Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Wednesday 15 February

B

Another Roc Read
We are collecting Sharon Draper's Tears of a Tiger from the library. This is not a "keep" novel, so must be returned after the break.


You will find this a very easy, quick read.  Your assignment, per the superintendent, is as follows:
 Students are to write a brief essay of 500 words in  response  to what they learned from the book. 
Think about both the characters and the plot. Use detailed information to support your reasoning. Include a MLA heading.  Although they are heading downtown, they will be graded with the usual expectations on style, content and language conventions. 
THIS IS D|UE THE MONDAY AFTER THE BREAK: February 27.
In class: vocabulary 9  Handout in class; copy below. Get ahead start. This is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday February 28.


 Vocabulary 9

1.                   acclamation (noun) – a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval; ovation, cheering,
                                        plaudits
2.               bucolic (adj) – characteristic of the countryside, rural, relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral; rustic
3.               calumniate (verb)- to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously; defame, libel
4.               chary (adj) – extremely cautious, hesitant or slow; reserved, diffident; wary, skittish
5.               collusion (noun) – secret agreement or cooperation; conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots
6.               dilettante (noun) – a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way;
                                   superficial; amateur, trifle
7.               imperturbable (adj)- not easily excited; emotionally steady; unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled
8.               increment (noun) – an enlargement, increase, addition; accretion, gain
9.               mandate (noun)- an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; directive
(verb) – to issue such an order
10.           paltry (adj) – trifling, insignificant; mean; despicable; inferior, trashy; measly, meager, piddling, trivial
11.           paroxysm (noun) – a sudden outburst; a spasm, a convulsion; fit, seizure
12.           pedantry (noun) – a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details; nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery

13.           peregrination (noun) – the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country; journey, wandering, odyssey

14.           redolent (adj) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura; evocative,
reminiscent, aromatic

15.           refulgent (adj) – shining, radiant, resplendent; luminous, splendid

16.           unremitting (adj) – not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless, constant, incessant

17.           tyro (noun) – beginner, novice, one with little or no background or skill, neophyte

18.           shibboleth (noun)- a word, expression or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

19.           vacillate (verb)- to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

20.           vituperate (adj)- harshly abusive, severely scolding, abusive, scurrilous, insulting





Vocabulary 9, exercise 1 Use the correct form.

1.               It is very rare for a presidential candidate to be nominated by _________________________ from the convention floor.
2.               Since so many funds had been spent with so few results, they were _________________________ about appropriating more money.
3.               After returning from my ________________________________ throughout South America, I began writing a book about my experiences.
4.               The billionaire was so greedy that he contributed only a _______________________ sum of money to charity each year.
5.               My grandmother’s kitchen was always _____________________________ with the smells of baking.
6.               Someone who __________________________________ in a crisis should not be in a position of leadership.
7.               Many people dismissed the poster artists of the 1960’s as mere _____________________________ with nothing serious to say about life or art.
8.               The fussy music professor was distinguished more for her __________________________ that her true scholarship.
9.               You cannot expect a mere ________________________ to perform like a veteran in his first season of major league play.
10.           By the time Election Day finally rolls around, most voters are tired of hearing the same old slogans and ________________________________________.
11.           The Elizabethans who wrote of shepherds in ideal country settings were imitating the Greek __________________________ poets.
12.           The children greeted the clown with a ________________________ of laughter when he began making his funny faces.
13.           The peacekeepers were sent into the war-torn country under a UN _____________________________ to protect minority populations.
14.           The social laws in Edith Wharton’s novels are _______________________; they are interminable.
15.            The swift-flowing stream beside our house was _______________________ in the morning light.
16.           The _____________________________ speech in which she blamed others for her own mistakes may have cost her the election.
17.           Employees were added to the work force in ____________________________ of five to save money on training costs.
18.           The witness remained _______________________________ throughout the grueling cross-examination.
19.           Years later, it was discovered that senior members of the company had been in _______________________ with the enemy.
20.           Not only did the artist’s enemy seek to discredit her while she was alive but tried to ________________________ her memory as well.


 Vocabulary 9, exercise 2

1. As we waited through the long night for the arrival of the rescue party, we _________________________
    between hope and despair.
2. However long and hard the struggle, we must be ____________________________ in our efforts to wipe
     out racism in this country.
3. She may have great musical talents, but she will get nowhere so long as she has the casual attitude of the
     _____________________________________.
4. The painting shows a restfully _____________________________ scene, with some cows grazing placidly
     in a meadow as their shepherd dozes under a bush.
5. I had expected a decent tip from the party of six that I waited on early that evening, but all I got was a(n) _______________________________ two bucks.
6. The scene may seem ordinary to you, but I find it _________________________ with memories of happy
     summers spent in these woods.
7. Since Lincoln is now considered a great national hero, it is hard to believe that he was bitterly
    _______________________________ when he was President.
8. The contractor was suspected of having acted in __________________________  with a state official to fix
    the bids on certain public works contracts.
9. “The overwhelming victory I have won at the polls,” the governor-elect said, “has given me a clear
      __________________________________ to carry out my program.”
10. As a(n) _____________________________ summer sun sank slowly in the west, the skies were ablaze
       with color.
11. In a series of searing orations, filled with the most _____________________________ language, Cicero
      launched the full battery of political invective against the hapless Mark Antony.
12. Every time I sign a new lease on my apartment, my rent goes up, though the 
      __________________________ are not usually large.
13. I thought I was unexcitable, but she is as _______________________________as the granite icons in
     front of the public library.
14. Even the merest _______________________ in the use of firearms knows that a gun should never be
      pointed at another person.
15. Since Lucy had expected no more than polite applause, she was delighted by the ________________________________ she received from the audience.
16. The Pledge of Allegiance is no mere _________________________ to be recited mechanically and
       without understanding like some advertising jingle.
17. In my various _______________________________ through that vast metropolis, I ran across many
       curious old buildings that the ordinary tourist never sees.
18.I have learned from long experience to be extremely _____________________________ about offering
     advice when it has not been requested.
19. Seized by a(n) _______________________________ of rage, he began to beat the bars of his cell with his
      bare hands.
20.It is sheer _____________________________ to insist upon applying the rules of formal literary
       composition to everyday speech and writing.


Vocabulary 9, exercise 3
Synonyms

1. evocative of old memories                                                      _______________________________
2. in cahoots with the competition                                              _______________________________                                          
3. kept up the constant pressure to surrender                              _______________________________
4. greeted with an overwhelming ovation                                   _______________________________
5. bored us with his hairsplitting                                                 _______________________________
6. overcome by a fit of anger                                                      _______________________________
7. reluctantly ended her journeys                                                ______________________________
8. seesawed in their commitments                                              ______________________________
9. keeps repeating the tired old catchphrases                             ______________________________
10. slandered his rivals at every opportunity                              _______________________________
11. labeled a mere trifler by the experts                                     _______________________________
12. an urgent directive from the President                                 _______________________________
13. a scurrilous response to the question                                   ________________________________
14. wary of flattery and favor-seekers                                      ________________________________
15. painted a charming rustic scene                                           _______________________________

Antonyms
16. is excitable when challenged                                                __________________________________
17. a colossal amount of unpaid debts                                        _________________________________
18. reported a steady loss in annual sales                                    _________________________________
19. looked up at the murky dawn sky                                         __________________________________
20. an expert in the art of fencing                                               __________________________________                            





Vocabulary 9, exercise 4
1.               Not satisfied with the slow (increment / peregrination) of his savings in a bank account, he turned to speculation in the stock market.
2.               Are we to try to make a realistic analysis of our alternatives or let ourselves be distracted by slogans and (tyros / shibboleths)?
3.               Perhaps he would be less lyrical about the delights of the (bucolic / redolent) life if, like me, he had grown up on a farm in Kansas.
4.               It has long been known that some twisted and unhappy people derive a kind of satisfaction from (calumniating / colluding) others.
5.               Once the senator’s nomination became a certainty, all opposition to him evaporated, and he was named by (vituperation / acclamation).
6.               During the course of my (peregrinations / paroxysms) through the world of books, I have picked up all kinds of useful information.
7.               The phrase “We the people” in the Constitution indicates that the ultimate (mandate / vacillation) of our government comes from the popular will.
8.               Since she comes from a rural area, she expresses herself in language that is (redolent / paltry) of the farm and of country life in general.
9.               It is easy to criticize him, but how can we overlook the fact that for 20 years he has worked (unremittingly / charily) to help the homeless.
10.           Although he has been in this business for 20 years, he still has the sublime innocence of the most helpless (tyro / shibboleth).
11.           A (paroxysm / pedantry) of indignation flashed through the community, and the streets filled with angry people ready to protest the proposal.
12.           Clad in the (refulgent / dilettante) armor of moral rectitude, he sallied forth to do battle with the forces of evil.
13.           How do you have the nerve to offer such a(n) (paltry / unremitting) sum for this magnificent “antique” car?
14.           Isn’t it sheer (pedantry / refulgence) on his part to use terms like Proustian and Kafkaesque, when he knows they mean nothing to his audience?
15.           The same difficulties that serve as a challenge to the true professional will be a crushing discouragement to the typical (mandate / dilettante).
16.           If we (vacillate / increment) now at adopting a tough energy policy, we may find ourselves in a desperate situation in the future.
17.           I’m not sure if Tom’s (imperturbable / collusive) spirit is due to toughness or to an inability to understand the dangers of the situation.
18.           I am perfectly willing to listen to a reasonable complaint, but I will not put up with that kind of (bucolic / vituperative) backbiting.
19.           The gambler’s predictions of the game scores were so incredible accurate that we suspected some form of (acclimation / collusion).
Because my teacher is usually so (chary / imperturbable) of giving compliments, I fest especially good when she spoke well of my essay

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