nisthgi __________________________

11. roniumgn __________________________

12. aarotnsyit __________________________

13. wtaheer __________________________

14. eidhwlr __________________________

15. nwieh __________________________


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Activity 4: GET CREATIVE!On the lines below, write a story using at least ve of the vocabulary words fromthis lesson. Make sure you use the correct homophone.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________


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Activity 5: HIDDEN HOMOPHONESAll these homophones are hidden in this puzzle. Look across, down, diagonally,and backward to nd them.

allowedaloudbandbannedbilledbuildbrowsebrowsdiscreetdiscretecymbalsymboldiscusseddisgust

gorillaguerillahorsehoarseidleidyllidolinciteinsightlessenlessonmorningmourningpair

parepearstationary stationery trackedtractversesversusweatherwhetherwhirledworldwinewhine

V E R S E S S N H D L O D I E R

R S E D D S O M O R N I N G T T

E R R I I S W V E R S U S N I C

N O R E S R A O H C D T B P R A

W H R E G N I N R U O M W D P R

E H L I U U I E O B D E E E S T

A D E A S D E L L I B K A T E O

I M T T T T A R S P C R T I N A

E Y E B H R A C I A A A H C I W

D U R A G E U T R L L I E N H T

K O C N I S R T I L L B R I W L

W I S N S T A T I O N A R Y S E

I W I E N W P R B W N L B O N E

A S D D I A O M U E E E V M W E

T L Y U R G Y R I D E R R I Y S

U L L E S S E N L E W G N Y D CI D L H P B A N D D R E S E O S


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DAY

6

R emember that lesson you did on nouns?Adjectives, as you may recall, are words that modify or describe nouns.In other words, when you write about a book, movie, person, or house, you useadjectives to give details about them: it was an abysmal book, an enlighteningmovie, an engaging person, or a monstrous house. Get the picture? Adjectivesexist to help you, well, paint a picture. They allow writers to be artists and use

words to create images.Think about your favorite authors and books you enjoy reading the most.

As you read, you see images in your head of the places, the characters, and theactions. Most likely, you create those images thanks to all of the adjectives theauthor used. (Adverbs also help create images, but we wont cover them untilDay 7, so be patient.)

Knowing a wide variety of adjectives will make it easier for you to use thatproverbial paintbrush and create images with your spoken and written words.

Youll be able to better express yourself, whether youre trying to write theworlds best book report or trying to explain over the phone to tech supportwhat your DVD megachanger is doing wrong!

MAKE IT REAL: ADDING ADJECTIVES


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Here are some great adjectives. See how many you can work into yourconversations this week. You never know who might be listening!


afuent having an abundance of wealth or material goods; rich, wealthy

agrarian of, relating to, or concerned with farmers or farming interests;

agricultural

cadaverous resembling a corpse, ghastly

caustic likely to offend or hurt someones feelings[In the world of chemistry, this means capable of eating away by chemical

reaction. See the similarity?]

decadent of moral/ethical or cultural decay or decline

despicable deserving of contemptdogmatic asserting opinions in an arrogant manner, opinionated

ethereal light, airy, extremely delicate or rened

ippant frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness

haggard having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, usually due to suf-fering or anxiety

homogeneous all of the same, or similar in, nature[In the world of biology, this is used to indicate a structure that has a com-

mon origin.]

intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature, inherent

lucrative producing a prot, moneymaking

macabre gruesome, ghastly, or horrifying

mundane of or pertaining to the real world; common or ordinary

Just to Confuse You

Many adjectives turn into adverbs just because an -ly ending is added. Isntthat weird?


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nebulous hazy, indistinct, cloudy, confused[In the astronomical world, a nebula is typically an interstellar cloud of gas

or dust.]

pathological caused by or involving diseaserepugnant distasteful or offensive; opposed or contrary

salient prominent or conspicuous; projecting or pointing outward

utilitarian of useful function, pertaining to utility

Activity 1: WHAT AM I?Read each question, then answer it with the appropriate word from this lessons

vocabulary words.

1. Im what allows people to buy whatever they want. What am I?__________________________________________________________

2. Im not much fun to be around because I hurt everyones feelings. Whatam I?__________________________________________________________

3. I dont take anything seriously, which often comes across as rather disre-spectful. What am I?__________________________________________________________

4. Im one of the most desired bottom line goals in any business. What am I?__________________________________________________________

5. Im the kind of answer that no one quite understands because Im just toovague. What am I?__________________________________________________________


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Activity 2: CHOOSE-A-WORDRead each statement. Circle the correct answer.

1. You might want to use this adjective if youre writing about a ghost.a. agrarianb. etherealc. homogeneousd. pathological

2. Some people say that a truly good piece of chocolate qualies as thisadjective.a. cadaverousb. decadentc. ippantd. intrinsic

3. There are some kids who love their vegetablesbut others think veg-gies are __________.a. causticb. dogmatic

c. mundaned. repugnant

4. When you walk into a large department store and see endless rows of thesame shirt, you can safely say that the clothing is __________.a. afuentb. despicablec. homogeneous

d. nebulous

5. Brushing your teeth, checking your e-mail, and eating lunch are all examplesof what type of activity?a. mundaneb. pathologicalc. repugnantd. salient


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Activity 3: GET CREATIVEUsing the nouns in the box, write sentences using adjectives from this lesson.How many can you use with each noun? How does that change the image yourecreating?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

house dog woman man instrument bookshirt class shoes movie school deskmeal visitor music hair present family


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Activity 4: ANALOGIESLook at the relationship between the rst set of words, and then gure out whichvocabulary word is missing from the second set.

1. afuent : poor :: pleasant : __________________________

2. dogmatic : neutral :: respectful : __________________________

3. ethereal : solid :: rested : __________________________

4. mundane : extraordinary :: healthy : __________________________

5. salient : subtle :: useless : __________________________


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Across Down1 This is a money-making business. 2 Its an inherent part of life.5 Eww! 3 You look absolutely horrible.6 Im absolutely exhausted. 4 Just part of the daily routine.7 That is simply contemptible. 8 How could you possibly miss that?

10 It is quite functional. 9 Its all about the land.11 Arent you rened? 12 That wasnt the most respectful15 Having a great deal of money. answer.

17 He looks like a corpse today. 13 Its a sign of moral decline.18 Im still vague on that situation. 14 Are those exactly the same?19 Thats YOUR opinion. 16 Ouch, that hurts my feelings.


1 2

3 4

5

6

7 8 9

10

11

16 13 14

15 1712

18

19


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adamantly rmly xed or strongly against something, unyielding

balefully deadly or harmful in inuence, threatening harm or evil

coherently logically connected, consistently, sticking together

decidedly certain, unquestionable or unmistakable, free from hesitation

ignominiously in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree

incorrigibly in a manner beyond correction or reform, willful or unruly

inexplicably in a manner impossible to explain or account for

inimitably in an irreproducible manner or incapable of being copied

insatiably to a degree or manner of not being satised or appeased

languidly in a lethargic manner, lacking energy or weak

magnanimously in a generous or forgiving manner, noble

meticulously in an extremely careful and precise manner

opulently in a sumptuous and luxurious manner

prolically in an abundant or productive manner, fruitfully

pungently in a distressed, emotional manner

quiescently in a restful, quiet, or inactive manner

resiliently in a rebounding, springing back manner

sardonically in a manner characterized by bitter or scornful derision, cynically

solicitously in an anxious or overly concerned manner, eagerly

tenaciously in a persistent, stubborn, or highly retentive manner; obstinately

Yeah for Me!

Once again, you can be thankful that this isnt a grammar book. If it were, itwould have to include lessons about adverbial phrases, innitive phrases,adverbs that modify adjectives, emphasizers, ampliers, and lots of otherthings you dont have to deal with in a vocabulary book.


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Activity 1: WORD MATCHMatch each vocabulary word on the left with a word on the right that meansalmost the same thing.

1. adamantly _____ a. generously

2. balefully _____ b. stubbornly

3. coherently _____ c. robustly

4. decidedly _____ d. luxuriously

5. ignominiously _____ e. menacingly

6. incorrigibly _____ f. industriously

7. inexplicably _____ g. comprehensibly

8. inimitably _____ h. denitely

9. insatiably _____ i. dishonorably

10. languidly _____ j. obstinately

11. magnanimously _____ k. considerately

12. meticulously _____ l. cynically

13. opulently _____ m. mysteriously

14. prolically _____ n. hopelessly

15. pungently _____ o. exclusively

16. quiescently _____ p. lazily

17. resiliently _____ q. scrupulously

18. sardonically _____ r. cuttingly

19. solicitously _____ s. voraciously

20. tenaciously _____ t. quietly

Activity 2: TRUE OR FALSE?Read each statement. Write T if the underlined adverb is used correctly and F if it is used incorrectly.

_____ 1. Your teachers have just coherently told you what to expect on yournal, so youre relieved because you understood it perfectly.

_____ 2. Your children have spent the afternoon acting incorrigibly and yourecompletely exhausted from it.


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PARTTWO

IN NO UNCERTAITERMS:

SPECIALIZEDVOCABULARIESEVERYONE NEED

TO KNOW

T his section is all about specialized vocabular-ieswords that tend to be used in certain places and situations and by certain groups of people. Even if youre not part of such a group, youll proba-bly encounter these words somewhere in your life. You might hear them from acarpenter or contractor hired to build your familys new deck, the doctor whosuggested you start exercising, or a teacher whos discussing your schoolrecords. If you have a strong working knowledge of what these words mean, you wont get lost, confused, or overwhelmed when communicating with oth-ers in different elds.


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DAY

8

T he words in this lesson are used when talkingor writing about peoples emotions, or feelings. You may use them whenhaving a close, personal conversation with someone you care about. They may come up when youre talking to a doctor or having a discussion with yourschool counselor. You might use them in a letter to a special friend or even in areport about how you responded to something you read or saw.

Its extremely helpful to have a wide variety of words to choose from when youre trying to explain how you feel about something or attempting to under-stand how someone else feels. They provide clarity and detail that might other-wise be lost or misunderstood. Emotions are hard enough to understandwithout using vague terms like okay , so-so, all right , or whatever when someoneasks how you are.

Study these words and use them when you can. Theyll make your com-munication more effective.

Note: These words are primarily adjectives, but remember, by adding an-ly ending to some, they become adverbs. Presto chango!

HOW ARE YOUFEELING TODAYEMOTIONALTERMS


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DEFINITIONS

abashed ashamed or embarrassed

acquiescent willing to carry out the demands, orders, or wishes of others with-out protest or complaint

angst a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish

apathetic having or showing little to no emotion; uninterested or indifferent

bellicose eager to ght; hostile

candid outspoken, honest, sincere, free from subterfuge or lies

contrite sincerely remorseful, lled with a sense of guilt and the need to beforgiven

credulous willing to believe or trust too easily, gullible

disconsolate totally unhappy, without any solace or comfort possible; gloomy

ebullient overwhelmed with enthusiasm, bubbling up with high spirits

effervescent lively, sparkling, vivacious

enamored inspired or captivated by love; unreasonably fond

facetious not meant to be taken seriously or literally; amusing

impotent lacking in power or ability; utterly unable to do something effectively;sterile

jaded worn out or wearied through overwork; dulled or dissipated

lewd obscene or indecent; usually characterized by lust

petulant showing sudden, impatient annoyance or irritation, typically oversomething minor

taciturn inclined to silence, reluctant to join conversations or social situations;dour

vociferous crying out noisily; clamorous

zealous devoted, characterized by passionate action or diligence


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HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? EMOTIONAL TERMS

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Across Down1 humiliated 1 compliant4 impatient 2 dread9 dissipated 3 miserable

10 captivated 5 obscene11 sincere 6 dour12 gullible 7 remorseful14 enthusiastic 8 amusing15 indifferent 13 diligent16 hostile17 vivacious

1 2

3

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

17

16

4 5 6


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Activity 2: WHICH ONE DOES NOT BELONG?Look at each group of words. Circle the one that doesnt t.

1. angst, disconsolate, ebullient

2. effervescent, enamored, taciturn

3. jaded, vociferous, apathetic

4. acquiescent, petulant, bellicose

5. contrite, candid, abashed

Activity 3: PICK-A-WORDChoose the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.

1. When you feel like youre willing to do anything people ask you to do, youre being __________.

2. If it feels like you believe every single word that people tell you, youre

being __________.

3. When you simply cant take anything anyone tells you seriously, yourebeing __________.

4. If you feel completely helpless and powerless, youre being __________.

5. If you feel passionately enthusiastic about a cause, then youre being

__________.


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Act iv i ty 4 : HIDDEN WORDSAll the vocabulary words from the lesson are hidden here. Look across, down,diagonally, and backward to nd them.

S I E I S D E N O B I T W N C

D P E T U L A N T E D N E I N

I D S U O L A E Z L I E L D N

A E U S L V P L R L S T E N C

O H F S U O R E F I C O V T S

S S N F D O T W J C O P I S A

N A F T E I I D A O N M D E DR B O A R R V T D S S I B I O

U A O T C I V N E E O U D C E

T E N A M O R E D C L N U J O

I O O N N T S D S L A N I O U

C A P A T H E T I C T F R U C

A P A C Q U I E S C E N T B T

T S G N A T N P O I C N W L TC N E P S T L T I N A E T A V

abashedacquiescentangstapatheticbellicose

candidcontrite

credulousdisconsolateebullienteffervescentenamored

facetiousimpotent

jadedlewdpetulanttaciturnvociferous

zealous


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1. haesabd __________________________

2. rsuleuocd __________________________

3. lblnteiue __________________________

4. eftensecefvr __________________________

5. dwle __________________________

6. sucioftae __________________________

7. tutlanpe __________________________

8. ticuantr __________________________

9. ourvfsioec __________________________

10. azesolu __________________________


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DAY

9

W hat? Theres a lesson on math in the middleof a vocabulary book? Yes, its true. Believe it or not, math and wordsare not mutually exclusive.

Some of the most common mathematical terms youll run into during yourlife are included here. It may be in math class, while trying to balance your check-ing or savings account, helping someone with his or her math homework, or re-

nancing a house.Knowing these terms will help you better understand what you read orhear about math concepts and numbers. Some you probably already know, sotake a moment and review; then when someone starts spouting equations andformulas, youll be ready to respond intelligently.

DEFINITIONS

aggregate sum total; a whole made up of different parts; total or gross amount

algebra mathematics that utilizes letters as symbols; math that deals with gen-eral statements of relations

JUST THEFACTS, MAAM:MATHEMATICALTERMS


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6. When the prices of everything consumers want to buy keep rising, thatsknown asa. decit.b. ination.c. recession.d. scarcity.

7. Lines that are drawn at right angles area. geometry.b. algorithm.c. median.d. perpendicular.

8. When you realize you are completely out of soda and chips on a Saturday night, you realize you have a seriousa. scarcity.b. recession.c. equation.d. integers.

9. When your paycheck is less than the amount of bills you owe, you areexperiencing a(n)a. ination.b. decit.c. promissory.d. recession.

10. When your best friend swears on paper that he will pay you back as soon

as he gets paid next Friday, this is referred to as a _________________note.a. integersb. commodity c. decitd. promissory


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JUST THE FACTS, MAAM: MATHEMATICAL TERMS

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Activity 2: WHICH ONE DOES NOT BELONG?Read the words in each group below. Circle the one that doesnt t.

1. algebra, calculus, annuity

2. decit, commodity, scarcity

3. equation, recession, ination

4. aggregate, integers, denominator

5. circumference, scal, diameter

Activity 3: WHAT AM I?Read each question, then write the appropriate answer from this lessons vocab-ulary words.

1. I use letters as symbols when talking about mathematical relationships.What am I?__________________________________________________________

2. Im the bottom number you see when youre guring out a recipe. Whatam I?__________________________________________________________

3. Im what happens when the economy begins to slow way down. Whatam I?__________________________________________________________

4. Im two of the lines you make when you write an uppercase H. Whatam I?__________________________________________________________

5. Im the gross amount that goes on the bottom line. What am I?__________________________________________________________


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_____ 1. Algorithms are used to help solve mathematical problems.

_____ 2. The word denominator is used outside of math to indicate people whoare quite diverse.

_____ 3. 514

and 3 12

are examples of integers.

_____ 4. Circumference and perimeter are similar in meaning.

_____ 5. Geometry is math that centers on relationships of points, lines, andangles.


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77

DAY

10

T his lesson is all about musical terms. Theseare the fancy terms you may see in a symphony program or concertannouncement. You might even nd them in CD liner notes or a biography about your favorite musician. Youll understand music on a deeper, more com-prehensive level by taking the time to learn these terms. Some might even lead you to research new information about music. What does a nocturne sound

like? How does a contralto sing? Whos considered the most talented maestro inhistory? How about the most important virtuoso? If you discover a fascinatingnew type of music or performer, all the better.

DEFINITIONS

allegro brisk or rapid in tempo; lively

atonal without key; musical notes that are not related by any mode or key

NAME THAT TUNMUSICAL TERMS


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baroque a style of seventeenth-century (16001750) music written by com-posers such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi

[This can also be a style of architecture and art created during the sameera. All were characterized by very ornate and irregular forms.]

contralto the lowest female vocal range, between alto and tenorconversely,the highest male vocal range

dissonance an unstable combination of musical notes or a discordant sound[Think of an orchestra tuning their instruments. Individual notes sound

ne but simultaneously, this can be pretty harsh. Outside of the music world,this word means inconsistency or disagreement.]

elegy a sad or mournful musical composition or lament, usually for someonewho has died[This word also applies to sad poems and may remind you of eulogy,

which is a speech that is commonly given at a persons funeral.]

falsetto a high singing method used by male singers; an articially high-pitched voice

fugue a composition or musical form that states a theme and then repeats it invarious forms throughout the song

[In the world of psychiatry, this means a period of memory loss, as when aperson later recovers but doesnt remember what happened during the fugue.]

interlude an instrumental piece of music played between parts of a song,between acts in a drama, or another break in the performance

[Think halftime show during a football game. This is what happens dur-ing intermission. This can also refer to a period of time in which a person takesa break from something.]

maestro a master conductor of music; an expert in composing, teaching, orconducting music

[The Yoda of the music world.]

monotone an unchanging tone, a series of identical sounds; a single tone with-out harmony or variation in pitch


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nocturne dreamy music; a composition of dreamy character, especially one forthe piano

orchestra a group of musicians gathered to play musical compositions, often

including string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players, and a conductor infront to lead the music

overture a musical composition that introduces an opera, play, ballet, or otherperformance

[Note that outside of music, this word can mean an opening or initiatingmove toward negotiations or a new relationship.]

recital a musical performance by one person or a small group

[This works for music, as well as dance and even speeches.]reprise a repetition of a musical passage or return to an earlier theme

[The musical version of TV reruns.]

serenade a performance of vocal or instrumental music, especially in the openair at night

tempo the speed at which music is performed, the pace

unison notes at the same pitch; the performance of two or more parts at thesame pitch; all voices singing together in perfect agreement or harmony

virtuoso an extremely talented person who excels in musical technique and/orexecution

[Note that this word is often used to indicate an exceptional performer of any kind, whether musically inclined or not.]


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Activity 1: WORD MATCHMatch each description on the left with the vocabulary word on the right.

1. the speed at which music is played _____ a. allegro

2. a very skilled person _____ b. elegy

3. a musical introduction to a performance _____ c. fugue

4. a single sound without any change _____ d. monotone

5. played or sung all together as one _____ e. nocturne

6. a musical piece played often when someone dies _____ f. overture

7. the musical version of a television repeat _____ g. reprise

8. dreamy music usually for the piano _____ h. tempo

9. music with a repeating theme _____ i. unison

10. a lively, quick pace _____ j. virtuoso

Activity 2: GET CREATIVE!On the lines below, write a story about attending a concert. Use at least ve of the vocabulary words from this lesson. Make sure you use the correct formof theword.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________


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Activity 3: ANALOGIESLook at the relationship of the rst two words, then gure out which vocabulary word belongs in the second set.

1. rapid : allegro :: discordant : __________

2. master : maestro :: unchanging : __________

3. introduction : overture :: break : ___________

4. group : orchestra :: solo : ____________

5. repetition : reprise :: unanimous : __________

Activity 4: HIDDEN WORDSAll the vocabulary words from the lesson are hidden here. Look across, down,diagonally, and backward for them.

R E O A O C U N I S O N T

S L N O M O N O T O N E F

O M A O L N R C E E D O TE O T R N T T T D U M O U

R R O G S R A U L R R P N

U N N E R A R R V C P C O

T E A L L L E N H E L I Y

R M L L O T T E S L A F G

E C N A N O S S I D T U E

V R V I R T U O S O I G L

O Y B A R O Q U E E C U E

L E D A N E R E S O E E R

O R E P E S I R P E R O T

allegroatonalbaroquecontralto

dissonanceelegy falsetto

fugueinterludemaestromonotone

nocturneorchestraoverture

recitalrepriseserenadetempo

unisonvirtuoso


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Activity 5: TRUE OR FALSE?Read each statement. Write T for true or F for false.

______ 1. An overture in a concert is like an intermission during a play.

______ 2. A maestro and a virtuoso are quite similar.

______ 3. A nocturne is energetic and the perfect wake-up-in-the-morningmusic.

______ 4. The tempo of music is the pace at which its played.

______ 5. A recital is always performed by one person only; it is a soloperformance.


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D AY

11

O ne of the most important times in your lifeto make a good impression is when youre job hunting. As you ll outan application form, its imperative that you answer all the questions as fully and effectively as possible. Its equally important that you turn in a strongresume. Both of these forms will be enhanced by a strong, wide vocabulary. Youdont want to get halfway through lling out the application and run into a

word you dont know. You also dont want to write a resume that either usesinappropriate vocabulary or uses words incorrectly.

Furthermore, when you go for a job interview, you want to be able tocompletely understand the questions youre asked and be able to use essentialvocabulary in your responses. Not knowing the meaning of a word can confuse you just enough to get you off the track and into rambling. That can give theprospective employer the wrong impression about you

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Think You Know Your Vocabulary