Think You Know Your Vocabulary

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THINK YOU KNOW

YOUR VOCABULARY?
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THINK YOU KNOW

YOUR VOCABULARY?
Specialized Words Everyone Needs to Know
NEW YORK
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Copyright © 2009 Learning Express, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright

Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC,
New York.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009926366
A copy of this title is on file with the Library of Congress.
ISBN: 978-1-57685-687-1
Printed in the United States of America

987654321
For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:

2 Rector Street
26th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Or visit us at:
www.learnatest.com
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CONTENTS
Introduction: The Top 20 Reasons Why You—Yes,

You—Need a Better Vocabulary v
Pretest: How Much Do You Know? 1
PART ONE Vocabulary Boot Camp: Just the Basics 7

Day 1 Person, Place, or Thing? Commonly Used Nouns 9
Day 2 It’s Alive! Vivid, Vibrant Verbs 17
Day 3 Coming Close: Studying Synonyms 25
Day 4 When Opposites Attract: Awesome Antonyms 33
Day 5 What’s the Difference? Handling Homophones 39
Day 6 Make It Real: Adding Adjectives 49
Day 7 Make It Real—Again: Time for Adverbs 57
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CONTENTS
PART TWO In No Uncertain Terms: Specialized

Vocabularies Everyone Needs to Know 63
Day 8 How Are You Feeling Today? Emotional Terms 65
Day 9 Just the Facts, Ma’am: Mathematical Terms 71
Day 10 Name That Tune: Musical Terms 77
Day 11 On the Hunt: Job Search Terms 83
Day 12 Sign on the Dotted Line: Contract Terms 91
Day 13 Politics on Parade: Political Terms 97
Day 14 The Weather Report: Meteorological Terms 103
Day 15 Where in the World? Geographical Terms 109
Day 16 Pieces and Parts: Mechanical Terms 115
Day 17 Patron of the Arts: Humanities Terms 121
Day 18 In the Doctor’s Office: Medical Terms 127
Day 19 The World Wide Web: Computer Terms 133
Day 20 Does It Take Batteries? Electronic Terms 139
Day 21 The Right Time and Place: Historical Terms 145
Day 22 What’s Cookin’? Culinary Terms 151
Day 23 If You Build It: Construction Terms 157
Day 24 Order in the Court: Legal Terms 163
Day 25 Between Your Ears: Psychological Terms 169
Day 26 It’s a Science: Scientific Terms 175
Day 27 People-Watching: Anthropological Terms 181
Day 28 Play Ball! Sports Terms 187
Day 29 You Design It: Interior Design Terms 193
Day 30 School Days: Educational Terms 199
Posttest: How Much Do You Know Now? 205

Answers 211
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INTRODUCTION
The Top 20 Reasons Why You—Yes, You—
Need a Better Vocabulary
veryone needs a strong, extensive vocabulary.

E Why, you ask? Simply put, a good vocabulary is something that you’ll
use every single day, in one way or another. You’ll meet people all the time who
use specialized words, and if you don’t understand them, you may be the one to
pay the price. Take a look at the following top 20 reasons for developing a strong
vocabulary. You’ll probably find yourself in there somewhere.
Having an extensive vocabulary will help you to:
1. do better in school, from taking tests to writing papers. Better grades

mean better colleges, better resumes, and better job opportunities. In the
end, that can mean a better income and ultimately, more money!
2. impress teachers, bosses, friends, parents, mentors, and other relevant
people.
3. understand more quickly and easily any materials you’re given in school or
on the job.
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INTRODUCTION
4. express your emotions and thoughts in a more articulate and accurate way.
5. be less likely to have people catch you off guard when they use words that
are unfamiliar to you.
6. communicate easily with a wider variety of people.
7. most likely score higher on tests like the ACT or SAT; higher scores may
mean more college opportunities.
8. ace magazine and newspaper quizzes and puzzles.
9. improve your overall self-confidence.
10. avoid feeling lost or confused when talking to experts in different fields.
11. watch PBS documentaries and History Channel shows without running
for a dictionary.
12. fill up your conversations with more interesting words or phrases than
like, you know, and whatever.
13. avoid being left out of conversations because you’re struggling to figure
out what a certain word means.
14. better formulate your ideas, goals, and plans when speaking or writing
about them.
15. improve the quality of your letters, memos, e-mails, and maybe even your
text messages!
16. read faster because you won’t be slowed down by having to decipher, skip
over, or look up unfamiliar words.
17. give stronger, more persuasive speeches whether going for a good grade,
convincing your boss to give you a raise, or persuading your parents to let
you have a new mp3 player.
18. understand the world better because you’ll have a stronger knowledge of
what’s going on around you.
19. keep up with your favorite TV shows because you’ll finish your homework
faster.
20. race through this book, laughing maniacally because you know every single
word in it!
A word about these words: The first thing to know is that almost all of the
words are officially considered to be at the eleventh-grade level and up. Some of
the words may have more actual definitions than are included here. You’ll
mostly find the main definitions of words as they are used in normal conversa-
tion, but feel free to look up additional ones at your leisure.
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INTRODUCTION
DO Try This at Home

Think your vocabulary is just fine? Try this simple experiment. For the next
seven days, every time you read or hear a word you can’t easily define, write it
down. This includes words you hear on television as well as in conversations
at home, school, and work. Write down any word you find in your textbooks,
newspapers, books, magazines, or on the Internet that you can’t easily define.
When you’re finished, you may be surprised at how many words you come
across on a daily basis that, if you had to define, you couldn’t!
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PRETEST: HOW MUCH

DO YOU KNOW?
efore you begin reading and learning all the

B new words in this book, test the strength of your vocabulary as it stands
right now. This pretest gives you examples of words you’ll find in each lesson.
Good luck!
Read each statement below and circle the correct answer.
1. The word faction refers to a

a. body part.
b. clique.
c. political party.
d. equation.
2. To add decoration or embellishments to something is to

a. admonish it.
b. chastise it.
c. garnish it.
d. redress it.
1
THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?
3. A more descriptive word for pretty is

a. accoutrement.
b. belligerent.
c. gregarious.
d. winsome.
4. Someone who is laconic tends to be

a. terse.
b. wealthy.
c. attractive.
d. polite.
5. A person who is admired or worshipped is known as

a. an idle.
b. an idol.
c. an idyll.
d. idyllic.
6. A nebulous answer is one that is

a. negative.
b. gruesome.
c. offensive.
d. confusing.
7. To behave ignominiously is to act

a. dishonorably.
b. anxiously.
c. logically.
d. consistently.
8. A truly miserable person is

a. credulous.
b. bellicose.
c. disconsolate.
d. zealous.
2
PRETEST: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?
9. The distance around a circle is the

a. circumference.
b. diameter.
c. denominator.
d. equation.
10. A maestro is a
a. teacher.
b. author.
c. conductor.
d. officer.
11. Another word for C.V., or curriculum vitae, is

a. reference.
b. recommendation.
c. resignation.
d. resume.
12. The small statements at the bottom of a contract renouncing legal rights
are called
a. disclaimers.
b. defaults.
c. collateral.
d. liabilities.
13. An anarchist believes that governments should be

a. expanded.
b. abolished.
c. revered.
d. followed.
14. When temperatures rise with increased elevation, it is an example of

a. evaporation.
b. precipitation.
c. inversion.
d. condensation.
3
15. Half of the globe is called

a. a biosphere.
b. an isthmus.
c. a hemisphere.
d. a meridian.
16. A joule is a unit of

a. electricity.
b. inductance.
c. temperature.
d. energy.
17. A moment of insight is known as

a. a hubris.
b. an epiphany.
c. a melodrama.
d. an omniscience.
18. Keratin is found in

a. fingernails.
b. clothing.
c. vegetables.
d. medicine.
19. Spam® is the name of a meat product, but spam can also refer to
a. snail mail.
b. television commercials.
c. unwanted e-mails.
d. instant messaging.
20. Xenon is a type of

a. gas.
b. alien.
c. planet.
d. metal.
4
21. Another word for armistice is

a. peace.
b. happiness.
c. love.
d. hope.
22. Bread that is unleavened doesn’t

a. bake.
b. taste good.
c. rise.
d. contain wheat.
23. Bonding two or more layers of materials together is known as

a. merging.
b. laminating.
c. infiltrating.
d. partitioning.
24. A writ is
a. an attorney’s fee.
b. a witness’s testimony.
c. a jury’s verdict.
d. a judge’s order.
25. Having a stigma is considered

a. physically painful.
b. temporarily frightening.
c. socially unacceptable.
d. emotionally amusing.
26. An antioxidant is a substance that might help people fight

a. Alzheimer’s.
b. cancer.
c. Parkinson’s.
d. acne.
5
27. A matriarchy is a system that is run by

a. priests.
b. men.
c. dictators.
d. women.
28. A switch-hitter plays the game of

a. baseball.
b. football.
c. soccer.
d. basketball.
29. A certain style of couch is called

a. a valance.
b. an armoire.
c. a patina.
d. a settee.
30. Someone who is bilingual is

a. able to speak in two different languages.
b. allowed to have residency in two countries.
c. born in one country but living in another.
d. trained to speak English as a primary language.
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PART
ONE
VOCABULARY
BOOT CAMP:
JUST THE BASICS
7
DAY
1 PERSON, PLACE,
OR THING?
COMMONLY
USED NOUNS
f you’ve ever played 20 Questions, you’ve heard

I people ask, “person, place, or thing?” or “animal, vegetable, or mineral?”
While the answer to these questions changes throughout the game, they all have
one thing in common: they are nouns.
Think back to grammar class. You probably remember that a noun is, quite
simply, a person, place, or thing. The dictionary further pins it down as “a word
or group of words used as the name of a class of people, places, or things, or of a
specific person, place, or thing.” Does that help? Need more of an explanation?
Just remember that a noun is something or someone. It’s not an action
(that’s a verb). It doesn’t describe anything (those are adjectives and adverbs).
Many times, a noun is something you can touch, but not always. After all, affec-
tion is a noun and so are faith, courage, dreams, and other things you can’t
touch. These qualify as generic “things” in the definition.
Without nouns, our words and speech wouldn’t make much sense. For
example, imagine leaving this note:
“Going to his with. Returning. Doing quickly.”
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Is there a message there? No! The recipient of the note wouldn’t know where
you were going or with whom, when you would return, or what you’re doing.
Just Be Glad
Be thankful this is a vocabulary book and not a grammar book. If it was,
you’d see instructions on how nouns relate to appositives, articles, pronouns,
compound-possessive forms, infinitives, objective complements, plural pos-
sessives, direct objects, and subordinate clauses. Whew. Don’t you feel lucky
right now?
The definitions of 20 nouns follow; they are arbitrary selections (yes, look
that one up!). A few have more than one definition because they’re typically
used in several ways. Now and then, you’ll spot some with interesting or
unusual comments added. That doesn’t mean the other words are any less inter-
esting. It just means there’s only so much space in this book!
Pet Peeve
Don’t you just hate it when you look up a word in the dictionary and a form
of the same word is in the definition? It can make you feel like your brain is
going in circles. This book tries not to repeat the word or a version of it in def-
initions so that the meaning is as clear as possible.
DEFINITIONS
alumnus a person who has attended or has graduated from a particular school
[The plural of alumnus is alumni.]
boycott the process of refusing to deal with a person, organization, or country,

usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of terms
[This word can act as either a noun or a verb in a sentence.]
charlatan a person who pretends to have more knowledge, skill, or ability than
he or she actually possesses
[The word comes from Italy and is based on people from the village of
Cerreto, most of whom were deemed medical quacks.]
condiment something used to make food tastier, such as mustard, ketchup,

salt, pepper, or other seasonings
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PERSON, PLACE, OR THING? COMMONLY USED NOUNS
dissertation a long, usually written, thesis or essay on a subject, normally part

of the process for earning a college degree
epoch (1) an event or time that begins a new period of development; (2) a
memorable event, date, or period; (3) a division of geologic time less than a
period and greater than an age
facsimile (1) an exact copy; (2) a system of transmitting and reproducing

printed matter or pictures by means of signals sent over telephone lines
[This is where the word fax comes from, as in “I’m sending you a fax.” The
word is also commonly used as a verb, as in “I’m faxing you a copy right now.”]
faction a group or clique acting together within a larger body, party, govern-
ment, or organization
habitat the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or nor-
mally lives or grows; the natural environment of an organism
heretic a person who believes or teaches something opposed to the current

beliefs of the majority; a person who doesn’t conform to any established atti-
tude, doctrine, or principle
iconoclast a breaker or destroyer of images, especially religious ones; a person

who attacks cherished beliefs or traditional institutions as being based on error
or superstition
[Most likely, a heretic and an iconoclast would be good friends—and a lot
of trouble!]
interloper a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or without reason; a

person who thrusts him- or herself uninvited into the affairs of others
kindred a group of related individuals or a person’s relatives, family, tribe, or race

[This is often shortened to “kin” or “kinfolk” in some communities.]
labyrinth (1) a place full of passageways and blind alleys arranged to make it
difficult to find one’s way around or find the exit; (2) something extremely
complicated or twisting; (3) the bony and membranous part of the internal ear
[In classical mythology, the Labyrinth was a huge maze built in Crete by
Daedalus, under the command of King Minos. It was used to cage the
Minotaur, a creature that was part man, part bull.]
metropolis the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region; any large, busy
city
[In comics and films, this is the name of Superman’s favorite city.]
11
nomenclature a system of terms used in a particular science, field of knowl-

edge, or art, especially for the names of plants and animals in biology
pacifist a person who opposes, or is against, war or violence as a means of set-

tling disagreements or whose belief in nonviolence causes him or her to refuse
to go into military service
prodigy (1) an amazing event or action; (2) an unusually talented or gifted child
restoration the act of returning something to its former, original, or normal

condition
symposium (1) a group meeting at which there are several speeches and often
a group discussion; (2) a collection of opinions on a subject
[These things have certainly changed a lot since Greek and Roman times
when the word just meant a big party!]
Activity 1: HIDDEN WORDS

All the vocabulary words from the lesson are hidden in this puzzle. Look across,
down, diagonally, and backward to find them.
R P H T T F R T P I R H C D A O
K R H A B I T A T I F O N O N R
H E R E T I C S P O A L L T P S
T S G R C C N O I T C A F D O A
M T B U H H P T T F S Y R O S T
N O I T A T R E S S I D O N Y E
A R H A R Y A L A I M C N B M I
I A T L L N G E L L I A A R P C
S T N C A R O O C O L D A P O O
N I I N T E R L O P E R S N S H
N O R E A C E R N O P P D A I L
L N Y M N D I F O R L I O N U O
C I B O I R S R C T M E R C M H
O T A N M T N P I E N M I M H C
M S L T D N S U N M U L A P L S
K I N D R E D T Y G I D O R P S
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alumnus faction metropolis

boycott habitat nomenclature
charlatan heretic pacifist
condiment iconoclast prodigy
dissertation interloper restoration
epoch kindred symposium
facsimile labyrinth
Activity 2: WORD MATCH

Match each vocabulary word on the left with a word on the right that means
almost the same thing—also known as a synonym (remember that for a later
section).
1. charlatan _____ a. conference

2. facsimile _____ b. genius
3. interloper _____ c. city
4. kindred _____ d. jargon
5. labyrinth _____ e. peacekeeper
6. nomenclature _____ f. intruder
7. symposium _____ g. copy
8. metropolis _____ h. family
9. pacifist _____ i. maze
10. prodigy _____ j. impostor
Activity 3: PICK-A-WORD
Choose the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.
1. If you and your high school buddies decided to get together after you
graduated, you would host a(n) _______________ party.
2. If you refused to serve a certain kind of chip dip because you discovered
that the company that made it didn’t pay their workers well, you started
your own ______________.
3. Despite the lack of chip dip, you would make sure to serve more than one
______________ for the hot dogs and burgers.
13
4. To get the party started, you might decide to stand up and read the fantas-
tic _______________ you wrote as part of earning your honors status in
your senior year.
5. Your teacher told you that it was so amazingly well written that a new
______________ has begun in student essays, although he was rolling his
eyes when he said it.
6. Even though everyone at your party would be having fun, there would be
the typical ______________ who would sit in the corner, only interacting
among themselves.
7. You might be tempted to tell them to go back to their own

______________, but you’d just smile and keep playing the part of a
perfect, polite host.
8. There could be a(n) ______________at the party, who doesn’t agree with
anyone else’s attitudes or perspectives.
9. Hopefully, your neighbors wouldn’t call and accuse you of being a(n)
_______________ because you play music that they are opposed to in
principle.
10. After all, you’d be doing such a great job keeping the place from getting
trashed that a(n) ______________ would not be required.
Activity 4: WORD MIX-UP

Unscramble each vocabulary word and write it correctly.
1. chope __________________________
2. taanrachl __________________________
3. sidnoitrates __________________________
4. thataib __________________________
5. pretinlero __________________________
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Activity 5: TRUE OR FALSE?

Read each statement. Write T if it’s true or F if it’s false.
_____ 1. A condiment is something that is added to food to improve the flavor.
_____ 2. The people who go to the same school as you do are known as kindred.
_____ 3. An exact copy of a document or illustration is a facsimile.
_____ 4. Your neighborhood can be referred to as a metropolis.
_____ 5. A pacifist is unlikely to be interested in negotiation.
15
Activity 6: CROSS-A-WORD
Read each clue. Write the correct vocabulary word in the puzzle.
1 2 3
4 5
10
11
Across Down
2 someone opposed to a set of 1 where an animal lives
beliefs 3 an important event or period in
6 a person who breaks and destroys history
images 4 a system of terms for a field of
8 someone not willing to fight about knowledge
things 5 a clique
10 the act of making something look 7 someone who is most
like it did originally unwelcome
11 a person who claims to be 9 relatives, such as aunts, uncles,
something he/she is not and cousins
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DAY
2 IT’S ALIVE!
VIVID,
VIBRANT VERBS
h, verbs. They may just seem like another

A part of that gloomy world of grammar, but you would be lost with-
out verbs. Well, actually, no, you wouldn’t. You couldn’t because lost, in one
form, is a verb. Verbs are the life force of writing and speaking. They’re where
the action is; they tell you what’s happening. Without verbs, you’d be unable
to do anything—or at least, your communication about the things you were
doing would be seriously lacking in substance. Being able to use a wide vari-
ety of verbs when you talk or write will make it far easier to explain what
you mean.
For example, you might write, “The wind blew.” That’s straightforward,
but also rather simple. How about:
“The wind roared.”

“The wind whispered.”
17
“The wind bellowed.”

“The wind murmured.”
Each of the verbs just listed creates an entirely different picture of what’s actu-
ally happening. By changing one word—the verb—the entire sentence commu-
nicates something new. That’s how powerful verbs can be.
Just as you can’t communicate clearly without a noun, you can’t do so
without a verb. For a sentence to be complete, you need both nouns and verbs;
they work hand in hand. Remember that message you left for your parents?
Well, if you wrote another one with nouns but no verbs, you’d end up with
something like the following:
John and I the mall. Dinner too. My job today.
See? Still, there is no clear message. John and you what? What about dinner?
What about your job? Without verbs, the message is a complete mystery!
Okay, so you’ve got it—verbs are important. Using a variety of them is
even more important. Learning a lot of verbs and understanding how each has
its very own nuance (look it up!) and meaning can help you add spice, flavor,
and personality to your spoken or written words. Knowing the different defini-
tions of verbs can also help you better understand the words and meanings in
other people’s communications.
Some verbs are useful, but they’re very overused. One of the best examples
is said. It’s used so often that it gets old quickly. What are some alternatives to
said? Here are just a few.
Beyond Said
whispered shouted uttered stated
commented mumbled demanded mentioned
added declared cried replied
exclaimed pronounced answered articulated
The following are some really fascinating verbs you can learn. As you read
each definition, imagine using that word in a sentence to become more familiar
with it.
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IT’S ALIVE! VIVID, VIBRANT VERBS
DEFINITIONS
accrue (1) to increase in amount and value, especially over a period of time;
(2) to come about as a natural growth or addition
admonish (1) to rebuke or scold someone mildly but sincerely; (2) to give
advice to someone to do or not do something
atrophy (1) to waste away or shrink in size, especially a part of the body; (2)
the lessening of an ability
beguile (1) to draw notice or interest with charm; (2) to deceive by cunning
capitulate to surrender, usually on terms that have been agreed on in advance
chastise (1) to criticize harshly; (2) to punish severely
delineate (1) to describe in sharp or vivid detail; (2) to indicate through lines
or sketching
disseminate (1) to distribute; (2) to spread around as if sowing seeds
embody (1) to give definite form to or make something tangible; (2) to incor-
porate things into an organized whole
garnish (1) to decorate; (2) to embellish or dress up

[This is another word that can be used as either a noun or a verb. As a
noun, it’s a spiffy little bit of food, like parsley, added to a plate of food to make
it look pretty.]
imbibe (1) to drink something; (2) to receive into the mind and retain
inveigle (1) to win over or persuade through flattery or cleverness; (2) to trick
or con
modulate (1) to change sound to a certain key or pitch; (2) to alter or adjust
something to the proper proportion
[In the world of electronics, this means varying the quality of an electro-
magnetic wave for the transmission of information. Most likely, you won’t ever
use it that way, but there it is. You are more likely to use it to ask someone to
lower his or her voice or music.]
officiate (1) to perform a ceremony; (2) to enforce or referee the rules of a

game or sport
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ostracize (1) to force to leave or exclude, usually in society; (2) to ignore or

snub
[This is from the ancient Greek word ostrakon, meaning “a piece of pot-
tery.” What does that have to do with anything, you ask? Good question. Pottery
fragments were used in ancient Athens as a kind of ballot. Each year citizens
would gather to decide if anyone needed to be banished for the “good of the city.”
If your name was written on the most pieces, you were sent away—ostracized!]
paraphrase (1) to give the same meaning in slightly different words; (2) to
summarize
plagiarize (1) to steal, copy, or pass off as one’s own work or idea; (2) to boot-
leg or use illegally
propagate (1) to have offspring or reproduce; (2) to cause an idea or belief to

spread out and affect a greater number of people or a wider area
redress (1) to make up for something or set a wrong right again; (2) to even
out or equalize
vacillate (1) to hesitate between options or struggle to decide: (2) to swing

back and forth

Match each word on the left with its synonym on the right.
1. entice _____ a. accrue

2. punish _____ b. admonish
3. reproduce _____ c. atrophy
4. shrivel _____ d. beguile
5. waver _____ e. capitulate
6. decorate _____ f. chastise
7. adapt _____ g. delineate
8. surrender _____ h. disseminate
9. banish _____ i. embody
10. copy _____ j. garnish
11. accumulate _____ k. imbibe
12. restore _____ l. inveigle
13. distribute _____ m. modulate
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14. reword _____ n. officiate

15. scold _____ o. ostracize
16. deceive _____ p. paraphrase
17. manage _____ q. plagiarize
18. define _____ r. propagate
19. partake _____ s. redress
20. symbolize _____ t. vacillate
Activity 2: YOU DECIDE

Read each question below and circle the correct answer.
1. If you had a little bit of money, what would you hope it did as quickly as
possible?
a. accrue
b. delineate
c. inveigle
d. officiate
2. If your muscles start to atrophy, it means you’ll get _________.

a. stronger
b. taller
c. weaker
d. older
3. If you were asked to officiate at your sister’s basketball game, it would

mean that you were allowed to __________.
a. play in the game
b. throw the first ball
c. sit in the stands
d. make the rules
4. If your parents are upset with you, they’re most likely going to
___________ you.
a. beguile
b. admonish
c. inveigle
d. modulate
21
5. If you are vacillating, it means you are __________.

a. exhausted
b. undecided
c. educated
d. delighted
6. Your teacher would probably be very upset to find out that you’d
__________.
a. plagiarized
b. paraphrased
c. restored
d. redressed
7. When you redress a situation, you __________.

a. ignore it
b. correct it
c. finish it
d. report it
8. Which of the following words can be used as either a noun or a verb?

a. atrophy
b. garnish
c. imbibe
d. ostracize
9. Which of the following words has a specific meaning in electronics?

a. accrue
b. beguile
c. modulate
d. vacillate
10. If you bring separate things together into a whole, you ___________
them.
a. admonish
b. capitulate
c. disseminate
d. embody
22
Activity 3: ANALOGIES
In these analogies, each set of verbs are antonyms, or opposites. Look at the first
set, then figure out which vocabulary word is missing from the second set.
1. accrue : dwindle :: ________ : decisive
2. atrophy : strengthen :: _________ : ignore
3. imbibe : refuse :: _________ : offend
4. ostracize : embrace :: _________ : original
5. admonish : praise :: _________ : strip

1. hisdamno __________________________
2. shinrag __________________________
3. gelvinie __________________________
4. sderser __________________________
5. latcavile __________________________
23
Choose the word from the box that best completes each sentence.
capitulate embody paraphrase

chastise modulate propagate
delineate officiate redress
disseminate
1. When the referee explained his reasons, I realized he was right and had no
other choice but to ________________.
2. People in the back rows of the audience couldn’t hear the speaker so he
had to ____________ his voice in order to reach them.
3. She is known for breaking into tears if you ____________ her.
4. The lawyer talked on and on for almost an hour, so in my essay I had to

____________ what he said.
5. Could her song possibly ___________ everything I had been feeling about
myself for years?
6. My brother has been able to ___________ over my soccer games for as

long as I can remember.
7. My parents tried to convince me that if I ___________ my mistake I will

feel much better.
8. Mrs. Connors has been trying to _____________ her wildflowers for a

decade now.
9. Does the course’s outline _____________ exactly what we have to do in

order to earn an A in the class?
10. A rumor can _________ throughout the school by lunch hour.
24
DAY
3 COMING CLOSE:
STUDYING
SYNONYMS
ynonyms are words that mean almost the

S same thing as another word. Each one might have a certain shade or
nuance that the other word doesn’t, but often they can be used interchangeably.
Knowing synonyms is important because it gives your writing and speaking
more variety. Each synonym gives a slightly different meaning to the same
action. So you can avoid what your teacher might label “vague and abstract
terms,” like things or stuff.
To give you an idea of how synonyms work, I’ve organized this section a
little differently. Hopefully, it will give you a glimmer of how synonyms can
improve your writing and speaking, and show you the many options the
English language offers if you just take the time to go beyond the usual “stuff.”
25
Thesaurus: No, It’s Not a Dinosaur!

You already know that a dictionary is for looking up what a word means. It
may list a synonym of the word, but what if you want to know as many syn-
onyms as possible to enrich your vocabulary? You’re in luck. A thesaurus does
just that. Words may be in alphabetical order, as in a dictionary, or organized
by categories. Either way, this resource can supply quite a few synonyms and
often antonyms. Your computer probably has a thesaurus you can access at the
click of a button. You can also find online thesauri—note the plural ending.
DEFINITIONS
To replace vague words like things or stuff, try the following.
accoutrement (noun) accessory items of personal clothing or equipment, usu-

ally used in the plural form
appurtenance (noun) an important accessory, instrument, or piece of equipment
paraphernalia (noun) equipment, apparatus or personal belongings; can be

used as singular or plural
Perhaps you would like to describe a pretty woman or handsome man.

How about:
beauteous (adjective) lovely to look at
pulchritudinous (adjective) physically beautiful and appealing
winsome (adjective) innocently lovely or engaging
How about a grumpy, irritable person? You could use:
belligerent (adjective) hostile, waging war, or eager to be part of a fight
cantankerous (adjective) difficult or irritating to work or spend time with
pugnacious (adjective) ready and willing to start or join a battle of any kind
On the other hand, how about that really friendly person you enjoy run-
ning into? You could describe the person as:
affable (adjective) at ease and pleasant, especially in conversation; polite, man-

nerly
26
COMING CLOSE: STUDYING SYNONYMS
convivial (adjective) friendly, fond of feasting and going to parties
gregarious (adjective) tending to associate with others, sociable

[In the world of science, this means being part of a flock of animals or
plants growing in clusters.]
How about simple words like small and big? Do they have replacements
that could spice up your descriptions? Of course!
colossal (adjective) extraordinarily great in size, extent, or degree; gigantic

[In the world of architecture, it pertains to a classic style in which columns
span two or more stories of a building.]
diminutive (adjective) of small or tiny size, often with the quality of being lov-
able or pitiful
[This can also be used as a noun to indicate a small person or thing.]
gargantuan (adjective) enormous or very large

[The word first appeared in the late 1600s in books by Rabelais about a
large-mouthed giant named Gargantua. The base word in Spanish means “gul-
let,” and both gargantuan and gargle come from the same root. Imagine a gar-
gantuan giant gargling!]
infinitesimal (adjective) exceedingly small, almost immeasurably so

[In the world of math, this means “capable of having values approaching
zero as a limit.”]
minuscule (adjective) very small
Verbs can be replaced also. Remember all the choices you read earlier for
said? How about some alternatives to replace a word like walk?
amble (verb) to maintain a slow, easy pace, such as a stroll

[This can also be used as a noun for a horse whose same-side legs move
together. The word ambulance comes from the same base but, hopefully, if
someone’s being transported in one, it’s not moving at a slow, easy pace.]
saunter (verb) to take a leisurely walk
traipse (verb) to walk or wander about aimlessly or without reaching one’s

goal
27
Activity 1: THE SEARCH IS ON!

All the vocabulary words from the previous pages are hidden in this puzzle.
Look across, down, diagonally, and backward.
I S A I T U M O I R E T N U A S
N U U M O B G P L O I D M A I T
F O L O B U C O N V I V I A L R
I I A E I L U E A M E T N S A A
N C S C R R E K I A F E U U N I
I A S A C U A N E P E E S O R P
T N O E T O U G A P L A C E E S
E G L O A T U R E U N H U T H E
S U O N I D U T I R H C L U P P
I P C V I U R N R T G I E A A S
M B E L L I G E R E N T E E R G
A L E M V E O E N N M I L B A P
L G A R G A N T U A N E U I P C
U S M S U O R E K N A T N A C O
U I I A A A P M T C U E C T N G
G U N W I N S O M E L B A F F A
A L T A G I M T S S R I N U R L
accoutrement colossal paraphernalia

affable convivial pugnacious
amble diminutive pulchritudinous
appurtenance gargantuan saunter
beauteous gregarious traipse
belligerent infinitesimal winsome
cantankerous minuscule
28
Activity 2: WHAT AM I?
Read each question, then choose an appropriate answer from this lesson’s
vocabulary words.
1. I replace the generic word things and can be used as both singular and
plural. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I mean “beautiful,” but in a most innocent and charming way. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
3. I’m someone who no one seems to want to spend any time around
because I’m grumpy. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I describe someone you definitely would want to invite to your next party.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I mean “huge” but am so special that I have a double meaning in classical

architecture. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
Activity 3: GET CREATIVE

On the lines below, write a story using at least five of the vocabulary words in
this lesson.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
29
Activity 4: CHOOSE-A-WORD
Read each question and circle the correct answer.
1. When you look in the mirror, you hope this word comes to mind.
a. winsome
b. appurtenance
c. gargantuan
d. traipse
2. This is the kind of trouble you want to have in your life.

a. belligerent
b. minuscule
c. saunter
d. beauteous
3. If you’re ever stuck in an elevator, you should hope it’s filled with people
who exhibit this characteristic.
a. pugnacious
b. amble
c. affable
d. colossal
4. This could describe how you walk when you have no particular destination.
a. accoutrement
b. pulchritudinous
c. infinitesimal
d. traipse
5. If you have to fight any battles, you might want to take along someone
who is known for being
a. beauteous.
b. convivial.
c. diminutive.
d. pugnacious.
30

_____ 1. Belligerent people and convivial people behave the same way.
_____ 2. Gregarious is a term sometimes used about plants.
_____ 3. Minuscule and gargantuan are synonyms for each other.
_____ 4. An attractive person could add pulchritudinous to his or her list of

attributes.
_____ 5. Amble and ambulance have the same base word.
31
1 2 3 4
5 6
8 9
10
11 12
13
14
15 16
17
18
Across Down
1 accessories, usually used in the plural 1 an important piece of equipment
5 apparatus, can be used singular or plural 2 has a busy social calendar
7 ready to fight it out with anyone 3 think tiny puppies
11 ready and willing for battle 4 extraordinarily huge
13 horses’ legs come to mind 6 physically beautiful
14 innocently engaging 8 invite to your next party
15 used for columns in architecture 9 really, really tiny
16 a real vision 10 a pleasure to chat with
17 not much fun to hang out with 12 an aimless walk without a
18 time to take a stroll destination
32
DAY
4 WHEN OPPOSITES
ATTRACT:
AWESOME
ANTONYMS
ow that we’ve explored synonyms, or words

N that mean about the same thing, let’s take a look at antonyms—words
that have opposite meanings. They’re helpful to know because you don’t want to
use one when you mean the other—that can cause terrible confusion, even chaos.
Just think about the simple antonyms yes and no. There’s a huge difference between
them and what they mean. If someone asks if you want to spend your summer
vacation with your Aunt Ethel and Uncle Morris cleaning out their attic, your
answer will most likely be “No!” If you’re asked if you’d rather spend your vacation
backpacking through Europe with your best friends, your answer’s probably going
to be “Yes!” Just imagine what would ensue if you got those two reversed!
If you want to be truly picky and precise, antonyms come in three forms:
gradable, complementary, and converse. Gradable antonyms are those that can be
measured, like hot/cold or dry/wet. Complementary ones describe a matter of
being, like male/female or alive/dead. Converse antonyms depend on one another,
like buy/sell or borrow/lend. You have to have the one word in order to have its
antonym.
The words in this day’s lesson are great antonyms to know, so enjoy!
33
DEFINITIONS
anomaly an irregularity or difference, not following the general rule
benign kind, compassionate, or gentle

[In the medical world, this is a happy word—it means harmless, the kind
of note you want to see on your medical records.]
cursory quick or superficial
decorum dignity or good manners/behavior, etiquette; the condition of being

calm
effusive unrestrained in expressing feelings or emotions
incarcerate to imprison or confine
jocund merry or jolly
laconic terse, to the point, using few words
malevolent harmful, evil, wanting to cause harm

[Remember the mean sorceress in Sleeping Beauty? Her name was
Maleficent. Coincidence? Methinks not.]
maudlin weak and overly sentimental
ostensible shown outwardly, genuine on the surface but open for doubt
placate to calm the anger of bitterness of; to make someone less angry
plethora a lot of, many, an excessive amount of something
recalcitrant stubbornly refusing to give in to authority; hard to do or handle
reprehensible worthy of or deserving blame, extremely guilty or at fault
sporadic occurring now and then; random or intermittent
succinct short and concise, without wasted words, brief and to the point
truculent ready and willing to fight; aggressively defiant
veracity in agreement with truth; truthfulness
vitriolic expressing bitter hatred toward something or someone

[In the world of chemistry, this means to resemble a glassy metallic sulfate;
that’s a tough one to work into your average conversation.]
34
WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT: AWESOME ANTONYMS

Match each word on the left with its antonym(s) on the right.
1. anomaly _____ a. expressing love and affection

2. benign _____ b. enrage
3. cursory _____ c. strong and unemotional
4. decorum _____ d. the norm
5. effusive _____ e. verbose, wordy
6. incarcerate _____ f. profound and deep
7. jocund _____ g. very few
8. laconic _____ h. well-behaved or compliant
9. malevolent _____ i. completely innocent
10. maudlin _____ j. regular or repeated
11. ostensible _____ k. rambling or long-winded
12. placate _____ l. sad, full of sorrow
13. plethora _____ m. set free
14. recalcitrant _____ n. falsity, lies
15. reprehensible _____ o. ill-mannered, impolite
16. sporadic _____ p. reserved, constrained
17. succinct _____ q. dangerous, harmful
18. truculent _____ r. good, helpful, kind
19. veracity _____ s. complacent, easy going
20. vitriolic _____ t. authentic, genuine
Read each sentence below. Select the best vocabulary word to fill each blank so
that the sentence makes sense.
1. Sometimes it seems like a movie that has both excellent special effects and a
good story line, plus quality actors, is a(n) _______________ in Hollywood.
2. If great amounts of money are spent on the effects, the plot usually gets
little more than a(n) _____________ glance.
35
3. Dialogue is ____________ when it should be descriptive and wordy and

___________ when it should be concise.
4. I’m always disappointed when the ______________ villain gets overly

__________ and confesses.
5. Most movies have a(n) ____________ of actors but a dearth of ones that
really make you believe them.
6. Of course, not all movies are completely _______________; some are

actually pretty entertaining.
7. They’re ______________, popping up now and then when you least

expect it.
8. That _____________ me for awhile; I act with enough ______________

to make my parents proud.
9. In all _____________, I know that I can be a rather critical movie

reviewer.
10. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not mouthy and _____________ about it,
huh?
Read the question, then choose the appropriate answer from this lesson’s vocab-
ulary words.
1. I’m a term you want to hear or see after you’ve had a medical test. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m who you want at your side if you’re heading into a fight! What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I appear completely sincere at first, but you’ve got your doubts. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
36
WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT: AWESOME ANTONYMS
4. I’m pretty quiet, only talking when I have to and then in very few words.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m a huge hit at your friends’ houses because of my excellent behavior.

What am I?
__________________________________________________________

1. nocjud __________________________
2. alteacp __________________________
3. yitrevac __________________________
4. tinracerace __________________________
5. mderouc __________________________
In these analogies, each set of words are synonyms, or mean about the same.
Look at the first set, then figure out which vocabulary word is missing in the
second set.
1. anomaly : irregularity :: _________ : hatred
2. malevolent : evil :: __________ : random
3. truculent : defiant :: __________ : merry
4. incarcerate : imprison :: __________ : concise
5. placate : calm :: __________ : superficial
37
DAY
5 WHAT’S THE
DIFFERENCE?
HANDLING
HOMOPHONES
kay, let’s start with clearing up some under-

O standable confusion. There are homonyms and there are homophones.
Are they the same thing? No. Are they similar? Yes. Simply put:
Homonyms are words that have the same spelling but different meanings.
For example bear and mean. Bear can refer to “a big, furry animal” or
the verb “to carry.” Mean can be a “nasty attitude” or “average” in math
terms.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings
and meanings. (Those letters at the end, -phone, mean “sound,” as in
telephone and microphone.)
In this lesson, we’ll take a closer look at homophones. You’ll most likely notice
that these words are simpler than those we’ve been working with so far. For the
most part, homophones are simpler, but since they often get confusing, it is
important to get a handle on them.
39
If you enjoy this lesson and cannot wait to do even more work with
homophones, check out the Internet. You’ll find websites that have quizzes,
games, and many more resources about homophones. Have fun!
DEFINITIONS
allowed/aloud
allowed (verb) (1) permitted or let have; (2) took into consideration
aloud (adverb) to vocalize or say for others to hear
band/banned
band (noun) a company of persons joined together, a group of musicians;

(verb) to unite together
banned (noun) prohibited by law; (verb) prohibited or barred
billed/build
billed (adjective) having a bill or beak; (noun) an itemized statement of fees

or charges
build (verb) to construct by assembling parts or materials, to establish,

increase, or strengthen; (noun) the physical structure of a person
browse/brows
browse (verb) to eat or graze, to look through or glance at casually
brows (noun) the facial hair above the eyes
cymbal/symbol
cymbal (noun) a plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound
when struck; an instrument that is often part of a drum set
symbol (noun) something used for or regarded as representing something else

such as a letter, figure, word, phrase, or image
40
WHAT ’S THE DIFFERENCE? HANDLING HOMOPHONES
discreet/discrete
discreet (adjective) judicious or careful in one’s conduct and speech, especially

in regard to privacy or silence about a secret
discrete (adjective) apart or detached from others, separate or distinct
discussed/disgust
discussed (verb) talked over or wrote about
disgust (verb) a strong disapproval or revulsion; (noun) nausea, repugnance
gorilla/guerilla
gorilla (noun) the largest of the anthropoid apes
guerilla (noun) a member of an irregular military or paramilitary group
horse/hoarse
horse (noun) a large, solid-hoofed quadruped used for carrying people and
loads
hoarse (adjective) having a husky, harsh voice, sometimes due to temporary

illness
idle/idol/idyll
idle (adjective) not working or active, not in use or operation, frivolous or

meaningless, having no basis or reason, groundless or futile; (verb) to pass time
doing nothing
idol (noun) an image or other object representing a deity that is worshipped, a

person regarded with blind admiration, a figment of the mind or fantasy
idyll (noun) a poem or prose, an episode of charm
incite/insight
incite (verb) to stir, urge on, or prompt to action
insight (noun) a sudden understanding of the true nature of something, an

intuitive understanding often used in psychology
41
lessen/lesson
lessen (verb) to reduce or make smaller
lesson (noun) something to be learned or studied, a section of a course of

study or part of a book or exercise
morning/mourning
morning (noun) the first part of the day, usually from dawn until noon;
(adjective) pertaining to or occurring in the hours before noon
mourning (noun) the act of someone grieving or sorrowing, the outward

symbols of sorrow; (adjective) describing the act of grieving
pair/pear/pare
pair (noun) this word has more than twenty definitions in some resources
but for now, let’s stick with just two: two identical or similar things that are
matched for use together; two individuals who are associated in some way, a
couple
pear (noun) a kind of fruit, comes in multiple varieties
pare (verb) to cut off the outer layer, remove by cutting
stationary/stationery
stationary (adjective) standing still and not moving, a fixed position
stationery (noun) writing paper, writing materials
tracked/tract
tracked (verb) followed the trail of, observed the progress of, followed; carried
on one’s shoes
tract (noun) an expanse of land or other region; a brief publication of spiri-

tual sayings
verses/versus
verses (noun) stanzas or sections of poetry or music
versus (preposition) against or in contrast to
42
weather/whether
weather (noun) the state of the atmosphere (wind, temperature, precipitation,

pressure, etc.) in a given place at a given time; (verb) to expose to the weather;
to bear up against something and survive it
whether (conjunction) used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives
whirled/world
whirled (verb) revolved rapidly, rotated, or spun quickly
[Take a moment and picture the bumper sticker “Imagine whirled peas.”
Chuckle softly. Okay, back to work.]
world (noun) the earth and all the people, places, and things inhabiting it
[Now picture that bumper sticker as saying “Imagine world peace.” What a dif-
ference a homophone makes!]
whine/wine
whine (verb) to utter a cry or sound of unhappiness, irritation, or complaint;

(noun) a peevish or cranky complaint
wine (noun) a drink made from the juice of fermented grapes
Activity 1: THIS ONE OR THAT?

Read each sentence below. Write the best homonym(s) to make the sentence
make sense.
1. My parents recently told me that I was _____________ (allowed/aloud) to

join a _____________ (band/banned).
2. With a grin, my dad said that as long as he wasn’t ____________

(billed/build) for the supply of earplugs the family had to buy, he was happy.
3. I just raised my ______________ (browse/brows) at him and shook my

head.
4. When I practice late at night, I try to be ______________ (discreet/

discrete) when I hit the ____________ (cymbals/symbols) so I don’t wake
anyone up.
43
5. My mom had already _____________ (discussed/disgust) that problem

with me until she was almost _______________ (horse/hoarse).
6. Since I have better manners than the average ________________ (gorilla/

guerilla), I tried to follow her rules.
7. One day, when I appear on American ____________ (Idol/Idle/Idyll), I can

buy my own recording studio and loud music will not _____________
(incite/insight) a family riot.
8. Keeping my parents happy is an important ____________ (lessen/lesson)

I’ve learned because if I don’t, _____________ (morning/mourning) is
sure to follow!
9. In the garage, I put one ____________ (pair/pear/pare) of speakers next

to my Dad’s ______________ (stationary/stationery) bike.
10. Under one speaker, I found a _____________ (tracked/tract) of old spiri-

tual ______________ (verses/versus).
11. I didn’t know ____________ (weather/whether) to keep it.
12. When I ______________ (whirled/world) around, I saw a spot on a shelf

and hid it underneath a bottle of _____________ (whine/wine).
Activity 2: RIGHT HOMOPHONE?

Read each statement. Write T if the underlined word is used correctly. Write F if
it isn’t.
_____ 1. My teacher asked me to read the Shakespeare sonnet aloud.
_____ 2. I just found out that his writing was once band from some schools.
_____ 3. Apparently there were some questions and controversy about the
symbols he used.
_____ 4. A few were less than discrete in their double meanings.
_____ 5. This was a brand new incite into his writing for me.
44
_____ 6. It was a lessen I could actually be interested in, I thought.
_____ 7. I spent the morning poring over Shakespeare’s words.
_____ 8. I must have spent two hours just on his versus.
_____ 9. I don’t know whether I missed the double meanings or if they just
weren’t there.
_____ 10. “It was disappointing not to find something controversial,” I wined
to my mother.

1. ldalewo __________________________
2. nndabe __________________________
3. eorwbs __________________________
4. aymcbl __________________________
5. derscite __________________________
6. distgsu __________________________
7. iarolgl __________________________
8. shoear __________________________
9. dlyli __________________________
10. nisthgi __________________________
11. roniumgn __________________________
12. aarotnsyit __________________________
13. wtaheer __________________________
14. eidhwlr __________________________
15. nwieh __________________________
45
Activity 4: GET CREATIVE!

On the lines below, write a story using at least five of the vocabulary words from
this lesson. Make sure you use the correct homophone.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
46
Activity 5: HIDDEN HOMOPHONES

All these homophones are hidden in this puzzle. Look across, down, diagonally,
and backward to find them.
V E R S E S S N H D L O D I E R
R S E D D S O M O R N I N G T T
E R R I I S W V E R S U S N I C
N O R E S R A O H C D T B P R A
W H R E G N I N R U O M W D P R
E H L I U U I E O B D E E E S T
A D E A S D E L L I B K A T E O
I M T T T T A R S P C R T I N A
E Y E B H R A C I A A A H C I W
D U R A G E U T R L L I E N H T
K O C N I S R T I L L B R I W L
W I S N S T A T I O N A R Y S E
I W I E N W P R B W N L B O N E
A S D D I A O M U E E E V M W E
T L Y U R G Y R I D E R R I Y S
U L L E S S E N L E W G N Y D C
I D L H P B A N D D R E S E O S
allowed gorilla pare

aloud guerilla pear
band horse stationary
banned hoarse stationery
billed idle tracked
build idyll tract
browse idol verses
brows incite versus
discreet insight weather
discrete lessen whether
cymbal lesson whirled
symbol morning world
discussed mourning wine
disgust pair whine
47
DAY
6 MAKE IT REAL:
ADDING
ADJECTIVES
emember that lesson you did on nouns?

R Adjectives, as you may recall, are words that modify or describe nouns.
In other words, when you write about a book, movie, person, or house, you use
adjectives to give details about them: it was an abysmal book, an enlightening
movie, an engaging person, or a monstrous house. Get the picture? Adjectives
exist to help you, well, paint a picture. They allow writers to be artists and use
words to create images.
Think about your favorite authors and books you enjoy reading the most.
As you read, you see images in your head of the places, the characters, and the
actions. Most likely, you create those images thanks to all of the adjectives the
author used. (Adverbs also help create images, but we won’t cover them until
Day 7, so be patient.)
Knowing a wide variety of adjectives will make it easier for you to use that
proverbial paintbrush and create images with your spoken and written words.
You’ll be able to better express yourself, whether you’re trying to write the
world’s best book report or trying to explain over the phone to tech support
what your DVD megachanger is doing wrong!
49
Here are some great adjectives. See how many you can work into your
conversations this week. You never know who might be listening!
Just to Confuse You

Many adjectives turn into adverbs just because an -ly ending is added. Isn’t
that weird?
DEFINITIONS
affluent having an abundance of wealth or material goods; rich, wealthy
agrarian of, relating to, or concerned with farmers or farming interests;

agricultural
cadaverous resembling a corpse, ghastly
caustic likely to offend or hurt someone’s feelings

[In the world of chemistry, this means capable of eating away by chemical
reaction. See the similarity?]
decadent of moral/ethical or cultural decay or decline
despicable deserving of contempt
dogmatic asserting opinions in an arrogant manner, opinionated
ethereal light, airy, extremely delicate or refined
flippant frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness
haggard having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, usually due to suf-

fering or anxiety
homogeneous all of the same, or similar in, nature

[In the world of biology, this is used to indicate a structure that has a com-
mon origin.]
intrinsic belonging to a thing by its very nature, inherent
lucrative producing a profit, moneymaking
macabre gruesome, ghastly, or horrifying
mundane of or pertaining to the real world; common or ordinary
50
MAKE IT REAL: ADDING ADJECTIVES
nebulous hazy, indistinct, cloudy, confused

[In the astronomical world, a nebula is typically an interstellar cloud of gas
or dust.]
pathological caused by or involving disease
repugnant distasteful or offensive; opposed or contrary
salient prominent or conspicuous; projecting or pointing outward
utilitarian of useful function, pertaining to utility
Read each question, then answer it with the appropriate word from this lesson’s
vocabulary words.
1. I’m what allows people to buy whatever they want. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
2. I’m not much fun to be around because I hurt everyone’s feelings. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I don’t take anything seriously, which often comes across as rather disre-
spectful. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m one of the most desired bottom line goals in any business. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m the kind of answer that no one quite understands because I’m just too
vague. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
51
Read each statement. Circle the correct answer.
1. You might want to use this adjective if you’re writing about a ghost.
a. agrarian
b. ethereal
c. homogeneous
d. pathological
2. Some people say that a truly good piece of chocolate qualifies as this
adjective.
a. cadaverous
b. decadent
c. flippant
d. intrinsic
3. There are some kids who love their vegetables—but others think veg-
gies are __________.
a. caustic
b. dogmatic
c. mundane
d. repugnant
4. When you walk into a large department store and see endless rows of the
same shirt, you can safely say that the clothing is __________.
a. affluent
b. despicable
c. homogeneous
d. nebulous
5. Brushing your teeth, checking your e-mail, and eating lunch are all examples
of what type of activity?
a. mundane
b. pathological
c. repugnant
d. salient
52

Using the nouns in the box, write sentences using adjectives from this lesson.
How many can you use with each noun? How does that change the image you’re
creating?
house dog woman man instrument book

shirt class shoes movie school desk
meal visitor music hair present family
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
53
Look at the relationship between the first set of words, and then figure out which
vocabulary word is missing from the second set.
1. affluent : poor :: pleasant : __________________________
2. dogmatic : neutral :: respectful : __________________________
3. ethereal : solid :: rested : __________________________
4. mundane : extraordinary :: healthy : __________________________
5. salient : subtle :: useless : __________________________
54
1 2
3 4
7 8 9
10
11
16 13 14
15 12 17
18
19
Across Down
1 This is a money-making business. 2 It’s an inherent part of life.
5 Eww! 3 You look absolutely horrible.
6 I’m absolutely exhausted. 4 Just part of the daily routine.
7 That is simply contemptible. 8 How could you possibly miss that?
10 It is quite functional. 9 It’s all about the land.
11 Aren’t you refined? 12 That wasn’t the most respectful
15 Having a great deal of money. answer.
17 He looks like a corpse today. 13 It’s a sign of moral decline.
18 I’m still vague on that situation. 14 Are those exactly the same?
19 That’s YOUR opinion. 16 Ouch, that hurts my feelings.
55
DAY
7 MAKE IT
REAL—AGAIN:
TIME FOR
ADVERBS
ust as promised in yesterday’s lesson, this one

J is about adverbs. Just as adjectives give details about nouns, adverbs serve
the same function for verbs. They help paint a picture by giving details and
descriptions about the verb or action. Instead of focusing on describing people,
places, and things, adverbs describe reading, running, writing, shopping, and
thousands of other verbs.
Notice that all the adverbs in today’s lesson end in -ly. While the vast
majority of adverbs do end this way, not all do. But the most common ones are
about manner, or how something is done. These end in -ly. Other types of
adverbs tell about place (“I’ve lived on this block all my life”), frequency (“She
often stops by the library”), time (“He’s supposed to return before dark”), and
purpose (“We talk online to find out what happened at school”). Let’s concen-
trate on the adverbs of manner in this lesson. (Notice how often the word man-
ner appears in the definitions!)
57
Yeah for Me!

Once again, you can be thankful that this isn’t a grammar book. If it were, it
would have to include lessons about adverbial phrases, infinitive phrases,
adverbs that modify adjectives, emphasizers, amplifiers, and lots of other
things you don’t have to deal with in a vocabulary book.
DEFINITIONS
adamantly firmly fixed or strongly against something, unyielding
balefully deadly or harmful in influence, threatening harm or evil
coherently logically connected, consistently, sticking together
decidedly certain, unquestionable or unmistakable, free from hesitation
ignominiously in a dishonorable manner or to a dishonorable degree
incorrigibly in a manner beyond correction or reform, willful or unruly
inexplicably in a manner impossible to explain or account for
inimitably in an irreproducible manner or incapable of being copied
insatiably to a degree or manner of not being satisfied or appeased
languidly in a lethargic manner, lacking energy or weak
magnanimously in a generous or forgiving manner, noble
meticulously in an extremely careful and precise manner
opulently in a sumptuous and luxurious manner
prolifically in an abundant or productive manner, fruitfully
pungently in a distressed, emotional manner
quiescently in a restful, quiet, or inactive manner
resiliently in a rebounding, springing back manner
sardonically in a manner characterized by bitter or scornful derision, cynically
solicitously in an anxious or overly concerned manner, eagerly
tenaciously in a persistent, stubborn, or highly retentive manner; obstinately
58
MAKE IT REAL—AGAIN: TIME FOR ADVERBS

Match each vocabulary word on the left with a word on the right that means
almost the same thing.
1. adamantly _____ a. generously

2. balefully _____ b. stubbornly
3. coherently _____ c. robustly
4. decidedly _____ d. luxuriously
5. ignominiously _____ e. menacingly
6. incorrigibly _____ f. industriously
7. inexplicably _____ g. comprehensibly
8. inimitably _____ h. definitely
9. insatiably _____ i. dishonorably
10. languidly _____ j. obstinately
11. magnanimously _____ k. considerately
12. meticulously _____ l. cynically
13. opulently _____ m. mysteriously
14. prolifically _____ n. hopelessly
15. pungently _____ o. exclusively
16. quiescently _____ p. lazily
17. resiliently _____ q. scrupulously
18. sardonically _____ r. cuttingly
19. solicitously _____ s. voraciously
20. tenaciously _____ t. quietly

Read each statement. Write T if the underlined adverb is used correctly and F if
it is used incorrectly.
_____ 1. Your teachers have just coherently told you what to expect on your
final, so you’re relieved because you understood it perfectly.
_____ 2. Your children have spent the afternoon acting incorrigibly and you’re
completely exhausted from it.
59
_____ 3. When you accidentally get a dent in your parents’ car, you’re scared
that they’ll respond magnanimously.
_____ 4. Your house is decorated opulently so you’re quite proud to show it

off to others.
_____ 5. Your best friend is speaking inexplicably about what happened to

your sweater she borrowed, and you’re satisfied with her excuse.

This one should sound familiar by now. Just as you did in previous lessons,
use at least five vocabulary-word adverbs with the verbs in this box to make
sentences.
read talk work listen watch

write learn behave give rest
hear eat act paint offer
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
60
MAKE IT REAL—AGAIN: TIME FOR ADVERBS

1. alyadmtna __________________________
2. tocnrhyeel __________________________
3. yosmngliiou __________________________
4. nbgirioyiclr __________________________
5. lsatnyiaib __________________________
6. nyosmaamniulg __________________________
7. tulylpone __________________________
8. uilscnetqye __________________________
9. snetllyirie __________________________
10. oosciyuitsll __________________________
Circle the best adverb to complete each sentence.
1. My teacher (adamantly/quiescently) refused to let me retake the test.
2. I tried to (coherently/prolifically) explain why I had missed class that day.
3. The night before I had (meticulously/resiliently) set my new alarm clock.
4. I somehow (decidedly/inexplicably) forgot to push down the button.
5. The next morning I (insatiably/languidly) remained in bed when I was

supposed to be in class. Oops!
61
PART
TWO
IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS:
SPECIALIZED
VOCABULARIES
EVERYONE NEEDS
TO KNOW
his section is all about specialized vocabular-
T ies—words that tend to be used in certain places and situations and by
certain groups of people. Even if you’re not part of such a group, you’ll proba-
bly encounter these words somewhere in your life. You might hear them from a
carpenter or contractor hired to build your family’s new deck, the doctor who
suggested you start exercising, or a teacher who’s discussing your school
records. If you have a strong working knowledge of what these words mean,
you won’t get lost, confused, or overwhelmed when communicating with oth-
ers in different fields.
63
DAY
8 HOW ARE YOU

FEELING TODAY?
EMOTIONAL
TERMS
he words in this lesson are used when talking

T or writing about people’s emotions, or feelings. You may use them when
having a close, personal conversation with someone you care about. They may
come up when you’re talking to a doctor or having a discussion with your
school counselor. You might use them in a letter to a special friend or even in a
report about how you responded to something you read or saw.
It’s extremely helpful to have a wide variety of words to choose from when
you’re trying to explain how you feel about something or attempting to under-
stand how someone else feels. They provide clarity and detail that might other-
wise be lost or misunderstood. Emotions are hard enough to understand
without using vague terms like okay, so-so, all right, or whatever when someone
asks how you are.
Study these words and use them when you can. They’ll make your com-
munication more effective.
Note: These words are primarily adjectives, but remember, by adding an
-ly ending to some, they become adverbs. Presto chango!
65
DEFINITIONS
abashed ashamed or embarrassed
acquiescent willing to carry out the demands, orders, or wishes of others with-
out protest or complaint
angst a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish
apathetic having or showing little to no emotion; uninterested or indifferent
bellicose eager to fight; hostile
candid outspoken, honest, sincere, free from subterfuge or lies
contrite sincerely remorseful, filled with a sense of guilt and the need to be
forgiven
credulous willing to believe or trust too easily, gullible
disconsolate totally unhappy, without any solace or comfort possible; gloomy
ebullient overwhelmed with enthusiasm, bubbling up with high spirits
effervescent lively, sparkling, vivacious
enamored inspired or captivated by love; unreasonably fond
facetious not meant to be taken seriously or literally; amusing
impotent lacking in power or ability; utterly unable to do something effectively;

sterile
jaded worn out or wearied through overwork; dulled or dissipated
lewd obscene or indecent; usually characterized by lust
petulant showing sudden, impatient annoyance or irritation, typically over

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

dour
vociferous crying out noisily; clamorous
zealous devoted, characterized by passionate action or diligence
66
HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? EMOT IONAL TERMS
1 2
3 4 5 6
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Across Down
1 humiliated 1 compliant
4 impatient 2 dread
9 dissipated 3 miserable
10 captivated 5 obscene
11 sincere 6 dour
12 gullible 7 remorseful
14 enthusiastic 8 amusing
15 indifferent 13 diligent
16 hostile
17 vivacious
67
Activity 2: WHICH ONE DOES NOT BELONG?

Look at each group of words. Circle the one that doesn’t fit.
1. angst, disconsolate, ebullient
2. effervescent, enamored, taciturn
3. jaded, vociferous, apathetic
4. acquiescent, petulant, bellicose
5. contrite, candid, abashed
Choose the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.
1. When you feel like you’re willing to do anything people ask you to do,
you’re being __________.
2. If it feels like you believe every single word that people tell you, you’re
being __________.
3. When you simply can’t take anything anyone tells you seriously, you’re
being __________.
4. If you feel completely helpless and powerless, you’re being __________.
5. If you feel passionately enthusiastic about a cause, then you’re being

__________.
68
HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? EMOT IONAL TERMS

All the vocabulary words from the lesson are hidden here. Look across, down,
diagonally, and backward to find them.
S I E I S D E N O B I T W N C
D P E T U L A N T E D N E I N
I D S U O L A E Z L I E L D N
A E U S L V P L R L S T E N C
O H F S U O R E F I C O V T S
S S N F D O T W J C O P I S A
N A F T E I I D A O N M D E D
R B O A R R V T D S S I B I O
U A O T C I V N E E O U D C E
T E N A M O R E D C L N U J O
I O O N N T S D S L A N I O U
C A P A T H E T I C T F R U C
A P A C Q U I E S C E N T B T
T S G N A T N P O I C N W L T
C N E P S T L T I N A E T A V
abashed credulous jaded

acquiescent disconsolate lewd
angst ebullient petulant
apathetic effervescent taciturn
bellicose enamored vociferous
candid facetious zealous
contrite impotent
69

1. haesabd __________________________
2. rsuleuocd __________________________
3. lblnteiue __________________________
4. eftensecefvr __________________________
5. dwle __________________________
6. sucioftae __________________________
7. tutlanpe __________________________
8. ticuantr __________________________
9. ourvfsioec __________________________
10. azesolu __________________________
70
DAY
9 JUST THE
FACTS, MA’AM:
MATHEMATICAL
TERMS
hat? There’s a lesson on math in the middle

W of a vocabulary book? Yes, it’s true. Believe it or not, math and words
are not mutually exclusive.
Some of the most common mathematical terms you’ll run into during your
life are included here. It may be in math class, while trying to balance your check-
ing or savings account, helping someone with his or her math homework, or refi-
nancing a house.
Knowing these terms will help you better understand what you read or
hear about math concepts and numbers. Some you probably already know, so
take a moment and review; then when someone starts spouting equations and
formulas, you’ll be ready to respond intelligently.
DEFINITIONS
aggregate sum total; a whole made up of different parts; total or gross amount
algebra mathematics that utilizes letters as symbols; math that deals with gen-
eral statements of relations
71
algorithm a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps; a

problem-solving procedure
annuity money paid at regular intervals for a fixed period; investment paying
an annual sum
calculus a method of calculation that uses symbols or symbolic logic;

computation
circumference the distance around a circle or another object; the outer bound-
ary of a circular area; perimeter
commodity a traded item or useful thing; an article of trade or commerce
deficit the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required
amount; shortfall; a lack or shortage
denominator the number below the line in a fraction indicating the number of
parts making up the whole
[In the nonmath world, this word often means a common characteristic
between people or things.]
diameter a line running from one side of a circle to another; the width of a
circular object
equation the act of equating or making equal; an expression or a proposition

asserting the equality of two quantities
fiscal of or pertaining to the public treasury or revenues, or financial matters

in general
geometry mathematics of shapes; the branch of mathematics that deals with

the deduction of the properties, measurement, and relationships of points,
lines, angles, and figures in space
inflation higher prices; a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices
integer a member of the set of positive whole numbers; the whole number,
unit, or entity
median middle point; the middle in a set of ordered values; noting or pertain-
ing to a plane dividing something into two equal parts; the middle number in a
sequence of numbers, taken as the average of the two middle numbers; midpoint
perpendicular at right angles; vertical; straight up and down; meeting at a

given line or surface at right angles
72
JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM: MATHEMAT ICAL TERMS
promissory usually used in insurance, indicating contract provisions; generally

means containing a promise
recession a decline in economic activity; a period of economic contraction
scarcity an insufficiency or shortness of supply; rarity
Circle the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.
1. Money that’s sent to you on a regular basis for a set amount of time is
known as a(n)
a. aggregate.
b. annuity.
c. deficit.
d. fiscal.
2. When you measure the distance around a tree, that figure is known as a(n)
a. algorithm.
b. inflation.
c. diameter.
d. circumference.
3. Finding the median is the same thing as finding the

a. middle point.
b. starting point.
c. ending point.
d. average point.
4. In business, a company may trade or purchase a(n)

a. promissory.
b. denominator.
c. commodity.
d. fiscal.
5. The type of math that primarily deals with shapes is

a. algebra.
b. calculus.
c. geometry.
d. perpendicular.
73
6. When the prices of everything consumers want to buy keep rising, that’s
known as
a. deficit.
b. inflation.
c. recession.
d. scarcity.
7. Lines that are drawn at right angles are

a. geometry.
b. algorithm.
c. median.
d. perpendicular.
8. When you realize you are completely out of soda and chips on a Saturday
night, you realize you have a serious
a. scarcity.
b. recession.
c. equation.
d. integers.
9. When your paycheck is less than the amount of bills you owe, you are
experiencing a(n)
a. inflation.
b. deficit.
c. promissory.
d. recession.
10. When your best friend swears on paper that he will pay you back as soon
as he gets paid next Friday, this is referred to as a _________________
note.
a. integers
b. commodity
c. deficit
d. promissory
74
JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM: MATHEMAT ICAL TERMS

Read the words in each group below. Circle the one that doesn’t fit.
1. algebra, calculus, annuity
2. deficit, commodity, scarcity
3. equation, recession, inflation
4. aggregate, integers, denominator
5. circumference, fiscal, diameter
Read each question, then write the appropriate answer from this lesson’s vocab-
ulary words.
1. I use letters as symbols when talking about mathematical relationships.

What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m the bottom number you see when you’re figuring out a recipe. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m what happens when the economy begins to slow way down. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m two of the lines you make when you write an uppercase “H.” What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m the gross amount that goes on the bottom line. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
75

_____ 1. Algorithms are used to help solve mathematical problems.
_____ 2. The word denominator is used outside of math to indicate people who
are quite diverse.
_____ 3. 541 and 312 are examples of integers.
_____ 4. Circumference and perimeter are similar in meaning.
_____ 5. Geometry is math that centers on relationships of points, lines, and

angles.
76
DAY
10 NAME THAT TUNE:

MUSICAL TERMS
his lesson is all about musical terms. These

T are the fancy terms you may see in a symphony program or concert
announcement. You might even find them in CD liner notes or a biography
about your favorite musician. You’ll understand music on a deeper, more com-
prehensive level by taking the time to learn these terms. Some might even lead
you to research new information about music. What does a nocturne sound
like? How does a contralto sing? Who’s considered the most talented maestro in
history? How about the most important virtuoso? If you discover a fascinating
new type of music or performer, all the better.
DEFINITIONS
allegro brisk or rapid in tempo; lively
atonal without key; musical notes that are not related by any mode or key
77
baroque a style of seventeenth-century (1600–1750) music written by com-

posers such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi
[This can also be a style of architecture and art created during the same
era. All were characterized by very ornate and irregular forms.]
contralto the lowest female vocal range, between alto and tenor—conversely,
the highest male vocal range
dissonance an unstable combination of musical notes or a discordant sound

[Think of an orchestra tuning their instruments. Individual notes sound
fine but simultaneously, this can be pretty harsh. Outside of the music world,
this word means inconsistency or disagreement.]
elegy a sad or mournful musical composition or lament, usually for someone

who has died
[This word also applies to sad poems and may remind you of “eulogy,”
which is a speech that is commonly given at a person’s funeral.]
falsetto a high singing method used by male singers; an artificially high-

pitched voice
fugue a composition or musical form that states a theme and then repeats it in
various forms throughout the song
[In the world of psychiatry, this means a period of memory loss, as when a
person later recovers but doesn’t remember what happened during the fugue.]
interlude an instrumental piece of music played between parts of a song,

between acts in a drama, or another break in the performance
[Think halftime show during a football game. This is what happens dur-
ing intermission. This can also refer to a period of time in which a person takes
a break from something.]
maestro a master conductor of music; an expert in composing, teaching, or

conducting music
[The Yoda of the music world.]
monotone an unchanging tone, a series of identical sounds; a single tone with-

out harmony or variation in pitch
78
NAME THAT TUNE: MUSICAL TERMS
nocturne dreamy music; a composition of dreamy character, especially one for

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

including string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players, and a conductor in
front to lead the music
overture a musical composition that introduces an opera, play, ballet, or other

performance
[Note that outside of music, this word can mean an opening or initiating
move toward negotiations or a new relationship.]
recital a musical performance by one person or a small group

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

[The musical version of TV reruns.]
serenade a performance of vocal or instrumental music, especially in the open

air at night
tempo the speed at which music is performed, the pace
unison notes at the same pitch; the performance of two or more parts at the
same pitch; all voices singing together in perfect agreement or harmony
virtuoso an extremely talented person who excels in musical technique and/or

execution
[Note that this word is often used to indicate an exceptional performer of
any kind, whether musically inclined or not.]
79

Match each description on the left with the vocabulary word on the right.
1. the speed at which music is played _____ a. allegro

2. a very skilled person _____ b. elegy
3. a musical introduction to a performance _____ c. fugue
4. a single sound without any change _____ d. monotone
5. played or sung all together as one _____ e. nocturne
6. a musical piece played often when someone dies _____ f. overture
7. the musical version of a television repeat _____ g. reprise
8. dreamy music usually for the piano _____ h. tempo
9. music with a repeating theme _____ i. unison
10. a lively, quick pace _____ j. virtuoso
Activity 2: GET CREATIVE!

On the lines below, write a story about attending a concert. Use at least five of
the vocabulary words from this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of the
word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
80
NAME THAT TUNE: MUSICAL TERMS
Look at the relationship of the first two words, then figure out which vocabulary
word belongs in the second set.
1. rapid : allegro :: discordant : __________
2. master : maestro :: unchanging : __________
3. introduction : overture :: break : ___________
4. group : orchestra :: solo : ____________
5. repetition : reprise :: unanimous : __________

All the vocabulary words from the lesson are hidden here. Look across, down,
diagonally, and backward for them.
R E O A O C U N I S O N T
S L N O M O N O T O N E F
O M A O L N R C E E D O T
E O T R N T T T D U M O U
R R O G S R A U L R R P N
U N N E R A R R V C P C O
T E A L L L E N H E L I Y
R M L L O T T E S L A F G
E C N A N O S S I D T U E
V R V I R T U O S O I G L
O Y B A R O Q U E E C U E
L E D A N E R E S O E E R
O R E P E S I R P E R O T
allegro fugue recital

atonal interlude reprise
baroque maestro serenade
contralto monotone tempo
dissonance nocturne unison
elegy orchestra virtuoso
falsetto overture
81

Read each statement. Write T for true or F for false.
______ 1. An overture in a concert is like an intermission during a play.
______ 2. A maestro and a virtuoso are quite similar.
______ 3. A nocturne is energetic and the perfect wake-up-in-the-morning

music.
______ 4. The tempo of music is the pace at which it’s played.
______ 5. A recital is always performed by one person only; it is a solo

performance.
82
DAY
11 ON THE HUNT:
JOB SEARCH
TERMS
ne of the most important times in your life

O to make a good impression is when you’re job hunting. As you fill out
an application form, it’s imperative that you answer all the questions as fully
and effectively as possible. It’s equally important that you turn in a strong
resume. Both of these forms will be enhanced by a strong, wide vocabulary. You
don’t want to get halfway through filling out the application and run into a
word you don’t know. You also don’t want to write a resume that either uses
inappropriate vocabulary or uses words incorrectly.
Furthermore, when you go for a job interview, you want to be able to
completely understand the questions you’re asked and be able to use essential
vocabulary in your responses. Not knowing the meaning of a word can confuse
you just enough to get you off the track and into rambling. That can give the
prospective employer the wrong impression about you, and cost you the job.
The terms that follow might be used on an application, your resume, or in
an interview, depending on the kind of job you’re pursuing. Become familiar
with all of them and you’ll be one step closer to getting hired. Who can resist a
job applicant with a fabulous vocabulary?
83
DEFINITIONS
accomplishment refers to the achievement of something—a feat, skill, or talent
[This word indicates something you’ve done well or admirably, and could
include everything from having a high GPA to winning the science fair to earn-
ing a promotion in your current job to having the biggest collection of baseball
cards in your class. Plan to include only the pertinent ones on your resume or in
your interview. Leave the rest for impressing classmates and favorite relatives.]
application a formal request for something; a form filled out by an applicant

[This word has other definitions, but in employment terms, it means the
actual form you fill out when you apply for a job. This makes you the applicant.]
assessment an evaluation of judgment; an appraisal

[This typically refers to either assessments you have already had (job per-
formance reviews, school tests, etc.) or to ones you’ll be asked to take in the
application process.]
compensation money in payment for services rendered; something given as an

equivalent for work
[In other words, this is your paycheck. Asking a prospective employer
what the expected compensation is for the position sounds much better than,
“Whatcha gonna pay me?”]
diversity the state of being unlike or having variety

[Employers look for “diversity,” meaning they look for employees from a
wide variety of backgrounds.]
freelance working for a variety of companies; an independent employee

[In recent years, more and more companies have hired freelancers. These
employees, often referred to as independent contractors or consultants, tend to
work from home or off-site because they may work for more than one company
at a time.]
mentor a teacher or professional role model

[Employers like to ask who your mentors are. Everyone has one—even if
it’s just someone you admire from afar. A parent, neighbor, coworker, teacher,
author, or even a celebrity may be yours. Just know a few and be prepared to say
how they influenced you because, almost certainly, if you name one, the
employer will ask.]
84
ON THE HUNT: JOB SEARCH TERMS
negotiation a resolution of disagreements; a mutual discussion and arrange-

ment of terms of a transaction or agreement
[This is what you do when the terms of the job don’t meet your needs,
whether it’s the hours, salary, or other relevant detail. Negotiation involves dis-
cussion and agreement, not arguing and stubbornness.]
networking the practice of gathering contacts; a supportive system of sharing

information and services between people who have a common interest
[This means connecting with other people who might be able to help in
your job or job search by sharing contacts or other information. By sharing, you
help each other.]
occupational pertaining to a trade or career

[It’s a fancy word meaning “dealing with your work.” An occupational
hazard, for example, is a risk you might encounter while on the job.]
overqualified having more skill or education than a job actually requires

[When you have a master’s degree from college and you’re applying to
your local grocery store for a nighttime stocking job, chances are you’re
overqualified. However, you aren’t alone because many people find themselves
doing just this—especially when there are no jobs in their chosen field or there
are many layoffs.]
portfolio a collection of your creative work, usually carried in a flat, portable

case also known as a portfolio
[This is your resume, letters of recommendation, school transcripts, and
other documents that represent your accomplishments. What’s in your portfo-
lio is supposed to create an image of you that prospective employers can look
over while deciding whether to hire you or not.]
promotion an advancement in position or rank

[In other words, the company’s giving you more money/office space/power/
responsibility.]
recommendation personal reference and/or endorsement

[When it comes to job searching, you’ll most likely need to have several
recommendations, usually in the form of reference letters. These are typically
from friends, teachers, and past employers saying how fantastic you are and
how foolish it would be for the new employer not to hire you.]
85
recruiter a person who enrolls or takes on people as workers

[While this term is often associated with the military, it means anyone
who connects people with available jobs. In business, they may also be head-
hunters or executive research firms.]
resignation the official notification of leaving a job

[When you decide it’s time to move on, for whatever reason, you resign.
It’s usually done in writing and gives employers several weeks notice so they can
find a replacement for you.]
resume a collection or summary of your experience, education, and accom-

plishments within a given field
[Sometimes called the curriculum vitae (C.V.), this is a listing of the rea-
sons why an employer should hire you, from raving recommendations to amaz-
ing accomplishments.]
telecommute to work from home or a remote location, usually using a com-

puter connection
[This can be wonderful—no neckties, uniforms, or businesslike clothes to
wear. But it has its disadvantages, too. See if this is an option and if you’re even
interested in it.]
underqualified lacking the skills or other requirements of the job

[If this is the case, you’re not likely to get the job unless the employer is a
fan of on-the-job training.]
workaholic a person who becomes addicted to his or her work and puts it
above family and other responsibilities.
86
Read each statement, then circle the correct answer.
1. The things I should highlight on my latest resume are

a. accomplishments.
b. mentors.
c. negotiations.
d. portfolios.
2. When I ask about compensation, I’m asking

a. how many hours I will have to work.
b. what skills this job requires.
c. what my work environment will be.
d. how much I will be paid.
3. One element that many employers want in the workplace today is

a. an application.
b. diversity.
c. negotiation.
d. a resume.
4. If you would rather work from home on your own schedule than on-site
on someone else’s schedule, consider becoming a
a. mentor.
b. workaholic.
c. freelancer.
d. recruiter.
5. Networking is the same as

a. sharing information.
b. working together.
c. negotiating terms.
d. getting a job.
6. A mentor is primarily a
a. critic.
b. stranger.
c. teacher
d. celebrity.
87
7. A collection of your work is known as a

a. resume.
b. promotion.
c. recommendation.
d. portfolio.
8. When you ask your favorite teacher to write a letter about your best traits,
you’re asking for a(n)
a. promotion.
b. recommendation.
c. assessment.
d. compensation.
9. A workaholic would most likely

a. insist on more money.
b. ask for part-time hours.
c. want to telecommute.
d. work a lot of overtime.
10. When you resign, you

a. leave a job.
b. ask for a raise.
c. increase your hours.
d. hope for a promotion.
88
Read each question, then choose the appropriate answer from this lesson’s
vocabulary words.
1. I have more skills and experience than the job requires. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. My job is to match the right people with the right jobs. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I am a generic term that is associated with various professions. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
4. I am the form you fill out when you go in for a job. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I am what tells you if you’re doing well—or not so well. What am I?

__________________________________________________________

On the lines below, write a story about the job application process, using at least
ten of the vocabulary words in this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of
the word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
89
1 2 3
4 5
8 9
10
11
12 13
14
Across Down
1 achievement 1 form
6 collection of work 2 payment
7 evaluation 3 resolution
9 moving up 4 variety
10 role model 5 job addiction
11 quitting time 8 headhunter
12 C.V.
13 independent contractor
14 support system
90
DAY
12 SIGN ON THE
DOTTED LINE:
CONTRACT TERMS
ontracts are legally binding agreements.

C Legally speaking, a contract is formed by a meeting of the minds of at
least two parties—a mutual consent resulting from an offer by one party and an
acceptance of that offer by the other. Your parents are most likely very familiar
with contracts as they’ve signed a few in their adult lives. You have a few years
before you can enter a legally binding contract (most require you to be at least
18 years old), but learning the terms now will make it much easier to know
whether to pick up a pen and sign something in the future.
Contracts are a part of life, regardless of what career path you eventually
follow. They are part of hiring others to do work. Contracts are typically written
in a language that makes them hard to read. They use terminology and legalese
jargon that many people can’t easily understand without some explanation. So
this lesson is about those types of terms. It’ll make it easier for you to either cre-
ate a contract or sign one with confidence down the road.
91
DEFINITIONS
addendum an addition or appendix, something added or a supplement
arbitration a process for resolving a dispute; the settling of differences

between parties by a person or persons chosen by the involved parties
beneficiary a person or group that receives benefits, profits, or advantages; the

legal recipient of money
collateral property as security against a loan; security pledged for the payment
of a loan
compliance conformity; cooperation
default the failure to perform an act or obligation legally required such as

appearing in court or paying back a loan
devaluation making or becoming less valuable; a reduction in value
disclaimer a statement renouncing legal right
equity a fair claim; the modification of a common law
extension the act or process of increasing the range or application of some-

thing; an additional period of time
insolvency the condition of being bankrupt
leverage borrowing money to purchase a company; proportion of capital as

debt; the use of a small investment, credit, or loan to gain a high return or
reduce one’s liability
liability obligation under the law; debt
liquidate pay a debt; shut down a business; convert assets into cash
notarization the legal certification of a document by affixing a notary public’s

stamp and signature
overhead ongoing business costs; the general expense of running a business
refinance to satisfy a debt by making another loan on new terms
revenue income from a person or business; the amount of money regularly

coming in
92
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE: CONTRACT TERMS
subcontract a secondary contract in which the person or company originally

hired, in turn hires somebody else to do all or part of the work
variable inconsistent; having no fixed numerical value (usually used as in

variable interest or variable rates)
vocabulary words.
1. I’m something you add to the contract after you’ve read it but before you
sign it. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m the valuable material goods that you put up as security against a loan.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m going down in worth even as you look at me. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
4. I’m what’s given if you just need a little bit more time. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m what you do when you sell everything and use the cash to pay off a
debt. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
93

Read each sentence. Select the best vocabulary word to fill in the blank.
1. If you need to hire someone to help you settle an argument with

your business partner, your business is obviously in need of
__________________.
2. Beware of any mortgage offer that says it includes a ______________ rate,

as it will be hard to predict what it may do in years to come.
3. The ______________________ is the only one who will profit from this
insurance.
4. Bankers appreciate your cooperation and _______________ when you

apply for one of their loans.
5. Having to hire another company to finish the work you were contracted to
do is known as _______________________.
6. When I failed to show up for the appointment, they told me that I was
now in _____________ of the loan.
7. Always read the tiny ___________________ at the bottom of the contract

so you know your legal rights.
8. Many people __________________ so that they can use the money and
pay off their first loan.
9. Balancing profit with ________________ is a tricky process for many

small businesses.
10. Being bankrupt or declaring ______________ is not an easy thing to do

for some people.
94
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE: CONTRACT TERMS

1. euitqy __________________________
2. erlgeaev __________________________
3. tibiyaill __________________________
4. naizotoitnra __________________________
5. enrvuee __________________________

Read each statement. Write T for true or F for false.
_____ 1. The point of arbitration is to settle a difference of opinions.
_____ 2. A variable figure is one that won’t change for a set period of time.
_____ 3. The money coming in is frequently referred to as overhead.
_____ 4. Monthly expenses within a company are known as revenue.
_____ 5. An extension is given to someone who needs more time to pay.
_____ 6. The person who profits from a will is the beneficiary.
_____ 7. Not performing an act that you promised to do is legally called

devaluation.
_____ 8. The money you owe is referred to as a liability.
_____ 9. Notarization is a method of legally certifying a document.
_____ 10. An appropriate synonym for collateral is debt.
95
DAY
13 POLITICS
ON PARADE:
POLITICAL TERMS
uring an election year, some words tend to

D be used every ten minutes or so as television news stations give yet
another update from the campaign trail. Even if people aren’t vying for office,
however, these terms are often found in the media. So even if you’re NOT a
politically inclined person, having a good basic knowledge of political jargon
can be helpful. It helps you better follow classroom discussions, personal con-
versations, and news reports.
Although politics, on the surface, may seem dull, it’s the foundation of
how a country runs. What people talk about on the news today might just result
in a change in the way your school is funded, what type of pension plans your
company offers, and how much of your paycheck you’ll take home each week
(or not). Keeping up with the issues is important so you know what to expect
and, if you’re eligible to vote, so you can make informed decisions. Get to know
these words and it will be easier.
97
DEFINITIONS
amendment an alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, or the Constitution;
an official change to a legal document
[One topic you’ll cover in history class is when women got the right to
vote. It’s important to know that the right was spelled out in the nineteenth
amendment to the U.S. Constitution.]
anarchist someone who believes governments should be abolished because

they’re unnecessary; a person who seeks to overturn government institutions,
often through violence
bipartisan representing or involving two political parties; including members

from two factions
bureaucracy a government or administrative system made up of special

departments or bureaus, administrators, and officials
delegate a person designated to act as a representative for others
filibuster a political delaying act used by a member of the legislative assembly

to prevent the passage of legislation, often by performing a long and irrelevant
speech
gerrymandering dividing a geographic area into voting districts that provide

an unfair advantage to one party in elections
[Historical note: This word was first spotted in a newspaper in 1813. It’s a
combination of salamander, a small lizardlike creature, and the name of Elbridge
Gerry, the former governor of Massachusetts. Apparently, Gerry’s party mem-
bers created an election district that looked like a salamander and it caught the
eye of painter Gilbert Stuart. When he noticed it, the term was born.]
globalization the act of being adopted on an international scale; to extend to

the entire world
impeachment the presentation of formal charges against a public official; cast-

ing somebody out of public office
libertarian a person who advocates liberty or the doctrine of free will, as well as
individual responsibility and freedom; a member of the Libertarian political party
nationalism a desire for political independence; national spirit or patriotism
privatize to take something out of state control; to transfer from public or

government control or ownership to private enterprise
98
POLITICS ON PARADE: POLITICAL TERMS
propaganda publicity, often misleading, to promote something; ideas or

rumors deliberately circulated to help or harm a person, group, or institution
quota the number, percentage, or proportional share of people permitted to

enroll in a college, join a club, immigrate to the country; maximum permitted
amount
ratification formal approval of something; the act of confirming or sanctioning
socialism a political system in which the means of production and distribu-

tion are controlled by the people rather than market principles; communal
ownership
sovereign a monarch (king, queen) or other supreme ruler; royal
subsidy an amount of money paid by one government to another to secure a

service; a grant, or contribution of money from that government to a private
company, organization, or charity.
[Think bailout!]
tyranny the cruel use of power and injustice by an absolute sovereign or dicta-
tor over others; an oppressive government
veto the right or power in one branch of the government to reject or postpone
legislation or measures of another branch

Match each vocabulary word on the left with its definition on the right.
1. amendment ______ a. irrelevant speech

2. delegate ______ b. free will
3. filibuster ______ c. king or queen
4. globalization ______ d. misleading publicity
5. libertarian ______ e. reject
6. propaganda ______ f. cruel control
7. sovereign ______ g. representative
8. veto ______ h. rebel
9. tyranny ______ i. worldwide
10. anarchist ______ j. change added to the Constitution
99
Note the relationship of the first set of words, then figure out which vocabulary
word best fits in the second set.
1. bipartisan : two :: __________ : administration
2. gerrymandering : cheating :: ___________ : fired
3. nationalism : patriotism :: ____________ : individual enterprise
4. quota : percentage :: ______________ : sanction
5. socialism : communal :: ____________ : grant
Activity 3: WORD SEARCH

All the words in this puzzle are from this lesson. Look up, down, diagonally, and
backward to find them.
F G G N I R E D N A M Y R R E G
Z S B O T I N D E L E G A T E E
N A T I O N A L I S M T I S U Z
S M I T S M S I L A I C O S N I
O E P A N A I M C F M N R A M T
V N R Z T R T R I A P T I D A A
E D O I T N R C A O E R R U G V
R M P L Y C A R C U A E R U B I
E E A A Y T P C S T C T I E P R
I N G B I N I U R T H S O R R P
G T A O D I B E Y E M U A U C R
N A N L B S B R I T E B I E Q C
E E D G I I A I T R N I A S C V
S U A D L N I I T G T L G L E Y
C R Y A N A N A R C H I S T R N
R N A Y A Y I V T A T F O O A B
100
POLITICS ON PARADE: POLITICAL TERMS
amendment globalization ratification

anarchist impeachment socialism
bipartisan libertarian sovereign
bureaucracy nationalism subsidy
delegate privatize tyranny
filibuster propaganda veto
gerrymandering quota

Read each statement and mark it T if it’s true or F if it’s false. If it is false, change
it so that it becomes true.
_____ 1. Socialism is loyalty to one’s country or a patriotic spirit.
________________________________________________________
_____ 2. A bipartisan is a person who works hard to get rid of government

within society.
________________________________________________________
_____ 3. Gerrymandering is a term named for both a person and a lizard.
________________________________________________________
_____ 4. The ability to veto is part of the checks and balances in American gov-
ernment because it allows one branch to monitor the other.
________________________________________________________
_____ 5. A quota is the amount of money a government might give to a private

company or organization.
________________________________________________________
101
DAY
14 THE WEATHER
REPORT:
METEOROLOGICAL
TERMS
eather terms come in handy when you’re

W tuning in to the local forecast. It’ll be much easier to understand what
the meteorologist says once you’ve learned the jargon. How the forecasts are
made will be less mysterious as well, since you will have some inside knowledge
of the equipment used by weather forecasters.
Some of these words, as in other lessons, have specific meanings to the
field, as well as more generic ones people use in everyday conversation. These
will be pointed out as we check into the weather report.
DEFINITIONS
advection the horizontal flow of air
anemometer an instrument that measures wind force/speed and direction
atmosphere the air or climate in any given place
[Clearly this one occurs outside of meteorology. It can also indicate the
mood or tone of a place, such as “The home had a friendly atmosphere, making
everyone feel welcome.”]
103
barometer an instrument that measures air pressure
Celsius the metric temperature scale with freezing at 0 and boiling at 100
degrees; named after the Swedish astronomer who developed it
climatology the study of the typical weather in a region, over a period of time
condensation water droplets; the process by which water vapor in the air lique-
fies to create fog, clouds, and rain, or solidifies into snow, sleet, or hail
[In the non-weather world, this word indicates making something shorter
or more compact, like versions of books or cans of orange juice or soup.]
conduction the transfer or transmission of energy, such as heat or electricity,

through a conductor
divergence the movement of air currents

[Outside of meteorology, the word also means a difference or disparity
between two or more things or a failure to conform.]
doldrums stagnation; a part of the ocean near the equator subject to squalls,
light variable winds, and calm
[This is also considered a gloomy or depressed mood, as in “I’m in the dol-
drums today.”]
evaporation a process through which something is changed from a liquid to a

gas or vapor without its temperature reaching the boiling point
Fahrenheit the nonmetric temperature scale on which water freezes at 32

degrees and boils at 212 degrees
global warming an increase in the world’s temperature that causes changes in

climates and may be a result of the greenhouse effect, among other factors
inversion when the temperature rises with increased elevation instead of falling
isotherm a line drawn on a weather map that shows or connects places that
have the same temperature
macroburst a large downdraft of air, often accompanied by damaging winds
ozone pure air; a form of oxygen
permafrost permanently frozen land, primarily in polar regions
precipitation rain, snow, sleet, or hail formed by condensation of moisture in

the air; often expressed as the amount of precipitation that falls at a given place
within a given period
trough an area of low pressure or sunken area

104
T HE WEAT HER REPORT: MET EOROL OGICAL T ERMS
1 2
6 7
10
11
12 13
14
15
16
17
Across Down
1 wind direction 1 measures wind speed
3 the air around the planet 2 metric temperature scale
6 weather study 4 measures pressure
9 air currents 5 water to fog
13 liquid to gas without heat 7 higher means hotter
15 transmission of energy 8 nonmetric temperature scale
16 low pressure area 10 still and quiet
17 frozen land 11 huge down drafts
12 form of oxygen
14 map lines
105
Find a word in the box that best completes each sentence.
advection conduction inversion

atmosphere divergence isotherm
climatology evaporation permafrost
condensation
1. Air currents move in all directions due to a process known as

___________________.
2. ____________________ is the subsoil of frozen regions where it’s never

able to thaw.
3. When liquids disappear without being boiled away, this is known as

___________________.
4. Weather, or ___________________, is a specific branch of science.
5. When heat is transferred through atmospheric layers, it’s called

___________________.
6. Air is able to move in multiple directions and, if horizontal, is referred to

as ___________________.
7. When the temperature keeps going up as you go to higher altitudes, that’s

an example of ___________________.
8. Water droplets on the surface of a cold drink are formed through

___________________.
9. The entire Earth is surrounded by ___________________.
10. One way to keep track of temperatures is to draw ___________________

lines on a map.
106
T HE WEAT HER REPORT: MET EOROL OGICAL T ERMS
Read each question, then write the word from this lesson’s vocabulary.
1. I’m the term used when air is blowing vertically. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m the term for those water droplets that form on the outside of your
glass of soda. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m the word that means an area without any breeze—or just a really rotten
mood. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m the word that explains how a puddle of water slowly disappears over
time. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m what happens in storms and can even play a part in a tornado. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
107

Using the words in the box below, create your own sentences or story about the
weather.
anemometer Fahrenheit ozone

barometer global warming precipitation
Celsius macroburst trough
doldrums
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
108
DAY
15 WHERE IN
THE WORLD?
GEOGRAPHICAL
TERMS
he world is a constantly expanding, changing

T place. As news reports come in from all over the world 24/7, it’s vital to
understand what reporters are describing. Today’s words can help you do just
that. In addition, knowing how to look at a map and understand the informa-
tion it provides is an essential skill.
Words from this lesson are likely to be heard in tomorrow’s headlines, not
just in a geography class. By learning them, you’ll know more about the world
you live in and the changes it goes through on a daily basis.
DEFINITIONS
aquifer a geological formation that contains or conducts groundwater; a layer
of rock, gravel, or earth through which groundwater flows
archipelago a large group or chain of islands; an area of sea with multiple

islands
109
arroyo a dry gulch, usually in a desert area, only wet after heavy rains
biosphere the living planet; the portion of the earth in which life can exist
demographics relating to human populations; statistical data about a popula-

tion such as age, income, and education
epicenter the focal point or focus of an earthquake; the point directly above
the center of a disturbance from which shock waves radiate
equinox time of equal hours of day and night; occurring around March 21
and September 22 each year
erosion the wearing away of rock or soil; the process of wearing away the earth
through water, glaciers, wind, waves, and sand
floodplain a flat, low-lying area near a river or stream that is prone to flooding
hemisphere half of the earth
isthmus a narrow strip of land that is bordered on both sides by water and
joins two larger bodies of land
karst an area of limestone, usually characterized by caves, ravines, and under-

ground streams
latitude the imaginary line around the earth that joins points equidistant
north or south of the equator
longitude the imaginary line around the earth that joins points equidistant
east and west of the prime meridian
meridian an imaginary circle of the earth passing through the poles and any
given point on the planet’s surface; a line of longitude
perihelion the point in the orbit of a planet or other astronomical body at

which it is closest to the sun
reservoir a natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for
use; a lake or tank for storing water as a backup supply
topography the shape or configuration of the earth’s surface; the mapping of

the planet’s surface features such as mountains, rivers, and highways
watershed the area in which a river and its tributaries drain
zenith the point in the sky directly above an observer
110
WHERE IN THE WORLD? GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS

Look at each set of words and circle the one that doesn’t fit the category. On the
line underneath, write why it doesn’t fit.
1. aquifer, isthmus, reservoir
__________________________________________________________
2. epicenter, perihelion, zenith
__________________________________________________________
3. latitude, longitude, arroyo
__________________________________________________________
4. watershed, biosphere, floodplain
__________________________________________________________
5. equinox, archipelago, meridian
__________________________________________________________
Read each question, then circle the correct answer.
1. If you travel to the Florida Keys and go from one island to another, you are
visiting a(n)
a. archipelago.
b. epicenter.
c. reservoir.
d. watershed.
2. An arroyo is filled with water

a. never.
b. whenever it sprinkles.
c. following heavy rains.
d. constantly.
111
3. If you gather statistics about the people in your neighborhood to deter-

mine the age ranges, you’re working with
a. topography.
b. demographics.
c. erosion.
d. biosphere.
4. To locate a remote place on the globe, it helps most to know its

a. longitude.
b. demographics.
c. zenith.
d. perihelion.
5. If you’re in an area with karst, most likely you’ll find a(n)

a. desert.
b. mountain.
c. island.
d. cave.
Look at the relationship between the first two words, then figure out which
vocabulary word best fits in the second set.
1. archipelago : islands :: _____________ : planet
2. demographics : statistics :: ____________ : shock waves
3. karst : limestone :: ______________ : tributaries
4. reservoir : arroyo :: _____________ : equator
5. perihelion : furthest point :: ____________ : building up
112
WHERE IN THE WORLD? GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS

Unscramble each word and write it correctly.
1. eaiufrq __________________________
2. vsrrereoi __________________________
3. dinreami __________________________
4. hsrepbeoi __________________________
5. etdliatu __________________________
6. tareewdhs __________________________
7. rsoonie __________________________
8. shehrimpee __________________________
9. atksr __________________________
10. rroyoa __________________________
113
DAY
16 PIECES
AND PARTS:
MECHANICAL
TERMS
hen a vehicle, an appliance, or anything

W complicated breaks down or needs repairs, it’s never fun. And if
you’ve ever accompanied a family member or friend who has had to take some-
thing in for repairs—or if you’ve done it yourself—you know how frustrating it
can be to have a repair person rattle off a diagnosis and the solution when you
don’t understand a fifth of what’s being said. Well, in today’s lesson you’ll learn
some words that can help prevent that feeling of confusion and irritation. In
fact, if you learn enough, you may find that not only can you carry on a conver-
sation with repair people, but you can also learn to make a few suggestions and
ask all of the right questions. Being savvy in this area might even save you a few
bucks; you can figure out how to do your own repairs or know when you’re
being scammed and take your business elsewhere.
Please note that some of these words are technical and complicated terms,
so just the most basic definition is given. Feel free to learn more about them on
your own.
115
DEFINITIONS
alignment the proper adjustment of components for coordinated functioning;
positioning something for proper performance
[You’ll most likely hear this term in regard to your vehicle’s tires, although
your chiropractor might mention it as well. In both cases, it means the same
thing.]
alloy a mixture of metals, often a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable
one through fusion
calipers an instrument for measuring the internal or external dimensions of

objects; in vehicles, it is part of the disc brake assembly that straddles the disc
and presses the brake pads against it.
[Fun fact: this tool can also be used to measure body fat!]
camshaft an engine shaft that has one or more integral cams attached, espe-
cially one that operates the valves in a vehicle’s internal combustion engine
[And what’s a cam? Glad you asked. It’s a disk or cylinder designed so that
when it’s in motion, its parts create a rocking motion.]
coulomb a unit of electrical charge
differential in the automotive world, this refers to a drivetrain gear that con-
nects two shafts or axles and allows one to move faster than the other
farad a unit of electrical capacity
henry a unit of inductance
hertz a unit of frequency
ignition the means of starting an engine; a spark that ignites the fuel-air mix-
ture in an internal combustion engine
joule a unit of energy
Kelvin a unit of absolute temperature, named for an English physicist and

mathematician
ohm a unit of electrical resistance
pascal a unit of pressure
116
PIECES AND PART S: MECHANICAL TERMS
pinion a gear with a small number of teeth that typically engages with a rack,
as in a vehicle’s steering system
spoiler a device or airfoil used for controlling lift and drag, such as an aircraft
wing; in automotive lingo, a device for changing the airflow across a moving
vehicle, such as a fin or blade mounted on the front or rear
strut a long, rigid plank or board used to support a building

[Yes, it also means a pompous, arrogant way of walking.]
tachometer a device for measuring rotation speed (revolutions per minute),

often of a vehicle’s crankshaft
[It’s important to say it right too. It’s not tack-o-meter. It’s tack-OM-eter.]
tesla a unit of magnetic flux density
torque a rotating force, often referred to as the force generated by an internal

combustion engine to turn a vehicle’s driveshaft

Match the vocabulary word on the left with the type of unit it measures on the
right.
1. coulomb ______ a. magnetic flux destiny

2. farad ______ b. frequency
3. henry ______ c. pressure
4. hertz ______ d. electrical resistance
5. joule ______ e. electrical charge
6. Kelvin ______ f. inductance
7. ohm ______ g. energy
8. pascal ______ h. absolute temperature
9. tesla ______ i. electrical capacity
117

All the words in this puzzle are from the lesson. Look across, down, diagonally,
H E N R Y O L L A L N E
E C S R E P I L A C T L
L N P E T T I C O F E U
T O O T E G S H A U S O
C I I E N A M H Q K L J
H T L M P C S R E N A D
E I E O B M O L U O C F
R N R H A T V P O U I A
T G I C P I N I O N L R
Z I T A N S T R U T H A
L A I T N E R E F F I D
U R M O G E E A N C O N
alignment henry pinion

alloy hertz spoiler
calipers ignition strut
camshaft joule tachometer
coulomb Kelvin tesla
differential ohm torque
farad pascal

_____ 1. If your tires are out of alignment, they won’t function properly.
______________________________________________________
_____ 2. An alloy is a type of expensive metal.
______________________________________________________
118
PIECES AND PART S: MECHANICAL TERMS
_____ 3. A henry is a unit of frequency.
______________________________________________________
_____ 4. The ignition is an integral element in starting an engine.
______________________________________________________
_____ 5. The ohm was named after an English physicist and mathematician.
______________________________________________________
_____ 6. The pinion works with a rack.
______________________________________________________
_____ 7. The strut is used for measuring rotation speed in revolutions per
minute.
______________________________________________________
_____ 8. A spoiler is added to vehicles to help change the airflow pattern.
______________________________________________________
_____ 9. The pascal is a rotating force generated by an internal combustion

engine.
______________________________________________________
_____ 10. Calipers are used to measure the dimension of an object.
______________________________________________________
119

On the lines below, write a sentence using each one of the words in the box.
alignment differential strut

alloy ignition tachometer
calipers pinion torque
camshaft spoiler
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
120
DAY
17 PATRON OF
THE ARTS:
HUMANITIES
TERMS
ut on your shiny shoes, your best dress, or

P your top hat, because it’s time to become a patron of the arts. In this les-
son, you’ll learn some words you might hear in the theater, the opera, the ballet,
a poetry reading, an art gallery, a museum, a symphony, or any other classy
place you go. Just think how impressive you’ll sound when you can use these
terms with ease—and know what they mean. It’s sure to earn you a few extra
brownie points with friends, parents, relatives, or anyone else who attended the
event. Enjoy your trip into the humanities.
DEFINITIONS
abstract (visual art) of or pertaining to the formal aspect of art, with an empha-
sis on lines, colors, and forms, sometimes specifically applied to the nonrepre-
sentational (not trying to depict any clear or solid object) art styles of the
twentieth century
121
aesthetics (visual art) the outward appearance or the way something looks;
also known as the study of the rules and principles of art
allegory (literature, theater) a symbolic work in which the characters and

events are supposed to be understood as representing other things with a deeper
or more profound meaning; a symbolic narrative
archetype (literature, theater) an image or symbol that is used repeatedly; a

prototype
[Examples include familiar characters like the bad girl with a heart of
gold, the amusing sidekick, and the knight in shining armor.]
caricature (visual art) comic exaggeration or the art of creating one; a picture
that greatly exaggerates the peculiarities or oddness of a person
[You usually see caricaturists at fairs, festivals, and other outdoor settings.
They can draw quickly and have a knack for highlighting a person’s most obvi-
ous qualities.]
catharsis (literature, theater) an emotional release or psychological purging of

emotional tensions
[Also, a common term used in psychotherapy as a type of breakthrough.]
denouement (literature, theater) the final revelation in a drama, in which

everything becomes clear
[It’s when the detective turns to all of the other characters, points dramat-
ically at the killer, and says, “Here’s what happened.”]
epiphany (literature, theater) a sudden realization, intuitive perception, or

insight into the reality or meaning of something
hubris (literature, theater) pride or excessive ambition; overconfidence
lithography (visual art, literature) the process for making prints with a plate
matte (visual art) having a dull or lusterless surface; often used on metals,
paint, paper, or glass
melodrama (theater, music) a sensationalized dramatic work characterized by

using stereotyped characters with exaggerated emotions, language, and conflict;
also, a drama interspersed with music or spoken words with musical accompa-
niment
monochromatic (visual art) painted or created with only one color
122
PATRON OF THE ARTS: HUMANITIES TERMS
mosaic (visual art) a picture or decoration made with small colored pieces of
stone, glass, and/or other materials
omniscience (literature) the quality of having infinite knowledge
parody (music, literature, theater) a piece of writing or music that is a spoof

or satirical imitation of a serious literary work or composition
protagonist (literature, theater) the leading character or hero of a literary

work; in Greek drama, the lead actor, who plays not only the main role but
many other minor ones
soliloquy (theater) a monologue used in plays to allow the character’s

thoughts and ideas to be heard by the audience
symmetry (visual art, dance) beauty based on or characterized by excellence of

balanced proportions
tragicomedy (literature, theater) a play or other literary work that combines

both tragedy and comedy
[On television, this is sometimes referred to as dramedy.]
Read each sentence and choose the best vocabulary word to fill in each blank.
1. I don’t like reading books with a(n) __________________ point of view

because I don’t want to know everything that’s going through the charac-
ters’ minds.
2. Every mystery novel has a(n) ________________ when the clues start to
come together and make sense.
3. Have you noticed that characters tend to have a(n) _____________ when
they are in the most danger? Apparently, fear brings insight.
4. The ________________ of the story often gets so much attention that he

or she is full of ______________.
5. From what I understand, the _____________ process is a tedious one

involving plates and ink.
123
6. Personally, I think that a(n) _____________ artist would produce some

pretty boring and simple art, no matter what color was chosen.
7. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is well known for the ______________, in which

Hamlet asks himself (out loud, of course) if he’s doing the right thing
or not.
8. ______________ appeals to most people because it offers funny and sad

moments.
9. Whenever I read a story with a(n) _______________ in it, I tend to miss

the double meaning.
10. The _______________ finish on that piece of art just makes it look like
it’s dirty, in my opinion.

Read each group of words and circle the one that doesn’t fit.
1. catharsis, epiphany, monochromatic
2. parody, protagonist, caricature
3. matte, omniscience, abstract
4. archetype, symmetry, melodrama
5. mosaic, allegory, denouement
vocabulary words.
1. Whether in a book or on the stage, all eyes are on me. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
2. Everything about me is balanced in exactly the right proportions. What

am I?
__________________________________________________________
124
PATRON OF THE ARTS: HUMANITIES TERMS
3. I’m all about appearance and looks. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
4. I have the most over-the-top nasty villains, charming heroes, and dis-
tressed damsels. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. If you have a big nose, funny-shaped ears, crooked teeth, or crazy hair, you
can bet I’ll notice it right away. What am I?
__________________________________________________________

1. tbrctasa __________________________
2. uhirsb __________________________
3. rytcpahee __________________________
4. sihescteat __________________________
5. nsniiccoeem __________________________
6. csmaio __________________________
7. lyoalgre __________________________
8. cocromhnotami __________________________
9. lemormdaa __________________________
10. citrraaeuc __________________________
11. ntedeenoum __________________________
12. phtayhlogri __________________________
13. poadyr __________________________
14. ooulilsyq __________________________
15. acdoygmiert __________________________
125
DAY
18 IN THE
DOCTOR’S OFFICE:
MEDICAL TERMS
f there’s one place you want to make sure you

I understand every single word clearly, it’s in the doctor’s office. When it
comes to comprehending, this has to be one of the most important places. After
all, there’s a huge difference between benign and malignant, painless or painful,
trivial or life-threatening! In this lesson you’ll find generic medical words that
you might hear when going for a checkup or a report from a medical test.
Knowing the meanings of the words can help you better decide what treatment
to pursue, if any, as well as whether your reaction should be “Whew, what a
relief!” or “Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound too good.”
DEFINITIONS
abdominal having to do with the abdomen—the section of the body contain-
ing the stomach, intestines, and other organs
aerobic requiring the presence of oxygen or air, as in a type of exercise that
requires extra air to accomplish
[In other words, panting.]
127
allergen any substance such as pollen, grass, or dust that causes an allergy
[If it makes you sneeze, it probably qualifies.]
astigmatism a defect in the lens of the eye such that rays of light from an
external source don’t converge on a single focal point on the retina; often a
cause of blurred vision that requires glasses or contact lenses
cartilage strong elastic tissue in the body
contraindicated against the advisability of a certain remedy or treatment;

something that is inadvisable
[Too little sleep and too much socializing is contraindicated during finals
week.]
contusion an injury in which the subsurface tissue is injured but the skin is not
broken; a bruise
dyslexia an impaired ability to understand written language, usually marked

by spelling, reading, and writing problems
edema excess fluid built up within the tissue cells

[Got swollen ankles? That’s edema.]
epidermis the outer layer of the skin
frenulum the small membrane that connects the bottom of your tongue to the
bottom of your mouth
[You knew it had to have a name, right?]
ganglion a cluster of nerve cells or masses of gray matter in the brain, or a

swelling on a joint or tendon
[No, not a big, rowdy group of mean-looking lions.]
hematoma a mass of blood in the tissues, caused by a break in a blood vessel
keratin a fibrous protein that is the main component of hair and nails
[If you were an animal in the wild, it would make your feathers, hooves,
claws, and bills, too.]
malocclusion an undesirable positioning of teeth; irregular contact of oppos-

ing teeth in the upper and lower jaws
[It can also be defined as thousands of dollars spent on wires in the
mouth, i.e., braces.]
medial situated in the middle of the body
128
IN THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE: MEDICAL TERMS
prosthesis an artificial body part that replaces a missing or defective part
scoliosis the sideways curvature of the spine
synapses the gaps between nerve endings used to transmit signals from one to
another
uvula the V-shaped extension that hangs above the tongue at the entrance to
the throat
word fits best in the second set.
1. eye : astigmatism :: spine : ______________
2. throat : uvula :: tongue : _____________
3. brain : synapses :: teeth : ______________
4. water : edema :: blood : _______________
5. air : aerobic :: artificial : ______________
Read each question and circle the correct answer.
1. If you’re retaining water and your fingers are swollen, the doctor will most
likely diagnose
a. edema.
b. malocclusion.
c. dyslexia.
d. astigmatism.
2. If you fall down and hit your knee and it turns black and blue, you have
a(n)
a. allergen.
b. contusion.
c. epidermis.
d. prosthesis.
129
3. If you’re taking more than one medication at a time, your doctor may tell
you it’s
a. abdominal.
b. cartilage.
c. contraindicated.
d. medial.
4. Your gag reflex is often associated with your

a. frenulum.
b. keratin.
c. synapses.
d. uvula.
5. You might have back pain if you have

a. aerobic.
b. ganglion.
c. hematoma.
d. scoliosis.

On the lines below, write a story about visiting your doctor using at least ten of
the vocabulary words in this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of the
word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
130
IN THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE: MEDICAL TERMS
Read each clue and figure out which vocabulary word goes into each space in
the puzzle.
9 10
11
12 13
15
16 14 17 18
19
20
Across Down
4 Take a deep breath! 1 Time for braces
5 Ah-choo! 2 Tongue holder
7 A spinal curve 3 Best taken separately
12 Sending out signals 6 A nasty bruise
15 Too much water 8 A replacement
16 Inside the tissues 9 In the gray matter
19 Right in the middle 10 Reading trouble
20 Where are my glasses? 11 Look at those fingernails
13 Broken blood vessel
14 Your stomach
17 Gimme some skin
18 It’s shaped like a “V”
131
abdominal dyslexia malocclusion

aerobic edema medial
allergen epidermis prosthesis
astigmatism frenulum scoliosis
cartilage ganglion synapses
contraindicated hematoma uvula
contusion keratin
132
DAY
19 THE WORLD
WIDE WEB:
COMPUTER TERMS
kay, it’s time to admit it. Even though most

O of us can run our fingers across a keyboard at lightning speed, create
instant messages and e-mail in our sleep, surf the net like pros, and write
research papers on white, empty screens, the truth is that a lot of us have no idea
how we’re able to do this. Our computers are a mystery to us (evidenced by how
quickly we go into a meltdown when they don’t work right). We may use them
every single day and find it difficult to imagine life without them, but most of us
haven’t a clue as to how they really work.
Where is cyberspace anyway? When you hit the send button, where do
your words go—and how do they know how to get there? This lesson will at
least give you a working knowledge of some of the most basic computer terms.
Maybe they’ll help you figure out what to do the next time your computer
freezes or the Internet goes down. Maybe they’ll just make it easier to explain to
that person at tech support just what kind of technical problem you’re having.
Either way, good luck.
133
DEFINITIONS
bandwidth how much data you can send through a network or modem con-
nection, usually measured in bits per second
binary a two-digit numerical system used by computers to store data and per-
form functions
browser the program people use to access the web

[Not a window shopper. . . .]
cursor an arrow on the screen that indicates either where your mouse pointer
is or where the next character typed will be entered in a line of text
defragment to use a simple process that cleans up all of the fragmented pieces
of files left scattered on your computer’s hard drive; doing this will help your
computer work faster and smoother
domain a group of computers that can be accessed and administered with a

common set of rules
emoticons text-based faces and objects that represent the writer’s emotions,
commonly used in e-mails and online chatting
firewall limits the data that can get through and protects your computer from
damage by unauthorized users; can be hardware- or software-based
firmware a semipermanent software program or set of instructions pro-

grammed on a hardware device
font a style and size of computer type, including elements such as bold or
italics
gigabyte a unit of data storage that equals 2 to the 30th power; a common
measurement used with data storage
hypertext text that links to other information, such as a URL on a site that
takes you to another location
malware an abbreviated term for malicious software, including viruses, worms,

Trojan horses, and spyware, designed to damage a computer system
modem a shortened version of modulator/demodulator; an internal or exter-

nal communications device that allows one computer to connect with another
and send data over telephone lines
134
THE WORLD WIDE WEB: COMPUTER TERMS
netiquette good manners used on the Internet, such as respecting other peo-
ple’s privacy
server stores and shares information with all the computers that connect to it;
can be used to access programs, files, and other information
spam named after a famous meat-ish product, it refers to junk or unsolicited

e-mail or other meaningless postings
template a file that acts as a starting point for a new document; preformatted
tutorial an interactive software program used as a learning tool to learn new

skills in a step-by-step process
webmaster the person in charge of maintaining a website

_____ 1. A font is a typeface that can change size and style.
_____ 2. Firmware and malware are both types of software that should be
avoided.
_____ 3. Emoticons are ways of expressing emotion in casual computer com-

munications.
_____ 4. A template is a type of spam that many computer users delete.
_____ 5. The webmaster is the person in charge of maintaining a cursor.
_____ 6. The two-digit numerical system used by computers is referred to as

gigabyte.
_____ 7. To defragment is to clean the computer.
_____ 8. Hypertext is information that leads you from one site to another one.
_____ 9. Computers are protected from damage from other users through the
use of a tutorial.
_____ 10. Netiquette is good manners for computer users.

135

1. bandwidth _____ a. internal or external

2. browser communications device
3. domain _____ b. protective software
4. firewall _____ c. data in bits per second
5. modem _____ d. program for accessing the Web

_____ e. group of computers
Read each question and choose an appropriate answer from this lesson’s vocab-
ulary words.
1. I can be bold and use a variety of styles. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
2. I’m not nasty and I maintain privacy. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
3. I’m in charge of this website! What am I?

__________________________________________________________
4. I’m what you need to access programs, files, and other important data.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. No one wants me and I just end up in the deleted file every time. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
136
THE WORLD WIDE WEB: COMPUTER TERMS

All the vocabulary words are hidden in this puzzle. Look across, down, diago-
nally, or backward to find them.
R N L M M E D O M O G S I
E F A Q R E T S A M B E W
I I I W W N N D L C P M W
N R R B O T E B W U N O E
R E O F I R M W A R E T B
E W T L Q N G T R S T I U
S A U I E O A N E O A C W
W L T I Q Y R R I R L O E
O L G S T U F S Y A P N A
R T X E T R E P Y H M O D
B A N D W I D T H O E O R
A R G I G A B Y T E T E D
F E M A P S E R V E R C E
bandwidth firmware netiquette

binary firewall server
browser font spam
cursor gigabyte template
defragment hypertext tutorial
domain malware webmaster
emoticon modem
137
DAY
20 DOES IT TAKE
BATTERIES?
ELECTRONIC
TERMS
lectronics seem to be everywhere you look.

E It may seem like your family spends as much on double-A batteries as it
does on groceries. Everything either needs batteries or an electrical outlet these
days. Even books are being put on handheld machines that require button bat-
teries to run.
Here are some vocabulary terms used with various electronics. They may
seem very familiar to many of you—probably those who usually demand the
most batteries. To others, these will all be new, so get ready to learn (which
doesn’t take any batteries or electricity)!
DEFINITIONS
ampere the basic unit of current flow
amplitude the loudness of sound waves and electrical signals, measured in

either decibels or volts
139
attenuation the decrease of a signal’s amplitude over any distance during

transmission, measured in decibels
capacitor a pair of parallel plates that are separated by an insulator; stores an

electrical charge, does not pass direct current, and acts as an insulator
decibel the smallest variation of volume detectable by ear; measured on a log-

arithmic scale
distortion any modification of the phase relationship between two or more

signals that causes the observed waveform to differ from the original
filtering a process used to remove or accentuate specific frequency ranges of a

signal
frequency the rate at which an alternating current changes in a cyclic manner

from positive to negative and back again in a cycle, measured in hertz
insulator a material that prevents the passage of electricity, heat, or sound
laser acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation,

made with semiconductors
oscilloscope an electronic measurement tool that makes it possible to see a

waveform
quasi to some degree or manner, similar but not exact
quiescent being still or at rest; inactive, as in a current that is not amplifying a

signal but is still supplied with power
resistor an electrical device that impedes current flow regardless of frequency;

measures in ohms
resonance the natural frequency at which a physical body will oscillate
velocity speed of motion, rapidity
volt the basic unit of electromotive force
watt the basic unit of power
wavelength the length of one cycle of an AC signal
xenon a gas commonly used in flash tubes and high-density automotive head-
lamps
140
DOES IT TAKE BAT T ERIES? EL ECT RON IC T ERMS

Match each word on the left with its description on the right.
1. ampere _____ a. unit of power

2. velocity _____ b. unit of current flow
3. volt _____ c. unit of volume
4. decibel _____ d. unit of speed
5. watt _____ e. unit of force

_____ 1. A quiescent current is amplifying a signal but isn’t supplied with any
power.
________________________________________________________
_____ 2. The word laser is actually an acronym.
________________________________________________________
_____ 3. An insulator is material that helps to protect against elements such as

heat or electricity.
________________________________________________________
_____ 4. Attenuation is typically measured in wavelengths.
________________________________________________________
_____ 5. A decibel is an electronic measurement tool for viewing a waveform.
________________________________________________________
141

On the lines below, write sentences using at least five of the vocabulary words in
this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of the word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

1. mreepa __________________________
2. uditeaplm __________________________
3. ntutaeoitan __________________________
4. rcitopcaa __________________________
5. ieecdlb __________________________
6. tdnitoisro __________________________
7. liegitnrf __________________________
8. rueyeqcfn __________________________
9. ilaorsntu __________________________
10. rslea __________________________
11. solceosiopcl __________________________
12. aqius __________________________
13. tuieqnecs __________________________
142
DOES IT TAKE BAT T ERIES? EL ECT RON IC T ERMS
14. osrirset __________________________
15. nceesroan __________________________
16. cletyiov __________________________
17. tlov __________________________
18. twta __________________________
19. gvwalntehe __________________________
20. oxenn __________________________
143
DAY
21 THE RIGHT TIME

AND PLACE:
HISTORICAL
TERMS
istory tells us how the world got to where it

H is today so we can figure out where it’s going. Sometimes it seems like
history is just full of boring dates and tedious details, but history is actually sto-
ries of what’s gone before us. It’s full of joys and sorrows, victories and losses,
life and death, and a lot of interesting people.
In this lesson, you’ll find some of the most common historical terms from
past eras. Knowing what they mean won’t just help you understand your history
textbooks better, it may also help you better understand newspaper articles, par-
ticipate in current events conversations, and perhaps even appreciate those talk-
radio shows.
DEFINITIONS
abolitionist a person who advocated or supported the end of slavery in the
United States, typically prior to the Civil War
anarchy a society without government or law; political and social disorder
145
antebellum before or existing before the American Civil War
appeasement the act of yielding or conceding to the demands of a nation in an

effort for peace, sometimes at the expense of justice
archives public documents or records relating to the lives of a nation or its people
armistice a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring

parties; a truce
bourgeoisie the class that, according to Marxist theory, is mainly concerned

with property values and contrasted against the working class
caucus a meeting of party leaders to select candidates; a group organized to

further a special interest
chivalry the rules and customs of medieval knighthood; customs such as

honor, valor, and courtesy
doctrine a particular principle, position, or policy taught by a religion or

government
extradition the surrender of an alleged fugitive from justice by a state, nation,

or other authority
feudalism a political and economic system in Europe from the ninth to the fif-
teenth century, based on the belief that all land was held by lords and tenants
were servants
industrialization the introduction of industry into an area on a massive scale
mercantilism an economic system prevalent in eighteenth-century Europe that

focused on commercialism
nullification the failure or refusal of a state to aid in enforcement of federal laws
oligarchy a form of government in which all power is held by a few people;

government by the few
protectorate a time period in English history during the mid-seventeenth century
secession the withdrawal from the Union of 11 southern states in the period
1860–1861, which brought on the Civil War
suffrage the right to vote in a political election, especially associated with the
women’s right-to-vote movement
tariff an official list or table showing the duties or customs imposed by a gov-
ernment on imports and exports
146
THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE: HISTORICAL TERMS
Use a word from the box to complete each sentence.
abolitionists feudalism oligarchy suffrage

archives industrialization secession tariff
chivalry nullification
1. The people who agreed with President Lincoln’s opinions on slavery were
often referred to as ____________.
2. A(n) ____________ is a government controlled by only a handful of

people.
3. The historian searched the ____________ to find the newspaper articles

that described what had happened here 25 years ago.
4. ____________ is one of the reasons our country is dotted with landscapes

of factories today.
5. Perhaps one of the biggest periods in history of class distinction was dur-
ing the age of ____________.
6. When a gentleman opens a door for a lady, it is an act of ____________.
7. Putting a(n) ______________ on imported goods played havoc with the

price structure.
8. A pivotal time in America’s history was when the South insisted on

____________.
9. Women were (and still are) rightfully proud and pleased with the outcome
of their gender’s ____________ movement.
10. The concept of ____________, or canceling a law in a state, often comes

as a surprise to many people.
147

1. abolitionist, industrialization, antebellum
2. appeasement, armistice, protectorate
3. feudalism, bourgeoisie, extradition
4. caucus, mercantilism, tariff
5. chivalry, suffrage, anarchy

Read each statement and circle the correct answer.
1. If you found a diary that dated back to the antebellum days, that means it
was written
a. less than 15 years ago.
b. less than 50 years ago.
c. less than 100 years ago.
d. less than 175 years ago.
2. If the librarian has to find your requested resource in the archives, that
most likely indicates that she will
a. get it off the best-seller shelf.
b. find it with the new releases.
c. locate it shelved in storage.
d. preorder a copy.
3. When a government or religion declares a new policy, it’s referred to as a

a. caucus.
b. doctrine.
c. protectorate.
d. tariff.
4. Another word for chivalry would be

a. manners.
b. knighthood.
c. sexism.
d. ordinances.
148
THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE: HISTORICAL TERMS
5. A fugitive is focused on avoiding

a. appeasement.
b. extradition.
c. secession.
d. suffrage.
6. A dictator would probably be happiest in a(n)

a. anarchy.
b. doctrine.
c. suffrage.
d. oligarchy.
7. One of the historical events that created a great number of jobs within the
country was
a. armistice.
b. industrialization.
c. suffrage.
d. nullification.
8. The primary goal of the suffrage movement was to

a. end slavery across the nation.
b. make men and women equal.
c. change national elections.
d. give women the right to vote.
9. One of the earlier forms of corporate business was

a. doctrine.
b. protectorate.
c. mercantilism.
d. anarchy.
10. Rebels throughout history have advocated

a. anarchy.
b. suffrage.
c. oligarchy.
d. bourgeoisie.
149
Read each clue and place the correct vocabulary word in each space in the puzzle.
1 2
4 5 6
9 10
11
12
13
14 15
16
17
18
19
Across Down
1 I fight to put an end to slavery 2 I said everyone should be able to
3 I’d prefer government would vote
disappear 4 I believe in compromises and truces
5 I add costs to imports and exports 6 I’m rich or poor—and nothing in
9 I’m known as a policy between
11 I much prefer separation over unity 7 I govern with as few people as
14 I gather together to pick out a possible
candidate 8 I’m from seventeenth-century
15 I tell you of people and lives long England
ago 10 I’m amazingly polite at all times
17 I must surrender after all 12 I’m all about money and high class
18 I refuse on Constitutional grounds 13 I focused on opening small stores
19 I opened up countless numbers of 14 I just want to keep the peace
jobs 16 I started before the Civil War began
150
DAY
22 WHAT’S COOKIN’?
CULINARY TERMS
re you a whiz in the kitchen? Does everyone

A want to come to your house for dinner? Do you create your own
gourmet meals? If so, you may already be quite familiar with all the terms in this
lesson. But if you’re confused and frustrated when you pick up a cookbook and
the recipes ask you to do things you’ve never heard of, then this lesson should be
quite helpful. It presents some of the most common cooking terms and meth-
ods; the next time you pick up a cookbook, you’ll have a better idea of what
you’re attempting to do.
DEFINITIONS
baste to spoon or brush food as it cooks with some form of fat (butter, meat
drippings, oils) or stock; usually done in order to keep meat from drying out
blanch to plunge food into boiling water briefly and then into cold water to
stop further cooking; usually done to loosen skins (fruits and vegetables),
heighten color, or concentrate flavor
151
braise to briefly cook meat or vegetables in fat, then cook in a covered pot
with a small amount of liquid at low heat for a lengthy period of time; usually
done to tenderize food and develop flavors
cruciferous a group of vegetables that contain antioxidants and are high in

fiber, vitamins, and minerals, such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and
turnips
cuisine a French term that means “a specific style of cooking,” such as French
cuisine or Spanish cuisine; also used in haute cuisine, which means gourmet
food
dilute to reduce a mixture’s strength by adding liquid such as stock, juice, or

water
dredge to lightly coat food before it’s fried, usually with flour, cornmeal, or
bread crumbs
flambé French term that means flamed; to sprinkle foods with liquor and
ignite it right before serving
julienne to cut foods into very thin strips, often used with vegetables to create
an attractive garnish
marinate to soak food (usually meat or vegetables) in a seasoned liquid mix-

ture to absorb the flavors and spices; also used to tenderize meats
parboil to partially cook food by boiling it briefly in water, usually done with
very hard foods like carrots, which take longer to cook than others
poach to cook food gently in liquid just below the boiling point but hot
enough so the water’s surface begins to move; commonly stock, salted water,
and syrup are used, depending on the type of food
reconstitute to return a dehydrated food to its original consistency or texture

by adding a liquid, typically water
roux a mixture of flour and fat cooked slowly over low heat, then used to
thicken soups and sauces; typically the roux is white or brown, depending on
the type of fat used
score to make shallow cuts on the surface of food for decoration, flavor
absorption, tenderizing, or to allow fat to drain
152
WHAT ’S COOKIN’? CULINARY TERMS
sear to brown meat quickly over very high heat in a skillet or under a broiler;
usually done to seal in the meat’s juices
semifreddo an Italian term for half cold, it refers to chilled or partially frozen
desserts
skewer as a noun, it means a long, thin, pointed stick, usually made of metal or
wood and used to hold meat and vegetables in place while grilling; as a verb, to
use one of these sticks
unleavened baked goods that contain no agents that cause dough to rise, such
as baking powder, baking soda, or yeast.
zest the outermost skin layer of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes,
scraped off with a vegetable peeler or zester; used to flavor dishes or as a garnish
word fits best in the second set.
1. baste : brush :: soak : _____________
2. semifreddo : chilled :: ____________ : rehydrate
3. julienne : slice :: ____________ : coat
4. flambé : liquor :: knife : ___________
5. zest : skin :: stick : ____________
153
Read each question and write the appropriate answer from this lesson’s vocabu-
lary words.
1. You can’t get a rise out of me. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
2. You need to use a broiler or high heat with me. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
3. I do double duty as a noun and a verb. What am I?

__________________________________________________________
4. I’m a very healthy food for you to eat because some studies say I can fight
off cancer. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. Watch my temperature—I need to be almost boiling, but not quite. What

am I?
__________________________________________________________

1. isrbae __________________________
2. aflmeb __________________________
3. rbolaip __________________________
4. orxu __________________________
5. zste __________________________
6. seatb __________________________
7. cinuies __________________________
8. cnetusteroit __________________________
9. ocres __________________________
154
WHAT ’S COOKIN’? CULINARY TERMS
10. edfdseirom __________________________
11. atanerim __________________________
12. aesr __________________________
13. lednuevean __________________________
14. chnlba __________________________
15. edergd __________________________
16. esewkr __________________________
17. enuilnej __________________________
18. eutldi __________________________
19. pohca __________________________
20. suirrcofceu __________________________

Read each set of words below and circle the one that doesn’t fit. On the line
underneath, write why it doesn’t fit.
1. parboil, roux, blanch
__________________________________________________________
2. dilute, reconstitute, dredge
__________________________________________________________
3. zest, braise, sear
__________________________________________________________
4. roux, dredge, julienne
__________________________________________________________
5. flambé, zest, julienne
__________________________________________________________
155

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
156
DAY
23 IF YOU BUILD IT:

CONSTRUCTION
TERMS
t some point in your life, you may find that

A you’re either asked to help build something or you have to hire some-
one to do it for you. It may be new kitchen cabinets, an entertainment center, a
doghouse for your new pet, or one of a million other things. If you have a good
idea about basic construction terms, it’ll help you to better understand blue-
prints and plans, whether you’re working from them yourself or designers show
them to you for approval.
Have fun with these terms. They may even inspire you to try your hand at a
little construction and remodeling just to see how things turn out. Good luck!
DEFINITIONS
aggregate a mixture of sand and stone often used in concrete
amortization a payment plan by which a loan is reduced through monthly

payments of principal and interest (similar to a mortgage payment on a house)
157
appraisal an expert’s valuation of a property
balustrade the rail, posts, and vertical supports along the edge of a stairway or
elevated walkway
bedrock a subsurface layer of the earth’s soil that is suitable to support a structure
cantilever an overhang that usually doesn’t extend more than two feet
easement a formal contract that allows a party to use another party’s property
for a specific purpose
egress a means of exiting the house or building; egress windows are required
in every bedroom and basement and should measure at least 4 × 4
escrow the handling of funds or documents by a third party on behalf of the

buyer and/or seller
infiltration the passage of air from indoors to outdoors and vice versa; tends
to be associated with unwanted drafts or leaks from cracks, seams, or holes
laminating bonding together of two or more layers of material
oakum loose hemp or jute fiber that’s impregnated with tar or pitch and used
to caulk large seams or pack plumbing pipe joints
partition a wall that subdivides spaces within a building or room
rebar reinforcing bar; ribbed steel bars installed in a foundation’s concrete

walls to strengthen the concrete; often comes in different thicknesses and
strength
refrigerant a substance that remains a gas at low temperatures and pressure

and can be used to transfer heat, such as the Freon in air conditioners
shim a small piece of scrap lumber or shingle, often wedge shaped; used to
help force other pieces into position
soffit the area below eaves and overhangs
turnkey when the subcontractor provides all materials and labor for a job
underlayment a quarter-inch material placed over the subfloor plywood

sheeting and under finish coverings
veneer extremely thin sheets of wood or a thin slice of wood, brick, or stone
covering a framed wall
158
IF YOU BUILD IT: CONSTRUCTION TERMS

Match each word on the left with its definition on the right.
1. amortization _____ a. valuation

2. infiltration _____ b. overhang
3. cantilever _____ c. leaks
4. aggregate _____ d. sand and stone
5. appraisal _____ e. payment plan

_____ 1. A balustrade makes it safer to walk down a flight of stairs.
_____ 2. The process of laminating refers to using wedge-shaped shims.
_____ 3. Amortization requires regular payments of principal and interest.
_____ 4. A turnkey project is one in which one person provides all of the
materials and a second person provides all of the labor.
_____ 5. An easement requires the cooperation of two separate parties to be

successful.
Choose the best vocabulary word to fill each blank.
1. The ______________ on the house came out a lot higher than anyone
had expected.
2. I’m hoping they’ll put a _____________ between your office and mine so
I can get some privacy.
3. Our air conditioner isn’t working very well because it’s too low on
______________.
159
4. Grab a piece of ____________ and stick it in here to hold that frame in

position, would you?
5. The bank has set up our _________________ account for us so that we

don’t have to worry about handling the money.
6. The rush of air coming from under the door proves that we have a real
_____________ problem.
7. The architect has put in a new order for thicker and stronger
________________.
8. I made sure the blueprints had three methods of _______________ built

into the basement.
9. My mother always hangs on to the _________________ when she comes

down the stairs at night.
10. This entire __________ project is being done by John Chapman; he does
the work and brings all his own equipment and supplies.
160
IF YOU BUILD IT: CONSTRUCTION TERMS

All the vocabulary words are hidden in this puzzle. Look up, down, diagonally,
V R T B E D R O C K I L N L
E N N T R T U R N K E Y A T
N E A R E I G O O M R M U E
E S R C R A I U I Z I N E I
E C E A R T P H T N D E T E
R R G N I D S P A E U D I S
N O I T A Z I T R O M A T S
D W R I E O I L T A R R T E
N A F L R N A R L K I T E R
P N E E G Y O N I U A S I G
M I R V M N A N F M E U A E
E A S E M E N T N R M L G L
D S N R S O F F I T R A U I
E T A G E R G G A R A B E R
aggregate egress refrigerant

amortization escrow shim
appraisal infiltration soffit
balustrade laminating turnkey
bedrock oakum underlayment
cantilever partition veneer
easement rebar
161
DAY
24 ORDER IN
THE COURT:
LEGAL TERMS
ince it’s almost impossible to turn on your

S television today without running into a Law and Order rerun or similar
type of show, it’s helpful to have an idea of what all of those legal terms being
thrown around really mean. Who knows? It might even inspire you to pursue a
career in criminal justice. Following are some of the most basic legal terms used
in today’s courtrooms.
DEFINITIONS
alimony an allowance made by one spouse to the other for support during
and/or after a legal separation or divorce
arraignment the hearing in which a person charged with a crime goes before a
judge to plead either guilty or innocent
163
bankruptcy a federal system of statutes and courts that permits people and
businesses that are in debt or face potential ruin, to place their financial affairs
under the control of the bankruptcy court
continuance the postponement of the court proceedings in a case to a future

day
conviction the result of a criminal trial in which the defendant has been found
guilty of a crime
custody holding property under one’s control; law enforcement officials’ act of
holding an accused or convicted person, beginning with the arrest; also applies
to a court’s determination of which parent, relative, or other adult should have
control of and responsibility for a minor child (under 18)
delinquent (juvenile) a minor (usually under 18) who’s found guilty of a crime
and may not be sentenced as an adult
deposition the taking and reading of testimony by a witness under oath before
a court reporter in a place other than the courtroom before a trial
felony a crime sufficiently serious to be punishable by a term in prison or

death
garnishment the process of petitioning for and getting a court order directing
a person to hold funds owed to an individual who’s allegedly in debt to some-
one else, often after a legal judgment has been rendered
jurisdiction the authority given to a court to try cases and rule on legal matters
within a particular geographic area and/or over certain types of legal cases
mediation the attempt to settle a legal dispute through active participation of

a third party mediator who works to find points of agreement and make those
in conflict agree on a fair result
misdemeanor a lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or county jail time for
up to one year
perjury the crime of intentionally lying while duly sworn to tell the truth by a
notary public, court clerk, or other official
probation a chance to remain free instead of going to jail or prison, given to a

person convicted of a crime provided the person can behave well
restitution returning to the rightful owner property or money lost, sometimes

made part of a judgment in negligence and/or contracts cases
164
ORDER IN THE COURT: LEGAL TERMS
subpoena a court order for a witness to appear at a particular time and place
to testify and/or produce documents in his or her control
testimony oral evidence given under oath in answer to questions posed by

attorneys at trial or at a deposition
unconstitutional referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision,

or private contract that violates one or more provisions of the U.S. Constitution
writ a written order of a judge requiring specific action by the person to

whom the writ is directed

1. alimony, custody, felony
2. perjury, jurisdiction, testimony
3. conviction, bankruptcy, garnishment
4. arraignment, continuance, delinquent
5. felony, testimony, misdemeanor

Read each statement and circle the best answer.
1. Deciding the amount of alimony is part of the process of

a. going bankrupt.
b. getting divorced.
c. taking a deposition.
d. committing a felony.
2. Asking for a continuance is the same thing as asking for a

a. postponement.
b. better attorney.
c. lesser charge.
d. conviction.
165
3. A jurisdiction is a
a. type of attorney.
b. degree of crime.
c. strict garnishment.
d. geographical area.
4. Probation allows a person convicted of a crime to

a. go to the county jail.
b. ask for a lesser sentence.
c. go free with good behavior.
d. ask for a new trial.
5. Oral evidence in a trial is referred to as

a. a writ.
b. testimony.
c. mediation.
d. unconstitutional.

On the lines below, write a story about a courtroom experience using at least
five of the vocabulary words in this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of
the word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
166
ORDER IN THE COURT: LEGAL TERMS
Read each clue and figure out which vocabulary word fits in the puzzle.
22
4
3
3
4
5 6
6 7
10 11 12 9
13 14
15
16 17
18
19
Across Down
2 Lying under oath 1 Testimony under oath
4 Time in the county jail 3 Guilty!
9 Money for your ex-spouse 4 Finding a fair result
11 A judge puts it in writing 5 Paying it back
13 First time before a judge 6 Behave yourself or else
16 May we put this off for a while? 7 Punishable by time in federal
17 Legal authority in this specific prison
area 8 As in juvenile
18 Violating the Constitution 10 Completely out of money
19 Oral evidence under oath 12 Holding funds to pay a debt
14 A call to court
15 Who gets the kids?
167
DAY
25 BETWEEN
YOUR EARS:
PSYCHOLOGICAL
TERMS
ven though the brain is not all that large and

E we only use a small portion of it, it manages to achieve great things. It
holds all our knowledge, dreams, imaginings, and personalities. Unfortunately,
our brains—or rather, our minds—can also give us some problems now and
then, and that’s what this lesson is all about. It provides some of the most com-
mon psychological terms you might run into with your own behavior, the
behavior of those you know, or something you’ve read or will read in your text-
books. Understanding what each term means may help you figure out your own
quirks as well as those of your friends and family.
DEFINITIONS
addiction a condition in which the body requires a certain thing in order to
function without physical and psychological reactions to its absence; often the
result of tolerance and dependence
169
THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VOCABULARY?
biofeedback a self-regulating technique through which an individual gets vol-

untary control over nonconscious biological processes
bipolar describes a disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression

and mania/euphoria
catatonic characterized by marked motor abnormalities such as immobility/

stupor
cognition processes of knowing, including remembering and reasoning; also

the content of the processes, such as concepts and memories
[Known in less formal circles as thinking.]
consciousness a state of awareness of internal events and of the external envi-

ronment
delusion false or irrational beliefs maintained despite clear evidence to the

contrary
fixation a state in which a person remains attached to objects or activities

more appropriate for an earlier stage of development
hallucination false perception that occurs in the absence of objective stimulation
imprinting a primitive form of learning in which some infant animals physi-

cally follow and form an attachment to the first moving object they see and/or
hear
[Think of baby ducks following whatever moves first after they hatch.]
meditation an altered state of consciousness designed to enhance self-knowledge

and well-being through reduced self-awareness
neurotransmitters chemical messengers released from neurons that cross the

synapse from one neuron to another
obsessive-compulsive disorder a mental disorder (often referred to as OCD)

characterized by obsessions (repeating thoughts, images, or impulses that per-
sist despite efforts to suppress them) and compulsions (repetitive, purposeful
acts performed according to certain personal, internal rules)
[Think of the person who has to have all the books lined up on a shelf by
height and all the clothes in the closet hung up in categories—always!]
170
BETWEEN YO UR EARS: PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS
paranoid having unreasonable and unfounded thoughts of being persecuted

or harmed by others
[It’s a persistent “they’re out to get me” feeling.]
phobia a fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that’s excessive and

unreasonable, given the reality of the perceived threat
[Often there’s a prefix added to this word to indicate what the fear is of—
for example, arachnophobia is fear of spiders and agoraphobia is the fear of leav-
ing your house.]
repression the basic defense mechanism by which painful or guilt-producing

thoughts, feelings, or memories are excluded from conscious awareness
schizophrenia a severe form of psychopathology characterized by the break-

down of personality functioning, withdrawal from reality, emotional distor-
tions, and disturbed thought processes
stigma the negative reaction people have to an individual or others because of

some assumed inferiority or difference
transference the process by which a person in psychoanalysis attaches feelings

to a therapist formerly felt toward a significant person who played a part in a past
emotional conflict
unconscious the part of the psyche that stores repressed urges and primitive
impulses

1. delusion, biofeedback, hallucination
2. phobia, paranoid, addiction
3. bipolar, imprinting, obsessive-compulsive disorder
4. cognition, stigma, consciousness
5. transference, fixation, neurotransmitters
171

Read each statement and mark it T for true or F for false.
_____ 1. When a person isn’t even aware of painful feelings, it’s an example of
repression.
_____ 2. Paranoid is when a person has to keep touching or moving things

repeatedly in fear that something terrible will happen if he or she
doesn’t.
_____ 3. Extreme mood swings from excessive happiness to deep depression is

often diagnosed as a phobia.
_____ 4. Meditation could easily be recommended for a person who’s trying to

learn more about him- or herself.
_____ 5. A catatonic person is often dealing with an overabundance of energy.
Read each question, then write the appropriate word from this lesson’s vocabulary.
1. I’m important messengers in your brain. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m a fear that’s completely irrational but persistent. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m a condition that results from a physical dependence on a drug. What

am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I make it impossible for you to move. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I follow the first thing I see after I’m born. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
172
BETWEEN YO UR EARS: PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS
6. I’m the state of awareness you have whenever you’re awake. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
7. I can’t think of anything other than this one thing. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
8. I convince you to keep looking over your shoulder just in case we’re being
followed. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
9. I’m something you try to hide because it embarrasses you. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
10. I’m what happens when you put your feelings for someone else onto your
therapist. What am I?
__________________________________________________________

1. andoictdi __________________________
2. iodebaeckbf __________________________
3. tniiualclaonh __________________________
4. farctnneeser __________________________
5. siachzehinpro __________________________
6. nrotaiusesmnetrtr __________________________
7. ginoctnio __________________________
8. ctainctoa __________________________
9. rngipimnti __________________________
10. laorbpi __________________________
173
DAY
26 IT’S A SCIENCE:
SCIENTIFIC TERMS
t may be hard to believe, as you sit in yet another

I science class, that you’ll actually need the information you’re learning, but
it’s true. You’ll find that you need to call on it at the oddest moments of your
life—while you’re cooking something new in the kitchen or working on your
car in the garage. It might be when you’re looking up at the stars one night or
trying to figure out how to make your garden soil richer. Suddenly, that fact you
learned in your biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, anatomy, or other science
class will be needed. If you can recall and use it, you’ll impress others—and
probably even yourself.
The words in this lesson are a quick overview of some common scientific
terms. Clearly, each branch of science has its own entire vocabulary and to cover
them all here would be impossible.
Enjoy today’s science lesson.
175
DEFINITIONS
antioxidant any substance that inhibits oxidation, including vitamin E, vita-
min C, or beta carotene, and is thought to protect the body from the damaging
effects of oxidation
bacteria one-celled organisms that are involved in fermentation, putrefaction,

and infectious diseases
biodegradable capable of decaying or decomposing through the action of liv-

ing organisms, such as bacteria
chromosome a threadlike strand of DNA that contains the hereditary informa-

tion necessary for cell life
enzyme any one of the complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as
catalysts in specific biochemical reactions
equilibrium a state of rest or balance; referred to in chemistry as the state of a

chemical reaction that has equal forward and reverse actions, such that the
product doesn’t essentially change
friction the resistance that occurs when two objects rub together
genome a full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism
homeostasis the tendency for the conditions inside the body of an animal to
not change or alter even when outside environmental conditions change
hypotheses things not proven but assumed to be true for purposes of argu-
ment or further study or investigation
inertia a property of matter such that it remains at rest or motionless unless

acted on by an external force; a tendency not to move or change
meiosis the process that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive

cells
metabolism the processes by which a particular substance is handled by the

body
metamorphosis the series of change in shape and function that certain animals
go through as they develop from egg to adult
176
IT’S A SCIENCE: SCIENTIFIC TERMS
molecule the smallest particle of a substance having all the characteristics of

the substance
nucleus the central part of an atom that includes nearly all of the atomic mass
and consists of protons and usually neutrons
osmosis the passage of material though a membrane that won’t allow all kinds
of molecules to pass through
photosynthesis the process by which plants make food
recessive exhibited by the body only when the determining gene is homozy-
gous (which means having at least one gene pair that contains identical genes)
replication an act or process of copying or duplication

Match each word on the left with its description on the right.
1. equilibrium _____ a. change

2. metamorphosis _____ b. resistance
3. nucleus _____ c. duplication
4. biodegradable _____ d. balance
5. friction _____ e. center
6. replication _____ f. decomposable
7. hypotheses _____ g. nondominant
8. recessive _____ h. DNA strand
9. enzyme _____ i. unproven
10. chromosome _____ j. complex protein
177
Choose the vocabulary word from the box that best completes each sentence.
antioxidant friction metabolism recessive

bacteria hypotheses photosynthesis replication
biodegradable inertia
1. I take vitamins C and E every day for their __________ properties.
2. Right now there are two ________________, but eventually we’ll prove
one to be fact.
3. I have a very fast _______________ and it processes everything I eat

quickly.
4. My family tries to buy only ________________ products so as not to fill

up the landfills.
5. Plants depend completely on __________________ in order to grow.
6. Blue eyes is apparently a ____________ gene in our family
7. Almost all of today’s colds and flu come from some kind of
______________.
8. Rubbing my sock-covered feet across the carpeting created a lot of

_____________.
9. I tried to move, but _______________ kept me from going forward.
10. I wish _________________ was possible so that I could make a few more
of myself and then I could be in at least two places at one time!
178
IT’S A SCIENCE: SCIENTIFIC TERMS

On the lines below, write a story using at least five of the vocabulary words from
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

nally, and backward to find them.
L M I M S N I U I A P E O F A
S M E T A B O L I S M S R E I
M E S E N Z Y M E O M I E S R
U Q E B M A I E N O C H I I E
E U V I H A D E S T C O I S T
E I I O L A G I I M E M E O C
I L S D S I S O X I O E S H A
S I S E H T N Y S O T O H P B
S B E G S R E S I G I S E R Z
I R C R R E P L I C A T I O N
I I E A E N H M T S G A N M U
L U R D M I I T U E O S E A C
S M O A B I S S O I I I N T L
P A B B M P O S A P E S E E E
L M O L E C U L E I Y O S M U
G I I E M O S O M O R H C M S
antioxidant genome molecule

bacteria homeostasis nucleus
biodegradable hypotheses osmosis
chromosome inertia photosynthesis
enzyme meiosis recessive
equilibrium metabolism replication
friction metamorphosis
179
DAY
27 PEOPLE-WATCHING:
ANTHROPOLOGICAL
TERMS
ave you ever just sat and watched people—

H in a casually interested way, not in a stalker, worrisome kind of way? It
can be fascinating to observe hairstyles, clothing choices, and behavioral differ-
ences. (The bigger the city, the more bizarre this experience can be.)
Anthropologists are people who study other people as a career. Most of
them study cultures of the distant past, but there are some who keep an eye on
the most modern of us, too. Here are some terms anthropologists use in their
field. They’re words you should learn so when you’re people-watching, you’ll
know the words that apply to what you’re seeing. This will also make you appear
a little more professional and a little less like a stalker—just in case someone else
is people-watching you!
DEFINITIONS
acculturation culture change due to contact between cultures
affinal members of one’s relatives who are related through marriage
181
anthropocentric the idea that humans are the most important beings in the
universe
anthropology the study of humanity, often divided up into physical anthropol-

ogy, archaeology, ethnology, and anthropological linguistics
assimilation when one ethnic group absorbs another, so that the cultural traits
of the assimilated group become indistinguishable
deviance not following the norms of society
diffusion the spread of a cultural pattern from one culture to another where
no directed change agent is apparent
domestication human interference in the breeding patterns of plants and ani-

mals
ethnography description of a culture, usually based on the reports and

research of someone who participates and observes the lifestyle
genealogy a family tree of relationships traced through parents and children
gentrification the rehabilitation of a deteriorated neighborhood by new resi-

dents, with an overall increase in value
horticulture the science and art of growing flowers, fruits, vegetables, or orna-
mental plants
kinesics body, facial, hand, and arm movements that are used to communicate
matriarchy culture in which a mother figure and the women have authority
multiculturalism stressing the importance of different cultures, races, and eth-

nicities
paralanguage the use of accent, cadence, pitch, and tone to convey meaning
socialization the process by which culture is learned, also called enculturation
stereotype an idea that many people have about a thing or group, which may
be untrue or only partially true
subsistence the way by which a culture obtains its food
urbanization the process by which more and more people come to live in
cities
182
PEOPLE-WATCHING: ANTHROPOLOGICAL TERMS
Circle the vocabulary word that best completes the sentence.
1. When one culture affects the attitudes and behavior of another one, it’s
called
a. acculturation.
b. domestication.
c. assimilation.
d. multiculturalism.
2. Domestication is when humans interfere with the

a. class system of a culture.
b. reproduction of animals.
c. design of communities.
d. division of properties.
3. Another word for socialization is

a. deviance.
b. subsistence.
c. enculturation.
d. urbanization.
4. The study of humanity is known as

a. matriarchy.
b. genealogy.
c. diffusion.
d. anthropology.
5. The migration of people into the city is called

a. anthropocentric.
b. urbanization.
c. kinesics.
d. gentrification.
183

_____ 1. People who enjoy exploring their family heritage often go into
ethnography.
_______________________________________________________
_____ 2. Those interested in gentrification often purchase the worst house and
make drastic improvements.
_______________________________________________________
_____ 3. Women have a great deal of power in a matriarchy.
_______________________________________________________
_____ 4. Choosing not to follow your society’s general rules of behavior is com-
monly referred to as kinesics.
_______________________________________________________
_____ 5. Stereotypes are commonly based on completely accurate beliefs about

a type of person or group.
_______________________________________________________
184
PEOPLE-WATCHING: ANTHROPOLOGICAL TERMS
Read the question and then write the appropriate answer from this lesson’s
vocabulary words.
1. I’m the way people have learned to grow and find food. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m related to you but only through a marriage. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m positive that humans are the most important living creatures in the
universe. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m all the different ways to lend meaning to words, including the accent
and tone of voice. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I study the way a culture lives by becoming part of it and watching closely.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
185
Read each clue, then write the correct vocabulary word in the puzzle.
1 2
3S
T 4
5 E
E 6
7 O 8
9 T
Y 10
S 11 12
13
16
14 15 17
18
19
Across Down
1 moving into the city 2 one culture changing another
3 hunting for food 3 false perceptions
5 sprucing up the neighborhood 4 when cultures spread
7 how culture is learned 6 let’s communicate
10 quit interfering 8 the study of humans
11 one absorbs the other 9 humans are number one
13 focusing on the differences 12 the women are in charge
14 becoming a part of the culture to 16 phooey on society’s norms
learn 17 related through marriage
15 ways to convey meaning
18 using hand tools
19 researching the family tree
186
DAY
28 PLAY BALL!
SPORTS TERMS
ports are mighty popular in this country.

S Whether you’re sitting on the couch watching them with the remote in
hand, waiting on the sidelines cheering on your favorite player, or playing on
the field as one of the team, it’s important to know the different terms used.
Otherwise, you can’t know what the player’s done wrong—or right—or why the
crowd is cheering—or booing! Following are some terms from the nation’s
favorite sports.
DEFINITIONS
FOOTBALL
audible verbal commands shouted to teammates by the quarterback at the line

of scrimmage to change a play on short notice
encroachment when a player (besides the center) is in the neutral zone and
contact occurs prior to the snap; a foul punishable by a five-yard penalty
187
fumble when a ball carrier loses possession of the ball by dropping it or having
it knocked away before the play ends; the first player to regain possession of the
loose ball is said to make the recovery
interception a pass caught in the air by a defender whose team immediately

gains possession of the ball and becomes the offense
punt occurs when a player ten yards behind the center catches a snap, drops it,
and kicks it before it hits the ground
BASEBALL
bunt a short hit executed by letting the ball hit the bat (not swinging at it);
used to surprise fielders or advance a runner
doubleheader two games played back-to-back on the same day by the same
teams
homer a batted ball that flies in fair territory and allows a runner to round the
bases and score a run
slider a pitch that looks to a batter like a fastball, but breaks sharply when it
reaches the plate
switch-hitter a player who can bat left- or right-handed
BASKETBALL
dribble repeatedly bounce the ball with one hand; used to advance the ball or
keep control of it
free throw an unguarded shot from the foul line by a player who has been
fouled by an opposing player; worth one point
layup a shot taken by leaping up under the basket and using one hand to
bounce the ball off the backboard into the basket.
pivot a movement in which one foot must remain on the floor at all times
while moving the other to pass or shoot the ball
rebound when a player grabs a ball coming off the rim or backboard after a
shot
188
PLAY BALL! SPORTS TERMS
SOCCER
breakaway when an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended,
pitting the attacker against the goalkeeper in a one-to-one showdown
flick header a player’s use of his or her head to deflect the ball
hat trick three or more goals scored in a game by a single player
juggling keeping the ball in the air with any part of the body other than the
hands or arms; typically used for practice to develop coordination
shielding a technique used by a ball carrier to protect the ball from a defender;
the ball carrier keeps his or her body between the ball and the defender

Read each set of words and circle the one that doesn’t fit.
1. audible, bunt, fumble
2. dribble, pivot, punt
3. doubleheader, juggling, breakaway
4. homer, interception, slider
5. layup, rebound, hat trick
189
Read each question and write the best answer from this lesson’s vocabulary
words.
1. If you had the ball but dropped it before the play ended, I’m what you did.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. If you want to fool the fielders, I’m the best hit to use. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m a one-point shot that’s allowed when one player is fouled by another.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m a move that uses the head to hit the ball into another direction. What
am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m a skillful player because I’m ambidextrous when it comes to batting.

What am I?
__________________________________________________________

this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of each word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
190
PLAY BALL! SPORTS TERMS

1. eeehrduoldab __________________________
2. citthi-ehwtsr __________________________
3. wrakabeay __________________________
4. cemtnecoranh __________________________
5. eficelrk dha __________________________
6. erundbo __________________________
7. adbeilu __________________________
8. fow erhret __________________________
9. sdieinlhg __________________________
10. ietenicropnt __________________________
191
DAY
29 YOU DESIGN IT:

INTERIOR DESIGN
TERMS
s it time to update your kitchen? Want your

I bedroom to have an entirely different theme? It might be time to consult an
interior designer, or at least get a few books on the subject for do-it-yourself
projects.
The terms in today’s lesson are all about the world of interior design. You
may have heard them thrown around on television, in discussions between your
parents, or even from a friend who’s learning to create blueprints. By learning
the terms, you can follow the conversations and, in the process, maybe even
come up with a few ideas for what you’d like to do with your own room!
DEFINITIONS
alcove a recessed area in a room
ambient typically used in reference to lighting, it means light that provides

general illumination in a room rather than to specific areas
193
armoire a large, tall French cabinet that typically has one or two doors and
adjustable shelves instead of drawers, usually used as a wardrobe for storing
clothing or linens, as well as computers or entertainment equipment
bolster a cylindrical stuffed pillow
chifferobe a combination of a wardrobe and a bureau
cornice a decorative box attached directly to the wall or molding above a win-
dow opening to conceal the curtain fixtures
damask a heavy fabric of linen, cotton, silk, or rayon
duvet a French term for a blanket; in this country, usually a removable cover
for a down-filled comforter
ergonomics the science of designing and arranging things so that people inter-
act safely and efficiently with them
étagère a piece of furniture with a set of open shelves used for displaying
knickknacks or small breakables; sometimes includes lighting and/or a mirror
facade the face or front exterior of a building given special architectural

treatment
feng shui translated as wind-water, an ancient Chinese technique of designing

interiors to maximize comfort, harmony, and balance in order to achieve health
and prosperity
finial decorative hardware, wood, or metal ornament on the end of drapery

rods, newel posts, furnishings, and woodwork
lacquer a hard, protective high-sheen varnish often applied as a top coat to

furniture
niche a display shelf, seating area, or other small area recessed into the wall
patina a luster or sheen that develops on an object’s surface with use, wear, or
oxidation over time
settee a long seat or bench with a back and arms that can seat at least two
people
tapestry a highly decorative fabric with a woven design, often used as upholstery
torchiere a type of standing floor lamp with a reflector shade that throws indi-
rect light upward toward the ceiling
194
YO U DESIGN IT: INTERIOR DESIGN TERMS
valance a shallow, ornamental drapery treatment hung at the heading of a

window or canopy to conceal the hardware behind it
wainscoting an application of wood paneling up to the middle or lower half of

a wall

1. damask _____ a. pillow

2. duvet _____ b. fabric
3. feng shui _____ c. ornament
4. armoire _____ d. bench
5. bolster _____ e. Chinese
6. finial _____ f. varnish
7. lacquer _____ g. linen
8. tapestry _____ h. cabinet
9. settee _____ i. blanket
10. torchiere _____ j. lamp
Choose the best vocabulary word from the box to fit in each blank.
alcove cornice étagère patina wainscoting
1. That Americana shelf will look terrific in the ______________ in the

kitchen.
2. I’m planning to put my entire blown glass collection in my new

______________.
3. My grandmother’s bureau is so old it’s developed a deep, shiny

______________.
4. Putting ______________ all around the room gave it a truly colonial look.
5. The ______________ on the bathroom wall matches the décor perfectly.
195

Read each statement and circle the correct answer.
1. Ambient lighting illuminates

a. the entire room.
b. a small area.
c. the outdoors.
d. a gallery.
2. A settee is a piece of
a. fabric.
b. furniture.
c. hardware.
d. shelving.
3. A heavy fabric made of linen or cotton is

a. nylon.
b. tapestry.
c. damask.
d. silk.
4. A multipurpose French cabinet is a(n)

a. étagère.
b. torchiere.
c. valance.
d. armoire.
5. A duvet is the same thing as a

a. pillow.
b. blanket.
c. bureau.
d. lamp.
196
YO U DESIGN IT: INTERIOR DESIGN TERMS
6. The purpose of a torchiere is to

a. light up a room.
b. hold towels.
c. hide hardware.
d. fill up a corner.
7. To re-cover a chair, you might use

a. lacquer.
b. bolster.
c. tapestry.
d. patina.
8. Ergonomic design was created to make a home

a. quieter.
b. larger.
c. warmer.
d. safer.
9. The style of decorating that hopes to create harmony and balance is

a. ergonomic.
b. feng shui.
c. facade.
d. wainscoting.
10. A valance is usually found

a. over a window.
b. hanging on the wall.
c. in a closet.
d. sitting on a shelf.
197

nally, and backward to find them.
T I P V A L A N C E A E V
F L R O L M C R B E H A F
E R E R G O N O M I C S A
A R C P Y F R R T O F E C
S Y E A A E I E R E I E A
C E R I F T L N N E V R D
F N T F H O I G I T D U E
G N I T O C S N I A W V D
O H A N E H R E A P L E T
C Y A E U E F O O E M V I
E H C I N N R E T S L O B
N C T B E R E G A T E C A
E D A M A S K R T R T L B
I I L A C Q U E R Y E A I
alcove duvet niche

ambient ergonomics patina
armoire étagère settee
bolster facade tapestry
chifferobe feng shui torchiere
cornice finial valance
damask lacquer wainscoting
198
DAY
30 SCHOOL DAYS:
EDUCATIONAL
TERMS
ou’d think that after years in school, with the

Y potential of even more spent in college, you’d already know all the edu-
cational terms out there, but some words in today’s lesson may surprise you.
After all, you know education from a student’s point of view, and many of these
words are ones that teachers use. Some terms are the kind that professional test-
ing companies use when developing state and national tests for you to take.
Since you’re the one who has to pass these tests, it can be quite helpful to at least
understand the terminology that’s used in developing them.
So, whether you’re in school or out, this lesson will help you look at educa-
tion from the opposite side of the classroom. Enjoy.
DEFINITIONS
accommodations changes in the way tests are designed or administered to
respond to the special needs of students with disabilities and English-language
learners
199
accountability the idea that students, teachers, schools, or state departments of

education should be held responsible for improving student achievement and
should be rewarded for their success or penalized for the lack of it
alignment the degree to which assessments (exams/tests), curriculum, instruc-

tion, textbooks, and other instructional materials; teacher preparation and pro-
fessional development; and systems of accountability all reflect and reinforce
the educational program’s objectives and standards
assessment process of identifying strengths and needs to assist in educational

planning, including observation, record review, interviews, and tests
benchmarks a detailed description of a specific level of student achievement

expected at a given age, grade level, or developmental age; academic goals set for
each grade level
bilingual having the ability to speak two languages fluently; in education, it

describes a program for students whose first language is not English
curriculum the courses of study offered by a school or district
discrepancy the difference between two tests, such as between measures of a

child’s intellectual ability and academic achievement
enrichment additional course outside those required for graduation
immersion in the education world, a program that teaches children to speak,

read, and write in a second language by surrounding them with conversation
and instruction in that language
inclusion the practice of placing students with disabilities in regular class-

rooms, also referred to as mainstreaming
intervention programs for students who aren’t learning at grade level to help
them move up; may be taught during the regular class time or in before- or
after-school programs
manipulative describes three-dimensional teaching aids that teachers use to help

students with math concepts, such as counting beads, blocks, shapes, and rulers
modification changes in the delivery, content, or instructional level of a subject

or test to create a different standard for students with disabilities or English-
language learners
proficiency the mastery or ability to do something at grade level
200
SCHOOL DAYS: EDUCATIONAL TERMS
retention the practice of having a student repeat a grade level in school
rubric a grading or scoring system that describes levels of quality for each
criteria
tenure a system of due process and employment guarantee for teachers
tracking a common instructional practice of organizing students in groups

based on their academic skills
transition process of preparing kids to function in future environments and

emphasizing movement from one educational program to another
Choose a word from the box that best fits in each blank.
assessment discrepancy proficiency tenure

bilingual enrichment rubric tracking
curriculum manipulatives
1. Many classrooms offer _____________ education because of the large

influx of students from other countries in recent years.
2. Many students demonstrate their _______________ by acing their exams.
3. Learning math, especially fractions, is much easier for some students if

they’re able to use ______________.
4. When my teacher checked my test scores, she found that there was a
______________ in the score.
5. A number of extended essay questions are graded through a _____________

that assigns points depending on how complete the answer is.
6. _____________ classes are often offered for students who want to expand
their college portfolios.
7. Teachers are eager to get ____________ because it means job security.
8. The teachers have written an entirely new __________ this year and we
can’t wait to see the new textbooks.
201
9. For some students, timed examinations aren’t fair __________________

tools, as they don’t do well in this type of situation.
10. _____________ helps students at the same skill levels work together as
teams.
Activity 2: TRUE OF FALSE?

_____ 1. Immersion helps children learn how to speak a second language by

surrounding them with people who speak, read, and write that lan-
guage.
_____ 2. The programs that schools have for kids who are behind is called
inclusion.
_____ 3. When a student repeats the same grade, it is referred to as retention.
_____ 4. Another word for mainstreaming is alignment.
_____ 5. Moving students from school to a career or college is known as

transition.

this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of each word.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
202
SCHOOL DAYS: EDUCATIONAL TERMS
1. I’m the changes in the way examinations are designed to meet students’
special needs. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
2. I’m the exact levels that students are supposed to meet at each grade level.
What am I?
__________________________________________________________
3. I’m the mastery of a grade level. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
4. I’m what students study each year in school. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
5. I’m the difference between two separate measurements. What am I?
__________________________________________________________
203
POSTTEST: HOW MUCH D0

YOU KNOW NOW?
ead each question below and choose the best

R answer. As in the pretest, the test contains a word from each lesson. This
is where you prove how great this book has been for you, how it’s enriched and
improved your academic life as well as your financial and social life. So ace this
test and you’ll be a superstar. Go ahead—make yourself proud!
1. If you decide to boycott something, it means you’ll

a. buy more of it.
b. stop using it.
c. start selling it.
d. purchase stocks in it.
2. If you’re vacillating, you’re being

a. belligerent.
b. feisty.
c. indecisive.
d. winsome.
205
3. If you saunter to class, you’re moving

a. slowly.
b. angrily.
c. quickly.
d. calmly.
4. Someone who’s extremely grateful and keeps thanking you is being

a. laconic.
b. benign.
c. cursory.
d. effusive.
5. If you’d like to have two of something, you want a

a. pair.
b. pear.
c. pare.
d. payer.
6. A caustic comment is one that would most likely

a. make a person laugh.
b. confuse the listener.
c. hurt someone’s feelings.
d. clarify a question.
7. An author who publishes several books each year writes

a. pungently.
b. prolifically.
c. sardonically.
d. languidly.
8. Abashed means the same thing as

a. frightened.
b. exhausted.
c. bored.
d. ashamed.
206
POSTTEST: HOW MUCH DO YO U KNOW NOW?
9. Money that’s paid to a person at regular intervals over a period of time is

a(n)
a. algorithm.
b. annuity.
c. commodity.
d. deficit.
10. The sound an orchestra makes while tuning up describes

a. dissonance.
b. contralto.
c. allegro.
d. baroque.
11. It’s important to know that when someone assesses you, you’re being
a. reprimanded.
b. appreciated.
c. evaluated.
d. overlooked.
12. If you fail to pay on your loan when you’re supposed to, this is known as
a. compliance.
b. extension.
c. liability.
d. default.
13. In politics, a long speech to delay things is referred to as

a. gerrymandering.
b. filibuster.
c. impeachment.
d. ratification.
14. An anemometer measures

a. wind.
b. temperature.
c. barometric pressure.
d. precipitation.
207
15. Statistics about human populations are called

a. biospheres.
b. topography.
c. demographics.
d. reservoirs.
16. An alloy is a mixture of

a. liquids.
b. woods.
c. wires.
d. metals.
17. A character that shows up in many different pieces of literature is called

a(n)
a. archetype.
b. allegory.
c. caricature.
d. soliloquy.
18. To transfer signals from one nerve to another you need

a. frenulum.
b. synapses.
c. keratin.
d. cartilage.
19. The program that people use to access the Web is known as the
a. domain.
b. cursor.
c. browser.
d. firewall.
20. The level of noise is usually measured in

a. decibels.
b. volts.
c. watts.
d. wavelengths.
208
POSTTEST: HOW MUCH DO YO U KNOW NOW?
21. When a state impedes the enforcment of a federal law, this is known as
a. industrialization.
b. mercantilism.
c. nullification.
d. secession.
22. To blanch something means to

a. loosen its skin.
b. tenderize it.
c. cover it with oil.
d. brown it.
23. Money that’s handled by a third party for a buyer or seller is called
a. oakum.
b. escrow.
c. shim.
d. egress.
24. The money paid to an ex-spouse following a divorce is referred to as

a. bankruptcy.
b. arraignment.
c. custody.
d. alimony.
25. A person who’s totally unresponsive is

a. bipolar.
b. obsessive.
c. catatonic.
d. compulsive.
26. Another word for overall balance is

a. axon.
b. metabolism.
c. equilibrium.
d. fractal.
209
27. The movement of people from one area to another is called

a. anthropology.
b. migration.
c. socialization.
d. biodiversity.
28. Bouncing the ball up and down with one hand is known as
a. fielding.
b. juggling.
c. dribbling.
d. shielding.
29. A type of bureau is known as a(n)

a. armoire.
b. alcove.
c. duvet.
d. patina.
30. Learning tools that can be picked up and handled are referred to as
a. rubrics.
b. enrichments.
c. manipulatives.
d. vouchers.
210
ANSWERS
211
PRETEST: HOW MUCH

DO YOU KNOW?
1. b. Day 1: Faction means a group or clique. None of the other words are
similar in meaning.
2. c. Day 2: A garnish is a decoration; admonish and chastise mean to scold;
and redress means to reconsider.
3. d. Day 3: Winsome means attractive or pretty. The other three terms do
not have similar meanings.
4. a. Day 4: A laconic person is terse. The other three terms have no relation-
ship to the word.
5. b. Day 5: Although all of these words are pronounced the same because
they are homophones, the only correct spelling of the word for this def-
inition is idol.
6. d. Day 6: Nebulous means vague or unclear; therefore, it is confusing.
7. a. Day 7: The definition of the word is dishonorably. The other three
choices do not define the word correctly.
8. c. Day 8: The word is defined by choice c, disconsolate. Choices a, b, and d
are not necessarily qualities of a miserable person.
9. a. Day 9: Circumference is the correct definition. Choice b is the distance
across a circle and choices c and d are irrelevant.
10. c. Day 10: A maestro is defined as the conductor; choices a, b, and d are
not necessarily elements of a maestro.
11. d. Day 11: A C.V. is shown as a synonym for a resume. Choices a, b, and c
do not fit the definition.
213
12. c. Day 12: Disclaimers is the correct 20. a. Day 20: Xenon is the name of a gas
definition. Choices b, c, and d have only. It is not an alien, planet, or type
different meanings. of metal.
13. b. Day 13: An anarchist is shown as 21. a. Day 21: A synonym for armistice is
someone who wishes there was no peace. Although the other choices may
such thing as government, so he or accompany armistice, they are not
she would not want to see it synonyms for the term.
expanded, revered, or followed, but 22. c. Day 22: The definition of unleavened
rather, abolished. is bread that does not rise. The other
14. c. Day 14: Only inversion fits the defi- three choices are not part of the cor-
nition correctly. The other three rect definition.
terms are weather processes that 23. b. Day 23: The only choice that is defined
have different meanings. as bonding layers together is lami-
15. c. Day 15: Hemisphere is correct and is nating. The other three have differ-
clued by the prefix hemi-. The other ent meanings.
terms have different meanings. 24. d. Day 24: The definition of a writ is a
16. d. Day 16: A joule is a measurement of judge’s order. A fee, testimony, or ver-
energy. Other terms are used to dict do not fall under this definition.
define units of inductance, temper- 25. c. Day 25: A stigma is defined as some-
ature, and electricity. thing that is socially unacceptable.
17. b. Day 17: Only epiphany fits the defi- The other choices do not correctly
nition. Hubris is pride, melodrama define the word.
is extremely emotional drama, and 26. b. Day 26: The definition of antioxidant
omniscience is all-knowing. is that it might help fight off health
18. a. Day 18: Keratin in only found in fin- problems, specifically cancer. The
gernails. It is not an element in others are not mentioned within the
choices b, c, or d. definition.
19. c. Day 19: Spam refers to unwanted 27. d. Day 27: A matriarchy is defined as a
e-mails. The other terms have noth- system run by women. A clue can be
ing to do with this definition. found in the prefix matri-.
214
28. a. Day 28: The term switch-hitter is 30. a. Day 30: A bilingual person is able to
only found in the sport of baseball. speak in two different languages.
The other choices are all incorrect. The prefix bi- clues the number two
29. d. Day 29: Only a settee is a type of and lingual refers to language.
couch. Choices a and b are different
types of furniture and choice c is a
type of finish.
215
DAY 1: PERSON, PLACE,

OR THING? COMMONLY
USED NOUNS

R P H T T F R T P I R H C D A O
K R H A B I T A T I F O N O N R
H E R E T I C S P O A L L T P S
T S G R C C N O I T C A F D O A
M T B U H H P T T F S Y R O S T
N O I T A T R E S S I D O N Y E
A R H A R Y A L A I M C N B M I
I A T L L N G E L L I A A R P C
S T N C A R O O C O L D A P O O
N I I N T E R L O P E R S N S H
N O R E A C E R N O P P D A I L
L N Y M N D I F O R L I O N U O
C I B O I R S R C T M E R C M H
O T A N M T N P I E N M I M H C
M S L T D N S U N M U L A P L S
K I N D R E D T Y G I D O R P S
216
DAY 1: PERSON, PLACE, OR THING? COMMONLY USED NOUNS
Activity 2: WORD MATCH Activity 4: WORD MIX-UP

1. j 1. epoch
2. g 2. charlatan
3. f 3. dissertation
4. h 4. habitat
5. i 5. interloper
6. d
7. a Activity 5: TRUE OR FALSE?
8. c 1. True
9. e 2. False
10. b 3. True
4. False
Activity 3: PICK-A-WORD 5. False
1. alumnus
2. boycott
3. condiment
4. dissertation
5. epoch
6. faction
7. habitat
8. heretic
9. iconoclast
10. restoration
217
1 2 3
H H E R E T I C
A P
4 5
B N O F
6
I C O N O C L A S T
7
T M H C I
A E T N
8
T N P A C I F I S T
C O E
9
L N K R
A I L
10
R E S T O R A T I O N O
U D P
11
C H A R L A T A N R E
E E R
D
218
DAY 2: IT’S ALIVE!

VIVID, VIBRANT VERBS

1. d
2. f
3. r
4. c
5. t
6. j
7. m
8. e
9. o
10. q
11. a
12. s
13. h
14. p
15. b
16. l
17. n
18. g
19. k
20. i
219
Activity 2: YOU DECIDE Activity 4: WORD MIX-UP

1. a 1. admonish
2. c 2. garnish
3. d 3. inveigle
4. b 4. redress
5. b 5. vacillate
6. a
7. b Activity 5: PICK-A-WORD
8. b 1. capitulate
9. c 2. modulate
10. d 3. chastise
4. paraphrase
Activity 3: ANALOGIES 5. embody
1. accrue : dwindle :: vacillate : decisive 6. officiate
2. atrophy : strengthen :: beguile : ignore 7. redress
3. imbibe : refuse :: inveigle : offend 8. propagate
4. ostracize : embrace :: plagiarize : original 9. delineate
5. admonish : praise :: garnish : strip 10. disseminate
220
DAY 3: COMING CLOSE:

STUDYING SYNONYMS
Activity 1: THE SEARCH IS ON!

I S A I T U M O I R E T N U A S
N U U M O B G P L O I D M A I T
F O L O B U C O N V I V I A L R
I I A E I L U E A M E T N S A A
N C S C R R E K I A F E U U N I
I A S A C U A N E P E E S O R P
T N O E T O U G A P L A C E E S
E G L O A T U R E U N H U T H E
S U O N I D U T I R H C L U P P
I P C V I U R N R T G I E A A S
M B E L L I G E R E N T E E R G
A L E M V E O E N N M I L B A P
L G A R G A N T U A N E U I P C
U S M S U O R E K N A T N A C O
U I I A A A P M T C U E C T N G
G U N W I N S O M E L B A F F A
A L T A G I M T S S R I N U R L
221
Activity 2: WHAT AM I? Activity 4: CHOOSE-A-WORD

1. paraphernalia 1. a
2. winsome 2. b
3. cantankerous 3. c
4. convivial 4. d
5. colossal 5. d
Activity 3: GET CREATIVE Activity 5: TRUE OR FALSE?

There are no right or wrong answers for this 1. False
activity. However, you may wish to have a 2. True
family member, friend, or teacher review 3. False
your response and give feedback. 4. True
5. True
1 2 3 4
A C C O U T R E M E N T G D G
P R I A
5 6
P A R A P H E R N A L I A E M R
U U G I G
7
R B E L L I G E R E N T A N A
T C R U N
8 9
E H C M I T T
10
N R A O I O I U
A I F N N U V A
N T F V U S E N
11 12
C P U G N A C I O U S T
E D B V C R
I L I U A
13
N E A M B L E I
14
W I N S O M E L E P
U S
15 16
C O L O S S A L B E A U T E O U S E
17
C A N T A N K E R O U S
18
S A U N T E R
222
DAY 4: WHEN OPPOSITES

ATTRACT: AWESOME
ANTONYMS

1. d
2. q
3. f
4. o
5. p
6. m
7. l
8. e
9. r
10. c
11. t
12. b
13. g
14. h
15. i
16. j
17. k
18. s
19. n
20. a
223
Activity 2: PICK-A-WORD Activity 4: WORD MIX-UP

1. anomaly 1. jocund
2. cursory 2. placate
3. laconic; effusive 3. veracity
4. malevolent; maudlin 4. incarcerate
5. plethora 5. decorum
6. reprehensible
7. sporadic Activity 5: ANALOGIES
8. placates; decorum 1. vitriolic
9. veracity 2. sporadic
10. vitriolic 3. jocund
4. succinct
Activity 3: WHAT AM I? 5. cursory
1. benign
2. truculent
3. ostensible
4. laconic
5. decorum
224
DAY 5: WHAT’S THE

DIFFERENCE? HANDLING
HOMOPHONES
Activity 1: THIS ONE OR THAT?

1. allowed; band
2. billed
3. brows
4. discreet; cymbals
5. discussed; hoarse
6. either one
7. Idol; incite
8. lesson; mourning
9. pair; stationary
10. tract; verses
11. whether
12. whirled; wine

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. False
9. True
10. False
225
Activity 3: WORD MIX-UP 11. mourning

1. allowed 12. stationary
2. banned 13. weather
3. browse 14. whirled
4. cymbal 15. whine
5. discreet/discrete
6. disgust Activity 4: GET CREATIVE
7. gorilla There are no right or wrong answers for this
8. hoarse activity. However, you may wish to have a
9. idyll family member, friend, or teacher review
10. insight your response and give feedback.
Activity 5: HIDDEN HOMOPHONES
V E R S E S S N H D L O D I E R
R S E D D S O M O R N I N G T T
E R R I I S W V E R S U S N I C
N O R E S R A O H C D T B P R A
W H R E G N I N R U O M W D P R
E H L I U U I E O B D E E E S T
A D E A S D E L L I B K A T E O
I M T T T T A R S P C R T I N A
E Y E B H R A C I A A A H C I W
D U R A G E U T R L L I E N H T
K O C N I S R T I L L B R I W L
W I S N S T A T I O N A R Y S E
I W I E N W P R B W N L B O N E
A S D D I A O M U E E E V M W E
T L Y U R G Y R I D E R R I Y S
U L L E S S E N L E W G N Y D C
I D L H P B A N D D R E S E O S
226
DAY 6: MAKE IT REAL:

ADDING ADJECTIVES
1. affluent
2. caustic
3. flippant
4. lucrative
5. nebulous
1. b
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. a

There are no right or wrong answers for this activity. However, you may wish
to have a family member, friend, or teacher review your response and give
feedback.
1. caustic
2. flippant
3. haggard
4. pathological
5. utilitarian
227
1 2
L U C R A T I V E
N
3 4
M T M
5
R E P U G N A N T R U
C I N
6
H A G G A R D N D
B S A
R I N
7 8 9
D E S P I C A B L E
A G
10
U T I L I T A R I A N
I A
11
E T H E R E A L
16 13 14
C D N I H
15 12 17
A F F L U E N T C A D A V E R O U S
U L C N M
S I A O
T P D G
I P E E
18
C A N E B U L O U S N
N T E
19
D O G M A T I C O
U
S
228
DAY 7: MAKE IT
REAL—AGAIN: TIME
FOR ADVERBS

1. b
2. e
3. g
4. h
5. i
6. n
7. m
8. o
9. s
10. p
11. a
12. q
13. d
14. f
15. r
16. t
17. c
18. l
19. k
20. j
229
Activity 2: TRUE OR FALSE? Activity 4: WORD MIX-UP

1. True 1. adamantly
2. True 2. coherently
3. False 3. ignomiously
4. True 4. incorrigibly
5. False 5. insatiably
6. magnanimously
Activity 3: GET CREATIVE 7. opulently
There are no right or wrong answers for this 8. quiescently
activity. However, you may wish to have a 9. resiliently
family member, friend, or teacher review 10. solicitously
your response and give feedback.
1. adamantly
2. coherently
3. meticulously
4. inexplicably
5. languidly
230
DAY 8: HOW ARE YOU

FEELING TODAY?
EMOTIONAL TERMS
1 2
A B A S H E D
3 4 5 6
C N D P E T U L A N T
7
Q G C I E A
8
U S O S F W C
9
I T N C J A D E D I
E T O C T
10
S R E N A M O R E D U
11
C A N D I D S T R
E T O I N
12
N C R E D U L O U S O
T A U
13
Z T S
14
E B U L L I E N T
15
A A P A T H E T I C
L
16
O B E L L I C O S E
U
17
S E F F E R V E S C E N T
231
Activity 2: WHICH ONE DOES Activity 3: PICK-A-WORD

NOT BELONG? 1. acquiescent
1. ebullient 2. credulous
2. taciturn 3. facetious
3. vociferous 4. impotent
4. acquiescent 5. zealous
5. candid
S I E I S D E N O B I T W N C
D P E T U L A N T E D N E I N
I D S U O L A E Z L I E L D N
A E U S L V P L R L S T E N C
O H F S U O R E F I C O V T S
S S N F D O T W J C O P I S A
N A F T E I I D A O N M D E D
R B O A R R V T D S S I B I O
U A O T C I V N E E O U D C E
T E N A M O R E D C L N U J O
I O O N N T S D S L A N I O U
C A P A T H E T I C T F R U C
A P A C Q U I E S C E N T B T
T S G N A T N P O I C N W L T
C N E P S T L T I N A E T A V

1. abashed 6. facetious
2. credulous 7. petulant
3. ebullient 8. taciturn
4. effervescent 9. vociferous
5. lewd 10. zealous
232
DAY 9: JUST THE

FACTS, MA’AM:
MATHEMATICAL TERMS
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. c
5. c
6. b
7. d
8. a
9. b
10. d

1. annuity
2. commodity
3. equation
4. denominator
5. fiscal
1. algebra
2. denominator
3. recession
4. perpendicular
5. aggregate
233

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
234
DAY 10: NAME THAT TUNE:

MUSICAL TERMS

1. h
2. j
3. f
4. d
5. i
6. b
7. g
8. e
9. c
10. a

feedback.
1. dissonant
2. monotone
3. interlude
4. recital
5. unison
235
R E O A O C U N I S O N T
S L N O M O N O T O N E F
O M A O L N R C E E D O T
E O T R N T T T D U M O U
R R O G S R A U L R R P N
U N N E R A R R V C P C O
T E A L L L E N H E L I Y
R M L L O T T E S L A F G
E C N A N O S S I D T U E
V R V I R T U O S O I G L
O Y B A R O Q U E E C U E
L E D A N E R E S O E E R
O R E P E S I R P E R O T

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
236
DAY 11: ON THE HUNT:

JOB SEARCH TERMS
1. a
2. d
3. b
4. c
5. a
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. d
10. a
1. overqualified
2. recruiter
3. occupational
4. application
5. assessment

feedback.
237
1 2 3
A C C O M P L I S H M E N T
P O E
P M G
4 5
L P D O W
6
I E I P O R T F O L I O
C N V I R
7
A S S E S S M E N T A K
T A R T A
I T S I H
8 9
O I R I P R O M O T I O N
10
N O M E N T O R N L
N C Y I
R C
U
11
R E S I G N A T I O N
T
12 13
R E S U M E F R E E L A N C E
R
14
N E T W O R K I N G
238
DAY 12: SIGN ON

THE DOTTED LINE:
CONTRACT TERMS
1. addendum
2. collateral
3. devaluation
4. extension
5. liquidate

1. arbitration
2. variable
3. beneficiary
4. compliance
5. subcontracting
6. default
7. disclaimers
8. refinance
9. overhead
10. insolvency

1. equity
2. leverage
3. liability
4. notarization
5. revenue
239

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. False
240
DAY 13: POLITICS

ON PARADE:
POLITICAL TERMS

1. j
2. g
3. a
4. i
5. b
6. d
7. c
8. e
9. f
10. h
1. bureaucracy
2. impeachment
3. privatize
4. ratification
5. subsidy
241
Activity 3: WORD SEARCH
F G G N I R E D N A M Y R R E G
Z S B O T I N D E L E G A T E E
N A T I O N A L I S M T I S U Z
S M I T S M S I L A I C O S N I
O E P A N A I M C F M N R A M T
V N R Z T R T R I A P T I D A A
E D O I T N R C A O E R R U G V
R M P L Y C A R C U A E R U B I
E E A A Y T P C S T C T I E P R
I N G B I N I U R T H S O R R P
G T A O D I B E Y E M U A U C R
N A N L B S B R I T E B I E Q C
E E D G I I A I T R N I A S C V
S U A D L N I I T G T L G L E Y
C R Y A N A N A R C H I S T R N
R N A Y A Y I V T A T F O O A B

1. False, nationalism
2. False, anarchist
3. True
4. True
5. False, subsidy
242
DAY 14: THE WEATHER

REPORT: METEOROLOGICAL
TERMS
1 2
A D V E C T I O N
3
N E A T M O S P H E R E
4
E L B
5
M S C A
6 7
O C L I M A T O L O G Y I R
8
M U N N F O
E S D V A M
9
T D I V E R G E N C E H E
10
E D N R R T
11
R O S M S E E
12 13
O L E V A P O R A T I O N R
14
Z D T C O H I
O R I R N E S
15
C O N D U C T I O N O I O
E M N B T T
16
S T R O U G H H
R E
S R
17
P E R M A F R O S T M
243
Activity 2: PICK-A-WORD Activity 3: WHAT AM I?

1. divergence 1. advection
2. Permafrost 2. condensation
3. evaporation 3. doldrums
4. climatology 4. evaporation
5. conduction 5. macroburst
6. advection
7. inversion Activity 4: GET CREATIVE
8. condensation There are no right or wrong answers for this
9. atmosphere activity. However, you may wish to have a
10. isotherm family member, friend, or teacher review
your response and give feedback.
244
DAY 15: WHERE IN

THE WORLD?
GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS

1. isthmus—the first and last words are about storing water; an isthmus is a
piece of land connecting other lands together.
2. perihelion—an epicenter and a zenith are focal points; a perihelion is a
spot closest to the sun.
3. arroyo—the first two are imaginary lines on the globe; the arroyo is a dry
ditch.
4. biosphere—the other two terms refer to areas that hold and deal with
water; the biosphere is the planet as a whole.
5. archipelago—the equinox is equal parts night and day and the meridian is
equal parts of the earth; the archipelago is a chain of islands.
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. d
1. biosphere
2. epicenter
3. watershed
4. meridian
5. erosion
245

1. aquifer
2. reservoir
3. meridian
4. biosphere
5. latitude
6. watershed
7. erosion
8. hemisphere
9. karst
10. arroyo
246
DAY 16: PIECES AND

PARTS: MECHANICAL
TERMS

1. e
2. i
3. f
4. b
5. g
6. h
7. d
8. c
9. a
247
H E N R Y O L L A L N E
E C S R E P I L A C T L
L N P E T T I C O F E U
T O O T E G S H A U S O
C I I E N A M H Q K L J
H T L M P C S R E N A D
E I E O B M O L U O C F
R N R H A T V P O U I A
T G I C P I N I O N L R
Z I T A N S T R U T H A
L A I T N E R E F F I D
U R M O G E E A N C O N
Activity 3: TRUE OR FALSE? Activity 4: GET CREATIVE

1. True There are no right or wrong answers for this
2. False, a mixture of metals activity. However, you may wish to have a
3. False, hertz family member, friend, or teacher review
4. True your response and give feedback.
5. False, Kelvin
6. True
7. False, tachometer
8. True
9. False, torque
10. True
248
DAY 17: PATRON OF THE

ARTS: HUMANITIES TERMS
1. omniscient
2. denouement
3. epiphany
4. protagonist, hubris
5. lithography
6. monochromatic
7. soliloquy
8. Tragicomedy
9. allegory
10. matte

1. monochromatic
2. protagonist
3. omniscience
4. symmetry
5. mosaic
1. protagonist
2. symmetry
3. aesthetics
4. melodrama
5. caricature
249

1. abstract
2. hubris
3. archetype
4. aesthetics
5. omniscience
6. mosaic
7. allegory
8. monochromatic
9. melodrama
10. caricature
11. denouement
12. lithography
13. parody
14. soliloquy
15. tragicomedy
250
DAY 18: IN THE DOCTOR’S

OFFICE: MEDICAL TERMS
1. scoliosis
2. frenulum
3. malocclusion
4. hematoma
5. prosthesis
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. d

feedback.
251
1
M
A
L
2
O F
4
A E R O B I C R
3
C C E
5
O A L L E R G E N
6
N C U U
7
T S C O L I O S I S L
8
R P N I U
9 10
A R G T D O M
11
I K O A U Y N
12 13
N E S Y N A P S E S H
D R T G I L E
15
I A H L O E D E M A
16 14 17 18
C A R T I L A G E I N X A E U
A I B S O I T P V
T N D I N A O I U
19
E O S M E D I A L
D M A E A
I R
N M
20
A A S T I G M A T I S M
L S
252
DAY 19: THE WORLD WIDE

WEB: COMPUTER TERMS

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. True

1. c
2. d
3. e
4. b
5. a
1. font
2. netiquette
3. webmaster
4. server
5. spam
253
R N L M M E D O M O G S I
E F A Q R E T S A M B E W
I I I W W N N D L C P M W
N R R B O T E B W U N O E
R E O F I R M W A R E T B
E W T L Q N G T R S T I U
S A U I E O A N E O A C W
W L T I Q Y R R I R L O E
O L G S T U F S Y A P N A
R T X E T R E P Y H M O D
B A N D W I D T H O E O R
A R G I G A B Y T E T E D
F E M A P S E R V E R C E
254
DAY 20: DOES IT

TAKE BATTERIES?
ELECTRONIC TERMS

1. b
2. d
3. e
4. c
5. a

1. False, not amplified and is supplied
2. True
3. True
4. False, decibels
5. False, an oscilloscope

feedback.
255

1. ampere
2. amplitude
3. attenuation
4. capacitor
5. decibel
6. distortion
7. filtering
8. frequency
9. insulator
10. laser
11. oscilloscope
12. quasi
13. quiescent
14. resistor
15. resonance
16. velocity
17. volt
18. watt
19. wavelength
20. xenon
256
DAY 21: THE RIGHT

TIME AND PLACE:
HISTORICAL TERMS
1. abolitionists
2. oligarchy
3. archives
4. Industrialization
5. feudalism
6. chivalry
7. tariff
8. secession
9. suffrage
10. nullification

1. industrialization
2. protectorate
3. extradition
4. caucus
5. anarchy
257

1. d
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. d
7. b
8. d
9. c
10. a
1 2
A B O L I T I O N I S T
U
3
A N A R C H Y F
P F
4 5 6
A P T A R I F F
7
R E O A E
8
M A P L G U
9 10
I S R I E D O C T R I N E
11
S E C E S S I O N G A H
12
T M T A B L I
13
I E E R O I V M
14 15
C N C C A U C U S A R C H I V E S
E T T H R M L R
16
A O Y G R C
N R E Y A
17
E X T R A D I T I O N N
E T I T
B E S I
18
E N U L L I F I C A T I O N L
L E I
L S
19
I N D U S T R I A L I Z A T I O N M
M
258
DAY 22: WHAT’S COOKIN’?

CULINARY TERMS
1. marinade
2. reconstitute
3. dredge
4. score
5. skewer
1. unleavened
2. sear
3. skewer
4. cruciferous
5. parboil
259
Activity 3: WORD MIX-UP Activity 4: WHICH ONE DOES

1. braise NOT BELONG?
2. flambé 1. roux; the other two are about putting
3. parboil food into boiling water
4. roux 2. dredge; the other two are about adding
5. zest water to a substance
6. baste 3. zest; the other two are about using high
7. cuisine heat for cooking
8. reconstitute 4. julienne; the other two use flour
9. score 5. flambé; the other two are prepared as
10. semifreddo garnishes
11. marinate
12. sear Activity 5: GET CREATIVE
13. unleavened There are no right or wrong answers for this
14. blanch activity. However, you may wish to have a
15. dredge family member, friend, or teacher review
16. skewer your response and give feedback.
17. julienne
18. dilute
19. poach
20. cruciferous
260
DAY 23: IF YOU BUILD IT:

CONSTRUCTION TERMS

1. e
2. c
3. b
4. d
5. a

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
1. appraisal
2. partition
3. refrigerant
4. shim
5. escrow
6. infiltration
7. rebar
8. egress
9. balustrade
10. turnkey
261
V R T B E D R O C K I L N L
E N N T R T U R N K E Y A T
N E A R E I G O O M R M U E
E S R C R A I U I Z I N E I
E C E A R T P H T N D E T E
R R G N I D S P A E U D I S
N O I T A Z I T R O M A T S
D W R I E O I L T A R R T E
N A F L R N A R L K I T E R
P N E E G Y O N I U A S I G
M I R V M N A N F M E U A E
E A S E M E N T N R M L G L
D S N R S O F F I T R A U I
E T A G E R G G A R A B E R
262
DAY 24: ORDER IN THE

COURT: LEGAL TERMS

1. felony
2. jurisdiction
3. conviction
4. delinquent
5. testimony

1. b
2. a
3. d
4. c
5. b

feedback.
263
1
D
2
P E R J U R Y
P
4
3
O C
3
4
M I S D E M E A N O R
E I N
8
D T V D
I I I E
5 66 7
R A O P C F L
E T N R T E I
10 11 12 9
B S W R I T G O I A L I M O N Y
A T O A B O O Q
13 14
N I N A R R A I G N M E N T U S
K T N T Y E U
R U I I N B
U T S O T P
P I H N O
15
T O M C E
16 17
C O N T I N U A N C E J U R I S D I C T I O N
Y N S A
18
U N C O N S T I T U T I O N A L
O
D
19
T E S T I M O N Y
264
DAY 25: BETWEEN

YOUR EARS:
PSYCHOLOGICAL TERMS

1. biofeedback
2. addiction
3. imprinting
4. stigma
5. neurotransmitters

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False
2. phobia
3. addiction
4. catatonic
5. imprinting
6. cognition
7. fixation
8. paranoid
9. stigma
10. transference
265

1. addiction
2. biofeedback
3. hallucination
4. transference
5. schizophrenia
7. cognition
8. catatonic
9. imprinting
10. bipolar
266
DAY 26: IT’S A SCIENCE:

SCIENTIFIC TERMS

1. d
2. a
3. e
4. f
5. b
6. c
7. i
8. g
9. j
10. h
1. antioxidant
2. hypotheses
3. metabolism
4. biodegradable
5. photosynthesis
6. recessive
7. bacteria
8. friction
9. inertia
10. replication
267

There are no right or wrong answers for this activity. However, you may wish to have a family
member, friend, or teacher review your response and give feedback.
L M I M S N I U I A P E O F A
S M E T A B O L I S M S R E I
M E S E N Z Y M E O M I E S R
U Q E B M A I E N O C H I I E
E U V I H A D E S T C O I S T
E I I O L A G I I M E M E O C
I L S D S I S O X I O E S H A
S I S E H T N Y S O T O H P B
S B E G S R E S I G I S E R Z
I R C R R E P L I C A T I O N
I I E A E N H M T S G A N M U
L U R D M I I T U E O S E A C
S M O A B I S S O I I I N T L
P A B B M P O S A P E S E E E
L M O L E C U L E I Y O S M U
G I I E M O S O M O R H C M S
268
DAY 27:
PEOPLE-WATCHING:
ANTHROPOLOGICAL TERMS
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b

1. False; genealogy, not ethnography
2. True
3. True
4. False; deviance, not kinesics
5. False; inaccurate, not accurate
1. subsistence
2. affinal
3. anthropocentric
4. kinesics
5. ethnography
269
1 2
U R B A N I Z A T I O N
3
S U B S I S T E N C E C
4
T C D
5
G E N T R I F I C A T I O N U I
R L F
6
E K T F
7 8
S O C I A L I Z A T I O N U U
9
A T N N R S
10
N Y T E D O M E S T I C A T I O N
T P H S T O
H E R I I N
11 12
R S O C A S S I M I L A T I O N
O P S A N
P O T
13
O M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M
16
C O I D
14 15 17
E T H N O G R A P H Y P A R A L A N G U A G E
N Y R F V
18
T H O R T I C U L T U R E F I
R H I A
19
I G E N E A L O G Y N N
C A C
L E
270
DAY 28: PLAY BALL!

SPORTS TERMS

1. bunt
2. punt
3. doubleheader
4. interception
5. hat trick
1. fumble
2. bunt
3. free throw
4. flick header
5. switch-hitter

feedback.
271

1. doubleheader
2. switch-hitter
3. breakaway
4. encroachment
5. flick header
6. rebound
7. audible
8. free throw
9. shielding
10. interception
272
DAY 29: YOU DESIGN IT:

INTERIOR DESIGN TERMS

1. g
2. i
3. e
4. h
5. a
6. c
7. f
8. b
9. d
10. j
1. alcove
2. étagère
3. patina
4. wainscoting
5. cornice
273

1. a
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. a
7. c
8. d
9. b
10. a
T I P V A L A N C E A E V
F L R O L M C R B E H A F
E R E R G O N O M I C S A
A R C P Y F R R T O F E C
S Y E A A E I E R E I E A
C E R I F T L N N E V R D
F N T F H O I G I T D U E
G N I T O C S N I A W V D
O H A N E H R E A P L E T
C Y A E U E F O O E M V I
E H C I N N R E T S L O B
N C T B E R E G A T E C A
E D A M A S K R T R T L B
I I L A C Q U E R Y E A I
274
DAY 30: SCHOOL DAYS:

EDUCATIONAL TERMS
1. bilingual
2. proficiency
3. manipulatives
4. discrepancy
5. rubric
6. Enrichment
7. tenure
8. curriculum
9. assessment
10. Tracking

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True

feedback.
275
1. accommodations
2. benchmarks
3. proficiency
4. curriculum
5. discrepancy
276
POSTTEST: HOW MUCH DID

YOU LEARN?
1. b. Day 1: To boycott something is to stop using it.

2. c. Day 2: Vacillating means to go back and forth between two or more
options because you are indecisive.
3. a. Day 3: The definition of saunter is found only in choice a.
4. d. Day 4: To be effusive is to be extremely or repeatedly grateful.
5. a. Day 5: Only choice a is spelled correctly for the definition provided.
6. c. Day 6: Caustic means hurtful or abrasive, as in choice c.
7. b. Day 7: The only option that fits the definition is choice b, prolifically.
8. d. Day 8: The word abashed means embarrassed or ashamed.
9. b. Day 9: The correct answer is annuity.
10. a. Day 10: Choices b and c refer to a voice, not instruments. Choice d is a
style of music. Only choice a, dissonance, is correct.
11. c. Day 11: Assessed refers to evaluated. It does not necessarily include
reprimanding or appreciation, although it is possible. Overlooked is
almost an antonym.
12. d. Day 12: Only default means failure to pay.
13. b. Day 13: Only a filibuster is a delaying speech.
14. a. Day 14: The only element an anemometer measures is wind.
15. c. Day 15: The correct option is choice c and is clued by the suffix -graphics,
which often refers to statistics.
16. d. Day 16: An alloy is defined as a mix of metals.
17. a. Day 17: Choices b and d have nothing to do with a character. Choice c is
an exaggeration of a character. The only option that fits the description is
choice a, archetype.
277
18. b. Day 18: Choice b, synapses, is the 25. c. Day 25: The only word that defines
correct answer. Choice a is a body unresponsive is catatonic.
part, choice c is only found in finger- 26. c. Day 26: The only word that is synony-
nails, and choice d is a type of tissue. mous with balance is equilibrium.
19. c. Day 19: Choice a is not a user pro- 27. b. Day 27: Only migration fits the
gram, choice b is a pointer on the description. Choice a is the study of
screen, and choice d is virus protec- people, choice c is the interaction of
tion. They do not fit the description. people, and choice d describes differ-
20. a. Day 20: Only decibels is correct as ences in people’s environments.
choices b, c, and d measure elements 28. c. Day 28: The only word that describes
that do not include sound. this action is dribbling. The other
21. c. Day 21: Only nullification fits the options refer to sports other than
description. The other three choices basketball.
have nothing to do with federal laws. 29. a. Day 29: Armoire fits the description.
22. a. Day 22: To blanch means to loosen 30. c. Day 30: Only choice c, manipula-
its skin. tives, are tangible objects that can be
23. b. Day 23: Only escrow has anything to picked up.
do with money.
24. d. Day 24: Choices a and b have nothing
to do with divorce. Choice c has to do
with child custody. Alimony is correct.
278

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THINK YOU KNOW

THINK YOU KNOW

Copyright © 2009 Learning Express, LLC.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009926366

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

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Introduction: The Top 20 Reasons Why You—Yes,

PART ONE Vocabulary Boot Camp: Just the Basics 7

PART TWO In No Uncertain Terms: Specialized

Posttest: How Much Do You Know Now? 205

veryone needs a strong, extensive vocabulary.

1. do better in school, from taking tests to writing papers. Better grades

DO Try This at Home

PRETEST: HOW MUCH

efore you begin reading and learning all the

1. The word faction refers to a

2. To add decoration or embellishments to something is to

THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?

3. A more descriptive word for pretty is

4. Someone who is laconic tends to be

5. A person who is admired or worshipped is known as

6. A nebulous answer is one that is

7. To behave ignominiously is to act

8. A truly miserable person is

PRETEST: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

9. The distance around a circle is the

11. Another word for C.V., or curriculum vitae, is

13. An anarchist believes that governments should be

14. When temperatures rise with increased elevation, it is an example of

THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?

15. Half of the globe is called

16. A joule is a unit of

17. A moment of insight is known as

18. Keratin is found in

20. Xenon is a type of

PRETEST: HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

21. Another word for armistice is

22. Bread that is unleavened doesn’t

23. Bonding two or more layers of materials together is known as

25. Having a stigma is considered

26. An antioxidant is a substance that might help people fight

THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?

27. A matriarchy is a system that is run by

28. A switch-hitter plays the game of

29. A certain style of couch is called

30. Someone who is bilingual is

f you’ve ever played 20 Questions, you’ve heard

“Going to his with. Returning. Doing quickly.”

THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?

boycott the process of refusing to deal with a person, organization, or country,

condiment something used to make food tastier, such as mustard, ketchup,

PERSON, PLACE, OR THING? COMMONLY USED NOUNS

dissertation a long, usually written, thesis or essay on a subject, normally part

facsimile (1) an exact copy; (2) a system of transmitting and reproducing

heretic a person who believes or teaches something opposed to the current

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

interloper a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or without reason; a

kindred a group of related individuals or a person’s relatives, family, tribe, or race

THINK YO U KNOW YO UR VO CABULARY?