N E W Y O R K

Junior Skill Builders

Copyright © 2009 LearningExpress, LLC.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright

Conventions.

Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Junior skill builders : word power in 15 minutes a day.-1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-1-57685-674-1

1. Vocabulary-Study and teaching (Secondary)-Juvenile literature. I.

LearningExpress (Organization)

LB1631.J875 2009

428.1071'2-dc22 2008045364

Printed in the United States of America

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First Edition

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Introduction 1

Pretest 5

S E C T I O N 1 : TOOLS FOR BUILDING WORD POWER 13

Lesson 1: Why Work on Your Vocabulary? 15

• Five important reasons to improve your vocabulary

• Sample questions to measure your strengths and weaknesses

• Set goals for increasing your word power

Lesson 2: Tools and Techniques for Learning New Words 21

• Useful resources for vocabulary building

• Which dictionary should you use?

• Why you should keep a personal word book

• Beware the dangerous thesaurus!

Lesson 3: Use a Word's Context to Figure Out Its Meaning 27

• How to figure out a word's meaning without a dictionary

• New words: Use them or lose them!

Lesson 4: Create Meaning from Connotations 35

• Learn how a single word can have many meanings

• Mean what you say

Lesson 5: Understanding Word Parts 43

• Learn how to take words apart to figure out their meanings

• Common prefixes and suffixes to build your word power

C O N T E N T S

i v c o n t e n t s

Lesson 6: Take Words Down to Their Roots 49

• Learn common word roots that will increase your vocabulary

• How ancient Latin and Greek words influence modern

English words

Lesson 7: Mnemonics: Codes to Help You Spell Words 55

• Memory aids to help you spell better

• Tricks for remembering difficult ideas

Lesson 8: Synonyms and Antonyms: Similars and Opposites 63

• How to find the single right word among the many that

might do

• Knowing how the opposite word can help you

Lesson 9: Which Is the Right Word? 71

• Clearing up the confusion between similar-sounding words

• Memorize these tricky word pairs and never misuse

them again

S E C T I O N 2 : U S E D I F F E R E N T PAR T S O F S P E E C H

TO I N C R E A S E WORD POWER 79

Lesson 10: Discover New Nouns 81

• Acquire new nouns that create word power

• Why it's useful to know more than one word for every idea

Lesson 11: Pick the Best Adjectives 87

• Learn how adjectives are like the salsa on chips

• Five ways in which adjectives can improve your word power

Lesson 12: Zip Up Your Verbs 93

• Learn how verbs are the engines that power

good communication

• New words that create verb versatility

• Tips for remembering the spelling of some tricky verbs

Lesson 13: Dress Up Verbs with Adverbs 101

• Learn why adverbs are the fuel that makes verbs go

• Intense adverbs will make you a better communicator

• Common adverb mistakes to avoid

contents v

S E C T I O N 3 : BUILD WORD POW E R I N A L L

SUBJECT AREAS 107

Lesson 14: Words to Describe Personalities 109

• Learn new ways to describe yourself-and everyone

you know

• Identifying personality types and traits with their

special names

Lesson 15: Words to Describe Feelings 115

• Learn new words to use when it feels as if words

aren't enough

• Common words that describe uncommon emotions

Lesson 16: Words to Describe Extreme Emotions 121

• Learn new words to overcome vocabulary frustration

• Tips on using the same word in different

grammatical forms

Lesson 17: Strange Feelings and Emotions 127

• Learn the precise words that describe some very

uncommon feelings

• Strange emotions don't require long words, just the

right words

Lesson 18: Learn Words for the Sciences 133

• Learn words to describe the various fields of science

• Reminders on how to increase your vocabulary by knowing

word roots

Lesson 19: You May See the Doctor Now 139

• Learn useful words in the medical field-for doctors and

patients alike

• Specialized words for illnesses and research areas

Lesson 20: Words about Families 145

• Learn how complicated it sometimes is to define who's in

your family

• Specialized family words that help define relationships

v i c o n t e n t s

Lesson 21: Mind Your Manners 153

• Learn many words to help you obey society's rules

• With good manners, simply saying thank you is often

not enough

• Why it's okay to not say what you mean

Lesson 22: Words from Popular Culture 159

• Learn how old words are adapted to describe new ideas

• Increase your vocabulary inventory by spotting new trends

Lesson 23: Words from the Sports Arena 165

• Learn new words to use on and off the playing field

• Discover why sports is considered the universal language

Lesson 24: Words about Politics 171

• Learn words that describe both national and

local governments

• Your school may be the place to use your new political

word power

Lesson 25: Words about Computers 177

• Learn the precise and accurate words to describe common

online activities

S E C T I O N 4 : B U I L D WORD POW E R I N S P E C I A L WAY S 183

Lesson 26: Words We've Adopted 185

• Learn words brought into English from other languages-

and sound like a sophisticated traveler

• Pronunciation and usage tips to increase your foreign word

power

Lesson 27: Words That Really Mean Something Else 191

• Learn vocabulary-building euphemisms to impress (or

comfort) your listeners

• Five good reasons to avoid saying exactly what you mean

Lesson 28: Confused and Abused Words 199

• Learn how to get unconfused by common word errors

• Tips on how to avoid abusing words by using them too

frequently and imprecisely

contents v i i

Lesson 29: Words about Words 205

• Learn some of the most interesting words in the language

• Reminders on avoiding some common bad vocabulary habits

Lesson 30: Words with Extra Power 211

• Learn new words with extraordinary precision and punch

• Polish your writing and punctuate your speech with the

efficient and sophisticated words in this lesson

Posttest 217

Hints for Taking Standardized Tests 225

Glossary 231

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DECISION to increase your word power.

The definition of word power is having a strong vocabulary. That doesn't mean

just knowing lots of words; it means being able to use them comfortably and

effectively.

Building word power may be one of the most important tasks you

accomplish in your school years-apart from graduation itself, of course!

Writing school assignments is usually a big challenge, and what single thing

could make writing easier? The answer is simple: knowing enough of the

right words to say what you mean so you can finish the writing assignment.

Having a good vocabulary is valuable outside of school as well. Having

just the right words in your mind, or at the tip of your tongue, lets you

express your thoughts precisely. We've all experienced the frustration of

knowing what we mean, but not being able to communicate our thoughts to

others. That frustration is usually linked to vocabulary, because the more words

you know, the easier it is to communicate your ideas. And the ability to communicate

is necessary all through your life, not just in your school years. With lots

I N T R O D U C T I O N

2 i n t r o d u c t i o n

of useful words in your vocabulary, you'll send more interesting IMs and text

messages to friends, write wonderful thank you notes to relatives, and get a

better job (and keep it) when you start working!

This book is designed to help you build word power in an easy, efficient

way. If you invest just 15 minutes a day with this book, you'll increase your word

power dramatically. You will have acquired hundreds of new words to use at

school, at home, with friends, and anywhere else for the rest of your life!

Here's how it works: The book is divided into 30 lessons. Each lesson

requires you to spend just 15 minutes learning new words and doing simple

exercises to cement those words in your vocabulary. So your word power

increases every day, and, if you keep on schedule, you'll have added several

new words to your vocabulary by the end of the month!

Time to get started. Today is the first day of your vocabulary power-up.

You'll find that building word muscle isn't such hard work-and it can actually

be lots of fun!

HOW THIS BOOK WILL INCREASE YOUR WORD POWER

Think of this book as a vocabulary savings bank: with each lesson, you add to

your word power and get richer. And as you do this, you earn interest on your

investment for the future. Once you learn a word, you almost never forget it.

It gets filed in your word bank account-your brain-and is available for you

to use the rest of your life!

The book is divided into four sections designed to build word power in

various ways. Each of the 30 lessons focuses on a specific vocabulary skill or

family of words.

Section 1: Tools for Building Word Power. In these first nine lessons,

you'll review word roots and common prefixes and suffixes (word beginnings

and endings), and gain tricks and techniques for learning new words.

Section 2: Use Different Parts of Speech to Increase Word Power. These

lessons help you build an inventory of useful nouns, verbs, adjectives, and

adverbs to make your writing and speaking more powerful.

Section 3: Build Word Power in All Subject Areas. Think of a part of

your life that interests you, and find ways to increase your word power on the

subject.

Section 4: Build Word Power in Special Ways. The final section of the

book covers ways to use slang, foreign phrases, and confusing and extra

fancy words to beef up your vocabulary and become an extremely powerful

wordsmith.

introduction 3

The book uses carefully designed features to make learning quick and

easy:

• Truly useful, versatile words that you'll find yourself using right

away. No lists of longest/hardest/rarest words are included. The

words here give you real word power, not silly tricks.

• Basic, simple definitions of new words. No long, complicated

historical references, just the meaning you need to use a word

correctly.

• Samples of new words in useful, believable sentences. Sample

sentences are like those you might hear or say in normal conversation.

• Easy-to-understand phonetic pronunciation guides, in cases

where it may be tough to figure out how to say an unknown

word.

• A variety of exercises to keep you interested and challenged, and

help you get the new words filed permanently in your memory

bank.

• Tips and techniques for figuring out the meanings of new words

you hear or read.

• Dictionary, thesaurus, and other resources (some online) that can

help you build word power as you work with this book and

after.

• A list at the end of each lesson: Words You Should Now Know.

These are words defined and/or used in the lesson that may be

new to you. If a word has not been defined in the lesson, and you

don't recognize it, use a dictionary to look it up.

• A list of Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson. This feature provides

space for you to record additional new word(s) you may

have learned in the lesson.

You'll get the most out of this book if you do the lessons in Section 1 in

order, because each lesson builds on skills from earlier lessons. But once

you've finished the first section, feel free to do the rest of the lessons in a different

order. What's important is that you complete all the lessons, and review

any that seemed tricky the first time. If you stick with the plan, in just one

month you'll have word power to brag about!

Your book also includes a pretest and a posttest to help you evaluate

word power before and after using the lessons. On the pretest, you're not

expected to get all the answers right. If you did, you wouldn't need this book!

4 i n t r o d u c t i o n

The difference in your two scores after you take the posttest will show you

how your word power has increased!

Each lesson takes just 15 minutes. If you'll invest that very small amount

of time each day to read and absorb a lesson's material and answer a few

questions, you'll noticeably improve your vocabulary. Now, doesn't that

sound workable?

TIP: The Best Way to Improve

Your Vocabulary and Build Word Power

The single most effective way to improve your vocabulary is simply

this: READ! If you read at least 15 minutes a day, every day, your

vocabulary will certainly improve. And it doesn't really matter what

you read; even comics are fine. So read-anything. Books. Newspapers.

Magazines. Internet sites. Without realizing it, you'll learn new

vocabulary words, new sentence structures, new information-and, of

course, you'll be building your word power!

THIS PRETEST HAS 30 questions that test your knowledge of the kinds of

vocabulary skills covered in this book. The test should take about 30 minutes

to complete, and will provide a sense of your existing vocabulary knowledge.

The answer key is at the end of the test. It also includes the lesson number

in which each question's vocabulary word appears. Don't peek and good

luck!

1. An advocate is

a. a criminal lawyer.

b. a member of the legislature.

c. a kind of tropical fruit.

d. someone who speaks for an idea or a person.

P R E T E S T

6 p r e t e s t

2. The word context means the

a. surrounding or background of something.

b. list of contents in a book.

c. index at the back of a book.

d. best way to complete a sentence.

3. When you call something explicit, you mean it

a. is very complicated.

b. is very simple.

c. is clearly stated.

d. cannot be easily understood.

4. The root of a word is the

a. ending of a word.

b. main part of a word.

c. beginning of a word.

d. origin of a word.

5. A prefix is the

a. syllable at the beginning of a word.

b. syllable at the end of a word.

c. place where a word begins.

d. idea that is the word's starting point.

6. The word stationery describes

a. something that doesn't move.

b. a statue in a public park.

c. writing paper and envelopes.

d. a service place, such as a gas station.

7. The word dessert describes

a. a dry landscape with cactus and no grass.

b. the tropical part of a jungle.

c. the ending of a story.

d. the sweet part served at the end of a meal.

pretest 7

8. The word duel describes

a. something that is double.

b. having two or more of an item.

c. a formal fight between opponents.

d. the second place winner in a race.

9. To persecute someone is to

a. try them for a crime.

b. count them as part of a group.

c. find someone guilty of a crime.

d. punish or pursue in an extreme manner.

10. A hostel is

a. a place where animals live.

b. a fairly inexpensive hotel.

c. a hostess at a company party.

d. an introduction to a play.

11. Adjectives are words that

a. convey the action in a sentence.

b. describe or modify nouns in a sentence.

c. act as helpers to the verb in a sentence.

d. determine when the action is happening.

12. The word inherent means

a. a natural part of something that cannot be separated.

b. an extra part of something that can easily be separated.

c. the last item in a list or series.

d. something that can be divided into at least two parts.

13. The word predominant refers to the

a. least important part of a subject.

b. opening paragraph in an essay or short story.

c. final explanation in an essay or short story.

d. most common or important part of something.

8 p r e t e s t

14. To do something frantically means

a. to do it with great care.

b. to do it with great energy.

c. to do it in a rush or a panic.

d. to do it with a lot of style and attitude.

15. To do something vigorously means

a. to do it with great energy and strength.

b. to do it with a lot of style and attitude.

c. to do it with great care and caution.

d. to do it in a rush or a panic.

16. Someone who is altruistic is

a. a person who has great wealth.

b. a person who is selfish and self-involved.

c. a person who cares unselfishly for others.

d. a person who is always honest.

17. A gourmet is someone who

a. knows a lot about the subject of food.

b. knows a lot about the subject of literature.

c. knows a lot about the subject of finance.

d. knows a lot about the subject of fashion.

18. A narcissist is

a. a person who cares about style.

b. a person who always thinks about money.

c. a person who thinks only of him- or herself.

d. a person who is ambitious politically.

19. To have contempt for people is to

a. care about their welfare.

b. consider them not worthy of respect.

c. consider them very important.

d. be jealous of them.

pretest 9

20. If you are gluttonous, you are

a. a good team player.

b. an accomplished athlete.

c. willing to try anything.

d. someone who eats a lot.

21. If you are having trouble hearing, you should go to

a. a dermatologist.

b. an audiologist.

c. an internist.

d. an ophthalmologist.

22. The doctor who helps straighten teeth is

a. an optometrist.

b. an audiologist.

c. an orthodontist.

d. a dermatologist.

23. Aerobic exercise is

a. working out with free weights.

b. running at least a mile a day.

c. exercise that builds muscles.

d. exercise in which the heart pumps faster and the body uses more

oxygen.

24. Calisthenics are exercises that

a. require the use of free weights.

b. require the use of no equipment.

c. require a great deal of cross training.

d. require large muscle mass.

25. Kinetic is a word that describes

a. something that is produced by motion.

b. something that is stationary and never moves.

c. something that builds muscle strength.

d. something that builds stamina.

10 p r e t e s t

26. To facilitate is to

a. state the same idea twice.

b. find something useful to contribute.

c. offer an opposing argument.

d. make something happen easily.

27. Hierarchy is a word that describes

a. a group with power.

b. a democratic committee.

c. an arrangement by rank or importance.

d. a set of ideas or beliefs.

28. A faux pas is

a. a mistake in manners or conduct.

b. an instrument of torture.

c. a last chance to save someone.

d. a damage to someone's reputation.

29. A matinee is

a. a matter of politics.

b. an elegant French dessert.

c. a computer video program.

d. an afternoon performance.

30. A pirouette is

a. the topping on a pie.

b. the point of a fountain pen.

c. a ballet step.

d. a French candy.

pretest 11

ANSWERS

1. d (Lesson 3)

2. a (Lesson 3)

3. c (Lesson 3)

4. b (Lesson 5)

5. a (Lesson 5)

6. c (Lesson 7)

7. d (Lesson 7)

8. c (Lesson 9)

9. d (Lesson 9)

10. b (Lesson 10)

11. b (Lesson 11)

12. a (Lesson 11)

13. d (Lesson 11)

14. c (Lesson 13)

15. a (Lesson 13)

16. c (Lesson 14)

17. a (Lesson 14)

18. c (Lesson 14)

19. b (Lesson 16)

20. d (Lesson 16)

21. b (Lesson 19)

22. c (Lesson 19)

23. d (Lesson 23)

24. b (Lesson 23)

25. a (Lesson 23)

26. d (Lesson 24)

27. c (Lesson 24)

28. a (Lesson 26)

29. d (Lesson 26)

30. c (Lesson 26)

MEMORIZING LISTS OF new words is boring and definitely no fun. And

actually, memorizing is not an efficient way to increase your word inventory-

the memorized words are quickly forgotten. In the first nine lessons of

this book, you'll review (or learn for the first time) how to use some language

basics, such as knowledge of word roots, common prefixes and suffixes (word

beginnings and endings), and additional tricks and techniques, to help you

learn new words and remember them.

1

tools for building word power

S E C T I O N

VOCABULARY LISTS? UGH. Word tests? Double ugh. Spelling tests?

Triple, triple ugh.

Sound familiar? Many people have uttered those ughs, silently or out

loud-and probably more than once. At first glance, studying words and their

meanings (and their correct spellings) may not appear to be a fun activity, but

few areas of study can bring you more rewards in the long run.

Here are some important reasons to increase your word power.

1. You'll do better on tests-and not just vocabulary tests. Knowing

more words is the key to showing your teachers that you've

been reading your assignments and absorbing the ideas you're

taught. You'll have an impressive inventory of words to choose

from when answering questions.

2. Your thought process will improve. One problem you might

have run into when writing an essay is that it requires a certain

word count, but you can't think of enough to write about! When

L E S S O N 1

why work on your vocabulary?

Words are a lens to focus one's mind.

-AYN RAND (1905-1982)

AMERICAN NOVELIST AND PHILOSOPHER

This lesson reviews five important reasons to improve your vocabulary, and

gives you some short diagnostic test questions to help you evaluate your word

power strengths and weaknesses.

16 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

your vocabulary knowledge increases, you can describe your

ideas, feelings, opinions, and facts more precisely because you

have more words at your disposal. Before you know it, you'll not

only write thoughtful, descriptive essays-you'll meet that word

count and have more to say than ever before!

3. You'll better understand the things you read. You get most of

the new information you learn, in school and out in the world,

by reading. Think of all the reading you do: on websites and

blogs you visit, sending and receiving text messages, listening to

songs. Commercials, television shows, and movies you see are

full of words. Every medium, whether it's something you're

assigned in school or something you've chosen to experience as

entertainment, is at least partly made up of words. The more

words you know, the more you'll be able to understand and

appreciate new things.

4. You'll impress people with your word power. This may seem

like a superficial reason to build vocabulary, but think about it.

Right now, you're a student and you want to impress your teachers

and prove your academic abilities to them. Once you're out

in the working world, you'll find it's even more important to

make a good impression-on future bosses, for example. And

both now and in the future, you've got to convince friends and

family that you know what you're talking about and you mean

what you say.

What better way to accomplish these goals than to have an extensive

inventory of words! That's what impressing people is all about: making a

good impression because you've found the words to say exactly what you

mean.

Can you think of any other reasons to build your word power? If so, jot

them down here:

Even More Reasons to Build Word Power

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

why work on your vocabulary? 17

MEASURING YOUR WORD POWER STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

The pretest you took before starting this section gave you a general evaluation

of your word power skills. You may wish that you'd scored higher on

that test, but never fear. You're on your way to improving your word power

by reading and completing the lessons in this book. After those, you'll ace

the posttest!

PRACTICE: FINDING OUT WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

The following three diagnostic questions will help you spot specific areas you

need to concentrate on to have greater word power. There are no right or

wrong answers; just try to complete the questions quickly and easily.

1. Vocabulary Fluency: What Does That Word Mean?

This question tests your ability to use antonyms, or words with opposite

meanings. If you know what a word means, you should be able to supply

its opposite very easily.

In the blank next to each word, write a word that means the opposite.

Time: one minute

Test Word An Opposite Word

sweet

different

asleep

run

easy

Was this question easy for you? Did you zoom through it? If so, you

don't seem to have problems with fluency-the ability to find the right word

easily in your vocabulary inventory. If you hesitated, or were stumped and

unable to think of an opposite word, you'll need to pay particular attention to

remembering the meanings of new words you learn. Be sure to practice carefully,

using new words in conversation or written sentences.

18 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

2. Using Synonyms: Do You Know Another Word?

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. This question tests

your ability to supply synonyms for sample words.

In the blank next to each word, write a word with a similar meaning.

Remember, there may be more than one synonym. Write the first one

that comes to your mind.

Time: one minute

Test Word A Similar Word

strange

rude

correct

enormous

rule

How did you do? This question tested your ability to use synonyms, or

words with similar (if not exactly identical) meanings. If this question was a

breeze for you, you can be somewhat confident about your ability to find synonyms

in your vocabulary inventory. This skill is important to reading comprehension

as well as to writing. If you hesitated, or found it difficult to think

of a synonym, you'll need to pay particular attention to acquiring new words.

Your vocabulary may be weak and in need of some strengthening.

3. Using the Right Homonym: Is That Word Spelled Correctly?

Homonyms are words that are pronounced the same way but have

entirely different meanings.

Circle the correct word in each sentence.

Time: one minute.

1. Ethan dropped his subway token down the street (great/grate) and

suddenly had no way to get home.

2. His day at the (beech/beach) had been loads of fun, but now he was

really stuck.

3. Wondering what to do, Ethan scraped the (souls/soles) of his flipflops

along the curb nervously, waiting for inspiration to strike.

4. If he remained (stationery/stationary) and kept hoping, then maybe a

friend would come along and lend him an extra token.

5. On the other hand, if he continued to (waist/waste) time standing

still, he'd be in big trouble once he finally got home.

why work on your vocabulary? 19

If you found these questions easy to answer, you're probably a fairly

good speller. But you can't be too careful. Some of the most common test-taking

and essay-writing errors occur when students rush through their work

and fail to double check their spelling. If you had to think hard to answer any

of these questions, you'll need to pay special attention to spelling, which is a

skill often overlooked in word power.

SET YOUR WORD POWER LEARNING GOALS

Now that you've completed these brief practice exercises, you should have an

idea of which areas of vocabulary improvement you need to concentrate on. Is

it spelling? Is it understanding word meaning? Is it knowing words well

enough to use them casually in conversation and writing?

In the space below, list the areas you want to improve, and remember,

deciding to improve in more than one area is certainly allowed!

My Word Power Goals

1.

2.

3.

Lesson 1 Words You Should Now Know

antonym

diagnostic

enormous

fluency

homonym

inventory

stationary

stationery

synonym

20 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

ANSWERS

Practice: Finding Out What You Already Know

1. Vocabulary Fluency. Possible antonyms (opposite words) include:

sweet: sour, salty, bitter, spicy

different: same, similar, alike

asleep: awake, alert, waking, conscious

run: walk, stumble, hop, stand still

easy: difficult, hard, complicated

2. Knowing Synonyms. Possible synonyms (same or very similar words)

include:

strange: odd, weird, alien, uncommon, unusual

rude: ill-behaved, ill-mannered, vulgar, inconsiderate, impolite

correct: right, appropriate, true, valid

enormous: large, gigantic, huge

rule: nouns: law, principle, regulation; verbs: legislate, reign, govern, run

3. Using the Correct Homonym

1. grate

2. beach

3. soles

4. stationary

5. waste

LEARNING NEW WORDS isn't a magical process. And it's not rocket science.

It just takes a willingness to learn and an appreciation of how useful

words can be. It's important to remember that the best words aren't necessarily

the longest ones-or the strangest ones. Indeed, most great writers agree

that the best words are the simple ones that express thoughts in plain language

that's sincere and direct.

All this means is that if you want to improve your word power and the

ability to communicate effectively, you can. You'll just need some valuable

resources and time-tested techniques to make words stick in your word bank.

L E S S O N 2

tools and techniques

for learning new words

The finest language is mostly made up

of simple unimposing words.

-GEORGE ELIOT (1819-1880)

PEN NAME OF MARY ANN EVANS, ENGLISH NOVELIST

This lesson introduces a variety of useful resources to help you improve your

word power. You'll also learn vocabulary building techniques and tricks to help

you in both written and spoken communication now and in the future.

22 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

TOOLS FOR BUILDING WORD POWER

A Good Ear

The very best tools for building vocabulary are attached to your head: your

two ears! Listening carefully is an ideal way to pick up new words. If you concentrate

on listening for new words, you'll discover that you hear them every

day. You'd be amazed at how often new words whiz past you! (In Lesson 3,

you'll learn to figure out a new word's meaning by noticing the other words

in the sentence.)

TIP: Go back to the Introduction and reread the tip on ways to build

word power. Remember, the most effective way is to read!

KEEP A PERSONAL WORD BOOK

When you read or hear an unfamiliar word, write it down so you can look it

up later. Often, writing a word helps you commit it to memory. Some people

are visual learners, who remember new things best when they see the written

words or ideas. Other people are auditory learners, who remember things more

easily if they're spoken or sung. Which kind of memory learner are you?

Either way, it's a great idea to keep a daily notebook in which you write any

new words you hear or see.

TIP: Challenge your best friend to keep a word book, too, and compare

the books every few weeks, exchanging new words. Compete to see

who gets the longest list. Loser treats winner to an after-school

snack!

WORD SEARCH BOOKS AND CROSSWORD PUZZLES

If you take the bus or other public transportation, or spend time sitting

around an airport, you probably see people with word search or crossword

puzzle books. These activities are popular because they keep minds active

tools and techniques for learning new words 23

while teaching new and interesting words. They also provide a challenging,

fun way to pass the time.

If you haven't tried these kinds of puzzles, check your local newspaper

or go online to look for them. Puzzle books are sold in most bookstores, so

you may want one to keep in your backpack for down time. You may well

become a real word puzzle fan, which could be a good thing. Who knows,

you just might turn into a famous writer someday!

DICTIONARIES

This may seem obvious, or boring, but don't underestimate the value of a dictionary.

You should make it a habit to use a dictionary in two ways.

1. Look up the meanings of words you don't know.

2. While looking up a word, note other words printed near it.

Browse, and you may find some other, really fascinating ones

you don't know on the same page!

WHICH DICTIONARY IS BEST?

Look around your home, and you'll probably find a dictionary sitting on a

shelf somewhere. This can be an invaluable tool in building your vocabulary.

A dictionary provides a lot of useful information about words: how to pronounce

them, their grammatical functions, their history and development,

and any multiple meanings of words. Most of the time, you won't use all this

information, but its usefulness and overall value will increase with time.

There will most likely come a day when you'll find yourself using a dictionary's

detailed information more frequently.

ONLINE DICTIONARIES AND VOCABULARY TOOLS

If you spend time online, you should become familiar with all the dictionary

help available on the Internet. Use the online resources by typing the word in

the search box, or if you want to be more specific, type in definition + the

word you want. You'll be offered definitions of that word from several dictionaries

and encyclopedias. Typically, along with the definition, you'll find lists

of or links to antonyms and synonyms from a thesaurus.

24 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

WORD OF THE DAY

Build your word power and help feed hungry people of the world at the same

time-for free! It's a win-win situation! At www.freerice.com, you are given a

word and four possible meanings. Click on the right meaning and you donate

20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. (You'll see the

rice grains appear in a bowl.) If you get the answer wrong, you are told the

right answer and given an easier word to define. After each right answer,

you'll have the chance to define more words, including any you got wrong

along the way, and watch the rice fill the bowl. You may have so much fun

that you'll want to donate a bowl of rice each day!

TIP: Be very careful when searching in online dictionaries. These websites

often include advertisements that try to pull you away from the

academic definitions. While you may find the additional material

interesting, it's not always accurate or true.

BEWARE OF THE THESAURUS

A thesaurus is a book that provides synonyms and antonyms for words. Use a

thesaurus to look up a word and find many other words that have the same

(or the opposite) meaning as that word. But be careful! Thesauruses don't

explain the nuances, or subtle differences in meaning, that exist among words

that seem to have the same or nearly the same meaning. For example, look at

this short list of synonyms that a thesaurus provides for the word adequate:

competent, modest, sufficient, suitable, decent, equal

Now, imagine using any of these words in the following sentence:

Sally, the hardest-working student in our class, has a vocabulary

that is ______________.

Would each of these words create the same meaning if it were plugged

into the sentence? Hardly. To say that Sally's vocabulary is suitable is very different

from saying that it is sufficient or adequate. And saying it is equal doesn't

make any sense at all.

Avoid using a thesaurus unless you know for sure that the word you've

chosen conveys exactly the meaning you want. The thesaurus is a writing tool

tools and techniques for learning new words 25

to use only after you have a very extensive vocabulary of your own. Then,

you can choose from the words supplied with a better understanding of all

their meanings.

WORD SEARCH-JUST FOR FUN!

Here's a word search utilizing ten words taken from this lesson. See how quickly

you can find all of them, in the word search as well as in the previous pages.

PRACTICE: VOCABULARY BUILDING WORD SEARCH

Find and circle the words from this lesson hidden in the word search puzzle

below. Words may appear backwards, vertically, or horizontally.

T S C A P T S H J O L C Y U L

M E I H L L C Y E N O T P E A

R A C T A W D S N M A Q F G C

S C O H T L S I M O N G B V I

R E D D N J L U A M N E S W G

F I S H E I N E C X Z Y M N A

A P R I G I C H N Q L K M F M

H O U S C A T A B G D P J G I

Q R A A V B X I L P E E S O T

Y O T B G N I T A N I C S A F

E E I T O B V I O U S K L G A

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

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

P F A S E L S I G E N I O B I

J E X P R O N E W Q T O N R N

Word Bank

challenge ninja

communicate obvious

fascinating synonym

genuine technical

magical underestimate

26 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Lesson 2 Words You Should Now Know

fascinating obvious

genuine technical

ninja thesaurus

nuance underestimate

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice: Vocabulary Building Word Search

T S C A P T S H J O L C Y U L

M E I H L L C Y E N O T P E A

R A C T A W D S N M A Q F G C

S C O H T L S I M O N G B V I

R E D D N J L U A M N E S W G

F I S H E I N E C X Z Y M N A

A P R I G I C H N Q L K M F M

H O U S C A T A B G D P J G I

Q R A A V B X I L P E E S O T

Y O T B G N I T A N I C S A F

E E I T O B V I O U S K L G A

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

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

P F A S E L S I G E N I O B I

J E X P R O N E W Q T O N R N

BEFORE YOU BEGIN this lesson, make sure you understand the meaning of

context:

context (noun):

1. the sentence in which a word appears that often helps the reader

understand its meaning

2. the surroundings, circumstances, environment, background, or

settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event

Looking at the context in which an unfamiliar word appears may be an easy

way to determine the word's meaning. You've been doing just that all your

life without even thinking about it. When you were an infant and beginning

to understand words, your parents taught you by using context. For example,

your mother might have handed you a piece of apple and said, apple. So that's

L E S S O N 3

use a word's context to

figure out its meaning

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in

rather a scornful tone, "it means just what

I choose it to mean-neither more nor less."

-LEWIS CARROLL (1832-1898)

PEN NAME OF CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON, ENGLISH AUTHOR

This lesson focuses on figuring out the meanings of new words from clues

around them, and provides sample exercises to help you practice using this

invaluable skill.

28 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

how you learned the word, by connecting it in context to a crunchy, juicy

object you could eat!

Now, you're older and reading on your own, but you can use the same

kinds of surrounding clues to determine the meanings of words new to you.

Here's an example of how it works. What's the meaning of the underlined

word in the following sentence?

Sherlock Holmes deciphered the mystery of the crook's identity by puzzling

out the clues left behind at the scene of the crime.

a. wrote

b. forgot

c. photographed

d. discovered

If you chose d, you figured out the meaning of decipher by using other words

in the sentence. Knowing that Sherlock Holmes was trying to solve a crime

helped you eliminate words that didn't make sense, like forgot, photographed,

and wrote. The words puzzling out probably helped you, too. And through a

process of elimination, you figured out that in this sentence, deciphered means

"discovered." Here's the dictionary definition of decipher:

decipher (verb): to make out the meaning of something that is difficult

to read

Example: I cannot decipher his handwriting.

TIP: When you learn a new word, try to use it soon (and frequently) in

everyday speech. Record the new word in your personal word book,

and make a point of using it in the next day or so.

PRACTICE: DISCOVERING MEANING FROM CONTEXT

Circle in pencil (in case you change your mind) the choice you think is the correct

definition of the italicized word. If you don't know the meaning of the

word italicized, you should be able to figure it out from the context. An explanation

of the correct answer follows each question, so read slowly and carefully-

and don't peek ahead at the explanation!

use a word's context to figure out its meaning 29

1. Make sure you give your parents explicit directions for where to pick you

up after soccer practice.

a. complicated

b. clearly stated

c. in chronological order

d. factual

You can eliminate complicated and in chronological order because they

don't make sense. Why would you want to give complicated directions? That

wouldn't help anyone get there to pick you up in time. And chronological order

means putting things in sequence according to when they happened. This

sentence is about something that will happen in the future. Factual also doesn't

make sense because it suggests there are two kinds of directions-factual ones

and imaginary ones! So, by a process of elimination, you should choose clearly

stated as the meaning of explicit.

2. Although it was futile, Tom insisted on applying to become a member of

the girls' soccer team, even though he knew he didn't meet the most

basic requirement.

a. useless

b. fruitful

c. possible

d. likely

The context tells you that Tom doesn't meet the most basic requirement,

so you can eliminate possible and fruitful, both of which suggest good, positive

outcomes for his application. Futile means "useless," producing no result, like

Tom's application.

3. Brittany considered her parents' rules an enigma; she couldn't understand

why they wanted her to be home so early every afternoon.

a. an enemy

b. a solution

c. a mystery

d. a good idea

The second half of the sentence tells you Brittany doesn't understand the

rules, so you can eliminate an enemy and a good idea. It's unlikely that she considers

their rules a solution, so you should have chosen a mystery. An enigma is

something that's puzzling or difficult to understand.

30 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

4. The principal is extremely popular with the students because he is a

strong advocate of students' rights.

a. opponent

b. enemy

c. member

d. supporter

You might have picked enemy because some students don't like their

principal, but the context of the sentence tells you that this principal is popular.

So you can eliminate opponent as well. Member isn't logical; students and

principals aren't usually members of the same group. Supporter is the right

choice here. To be an advocate means to actively support an idea or a group.

5. One component of Tim's outfit was a baseball cap turned sideways on his

head; another was his sagging pants.

a. distraction

b. color

c. disappointment

d. part

This is a difficult choice. The word component means one of several parts

that make up a whole, usually a machine or a system. For example, earphones

are a component of an iPod. So part is the best choice. But you might have chosen

either distraction or disappointment, if any surrounding sentences seemed

to criticize Tim's general appearance.

6. The decision to convert the school year to a ten-month calendar was very

controversial among both students and teachers.

a. creating popularity

b. causing excitement

c. creating profits

d. causing disagreement

As a student, you probably found this choice fairly easy. You can eliminate

creating profit, because it would be highly unlikely for changing the calendar to

make money for the school. The fact that both students and teachers are

involved here should help you choose either a or d. Choice a is a logical possibility;

there may be students somewhere in the world who want a shorter summer,

but have you ever met one? The correct choice is d. Something that's controversial

causes disagreement; it's something about which people have different opinions.

use a word's context to figure out its meaning 31

7. Jennifer implied that she wanted to be Jim's girlfriend, but she didn't say

so directly.

a. hinted

b. declared

c. refused

d. questioned

The context tells you that Jennifer has chosen not to say something

directly, so the definition of the word implied is already in the sentence, waiting

for you to learn it. To imply means to suggest that something is true without

stating it clearly.

8. The squeaks made by bats are usually too high-pitched to be perceived by

humans.

a. imitated

b. enjoyed

c. noticed

d. criticized

Did you choose noticed? Then you chose wisely. To perceive is to

become aware of, recognize, or understand by means of the senses, such as

hearing. You might have chosen imitated or enjoyed, both of which make

sense, but don't accurately convey the entire meaning of perceive. They are

more specialized, specific words, and here, the more general term noticed is

the best choice.

9. Humor is the predominant theme of many animated television shows,

including The Simpsons.

a. most important

b. interesting

c. likeable

d. controversial

You might have been able to decipher the meaning of predominant

because it sounds similar to the word dominate, a word you might already

know. The correct answer here is a. Predominant means "more noticeable,

more prominent, having more power or more visibility than others." Context

tells you that humor is one of several themes, so you might have chosen b or c,

but the root word dominant confirms that the right choice is a. You'll learn

more about root words in Lesson 6.

32 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

10. Almost every Saturday night Jeremy implemented a plan for sneaking out

of the house late at night without his parents ever realizing that he was

gone.

a. planned

b. succeeded

c. put into action

d. dreamed up

In this sentence, context tells you that Jeremy got out every Saturday

night without being discovered. Thus, the correct answer is c. He did both

plan and dream up the escape, and he did succeed, but only choice c describes

getting away with it. To implement means to make something happen. In this case,

your choice depended on your awareness of the word's connotation-you'll

learn more about connotations in Lesson 4.

SUMMARY

This lesson gave you practice in figuring out word meaning from context. In

the future, when you hear or read a word you don't know, instead of feeling

frustrated or choosing to skip over the new word, use your meaning-fromcontext

skills to figure out what the word means. You'll be pleased to find that

often, you can teach yourself a new word just that easily!

Lesson 3 Words You Should Now Know

advocate explicit

component futile

context implement

controversial italicize

decipher perceive

enigma predominant

use a word's context to figure out its meaning 33

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

THE PREVIOUS LESSON focused on strategies for finding the meaning of

words by looking closely at their context, or surroundings. In this lesson,

you'll learn to identify subtle differences in the meanings of words that may

seem quite similar at first.

At first glance, many words seem to convey the same thought, but upon

closer inspection, you'll discover that this is not always the case. Words can

mean very different things. We describe a word's meaning by using these two

categories:

Denotation: the literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation: the suggested, emotional, cultural, or implied meaning of

a word.

L E S S O N 4

create meaning from connotations

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean,

for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

-HENRY BROOKS ADAMS (1838-1918)

AMERICAN NOVELIST AND HISTORIAN

This lesson will help you become more aware of how one word can convey several

meanings. Becoming sensitive to the implied meaning of new vocabulary

words will help you build your word power.

36 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Think about two simple words we all know and often use: home and house.

Dictionary definitions of these words are quite similar:

house (noun): a structure serving as an abode for human beings.

home (noun): one's own dwelling place; the house or structure in which

one lives; especially the house in which one lives with one's family; the

habitual abode of one's family.

But, do the two words always mean the same thing? Look at the following

sentences and consider the different uses of the word home.

Israel is the ancestral home of many of the world's religions.

Pedro is an American citizen, but he considers Mexico his home.

The way home for the runaway is often long and lonely.

In each sentence, the word home means something different, something more

subtle and complicated than the denotative meaning of a dwelling or a structure.

In the second sentence, Pedro's emotional attachment to Mexico is great enough

for him to think of it as home, a place of warmth, love, family, and happiness,

even though he has an actual dwelling or abode somewhere in the United States.

In general, words have connotations that are positive or negative; sometimes

a connotation is neutral, but this is less likely. Most often, words derive

their connotations from the context in which they appear, or the way people

use them. It's rare to use words only in their denotative, dictionary meaning,

and because words can carry complicated meanings, it's important for you to

be sensitive to their possible connotations. The more connotations you know,

the stronger your word power will be.

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING COMMON WORD CONNOTATIONS

Read the following sets of words, and then write each word in the appropriate

column according to the connotation, or association, it has for you and your

friends.

1. thin, plump, fat, slim

2. chatty, quiet, talkative, moody

3. snooty, friendly, vain, proud

4. shack, residence, apartment, condo

create meaning from connotations 37

Positive Connotations Negative Connotations Neutral Connotations

How many words did you write in the neutral column? Did you hesitate about

certain words? Is it fair to conclude that most words you use have a connotative

meaning at least slightly different from their denotative meanings?

SAYING EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN

Whenever you speak or write, be aware of any connotations of the words you

use. As you know, the words you choose convey your meaning; that's what

language does. But not only words have connotations; whole sentences do.

Spoken or written language that includes carefully chosen connotative words

to convey emotions or subtle suggestions make sentences more interesting

and help listeners or readers get a clearer understanding of what you're really

trying to say. The more precise your words, the more power they will have,

and the better your overall communication will be.

38 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

PRACTICE 2: CREATING MEANING THROUGH CONNOTATION

For each sentence below, identify the change in meaning created by the substitution

or addition of a new word or words to describe the underlined word or

words in the sentence. If you don't know a word, look it up in the dictionary.

The example has been done to give you a sample to follow.

Example

The candidate raised his arms above his head as the crowd applauded

loudly.

The victorious candidate raised his arms heroically as the crowd

applauded uproariously.

Denotation of the sentence: A candidate won and the crowd applauded.

Connotation of new sentence: An extremely popular candidate won

and felt proud of his victory. This sentence is much richer in

connotation; it communicates meaning more effectively.

Now, describe the differences between sentences by telling denotative and

new connotative meanings. You may want to include a description of the

writer's attitude toward the subject in each case.

1. After Hurricane Katrina, the city ran out of first aid supplies.

In the tragic wake of Hurricane Katrina, the city's first aid supplies were found

to be inadequate and drastically lacking.

Denotation:_________________________________________________________

New Connotation:___________________________________________________

2. The reviews of the movie The Wizard of Oz varied, but the audiences liked

the movie.

The movie reviewers were ambiguous in their comments about The Wizard of

Oz, but the audiences loved the movie unanimously.

Denotation:_________________________________________________________

New Connotation:___________________________________________________

create meaning from connotations 39

3. Speaking after a coughing fit is hard.

Speaking coherently after a coughing fit is often more than a cold sufferer can

manage.

Denotation:_________________________________________________________

New Connotation:___________________________________________________

4. Cutting school can affect your future.

The consequences of repeatedly cutting school can have negative repercussions

throughout your life.

Denotation:_________________________________________________________

New Connotation:___________________________________________________

5. The newspaper reporter was accused of favoring one candidate over the

other.

The newspaper reporter was said to be guilty of distorting the facts in order to

damage one candidate's reputation.

Denotation:_________________________________________________________

New Connotation:___________________________________________________

Can you make a generalization about the difference between each of the first

and second sentences? Do you see that the second sentences have more

words, more specific words, and more complicated thoughts than the first

sentences? As you've no doubt figured out, these are the characteristics of sentences

with word power.

40 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Lesson 4 Words You Should Now Know

ambiguous distort

coherent inadequate

connotation subtle

consequence unanimous

denotation uproarious

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 2: Creating Meaning through Connotation

1. After Hurricane Katrina, the city ran out of first aid supplies.

In the tragic wake of Hurricane Katrina, the city's first aid supplies were

found to be inadequate and drastically lacking.

Denotation: Factual report of lack of supplies.

New Connotation: Sentence blames the city for running out of supplies

by using emotional words like tragic, inadequate, and drastically.

2. The reviews of the movie The Wizard of Oz varied, but the audiences liked

the movie.

The movie reviewers were ambiguous in their comments about The Wizard

of Oz, but the audiences loved the movie unanimously.

Denotation: Interesting but unexplained report that reviews of movie

varied.

New Connotation: Sentence explains how popular movie was with audiences

even though reviewers weren't clear about what they thought.

create meaning from connotations 41

3. Speaking after a coughing fit is hard.

Speaking coherently after a coughing fit is often more than a cold sufferer

can manage.

Denotation: Sentence states a fact, but that's all. No new information is

provided.

New Connotation: Sentence communicates what it is like to have a bad

cold and cough.

4. Cutting school can affect your future.

The consequences of cutting school repeatedly can have negative repercussions

throughout your life.

Denotation: Sentence makes an unclear statement what the effect of cutting

school will be.

New Connotation: Sentence is somewhat clearer by saying effect is negative

for a long time.

5. The newspaper reporter was accused of favoring one candidate over the

other.

The newspaper reporter was said to be guilty of distorting the facts in

order to damage one candidate's reputation.

Denotation: Sentence is vague and doesn't explain how the reporter

favored the candidate.

New Connotation: Sentence more clearly says what the reporter did that

was wrong and why he did it.

YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T thought much about how words are made up of

parts, but did you know that you can often figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar

word by looking at its component parts? Remember that word component?

You learned it in Lesson 3. Well, the parts are usually fairly easy to

identify. In general, words are made up of three parts:

• Root. The main part of a word, to which prefixes and suffixes are

added.

• Prefix. The syllable(s) attached to the beginning of a word to

alter or add to its meaning.

• Suffix. The syllable(s) attached to the end of a word to alter or

add to its meaning.

In this lesson, we'll concentrate on prefixes and suffixes, and leave word

roots for a later lesson. You've been using prefixes and suffixes all your life,

L E S S O N 5

understanding word parts

Let language be the divining rod that finds the sources of thought.

-KARL KRAUS, (1874-1936)

AUSTRIAN WRITER AND JOURNALIST

This lesson helps build word power by providing practice in taking words apart.

Knowing common prefixes and suffixes and how they work, you'll gain vocabulary

fluency with unfamiliar words. And you'll learn to expand and modify words

you already know!

44 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

probably without even noticing them, and you no doubt already know most

of them.

PREFIXES

The word prefix itself uses a prefix (pre-), which means before. The prefix

changes the meaning of the word root, which is fix. Here's how:

Fix: to place securely

Prefix: a syllable placed at the beginning of a word.

Knowing prefixes can help you figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word

(do you see the prefix on the word unfamiliar?) in the following ways:

• Prefixes help you know whether the word is positive or negative.

• Prefixes help you determine the meaning of a word through context.

• Prefixes help you figure out the meaning of a word by the meaning

of the prefix.

Some Common Prefixes in Words You Probably Already Know

Here are some prefixes you probably use all the time, with examples of how

they work.

anti, ant: opposite, against. Think of antibiotics and antiwar.

circ, circum: around, on all sides. Think of circumference.

co, com, con: with, together. Think of cooperate and connect.

dis: away from, reversal, not. Think of dismiss and disrespect.

mis: bad, wrong, opposite. Think of misbehave or misspell.

multi: many, multiple. Think of multimedia and multiplication.

pre: before. Think of precaution, prevent, and predict.

re: back, again. Think of replace, recall, and rewind.

super: above, over. Think of superintendent and superior.

understanding word parts 45

SUFFIXES

Suffixes may not be as easy to use to figure out the meaning of words. Suffixes

most often just change a word's part of speech. For example, the adjective

equal becomes a noun, equality, when you add the suffix -ity. The verb depend

becomes the adjective dependable when you add the suffix -able. The noun

beauty becomes the verb beautify when you add the suffix -ify. Obviously, there

are way too many suffixes, and they're too complicated for you to memorize

them all. But don't be discouraged. Instead, just be aware of how they work,

and look for them when you try to figure out a word's meaning.

Some Common Suffixes in Words You Probably Already Know

-able, -ible: capable or worthy of. Think of remarkable and incredible.

-an, -ian: one who is, characteristic of. Think of politician.

-ish: having the character of. Think of childish and foolish.

-ive: performing an action. Think of cooperative and defensive.

-ate: to make or become. Think of irritate or frustrate.

-ize: to cause to become. Think of colonize and humanize.

TIP: Don't be intimidated (scared or made to feel nervous) by prefixes

and suffixes. Recognizing them can often help you figure out the

meaning of an unfamiliar word and they build your word power when

you use them to expand or modify words you already know.

PRACTICE: FIGURING OUT NEW WORDS FROM PREFIX AND

SUFFIX CLUES

Circle the correct meaning for the italicized word in each sentence.

1. Antecedent means

a. fighting against.

b. looking after

c. coming before.

d. recent.

46 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

2. Multifaceted means

a. two-faced.

b. many-sided.

c. cut into parts.

d. chaotic.

3. Consensus means

a. an individual's opinion.

b. a counting of individuals.

c. separate and dissimilar.

d. general agreement by a group.

4. Dubious means

a. one who doubts.

b. to question.

c. doubtful, questionable.

d. to be uncertain.

5. Agrarian means

a. incapable of making a decision.

b. to cultivate.

c. to be out of date.

d. relating to the land or land ownership.

6. Metamorphosis means

a. to transform.

b. one who has changed.

c. a transformation.

d. capable of change.

7. To reconcile means to

a. reestablish a relationship.

b. move away from.

c. out do

d. prioritize.

understanding word parts 47

8. Subordinate means

a. under someone else's authority.

b. organized according to rank.

c. something ordinary or average.

d. unrealistic, fantasy-like.

9. Docile means

a. one who rears animals.

b. one who manages domestic affairs.

c. willing to obey, easily managed.

d. to obey authority.

10. To subjugate means

a. to be the subject of a sentence.

b. to conquer, bring under control.

c. to be surrounded on all sides.

d. to drive away from the source.

Lesson 5 Words You Should Now Know

agrarian metamorphosis

antecedent multifaceted

consensus reconcile

docile subjugate

dubious subordinate

intimidate

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

48 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

ANSWERS

Practice: Figuring Out New Words from Prefix and

Suffix Clues

1. c. The prefix ante- means before. Antecedent means that which precedes, or

comes before.

2. b. The prefix multi- means many. Multifaceted means having many faces,

being complex.

3. a. The prefix con- means with, together. Consensus means general agreement

reached by a group.

4. c. The suffix -ous means having the quality of. Dubious means doubtful,

questionable.

5. d. The suffix -ian means one who is or does. Agrarian means relating to or

concerning land and its ownership.

6. c. The suffix -sis means the process of. Metamorphosis means a

transformation, a change of form or function.

7. a. The prefix re- means back, again. To reconcile means to reestablish a close

relationship, to bring back to harmony.

8. a. The prefix sub- means under, beneath. As an adjective subordinate

means of a lower or inferior rank, or subject to the authority of others. As a

noun, it means one that is subordinate to another. As a verb, it means to

put in a lower or inferior rank, or to subdue.

9. d. The suffix -ile means having the qualities of. Docile means willing to

obey, or easily managed.

10. b. The prefix sub- means under, beneath. To subjugate means to conquer,

subdue, bring under control.

IN THE PREVIOUS lesson, you learned how prefixes and suffixes modify

words. In this lesson, you'll focus on the root words to which prefixes and

suffixes are attached. Our English language is a relatively new language in

the history of the world, and it's one of the richest and most complicated. Its

very newness is responsible for the great variety of English words in the language.

Thousands of English words are built upon root words from other

languages that have existed for thousands of years. English, as we speak it

today, began about 400 or 500 years ago, so we're practically babies in the

language game!

People who study the history and origin of words and languages are

called etymologists. But you don't need to be an etymologist to benefit from

knowing how words are formed and re-formed with word roots. As a student,

your vocabulary skills will be enhanced (look up enhanced if you don't

already know what it means) by learning some common root words. Once

you do, you'll be able to use them to help you figure out the meaning of unfamiliar

words.

L E S S O N 6

take words down to their roots

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.

-ROBERT BURTON (1577-1640)

ENGLISH AUTHOR AND CLERGYMAN

This lesson, like the previous one, will help you build word power by taking

words apart. Roots are the building blocks of words, and knowing some common

roots will help you to gain vocabulary fluency with unfamiliar words.

50 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

The two most common sources for English words are Latin and Greek

roots. You probably learned about these civilizations in school, so you know

that Latin was the language spoken in ancient Rome more than 2,000 years

ago. Latin spread throughout Europe and eventually developed, by about the

seventeenth century, into modern languages spoken today, like English,

French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

A SAMPLE LATIN ROOT AND ITS USE IN COMMON

ENGLISH WORDS

Look at some of the many English words that have been built from one Latin

root.

ced/ceed/cess: Latin root for to go, yield, stop

antecedent: that which comes before

cessation: a stopping, the end of something

concede: to admit something is true, to surrender

exceed: to extend beyond

precede: to come before

proceed: to go forward

procedure: the act of proceeding, a process

You don't have to memorize Latin roots; that would be a huge task and could

take years! But a list like the one above should help you see the relationships

that exist between words and help you figure out meanings of similar-sounding

words.

Ancient Greek is the other major original source of many English words.

The language spoken in Greece today is descended (look up that word if you

don't already know it) from earlier forms of Greek that date back to the thirteenth

century B.C. Imagine how fascinating it is for etymologists to trace a

modern word in English back through 3000 years of Greek usage!

take words down to their roots 51

A SAMPLE GREEK ROOT AND ITS USE IN COMMON

ENGLISH WORDS

Look at some of the many English words that have been built from one Greek

root.

chron: Greek root for time

anachronism: something that is out of date or placed in the wrong time

chronic: continuing over a long time, or recurring

chronology: the sequence of events in time

chronicle: a detailed record or description of past events

synchronize: to cause to occur at the same time

Now that you've seen samples of Latin and Greek roots and their descendants

in modern English, take the following quiz to see how other roots are used in

common words you may use every day.

PRACTICE: LEARNING NEW WORDS AND SEEING THEIR ROOTS

Circle the correct meaning for the italicized word in each sentence.

1. The Latin root am means love. An amiable person is

a. talkative.

b. truthful.

c. well educated.

d. friendly, good natured.

2. The Latin root plac means to please. A complacent person is one who

a. makes frequent mistakes.

b. is argumentative.

c. is self-satisfied.

d. is known to tell frequent lies.

3. The Latin root luc/lum/lus means light. A lucid argument is

a. very clear and understandable.

b. loosely held together.

c. illogical.

d. one that blames others.

52 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

4. The Latin root qui means quiet. A quiescent place is

a. very isolated.

b. very chaotic.

c. very dangerous.

d. very still and restful.

5. The Latin root loc/loq/loqu means word, speech. Something that is eloquent

a. dull and trite.

b. expressed in an effective way.

c. very old-fashioned.

d. equally divided into parts.

6. The Greek word auto means self. To have autonomy means to

a. have a lot of money.

b. be independent.

c. have courage.

d. have strong opinions.

7. The Greek root pas/pat/path means feeling, suffering, disease. To have empathy

a. give to others.

b. have a love for others.

c. identify with the feelings of others.

d. be similar to others.

8. The Greek root pseudo means false, fake. The root nom/nym means name. A

pseudonym is

a. a false name.

b. an ancient god or deity.

c. a harsh sound.

d. a long and boring speech.

9. The Greek root dog/dox means opinion. The suffix -ic means having the

quality of. A person who is dogmatic is

a. not in touch with reality.

b. intolerant of other opinions.

c. one who asserts opinions in an arrogant way.

d. secretive and ungenerous.

take words down to their roots 53

10. The Greek root phil means love and the root anthro/andro means human.

Philanthropy is

a. the love of humankind.

b. a preference for something in particular.

c. using force to control others.

d. spreading unkind rumors.

TIP: Even if you don't have a clue about what a new word means, look

at it closely and see if it sounds similar to another word you know, or

if it has parts similar to other words you know.

Lesson 6 Words You Should Now Know

amiable enhance

anachronism etymologist

autonomy exceed

cessation lucid

chronic philanthropy

chronicle precede

chronology procedure

complacent proceed

concede pseudonym

dogma quiescent

eloquent synchronize

empathy

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

54 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice: Learning New Words and Seeing Their Roots

1. d. Amiable means friendly and agreeable, likeable.

2. c. Complacent means pleased or satisfied with oneself.

3. a. Lucid means very clear, easy to understand.

4. d. Quiescent means inactive, at rest.

5. b. Eloquent means expressed in a powerful or persuasive manner.

6. b. Autonomy means personal or political independence.

7. c. Empathy means understanding or identifying with another's feelings

or situation.

8. a. A pseudonym is a fictitious name, as often used by a writer.

9. c. Dogmatic means asserting yourself in an absolute, arrogant way.

Dogma means a doctrine or a set of principles or beliefs that one

believes are absolutely true.

10. a. Philanthropy means love of humankind, or the voluntary actions to

help others.

HAVE YOU EVER had this experience: You learn a word, its definition, and

how to spell it, but a day or a week later, you can't remember part or all of it?

Sometimes the spelling stumps you, or the exact definition, or how the word

fits into a common grouping. Don't worry-you're not alone. Many people

forget them, so useful memory tricks have developed to be passed on from

learner to learner.

These memory aids are called mnemonics, an English word from the

Greek mnemonikós, which refers to the mind. To pronounce this word, ignore

the beginning m and say it this way: nih-MONN-icks. There are several kinds

of mnemonics, many of which use rhyme. Following is the mnemonic for

remembering how many days there are in each month. You probably already

know this one. Research shows that people find it so simple to memorize that

they only need to read or hear it once, and it's permanently filed in their

brains.

L E S S O N 7

mnemonics: codes to

help you spell words

Words are a wonderful form of communication,

but they will never replace kisses and punches.

-ASHLEIGH BRILLIANT (1933- )

AMERICAN AUTHOR AND CARTOONIST

This lesson gives you a break from learning new words. Instead, you'll find

entertaining and helpful ways to remember words you already know, used to

know, or wish you knew better!

56 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Thirty days has September,

April, June, and November;

All the rest have thirty-one

Excepting February alone,

Which has but twenty-eight,

'Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.

You probably also know this rhyming mnemonic about the discovery of the

Americas:

In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Another common type of mnemonic uses acronyms (AK-ruh-nihmz) to aid

memory. An acronym uses the initial letters of a word or phrase as a key. Here

are two different acronym mnemonics for remembering the names of the five

Great Lakes:

HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior

Sally Made Henry Eat Oranges: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie,

Ontario

See how this works? Here are mnemonic acronyms for remembering the

points of the compass:

Never Eat Shredded Wheat: North, East, South, West

Do you want to remember the order for tuning the strings on a guitar? Try

Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears: E, A, D, G, B, E

As you can see, mnemonics are often silly, but that may help you all the more.

One of the most nonsensical and universally remembered mnemonics is a

sentence that includes every letter of the alphabet, and is often used by people

learning to type:

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

mnemonics: codes to help you spell words 57

MNEMONICS TO HELP YOU SPELL CORRECTLY

Here are some useful mnemonics to help you remember words with tricky or

hard-to-remember spellings:

1. stationery/stationary

stationery with an e is the word that uses writing paper, pens

and envelopes

stationary with an a is the word that describes something that is

parked, not moving

2. principle/principal

The principal of your school is your pal

A principle is a rule to obey

3. capital/capitol

The first letter of a sentence is always spelled with a tall letter.

The capitol building has a dome on it.

4. Necessary is a tricky word to spell

Never Eat Chocolate; Eat Salad, Sandwiches, And Remain

Young

5. quiet/quite

Think of E.T., who was a very quiet alien, but quite a sweet one.

6. cemetery

Remember always that there are three e's in cemetery.

7. accommodations

Hotel rooms always have two beds that look like two Ms.

8. desert/dessert

You always want more, so dessert has two Ss.

9. separate (not seperate)

To remember to spell separate correctly, memorize this mnemonic:

Separate is a rat of a word to spell.

10. Mnemonics is a tricky word to spell.

Mnemonics Neatly Eliminate My Nemesis-Insufficient Cerebral

Storage.

nemesis means an opponent or problem that cannot be overcome

cerebral means of or relating to the brain

58 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

PRACTICE: SPELLING TRICKY WORDS

Choose the correctly spelled words to fill in the blanks. Once you've checked

your answers at the end of the lesson, create a mnemonic to help you remember

each word's correct spelling. Write your mnemonics in the spaces provided.

1. The television commercial for Save Your Life Vitamins promotes the

___________ that eating healthy food isn't enough to keep you healthy.

a. bilief

b. beleif

c. belief

d. bileef

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

2. The doctor, who is the spokesman for Save Your Life Vitamins, has

appeared on the cover of numerous __________.

a. magazenes

b. magazines

c. magezenes

d. magizines

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

3. The Save Your Life Vitamin Corporation is now facing _________ for

fraud.

a. prosekution

b. prossecution

c. prosecution

d. proseccution

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

4. The chief executive in charge of the company is in a tough _________.

a. situation

b. sittuation

c. situachun

d. sitiation

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

mnemonics: codes to help you spell words 59

5. He sweated so much at the press conference that his skin looked

_________.

a. clamby

b. clamy

c. clammy

d. clammby

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

6. The arresting officer in the case couldn't help being jealous of the executive's

exorbitant __________.

a. salerry

b. salary

c. sallary

d. salery

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

7. It was a __________ day for the police department when the arrest was

finally made.

a. supurb

b. superb

c. supirb

d. sepurb

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

8. Law ____________ is not always an easy profession to enter.

a. inforcement

b. inforsment

c. enforcement

d. enforcemint

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

9. The rewards of serving the community are thought to be a ___________

substitute for high pay.

a. terrific

b. teriffic

c. terific

d. terriffic

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

60 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

10. Her sister thinks about the characters on her favorite TV show so much

that it is becoming an _______________.

a. obsession

b. obssession

c. obsessian

d. obsessiun

My mnemonic:___________________________________________________

Lesson 7 Words You Should Now Know

acronym mnemonic

capital nemesis

capitol principal

cerebral principle

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

mnemonics: codes to help you spell words 61

ANSWERS

Practice: Spelling Tricky Words

1. c. belief

2. b. magazines

3. c. prosecution

4. a. situation

5. c. clammy

6. b. salary

7. b. superb

9. c. enforcement

9. a. terrific

10. a. obsession

ALL WRITERS AND SPEAKERS eventually face a similar problem: What

word(s) should I use to communicate exactly what I mean? How can I make

myself clear? Will the person listening or reading understand my thoughts?

Choosing the right word is probably the most difficult part of both

speaking and writing. Using just the right word is at the heart of everyone's

wish to be understood. Therefore, the fundamental goal of this book is to help

you choose wisely as you increase your word power. Knowing lots of words

is the key: the more words you know, the better able you'll be to choose the

right ones as you communicate.

Building a strong vocabulary isn't something you can do overnight.

Learning new words and how to use them is a never-ending process. Someone

who is a good listener and a careful reader will continue to learn new

words throughout life, because there will always be new words to learn.

Think of all the words you know related to computers and television. None of

those words even existed a hundred years ago because computers and TVs

L E S S O N 8

synonyms and antonyms:

similars and opposites

We have too many high sounding words,

and too few actions that correspond with them.

-ABIGAIL ADAMS (1744-1818)

WIFE OF JOHN ADAMS AND MOTHER OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,

TWO PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES

This lesson helps you build word power through a review of useful synonyms

and antonyms, good for bulking up your vocabulary.

64 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

didn't exist. So don't be discouraged about not knowing enough words;

remember that the language is growing right along with you.

One of the genuine pleasures of building your vocabulary is learning all

the different words that can communicate the same idea. How many times do

you say, You know what I mean? or, I mean. . . . Each time you say that, you're

introducing the idea that you're going to repeat your thought, using different

words. We all do it because we all want to make ourselves understood, and

we strive to find the right words to accomplish this. When we repeat a

thought in different words, we usually use synonyms, one of the most useful

devices in our language.

WHAT'S A SYNONYM?

You've already been introduced to the word synonym in Lesson 1. A common

dictionary definition of the word is:

a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another in the

language. Some synonyms for the word happy are joyful, elated, and glad.

Simple enough, right? You use synonyms all the time, even if you didn't

always know the official name for them. You've also probably used the opposite

of a synonym, an antonym, which is defined as:

a word having a meaning opposite to that of another word. The word

wet is an antonym of the word dry.

When you learn a new word, you may grasp its meaning by associating it

with one of its synonyms that you already know. For example, what's another

word for decrease? You know that decrease means to make smaller, and its

antonym is increase. So what is one of its synonyms? A good synonym for

decrease is diminish. Write a sentence here using the word diminish.

____________________________________________________________________

Do you like the sentence you wrote any better because it uses diminish instead

of decrease? Does it sound more important? More grown-up? More precise?

synonyms and antonyms: similars and opposites 65

HOW TO FIND THE SYNONYM YOU NEED

Many writers turn to a thesaurus to find synonyms. As we warned before,

however, using a thesaurus is tricky unless you already know the exact meaning

of each synonym listed for a word. If you don't, you run the risk of picking

a word with the wrong connotation, or even the wrong denotation.

Review Lesson 4 if you're not confident about the difference between denotation

and connotation.

If you feel the need for extra help when you write, use a dictionary. It can

help you to see the subtle differences in how a word can be used. For even

more help, check out a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms. These dictionaries

define all the synonyms and antonyms so you're less likely to substitute

a word that doesn't make sense.

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING USEFUL SYNONYMS

Circle the answer that means the same as the underlined word in each

sentence.

1. A funhouse mirror can really distort your image!

a. deform

b. disappear

c. repeat

d. extend

2. The price of gasoline fluctuates daily.

a. spin out of control

b. run faster

c. change frequently

d. disappear

3. Falling down when you're learning to ride a bicycle is inevitable.

a. impossible

b. certain to happen

c. unequal

d. uncertain

66 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

4. The teacher offered bonus points as an incentive to completing the

homework.

a. a goal

b. a stimulus to action

c. a deterrent

d. a valuable

5. The iPod is an innovation in the recording of music.

a. different from

b. a new development

c. a repetition

d. a tested formula

PRACTICE 2: USING SYNONYMS IN SENTENCES

Now that you've learned five new words, write a sentence for each of them.

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 3: IDENTIFYING ANTONYMS

Circle the answer that means the opposite of the underlined word in each

sentence.

1. The classroom was chaotic once the teacher left the room.

a. confused

b. messy

c. entertaining

d. orderly

synonyms and antonyms: similars and opposites 67

2. The young man is so naïve that he believes everything he reads on the

Internet.

a. religious

b. informed

c. careful

d. innocent

3. The kids persisted with their soccer game even though recess was over.

a. continued in spite of resistance

b. stopped

c. insisted on

d. resisted

4. The teacher implied that we'd have a pop quiz on Friday, but we won't

know for certain until we get to class.

a. explained exactly

b. suggested

c. asserted indirectly

d. questioned

5. An orange is analogous to a clementine, another type of citrus fruit.

a. different from

b. similar

c. the same as

d. deceptive

PRACTICE 4: USING ANTONYMS IN SENTENCES

Now that you've learned five new words, write a sentence for each new word.

Use the word itself or its antonym.

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________

68 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Lesson 8 Words You Should Now Know:

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Identifying Useful Synonyms

1. a. To distort is to change the shape or sound of something.

2. c. To fluctuate is to change frequently.

3. b. Something that is inevitable is certain to happen.

4. b. An incentive is an encouragement or stimulus to action.

5. b. An innovation is an introduction of a new idea, a new process, a new

method, or an invention.

analogous

chaotic

diminish

fluctuate

imply

incentive

inevitable

innovation

naïve

synonyms and antonyms: similars and opposites 69

Practice 3: Identifying Antonyms

1. d. Chaotic means in a state of confusion, without order.

2. b. Naïve means innocent, uneducated, and without artificiality.

3. b. To persist means to continue doing something even if it is difficult or

not approved of by others.

4. a. To imply is to suggest something indirectly, without saying it precisely

or exactly.

5. a. Analogous is an adjective that is used to describe something that is

similar to another thing.

DO YOU KNOW the difference between accept and except? How about duel

and dual? Or the real show-stoppers, affect and effect? These are examples of

some of the most commonly misused words. Sometimes people get confused

because words such as these look similar, sound similar, and are often spelled

similarly. Other times, the mistakes occur because the meanings of the words

are just plain confusing. Whatever the cause of the confusion, you need to be

able to use these words correctly if you want a strong vocabulary.

Here are some categories of confusing words you need to use carefully

in order to use them correctly:

• Homophone. A word that's pronounced the same as another

word but is different in spelling and meaning. Example: carrot

and karat (the unit of measure for precious gems).

• Homonym. A word that is either spelled or sounds the same as

another word, but has a different meaning. Example: meet and

meat.

L E S S O N 9

which is the right word?

I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life

and as soon as I done it I seen it.

-CARL SANDBURG (1878-1967)

AMERICAN POET

This lesson focuses on some common yet confusing words you're likely to use

as you write and speak.

72 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

• Commonly Confused Words. There are many words that are frequently

confused and used incorrectly. The confusion arises

because the words use the same root, or sound similar, or have

similar meanings.

SOME COMMON CONFUSING WORD PAIRS

The following list shows some of the most common homophones and confusing

word pairs, along with brief definitions. Memorize these words and their meanings.

Using them correctly is the sign of an educated, word-powerful person.

Confusing Word Groups Brief Definitions

accept/except to accept is to recognize or take on

except means to exclude something

adapt/adopt to adapt is to adjust or modify something

to adopt is to take something or someone as one's

own

affect/effect to affect is to modify or change something

effect is a noun that means the result

all ready/already all ready is the state of being prepared

already means by this time

all ways/always all ways means every method or path

always means forever, as in time

bibliography/biography a bibliography is a list of books or other documents

a biography is the story of one person's life

breath/breathe breath is a noun describing the intake of air

breathe is the verb, the process of using the air

dual/duel dual means two, or double

duel is a formal fight between opposing parties

ensure/insure to ensure is to make something or some idea certain

to insure is to make something certain in financial

disinterested/uninterested to be disinterested is to have no opinion either way

to be uninterested is to be not interested

persecute/prosecute to persecute is to punish in an extreme manner

to prosecute is to take legal action against someone

personal/personnel personal means belonging to an individual

personnel means all the employees in a company

which is the right word? 73

Confusing Word Groups Brief Definitions

precede/proceed to precede is to go ahead of

to proceed is to continue in the same direction

stationary/stationery stationary means unmoving, still

stationery is paper for correspondence

their/there/they're their describes something belonging to them

there is a description of a place where something is

they're is a contraction of they are

weather/whether weather refers to the conditions in the climate

whether is a conjunction that means or or perhaps

who/whom who is the substitute word for he, she, or they

(subject)

whom is the substitute for him, her, or them (object)

your/you're your describes something that belongs to you

you're is a contraction of you are

TIP: The only sure way to know the definitions and differences

between confusing words is to memorize them. So pay close attention

to the chart above and do the exercises carefully. They'll help you

learn the words permanently, so you can use them easily and correctly.

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT IF CONFUSING WORD

Circle the correct word in each sentence. The answers at the end of the lesson

include definitions for both word choices.

1. The students were convinced their teacher was (persecuting/prosecuting)

them with way too much homework.

2. One of the assignments was to create a (bibliography/biography) of all the

books the students had read during the school year.

3. The teacher's goal was to help the students (adopt/adapt) good study

habits.

4. The students, on the other hand, had a (duel/dual) objective: they wanted

less homework and longer summer vacations.

74 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

5. The teacher promised that the in-class essay she assigned would have no

(affect/effect) on the students' final grades.

6. In an attempt to convince the teacher to change the assignment, the students

argued that they had (all ready/already) done enough in-class writing

for the week.

7. The teacher smiled and told the students to take a deep (breath/breathe)

and begin their writing assignment.

8. The students decided to stop resisting the inevitable and start getting

down to work on their (personal/personnel) essays.

9. (Whether/Weather) or not the students' essays were neatly written and

legible, the teacher planned to read them carefully and comment on

them.

10. The (stationary/stationery) desks where the students sat suddenly fell

silent when the essay writing finally began.

PRACTICE 2: MATCHING CONFUSING WORDS WITH

THEIR DEFINITIONS

Draw lines to match each confusing word with its definition.

Confusing Word Definition

1. adapt a. double

2. except b. written clearly

3. persecute c. have an effect on something

4. bibliography d. punish

5. legible e. exclude

6. dual f. list of books

7. affect g. modify or change

8. adopt h. take legal action against

9. prosecute i. go ahead or in front of

10. precede j. take on as one's own

which is the right word? 75

PRACTICE 3: USING CONFUSING WORDS IN SENTENCES

Fill in the blanks with words you've learned in this lesson.

1. Submitting school assignments in __________ form is always sure to get

you halfway to your teacher's heart.

2. Authors often include a __________ at the end of their books in order to

direct readers to additional resources on the same subject.

3. Jin and Lin, both from Beijing, were ________ by the Adams family last

year.

4. To _______ to American ways, the girls have had to learn new customs as

well as new words.

5. The _________ of studying regularly is often an improvement in your

schoolwork.

6. _________schoolwork often suffers when athletes spend too much time

on the field.

7. The teacher, _______ the students call Ms. Sunshine, always smiles and

laughs at her students' jokes.

8. The mean girls in the classroom next door were __________ in trouble

with their teacher.

9. The __________ of the Beatles usually starts with their beginnings in

Liverpool.

10. Georgina, who claimed she only listened to classical music, was

_________ in the Beatles.

Lesson 9 Words You Should Now Know

Confusing Word Pairs

accept/except

adapt/adopt

affect/effect

all ready/already

all ways/always

bibliography/biography

breath/breathe

dual/duel

ensure/insure

disinterested/uninterested

persecute/prosecute

personal/personnel

their/there/they're

weather/whether

who/whom

your/you're

76 t o o l s f o r b u i l d i n g w o r d p o w e r

Additional Vocabulary Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Identifying the Correct If Confusing Word

1. persecuting. To persecute is to punish unfairly; to prosecute is to take legal

action against.

2. bibliography. A bibliography is a list of books; a biography is the story of

one person's life.

3. adopt. To adopt is to take something or someone as one's own; to adapt is

to adjust or modify something.

4. dual. Dual means two; a duel is a formal competition between two

opponents.

5. effect. Effect is a noun meaning result; affect is a verb meaning to have an

effect on someone or something.

6. already. Already describes a point in time; all ready means that everyone in

a group is ready.

7. breath. Breath is a noun meaning the air inhaled or exhaled; breathe is a

verb meaning the act of inhaling and exhaling.

8. personal. Personal means belonging to an individual; personnel means all

the employees in a company.

9. Whether. Whether is a conjunction of uncertainty, if; weather is a noun

meaning the conditions of the atmosphere of a given place at a given

time.

10. stationary. Stationary means unmoving; stationery means writing paper.

homonym

homophone

karat

legible

which is the right word? 77

Practice 2: Matching Confusing Words with Their Definitions

1. g

2. e

3. d

4. f

5. b

6. a

7. c

8. j

9. h

10. I

Practice 3: Using Confusing Words in Sentences

1. legible

2. bibliography

3. adopted

4. adapt

5. effect

6. their

7. whom

8. always

9. biography

10. uninterested

IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to separate having a strong vocabulary from

knowing the basics of good grammar. In this section you will learn how to use

your knowledge of the four basic parts of speech to build an inventory of useful

nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs that will make your writing and

speaking more powerful.

2

use different parts of speech

to increase word power

S E C T I O N

AS YOU KNOW, every sentence must have at least a noun and a verb. The

noun is the person, place, or thing doing the action in the sentence; the verb,

of course, describes that action. There are common nouns, like boy, girl, dog,

city, or mountain. And there are proper nouns that describe a specific person,

place, or thing, like Harry Potter, Chicago, or Mt. Rushmore.

Nouns are easy enough, right? Well, they can get more complicated, and

much more interesting, when your vocabulary expands to include less common

nouns. Real word power lies in the ability to use lots of different words,

but particularly the exactly right nouns, as subjects of your sentences.

As you're finding out through this book, there's no magic pill that can

increase your vocabulary. You just have to read and listen a lot, and pay close

attention to the words being used. Along the way, you'll acquire new words

and, almost without realizing it, a new ease in writing and speaking.

L E S S O N 10

discover new nouns

One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary

needs constant fertilizing or it will die.

-EVELYN WAUGH (1903-1966)

ENGLISH AUTHOR AND NOVELIST

With this lesson, you'll begin to explore many paths to building your word

power. You'll start with nouns, one of the four basic parts of speech, to acquire

new words and methods for enriching your vocabulary.

82 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

TIP: Remember that it's often easy to figure out the meaning of a new

word by its context.

DISCOVERING NEW NOUNS

1. Read the following paragraph and circle any words that are new

to you. Pay special attention to their context in words around

them, some of which appear in bold type.

Vacation Planning

Mabel was trying to organize her family's vacation, and

somehow it was getting more complicated than she'd anticipated.

The kids would be at Camp Serenity for the first

two weeks after the summer solstice, and after that, she

planned to take them to Seventeen Flags for a special treat.

The dilemma was finding a hotel or a nearby inn that

offered accommodations for two kids, a mom, a dad, two

dogs, and three pet snakes. "Maybe you should consider a

boardinghouse or a bed-and-breakfast," suggested her

travel agent, "or try a hostel. Such an establishment might

show you clemency or at least a little mercy."

Did you encounter any words you didn't know? If so, list them here:

_____________________ ____________________ _____________________

_____________________ ____________________ _____________________

_____________________ ____________________ _____________________

_____________________ ____________________ _____________________

The paragraph includes several nouns that are more or less synonymous. The

text would not make much sense; however, if the writer had used the familiar

word hotel repeatedly, even though most of the alternative words used are

actually synonyms or near synonyms for it. In fact, the use of different nouns

enabled the writer, in the words of the travel agent, to make several suggestions

that potentially widened Mabel's search for a place where she and her

family and pets could rest their weary bones.

discover new nouns 83

PRACTICE 1: CREATING SENTENCES WITH NEW NOUNS

Of course you know the word hotel, but did you know all the others: inn, bedand-

breakfast, boardinghouse, and establishment? How about the words serenity,

solstice, clemency, and mercy? Which of these words were unfamiliar to you?

Use your dictionary to learn meanings for the new words. Then write

sentences using three of the words you've just learned.

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

TIP: The few moments you take to look up a word in a dictionary can

really pay off. You'll understand the meaning of the word and pump up

your word power with just a tiny input of energy on your part!

Read the following paragraph and circle any words that are new to you.

Pay special attention to the nouns in bold type.

Do You Want Fries With That?

The student council meeting turned into a near riot. The argument

on the day's agenda was whether or not the school should allow

fast food and soft drinks to be sold in the cafeteria. One viewpoint

was that soft drinks and potato chips were fine but French fries

weren't. Another position held that soft drinks were really bad,

and presented a detailed deposition from a medical expert about

the harm these drinks can cause. Mediation seemed necessary, but

who should be the arbiter of food policy? The students or the

school district's administration? Should a referendum to all concerned

parties, including parents, be offered? Surely someone had

to provide amnesty to the warring parties.

84 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

You've probably read or heard some of these words before. Others may

have been understandable because of their context. And still others may be

entirely new words. Do you see how the use of less common nouns adds zest

and interest to the paragraph? How would it sound if simpler, more common

nouns were substituted for the boldfaced words?

PRACTICE 2: WORD AND DEFINITION MATCHING

Draw lines to match each word on the left with its definition on the right.

1. mercy a. intervention to bring settlement

2. deposition b. decreasing of punishment; forgiveness

3. hostel c. one who settles controversies

4. serenity d. forgiveness, compassion

5. clemency e. signed testimony by someone absent

6. advocate f. vote by all parties concerned

7. mediation g. inexpensive overnight lodging

8. referendum h. person who speaks in support of an idea

9. arbiter i. a plan of action of an organization

10. policy j. state of calm, without disturbance

11. amnesty k. choice between two unpleasant options

12. dilemma l. safety from punishment or prosecution

PRACTICE 3: IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT NEW NOUNS

Directions: Fill in the blanks with words you've learned in this lesson, using

the list in the preceding exercise as your inventory of possible nouns.

1. Some __________ was necessary in the committee room if the meeting

was ever to end.

2. Congressman Jenkins, the committee chairman and the final __________,

broke the tie vote and ended the heated argument.

3. The ideal political candidate has clearly presented __________ positions

on most current issues.

4. The medical examiner, who was in the hospital and therefore could not

attend the trial, sent in his written __________.

discover new nouns 85

5. After one of the jurors started crying, the judge called for a recess in an

attempt to institute a state of __________ in the courtroom.

6. The defendant, after being found guilty, begged the judge for __________

in determining the years he would have to spend in prison.

7. "Robbing a __________ is no less a crime than robbing a bank," declared

the judge sternly.

8. The convicted robber's mother demanded __________ for her son,

promising that he would change his ways in the future.

9. An __________ of lighter sentences for convicted robbers spoke to the

courtroom in the young man's defense.

10. The judge reminded the audience that some prison terms were regulated

by law, and that a __________, a vote of the citizens of the state, would be

required to change the prison term rules.

Lesson 10 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

amnesty

arbiter

clemency

deposition

dilemma

hostel

mediation

mercy

policy

referendum

serenity

86 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

ANSWERS

Practice 2: Word and Definition Matching

1. d

2. e

3. g

4. j

5. b

6. h

7. a

8. f

9. c

10. i

11. l

12. k

Practice 3: Identifying the Right New Nouns

1. mediation

2. arbiter

3. policy

4. deposition

5. serenity

6. clemency

7. hostel

8. mercy

9. advocate

10. referendum

ADJECTIVES ARE WORDS that describe, modify, specify, or qualify a noun.

Alas, the poor adjectives. They are so often undervalued, and thought of as

little helpers to big, important nouns. But nothing could be further from the

truth. Adjectives just may be the most powerful, useful parts of speech in the whole

language!

Adjectives are the spice of language, the salsa on chips, the whipped

cream on top, the special detail that tells listeners or readers what you really

feel or mean. Here are some things adjectives do for communication:

• add color, definition, and detail

• clarify statements and explain new ideas

• paint visual images in the mind

• convey the emotions of the writer or speaker

• create emotions in the reader or listener

• help people win or lose arguments

L E S S O N 11

pick the best adjectives

The adjective is the banana peel of the parts of speech.

-CLIFTON FADIMAN (1904-1999)

AMERICAN EDITOR AND WRITER

This lesson brings you new and useful adjectives to strengthen your word

power and make your communications more effective.

88 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

Without adjectives, your language would be limp and lifeless, and it probably

wouldn't give much useful information either. Consider the following

sentences:

Noah, my brother, brought home a dog.

Noah, my youngest brother, brought home a dog.

Noah, my youngest and silliest brother, brought home a darling little

spotted puppy dog.

The first sentence provides facts, and that's it. You have no idea what kind of

dog, or how the writer feels about the introduction of a dog to the home. The

second sentence provides only a small additional piece of evidence-the

writer's birth order in the family. The third sentence, however, gives you a lot

of information. You learn the writer's opinion about his brother as well as his

tendency to love dogs: the dog is no longer just a dog, but is now a darling little

puppy.

Having an extensive vocabulary gives you the word power to apply the

precise adjective(s) to convey the exact connotation you seek. Look at the following

examples and note how the addition of more specific adjectives provides

more interesting and exact meaning to simple phrases:

• a good movie

• a fun movie

• an action-packed adventure movie

• a hard vocabulary test

• a difficult vocabulary test

• a grueling vocabulary test

• a hard teacher

• a tough teacher

• a demanding teacher

In each group, the third sample provides the most information. The word grueling

means difficult or exhausting. Use of the word is an obvious improvement

over the acceptable, but not very interesting, adjective difficult to describe the

test. Similarly, using the word demanding says a lot more about the teacher

than simply calling him or her tough or hard.

pick the best adjectives 89

SOME USEFUL ADJECTIVES FOR YOU TO LEARN

This lesson includes 12 very expressive and useful adjectives, along with short

definitions and sample sentences to illustrate their meanings.

Read this list slowly and carefully to be sure you understand the words.

If you can, think of a mnemonic to help you remember each meaning. Try to

quickly come up with a sentence that includes that word.

1. adjacent. Next to. Our school is adjacent to a skate park where

we spend afternoons.

2. concurrent. Happening at the same time. My two favorite television

shows are concurrent, so I have to TiVo one or the other

every week.

3. eclectic. Selected from a variety of sources. Our team consists of

an eclectic mix of talented and totally untalented players.

4. empirical. Based on experience or observation rather than on

ideas or beliefs. Weathermen use the empirical evidence found

in historical records to predict future storms.

5. finite. Being limited; having an end or boundaries. Environmentalists

believe Earth's resources are finite and must be preserved.

6. implicit. Suggested, implied, or understood; not directly stated.

The teacher's implicit instructions were that neatness counted

as much as timeliness, but she didn't say that exactly.

7. inherent. A natural part of something that cannot be separated

from it. Competitiveness is probably inherent in athletes.

8. intrinsic. A basic part of the nature of something or someone.

Bees are intrinsically attracted to sweet-smelling flowers, and

humans seem to be intrinsically attracted to sweet-tasting foods.

9. predominant. The most common or important; most dominant.

Saving energy has become a predominant issue in countries all

over the world, not just in America.

10. preliminary. Happening before something that is more important.

The preliminary trials for the Olympics are held throughout

the world in order to select each country's finest athletes.

11. prudent. Using careful and sensible judgment. Prudent students

start their homework early, and finish early, in order to leave

time for other more entertaining activities.

12. reluctant. Hesitant or uncertain. Hikers should not be reluctant

to admit their fears about steep paths and rocky ledges.

90 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

TIP: Sometimes you can remember a word better if you focus on its

synonym, or even its antonym. Think about synonyms and antonyms

whenever you're learning a new word.

PRACTICE: MATCHING ADJECTIVES WITH THEIR DEFINITIONS

Draw lines to match each adjective with its definition.

Adjective Definition

1. implicit a. based on observation

2. finite b. the most common or important

3. adjacent c. a natural, inseparable part of something

4. concurrent d. having an end or boundaries

5. intrinsic e. being basic to something

6. inherent f. selected from a variety of sources

7. empirical g. suggested but not stated directly

8. predominant h. coming before something more important

9. reluctant i. next to something

10. eclectic j. exercising careful judgment

11. prudent k. happening at the same time

12. preliminary l. hesitant or uncertain

Lesson 11 Words You Should Now Know

adjacent

concurrent

demanding

eclectic

empirical

finite

grueling

implicit

inherent

intrinsic

preliminary

prudent

reluctant

pick the best adjectives 91

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice: Matching Adjectives with Their Definitions

1. g

2. d

3. i

4. k

5. e

6. c

7. a

8. b

9. l

10. f

11. j

12. h

WITHOUT VERBS, NOTHING would happen. Verbs are the engines of

communication, describing the action taking place or the relationship

between two people or things. And verbs also tell a reader or listener the time

of the action: present, past, or future.

Verbs are such an essential part of communication that sometimes a verb

can stand alone to communicate a whole idea:

Stop. Go. Smile. Hurry.

Even in one-word answers, the verb is understood although not spoken:

Have I made myself clear?

Yes. [Understood, not spoken: You have made yourself clear.]

When are you arriving?

Tomorrow. [Understood, not spoken: I will arrive tomorrow.]

L E S S O N 12

zip up your verbs

After the verb "to Love," "to Help" is

the most beautiful verb in the world.

BERTHA VON SUTTNER (1843-1914)

WINNER OF NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1905

This lesson brings you new and versatile (useful in many ways) verbs to

strengthen your word power so your communications become more effective.

94 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

WHAT DO VERBS DO?

The primary function of a verb is to describe a state of being (is, are, and so

on) or an action taken by the subject (the main noun) in the sentence:

Janet is my sister. (state of being)

Janet eats some chocolate every single day. (action taken by subject)

As the powerhouse of every sentence, verbs are extremely important. With

the right, strong, precise verb, your sentences can be very forceful and create a

strong impression.

Janet eats some chocolate every single day.

Janet snacks on some chocolate every single day.

Janet devours some chocolate every single day. (devour means to eat

quickly, with great hunger)

The basic fact in these three sentences is the same, but the information and

emotion communicated changes dramatically with the simple change of the

verb. Do you think the word devour carries a positive or a negative connotation?

Does the writer approve of Janet's chocolate obsession? You probably

can't answer these questions without more context in additional sentences;

the word devour could be an implied criticism or just an amusing way to

describe Janet's chocolate habit.

What you can definitely be sure of is that having a broad vocabulary

gives you the word power to choose strong, colorful, and precise verbs to convey

the exact connotation you seek.

SOME VERSATILE VERBS FOR YOU TO LEARN

This lesson provides 12 very useful verbs to add to your vocabulary, along

with short definitions and sample sentences that illustrate their meanings.

Read the list slowly and carefully to make sure you understand the

words. If you can, think of a mnemonic to help you remember each word's

meaning, or think quickly of a sentence using the word.

1. allocate. To set aside for a specific purpose. The teacher allocated

15 minutes each day to a review of new vocabulary

words.

zip up your verbs 95

2. attain. To accomplish or achieve. Students who want to attain

high marks must allocate time every evening to undisturbed

study.

3. augment. To increase or add to. Readers seeking to augment

their vocabulary will enjoy reading this book.

4. cease. To stop. The students' laughter ceased as soon as the tests

were handed back.

5. compensate. To pay; to make up for something. 1. The teacher is

compensated for her hard work with a yearly salary. 2. Many

students tried to compensate for their lack of hard work by

charming the teacher with smiles and jokes.

6. compile. To put together from various sources. The class compiled

its new vocabulary list from several of the stories read in

class.

7. deduce. To reach a conclusion using facts. The teacher was able

to deduce which students had studied and which hadn't by the

vocabulary test results.

8. derive. To receive or understand something from something or

somewhere else. Many words in English are derived from roots

that originated in Latin or Greek.

9. interpret. To explain; to translate from one form into another.

The teacher interpreted the students' smiles to mean that they

either enjoyed the lesson or were glad it was over!

10. perceive. To see or understand something that's difficult to

understand. The serious students perceived the need to study

hard; the others didn't.

11. prioritize. To organize or handle in order of importance. I prioritized

my homework based on which assignments were due

sooner than others.

12. utilize. To make use of. The teacher encouraged students to utilize

their dictionaries to learn the accurate meanings of words.

SOME HELPFUL MNEMONICS

It's often easy to remember a word's meaning by creating a mnemonic for it.

Here are a few that may help you with this lesson's verbs:

Allocate: to assign ALL to a new place

Deduce: to DEDUCT or subtract one idea from another

96 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

Compile: to make a PILE of things

Perceive: to SEE something is to per-SEEVE it

Utilize: to USE something USEFUL

Can you invent some others?

PRACTICE: KNOWING YOUR NEW VERBS

Circle the the correct meaning of the italicized word in each sentence.

1. To compile something is to

a. appreciate it.

b. value it.

c. describe it.

d. gather it.

2. To derive something is to

a. expand it.

b. understand it.

c. clarify it.

d. avoid it.

3. If you allocate something, you

a. worry about it.

b. understand it.

c. assign it.

d. forget it.

4. To compensate someone means to

a. pay them.

b. criticize them.

c. flatter them.

d. dismiss them.

5. To deduce something is to

a. think negatively about it.

b. wonder if it is true.

c. fix it firmly.

d. figure it out rationally.

zip up your verbs 97

6. When you augment your work, you are

a. increasing it.

b. finishing it.

c. avoiding it.

d. enjoying it.

7. To perceive something means to

a. oppose it.

b. damage it.

c. understand it.

d. forget it.

8. To prioritize a task means to

a. not complete it.

b. continue doing it.

c. despise doing it.

d. plan to do it first.

9. To cease doing something is to

a. continue doing it.

b. despise doing it.

c. stop doing it.

d. appreciate doing it.

10. To attain something is to

a. achieve it.

b. reject it.

c. imitate it.

d. expand it.

11. When you interpret something you

a. ask for it.

b. admire it.

c. explain it.

d. inquire about it.

12. To utilize something is to

a. understand it.

b. use it.

c. imitate it.

d. achieve it.

98 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

Lesson 12 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Words You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

allocate

attain

augment

cease

compensate

compile

deduce

devour

prioritize

utilize

versatile

zip up your verbs 99

ANSWERS

Practice: Knowing Your New Verbs

1. d

2. b

3. c

4. a

5. d

6. a

7. c

8. d

9. c

10. a

11. c

12. b

AS YOU LEARNED in the previous lesson, verbs are the engines of communication;

they describe the action in sentences. Adverbs are words that modify,

or add more information about, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

Here are some examples:

shouting angrily

carefully shredding papers

smiling graciously

write easily

gratefully count your blessings

run quickly

As the examples show, adverbs add flavor and punch to verbs. In fact,

adverbs can be thought of as fuel to makes verb engines work better. Using

adverbs to dress up and clarify your communications is a great way to

increase your word power.

L E S S O N 13

dress up verbs with adverbs

When ideas fail, words come in very handy.

JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE (1749-1832)

GERMAN PHILOSOPHER AND WRITER

This lesson reviews how easily you can make your writing and speech livelier

and more interesting by adding adverbs, those handy words that help verbs

communicate better.

102 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

TIP: Learning how adverbs work may seem like just another grammar

lesson, but don't be turned off. Knowing adverbs and how they work

will help you build word power, which is why you're using this book,

right?

ADVERBS AT WORK

Adverbs provide information about how, when, where, and to what extent

something is happening in a sentence. Some adverbs function as intensifiers,

modifying adjectives or other adverbs to add intensity, or strength, to the

words. Here are some examples:

We almost won the game.

He nearly ate the whole thing.

She always arrives promptly.

Many adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -ly to adjectives. So the adjective

quick becomes quickly and lazy becomes lazily. Making adverbs this way

is an easy way to expand your word power; just think of an adjective, then

change it to an adverb to make a verb more specific.

SOME COMMON ADVERB MISTAKES

There are some adjectives and adverbs that get confused and are often used

incorrectly. Memorize their correct use. If you learn them well, and never

make an error with them, you'll immediately be perceived as a writer or

speaker with both good grammar and word power.

Here are the correct usages:

real = always an adjective

really = always an adverb

Studying regularly can make a real difference.

Reading really opens students' minds.

dress up verbs with adverbs 103

bad = always an adjective

badly = always an adverb

Lynne has a bad cold.

Jimmy did badly on his vocabulary test.

good = always an adjective

well = almost always an adverb, except when it describes health

Jimmy is usually a good student.

He didn't feel well on the day of the test.

The team played well in yesterday's game.

ADVERBS TO KNOW AND USE WELL

This lesson provides 12 very useful adverbs, many of which you may already

know and use in their adjective form. They're accompanied by short definitions,

in case you don't know the words already, and sample sentences.

Read the list carefully and think of ways you can incorporate (add) the

words into your daily vocabulary. Too often we use the same old words over

and over, without attempting to make our sentences more lively and decorated.

1. energetically. To do something with notable energy, dedication,

or extra effort. The students attacked the new science project

energetically.

2. enthusiastically. To do something with eagerness or intense feeling.

The class approached the lesson in cookie baking enthusiastically.

3. experimentally. To follow established procedures in order to

establish the truth or accuracy of something. Lasers are being

used experimentally to monitor sales in the school store.

4. expertly. To do something with an extraordinary amount of skill

and knowledge. Spelling bees demand that students spell expertly

and stay calm as well.

5. extremely. To do something at a level beyond the norm. The

teacher was extremely patient with the noisy class.

6. frantically. To do something in a rush or panic. The fire alarm sent

the students running frantically from the building.

7. sadly. To do something out of unhappiness, distress, or regret.

Once the all-safe bell sounded, the students returned sadly to class;

they had hoped for a day off from school.

104 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

8. successfully. To do something that achieves a goal; to reach success.

The teacher successfully convinced the students that they

needed vocabulary help.

9. suddenly. To do something in a quick, unexpected way. The cookies

seemed to be taking a long time to bake, but suddenly they were

golden brown and ready to devour.

10. swiftly. To do something quickly. The time passed swiftly during

the movie; the students hardly realized how much time had passed.

11. thoughtfully. To do something with care, deliberation, and

dedicated thought. The teacher thoughtfully excused the students

early on Friday, figuring they needed a break after a long hard

week.

12. vigorously. To do something with energy and strength. Despite

being ten points behind, the team played vigorously until the end of

the game.

PRACTICE 1: USING ADVERBS CORRECTLY

Fill in the blanks with adverbs you've learned in this lesson. You may repeat

adverbs in more than one sentence if you like, but be sure to consider all the

adverbs.

1. The marathon runners dashed ____________ toward the finish line.

2. The proud parents watched ____________ to see if their girl would finish

the race successfully.

3. The cheerleaders yelled ____________ as the game neared its dramatic

end.

4. The winning team cheered ____________ as they squirted water over

their coach's head.

5. The losing team marched ____________ off the field at game's end.

6. The athletes trained ____________ for months in advance of the Olympics.

7. Losing ____________ is the sign of poor sportsmanship.

dress up verbs with adverbs 105

8. Being a generous winner is the sign of a ____________ well-trained athlete.

9. Our team learned how to be ____________ losers when they lost their

final game.

10. Determined to win next season, the coach ____________ promised the

students a longer training period next year.

PRACTICE 2: USING TRICKY ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS TO PERK

UP YOUR WRITING

Directions: Write six sentences using the tricky adjectives and adverbs you

learned in this lesson. You may use more than one adverb or adjective in each

sentence if you like. Each sentence must include at least one of these words:

bad, badly, good, well, real, really

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________________

Lesson 13 Words You Should Now Know

bad/badly incorporate

energetically real/really

enthusiastically sadly

experimentally successfully

expertly suddenly

extremely swiftly

frantically thoughtfully

good/well vigorously

106 u s e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f s p e e c h

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Using Adverbs Correctly

1. swiftly

2. thoughtfully

3. frantically

4. enthusiastically

5. sadly

6. vigorously

7. badly

8. really

9. good

10. enthusiastically or thoughtfully

THIS SECTION OF 12 LESSONS forms the heart of the book. Here you

will learn interesting, useful, and impressive new words in various subject

areas. Think of an area of your life that interests you and you'll find ways here

to increase your word power on those subjects.

3

build word power

in all subject areas

S E C T I O N

WE ALL LIKE to think of ourselves as unique individuals. And we are.

There's no one exactly like you; you're truly one of a kind. But how do you

describe other people? Your best friend? Your favorite cousin? Your teacher?

After you describe a person's physical characteristics (tall, short, blonde,

and so on) it's likely you'll begin describing the person's personality traits. (A

trait is a distinguishing characteristic or habit.) By naming one or more personality

traits, you put the person into a category you're fairly confident your

reader or listener will recognize. My brother is a real jock; he lives for sports. My

best friend is a fashion guru; she always has the latest styles. My mom is a compulsive

cleaner; our house is so organized! See how it works? Our minds automatically

search for a category, or general description, that will best communicate our

ideas about the person we're talking about.

This lesson gives you words to describe various personal characteristics or

personality types. As you read, write down other words you think of that are

associated with personality. Notice that some words are nouns and some are

adjectives. Which words do you think your friends might use to describe you?

L E S S O N 14

words to describe personalities

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your

words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they

become habits. Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

ANONYMOUS

Beginning with this lesson, you'll learn new words that are connected to different

subjects. Let's start with words associated with various personality traits.

110 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE PERSONALITY TYPES AND TRAITS

1. artistic. Describes a person who has creative skills or serious

interest in the arts. Charles knew from an early age that his artistic

interests would lead to a career as a painter.

2. altruist. A person who is more interested in the welfare of others

than in himself or herself. Even young altruists are able to find

programs to benefit from their charitable work.

3. egotist. A person who is self-centered and thinks himself or herself

better than others. Cinderella's stepsisters were definitely egotists;

they never considered the poor girl at all.

4. extrovert. An outgoing, gregarious person who enjoys the company

of others. Mary Lou, secretary of the glee club and class president,

is a fine example of an extrovert.

5. gourmet. A person who is very serious about the quality of

food-sometimes called a foodie. My mother is an out-and-out

gourmet; she loves to spend hours in the kitchen, and everything she

makes is delicious.

6. introvert. A person who is shy. My parents think I'm an introvert

because I like spending a lot of time reading by myself.

7. laconic. A person who uses as few words as possible to communicate

ideas. My teenage brother has become dramatically laconic; he

rarely speaks, and usually only grunts.

8. loner. A person who prefers to be alone, and avoids the company

of others. We've never met our next door neighbor; we refer to

him as The Loner of Lambert Lane.

9. loquacious. Describes a person who is very chatty and talkative.

My friend Jennie is always in trouble at school because she's so

loquacious.

10. narcissist. A person who thinks only of himself or herself. The

country's dictator was a terrible narcissist; he didn't care at all for the

welfare of his people.

11. pretentious. Describes a person who is always trying to impress

others and pretends to be very important or wise. It is very pretentious

to use big words when small ones will communicate just as

well.

12. prodigy. A person, usually quite young, who is unusually talented

or gifted. Jonathan, a true chess prodigy, won his first

national competition at age five.

words to describe personalities 111

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING PERSONALITY TYPES

Fill in each blank with the word from this lesson that fits the personality type

being described. The first letter of each correct answer has been provided.

1. Jim is always chatting. l__________________

2. Sandy prefers his own company. i__________________

3. Lynne enjoys cooking as much as eating. g_________________

4. Jon speaks in very short sentences. l__________________

5. Sandy's twin also sticks to himself. l__________________

6. Suzanne likes to show off her vocabulary. p_________________

7. Peter says he lives to help others. a _________________

8. Dianne dreams of becoming a sculptor. a _________________

9. Jim is always admiring himself in the mirror. n_________________

10. Marianne loves being with people. e _________________

11. Alfie thinks he is better than others. e _________________

12. Young Sam won every race he entered. p_________________

112 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 2: RETESTING YOUR VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

Do the following sentences use this lesson's words correctly? Write T (for true)

if a boldfaced word is used correctly and F (for false) if it is not. Read carefully;

there may be tricks in the statements.

_____ 1. Loners are people who never seem to prefer their own company.

_____ 2. People who tend to speak in short sentences or who prefer not to

speak much at all are described as narcissists.

_____ 3. Girls are often described as being loquacious because they chat a

lot.

_____ 4. If you use a lot of fancy words, you may be accused of being an

egotist.

_____ 5. If you spend more time in museums than you do at the movies,

you can definitely be characterized as an artistic person.

_____ 6. Using longer words instead of shorter ones is a common habit

among pretentious people.

_____ 7. The young pianist so hated being with other people that even

newspaper articles about him described him as an introvert.

_____ 8. The gourmet chef made his reputation working at a small town

diner.

_____ 9. Being an extrovert means that you are probably most concerned

with yourself and don't have much time to extend outward.

_____ 10. When your idea of a vacation is to go to New Orleans and help

rebuild houses, you are probably known as an altruist.

_____ 11. Egotists are people who are said to think of themselves before they

think of others.

_____ 12. By the age of ten, the mathematics prodigy was scoring better on

college-level calculus exams than the university students.

words to describe personalities 113

PRACTICE 3: WHO ARE YOU?

Fill in the first sentence about yourself using one or more of the words from

this lesson. Use the second sentence to describe a sister or brother, best friend,

teacher, or parent.

You may use additional words not found in this lesson.

1. I would describe myself as a ________________ because I _____________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

2. I would describe _____________ as a _____________ because

he/she_________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Lesson 14 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

altruistic

laconic

artistic

loner

loquacious

extrovert

narcissist

gourmet

pretentious

introvert

prodigy

114 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Identifying Personality Types

1. loquacious

2. introvert

3. gourmet

4. laconic

5. loner

6. pretentious

7. altruist

8. artistic

9. narcissist

10. extrovert

11. egotist

12. prodigy

Practice 2: Retesting Your Vocabulary Knowledge

1. F

2. F

3. T

4. F

5. T

6. T

7. T

8. F

9. F

10. T

11. T

12. T

PROBABLY THE MOST common word search for speakers and writers is

the hunt for the perfect word to express an emotion they're feeling. It happens

to all of us at one time or another. We want to explain what or why we

feel or think the way we do, but can't seem to find the right words to express

our ideas.

Reread the quotation at the opening of this lesson by José Saramago.

He's known for his use of very simple words, but as a writer, he also experiences

the difficulty of finding the precise word to describe a particular emotion.

There are thousands of words to choose from, and they can help us try to

convey what we're thinking and feeling. That's what communication is, after

all: the exchange, however imperfect, of facts, ideas, and emotions.

In this lesson, you'll learn some common and useful words for describing

various emotions. As you read the list, write down any other words that

pop into your head-words you use, or are not sure how to use, to describe

feelings you've had.

L E S S O N 15

words to describe feelings

Human vocabulary is still not capable, and probably never

will be, of knowing, recognizing, and communicating

everything that can be humanly experienced and felt.

JOSÉ DE SOUSA SARAMAGO (1922- )

PORTUGUESE NOVELIST AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNER

In this lesson, you'll learn new words to describe feelings and emotions. This

will help you build a vocabulary inventory of words for these hard-to-describe

experiences.

116 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

TIP: Take time to look up new words in a dictionary. Once you've

looked up a word, try to use it right away to make it a permanent part

of your personal word bank.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS

1. apathetic. Lazy, uninterested, indifferent. The long, hot summer

and the lack of friends nearby made the sisters bored and apathetic.

2. dejected. Sad, disappointed, pessimistic. The candidate was visibly

dejected when it became clear he had lost the election.

3. ecstatic. Extraordinarily joyous. The winning candidate's ecstatic

victory speech was greeted by cheers from the crowd of supporters.

4. elated. Delighted, pleased. Slightly less joyful than ecstatic, but

showing great happiness. The kids were elated when their parents

announced a spring trip to Disneyland.

5. frustrated. Disappointed or unhappy because of an inability to

achieve a goal or fulfill a desire. John was frustrated by his inability

to score higher on his math test, no matter how much time he

spent studying for it.

6. humiliated. Strongly embarrassed. The figure skater was humiliated

when, after landing a triple loop jump, she then tripped over her

own skate laces.

7. lonely. Unhappy because of lack of access to other people; feeling

empty. Spending the summer in the mountains was fun for the

parents, but lonely for the kids, who missed their friends and sports

activities.

8. melancholy. Extremely sad or depressed, for some period of

time. Jane's melancholy was interrupted, finally, by the visit of her

best friend and their plans for a trip together.

9. patriotic. Loving of one's country, a feeling often associated

with unselfish sacrifice. The soldiers served their country with

patriotic enthusiasm, despite the risks to their lives.

10. prudent. Cautious and practical in making decisions. The prudent

climbers listened to the advice of their guide as they made their

ascent up Mt. Everest.

words to describe feelings 117

11. timid. Exhibiting a lack of confidence, an extreme shyness. I was

a bit timid about trying to ride a skateboard, but discovered that when

I used caution, it was fun!

12. vindictive. Feeling a strong desire for revenge and to do harm to

another. The class bully was vindictive and disruptive, which alarmed

the other students and frustrated the teacher.

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING WORDS THAT DESCRIBE EMOTIONS

Fill in each blank with the word from this lesson that fits the emotion or feeling

being described. The first letter of each correct answer is provided.

1. Tom spends lot of time by himself,

which makes him sad. l_________________

2. Sharon is shy and afraid to speak. t_________________

3. Jim is always careful about choices. p_________________

4. Ms. Price is thrilled with her new job. e_________________

5. Ethan's mood is always sad, no matter what. m_________________

6. Colin's first loyalty is to his country. p__________________

7. Carol is known to be mean to her enemies. v__________________

8. Sam remains sad over his bad school grades. d__________________

9. Jerry was delighted to win $1,000,000. e__________________

10. John is disappointed that he can't enter the race. f___________________

118 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 2: EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

3 embarrassed in front of others 1 careful; cautious about choices and

4 uninterested in any activity decisions

6 preference for one's own company 2 unhappiness at not achieving a goal

7 love of country 5 continuing sadness and depression

8 extraordinary joy

1

2

3

4

6

5

7

8

words to describe feelings 119

Word Bank

Lesson 15 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Words You Have Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Identifying Words That Describe Emotions

1. lonely

2. timid

3. prudent

4. elated

5. melancholy

6. patriotic

7. vindictive

8. dejected

9. ecstatic

10. frustrated

apathetic

dejected

ecstatic

elated

frustrated

humiliated

lonely

melancholy

patriotic

timid

vindictive

apathetic

ecstatic

frustration

humiliated

lonely

melancholy

patriotic

prudent

120 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Practice 2: Emotions and Feelings Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

3 humiliated 1 prudent

4 apathetic 2 frustration

6 lonely 5 melancholy

7 patriotic

8 ecstatic

ARE YOU FRUSTRATED when you try to describe how much you hate

homework or the noise from the people next door? Or when you try to tell

your parents how much you love them?

Do you ever sputter and stammer when you want to explain exactly

why you dislike spiders, no matter how small they are?

Is it hard for you to explain exactly why you like your favorite singer or

your favorite team or your favorite book?

You're not alone. Our strongest emotions are the most complicated. As

you learned in the previous lesson, there are thousands of words you could

use to explain what you're thinking and feeling, both for yourself and when

you want to describe your emotions and beliefs to others. The better able you

are to define your emotions, the stronger your word power will be, and the better able

you'll be to communicate with others.

L E S S O N 16

words to describe

extreme emotions

It is with words as with sunbeams-the more

they are condensed, the deeper they burn.

ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843)

ENGLISH POET LAUREATE

In this lesson, you'll discover more words to describe feelings and emotions,

especially those that describe intense or extreme experiences.

122 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

TIP: Remember that many words have different grammatical forms, so

learning one word may really mean you've learned several. Think of

the word anger. As a noun, it describes a strong feeling of displeasure.

As a verb, it describes the act of making someone else angry. And in

its adjective form, angry, it describes the person feeling the extreme

displeasure.

Here are some useful words to describe extreme feelings. As you read the list,

write down any additional words you can think of to describe strong emotions

you've had.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE EXTREME EMOTIONS

1. contempt. The feeling that someone or something is inferior or

not worthy of respect; the state of being thought of as inferior.

Some major league players feel contempt for minor league players

who have ambitions for greater glory.

2. delirious. The feeling of uncontrolled excitement or happiness.

The cheerleaders were delirious with joy when their team made it to

the finals.

3. despise. To think of something or someone with contempt,

hatred, or disgust. The coach despised his team's lack of commitment

to regular practice.

4. envy. To be unhappy because someone else has possessions or

qualities. The elementary school students envied the middle school

kids' privileges at recess and lunchtime.

5. furious. Filled with rage or fury; full of energy or speed, as in a

furious storm. The teacher was furious when all the students failed

to do their homework, and the students were equally furious when the

teacher assigned them another essay to write.

6. gluttonous. Eating excessively, or doing things to an extreme.

The team mascot, who loved to make jokes on himself, was considered

a glutton for punishment.

7. horrified. Intensely fearful or revolted by something or someone.

The parents were horrified by their children's love of horror

movies.

words to describe extreme emotions 123

8. jealous. Feeling resentment because of another person's success,

qualities, or possessions. The pep squad seemed jealous of all the

attention the cheerleaders got when they appeared in new uniforms.

9. obsessed. Having intense or excessive interest or concern for

something or someone. The team was obsessed with the idea of

making the final playoffs.

10. petrified. Being so frightened that one is unable to move. The

thought of losing three games in a row petrified the team, and so they

arranged an extra practice session.

11. prejudiced. Having a strong opinion without consideration of

the facts; creating a negative impact on someone else. The community

was prejudiced about raising taxes, fearing that homeowners

with lower incomes would feel they were being prejudiced.

12. terrified. Being seriously frightened; seriously frightening someone

else. The popularity of horror movies suggests that many movie

fans love being terrified.

PRACTICE 1: TESTING YOUR VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

Do the following sentences use this lesson's boldfaced vocabulary words correctly?

Write T if a boldfaced word is used correctly and F if it is not. Read

carefully; there may be tricks in the statements.

_____ 1. Being horrified is one of the true pleasures of being a fan of the

Alien movies.

_____ 2. Feeling envy is a common emotion that describes feeling charitable

and generous to others.

_____ 3. If you despise a group of people, you are being thoughtful and

considerate.

_____ 4. If you have contempt for a group of people, you consider them

inferior and less worthy than yourself.

_____ 5. Being jealous is feeling negative or hostile about the fact that

someone else has something that you don't have.

_____ 6. A glutton is someone who envies others.

124 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

_____ 7. Weddings are events usually filled with delirious emotions.

_____ 8. Barking dogs are usually furious about being kept tied up.

_____ 9. Being prejudiced about another group is not always a sign of ignorance.

_____ 10. To be petrified of snakes is usually a safe plan when you're in the

desert.

_____ 11. If you are obsessed with becoming rich, you may miss many of

life's cheap pleasures.

_____ 12. Being terrified of tests is usually the sign of being unprepared to

do well on them.

PRACTICE 2: IDENTIFYING STRONG EMOTIONS

Fill in each blank with the word from this lesson that fits the description. The

first letter of each correct answer has been provided.

1. Jane wishes she had as many friends as Stacy. e______________

2. Tom is very scared of losing a match. t______________

3. Suzanne thinks her siblings are idiots. c______________

4. Sid's desire to eat is out of control. g______________

5. Jim hates that his brother is smarter than he. j ______________

6. The bride is crazy about her groom. o______________

7. The team's victory made them joyous. d______________

8. Cats are usually thought to hate dogs violently. d______________

9. The coach was really angry about the team's work. f______________

words to describe extreme emotions 125

10. The huge snakes scared the children. p______________

11. The monster's size shocked the town. h______________

12. Sam was certain the other team was weak. p______________

Lesson 16 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Words You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Testing Your Vocabulary Knowledge

1. T

2. F

3. F

4. T

5. T

6. F

7. T

8. T

9. F

10. T

11. T

12. T

contempt

delirious

despise

envy

furious

gluttonous

horrified

jealous

obsessed

petrified

prejudiced

terrified

126 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Practice 2: Identifying Strong Emotions

1. envy

2. terrified

3. contempt

4. gluttonous

5. jealous

6. obsessed

7. delirious

8. despise

9. furious

10. petrified

11. horrified

12. prejudiced

DO YOU EVER feel scared in an elevator or other small space?

Do you get dizzy when you look down from a tall building?

Do you sometimes suspect the whole world is against you?

Do you often think you may be sick, even when you have no particular

pains?

Many people have these feelings once in a while. But when such intense

feelings become a constant problem and affect people's everyday lives, these

rare (not often found) fears are called phobias.

The dictionary definition of phobia is an irrational fear of something that in

normal circumstances poses little or no real danger. If the problem continues, psychologists

and other doctors have several ways to help people overcome their

fears. But for the great majority of people, such fears aren't a problem; the

people just feel strange when they occur.

These are special words that describe serious conditions, but these same

words are often used in daily conversations to describe the occasional, infrequent

fear people have. You can build your word power by learning interesting

L E S S O N 17

strange feelings and emotions

How often misused words generate misleading thoughts.

HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903)

ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER AND POLITICIAN

This lesson offers a list of words that describe rare emotions-feelings not

common to all of us. Nevertheless, these are words that you will hear or read

about and will enjoy adding to your vocabulary word power.

128 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

words to describe phobias or other strange behavior patterns. And because

these words describe such odd emotions or behaviors, they're fun to know.

Just be careful when you use them; they may be misinterpreted as an insult if

you use them inappropriately.

TIP: Remember that learning one word often means learning two or

more. For example, the inability to sleep is called insomnia; the person

who suffers with this problem is called an insomniac.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE STRANGE OR RARE EMOTION

1. acrophobia. Fear of heights. The steep trail down the Grand Canyon

terrified Judy, who had suffered from acrophobia her whole life.

2. amnesia. The loss of memory. The pilot recovered from the crash,

but suffered amnesia about the details of his accident.

3. claustrophobia. Fear of small spaces, like elevators or closets. Air

travel is an impossibility for my cousin Rebecca, who suffers from

extreme claustrophobia.

4. arachnophobia. An extreme fear of spiders. My friend has arachnophobia

to such an extent that she wasn't able to watch the movie

Charlotte's Web at our sleepover last weekend.

5. hypochondria. Excessive concern or talk about one's health,

usually with concentration on a particular form of illness.

Everyone in the chess club is tired of Ethan's hypochondria; he

always worries about the back pain he fears he'll develop at the

chess contest finals.

6. insomnia. Inability to sleep. James decided that his insomnia was a

blessing once he realized how much studying he could get done in the

middle of the night when the house was quiet.

7. kleptomania. A compulsion to steal, even without need or any

specific desire. The store manager accused his favorite employee of

kleptomania after catching him shoplifting CDs three days in a row.

8. megalomania. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant

things or actions. Many of the world's greatest generals are thought

strange feelings and emotions 129

to have been megalomaniacs who accomplished great victories precisely

because of their drive to do grand things.

9. paranoia. Extreme, irrational distrust of others. Jason's paranoia

that the other students didn't like him was definitely unreasonable;

the other kids simply didn't know him.

10. pyromania. An uncontrollable desire to set fires. Park rangers confirm

that forest fires are caused more often by careless mistakes than

by deliberate fires set by pyromaniacs.

11. agoraphobia. An abnormal fear of open spaces, crowds, and public

areas. This is the opposite of claustrophobia.

12. vertigo. A sensation of dizziness or spinning, even when standing

or sitting on solid ground. Vertigo is often associated with fear

of heights. Tom chose not to climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty

because he feared his vertigo might return.

Lesson 17 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Words You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

acrophobia

agoraphobia

amnesia

arachnophobia

claustrophobia

hypochondria

insomnia

kleptomania

megalomania

paranoia

phobia

pyromania

rare

vertigo

130 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 1: MATCHING THE PROBLEM WITH ITS NAME

Draw lines to match the name of each problem with the area of its concern.

Name of Problem Area of Concern

1. paranoia a. fire

2. insomnia b. small enclosed spaces

3. vertigo c. illness

4. pyromania d. sleep

5. claustrophobia e. motives of others

6. hypochondria f. dizziness

7. kleptomania g. loss of memory

8. amnesia h. high places

9. arachnophobia i. stealing

10. acrophobia j. spiders

11. agoraphobia k. extravagant things

12. megalomania l. open spaces

strange feelings and emotions 131

PRACTICE 2: STRANGE EMOTIONS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

2 total loss of memory 1 extreme distrust of the motives of others

3 fear of small places 5 fear of heights

4 inability to sleep

6 excessive health concerns

Word Bank

1

2

3

4

6

5

acrophobia

amnesia

claustrophobia

hypochondria

insomnia

paranoia

132 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Matching the Problem with Its Name

1. e

2. d

3. f

4. a

5. b

6. c

7. i

8. g

9. j

10. h

Practice 2: Strange Emotions Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

2 amnesia 1 paranoia

3 claustrophobia 5 acrophobia

4 insomnia

6 hypochondria

DO YOU LIKE taking things apart and putting them back together?

Do you like solving puzzles and other problems?

Do you like organizing things and putting them into categories?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may well be headed

for a career in science. But which branch of science? There are literally dozens,

if not hundreds. Indeed, our twenty-first century can be called a scientific century,

one in which the contributions of scientific findings will change, and

hopefully improve, our lives forever.

The different areas of scientific study are called disciplines, or fields of

knowledge. Each addresses a specific area of knowledge. Once you begin to

study one discipline, you'll find you can go deeper, and narrow your studies

to an even smaller area of that science. For example, some entomologists-

who study insects-specialize, spending their whole careers studying just

caterpillars, or butterflies, or ants.

L E S S O N 18

learn words for the sciences

We live in a time when the words "impossible" and "unsolvable"

are no longer part of the scientific community's vocabulary.

CHRISTOPHER REEVE (1952-2004)

AMERICAN ACTOR AND MEDICAL RESEARCH ACTIVIST

This lesson presents words from various fields of scientific study, and in so

doing, reminds you of the value of identifying root words.

134 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

As you learn the words for the various areas of science, note that almost

all of them share the suffix -ology. It comes from the Greek logos, which means

the study of. Whenever you see a word ending in -ology, you'll know that the

word describes a particular area of scientific study.

TIP: Note that professionals in each of these fields share the suffix

-ist, added to a variation of the scientific-study word. Thus, a person

working in the field of anthropology is called an anthropologist. You,

as a person studying words, might be called an amateur philologist!

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY

The words in this list by no means include all of the sciences. As you read the

list, think of other areas of study that might interest you or that sound familiar.

Jot them down, and then look up the definitions in your dictionary or use

a search engine on the Internet.

1. anthropology (from the Greek anthros, meaning humanity). The

study of the origins, customs, beliefs, and social relationships

of groups of human beings. The anthropologists studied the arrival

thousands of years ago of early Native Americans to the North American

continent.

2. astronomy (from the Greek astron, meaning star plus the Greek

nomos, meaning arranging). The study of outer space, especially

the examination of all material objects and phenomena outside

the earth's atmosphere. The American commitment to exploration

of outer space is an extension of the science of astronomy.

3. biology (from the Greek bios, meaning life). The study of all living

organisms; it includes the subdivisions botany (the study

of plants) and zoology (the study of animals). Every student in

America studies biology, but too few choose to make biology their

life's work.

4. cardiology (from the Greek kardía, meaning heart). The branch of

medicine that addresses the diagnosis and treatment of disorders

of the heart. Lowering the incidence of heart attacks among

Americans is one of the primary goals of all cardiologists.

learn words for the sciences 135

5. entomology (from the Greek entomon, meaning insect). The study

of insects. Too many students fail to consider entomology as a possible

career choice, in spite of its many important contributions to medical

science.

6. etymology (from the Greek etumon, meaning true sense of a word).

The study of the origins and historical development of words,

including the changes that occur in words as they move from

one language to another. Scholars all over the world study the

etymology of their own language in order to better understand their

cultures.

7. geology (from the Greek geo, meaning earth). The science that

studies the physical history of Earth and its rocks, as well as the

geology of other planets. Examining the geology of Mars is a fascinating

new area of work for many young geologists.

8. neurology (from the Greek neuro, meaning nerves). The study of

the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nerves and of

the nervous system. Patients who suffer serious spinal cord injuries

depend on neurologists to help them regain mobility.

9. ornithology (from the Greek ornith, meaning birds). The branch

of zoology that studies birds. Birdwatching, a popular hobby all

over the world, is really an amateur branch of ornithology.

10. paleontology (from the Greek palaios, meaning old or ancient).

The study of the life forms of prehistoric times, especially the

fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms. Many students

fall in love with science when they first study the paleontology of

dinosaurs.

11. philology (from the Greek philología, meaning love of learning and

literature). The scientific study of languages, including their historical

development and the relationships between various languages.

Philologists help us understand how and why Shakespeare's

English in the 1600s sounded somewhat different from our English,

and how our definitions of words sometimes differ from his as well.

12. psychology (from the Greek psykhe, meaning spirit or soul). The

scientific study of human and animal behavior. Psychologists

seek to understand the hows and whys of our behavior in order to help

us feel and work better.

136 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 1: MATCHING THE FIELD OF SCIENCE WITH ITS

SUBJECT MATTER

Draw lines to match each field of science with the subject matter it studies.

Field of Science Subject Matter

1. cardiology a. the human nervous system

2. entomology b. human and animal behavior

3. astronomy c. origin of words

4. paleontology d. insects

5. neurology e. history of languages

6. geology f. the human heart

7. ornithology g. all living organisms

8. psychology h. prehistoric life forms

9. anthropology i. history of human beings

10. biology j. physical history of Earth

11. etymology k. birds

12. philology l. outer space

PRACTICE 2: RETESTING YOUR VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

Are the following sentences using words correctly? Write T if they make an

accurate statement and F if they use the boldfaced word incorrectly. Read

carefully; there may be tricks in the statements.

1. Dr. Robert Jarvik, an American cardiologist, is best known for his contributions

to the development of an artificial human heart.

2. Oceanography, the study of birds, has replaced ornithology as the proper

name for this scientific field.

3. Sigmund Freud is famous as one of the world's most important psychologists

for his theories about the workings of the human mind.

4. Dinosaurs are among the principal subjects of study for specialists in

paleontology.

5. Studying words and their histories is the work of scientists in the field of

neurology.

learn words for the sciences 137

6. The study of astronomy has been an inspiration to scientists, as well as

science fiction writers and moviemakers.

7. Studying rocks, volcanoes, and mountaintops is not the work of

geologists.

8. Philology, a very specialized field of language studies, seeks to trace the

development of languages.

9. The study of biology is the first requirement essential to the medical

profession.

10. If you like bugs and you aren't afraid to touch them, and you like the

idea of traveling to faraway jungles, you should consider becoming a

professional etymologist.

11. Becoming an entomologist probably won't make you rich, but you will

have the satisfaction of knowing that your study of insects is a serious

contribution to the world's scientific knowledge.

12. Margaret Mead, one of the most important anthropologists of the twentieth

century, studied the cultural influences on adolescence in different

cultures, and became famous as an advocate of women's rights.

Lesson 18 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

anthropology

astronomy

biology

botany

cardiology

discipline

entomology

etymology

geology

neurology

ornithology

paleontology

philology

psychology

zoology

138 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Matching the Field of Science with Its

Subject Matter

1. f

2. d

3. l

4. h

5. a

6. j

7. k

8. b

9. i

10. g

11. c

12. e

Practice 2: Retesting Your Vocabulary Knowledge

1. T

2. F

3. T

4. T

5. F

6. T

7. F

8. T

9. T

10. F

11. T

12. T

THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE is the scientific area most of us come in contact

with. We go to the doctor for check-ups, immunizations, and in unfortunate

times, when we're ill. And most of us may see more than one doctor,

depending on what hurts or what treatment we need. But just a hundred

years ago, most people in the United States had only one doctor, the family

doctor.

As with other scientific fields, the practice of medicine has become

increasingly specialized. Most doctors now become experts in treating specific

parts of the body, and in some cases, treat only one type of disease. Think

of the last two doctor visits you made; were they to the same doctor? Probably

not. You probably went to one doctor for a general check-up, another to

have your teeth cleaned, and still another if you wear eyeglasses.

There are some general words that are used more or less interchangeably

to describe doctors. For example, most doctors are known as physicians

and are addressed as Doctor. Physicians who perform surgery are

called surgeons.

L E S S O N 19

you may see the doctor now

The art of medicine consists in amusing

the patient while nature cures the disease.

VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)

FRENCH WRITER

This lesson continues with words about science, but this time, the focus is on

words associated with medical science.

140 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Here's a list of doctors you may or may not need in your lifetime, but

whose specializations add word power to your vocabulary.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE DIFFERENT MEDICAL SPECIALISTS

1. audiologist. A specialist in the study and treatment of hearing,

especially hearing defects. Jim accompanied his grandmother to the

audiologist's office so that she would have company when she got her

new hearing aid.

2. dermatologist. A specialist in the branch of medicine dealing

with skin and its diseases. Jenny rushed to the dermatologist for

help in treating her poison ivy rash.

3. internist. A specialist in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment

of diseases, especially of adults. Mr. Dodson invited his

internist to visit the class and explain her career path to students

interested in the practice of general medicine.

4. nurse practitioner. A registered nurse with a college nursing

degree and advanced training that qualifies him or her to perform

some duties of a physician. Many medical offices and

clinics employ nurse practitioners who handle simple problems

and free doctors to work with complicated cases. Jason became a

nurse practitioner in order to fulfill his lifelong dream to help people.

5. obstetrician. A specialist who cares for women during pregnancy

and childbirth. My mother was so grateful to Abigail, her

obstetrician, for helping her through her pregnancy that she named

me after her.

6. oncologist. A specialist in the study of cancer, including diagnosis,

treatment, and prevention. People who forget to apply sufficient

sunscreen may develop skin problems and need to visit an

oncologist.

7. ophthalmologist. A specialist who cares for the eye and its diseases,

frequently performing eye surgery. (Note the complicated

spelling of ophthalmologist.) I visited an ophthalmologist to

treat an eye infection I developed on a recent trip to a rainforest.

8. optometrist. A specialist who examines and treats problems with

sight, including the prescribing of corrective lenses. Janet's

optometrist encouraged her to choose eyeglass frames she liked; it was

essential that she wear her glasses at all times, no matter what color

the frames turned out to be.

you may see the doctor now 141

9. orthodontist. A dental specialist who corrects irregularly aligned

teeth; treatment usually involves braces and sometimes oral

surgery. Since getting his braces, Tim saw his orthodontist more

often than he saw his grandmother!

10. osteopath. A specialist who focuses on the muscles and bones to

promote and preserve health. The Sandersons chose to go to an

osteopath because of the extra training the doctor had received in

muscle and bone manipulation.

11. pediatrician. A specialist concerned with the development, care,

and diseases of babies and children. Children are often reluctant

to leave their beloved pediatricians and begin seeing an internist once

they reach adulthood.

12. podiatrist. A specialist in the care, diagnosis, and treatment of

foot problems. My mother had to spend a lot of time with her podiatrist

as a result of too many days wearing very high heels.

PRACTICE 1: MATCHING THE BODY PROBLEM WITH THE

PHYSICIAN WHO CARES FOR IT

Draw lines to match each body problem with the physician who cares for it.

Body Problem Physician Who Cares for It

1. blurry vision a. pediatrician

2. crooked teeth b. podiatrist

3. tetanus shot c. audiologist

4. pregnant mother d. internist

5. hearing loss e. oncologist

6. skin rash f. obstetrician

7. baby with measles g. nurse practitioner

8. ingrown toenail h. orthodontist

9. continuing stomach pain i. dermatologist

10. fear of cancer j. optometrist

142 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 2: MEDICAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

2 doctor who delivers babies 1 doctor who treats skin problems

3 doctor who fixes crooked teeth 4 doctor who treats foot problems

4 doctor who treats children

5 doctor who provides hearing aids

Word Bank

1

2

3

4

5

audiologist

dermatologist

obstetrician

orthodontist

pediatrician

podiatrist

you may see the doctor now 143

Lesson 19 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Matching the Body Problem with the Physician

Who Cares for It

1. j

2. h

3. g

4. f

5. c

6. i

7. a

8. b

9. d

10. e

audiologist

dermatologist

nurse practitioner

obstetrician

oncologist

ophthalmologist

orthodontist

osteopath

pediatrician

podiatrist

144 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

ANSWERS

Practice 2: Medical Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

2 obstetrician 1 dermatologist

3 orthodontist 4 podiatrist

4 pediatrician

5 audiologist

HOW MANY PEOPLE are in your family?

Did you include your pets?

Did you count your cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents?

Are you a member of a blended family?

Have you ever been to a family reunion?

At first glance, we often assume that we know the meaning of a word.

For instance, the meaning of the word family seems pretty straightforward.

But if you hesitated before answering any of the questions above, you know

that defining a simple word like family isn't easy!

Don't most people assume that a family is the people we live with? But

what about grandparents, who usually don't live with us? And what about

cousins, who may live across the country or even on another continent? And

what about distant relatives we've never met but whose connection to us can

be traced by bloodlines? And what if we're the children of divorced and

remarried parents? Suddenly, definitions are not so simple.

L E S S O N 20

words about families

A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men,

women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.

OGDEN NASH (1902-1971)

AMERICAN HUMORIST

This lesson focuses on words about families, and illustrates many of the complications

that arise once we try to define something as simple as my family.

146 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Anthropologists have devoted decades to studying various cultures and

the many ways they define family relationships. For example, in China, there

are different words for older brother and younger brother. But in traditional

Hawaiian families, there are only two categories: parent and child. Thus, a

child refers to all the females of the parents' generation as mother and all the

males as father. All brothers and male cousins are called brother, and all sisters

and female cousins are known as sister. Furthermore, in many Spanish-speaking

families, the word mama is used to describe any female, regardless of the family

relationship.

Following is a list of words referring to families and their various relationships.

Knowing these words will definitely increase your word power,

and may help you think about your own family in new and interesting ways.

WORDS ABOUT FAMILIES

1. ancestor. A person from whom one is descended, especially if

more remote than a grandparent. Our ancestors who lived two or

three generations ago were much smaller in both height and weight,

as were those who lived millions of years before.

2. descendant. A person, animal, or plant that comes from a specific

ancestor. We can even use the word in relation to nonliving

things. The automobile is the descendant of the horse-and-buggy.

3. dynasty. A sequence of rulers from the same family, such as the

Ming Dynasty in Chinese history, or a family notable for a particular

quality, such as wealth. The Adams family, which contributed

two presidents and several important authors to our country,

can surely be termed a true American dynasty.

4. family tree. A chart showing the ancestry, descent, and relationship

of all members of a family. Our family tree proves the theory

of genetics: way more than half of us have red hair and green eyes.

5. genealogy. A record of the descent of a person, family, or group

from an ancestor or ancestors; or the study of family histories.

The Internet has provided a useful tool for individuals seeking to

investigate their genealogical roots.

6. generation. Generally, the entire number of people born and living

at about the same time; technically, the period of 30 years

accepted as the average between the birth of parents and the

birth of their offspring. People call those born between 1965 and

1976 Generation X; is there a name for your generation yet?

words about families 147

7. kin. A group of people descended from a common ancestor or

constituting a family, clan, tribe, or race; relatives collectively are

called kinfolk. Gathering all her kin to her side, my great-grandmother

told us the story of her arrival in America.

8. monogamy. Marriage to only one person at a time. Monogamy is

not the only option; some cultures approve other ways of how marriages

should be formed.

9. nuclear family. A family unit consisting of a mother, a father, and

their children. A nuclear family of a mother, a father, and two kids is

an idealized version of family life we often see on TV shows.

10. pedigree. An ancestral line of descent or ancestry. Our puppy's

pedigree was a mystery: she had ears like a beagle and long legs like a

Great Dane!

11. polygamy. The practice of having more than one spouse at a

time, also called plural marriage. Although polygamy is illegal in

America, it is still practiced quietly in some areas.

12. sibling. One of two or more individuals with a common parent;

a brother or sister. My older brother accuses me of sibling rivalry

because he's allowed to stay out later than I am.

PRACTICE 1: KNOWING YOUR FAMILY WORDS

Circle the answer that best completes each sentence:

1. Genealogy is

a. the entire number of a people in a generation.

b. the study of family histories.

c. the descendants of one family.

d. the total number of one's kin.

2. A family tree is

a. a family that has many branches.

b. a pedigree of an individual.

c. a chart showing a family's relationships.

d. a family's financial records.

148 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

3. The Ford family of Detroit is

a. a famous American dynasty.

b. an example of a polygamous family.

c. not at all connected to the car company.

d. a small kinship group.

4. An individual's descendants are

a. his wife and their children.

b. his extended family.

c. his siblings.

d. his children and grandchildren.

5. One's ancestors are

a. one's brothers and sisters.

b. one's extended family.

c. the close relatives who lived before.

d. one's immediate relatives.

6. A group of persons descended from a common ancestor is called

a. a descendant.

b. a family.

c. a dynasty.

d. kin.

7. A line of descent tracing ancestry is often called

a. a pedigree.

b. a kin group.

c. a dynasty.

d. a family.

8. A nuclear family is defined as

a. a family with all its cousins and aunts and uncles.

b. a mother, a father, and their children.

c. a monogamous marriage with no children.

d. a family with more than three children.

words about families 149

9. Polygamy is the practice of

a. marrying in late adolescence.

b. marrying in early adolescence.

c. marrying more than one spouse.

d. marrying in a civil ceremony.

10. A new generation appears, on average,

a. every 30 years.

b. every 100 years.

c. every 50 years.

d. once each century.

PRACTICE 2: RETESTING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Do the following sentences use this lesson's words correctly? Write T if the

boldfaced word is used correctly and F if it is not. Read carefully; there may

be tricks in the statements.

_____ 1. A kin group is a group of persons descended from a common

ancestor.

_____ 2. The nuclear family usually contains two children.

_____ 3. The study of genealogy is the exclusive work of anthropologists.

_____ 4. A family that contributes great wealth to its community might be

called a dynasty.

_____ 5. Monogamy is the most common form of marriage in most European

countries.

_____ 6. Your family tree is a description of your parents and your siblings.

_____ 7. A pedigree is a record of an ancestral line of descent.

_____ 8. Sibling rivalry is the name given to jealousy and competitiveness

between sisters and brothers.

_____ 9. Polygamy is illegal in the United States.

_____ 10. A descendant is a person born into the previous generation.

150 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Lesson 20 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Knowing Your Family Words

1. b

2. c

3. a

4. d

5. c

6. d

7. a

8. b

9. c

10. a

ancestor

descendant

dynasty

family tree

genealogy

generation

kin

kinfolk

monogamy

nuclear family

pedigree

polygamy

sibling

words about families 151

Practice 2: Retesting Your Knowledge

1. T

2. F

3. F

4. T

5. T

6. F

7. T

8. T

9. T

10. F

EVERY SOCIETY HAS a code of mostly unwritten rules about what constitutes

good manners. The rules reflect the society's ideas of how people ought

to interact so that they show respect and consideration of one another and

communicate effectively. Along the way, the rules are adapted to current situations

in a culture. For example, in eighteenth-century European cities, men

were expected to walk on the outside of the sidewalk when walking with a

lady. The reason: to protect her from flying garbage that was dumped from

upstairs windows. This rule acknowledged the current social conditions-

there was no citywide garbage service in those days-and suggested the

proper manner for gallant men to protect the ladies.

In seventeenth-century France, a country associated with elegance and

fine taste, it was still considered perfectly acceptable, even at the royal court,

to eat with the hands. In our society, eating with your hands is universally

unacceptable, except when eating certain finger foods, such as French fries or

chips and dips. However, in many cultures of the Middle East and Africa, eating

with the hands is still considered perfectly acceptable behavior. Likewise,

L E S S O N 21

mind your manners

Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals.

HORACE MANN (1796-1859)

U.S. EDUCATOR AND FIRST GREAT AMERICAN ADVOCATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

This lesson focuses on words related to manners-the social rules we use,

especially when we're on our best behavior.

154 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

in China, it's considered bad manners to give someone a clock; such a gift

could be interpreted to mean that the gift-giver was starting a countdown to

the recipient's death. And yet in frontier America, to have a clock was a sign

of culture and good manners, and to this day clocks are considered an appropriate

wedding gift.

Knowing the rules of good manners isn't always automatic, and every

child experiences some frustration while learning the rules. Following are

some words associated with our society's code of manners. As you learn these

words and the rules they represent, think about why they exist and what

ideals of behavior they represent in our culture.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GOOD MANNERS

1. cell-phone manners. The appropriate behavior while using a cell

phone; unwritten, yet increasingly common rules of cell-phone

behavior such as no loud or humorous ringtones; no cell-phone

use in movie theaters, libraries, churches, or schools; and no

loud talking. Can you think of other examples you've seen of good or

bad cell-phone manners?

2. condolences. An expression of sympathy for a person who's suffering

sorrow, misfortune, or grief; good manners require that

handwritten notes of condolence be sent to a grieving person.

When my grandmother died, it was comforting to receive a note of

condolence from my teacher.

3. etiquette. The unwritten rules of socially acceptable behavior;

the word etiquette dates back to eighteenth-century France. My

mother often reminds us that good etiquette is a sign of a good person.

4. euphemism. The substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague

expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt; for

example, when writing a condolence, it may be best to refer to a

friend's loss rather than to use the word death. In America, our

euphemism for the word died is often a phrase like passed on or

passed away.

5. flag display. Federal laws, U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1, state the

rules of etiquette for flying the U.S. flag. The flag display code

requires flying the flag at half-staff for 30 days after the death of a

president and ten days after the death of a vice president.

mind your manners 155

6. introductions. The formal presentation of one person to another

or others. In most informal situations, treat both strangers as

equals. For example: "Chris, I'd like you to meet my neighbor Pat."

In more formal situations, introduce strangers more carefully,

taking into consideration each person's age and rank, or standing

in society. For example: "Senator Smith, may I present my

friend Pat Reid."

7. manners. The socially acceptable way of acting. "There's really no

substitute for good manners," commented Ms. Prim, our homeroom

teacher.

8. netiquette. The rules of etiquette, or good manners, that have

come to be acceptable during Internet ("net") communication.

It's considered bad netiquette to write emails or post on blogs using

ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

9. place cards. Small cards placed on formal dining tables to designate

where each guest should sit. Place cards are most commonly

used at formal events, but they can be very useful for separating

screaming children or warring cousins at family holiday gatherings!

10. respect. In every society, respect for others, particularly for the

elders of the community, forms the basis for all social customs

and rules. Our grandparents always sit at the head of the table, with

the grandchildren spread out around them; it's our way of showing

respect for our grandparents.

11. RSVP. The initials of a French phrase, répondez, s'il vous plaît,

which means please reply. These letters appear on invitations,

asking the invitee to respond and accept or decline the invitation;

sometimes used as a verb. Don't forget to RSVP so I'll know

if you're coming to the party or not!

12. thank-you note. A letter or note written to thank someone for a

gift or hospitality. Sending a thank-you note to my grandmother for

the birthday gift she sent me didn't take much time and she said she

was pleasantly surprised by my good manners!

TIP: Every time you witness someone not using good manners, think

about why a particular rule of etiquette exists. Knowing the origin of

a rule often makes it easier for you to remember to follow it.

156 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 1: DEFINING GOOD MANNERS IN SENTENCES

Fill in the blanks with words you've learned in this lesson.

1. Seating his father at the head of the table, my father observed the custom

of ________________________.

2. Using smiley faces and other emoticons has become an acceptable, if

informal, example of ________________________.

3. Stefanie always decorated her dinner party tables with handwritten

________________________.

4. After a funeral, you can prove your good manners by sending a note of

________________________.

5. At funerals for fallen soldiers, the military always observes the formal

rules of ________________________.

6. When you substitute a mild word for a harsh word, you're using a

________________________.

7. After getting a birthday gift, you'll exhibit good manners and proper

etiquette if you write a ________________________.

8. If you're invited to a wedding or other formal event, you're obligated to

send an ________________________.

9. To show good ________________________, be brief and direct when you

leave a phone message; long messages are rarely welcomed.

10. The rules of ________________________ may seem silly at first, but once

you understand their purpose, to respect others and establish communication

within a community, you find them useful and worth observing.

mind your manners 157

PRACTICE 2: GOOD MANNERS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

2 expression of comfort to someone 1 rules for honoring the country's

grieving cloth symbol

4 softer word for a harsh one 3 good manners on the Internet

5 response to an invitation

6 dinner table signpost

Word Bank

1

2

3

4

6

5

condolence

euphemism

flag display

netiquette

place card

RSVP

158 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Lesson 21 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Defining Good Manners in Sentences

1. respect for elders

2. netiquette

3. place cards

4. condolence

5. flag display

6. euphemism

7. thank-you note

8. RSVP

9. cell-phone etiquette

10. etiquette

Practice 2: Good Manners Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

2 condolence 1 flag display

4 euphemism 3 netiquette

5 RSVP

6 place card

cell-phone manners

condolences

etiquette

euphemism

flag display

introductions

manners

netiquette

place cards

respect

RSVP

thank-you note

CERTAIN WORDS, IDEAS, attitudes, and beliefs show up in our lives and

become, from time to time, popular. Their wide acceptance seems to happen

all at once and without any particular explanation. Suddenly, everyone seems

to be thinking the same way, doing the same thing, and using the same

words. When this happens, when something's accepted as interesting, fun, or

fashionable by a lot of people, it becomes part of what we call popular culture.

There's also what's called high culture. It's that collection of arts (literature,

opera, philosophy, and so on) that we commonly associate with highly

educated, cultured people. For example, Shakespeare's plays, Mozart's

music, and museum objects, like the Pharaohs' tombs, are considered high

culture. But popular culture has its art collection, too. Harry Potter's adventures

are part of popular culture, as are those of Indiana Jones, a curious

archaeologist who seeks to discover the secrets of past civilizations.

Popular culture is ever-changing, and new fads keep coming and going

at a rapid rate. It doesn't take long for a new idea to become a worldwide

idea, as information is widely distributed and transmitted over the Internet.

L E S S O N 22

words from popular culture

We use the word "hope" perhaps more often than any other word

in the vocabulary: "I hope it's a nice day." "Hopefully, you're

doing well." "So how are things going along? Pretty good.

Going to be good tomorrow? Hope so."

STUDS TERKEL (1912- )

AMERICAN HISTORIAN AND JOURNALIST

In this lesson, you'll focus on words from the world of popular, or "pop,"

culture-a general pool of ideas and words informally shared by the public.

160 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Most often, new fads in popular culture don't create entirely new words;

they use existing, familiar words in a different way to describe what everyone's

doing or talking about. When an individual or only a few people do

something, or wear something, no one really notices. But when more and

more people follow that lead, the pattern becomes a fad, and as its use

becomes even more widespread, we call it a trend. Thus, popular culture is

formed by the popularization of various trends in every area of life.

Here, you'll find some words that describe current trends or phenomena

(noteworthy events or facts) in popular culture. None of these were part of the

popular culture 25 years ago, when your parents were your age-the elements

of pop culture tend to come and go fairly quickly. As you read this list,

write down other current pop culture ideas and trends you've noticed.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE POP CULTURE TRENDS

1. anime. This is the Japanese word for animation and has become

the word to describe all animation done in the Japanese style,

used widely in comic books, video games, and commercials. The

comic book store I go to carries a wide selection of anime, which

is great because they have become my favorite books to collect.

2. BFF. An abbreviation commonly used in text messaging or

instant-message chatting to describe a person's best friend forever.

Yesterday I went to the mall with my BFF, Shelly.

3. Craigslist. A network of local communities featuring (mostly)

free classified ads in a variety of categories; begun in 1995 by

software engineer Craig Newmark, the business is now the single

largest classified ad carrier in the world, servicing over 50

countries. I sold my old bike and bought a new, cooler one on

Craigslist, and my parents were proud of my ability to handle both

transactions all on my own; I only needed them to provide the money!

4. geocaching (pronounced GEE-oh-cashing). A treasure-hunt

game in which players search for caches (or boxes), which usually

contain logbooks where players record their names. Players

place a cache somewhere, tell players worldwide via the

Internet the location using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Players then use a GPS device (global positioning system) to

find the cache. The fun is in the finding; rarely are there any

real treasures to be found. My parents are enthusiastic geocachers,

and we go out hunting at least one weekend a month.

words from popular culture 161

5. manga. The Japanese word for comic books, printed primarily

in black and white; English translations are now very collectible.

My dad used to laugh at my collection of manga, but he is

now a fan as well.

6. multitasking. The common practice of doing more than one

thing at a time. My brother prides himself on being a first-class multitasker:

he can talk on the phone, send text messages, and do his

homework, all at the same time.

7. organic. Plants and animals grown and raised without the use

of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals. Organic food has

come to be an ideal requirement of people seeking to live in a

healthy and ethical way. Being a vegetarian is not enough for my

sister; she insists on eating only vegetables grown organically, and

she will no longer touch ice cream, formerly her favorite food.

8. road rage. Aggressive and sometimes violent behavior by drivers

who are annoyed by other drivers' behavior; the term was

first used in 1984 and has become an internationally accepted

idea. The argument between two drivers in the parking lot of our

supermarket was the result of road rage, and it ended with one driver

in the hospital and the other in jail.

9. shout-out. An acknowledgment or greeting given during a radio

or TV show, often to acknowledge fans or family. It was so cool

when my aunt Jane gave me a shout-out during her appearance on a

game show!

10. speed dating. A matchmaking process in which people meet for

brief (7-8 minutes) conversations, then move on to another person.

Jason's older sister met her husband at a speed-dating event, and

she claims he's the best discovery she ever made.

11. sudoku. A number puzzle in which the player must fill a grid of

nine squares with numbers; invented by an American in 1979,

the puzzle didn't become widely popular until after its success

in Japan. Fans of sudoku, like my math teacher, believe that playing

sudoku sharpens the mind.

12. texting. Typing and sending messages via cell phones or other

mobile devices. My parents claim they'd have better conversations

with me at dinner if we communicated by texting instead of speaking.

162 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 1: POPULAR CULTURE WORD SEARCH

Find and circle the words from this lesson in the word search puzzle below.

Words may appear backwards, vertically, or horizontally.

N P U H G G O W N E A S R C C

A S U C B N G G O B H B O R D

L D G H T K I N K O P H A C R

Y G M Q W X J T U L J Q D S B

B F F G G A S T X N T T R A I

A N I M E R O U Q E Z R A B O

D M B K D U A K V C T G G O D

R K V I T A H O C E R T E A Q

K D E Q G B L D I Z Y E I T M

E F V N Q C B U O S D M D A A

V C A B R O A S B P F E Q A V

I M T J B T A Y L O K K H N R

R O O K F V K J K V R N F Y V

A D A I K L Z E D T S C F D Z

K C H K W V F R X H D D D C K

Word Bank

PRACTICE 2: IDENTIFYING POPULAR CULTURE TRENDS

List three pop-culture ideas, fashions, or customs you've noticed. Then, write

a sentence for each to illustrate the meaning for a reader who might not know

about the trend.

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

anime

BFF

manga

road rage

shout-out

sudoku

texting

words from popular culture 163

Lesson 22 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Popular Culture Word Search Solution

N P U H G G O W N E A S R C C

A S U C B N G G O B H B O R D

L D G H T K I N K O P H A C R

Y G M Q W X J T U L J Q D S B

B F F G G A S T X N T T R A I

A N I M E R O U Q E Z R A B O

D M B K D U A K V C T G G O D

R K V I T A H O C E R T E A Q

K D E Q G B L D I Z Y E I T M

E F V N Q C B U O S D M D A A

V C A B R O A S B P F E Q A V

I M T J B T A Y L O K K H N R

R O O K F V K J K V R N F Y V

A D A I K L Z E D T S C F D Z

K C H K W V F R X H D D D C K

anime

BFF

Craigslist

geocaching

manga

multitasking

organic

phenomena

road rage

shout-out

speed dating

sudoku

texting

IT'S OFTEN SAID that the language of sports is universal. Every city and

village has its favorite team; every nation has its favorite sport; and international

competitions, like the Olympics, are extraordinarily popular the

world over.

In addition to a sense of community pride that cheering for a team promotes,

perhaps the best reason sports are so popular is that fans of all ages

can imagine themselves right there on the field with their team-playing

hard, suffering possible defeat, basking in the glory of a game won in the

final, exciting moments. Because both amateurs and professionals play the

same games, fans identify with and cheer on their sports heroes, knowing

only too well how much effort it takes to give your all repeatedly for the sake

of the sport.

Everyone likes the thrill of competing, even if it's only against ourselves,

trying to do better this time than last. Watching skilled professionals play, we

may wonder how we'd do in their situation. We'd love to do what they do,

but in most cases we know we can't. Still, as we watch, we compare individual

L E S S O N 23

words from the sports arena

One man practicing sportsmanship is

better than a hundred teaching it.

KNUTE ROCKNE (1888-1931)

LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH

This lesson focuses on words from the world of sports, many of which are used

both on and off the playing field.

166 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

players to each other and compare their performances to what we know we

are capable of doing. If they're well-paid pros, we obviously expect them to

do better than we would!

One of the most interesting things about sports-related words is how

many of them are applicable in other parts of our lives. Here, you'll find many

sports words used every day in other arenas. (Note that arena can be defined

as a sports field and as a place where events unfold). When we use sports

words to describe other ideas, we're using them as metaphors. As you read

the list, note how often the words work off the field as well as on. Write down

other sports words that come to mind, and be sure to look them up in a dictionary

if you're not sure about their exact meanings.

TIP: A metaphor is a word or phrase used to describe similarity

between two things without using like or as. For example, Tom is a

tiger on the field suggests that Tom is fast and ferocious, like a tiger.

WORDS FROM THE WORLD OF SPORTS

1. aerobic. Something or someone that utilizes oxygen in order to

live. The coach required all his players to do at least one hour a day of

aerobic exercises.

2. calisthenics. Gymnastic exercises that are usually performed

with little or no special apparatus. Every morning our homeroom

teacher requires us to do five minutes of calisthenics in order to wake

us up.

3. decathlon. An athletic contest comprising ten different trackand-

field events and won by the contestant amassing the highest

total score. (Note the spelling of this word; it is easy to add

an extra, unwanted syllable to it and pronounce it de-cath-Alon,

which is incorrect.) Customarily, men compete more frequently

in decathlons than women do, but slowly, that's beginning to change.

4. draft. Outside sports, this word can mean a preliminary drawing

or document, such as the first draft of a book; it can also

mean a path of air, such as in a chimney. In sports, a draft is the

selection of new players by a professional team, from a group

of amateur players. The student council drafted its treasurer to be

in charge of purchasing decorations for the Halloween party.

words from the sports arena 167

5. Ironman. A triathlon race held once a year in Hawaii that

includes an ocean swim, a bike ride, and a marathon foot race.

The event takes its name from a comic book character with

great athletic endurance. Our quarterback is a regular ironman

when it comes to getting that ball down the field.

6. kickoff. In football and soccer, a kick that puts a stationary ball

in motion and begins a period of play. The candidate announced

his campaign with a kickoff speech at the state convention.

7. kinetic. Something produced by motion. The kinetic energy of the

young gymnasts at the Olympics was thrilling to watch.

8. marathon. A long-distance running event of 26 miles and 385

yards named for the story of a messenger's long run in 490 B.C.

from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. The dance marathon lasted

more than 24 hours, until the dancers collapsed in exhaustion.

9. offsides. To be illegally beyond an allowed line or area or ahead

of the ball in football or soccer. The candidate's campaign was offsides

when it accused her opponent of foul play.

10. out of left field. In baseball, left field is the area in the outfield to

the left of a person standing at home plate while facing the

pitcher's mound. When we describe someone or something as coming

out of left field, we mean that the person is acting odd or strange,

or the event is happening without warning.

11. three strikes. In baseball, a batter strikes out when he or she has

struck at or failed to hit three good balls. In legal terms, some

laws demand severe punishment after someone has been convicted

of three crimes. The drug dealer, convicted for the third time,

was sentenced to 95 years in prison under the three strikes law.

12. time-out. In sports, a brief interruption in play called to make

substitutions or discuss strategy, or the like. My parents try to

calm my little sister down by assigning time-outs to her so that the

rest of us can have some peace and quiet.

168 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE: SPORTS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

2 exercise that uses oxygen 1 failure at bat

5 to act odd or strange 3 extremely difficult three-part race

6 26+ mile race 4 the beginning of a game or contest

7 moving and energetic 8 exercise without machines or weights

Word Bank

1

2 3

4

6

5

7 8

aerobic

calisthenics

Ironman

kickoff

kinetic

marathon

out of left field

three strikes

words from the sports arena 169

Lesson 23 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice: Sports Crossword Puzzle Solution

Across Down

2 aerobic 1 three strikes

5 out of left field 3 Ironman

6 marathon 4 kickoff

aerobic

calisthenics

decathlon

draft

Ironman

kickoff

kinetic

marathon

metaphor

offsides

out of left field

three strikes

time-out

POLITICS. POLITICS. POLITICS. No doubt you've gotten tired of hearing

people talk politics enthusiastically, sometimes angrily, and always endlessly.

What's the big deal? Well, when you stop to think about it, politics is one of

the most important topics anyone can discuss. Even you.

Politics is defined as the art or science of governing, especially the activities

engaged in by a government, politician, or political party. Simply put, politics is

how our country, city, or neighborhood works and what our rights and

responsibilities are as citizens. All those details are determined by political

decisions within our government.

One of the most famous comments about politics was made by

Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., a long-serving congressman from Massachusetts. He

said, All politics is local. What he meant is that the big ideas that politicians

often talk about aren't what really matters to most people. Instead, the

L E S S O N 24

words about politics

All our work, our whole life is a matter of semantics, because

words are the tools with which we work, the material out of which

laws are made, out of which the Constitution was written.

Everything depends on our understanding of them.

FELIX FRANKFURTER (1882-1965)

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

In this lesson, you'll learn words about politics. At first, you may consider

yourself too young to care about politics if you are too young to vote. However,

as you learn the words in this lesson, you'll see that many of these words

are useful in your life right now-in school and at home.

172 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

local, right-here-in-our-neighborhood issues are what matter to voters, and

therefore should matter to their elected officials.

Even if you're not old enough to vote, are there local issues that matter to

you? Are there conditions at your school that you'd like to change? Are local

parks open when you and your friends want to use them? Do you wish your

neighborhood had a dog park? Do parks need to be cleaned up? These are

local issues about which you may have a political opinion.

The following list of words, many used frequently in political conversations,

will help you build word power, and maybe even help you influence

local political decisions.

WORDS ABOUT POLITICS

1. caucus. A meeting organized in support of a particular interest,

group, or cause. Members of the Green Party met in caucus last

month to nominate their candidates.

2. constituent. A part of a whole; a resident in a place represented

by an elected official. The congresswoman's constituents demanded

that she listen to their complaints.

3. facilitate. To make something happen easily. When groups disagree,

they may need a go-between to facilitate an understanding

about the differences between them.

4. federal. The central government of a country. The federal government

oversees the maintenance of the highways that connect all the

states.

5. hierarchy. The arrangement of anything, usually people, in

order of rank or importance. The Congress of the United States

assigns its members office space based on a hierarchy of seniority;

those who have served longest get the nicest offices.

6. ideology. A set of ideas or beliefs that form the basis of a political,

economic, or philosophical system. Our country's ideology

demands that we treat all people equally; in practice, we don't always

live up to our ideals.

7. implement. As a noun, describes an instrument or tool used to

perform an activity; as a verb, describes the act of making

something happen. As a nation, we often fail to implement the goals

we set for ourselves.

words about politics 173

8. incentive. Something that motivates or encourages someone to

do something, often a reward. During election season, candidates

running for office have a strong incentive to please the voters.

9. infrastructure. The basic facilities and services needed for a

community or system to function. We depend on the infrastructure

of our city, including clean water, electricity, and streets in good

condition.

10. legislate. To pass laws or modify existing laws. Women in the

United States struggled for decades until finally, in 1920, the federal

government passed legislation that gave all women the right to vote.

11. mediate. To resolve differences or to bring about a settlement

between conflicting parties. The committee chair often had to mediate

between warring groups who refused to modify their opinions.

12. protocol. The customs, regulations, and etiquette that govern a

particular situation; or a document or treaty between states. The

proper protocol when being introduced to royalty is to bow or curtsy;

when meeting elected officials, one waits for the official to extend his

or her hand.

PRACTICE 1: CHECKING YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF

POLITICAL WORDS

Circle the correct meaning for the italicized word in each sentence.

1. Hierarchy means

a. an order of rank.

b. a group of politicians.

c. a committee decision.

2. Federal is a term for

a. a vote by the people.

b. a central governing body.

c. a savings bank.

3. To facilitate is to

a. vote in an election.

b. make something happen.

c. be elected to office.

174 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

4. A constituent is

a. a member of a group.

b. an elected official.

c. a law about to be voted on.

5. To implement is to

a. submit to a vote.

b. argue for a position.

c. make something happen.

6. Ideology is

a. a group's vote.

b. a set of ideas of beliefs.

c. a committee proposal.

7. An incentive is

a. something that motivates.

b. a majority vote.

c. an elected official.

8. To mediate is to

a. agree on a difficult position.

b. propose a new law.

c. resolve differences between two groups.

9. A caucus is

a. a new idea or process.

b. a majority vote.

c. a meeting in support of a particular interest.

10. To legislate is to

a. argue local issues.

b. take a group vote.

c. pass laws.

words about politics 175

PRACTICE 2: USING POLITICAL WORDS IN SENTENCES

Fill in the blanks with words you've learned in this lesson.

1. The committee chairperson offered a/an ___________ to the members in

order to get them to agree on her proposal.

2. The ____________ government of the country oversees the individual

states.

3. A senator's ___________ is the set of beliefs which determine how she

will vote on proposals for new laws.

4. The animal rights group held a town _________ in order to plan the

details of their latest campaign.

5. An effective leader is able to _________ his ideas with the support of his

constituents.

6. The highways of our country are an important part of its ___________.

7. The single most important function of government is to ___________ on

behalf of the people.

8. Every elected official must listen carefully to the desires of his or her

___________.

9. The set of rules or customs by which relations between countries are conducted

is called the international ________________.

10. The system that decides which individuals in a group are ranked higher

or lower is called a _________.

Lesson 24 Words You Should Now Know

caucus

constituent

facilitate

federal

hierarchy

ideology

infrastructure

legislate

mediate

protocol

176 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Checking Your Knowledge of Political Words

1. a

2. b

3. b

4. a

5. c

6. b

7. a

8. c

9. c

10. c

Practice 2: Using Political Words in Sentences

1. incentive

2. federal

3. ideology

4. caucus

5. implement

6. infrastructure

7. legislate

8. constituents

9. protocol

10. hierarchy

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG to remember that far-off historical time before computers

existed, although it wasn't really so long ago. Just ask your parents.

But you may well remember way back to the day you first sat down at a computer,

or better yet, that day when you were first allowed to sit at the computer

as long as you wanted and you discovered all the amazing things it

could do.

A computer is like a whole universe in a box, a doorway for education,

entertainment, and much more. It provides a way for you to communicate

with friends, as well as make new ones all over the world. You probably have

access to a computer at your school, library, or at home. And you probably

know how to do a lot of different computer activities. What you may not

know are the definitions of some words associated with computers.

Here's a list of computer words whose precise definitions you need to

know. The words may describe things you see or activities you perform frequently

on the computer, or they may describe ideas and issues about computers

of which you're only vaguely aware. As you read the list, write down

L E S S O N 25

words about computers

Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the

things they make it easier to do don't need to be done.

ANDY ROONEY (1919- )

AMERICAN HUMORIST

This lesson focuses on words associated with computers, many of which

describe things you probably do every day.

178 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

other computer-connected words that come to mind, and look them up in a

dictionary to make sure you really understand them.

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE COMPUTER FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

1. browser. A computer browser is a program on your computer

that lets you view, download, and use sites on the Internet. A

browser is also a person who explores, as in a library or on the

Internet. I like the browser I've always used to surf the Internet, but

my geeky brother wants to switch us to some new one he says downloads

ten times faster.

2. copyright law. The law that grants to the author (or other owner

of the copyright) the exclusive right to make copies or allow

others to make copies of anything created or written, including

literary, musical, artistic, audio, or video works. This law

applies to almost everything you read on the Internet. For

example, you may not copy a newspaper story or an encyclopedia

article without getting permission from the author or

owner of the article. The committee discovered that Bill broke the

copyright law because he downloaded the story and then claimed that

he had written it.

3. desktop publishing. The use of computer software on a personal

computer to design and produce publications. Our student

newspaper now looks like a real paper because we use a desktop publishing

program.

4. domain name. An Internet address owned by a person or organization

to identify the location of its Web pages. Domain suffixes

indicate the type of material on the pages: .com for commercial

enterprises; .org for nonprofit organizations; .gov for government

websites; .edu for educational institutions. What's the

domain name of your school? The website you visit most often?

5. icon. A picture or image that represents something. On a computer,

an icon is a picture or symbol for a command, program,

or function. The use of icons to represent words and ideas

allows users who speak different languages to understand the same

information.

words about computers 179

6. ISP (Internet service provider). A company or organization that

provides access to the Internet, usually for a fee. Service, as

electronic signals, may come from a phone company through

telephone wires or a cable company through TV cables. I saw

lots of TV commercials promising better, faster download time, but I

don't want to change my Internet service provider.

7. search engine. Computer software that searches the Internet for

documents containing a keyword, phrase, or subject you submit.

Many people type their own name into a search engine to see

where they appear on the Internet; the results can be surprising.

8. social networking. Websites that enable people to meet and share

information. MySpace.com and Facebook.com are two extremely

popular and competitive social networking sites.

9. spam. Unrequested commercial messages usually sent as

emails. Many computer users complain that unwanted spam messages

are a frequent and unpleasant interruption.

10. streaming. To stream is to flow, as in a river. As a computer

word, streaming refers to the technology that enables the delivery

of a steady stream of information or images, such as a

streaming video of a live concert. Viewing streaming video on a

computer feels like watching a private showing of a blockbuster film

on your own personal movie screen!

11. URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The system used for specifying

addresses on the Internet. Each individual file or page has

its own URL, which is located on the address bar at the top of

your Internet browser window. Be sure to type the information in

a URL carefully so your browser knows where to go.

12. World Wide Web (www). The complete set of electronic documents

connected over the Internet. Informally, the terms Internet,

the Web, and online are used interchangeably. Which term

do you and your friends use most often? When you're wandering

around the World Wide Web, you can be described as surfing the Web

or browsing the Internet.

180 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

PRACTICE 1: MATCHING THE COMPUTER WORD WITH

ITS DEFINITION

Draw lines to match each computer word with its definition.

Computer Word Definition

1. copyright law a. websites for making friends

2. browser b. continuous flow of material over the Internet

3. search engine c. the exclusive ownership of material by an author

4. ISP d. online address

5. icon e. software that looks up websites

6. spam f. the system for finding Web pages

7. URL g. program for accessing Web pages

8. streaming h. unwanted emails

9. domain name i. service that provides Internet access

10. social networking j. image that represents files or functions online

PRACTICE 2: COMPUTER WORDS WORD SEARCH

Find and circle the words from this lesson in the word search puzzle below.

Words may appear backwards, vertically, or horizontally.

H S B D N W H V D T G P S I I

L R U V V Z V E E P K M P G X

X T U W Y I D N D I H Z J D P

M H Y J D M R F S B X T F Y S

F G D K V E W P O B V X I O P

N I L O T M A W K O A F R D N

M R Y N M K W K O O K U S T I

H Y I X C A H P M D D P P N L

L P I P S J I M L I D M A S A

Z O S X S F H N T Y R Q M O C

L C T F H O M A F H D Y I N D

H K G J I N S J K I J U D C H

N W L V J A Q U Z A R I P T Q

T C A S T V X Q L I Y P J A L

B R O W S E R R X P T A T V G

words about computers 181

Word Bank

Lesson 25 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Match the Computer Word with Its Definition

1. c

2. g

3. e

4. i

5. j

6. h

7. f

8. b

9. d

10. a

browser

copyright law

desktop publishing

domain name

icon

ISP

search engine

social networking

spam

streaming

URL

World Wide Web

browser

copyright

domain

Internet

ISP

spam

URL

182 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n a l l s u b j e c t a r e a s

Practice 2: Word Search for Computer Words

H S B D N W H V D T G P S I I

L R U V V Z V E E P K M P G X

X T U W Y I D N D I H Z J D P

M H Y J D M R F S B X T F Y S

F G D K V E W P O B V X I O P

N I L O T M A W K O A F R D N

M R Y N M K W K O O K U S T I

H Y I X C A H P M D D P P N L

L P I P S J I M L I D M A S A

Z O S X S F H N T Y R Q M O C

L C T F H O M A F H D Y I N D

H K G J I N S J K I J U D C H

N W L V J A Q U Z A R I P T Q

T C A S T V X Q L I Y P J A L

B R O W S E R R X P T A T V G

WITH ALL THE NEW KNOWLEDGE you've acquired, you're now ready to

fine-tune your vocabulary and show off your word power. The final section of

this book shows you ways to use slang, confusing words, foreign phrases,

and extra fancy words to beef up your vocabulary and become an extremely

powerful wordsmith.

4

build word power in special ways

S E C T I O N

AS YOU LEARNED in Lesson 6, English is a relatively young language, and

has derived hundreds of thousands of words from older languages, principally

Latin and Greek. (You may want to look back at that lesson for a quick

review!)

When words were borrowed from older languages and moved into English,

they were anglicized-modified and adapted to English pronunciations

and spellings. As a result, they aren't immediately recognizable as borrowings

to anyone but linguists (people who speak several languages fluently);

we think of the words as our own.

There are also many, many words from other, older languages that

moved directly into English. Sometimes the pronunciation is modified

slightly, but for the most part, these words were adopted as is, without significant

changes. Some words feel so natural to us that it takes a moment to realize

that they're technically foreign words. Others keep the pronunciation

from their original language, and are therefore more easily recognized as foreign

imports.

L E S S O N 26

words we've adopted

We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued

other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious

and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (1856-1915)

AMERICAN EDUCATOR

This lesson focuses on words that originated in other languages but are now

common in English.

186 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

Knowing the meaning of many words and how to pronounce them is a

sure sign of word power, your goal in reading this book!

Following is a list of words that are direct imports to English. You may

already know some of them. Aids to their pronunciations are included to help

you if needed.

WORDS FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

1. ad hoc (from Latin for for this). Something created right now, or

improvised, for a specific purpose. Hurricane Katrina caused the

ad hoc formation of citizen rescue teams.

2. ad hominem (add-HOHM-eh-nihm). (from Latin for to the man)

An argument that attacks someone's character rather than

attacking his argument, appealing to the emotions rather than

the intellect. Political races are too often full of ad hominem attacks

instead of debates on the real issues.

3. camouflage (KAM-uh-flaahj). (from the French for to disguise)

Disguising for protection from an enemy, such as dressing to

blend into the surrounding environment. Clothes designed with a

camouflage pattern have become popular with young people, whether

or not they plan to serve in the military.

4. caveat emptor (KAH-vee-aht em(p)-tor). (from the Latin for let

the buyer beware) The concept that not all sellers can be trusted,

so buyers should carefully judge the quality of what they buy

before they pay. Flea market bargain hunters should remember the

saying caveat emptor every time they think they've bought something

for much less than it's really worth.

5. cocoa. (the Spanish name for the bean of the cacao tree) The

powder ground from roasted cacao beans. Imagine our world

without cocoa: if the Spanish hadn't come to the New World, no one

in Europe or Asia would ever have had the pleasure of a cup of cocoa.

6. faux pas (fo-PAH). (from the French for false step) An embarrassing

mistake in manners or conduct. I made a terrible faux pas

when I commented to my teacher that she seemed to have gained

weight over the summer.

7. matinee (ma-tuh-NEH). (from the French for morning) An entertainment

or performance held in the afternoon. We were so anxious

to see that new comedy that we stood in line for the Saturday

matinee.

words we've adopted 187

8. objet d'art (ahb-zjay-DART). (from the French for object of art) A

work of art, usually small; sometimes simply called objet or

(plural) objets. My aunt owns a gift shop that specializes in antique

French objets d'art.

9. pirouette (peer-uh-WET). (from the French for spinning top) In

ballet, a complete turn of the body on the point of the toe or the

ball of the foot. The ballerina amazed the audience with her ability to

do multiple pirouettes in rapid succession.

10. pizza (from the Italian for bite). An open-faced baked pie topped

usually with spiced tomato sauce, cheese, and other garnishes.

Pizza is thought by many to have originated in the United States, but

others point out that an early form of pizza was eaten by the ancient

Greeks, who flavored their flat breads with herbs and onions as early

as 500 B.C.

11. potpourri (po-puh-REE). (from the French for rotten pot) A mixture

of dried flower petals and spices, kept in a jar for their fragrance;

also, any mixture of assorted objects. Jasmine always

keeps a vase of potpourri scented with jasmine in her room; for obvious

reasons, jasmine is her favorite flower.

12. pro bono publico (pro bonoh POOH-ble- koh). (from the Latin for

the public good) Something done for the public good without

payment; often shortened to pro bono. Many lawyers contribute

their services pro bono to help those who are unable to pay.

PRACTICE 1: MATCHING THE FOREIGN-BORN WORD WITH ITS

ENGLISH MEANING

Draw lines to match each foreign-born word with its English meaning.

Foreign-Born Word English Meaning

1. pirouette a. mixture of dried flowers and spices

2. ad hoc b. argument attacking a person, not a position

3. faux pas c. reminder to buyers to be careful

4. matinee d. ballet step turning on one foot

5. potpourri e. work done for free

6. ad hominem f. created on the spot, improvised

7. objet d'art g. embarrassing use of bad manners

8. caveat emptor h. a favorite food the world over

9. pro bono i. afternoon performance

10. pizza j. small object of artistic value

188 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

PRACTICE 2: FOREIGN-BORN WORDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

2 afternoon performance 1 designed to deceive

3 whirling dance move 3 fragrant mixture from nature

4 a bad manners mistake

5 created on the spot

Word Bank

1

2

3

4

5

ad hoc

camouflage

faux pas

matinee

pirouette

potpourri

words we've adopted 189

Lesson 26 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Matching the Foreign-Born Word with Its

English Meaning

1. d

2. f

3. g

4. i

5. a

6. b

7. j

8. c

9. e

10. h

Practice 2: Foreign-Born Words Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

2 matinee 1 camouflage

3 pirouette 3 potpourri

4 faux pas

5 ad hoc

ad hoc

ad hominem

camouflage

caveat emptor

cocoa

faux pas

linguist

matinee

objet d'art

pirouette

pizza

potpourri

pro bono publico

AS YOU LEARNED in Lesson 21, a euphemism is a substitution of a mild,

indirect, or vague expression for one that might be thought offensive, harsh,

or too blunt. This might suggest that speakers and writers use euphemisms

merely to display good manners, but euphemisms are used for other reasons,

not all of which are honest attempts to be more polite or avoid offending

anyone.

Euphemisms are often used

• to avoid speaking directly about something one fears,

• to avoid speaking the truth; using double talk to hide one's real

meaning,

• to avoid naming a person or thing, using a synonym in order to

appear innocent of slander,

L E S S O N 27

words that really

mean something else

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a

gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns

as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted

idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink.

GEORGE ORWELL (1903-1950)

BRITISH ESSAYIST AND NOVELIST

This lesson focuses on euphemisms, words that we use to avoid using other

words.

192 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

• to avoid naming something considered taboo (unacceptable, forbidden

in polite society),

• to avoid repeating the same name or idea, as a name-calling

device in political or social issue debates,

• to avoid revealing a secret or allowing others to overhear a name

(frequently used in spy novels and movies),

• to avoid too much seriousness and make light of a difficult

situation.

HOW WILL EUPHEMISMS BUILD YOUR WORD POWER?

As you know, the best way to increase your vocabulary is to read-this book

and anything and everything else! Additionally, listen carefully to everything

you hear-on the radio and TV, in conversations with friends, parents, and

teachers. You'll pick up lots of new words to help increase your vocabulary.

You'll soon be acquiring new words unconsciously, without using flash cards

or study lists or even thinking about it!

Listening for euphemisms also increases your vocabulary and your sensitivity

to word meanings. As you notice euphemisms, you'll automatically

sense the variations and nuances (small differences in meaning) in language

that euphemisms employ. For example, if someone says they live in a working

class neighborhood, you may guess that they don't live in the wealthiest, fanciest

part of town. When someone says a neighborhood is in transition, what do

you think they mean? What reality does the euphemism cover?

TIP: How do you know if a word or phrase is a euphemism or simply a

synonym? Ask yourself what the motive was for choosing the word or

words. Why this particular word? Does it hide some secret motive? If

the answer is yes, then it's probably a euphemism.

Euphemisms aren't usually made up of difficult words, but are usually a sign

that a sensitive or complicated idea is being simplified or covered up. The following

is a list of some common euphemisms. As you read the list, write

down other euphemisms you've heard.

words that really mean something else 193

EUPHEMISMS ABOUT DEATH

This is the largest category of frequently used euphemisms, no doubt because

death is so universally feared and so little understood.

Examples

passed away; checked out; bit the Big One; kicked the bucket; bought

the farm; pushing daisies; sleeping the Big Sleep; gone six feet under

Notice how all these phrases include a hint of humor to mask the seriousness

of the subject they are refusing to acknowledge directly.

EUPHEMISMS ABOUT POLITICS

Next to death, the subject that probably causes the most emotion-and therefore

prompts the frequent use of euphemisms-is politics. Have you heard

politicians use any of these euphemisms, and can you describe what they

actually mean?

Examples

free the people; tax the rich and give to the poor; reclaim our cities;

shake up Washington; loosen government controls; stop big

government

EUPHEMISMS ABOUT WAR

The terrible circumstances of war create numerous opportunities for speakers

and writers to attempt to soften the blow of war's harsh realities.

Examples

friendly fire (accidental killing of one's own comrades); collateral

damage (killing innocent bystanders); pacification (killing or controlling

citizens of enemy states); post-traumatic stress disorder, also referred to

as PTSD (emotional and mental disturbances resulting from war

experiences)

194 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

EUPHEMISMS ABOUT EDUCATION

The educational system creates more than its share of euphemisms by seeking

to paint a pretty picture (another euphemism) to address difficult problems.

Examples

social promotion (advancing a failing student to the next grade even if

his or her academic performance is not adequate); holding back (failing

a student a whole grade year); English Language Learners (the latest

term for people learning English as a second language); special ed

(education for students who have difficulty in regular classes); No Child

Left Behind (the policy of testing student and school performance

against national standards to detect inadequate educational

performance)

TIP: Listen and read carefully. When you catch a euphemism being

used, try to translate it into the reality it's seeking to mask.

PRACTICE: UNMASKING EUPHEMISMS

Rewrite the following sentences, replacing the italicized euphemism with

more direct language. Briefly explain why you think the euphemism was

used.

1. Because of budget cuts at the company, my mother's job was terminated

without prejudice.

________________________________________________________________

2. Sadly, the neighborhood where we used to live is now said to be in

transition.

________________________________________________________________

3. To her great embarrassment, Eileen's mother called her pleasingly plump.

________________________________________________________________

words that really mean something else 195

4. Moe's Pre-Owned Vehicles was the newest business in town, and apparently

it was extremely successful in these hard financial times.

________________________________________________________________

5. Every Tuesday night we put out our recycling bins for the sanitation engineers

to pick up on Wednesday mornings.

________________________________________________________________

6. The general explained that many civilian casualties resulted during the

platoon's efforts to neutralize the target.

________________________________________________________________

7. Mary Lou was expecting again, which pleased her son and her parents

enormously.

________________________________________________________________

8. During this summer's heat wave we suddenly had no electricity in my

apartment, and the whole city experienced a disruption in service.

________________________________________________________________

9. According to his defense attorney, the accused robber's statement in

court was not completely true.

10. The town instituted the use of school buses to enforce its new commitment

to a policy of diversity.

________________________________________________________________

Lesson 27 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

collateral damage

English Language Learners

friendly fire

holding back

No Child Left Behind

pacification

post-traumatic stress disorder

social promotion

special ed

taboo

196 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

ANSWERS

Practice: Unmasking Euphemisms

1. Because of budget cuts at the company, my mother's job was eliminated.

The writer wanted to make it clear that the mother was not to blame for

the loss of her job.

2. Sadly, the neighborhood where we used to live is now said to be a less

desirable place to live.

The writer is trying not to say that different kinds of people are moving

in, probably causing property values to decline.

3. To her great embarrassment, Eileen's mother called her slightly

overweight.

Probably Eileen's mother thinks her daughter is more than slightly overweight

and actually fat, but is trying to soften the blow by calling her

pleasingly plump; the mother is hardly pleased and is trying to cover her

displeasure with a bit of humor.

4. Moe's Used Cars was the newest business in town, and apparently it was

extremely successful in these hard financial times.

Calling used cars pre-owned is an attempt to make them sound more

desirable, since used cars are generally thought to be of little value.

5. Every Tuesday night we put out our recycling bins for the garbage men to

pick up on Wednesday mornings.

Calling garbage men sanitation engineers is an attempt to make this difficult

and distasteful job sound more respectable and somehow scientific

and skilled.

6. The general explained that many civilian casualties resulted during the

platoon's efforts to defeat the enemy forces.

Neutralizing the target is a dramatically deceptive and euphemistic way to

describe the cold hard facts of war. Presumably it is an attempt by military

spokespersons to protect the feelings of civilians.

7. Mary Lou was pregnant again, which pleased her son and her parents

enormously.

Strangely, the word pregnant continues to be considered slightly taboo. In

centuries past, in many middle- and upper-class circles, women went

into seclusion and never appeared in public during pregnancy.

words that really mean something else 197

8. During this summer's heat wave we suddenly had no electricity in my

apartment, and the whole city experienced a power outage.

A power outage, also known as a blackout, is often referred to by power

companies as a disruption in service to appease the possibility of panic.

The term power outage gives little hint of when the power might return

and in fact, it sounds as if the power will be out indefinitely. On the other

hand, a disruption in service implies the power is only out temporarily-

something has gotten in the way of its service, but that the disruption

will be fixed soon.

9. According to his defense attorney, the accused robber's statement in

court was at least false in part.

The defense attorney is trying to mask the fact that his client misrepresented

at least part of the truth. Including the word true in the phrase not

completely true is an attempt to suggest that at least part of the statement

was not a lie.

10. The town instituted the use of school buses to enforce its new

commitment to a policy of ensuring that the student bodies of its schools

included students of all races.

Racial inequality remains one of the most controversial and emotional

issues in American life. The euphemistic word diversity is used as shorthand

whenever speakers are referring to the issue of inequality among

the races.

BY NOW, YOU might be feeling overloaded with new words, and even a bit

hesitant to use any words you already know. Learning new vocabulary is

intense work. This lesson provides a break by concentrating on two common

vocabulary problems.

1. Confused words. The English language is full of confusing word

pairs-they sound similar but mean different things. How can

you avoid being confused? Find out here.

2. Abused words. Because it has inherited words from dozens of

other languages, English is probably the richest language in the

world. So why do we keep on using the same old words over

and over again? Here you'll find out which words you probably

use way too often.

L E S S O N 28

confused and abused words

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

EPICTETUS (CA. 55-CA. 135)

GREEK PHILOSOPHER

This lesson focuses on two categories of words: those frequently confused and

those frequently abused.

200 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

WORDS THAT CONFUSE

Following is a list of some word pairs that are frequently confused. Pay close

attention to the sample sentences in which they're used. Seeing a word used

properly can help you acquire it for your own vocabulary.

1. adopt. To accept as one's own.

adapt. To adjust to or become accustomed to; to modify.

My family decided to adopt a puppy to be a companion to

our old dog.

The puppy adapted to our family very easily; she loved all

the other animals.

2. all together. A group of things or persons gathered together.

altogether. Entirely, completely.

Our pets, all together, resemble a very zany zoo.

My mom is not altogether in agreement that we should now

get an ostrich.

3. complement. Something that is added in, that contributes.

compliment. A remark that pleases or flatters someone.

The new puppy complemented our collection of both old

and young pets.

The veterinarian complimented us on our amazing

menagerie of pets.

4. continuous. Occurring without interruption.

continual. Happening repeatedly, over and over again.

The pets provide continuous joy to all of us; they are so

sweet and loving.

Trips to the vet are a continual problem; one of the animals

always needs care.

5. everyone. A pronoun that describes a group; everybody in the

group.

every one. The specific individuals in a group.

Everyone in the family shares in the care of the pets.

Every one of us has a favorite pet.

6. maybe. Possibly, perhaps.

may be. A verb phrase suggesting something might or might

not be.

Maybe we have too many pets, but is that even possible?

It may be that once the kids go to college, our parents will

want even more pets.

confused and abused words 201

TIP: Awesome, cool, and totally are three of the most frequently

abused words in current English conversation. They are quickly losing

any meaning because of their overuse. So try to substitute other, more

precise words to convey your meaning.

WORDS THAT GET ABUSED

Here are some of the most frequently abused words-ones used incorrectly

you can easily use correctly if you pay careful attention to their meanings.

1. being that. These words are incorrect when used as a phrase.

Being that I love animals, I'm planning to become a vet.

(incorrect usage)

Being an animal lover, I plan to become a vet. (correct)

2. hopeful. An adjective that describes someone full of hope.

hopefully. An adverb that means doing something with hope.

I am hopeful that my grades will get me into vet school.

(correct)

Hopefully I'll do well in school. (incorrect)

I am studying hopefully, and working as hard as I can.

(correct)

3. regardless. Without taking into account. Note: there is no such

word as irregardless.

Irregardless of my grades, my experience with animals

should help. (incorrect)

Regardless of my grades, my experience with animals

should help. (correct)

4. like. A preposition that introduces the idea of similarity

as. An adverb that suggests similarity, or in the same manner

A donkey's hee-haw is like an alarm clock; it startles and

surprises you. (correct)

Do like I say. (incorrect)

Do as I say, not as I do. (correct)

202 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

TIP: Try to cut down dramatically on your use of the word like. It's

probably the single most overused word. It's not a word to introduce

sentences randomly, or to use when you can't think of what you're

going to say next!

5. real. An adjective that describes something that is not false.

really. An adverb that intensifies the verb it modifies. Do not use

real when you mean really.

Keeping pets gives you a really good lesson in the nature of

the real world. (correct)

My pet snake is real slithery and scares many people.

(incorrect)

My pet snake is really slithery and scares many people.

(correct)

6. suppose. To assume something is true, or to consider it as possible.

supposed. The past tense of the verb suppose.

I suppose we learned from our parents how to love animals.

(correct)

We are suppose to take care of them out of love, not obligation.

(incorrect)

I am supposed to study harder if I am serious about becoming

a vet. (correct)

TIP: Remember always to include the final d for the past tense of suppose.

Too frequently, the word is used without the final d, and this

immediately signals that the speaker either isn't well educated or

doesn't care about language.

confused and abused words 203

PRACTICE 1: USING CONFUSING WORDS CORRECTLY

Circle the correct word in each sentence.

1. Janet gave me a (compliment/complement) about my essay.

2. The class (all together/altogether) has seven iPods, five cell phones, and

two iPhones.

3. Paul is always anxious to (adapt/adopt) every new technology as soon

as it appears on the market.

4. The (continual/continuous) appearance of new cable channels makes TV

watching both exciting and confusing.

5. (Everyone/Every one) of my favorite shows is on a different channel, so

I'm constantly fingering the remote.

PRACTICE 2: REMEMBERING NOT TO ABUSE WORDS

Circle the correct word in each sentence.

1. The candidate and his staff counted (hopeful/hopefully) on volunteers to

help get out the votes.

2. The Ironman triathlon race is (real, really) hard on the runners'

endurance.

3. Lance Armstrong is a (real/really) hero to all bikers.

4. All athletes are (suppose/supposed) to train energetically, but some fail

to do so.

5. Regardless of what the others suggest, do (as/like) I do, and you'll

succeed.

204 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

Lesson 28 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Using Confusing Words Correctly

1. compliment

2. all together

3. adopt

4. continual

5. Every one

Practice 2: Remembering Not to Abuse Words

1. hopefully

2. really

3. real

4. supposed

5. as

all together

altogether

as

complement

compliment

continual

continuous

everyone

every one

hopeful

hopefully

like

maybe

may be

regardless

suppose

supposed

AS YOU'VE BECOME aware while reading this book, every profession and

subject has words that are unique to it. You now know that philologists study

languages, and etymology is the study of the how words developed over time.

There's even a special name for the study of spelling-it's called orthography-

and onomatologists study names. So it should come as no surprise that words

themselves are a subject area.

The combined learning of all these specialized fields, along with the

study of literature and poetry, has resulted in a long list of words about

words. You'll learn some of them here, and you'll probably be surprised by

how precisely they describe other words and how words are used. You'll

also notice that many describe the ways in which you yourself speak and

write.

L E S S O N 29

words about words

The finest words in the world are only vain

sounds if you cannot understand them.

ANATOLE FRANCE (1844-1924)

FRENCH AUTHOR AND NOVELIST

In this lesson, you'll focus on some interesting words about words. There are

many, and they can help you become more precise, and more powerful, as a

speaker and writer.

206 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

TIP: Check your own speech and writing for some of the words in this

lesson. For example, do you use superfluous words, clichés, circumlocutions,

or non sequiturs?

WORDS ABOUT WORDS

1. ambiguous. A vague, unclear, or indefinite word, expression,

sentence, or meaning. Our teacher's instructions about how to

write our essays were quite ambiguous, which confused us all.

2. analogy. A comparison between two things that suggests that

they show a similarity in at least some aspects. Many people

draw an analogy between how our brains work and how computers

function.

3. circumlocution. A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the

use of more words than necessary to express an idea. My grandfather

was famous in the family for his long-winded circumlocutions

about what life was like when he was a boy.

4. cliché. A trite, overused expression or idea that has lost its originality

and impact. Our school nurse was forever repeating her

favorite timeworn cliché, An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

5. epigram/epigraph. An epigram is a short, witty poem, saying, or

quotation that conveys a single thought in a clever way. An epigraph

is a brief quotation that appears at the beginning of an

article, essay, or novel to introduce the theme. Every lesson in

this book has been introduced with an epigram used as an epigraph.

6. non sequitur. A statement or conclusion that doesn't follow logically

from what preceded it. John's suggestion that we all protest

the requirement of school uniforms was a non sequitur after the principal's

announcement that our summer vacation was going to be cut

short.

7. nuance. A slight degree of difference in meaning, feeling, or

tone of something spoken or written. The poet's varied description

of the joys of spring included subtle nuances that made us think of the

changing seasons in an entirely new light.

words about words 207

8. redundant. Speaking or writing that repeats the same idea several

times. In order to meet the requirement of 300 words, Jane filled

her essay with many redundant sentences that added no new ideas to

her topic.

9. rhetorical question. A question asked with no expectation of a

reply. The teacher asked us, rhetorically, if we thought we should have

more homework.

10. simile. A statement using the words like or as to compare two

dissimilar things. The valentine he sent me said Your face is like a

rose. Similes are often confused with metaphors, which compare

without using the words like and as. For example, a valentine

might say, You are my special rose.

11. superfluous. Something that's unnecessary, or more than

enough or required. Reminding us to do our best on the final test is

a superfluous bit of advice from our teacher.

12. verbiage. An overabundance of words in writing or speech. The

doctor's verbiage confused me, but my mother was able to figure out

what he meant.

PRACTICE 1: MATCH WORDS ABOUT WORDS WITH

THEIR MEANING

Draw lines to match each word about words with its meaning.

Word about Words Meaning

1. circumlocution a. a trite, overused expression

2. ambiguous b. a comparison between two things that are

3. non sequitur mostly dissimilar

4. nuance c. a short, witty statement that conveys an idea in a

5. analogy clever way

6. simile d. roundabout way of speaking

7. cliché e. unnecessary or more than sufficient

8. epigram f. using more words than necessary, repetitious

9. superfluous g. a slight shading of meaning

10. redundant h. a vague or unclear word or statement

i. a comparison using the word like or as

j. a statement that does not follow logically

208 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

PRACTICE 2: WORDS ABOUT WORDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

1 comparison between two things 1 vague, unclear

or ideas 2 roundabout, indirect way of speaking

2 trite, overused expression 4 short, clever saying

3 comparison using like or as 5 repetitious (in speaking or writing)

6 unnecessary, more than required

Word Bank

1

2

3 4 5

6

ambiguous

analogy

circumlocution

cliché

epigram

redundant

simile

superfluous

words about words 209

Lesson 29 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in this Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Matching Words about Words with their Meaning

1. d

2. h

3. j

4. g

5. b

6. i

7. a

8. c

9. e

10. f

Practice 2: Words about Words Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

1 analogy 1 ambiguous

2 cliché 2 circumlocution

3 simile 4 epigram

6 superfluous 5 redundant

ambiguous

analogy

circumlocution

cliché

epigram

epigraph

non sequitur

onomatologist

orthography

redundant

rhetorical question

simile

superfluous

verbiage

CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING the last lesson in the book! If you've

read carefully, done the practice exercises, and remembered to use your new

words in your everyday life, you've done a wonderful job of acquiring hundreds

of new words.

By now, you've also gained an appreciation of how powerful words can

be. They help you communicate ideas, thoughts, feelings, and opinions; they

help you persuade, and they help you amuse. Words can also help you gain

higher grades; compliments from teachers, parents, and friends; and an

increased sense of confidence in your reading, writing, and speaking.

In this last lesson, you will find a list of words that are particularly powerful.

They're noteworthy for their efficiency: they condense complicated

thoughts into single words. Use these words when you want to avoid the circumlocutions

and redundancies-those bad speaking and writing habits you

learned about in the previous lesson. All the words in this lesson are adjectives,

the most versatile part of speech. You might want to look back at Lesson

11 to review some other powerful adjectives you've learned. As you learn

L E S S O N 30

words with extra power

Be simple in words, manners, and gestures. Amuse as well

as instruct. If you can make a man laugh, you can make

him think and make him like and believe you.

ALFRED. E. SMITH, JR. (1873-1944)

NEW YORK GOVERNOR AND CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT

In this lesson, you'll learn some words that carry extra punch. They deliver a

lot of meaning and power all by themselves.

212 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

these new adjectives, stop to think about how many additional words it might

take to convey the meaning of just one well-chosen adjective.

TIP: Words with extra power convey complicated meanings in a small

space, an ideal goal for anyone seeking true vocabulary breadth and

power.

WORDS WITH EXTRA POWER

1. cacophonous. Describes loud, confusing, and disagreeable sound

or noise. My parents consider my favorite hip hop music nothing but

cacophonous noise.

2. demure. Modest, reserved, and even shy. Cinderella is a classic

example of a demure young woman.

3. esoteric. Understood by or meant for only the special few who

have private or secret knowledge. The study of prehistoric fish is

quite an esoteric field, but one that is truly fascinating.

4. feminist. Refers to the philosophy or political doctrine that

holds that social, political, and all other rights of women

should be equal to those of men. The feminist movement has continued

its struggle over the past 150 years to gain equal rights for

women.

5. glib. Said of speaking or writing that is fluent and smooth, but

is also superficial and shows little preparation or sincere concern.

The candidate's glib responses to all the reporter's questions

made me suspicious about her real qualifications for office.

6. ironic. Seeking to communicate a meaning that is actually the

opposite of its literal meaning; a contradiction between what is

said and what is meant. The story's title, A Happy Ending, was

clearly ironic since almost all the characters were disappointed or

dead by the end.

7. obsequious. Acting submissive and flattering to someone perceived

to be more powerful. In my math class, there is one obsequious

boy who is always trying to win favor with the teacher; he

figures he can do less work if he becomes the teacher's pet.

words with extra power 213

8. ominous. Threatening, or seeming to promise evil or harm. Our

teacher's ominous suggestion that we should get a good night's sleep

before our next test scared us into studying harder.

9. pompous. Puffed up with vanity and pretending to be grand

and elegant. The political candidate lost the race because of his huge

promises and pompous speeches that voters felt were insincere.

10. sadistic. Finding pleasure in being cruel. Billy, our class bully, was

feared because of his sadistic delight in making fun of weaker boys.

11. sardonic. Ironically humorous; sarcastically mocking. Homer

Simpson is a sardonic husband, making fun of his wife and kids all the

time.

12. sophisticated. Worldly wise, educated, and experienced. A student

with a sophisticated vocabulary is assured easier essay writing as

well as higher grades.

PRACTICE 1: IDENTIFYING POWERFUL ADJECTIVES

Fill in each blank with the adjective from this lesson that fits the description.

The first letter of each correct answer has been provided.

1. John always seems to speak easily and know

what he is talking about. g_________________

2. The band forgot to tune their instruments,

and the result was a horrible kind of noise. c _________________

3. Sally was determined to improve the rights

of women, and believed in this set of beliefs. f _________________

4. Billy was known for his cruelty and was often

accused of enjoying insulting others. s _________________

5. Jeremy was always trying too hard to please

the people he wanted for friends. o_________________

214 b u i l d w o r d p o w e r i n s p e c i a l w a y s

PRACTICE 2: WORDS WITH EXTRA POWER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Across Down

3 always too willing to please 1 speaks fluently and maybe too easily

5 saying the opposite of what is meant 2 educated, worldly wise

6 enjoys being cruel 4 speaks with false grandness

7 belief in women's rights

Word Bank

3

4

5

2

1

6

7

feminist

glib

ironic

obsequious

pompous

sadistic

sophisticated

words with extra power 215

Lesson 30 Words You Should Now Know

Extra Word(s) You Learned in This Lesson

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

ANSWERS

Practice 1: Identifying Powerful Adjectives

1. glib

2. cacophonous

3. feminist

4. sadistic

5. obsequious

Practice 2: Words with Extra Power Crossword Puzzle

Across Down

3 obsequious 1 glib

5 ironic 2 sophisticated

6 sadistic 4 pompous

7 feminist

cacophonous

demure

esoteric

feminist

glib

ironic

obsequious

ominous

pompous

sadistic

sardonic

sophisticated

NOW THAT YOU'VE completed all the lessons in the book, take this 30-question

posttest. It's similar to the pretest you took before beginning the lessons,

except the questions are different this time.

This posttest lets you measure how your word power has improved.

After completing the test and evaluating your score, you may want to go back

and revisit some practice exercises. Alternatively, reviewing the vocabulary

words in the book's glossary is another useful strategy for refreshing your

knowledge.

The test should take about 30 minutes to complete. The answer key at

the end of the test provides the lesson number in which each question's

vocabulary word appears. Don't peek, and good luck!

P O S T T E S T

218 p o s t t e s t

1. A synonym is

a. a law that protects animals.

b. a word that means the opposite.

c. a word that means the same.

d. a law that covers financial matters.

2. An antonym is

a. an apology offered formally.

b. a person who fights for the other side.

c. a word borrowed from Latin or Greek.

d. a word that means the opposite.

3. The best place to look up a word's meaning is

a. a good dictionary.

b. a thesaurus.

c. the index of a book.

d. Wikipedia.

4. The word nuance means

a. the first definition of a word.

b. the strict dictionary definition of a word.

c. the subtle differences in meanings of words.

d. the word suggestions in a thesaurus.

5. The word denotation means

a. the ending of a word.

b. the main part of a word.

c. the strict dictionary definition of a word.

d. the origin of a word.

6. The word connotation means

a. the emotional or cultural meaning of a word.

b. the strict dictionary definition of a word.

c. the substitution of one word for another.

d. the idea that is the word's starting point.

posttest 219

7. The word antecedent describes

a. something that doesn't move.

b. something that comes before.

c. something that is ancient.

d. something that is controversial.

8. To synchronize is to

a. make something happen very quickly.

b. suggest an alternative idea.

c. make something happen at the same time.

d. ask an irrelevant question.

9. A pseudonym is

a. a false name.

b. an ancient god or deity.

c. a harsh sound.

d. an evil opponent.

10. To fluctuate is to

a. fly at very high altitudes.

b. flutter in the breeze.

c. change frequently.

d. feel sickly and nauseous.

11. The opposite of the word inevitable is

a. certain to happen.

b. may never happen.

c. likely to happen.

d. out of reach.

12. When you have an incentive, you have a

a. reason to stop doing something.

b. an extra part of something that can easily be separated.

c. the last item in a list or series.

d. a stimulus to complete a task.

220 p o s t t e s t

13. To give someone clemency is to give them

a. a stiff sentence for a crime committed.

b. a gift of enormous value.

c. mercy and forgiveness.

d. the right to manage on their own.

14. Mediation is

a. intervention to settle a disagreement.

b. finding the middle ground.

c. granting someone forgiveness.

d. supporting the opposing viewpoint.

15. Amnesty is

a. a choice between two alternatives.

b. safety from punishment or prosecution.

c. the right to have a lawyer represent you.

d. a state of calm, with no disturbances.

16. To augment is to

a. listen to an opposing argument.

b. consider changing positions.

c. to increase or add to something.

d. to accomplish or achieve something.

17. To allocate is to

a. increase the size of something.

b. decrease the size of something.

c. improve the condition of something.

d. set something aside for a special purpose.

18. To compile is to

a. put together from various sources.

b. criticize an idea or position.

c. reach an accurate conclusion.

d. reach a false conclusion.

posttest 221

19. To interpret is to

a. gather ideas together.

b. explain or translate from one form to another.

c. use an illogical argument.

d. understand something correctly.

20. To be pretentious is to

a. try to impress others.

b. be very wise.

c. be confident.

d. be afraid to speak up.

21. Being elated means

a. being dejected and unhappy.

b. being satisfied.

c. being willing to try anything.

d. being delighted and pleased.

22. Being humiliated means

a. being thrilled and happy.

b. being disappointed.

c. being frustrated.

d. being embarrassed and looked down on.

23. Genealogy is the study of

a. prehistoric animals.

b. family histories.

c. the pharaohs of Egypt.

d. the development of plants.

24. To send condolences is to

a. send sympathy to someone grieving.

b. send regrets to an invitation.

c. send formal invitations to a wedding.

d. send a formal letter of application.

222 p o s t t e s t

25. Euphemisms are

a. formal invitations to events.

b. synonyms for other words.

c. substitutions of milder words for unpleasant ones.

d. formal birth announcements.

26. The meaning of copyright is that

a. anyone is free to copy material they see in print.

b. no one is free to copy material they see in print.

c. everything on the Internet is free to use.

d. the author alone may grant the right to copy material.

27. To implement a plan is

a. to investigate solutions to a problem.

b. to find the answer to a problem.

c. to put the plan in action.

d. to change the steps to be taken in the plan.

28. A caucus is

a. a new idea introduced to a process.

b. a complicated solution to a problem.

c. a meeting in support of a particular interest.

d. a new set of ideas or beliefs.

29. A feminist is

a. a very intelligent woman.

b. a professional woman in a corporation.

c. a person who believes in equal rights for women.

d. a female anthropologist.

30. Someone who is sadistic

a. likes to tease and tell jokes.

b. is a grieving person.

c. is a person who often misrepresents truth.

d. is a person who enjoys being cruel.

posttest 223

ANSWERS

1. c (Lesson 1)

2. d (Lesson 1)

3. a (Lesson 2)

4. c (Lesson 2)

5. c (Lesson 4)

6. a (Lesson 4)

7. b (Lesson 6)

8. c (Lesson 6)

9. a (Lesson 6)

10. c (Lesson 8)

11. b (Lesson 8)

12. d (Lesson 8)

13. c (Lesson 10)

14. a (Lesson 10)

15. b (Lesson 10)

16. c (Lesson 12)

17. d (Lesson 12)

18. a (Lesson 12)

19. b (Lesson 12)

20. a (Lesson 14)

21. d (Lesson 15)

22. d (Lesson 15)

23. b (Lesson 20)

24. a (Lesson 21)

25. c (Lesson 21)

26. d (Lesson 25)

27. c (Lesson 24)

28. c (Lesson 24)

29. c (Lesson 30)

30. d (Lesson 30)

THE TERM standardized test has the ability to produce fear in test takers.

These tests are often given by a state board of education or a nationally recognized

education group. Usually these tests are taken in the hope of getting

accepted-whether it's for a special program, the next grade in school, or

even to a college or university. Here's the good news: standardized tests are

more familiar to you than you know. In most cases, these tests look very similar

to tests that your teachers may have given in the classroom.

The following pages include valuable tips for combating test anxiety-

that sinking or blank feeling some people feel as they begin a test or

encounter a difficult question. You'll discover how to use your time wisely

and how to avoid errors when you're taking a test. Also, you will find a plan

for preparing for the test and for the test day. Once you have these tips down,

you're ready to approach any exam head-on!

hints for taking standardized tests

226 h i n t s f o r t a k i n g s t a n d a r d i z e d t e s t s

COMBATING TEST ANXIETY

Take the Test One Question at a Time

Focus all your attention on the question you're answering. Block out any

thoughts about questions you've already read or concerns about what's coming

next. Concentrate your thinking where it will do the most good-on the

present question.

If You Lose Your Concentration

Don't worry about it! It's normal. During a long test, it happens to everyone.

When your mind is stressed, it takes a break whether you want it to or not. It's

easy to get your concentration back if you simply acknowledge the fact that

you've lost it and take a quick break.

If You Freeze Before or During the Test

Don't worry about a question that stumps you. Mark it and go on to the next

question. You can come back to the "stumper" later. Try to put it out of your

mind completely until you come back to it. Chances are, the memory block

will be gone by the time you return to the question.

If you freeze before you even begin the test, here's what to do:

1. Take a little time to look over the test.

2. Read a few of the questions.

3. Decide which are the easiest and start there.

4. Before long, you'll be "in the groove."

TIME STRATEGIES

With the strategies in this section, you'll notice the next timed test you take is

not as scary.

hints for taking standardized tests 227

Pace Yourself

The most important time strategy is pacing yourself. Before you begin, take

just a few seconds to survey the test, noting the number of questions and the

sections that look easier than the rest. Estimate a time schedule based upon

the amount of time available to you. Mark the halfway point on your test and

make a note beside that mark of what the time will be when the testing period

is half over.

Keep Moving

Once you begin the test, keep moving. If you work slowly in an attempt to

make fewer mistakes, your mind will become bored and begin to wander, and

you will lose concentration.

The Process of Elimination

For some standardized tests, there is no guessing penalty. What this means is

that you shouldn't be afraid to guess. For a multiple-choice question with four

answer choices, you have a one in four chance of guessing correctly. And your

chances improve if you can eliminate a choice or two.

By using the process of elimination, you will cross out incorrect answer

choices and improve your odds of finding the correct answer. In order for the

process of elimination to work, you must keep track of what choices you are

crossing out. Cross out incorrect choices on the test booklet itself. If you don't

cross out an incorrect answer, you may still think it is a possible answer.

Crossing out any incorrect answers makes it easier to identify the right

answer: There will be fewer places where it can hide!

AVOIDING ERRORS

When you take a test, you want to make as few errors as possible in the questions

you answer. Following are a few tactics to keep in mind.

228 h i n t s f o r t a k i n g s t a n d a r d i z e d t e s t s

Control Yourself

If you feel rushed or worried, stop for a few seconds. Acknowledging the feeling

(Hmmm! I'm feeling a little pressure here!), take a few deep breaths, and send

yourself a few positive messages (I am prepared for this test, and I will do well!).

Directions

In many standardized testing situations, specific instructions are given and you

must follow them as best as you can. Be sure you understand what is expected.

If you don't, ask. Listen carefully for instructions about how to answer the questions

and make certain you know how much time you have to complete the

task. If you miss any important information about the rules of taking the test,

ask for it.

If You Finish Early

Use any time you have left at the end of the test or test section to check your

work. First, make sure you've put the right answers in the right places. After

you've checked for errors, take a second look at the more difficult questions. If

you have a good reason for thinking your first response was wrong, change it.

THE DAYS BEFORE THE TEST

Physical Activity

Get some exercise in the days preceding the test. Play a game outside with

your friends or take your pet for a walk. Exercise helps give more oxygen to

your brain and allows your thinking performance to rise on the day you take

the test. But moderation is key here. You don't want to exercise so much that

you feel too tired; however, a little physical activity will do the trick.

hints for taking standardized tests 229

Balanced Diet

Like your body, your brain needs the proper nutrients to function well. Eat

plenty of fruits and vegetables in the days before the test. Foods like fish and

beans are also good choices to help your mind reach its best level of performance

before a big test.

Rest

Get plenty of sleep the nights before the test. Go to bed at a reasonable time,

and you'll feel relaxed and rested.

TEST DAY

It's finally here: the day of the big test! Eat a good breakfast, and avoid anything

high in sugar (even though it might taste good, no sugary cereal or

doughnuts). If you can, get to your classroom early so you can review your

materials before the test begins. The best thing to do next is to relax and think

positively! Before you know it, the test will be over, and you'll walk away

knowing you did your absolute best!

accept recognize or take on something

acronym pronounceable word formed from the initial letters or syllables of

a series of words

acrophobia fear of heights

adapt to adjust or modify something

ad hoc (from Latin for for this) created right now, or improvised, for a specific

purpose

ad hominem (from Latin for to the man) argument that attacks someone's

character rather than facts by appealing to the emotions rather than the intellect

adjacent bordering on, being next to, or close, or neighboring

adopt to accept as one's own

advocate a person who argues on behalf of an idea or another person

aerobic something or someone that utilizes oxygen in order to live

G L O S S A R Y

232 g l o s s a r y

affect to modify or change something

agoraphobia an abnormal fear of open spaces, crowds, and public areas

agrarian relating to the cultivation of the land or farming

all ready the state of being prepared for something

all together a group of things or persons gathered together

all ways every method or path available

allocate to set aside for a specific purpose

already by this time

altogether entirely, completely

altruistic unselfishly interested in the welfare of others

always forever, as in time

ambiguous unclear, unspecific, open to interpretation

amiable friendly, good-natured, comfortable with others

amnesia in extreme cases, the total loss of memory

amnesty the granting of a pardon, or immunity for an offense, by a head of

state

anachronism something that is out of order chronologically or belongs to

another time

analogy a comparison between two things that suggests that they are similar

in at least some aspects

analogous similar in at least some aspects

ancestor a person from whom one is descended, especially if more remote

than a grandparent

anime (from the Japanese word for animation) animation done in the Japanese

style

antecedent something that comes before something else, preceding another

anthropology the study of the origins, customs, beliefs, and social relationships

of groups of human beings

antonym a word that has the opposite meaning of another word

apathetic lazy, uninterested, indifferent

arachnophobia an extreme fear of spiders

arbiter a person appointed to settle differences between two individuals or

groups

glossary 233

archive a place for storing acquired information, often historical material

artistic having creative skills or a serious interest in the arts

as adverb that suggests similarity, or in the same manner

astronomy the study of outer space, especially the examination of all material

objects and phenomena outside Earth's atmosphere

attain to accomplish or achieve

audiologist a medical specialist in the study and treatment of hearing, especially

hearing defects

augment to increase or add to

autonomy self-government or independence

BFF abbreviation of best friend forever

bibliography a list of books or other documents consulted in the creation of

a written work

biography the story of someone's life

biology the study of all living organisms

botany the study of plants

breath the intake of air

breathe the process of using the air

browser someone who explores at random, as in a library; in computer

terms, a program that is used to view, download, surf, or otherwise view

pages on the Internet

cacophonous loud, confusing, and disagreeable sound or noise

calisthenics gymnastic exercises that are usually performed with little or no

special apparatus

camouflage (from the French for to disguise) disguising something to fool an

enemy, particularly the painting of clothing to resemble the surrounding

countryside of a battle

capital the most important city in a country; or in general, the biggest or

most important; or in financial terms, money or wealth

capitol the building that houses the government in a capital city

cardiology the branch of medicine that addresses the diagnosis and treatment

of disorders of the heart

caucus a meeting organized in support of a particular interest, group, or

cause

234 g l o s s a r y

caveat emptor (from the Latin for let the buyer beware) the concept that buyers

are responsible for judging the quality of what they buy; the seller is not

necessarily to be trusted

cease to stop or end a process

cell-phone manners the set of appropriate customs for conducting cellphone

conversations

cerebral relating to the brain, or the intellect as opposed to the emotions

cessation an end or stop to something

challenge an invitation to competition or to achieve a new standard

chaotic very disorganized and without clear purpose

chronic continuous over a long time

chronicle a written account of events, usually in chronological order

chronology the order in which things occur in time

circumlocution a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more

words than necessary to express an idea

claustrophobia fear of small spaces, such as elevators or closets

clemency forgiveness or decreasing of a punishment assigned

cliché a trite, overused expression or idea that has lost its originality and

impact.

cocoa (from the Spanish name for the bean of the cacao tree) the chocolate

beverage made from the powder ground from roasted cacao beans

coherent a part of an organized whole; sticking together

collateral damage euphemism for killing innocent bystanders

communicate to give information

compensate to pay someone; to make up for something else

compile to put together from various sources

complacent self-satisfied; confident in his or her opinions

complement something that is added in, that contributes

compliment a remark that pleases or flatters someone

component a small part of a larger whole

concede to give in to; to yield to another's position

concurrent happening at the same time

glossary 235

condolences the expression of sympathy with a person who is suffering sorrow,

misfortune, or grief

connotation a meaning that is suggested or implied, but not directly stated

consensus general agreement among members of a group or community

consequence the result of something; that which follows something that

came before

constituent a part of a whole; also, a resident of a place represented by an

elected official

contempt the feeling of finding someone or something inferior or not worthy

of respect; also, the state of being thought inferior or disgraced

context the text surrounding a word that provides clues to the word's meaning

continual happening repeatedly, over and over again

continuous occurring without interruption

controversial a position or argument that prompts debate

copyright law the law that grants to the author (or other owner of the copyright)

the exclusive right to make copies or allow others to make copies of

anything created or written, including literary, musical, artistic, audio, and

video works

Craigslist a network of local communities, featuring (mostly) free classified

advertisements in a variety of categories

decathlon an athletic contest comprising ten different track-and-field events

and won by the contestant amassing the highest total score

decipher to read a code or text that is illegible or difficult to understand

deduce to reach a conclusion using logic or facts

dejected sad, disappointed, pessimistic

delirious feeling uncontrolled excitement or happiness

demanding requiring strength or patience

demure modest, reserved, and even shy

denotation the result; stating something clearly and precisely

deposition a statement of evidence or factual information

derive to receive or understand something from something or somewhere else

dermatologist a specialist in the branch of medicine dealing with the skin

and its diseases

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descendant a person, animal, or plant descended from a specific ancestor

desktop publishing the use of computer software that enables the design

and production of professional-looking publications on a home computer

despise to look at something or someone with contempt, hatred, or disgust

devour eat quickly, hungrily

diagnostic a technique for finding the root or cause

dilemma a situation in which a choice must be made between two options

diminish to make smaller or less important

discipline field of knowledge

disinterested having no opinion either way; having no selfish motive

distort to bring something out of shape; to misrepresent the facts

docile easily controlled or supervised; meek and mild

dogma a principle or belief thought to be absolutely true

domain name an internet address owned by a person or organization to

identify the location of its Web pages; domain suffixes indicate the type of

material on the pages at that address

draft in sports, the selection by a professional team of new players from a

group of amateur players

dual two, or double of something

dubious uncertain; unclear; not obviously one thing or another

duel a formal fight between opposing parties

dynasty a sequence of rulers from the same family, as in the Ming Dynasty

of Chinese history; also, a family group notable for a particular quality, such

as wealth

eclectic derived from a mixture or selected from various sources

ecstatic extraordinarily joyous; being in a state of ecstasy

effect the result of something

egotist a person who is self-centered, and thinks he is better or more interesting

than others

elated delighted, pleased; slightly less joyful than ecstatic, but showing

great happiness

eloquent persuasive and easily communicating or defending a position

empathy the ability to understand or sympathize with another's point of view

glossary 237

empirical based on experience; established by observation or physical fact

energetically doing something with notable energy, dedication, or extra

effort

English Language Learners people learning English as a second language

enhance to improve something, or make it greater

enigma a problem or statement that is mysterious, or difficult to understand

enormous extremely large

ensure to make something or some idea certain

enthusiastically doing something with eagerness or intensity of feeling

entomology the study of insects

envy to feel discontent about another's possessions or qualities

epigram a short, witty poem saying, or quotation that conveys a single

thought in a clever way

epigraph a brief quotation that appears at the beginning of articles, essays,

or novels to introduce the theme of the narrative that follows

esoteric understood by or meant for only the special few who have private

or secret knowledge

etiquette the unwritten rules governing socially acceptable behavior and

defining good manners

etymologist someone who studies the origins and development of words

etymology the study of the origins and historical development of words,

including the changes that occur in words as they move from one language to

another

euphemism a mild, indirect, or vague expression substituted for one

thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.

every one the specific individuals in a group

everyone a pronoun that describes a group; everybody in the group

exceed to be larger or greater than something else

except to exclude something

executive an officer or administrator in an organization who supervises others

exorbitant an extravagant, excessive amount or quality

experimentally doing something in a careful way, following established

procedures to establish the truth of something

238 g l o s s a r y

expertly doing something with an extraordinary amount of skill and

knowledge

explicit clear, precise, detailed

extremely doing something at the furthest reach, or at a level distant from

the norm

extrovert an outgoing, gregarious person who enjoys the company of others

facilitate to make something happen more easily

family tree a genealogical chart showing the ancestry, descent, and relationship

of all members of a family or other genealogical group

fascinating to have interesting qualities or characteristics

faux pas (from the French for false step) an embarrassing mistake in manners

or conduct

federal referring to the central government of a country that consists of several

states

feminist one who espouses the philosophy or political doctrine that social,

political, and all other rights of women should be equal to those of men

finite limited, with boundaries; not eternal

flag display the laws that govern the display of the U.S. flag

fluctuate to swing or move back and forth irregularly

fluency ease or ability to speak, read, or understand in a language

frantically doing something in a rush or in panic

fraud a deceptive act with the intent of making an unfair financial gain

friendly fire euphemism for accidental killing of one's own comrades in war

frustrated disappointed or unhappy because one is unable to achieve some

goal or fulfill a desire

furious full of fury, violent passion, or rage; also, full of energy or speed, as

in a furious storm

futile not worth the effort; doomed to failure

genealogy a record of the descent of a person, family, or group from an

ancestor or ancestors; also, the study of family histories

generation generally, the entire number of people born and living at about

the same time; technically, the period of 30 years, accepted as the average

period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring

genuine not false or modified; real and natural

glossary 239

geocaching a type of treasure hunt for caches (boxes), which usually contain

a logbook in which players record their names

geology the study of the physical history of Earth and its rocks

glib superficial, fluent, and smooth; showing little preparation or sincere

concern

gluttonous given to overindulgence, especially in food

gourmet a person who is very serious about the quality of food; sometimes

called a foodie

grasp to grip something physically; to understand something

grueling extremely difficult or exhausting

hierarchy the arrangement of anything, usually people, in order of rank or

importance

holding back failing a student for a whole grade year

homonym a word that is pronounced the same as another word but is different

in spelling and meaning

homophone one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in

meaning or spelling

hopeful adjective that describes someone full of hope

hopefully adverb that means doing something with hope

horrified stricken with horror; intensely fearful or revolted by something or

hostel an inexpensive lodging place for overnight stays

humiliated strongly embarrassed by a loss of respect or admiration from

others

hypochondria excessive concern or talk about one's health, often with concentration

on a particular form of illness

icon a picture or image that stands for something else; in computer terms, a

picture or symbol that represents a command or an available program or

function

ideology a set of ideas or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic,

or philosophical system

implement a tool; or to bring something about, to make something happen.

As a noun, this word describes an instrument or tool used to perform some

activity. As a verb, it describes the act of performing an activity, or making

something happen.

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implicit suggested, implied, or understood but not directly stated

imply to say something indirectly, in a suggestive manner

inadequate not sufficient, not adequate, not enough

incentive something, often a reward of money, that motivates or encourages

someone to do something

incorporate add to something else

inevitable something that is impossible to prevent or stop

infrastructure the basic foundation or facilities and services needed for the

functioning of a community or a system

inherent a natural part of something that cannot be separated from it

innovationa new development

insomnia inability to sleep

insure to make something certain in financial terms

internist a medical specialist in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of

diseases, especially of adults

interpret to explain or to translate from one form into another

intimidate to make someone timid or fearful; to exert control over others

intrinsic basic to the nature of something or someone

introductions the formal presentation of one person to another or others

introvert a person who is shy and most comfortable with his or her own

thoughts and feelings

ironic seeking to communicate a meaning that is actually the opposite of

what is meant literally

Ironman annual triathlon race including an ocean swim, a bike ride, and a

marathon foot race

ISP (Internet service provider) a company or organization that provides

access to the Internet, usually for a fee

italicize to change the appearance of typed material in order to emphasize

its importance

jealous feeling resentful toward another because of that person's success or

qualities or possessions

kickoff in football and soccer, a kick that puts a stationary ball in motion

and begins a period of play

glossary 241

kin a group of persons descended from a common ancestor or constituting a

family, clan, tribe, or race

kinfolk another collective term for relatives

kinetic produced by motion

kleptomania a compulsion to steal, even without need or any specific

desire

laconic using as few words as possible to communicate ideas

legible easily read

legislate to pass laws or modify existing laws

like a preposition that introduces the idea of similarity

linguist a person who speaks several languages fluently

lonely unhappy because of lack of presence of other people

loner a person who prefers to be alone, and avoids the company of others

loquacious very chatty, talkative

lucid clear and easily understandable

magical enchanting, charming, not of this world

manga the Japanese word for comic books

manners the socially acceptable way of acting, including all the approved

customs of social interaction

marathon a long-distance running event of 26 miles and 385 yards

matinee (from the French for morning) an entertainment or performance

held in the afternoon

may be a verb phrase suggesting something might or might not be

maybe possibly, perhaps

mediate to resolve differences or to bring about a settlement between conflicting

parties

mediation an attempt by a third party to resolve differences between two

parties

megalomania an obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions

melancholy extremely sad and depressed, often on an ongoing basis

mercy compassion toward those less fortunate

metaphor a word or phrase used to describe similarity between two things

without using like or as

242 g l o s s a r y

metamorphosis a transformation or major change

mnemonic a device or system designed to help remember something

monogamy marriage with only one person at a time

multifaceted having many sides or many aspects

multitasking the common practice of doing more than one thing at a time

naïve simple or innocent; lacking in experience or wisdom

narcissist a person who thinks only of himself or herself

nemesis an opponent or problem that cannot be overcome

netiquette the rules of etiquette, or good manners, that have come to be

acceptable during Internet communications

neurology the branch of medicine that addresses the diagnosis and treatment

of disorders of nerves and the nervous system

ninja a person trained primarily in the Japanese martial art of ninjutsu

No Child Left Behind the policy of testing student and school performance

against national standards

non sequitur a statement or conclusion that does not follow logically from

what preceded it

nuance a slight degree of difference in meaning, feeling, or tone in something

spoken or written

nuclear family a family unit consisting of a mother and a father and their

children

nurse practitioner a registered nurse (one who has earned a college-level

RN degree) with advanced training who is qualified to perform some of the

duties of a physician

objet d'art (from the French for object of art) a work of art, usually small;

sometimes simply called objet or (plural) objets

obsequious acting submissive and flattering to someone perceived to be

more powerful

obsessed having intense or excessive interest in or concern for something or

obsession an irrational devotion to an idea, opinion, or other person

obstetrician a medical specialist who cares for women during pregnancy,

childbirth, and the recuperative period following delivery

obvious easily understood or observed

glossary 243

offsides in football or soccer, illegally beyond an allowed line or area or

ahead of the ball

ominous threatening; seeming to promise evil or harm

oncologist a medical specialist in the study of cancer, including tumor

development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

onomatologist a person who studies names

ophthalmologist medical specialist who cares for the eye and its diseases

optometrist a medical specialist who examines, diagnoses, and directs

patients in the use of corrective vision lenses

organic an adjective describing things developed from living organisms, or

plants and animals raised without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic

chemicals

orient to find one's way, usually with a compass

ornithology the branch of zoology that studies birds

orthodontist a dental specialist whose task is the correction of irregularly

aligned teeth, usually involving braces and sometimes oral surgery

orthography the study of spelling

osteopath a medical specialist who provides traditional medical treatments

in the manipulation of muscles and bones

out of left field unexpected or strange behavior

pacification euphemism for killing or controlling citizens of enemy states

paleontology the study of the life forms of prehistoric times, especially the

fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms

paranoia extreme, irrational distrust of others

patriotic loving one's country; often associated with unselfish sacrifice

pediatrician a medical specialist concerned with the development, care, and

diseases of infants and children

pedigree an ancestral line of descent or ancestry; in the animal world, a

record of an animal's ancestry

perceive to see or understand something that is difficult to understand

persecute to punish in an extreme manner

persist to continue to do something or to continue to happen

personal belonging to an individual

244 g l o s s a r y

personnel all the employees in a company

petrified so frightened that one is unable to move

phenomena noteworthy events or facts (note: the singular form of the word

is phenomenon)

philanthropy the love of humankind; extending efforts to help others

philology the scientific study of languages, including their historical development

and the relationships between various languages

phobia intense, often irrational feeling, especially fear of certain things

pirouette (from the French for spinning top) in ballet, a complete turn of the

body on the point of the toe or the ball of the foot

pizza (from the Italian for bite) an open-faced baked pie topped usually with

spiced tomato sauce, cheese, and other garnishes

placecards small cards used with formal table settings to indicate where

each guest is to sit

podiatrist a medical specialist in the care, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders

of the feet

policy a course of action of an organization or government

polygamy the practice of having more than one spouse (usually more than

one wife) at one time; also called plural marriage

pompous puffed up with vanity; pretending to be grand and elegant

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) emotional and mental disturbances

resulting from war experiences

potpourri (from the French for rotten pot) a mixture of dried flower petals

and spices, kept in a jar for their fragrance; also, any mixture of assorted

objects

precede to go ahead of or before someone or something chronologically

predominant the most common or important; the most dominant

prejudiced holding an opinion formed without consideration of the facts;

creating a negative impact on someone else

preliminary happening before something else that is more important

pretentious always trying to impress others; pretending to be very important

or very wise

principal the head of a school

principle a doctrine or assumption

glossary 245

prioritize to arrange or do in order of importance

pro bono publico (from the Latin for the public good) something that is done

without pay, for the public good; often shortened to pro bono

procedure a way of performing a task; a series of steps to be followed

proceed to move forward; to advance or continue in an established direction

prodigy an unusually talented or gifted person, usually young

prosecute to take legal action against someone

protocol the customs, regulations, and etiquette that govern a particular situation;

also, a document or treaty between states

prudent cautious and practical in making difficult decisions

pseudonym a false name, often used by writers to mask their identity

psychology the scientific study of human and animal behavior

pyromania an uncontrollable desire to set fires

quiescent still, restful, quiet

rare not often found; unusual

real adjective that describes something that is not false

really adverb that intensifies the verb it modifies

reconcile to bring back together; to reestablish a relationship

redundant repetitious, using more words than necessary to express an idea

referendum a popular vote on a proposed law

regardless without taking into account (note that there is no such word as

irregardless)

reluctant hesitant or uncertain about something

respect the core word on which all etiquette systems are built

rhetorical question a question asked solely for effect, with no expectation of

a reply

road rage aggressive and sometimes violent behavior by drivers annoyed

by other drivers' behavior

RSVP the initials of a French phrase, répondez, s'il vous plaît (please reply) typically

used on formal invitations to indicate that the guest must respond, usually

in writing, accepting or declining the invitation

sadistic finding pleasure in being cruel

246 g l o s s a r y

sadly doing something out of unhappiness, or distress, or regret

sardonic ironically humorous; sarcastically mocking

search engine computer software that searches the Internet for documents

that contain a keyword, phrase, or subject submitted by the user

serenity a state of calmness, without disturbance

shout-out an acknowledgment or greeting given for someone during a

radio or television show, often used by rap musicians to acknowledge fans or

sibling one of two or more individuals having one common parent; a

brother or sister

simile a statement using the words like or as in comparing two things that

are in most other ways dissimilar

social networking websites that enable people to meet and share information

social promotion euphemism for advancing a failing student to the next

grade in spite of inadequate academic performance

sophisticated worldly-wise; educated and experienced

spam an unrequested commercial message on the Internet, usually sent as

an email

special ed education for students who have difficulty in regular classes

speed dating a matchmaking process in which people seeking romantic

partners meet others for brief (7 or 8 minutes) conversations before moving on

to meet another participant

spokesman one who speaks for a group

stationary not moving; stable

stationery writing materials, usually paper

streaming is to flow, as in a river or a pitcher pouring a liquid; in computer

terms, the technology that enables the delivery to your computer of a steady

stream of information or images, such as a streaming video of a live concert

strive to work to achieve a result; to continue with an effort

subjugate to conquer or bring someone or something under control

subordinate to make something less important; to be under someone's

authority

subtle not easy to grasp; describing something whose meaning is not obvious

successfully doing something that achieves a goal; reaching success

glossary 247

suddenly doing something in a quick, unexpected way

sudoku a numbers puzzle in which the player is challenged to fill numbers

into a grid of nine squares

superfluous unnecessary; more than sufficient or required

suppose to assume something is true, or to consider it as possible

supposed the past tense of the verb suppose

swiftly doing something quickly

synchronize to make two events happen at once

synonym a word that means the same as, or very close to, another word

taboo unacceptable, forbidden in polite society

technical a description of specific or useful information in a particular subject

area

terrified seriously frightened or filled with terror

texting sending text messages via cell phones or other mobile devices

thank-you note a formal letter or a short note of thanks for hospitality or a

gift

their refers to something belonging to them

there refers to a place where something is

thesaurus a publication that provides synonyms (and sometimes antonyms)

for the words of a given language

they're contraction of they are

thoughtfully doing something with care and deliberation, or with dedicated

thought

three strikes in baseball, a batter strikes out when he has struck at or failed

to hit three good balls; in the law, the demand for specific, severe punishments

(such as life imprisonment) after conviction for three felonies

time-out in sports, a brief interruption in play called so that the players may

rest, deliberate, or make substitutions

timid exhibiting a lack of confidence; extremely shy and careful

unanimous in complete agreement; sharing the same position

underestimate to make too low an evaluation of value

uninterested not interested

uproarious noisy and uncontrolled, as laughter

248 g l o s s a r y

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) the system used for specifying addresses

on the Internet; each individual file or page has its own URL, located on the

address bar at the top of the Internet browser window

utilize to make use of

verbiage an overabundance of words in writing or speech

vertigo a sensation of dizziness or spinning, even when standing or sitting

on solid ground

versatile useful in many ways

vigorously doing something with energy and strength

vindictive feeling anger combined with a strong desire for revenge

weather the conditions in the climate

whether conjunction meaning or or perhaps

who pronoun for he, she, or they

whom pronoun for him, her, or them

World Wide Web the complete set of electronic documents that are connected

over the Internet through use of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol

(HTTP) for transferring data

your refers to something that belongs to you

you're contraction of you are

zoology the study of animals