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 Exceeding the Standards: Vocabulary & Spelling, Level V

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Cover Image Credits: Scene, © Kathy Collins/CORBIS; coin, art and image provided by Carroll Gibson.

ISBN 978-0-82194-341-0

© 2009 by EMC Publishing, LLC

875 Montreal Way
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E-mail: [email protected]
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18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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 Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Unit 1: Word Study Skills and Research Tools

Lesson 1: Word Study Notebook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Lesson 2: Word Study Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Lesson 3: PAVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Lesson 4: Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Time Out for Test Practice: Word Study Skills
and PAVE; Synonyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Unit 2: Word Parts and Determining Meaning

Lesson 5: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Lesson 6: Words with Multiple Meanings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lesson 7: Connotation and Denotation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lesson 8: Context Clues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Time Out for Test Practice: Defining Word Parts;
Using Context Clues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Unit 3: Word Origins and Language

Lesson 9: Word Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Lesson 10: Place Names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Lesson 11: Word Families from Greek and Latin Roots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Lesson 12: English Words from French. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Lesson 13: English Words from Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Lesson 14: English Words from Asian Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Lesson 15: English around the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Lesson 16: Informal and Archaic Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Lesson 17: Academic Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Time Out for Test Practice: Borrowed Words; Word Parts
from Greek and Latin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Unit 4: Spelling and Word Classification

Lesson 18: Categorizing and Classifying Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Lesson 19: Semantic Mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Lesson 20: Spelling Rules and Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Lesson 21: More Spelling Patterns—Plurals, ei/ie, ceed/sede/cede . . . . . . 47
Lesson 22: Spelling Patterns with Affixes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Time Out for Test Practice: Spelling with Affixes;
Using Spelling Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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 Unit 5: Clarifying Meaning
Lesson 23: Syntax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Lesson 24: Commonly Confused Words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Lesson 25: Using Mnemonic Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Lesson 26: Word Meanings in Synonyms, Antonyms,
Homophones, and Homographs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Time Out for Test Practice: Commonly Confused Words;
Words with Multiple Meanings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Unit 6: Word Use and Standardized Test Preparation

Lesson 27: Literal and Figurative Meanings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Lesson 28: Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Lesson 29: Allusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Lesson 30: Language in the Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Lesson 31: Standardized Test Preparation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Lesson 32: Expanding and Applying Your Word Knowledge. . . . . . . . . . 74
Time Out for Test Practice: Idioms and Figures of Speech;
Analogies; Sentence Completion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Answer Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

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 Introduction
The Exceeding the Standards resource books provide in-depth language arts instruction to enrich
students’ skills development beyond the level of meeting the standards. Exceeding the Standards:
Vocabulary & Spelling offers meaningful ways to incorporate word study into the language arts
classroom.
Vocabulary & Spelling presents thirty-two lessons, designed to be used weekly, that cover a broad
range of topics from etymology to context clues to spelling patterns. These lessons are aligned with
the units of the Mirrors & Windows: Connecting with Literature program and may be used alone or as
supplements to the Vocabulary & Spelling workshops in the Student Edition. Each lesson incorporates
words from selections in the corresponding unit of the textbook. By using these lessons in
conjunction with the literature program, you will help your students become better readers, writers,
speakers, and spellers.
Each lesson in Vocabulary & Spelling includes the following components:
• A Word of the Week, selected from the corresponding textbook unit, highlights a word that
students may find particularly meaningful or interesting.
• Grammar instruction on one or more topics is followed by a Try It Yourself section that allows
students to practice what they are learning.
• Just For Fun activities encourage students to play with words, reminding them that language can be
fun and interesting.
• Tip boxes in the margin throughout the lesson clarify definitions, offer additional information, and
give helpful suggestions.
• A Time Out for Test Practice at the end of each unit provides students with the opportunity to
assess what they have learned and to practice test-taking skills by answering sample standardized
test questions in a multiple-choice format.
It is essential that vocabulary instruction include a variety of strategies to develop students’
word-study skills. Lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling provide many different ways of exploring and
studying words, word parts, semantic families, and spelling patterns and rules. Activating students’
prior knowledge of words and of essential concepts related to words helps students make associations
between new terms and words they already know.
The activities in Vocabulary & Spelling will help you actively engage students in working with
words. As their curiosity about word exploration grows, your students will become increasingly
confident in their ability to attack, learn, and experiment with new words.

Related Program Resources

For more vocabulary and spelling instruction, including charts of common prefixes, suffixes, and
word roots, refer to the Mirrors & Windows Student Edition Language Arts Handbook, Section 2:
Vocabulary & Spelling. Additional vocabulary development activities integrated with the literature
selections are included in the Meeting the Standards unit resource books and in Differentiated
Instruction for English Language Learners.

Teaching Tips
Word study encompasses not only vocabulary and spelling, but also the strategies language users
employ to unlock meanings and internalize spellings. Effective instruction in word study gives students
tools for learning new vocabulary and spelling independently in the long term. The following teaching
tips can help you ensure that your students get the most from the lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling.

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 Teach Word Attack Strategies
There are a number of strategies good readers employ when they are confronted with an unfamiliar
word. These strategies include:
• using the context as a clue
• gleaning hints from pictures, charts, graphs, and other text support
• examining word parts: prefixes, suffixes, and roots
• combing through memories for associations with the word
• consulting dictionaries and other reference materials
• asking an authority, such as a teacher or other expert in the field
For many of us, these strategies have become second nature, and we are hardly conscious of using
them. To students, however, they are not so obvious; strategic word decoding takes place mostly
internally and silently, word attack strategies are largely invisible, and uninitiated students may never
witness them in action. Research suggests that students need explicit instruction in these strategies to
become proficient readers and effective writers. The lessons in Vocabulary & Spelling provide such
explicit instruction.

Create a Word-Rich Environment

The essential backdrop to an effective word study program is a classroom where words are clearly
valued. The following are some ideas for creating such a classroom.
• Word Wall Post a variety of vocabulary words and/or words of the week in your classroom to
provide students with repetition and recycling of the terms you want them to internalize. Use it
as the basis of word games such as bingo, Jeopardy, and twenty questions, as well as collaborative
storytelling.
• Class Dictionary Have students keep a class dictionary by taking turns entering words studied in
class, providing definitions, illustrating terms, writing contextual sentences, and searching for real-
world uses of the words.
• Classroom Library Provide a broad range of reading materials, giving students time for sustained
silent reading, and modeling avid reading yourself, to build students’ vocabularies.
• Word Processing Language Tools Encourage students to make use of language features built into
word processing programs, such as dictionaries and thesauruses.
• Online Word Games Schedule time for your students to learn new vocabulary with online word
games and other technology tools.
• Language Mentor Share your own interest in words by drawing students’ attention to interesting
words in the news or in pop culture and by modeling how you approach words that are new to you.

Foster Curiosity
The key to incorporating meaningful word study into your language arts classroom is to encourage
dialogue with your students about how words create meaning. Your own curiosity about language
is infectious and will encourage your students to become inquisitive “word detectives” motivated to
solve the mystery of word meanings.

About Spelling “Rules”

Some students benefit from memorizing what are sometimes called spelling rules; others are
frustrated by the number of exceptions to each rule. To reflect the prevalence of exceptions, the term
spelling pattern has been used instead of spelling rule in this resource. In addition to introducing
students to spelling patterns, you can help them become stronger spellers by following the same
teaching tips mentioned above: modeling the use of strategies, creating a word-rich classroom, and
fostering curiosity.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 1
Word of the Week
Word Study Notebook avaricious (<a v@ >ri sh@s) adj.,
greedy, especially for wealth
Understand the Concept
Many observers thought that
Keeping a word study notebook is a convenient way to log new words,
the financial crisis of 2008 was
their meanings and their spellings, as well as prefixes, suffixes, word
the result of avaricious stock
roots, and other concepts. You can use your word study notebook to brokers, bankers, and insurance
write down words that you have trouble remembering how to spell. executives.
You may even want to set part of your notebook aside for vocabulary
play in your own writing. Avaricious is the adjectival form of
the noun avarice and is ultimately
When you record a new word in your notebook, include its
derived from the Latin word ave–re,
definition, pronunciation, and origins, along with an example sentence
which means to crave. One of
or drawing to help you remember it. the most well-known avaricious
Here is a sample page from a word study notebook. characters in literature is Ebenezer
Scrooge, from Charles Dickens’s
Word: miasma (pl. miasmas or miasmata) 1843 classic A Christmas Carol.
People who are willing to injure
Pronunciation: \m8 az> m@\ others to gain or maintain wealth
are characterized as avaricious.
Origins: New Latin, from Greek word miainein, “to pollute” Sometimes the word avaricious
is used to imply that a person
Definition: Unhealthy, polluting vapor or fog has an obsession with money.
Other times it is used to suggest
Sentence: The miasma of tobacco smoke in that coffee that a person’s focus on wealth
shop makes me ill. verges on madness. Synonyms
of avaricious include greedy,
covetous, and rapacious.

Tip As you learn more and

more words, you will also
become a better speaker and
a better writer, able to express
yourself more easily and vividly.

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 Tip Think about how you Try It Yourself
want to use your word Browse through a magazine or newspaper until you find a word that is
study notebook. Then, take some unfamiliar to you. Use the space below to create your own word study
time to organize it. For example, notebook entry for the unfamiliar word. To find the correct definition
you may divide it into different and pronunciation, consult a dictionary. Hint: You don’t need to write
sections—one section for new down all the definitions of the the word—just the one that seems to fit
vocabulary you encounter, one for the way it was used in the original sentence.
common prefixes, suffixes, and
word roots, one for words that you
often have trouble spelling, and Word:
one for fun words and word facts.
Definition:

Pronunciation:

Origins:
Tip Here’s one item to get
you started on the “Fun Example sentence:
Word Facts” section of your word
study notebook:
One of the longest place
names in the world is probably
that of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-
gogerychwyrndrobwyll-
Just for Fun
llantysiliogogogoch, a town in Who or what is a doomster? What does it mean to commit verbicide?
northern Wales. It is called Llanfair You might not encounter or use such quirky words very often, but it is
or Llanfair PG for short. fun to know their meanings. Create entries for the following words, or
peruse your dictionary for other odd words to add to your word study
notebook.
doomster
verbicide
Every week, review the geophagy
Tip izzard
entries in your word study
notebook. Try to incorporate stygian
these words into your speech and
writing.

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LESSON 2
Word of the Week
Word Study Skills inquiry (in kwir> @) n.,
investigation into a matter of
Understand the Concept public interest
When reading, you will often encounter words that are new to you. It
He launched the inquiry because
can be tempting to skip over them and keep going, but if that’s your
he believed the senator was lying.
only strategy, you’ll probably end up missing a lot of what you read!
You will better understand and enjoy what you read if you follow these The word inquiry stems from the
simple strategies for decoding unfamiliar words. Latin word quaerere, which means
“seek.” Other words that share this
Latin base include inquire, inquest,
Use Context Clues question, and inquisitive.
When you encounter an unfamiliar word, you can figure out what it
means by looking at the context, or the words around it.
example It was a good replica because it was almost identical to
the original painting.
You may not know what replica means, but from the clues in the
surrounding text, you can probably guess that a replica is a copy or
imitation of something else.

Use Text Support

Look for pictures, diagrams, charts, sidebars, and other features that
help explain or support ideas in the text. These items may help illustrate
unfamiliar terms. Read the following passage from a medical textbook.

Healthy joints are capable of rotation; that is, turning around an Tip Text support is commonly
axis. Types of rotation movements include supination, pronation, found in magazine
eversion, and inversion. Supination allows the palm of the hand and newspaper articles and is
especially necessary in educational
to turn up. Pronation allows it to turn down. See Figure 23.10.
material, such as textbooks.
Text support includes pictures,
diagrams, charts, captions, section
headings, and sidebars. A sidebar
is a short text piece that is found
alongside the main story.

Look for Familiar Word Parts

Examine the unfamiliar word. You may find that it contains a familiar
prefix, suffix, or word root that provides a clue to its meaning. For
example, if you know that kilo is Latin for “one thousand,” you can figure
out the meanings of such words as kilowatt, kilometer, and kilogram.

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 Tip A prefix is a word part Use a Dictionary
found at the beginning of a Sometimes, the fastest way to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar
word; a suffix is found at the end. word is to look in the dictionary. However, keep in mind that many
Prefixes and suffixes add meaning words have more than one meaning. Be ready to combine some of the
to a base word or root. A word other strategies with this one in order to figure out which definition is
root is a word part that is not a the right one.
prefix or suffix and contains more Consider the following sentence:
of the core meaning of the word.
The company had invested heavily in emergent technologies.
The dictionary offers several possible definitions for the word emergent:
1. arising unexpectedly; calling for prompt attention
2. rising out of or as if out of a fluid
3. arising as a natural or logical consequence
Just for Fun
4. newly formed or standing out
Look up the following words in
Because there are four possibilities, you must decide which best fits in this
a dictionary. Then, on your own
particular context. The fourth definition is the one that works best here.
paper, draw a picture for each one
that would help a reader better
understand the word’s meaning. Try It Yourself
saber EXERCISE A
box kite Use context clues to estimate the meaning of the underlined word.
narwhal
piccolo The county fair was incredibly prosaic, so we spent our time
coping saw trying to find something that would entertain us or seem even
ankh the least bit exciting.
1. What do you think prosaic means?
2. What information in the passage helped you guess the meaning of
the word?
EXERCISE B
In your notebook, explain how the illustrations in Figure 23.10 help you
to understand the meanings of unfamiliar terms.
EXERCISE C
Use your knowledge of word parts to define each of the following words
in your notebook. You may refer to page 1041 of your student textbook
for examples of common word parts.
1. egocentrism 3. unperturbed 5. inaudible
2. scalding 4. falteringly
EXERCISE D
Read the following sentences. Look up each underlined word in the
dictionary and write down the definition that best fits the way the word
is used in the sentence.
1. He brought a relic back from his travels.
2. Sasha didn’t want to rifle through her sister’s suitcase.
3. Hanna was going out to cull the flock.
4. Hakeem was excited by the torrent of well-wishers.
5. The crowd was surprised by how stout the old man proved to be.

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LESSON 3
Word of the Week
PAVE callously (ka> l@s l7) adv.,
insensitively; uncaringly
Understand the Concept
She handled the situation rather
PAVE is a good way to help yourself remember the meaning of a new
callously, so I don’t know if I can
word. PAVE stands for Predict, Associate, Verify, and Evaluate. When
forgive her.
you encounter an unfamiliar word, first copy the sentence in which the
word appears. Then follow the steps below: The word callously comes from
the Latin word callosus, meaning
Predict Try to predict the word’s meaning based on the context “thick-skinned,” or callum,
and on your prior knowledge of the word or its parts. Write meaning “hard skin.” One can
down your prediction. literally have a callus on his or
Associate Write a sentence of your own using the word. Associating her hands from working too hard,
the word with a sentence will help you remember the but figuratively, the word callous
meaning of the word. means “unfeeling.”

Verify Next, check the meaning of the word by using a dictionary

or by asking your teacher. A dictionary may offer multiple
meanings for the same word. If you use a dictionary, select
and write down the most appropriate definition.
Evaluate Finally, evaluate the sentence you wrote using the word.
Does it do a good job of capturing the meaning of the word?
Rewrite the sentence if necessary. If you wish, draw an
image that will help you remember the word.

Try It Yourself Just for Fun

Use PAVE to learn the underlined words in the sentences below. Flip through a dictionary and find
1. The sea air was redolent of salt and dead fish. a word you’ve never seen before.
Be sure you understand what it
Predict means; then, write a paragraph
Associate with the word hidden somewhere
in it. Exchange paragraphs with a
partner. Your partner must, first of
Verify all, guess which word you were
“hiding,” and secondly, use PAVE to
Evaluate figure out the meaning of the word.

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 Use context clues to 2. Subatomic physics is beyond the ken of the average person—it is
Tip just not a subject most people know anything about.
predict the meaning of an
unfamiliar word. Context clues Predict
are words and phrases in the
surrounding text that hint at the Associate
meaning of a word.
Comparison clues help show Verify
the meaning of a word or idea
by restating it in a different way Evaluate
or by giving examples. Question
2 contains a comparison clue.
Contrast clues help show the 3. Bob did not have time to collect his thoughts, so his acceptance
meaning of a word through giving speech was rather desultory.
its opposite, or antonym. Contrast Predict
clues may use words such as but,
however, although, or yet. Question Associate
5 contains a contrast clue.

Verify
Evaluate

Tip You do not need to stop

reading every time you 4. Punk rockers attempted to subvert mainstream rock-and-roll
run across an unfamiliar word. music, which they believed had become cheesy and overly
Usually, you can still get the gist of commercial.
the passage and continue on.
Predict
Associate

Tip After using PAVE to Verify

discover the meaning of
a new word, try to use that new Evaluate
word in your everyday speech as
often as possible over a three-
day period. This might make your 5. Foreign policy was not the president’s forte, but she relied on her
friends look at you strangely, but ambassadors and other experienced advisors to help compensate
it will help you feel comfortable for her weak point.
using the word and better Predict
understand its meaning.
Associate

Verify
Evaluate

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 4
Word of the Week
Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses eccentric (ik sen> trik) adj.,
odd or unusual in behavior or
Understand the Concept appearance
The most important resources for word study are the dictionary and
Everyone knew Mrs. Garish
the thesaurus. Many different kinds of dictionaries and thesauruses (or
because of her wacky house and
thesauri) can be found in the reference section of your library. eccentric clothes.
The word eccentric comes from
Using a Dictionary the Greek ex, meaning “out of,”
Standard dictionaries of English provide the spelling, pronunciation, and kentron, meaning “center.”
definitions, and other information about most words you will Synonyms include the words
encounter in your reading and listening. quirky, oddball, and bizarre.
Antonyms include conformist,
Try It Yourself traditionalist, and dull.
EXERCISE A
Use a dictionary to find the origins, or etymology, of each of the
following words. Then explain each word’s origins (being sure to define
any abbreviations) and make note of when the word entered English. Read the notes at the
1. cryptic Tip
front of your dictionary
2. gregarious for explanations of the different
3. sheriff symbols, abbreviations, and usage
4. shtick labels.
5. curfew

The dictionary also provides information about how a word is generally

used. A usage label may tell you, for example, that a word is slang—
Just for Fun
that is, used only in informal language—or that it is only used in a
certain dialect (such as British English). If a word or a definition of a Some words have quite wacky
word is no longer in common usage, it will be labeled as archaic; if it is origins. Find a dictionary of word
no longer used at all, it will be labeled obsolete (obs.). origins at your local library or on
the Internet, and browse until you
dor • ky adj. (1983) slang : foolishly stupid
find some particularly interesting
tel • ly n. [by shortening and altering] (1939) dial chiefly entries. Copy down five words,
Brit : television along with their etymology, in your
word study notebook.
dowsabel n. [Dowsabel, fem. name] (ca. 1652) obs. : sweetheart
Some words, such as ain’t, may be labeled nonstandard, meaning they
are considered incorrect in standard, fomal English. If the usage of a
word is controversial, there may be a longer explanation in the form of
a usage note.

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 Tip When using a thesaurus Try It Yourself
be sure you choose a EXERCISE B
synonym that fits the context of
your sentence and that has the
Find a standard dictionary and use it to complete the following
right connotations, or shades
scavenger hunt. Be prepared to share your answers with the class.
of meaning. Also, beware of 1. Find a word that has more than one entry. How many entries are
choosing a word just because it given for this word? What is the part of speech given for each word?
sounds impressive. Sometimes 2. Find an entry in the dictionary that includes a list of synonyms.
the right word is the simpler one. Copy down the main entry and synonyms.
  3. Find a word or definition of a word that is labeled as archaic or
The notorious bard obsolete.
e. e. cummings . . . 4. Find a word or definition that is labeled slang.
5. Find a dictionary entry that includes a usage note.

The illustrious versifier
e. e. cummings . . . Using a Thesaurus
 
A thesaurus, a reference book that contains lists of synonyms and
The well-known poet
antonyms, is a useful companion to the dictionary. The thesaurus is
e. e. cummings . . . especially helpful when you can’t think of the exact word to convey
your meaning, or when you want to enliven your writing by using a
variety of words. For example, suppose you had written the following
sentence about poet e. e. cummings:
Modern poet e. e. cummings was famous for his strange use of
Tip In addition to synonyms,
the thesaurus provides punctuation.
antonyms for most words. You decide that strange is not exactly the right word. Looking it up
Antonyms for strange include in the thesaurus, you find many synonyms, including odd, unusual,
regular, conventional, run-of-the- extraordinary, uncommon, eccentric, unconventional, and bizarre. Your
mill, usual, and ordinary. revised sentence might read as follows:
Modern poet e. e. cummings was famous for his unconventional
use of punctuation.

Tip Review Language Arts Try It Yourself

Handbook 2.4, Using
EXERCISE C
a Dictionary, on page 1046
of the student textbook. The In the sentences below, replace the overused word great with a
diagram identifies the parts of a more precise and appropriate synonym. Write your answers in your
dictionary entry and will help you notebook.
locate the main entry of a word, 1. We had a great time at the party.
its pronunciation, etymology, 2. The great mountain loomed up before the climbers.
definition(s), example phrases, 3. Sammy Sosa is a great baseball player.
synonyms, other forms, and its
4. Lisa’s weekend was going great until she remembered she had a
part-of-speech label.
test on Monday.
5. The senator lay awake all night worrying about the great
decision she would have to make the next day.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Word Study Skills and PAVE
_____ 1. The dictionary entry for the word _____ 5. Which of the following is an example
alcove contains the notation n. after of an obsolete word?
the pronunciation key. What does the A. ya’ll
n. stand for in this entry? B. bear
A. noun C. jargon
B. Norway D. jargogle
C. nonstandard E. All of the above
D. no-longer-in-use
_____ 6. You would use a thesaurus when
E. None of the above
A. you want to find the definition of
_____ 2. The dictionary entry for the word a word.
alcove contains the following: [F B. you want to find an antonym of a
alcôve, fr. Sp alcoba, fr. Ar al-qubba word.
the arch]. What information is listed C. you want to know a word’s
within the brackets? etymology.
A. the part-of-speech label D. you want to find example phrases
B. the pronunciation of the word for a word.
C. the origins of the word E. All of the above
D. other forms of the word
_____ 7. For what does the acronym PAVE
E. the definition of the word
stand?
_____ 3. Which of the following statements A. Present, Attack, Verify, Essay
is correct based on the information B. Perceive, Analyze, Verify,
provided in questions 1 and 2? Elaborate
A. The word alcove is from the C. Predict, Associate, Verify,
French word alcôve. Evaluate
B. The first recorded use of alcove E. Plan, Assign, Verify, Explain
occurred in Spain.
_____ 8. When you check the definition of an
C. The Arabic word al-qubba means
unknown word using a dictionary,
“the arch.”
which step in the PAVE process are
D. All of the above
you performing?
E. Only A and C
A. the first
_____ 4. What does it mean if a word is B. the second
labeled nonstandard in a dictionary? C. the third
A. It means it is considered incorrect D. the fourth
in standard, formal English. E. None of the above
B. It means it is considered archaic
and is not commonly used today.
C. It means it is considered a false
statement or used as propaganda.
D. It means it is mainly used as an
irregular verb.
E. All of the above

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 _____ 9. In the PAVE process, after you
have verified the definition of the
unknown word, your next step would
be to
A. connect to the word using a
sentence of your own creation.
B. determine if the sentence you
wrote using the word does a good
job of capturing its meaning.
C. use your prior knowledge to
define the word to the best of your
ability.
D. use context clues to determine
whether your definition was
correct.
E. None of the above

Synonyms
In the following questions, select the best replacement for each
underlined word.

_____ 1. His unconventional use of _____ 4. With his athletic leadership,

punctuation, combined with his Abraham Lincoln succeeded in
strange habit of writing in all freeing the slaves and keeping the
lowercase letters, makes his poetry Union together.
unusual and incredible. A. strong
A. perplexing B. muscular
B. peculiar C. strapping
C. mysterious D. feeble
D. exotic
_____ 5. If I could encounter any person from
_____ 2. He rose from obscurity to become history, I would choose Abraham
one of the greatest and most favorite Lincoln.
president of the United States. A. detect
A. beloved B. meet
B. darling C. accost
C. supreme D. confront
D. reviled
_____ 6. It is favorable that we know so much
_____ 3. Abraham Lincoln was a potent about him.
speaker. A. benign
A. weak B. propitious
B. vigorous C. disastrous
C. controlling D. fortunate
D. commanding

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 5
Word of the Week
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes eloquent (el> @ kw@nt) adj.,
marked by forceful and fluent
Understand the Concept expression; vividly or movingly
One way to figure out the meaning of a word is to break it down into its expressive
parts. The parts of a word are called morphemes. Each part contains a
The speaker’s eloquent words
chunk of meaning. For example, the word prediction can be broken down left everyone feeling moved and
into three morphemes: the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” the word root inspired.
dict, meaning “say,” and the suffix -ion, meaning “action or process.”
Together, these morphemes make a word that means “the action of Eloquent contains the Latin word
telling about something before it happens.” You can probably think of root loqu (also spelled locut),
many other words that contain the morphemes pre-, dict, and -ion. meaning “to speak.” This root
There are four main types of word parts: prefixes, suffixes, word is found in the words elocution,
roots, and base words. A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to meaning the art of public
speaking, loquacious, an adjective
the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
meaning excessively talkative, and
example un- (unnecessary, unavailable, uneasy) circumlocution, the act of talking
in circles to confuse listeners or
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to
evade an issue.
change its meaning.
Eloquent can be used to
example -ify (purify, magnify, glorify) describe other kinds of expression,
such as writing, acting, singing,
A word root is a word part that contains more meaning than a prefix or
and visual art, as well as speech.
suffix. Most word roots cannot stand on their own as words, but must
For example, one may refer to an
combine with other word roots, prefixes, or suffixes.
“eloquent writer” or an “eloquent
example spect (spectator, spectacle, perspective, respect) performance.”
A base word is a word in its own right to which a prefix or suffix may
be added to change its meaning.
example read (reread, reader, unreadable) Tip Some word parts are
known as combining
Page 1041 of your student textbook contains charts of common forms. This means that they
prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, and their meanings. Study these have characteristics of both
charts before you complete the following exercise. affixes (prefixes or suffixes) and
roots. One example is the word
Try It Yourself part -ology. It may appear to be
EXERCISE A a simple suffix, but it actually
combines the word root log plus
In your notebook, list five words that contain each of the following the suffix -y.
word parts.
example dict, word root meaning “say”
predict, diction, dictionary, dictator, dictation
1. dis-, prefix meaning “not”
2. trans-, prefix meaning “across”
3. cred, word root meaning “believe; trust”
4. scrib, word root meaning “write”

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 Morphemes can be 5. -ment, suffix meaning “action or process; state or quality; product
Tip or thing”
bound or free. Prefixes,
suffixes, and most word roots EXERCISE B
are called bound morphemes
In your notebook, break each of the following words down into its
because they cannot stand on
morphemes, or word parts. Tell whether each part is a prefix, suffix,
their own as words. Base words
word root, or base word. Also, give the meaning of each word part,
are called free morphemes
as found in your Charts of Common Word Parts. Finally, using the
because they can stand on
dictionary and your knowledge of the word parts, write a definition of
their own. The word workshop,
for example, contains two free
the word.
morphemes, work and shop. The example transgress trans / gress
word worker contains one free
morpheme, work, and one bound Word Part Type Meaning
morpheme, the suffix -er. trans prefix “across; beyond”
gress word root “go”

Definition: To transgress means to go beyond what is permitted or what

is legal.
1. extrovert
2. omnipresent
3. illegible
Tip The opposite of extrovert 4. revitalize
is introvert. There is even 5. disastrous
such a thing as an ambivert,
which means “one who has
characteristics of both an extrovert
Just for Fun
and an introvert.” (Ambi- is a prefix Play a dice game with word parts! Divide the class into teams. Each
meaning “both.”) team should have two dice. Label the sides of one die with the following
prefixes:
re-, in-, con-, pro-,
trans-, de-
Label each side of the other die with the following word roots:
quest, fer, form, voke, verse, duce
Then, when all teams are ready, start rolling the dice to form new
As you learn more words. For example, rolling re- and duce will give you the word reduce.
Tip
prefixes, suffixes, and Whoever comes up with the most real words in the least amount of
word roots, write them down in time wins the game. You may set a time limit of three minutes. If you
your word study notebook, along like this game, make up your own version with different prefixes,
with a definition and example. suffixes, and word roots.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 6
Word of the Week
Words with Multiple Meanings inclination (in kl@ n6> sh@n) n.,
tendency to do something
Understand the Concept
Since the townspeople knew
Many words in the English language have more than one meaning. For
he was guilty, they had little
example, consider the word bluff. It has at least six different meanings
inclination to help the man.
and can be used as an adjective, noun, or verb.
The word inclination has multiple
1
bluff adj. 1 : rising steeply with a broad front 2 : good- meanings. It can mean a “natural
naturedly frank and outspoken disposition or character,” “an act or
2
bluff n. a high steep bank or cliff the action of bending or inclining,”
“a deviation from the true vertical
3
bluff v. to deceive or frighten by pretending to have strength or horizontal,” and, as in the
or confidence once does not really have sentence above, “a tendency to a
4
bluff n. 1 a : an act or instance of bluffing b : the practice of particular aspect, state, character,
bluffing 2 : one who bluffs or action.”

If you run across a word that does not seem to make sense in context,
consider whether that word may have another meaning that would
make sense. Can the word be used as more than one part of speech, for Tip Words that have
example, as either a noun or a verb? Does it have a broader meaning completely different,
than the one that came to your mind? For example, read the following unrelated meanings, but are
passage from James Joyce’s short story “Araby”: spelled the same, are sometimes
called homographs. By this
North Richmond Street, being blind, was a quiet street except at definition, bluff (a cliff) and
the hour when the Christian Brothers’ School set the boys free. bluff (to deceive) can be called
An uninhabited house of two stories stood at the blind end, homographs. However, the
detached from its neighbors . . . words that we typically think of as
homographs are also pronounced
The most common meaning for blind is “lacking the sense of sight.” differently and stem from
However, that meaning obviously does not apply here. Consulting a completely different roots.
dictionary, you might find that the word blind can also be an adjective
meaning “having only one opening or outlet.”

Tip Keep in mind that some

Try It Yourself words not only have
EXERCISE A multiple meanings, but also have
different pronunciations. Be sure
1. Choose two definitions of the word bluff and write a sentence
you know how to pronounce
illustrating each meaning in your notebook.
the word before you use it in
2. Look up the word blind in your dictionary. How many definitions
conversation.
are there for blind as an adjective? For blind as a verb? What is
one meaning for blind as a noun? Write your answers in your
notebook.

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 In general, all words gain EXERCISE B
Tip
their different senses of In the following activity, you will see the same word used in several
meaning by being used over a different sentences. Write down the meaning that applies to each
period of time. sentence in your notebook.
example
I did not want to hamper his investigation.
The dog would steal dirty socks from the hamper.
Definition 1: to interfere with the operation of
There are several ways in Definition 2: a large basket usually with a cover for storing materials
Tip (usually laundry)
which words gain multiple
meanings. Over time, a word may 1. Art looked out the window and saw a cardinal perched on the
• acquire a broader meaning fence.
One of the cardinal rules of business is “The customer is always
• gain several narrow or
right.”
specialized meanings
2. The criminal was charged with fencing stolen car stereos.
• gain positive or negative Aaron had to practice fencing for his role as the sword-slashing
connotations D’Artagnan in the school production of The Three Musketeers.
• come to be used as a different 3. In Act 2, scene 2 of Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet
part of speech (a noun, for wax eloquent on the subject of love.
example, may gain another The moon waxes and wanes.
meaning as a verb) 4. Mr. Jacobs took out a loan from the bank because he needed some
capital to start up a new business.
Capital punishment is illegal in some states.
5. It was evident from the stranger’s proud bearing that she was a
powerful woman.
We stopped for a moment to gain our bearings, then resumed our
hike.
The wheel bearings in my car began to squeal.

Just for Fun

How do you suppose habit came to mean both an addiction and the
headgear worn by Catholic nuns? Think of a word with multiple
meanings, such as seal, pupil, watch, cardinal, or moor. Then draw two
or more illustrations, each representing a different meaning of that
word. Next, explain how the meanings are related—or not related. For
example, incense came from the Latin word encendere, meaning “to
set on fire.” From there it came to mean “something burned to release
a fragrance” or “to make someone burning mad.” On the other hand,
the three meanings of the word moor are not related. They stem from
different roots.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 7
Word of the Week
Connotation and Denotation erratic (i ra> tik) adj., having no
fixed purpose
Understand the Concept
His actions have become more
A denotation of a word is its dictionary definition. A word’s
and more erratic and now I don’t
connotations are all the associations it has in addition to its literal
know what to do.
meaning. Connotations may be positive, negative, or neutral. For
example, the words vintage and old both mean something that has been The word erratic has a fairly
around for a long time. Old is rather neutral. An old car could be worn neutral connotation, while
and beat-up, or it could be a shined-up classic. Obsolete is negative. It some of its synonyms, such as
connotes something that is no longer useful or acceptable. Vintage, a bizarre, oddball, and weird, have
word that comes from wine-making, connotes something that, like a negative ones. Other synonyms
fine wine, has become more valuable with age. with more positive connotations
include eccentric, singular, and
negative That computer is obsolete; you should get a newer changeable.
model.
neutral There was an old car parked outside the house.
positive That boutique sells vintage clothes.
It is important to be aware of a word’s connotations as well as its
denotations. Your word choice may imply a certain meaning that you
did not intend to convey, so it is important to choose your words wisely.

Try It Yourself Just for Fun

Circle the word or words that would best describe each of the following Look through a dictionary or
people, objects, or situations. Explain your answers. You may use a thesaurus until you find a group
dictionary to help you. of synonyms that have different
connotations. Put these words in
1. A child who innocently asks a lot of questions might be described order from positive to negative,
as which of the following? with more neutral words in the
curious inquisitive nosy snoopy middle. You might start with a
word like silly, fake, or flighty.
 
2. A politician who has accepted a bribe might be described as which vintage, antique, timeworn, old,
of the following? antiquated, obsolete, worn-out
crooked villainous corrupt devious

3. Which word would you use to respectfully describe people in a

nursing home?
elderly vintage aged old

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 Some words start out 4. You think your dad is far too tight with his money. Which word
Tip would you use to describe him?
as neutral or positive,
but gain negative connotations thrifty frugal miserly conservative
over time. For example, the word
gossip once meant a godparent
(from God-sibb, meaning related 5. Which word would you use to describe a friend whom you admire
through God). Over time, it gained for having a different style?
the meaning of one who spreads
stories about people, perhaps strange different unique quirky
because godparents were often
distant relatives who were only
seen once in a great while. During 6. Which word could you use to describe a young child who
their infrequent visits, they would doesn’t tell the truth?
likely spend a long time chit- liar perjurer fibber fabricator
chatting and sharing the latest
news about family members.
Similarly, the word hussy once 7. Which word best describes a delicious meal in a fancy restaurant?
was a neutral word meaning
“housewife” before it took on the exquisite fine delicate admirable
negative connotations it has today.

8. Which word best describes an honest businessperson?

merchant dealer trader trafficker

Tip A connotation is an
9. You read in the newspaper of someone who has committed a
emotional association or
implication attached to a word or
terrible crime. Which word would probably be used to describe
expression. this person?
mean nasty contemptible obnoxious

10. Someone has taken your lunch money. You laid it on the desk in
front of you and turned to reach for your backpack, and it was
Tip Writers and speakers
gone. Which word would best describe what happened to the
should be aware of
money?
the connotations as well as the
denotations of the words they use. smuggled pilfered filched embezzled

The dictionary will often explain the differences in connotations between

words with a similar meaning. For example, if you look up the word
shrewd, you may find a description of the differences between shrewd,
sagacious, perspicacious, and astute. All of these words mean “having
good judgment.” However, they have more subtle shades of meaning,
or connotations. Shrewd suggests one who has a sharp eye and is clever
and wily, while sagacious suggests one who has a far-seeing wisdom.
Perspicacious and astute have different shades of meaning as well.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 8
Word of the Week
Context Clues reticent (re> t@ s@nt)
adj., inclined to be silent or
Understand the Concept uncommunicative in speech
When you encounter an unfamiliar word in your reading, you can often
use the context, or the words and sentences around it, to figure out the The cautious new student was
meaning of the word. reticent, but I was determined to
get him to talk to me.

Try It Yourself Based on the context clues in the

Read the following passage from a letter written by Samuel Clemens sample sentence, a reader might
(Mark Twain). The letter was written in 1901, in response to an guess that reticent means “quiet”
invitation in which Clemens was asked to travel to Missouri. Use or “reserved.” The word reticent
context clues to guess the meaning of the underlined vocabulary words. comes from the Latin re- and
tace–re, which means “to be silent”
Invitations which a brisk young fellow should get, and which
would transport him with joy, are delayed and impeded and
obstructed until they are fifty years overdue when they reach him.
When I was a boy in Missouri I was always on the lookout
for invitations but they always miscarried and went wandering
through the aisles of time; and now they are arriving when I am Just for Fun
old and rheumatic and can’t travel and must lose my chance. Provide some “context” for an
I have lost a world of delight through this matter of delaying unfamiliar word! Browse through a
invitations. Fifty years ago I would have gone eagerly across the dictionary and locate a word that is
unfamiliar to you. Write the word
world to help celebrate anything that might turn up. It would
in the center of a blank white
have made no difference to me what it was, so that I was there sheet of paper. Add information
and allowed a chance to make a noise. about the word all around it.
The whole scheme of things is turned wrong end to. Life Include antonyms, synonyms,
should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, sentences using the word
(some may be clippings from a
and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such
newspaper or magazine, some
advantages. As things are now, when in youth a dollar would may be your own examples),
bring a hundred pleasures, you can’t have it. When you are old, and images that will help you
you get it and there is nothing worth buying with it then. remember the word’s meaning.
It’s an epitome of life. The first half of it consists of the
capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the
chance without the capacity.
I am admonished in many ways that time is pushing me
inexorably along. I am approaching the threshold of age; in
1977 I shall be 142. This is no time to be flitting about the
earth. I must cease from the activities proper to youth and begin

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 While reading, pay to take on the dignities and gravities and inertia proper to that
Tip
attention to expressions season of honorable senility which is on its way and imminent
that show comparison, such as as indicated above.
like, similarly, and in the same
1. transport
way and expressions that show
contrast, such as but, in contrast,
unlike, and on the other hand.
2. impeded
These expressions can provide
clues to an unfamiliar word. Read
the examples below and use
3. obstructed
context clues to figure out the
meanings of the words renowned,
scribe, and sedentary.
4. miscarried
  
Mark Twain, like most renowned
scribes, was often asked to speak 5. rheumatic
at special events.
 
Twain was a great traveler in 6. scheme
his youth, but became more
sedentary in his old age.
7. accumulations

8. capacity

Tip Sometimes a closer look

at the passage containing
9. epitome
the unfamiliar word will uncover
clues that reveal its meaning.
For example, Clemens’s habit
10. admonished
of repeating an idea might help
you figure out the meanings of
the second and third underlined
11. threshold
words. Looking at word parts
can also provide clues as to the
meaning of words.
12. flitting

13. gravities

14. inertia

15. imminent

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Defining Word Parts
Use your knowledge of word parts when answering the following questions.
For each question, select the answer that best completes each sentence.

_____ 1. The prefix semi-, as in the word _____ 7. The word root cred, as in the word
semicircle, means __________. incredulous, means __________.
A. between A. hard
B. half B. believe
C. partial C. equal
D. complete D. break
_____ 2. The prefix dis-, as in the word _____ 8. The word root aud, as in the word
disadvantaged, means __________. inaudible, means __________.
A. miss A. see
B. not B. smell
C. again C. touch
D. wrongly D. hear
_____ 3. The prefix re-, as in the word _____ 9. The word root urb, as in the
reconvene, means __________. words urban and suburban, means
A. over __________.
B. not A. city
C. under B. country
D. again C. people
D. outside
_____ 4. The suffix -less, as in the word
hapless, means __________. _____ 10. The word root pop, as in the word
A. made of populace, means __________.
B. full of A. beverage
C. action or process B. voice
D. without C. people
D. move
_____ 5. The suffix -able or -ible, as in the
words arguable and irritable, means _____ 11. The word root (combining form)
__________. auto, as in the word autonomous,
A. capable of means __________.
B. finished A. car
C. characterized by B. hear
D. possessing the qualities of C. self
D. join
_____ 6. The suffix -ic, as in the word acidic,
means __________. _____ 12. The word root (combining form)
A. without mono, as in the word monotone,
B. in favor of means __________.
C. having characteristics of A. self
D. act, process B. dull
C. low
D. one

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 Using Context Clues
Use context clues to choose the definition that best fits each underlined word.

_____ 1. The doctor determined that Joan’s _____ 7. The soon-to-be father accompanied
vision problems were due to a his wife to her prenatal exams.
deficiency of vitamin A. A. birthing
A. inadequate supply B. child-rearing
B. overabundance C. time after birth
C. diagnosis D. time before birth
D. side effect
_____ 8. Motorists were frustrated when miles
_____ 2. I made sure I left the living room of road construction impeded the
intact; I did not want to be accused of flow of traffic.
messing anything up before the big A. sped up
party. B. repaired
A. disastrous C. stalled
B. untouched D. ignored
C. tangible
_____ 9. The hermit’s seclusion from other
D. leisurely
people was a personal choice—he
_____ 3. After working with a tutor for a could have just as easily decided to
few months, Dajon became a more live among people.
proficient reader. A. defense
A. skilled B. isolation
B. untrained C. acceptance
C. risky D. conclusion
D. exciting
_____ 10. I read the entire trilogy on my flight
_____ 4. The archaic car looked to be one of from the United States to Japan.
the first automobiles ever built. A. series of three books
A. shiny B. series of four books
B. valuable C. collection of horror stories
C. black D. collection of haiku
D. old
_____ 11. We grew legumes in our garden so
_____ 5. The assiduous student never seemed that we’d have the fun of picking our
to take a break from schoolwork. own peas and beans.
A. hardworking A. potatoes
B. lazy B. onions
C. intelligent C. green vegetables
D. stylish D. plants whose fruit grows in pods
_____ 6. Benjamin Franklin worked as an _____ 12. Despite her throbbing knee, Laura
apprentice for his brother and made a valiant effort to win the race.
subsequently started his own A. small
newspaper. B. weak
A. previously C. brave
B. later D. half-hearted
C. nonetheless
D. as a result

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 9
Word of the Week
Word Origins absolve (@b z5lv>) v., to set free
from obligation; to forgive
Understand the Concept
To get him to testify, the court
The English language is expanding constantly. It would be virtually
absolved Norman of his actions
impossible to know all of the words in the English language,
and involvement with the crime.
however, maintaining a large vocabulary will help you read and write
proficiently. Understanding the origins of words will help you unlock The word absolve is a Middle
their meanings and assist you in recognizing related words. English word derived from the
Becoming familiar with the etymologies of words is an effective way Latin word absolvere, which is
to recognize connections between them. Etymology is the study of the formed from ab- plus solvere,
origins of words. You will find the etymologies of most words in any which means “to loosen.” This is
good dictionary. These entries will indicate where the word originated an example of a word’s etymology.
and may explain how the word has changed over time. For example, the
entry for the word steal includes the following text: “[ME stelen, fr. OE
stelan; akin to OHG stelan to steal].” This can be interpreted as “from
the Middle English word stelen, which is derived from the Old English
stelan; akin to the Old High German word stelan, meaning ‘to steal.’”
Many words in the English language came from other languages
and are known as borrowed words. As new things were introduced
into the English-speaking society, they often retained their original
non-English names. This continues to happen today. For example, Just for Fun
immigrants often introduce new words from their native language Jot down a few words that you
when they move to English-speaking countries. The words hamster, believe are examples of eponyms.
kindergarten, and nickel are all words that German immigrants Attempt to explain who or what
introduced into the English language. Try to think of common words they are named after and verify
that might have come from a non-English-speaking culture. your guesses by looking them up
Two other terms are important to know when building one’s in dictionaries or encyclopedias.
vocabulary: eponyms and acronyms. An eponym describes a word Share your eponyms with your
that was named after a specific person or place. Examples include classmates.
foods (Caesar salad), adjectives (narcissist, after Narcissus of Greek
mythology), diseases (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and even time periods
(Nixon Era).
Acronyms are words that are formed using the first letter or
letters from a term or phrase. These words are often created when the
title of something is long or complicated and must be said or written
repeatedly. Examples include: ER (emergency room); CD-ROM
(compact disk, read-only material); and NASA (National Aeronautics
and Space Administration).

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 Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Research the etymology of the following borrowed words using a
dictionary or online resource. Write a short description of where each
of the words came from.
1. coach

2. bankrupt

3. chivalry

4. horde

5. mammoth

EXERCISE B
Research the origins of the following acronyms. Write out what each
letter of the acronym means.
1. NATO
2. FDR
3. EMT
4. HIV
5. ETA

EXERCISE C
In the space provided below or in your notebook, jot down familiar
words that are eponyms or acronyms. Explain why you believe they
qualify.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 10
Word of the Week
Place Names calico (ka> li k9) n., cotton cloth
imported from India
Understand the Concept
When the shipment of calico
You already know that the English language contains borrowed words,
arrived, James could not wait to
or words from other languages. What you may not realize is that many
buy some for his grandmother.
names in the United States are also borrowed words. They come from
British English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Native American words, as The word calico comes from the
well as from the names of important places and figures in world history. name Calicut. Calicut is a city and
The names of cities, as well as the names of natural landmarks, also seaport in India where Europeans
came from a variety of sources. Many rivers, lakes, and mountains, as first obtained the material. This is
well as some of our biggest cities, took Native American names. Other an example of an eponym.
cities, such as East Berlin, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee, were
named after the great cities of the Old World. When naming the infant
cities and colonies after familiar places back home, settlers often added
the qualifier “New,” as in New York, New Jersey, and New England. A fancy word for place
Tip
names is toponyms
Try It Yourself (from the Greek topos, meaning
“place,” and -onym, meaning
EXERCISE A
“name”).
Can you guess where each of the following state names came from? Use
a dictionary, encyclopedia, or another source to check your responses.
Write the source of the state’s name and the meaning or definition of
the name on the line given.
1. Washington
2. Oklahoma
Just for Fun
3. Rhode Island
Get a map of your state or of
4. Pennsylvania another state of your choosing.
5. Georgia Make a list of the most unusual
place names you find.
6. Maine
7. Maryland
8. New York
9. Alabama
10. Vermont

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 EXERCISE B
Just for Fun
Use a dictionary, encyclopedia, or other resource to find the origins of
If you were asked to rename your the following place names.
town or city, what would you
1. Jefferson City, MO
name it? Why?
2. Mississippi River
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Palo Alto, CA
5. Lincoln, NE

Tip Many common elements EXERCISE C

in place names can be
1. Use a map of the United States and a dictionary to find three place
traced back to Anglo-Saxon and
names that fit into each of the following categories.
Viking origins. For example, town
names that end in boro, borough, A. From Native American languages
or burgh come from Anglo-Saxon
words meaning “an old fortified
site.” The suffix -ton, also found in
many town names, means “farm”
or “settlement.” Below are some
more suffixes commonly used in B. From the names of people
place names.
-ville
-dale
-field
C. From French
-ham (from an Anglo-Saxon word
meaning “homestead”)
-by (from the Viking word for
“farm” or “village”)
-worth (from the Anglo-Saxon D. From Spanish
word for “farm”)

2. Do you find areas that have a large number of names from a

particular source? Explain. Why do you think this is so?

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 11
Word of the Week
Word Families from Greek and Latin Roots archaic (5r k6> ik) adj., out of
date
Understand the Concept
The word was archaic since it had
Many words in English, particularly those having to do with science
been out of print since the early
and technology, have been created using words or word parts from
1700s.
ancient Greek and Latin. The word telephone, for instance, was formed
from the Greek words tele, meaning “far away,” and phone, meaning The word archaic is made up
“voice.” Of course, the word telephone never existed in ancient Greek. of the Greek word part archa,
Nor did the words television and telethon. Ancient Greek and Latin meaning “ancient or beginning,”
word roots are being used all the time to name things that the ancients and the adjective suffix –ic,
never dreamed of. meaning “having characteristics
The following table shows some words formed from Greek and of.” Other words in the archa
Latin word parts. Notice that the words formed from Latin word parts family include archetype,
archaeology, and archaism.
are more common, though the words from Greek are nearly identical in
meaning.
From Greek From Latin Meaning
dys-trophy mal-nutrition bad-nourishment
Tip The word morpheme,
hypo-thesis sup-position under-put
meaning “word part”
peri-phrasis circum-locution around-say or “word form,” is derived from
sym-pathy com-passion with-feel the Greek root morph, meaning
dia-phanous trans-parent through-show “form.” Other words in this family
are polymorph, metamorphosis,
mono-morphic uni-form one-form
and amorphous. Can you guess
poly-glottal multi-lingual many-tongued the meanings of these words?

Words that share the same root are known as word families. Knowing
the root can help you determine the meanings and spelling of the words
that share that root. For example, the following words share the Greek
word root chron, meaning “time”:
chronic: something, as an illness, that continues or recurs
over a long period of time
chronicle: an account of events given in the order of the time
they occurred
chronological: describes something arranged in the order of time
chronometer: a type of extremely accurate clock
Your teacher may provide you with charts of common word parts.
Study these before completing the following exercise.

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 Tip Refer to your Word Parts Try It Yourself
Charts as you complete What does perspiration have in common with spirit? Find out in the
this activity. following exercise. Identify the Latin or Greek word part that each
group of words has in common, and tell what that word part means.
Finally, look up any of the words in each group that are unfamiliar to
you. As a class, discuss how the words might have stemmed from the
same source, even if their meanings are substantially different today.

Just for Fun 1. oncology

geology
Make up your own words using lexicology
Greek and Latin word parts from astrology
your Word Parts Charts. For biology
example, you might combine the
root -phile with chocolate to create
the word chocophile, meaning
“one who loves chocolate.” You
may be surprised to find that 2. veracity
some of your “made-up” words veritable
are actually in the dictionary! verisimilitude
verify
verdict

3. perspire
inspire
respiration
spirometer
spirit

4. verbiage
verbose
verbicide
adverb
proverb

5. perimeter
pericardium
perihelion
peripheral
periscope

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 12
Word of the Week
English Words from French austere (0 stir> or 0 ster>)
adj., stern and cold in appearance
Understand the Concept or manner; markedly simple or
Although English is primarily a Germanic language, one related to unadorned; morally strict
German, Danish, and Swedish, it has borrowed countless words from
His son was austere in his
the Latin-based Romance languages—from French most of all. In fact, approach to strangers and young
it has been estimated that half of the words in English were originally children.
taken from French.
To understand this odd mixture, you need some history. For over The word austere is a Middle
500 years, England was ruled by the Anglo-Saxon people, Germanic English word that originally came
tribes who came over from Europe in ad 449 and conquered the from the Greek word auste–ros,
native Britons. Then, in 1066, the island was taken over by invaders meaning “harsh or severe.” From
from Normandy, an area in northern France. This so-called Norman Greek, it came into Latin as
austerus, then into Anglo-French
Conquest brought on the Medieval Period. During this time English
as austere.
became a lower-class language in England, while Norman French was
the language of the nobles.
Below are some of the words borrowed from French during the
Medieval Period. Since the Norman conquerors were the ruling class,
many of the words they introduced were related to power and prestige,
as well as art, fashion, and food.
Tip You can find the
Some Words Borrowed from French
etymology, or origins,
Politics assembly, crown, empire, government, realm, reign, of most words in a standard
sovereign dictionary. Look for the etymology
Financial Matters account, agent, bargain, estate, heir, merchant, in brackets to the right of the part-
revenue of-speech label, as in the example
Power Relationships allegiance, authority, homage, oppress, pedigree, below.
servant pedigree (pe> d@ gr7) n., [ME
Law accuse, assault, attorney, convict, evidence, felony, pedegru, from MF pie de grue
justice, legal, perjury, treason, verdict crane’s foot, for its resemblance
War army, defense, lieutenant, siege, surrender to a family tree chart] (15c) an
ancestral line; a distinguished
Manners cavalier, courteous, debonair, dignity, loyalty
ancestry
Religion baptism, devotion, faith, virtue
Note: ME stands for “Middle
Architecture and Furnishings balcony, dungeon, furniture, pavement
English” and MF means “Middle
Fine Clothing apparel, attire, costume, dress, fashion, garments, French.” Your dictionary will
gown provide a list of abbreviations used
Leisure, Entertainment, art, dance, harmony, sculpture, tournament and what they stand for.
and the Arts
Food banquet, feast, roast, salad, supper

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 The French used the term Although new words entered English from French, many of the original
Tip English words also survived. Notice that the words derived from French
pie de grue, or “crane’s
foot,” to describe a person’s tend to sound more formal. Because the French-speaking Normans
ancestry or family tree. After the were the ruling class, the words they used still carry connotations, or
English borrowed the term, its associations, of formality and sophistication.
spelling and pronunciation were
changed over time to create the Words from Old English Words from French
more English-sounding word begin commence
pedigree. Many other words from book volume
French were changed in this way.
buy purchase
clothes apparel, attire, garments
eat dine
folk people
friend companion
help aid
hide conceal
house mansion
Just for Fun steal purloin
English contains so many words tell, say notify, inform
borrowed from French that you wedding marriage
should be able to read French no
wish desire
problem, right? Check out a French
newspaper or magazine from the
library or the French classroom at Try It Yourself
school, and skim through of the
articles. How many words do you EXERCISE A
recognize? Copy them down in In the following sentences, words that originated from French are
your notebook. Then, tell a partner underlined. Rewrite the sentences in your notebooks, replacing the
what you think the article is about. underlined words with their Old English counterparts. Does the result
sound more or less formal?
1. Rather than purchase the volume, Bob concealed it under his
apparel and purloined it.
2. The marriage ceremony will commence at 7:00 at the mansion.
3. My companions notified me that they desired to dine.
French words continued to enter the language long after the Norman
rulers lost power in the year 1154. Words borrowed in recent centuries
are more likely to have the original French spelling, complete with
accents, because they have not been fully “Anglicized.” These words
include à la carte, café, and rendevous.
EXERCISE B
Use the dictionary to look up the following words of French origin.
Write down the definition and pronunciation of each word in your
notebook and use the word in an original sentence.
1. faux pas 4. coup d’état
2. camouflage 5. panache
3. macabre

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 13
Word of the Week
English Words from Spanish renegade (re> n@ g6d) n., one
who deserts a faith or cause
Understand the Concept to join up with the enemy; an
The Spanish were some of the first Europeans to explore the Americas. individual who rejects lawful
Upon arriving to a new land and coming into contact with Native behavior
American cultures, they found many things for which they didn’t have adj., describing someone who
words. They created new Spanish words to name new things, or they has deserted a cause or rejected
borrowed from native languages. Later, English-speaking people were tradition
introduced to these Spanish and Native American words and adopted The evil dictator was defeated
them as part of their language. by a renegade band of soldiers,
Below are some words the Spanish gave us for plants and animals who had deserted his army in
of the Americas. Note that many were originally from Native American order to fight for justice.
languages such as Nahuatl, Arawak, Taino, Quechua, and Carib.
Renegade comes from the
alligator condor (Quechua) mosquito Spanish word renegado, meaning
armadillo coyote (Nahuatl) mustang one who denies or renounces
chinchilla iguana (Arawak & papaya (Arawak) something.
chile (Nahuatl) Carib) potato (Taino)
chocolate (Nahuatl) guava (Arawak) puma (Quechua)
cocoa (Nahuatl) llama (Quechua) tomato (Nahuatl)
cockroach manatee (Taino) vanilla
Tip Many words borrowed
English-speakers in the Americas continued to borrow from Spanish, from Spanish were
especially as they began to move farther west, into land that had originally borrowed by Spanish
been settled by Spanish ranchers and missionaries. The American speakers from Native American
southwest—including the territory we know today as Texas, New languages.
Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and
Wyoming— was until the mid-1800s a part of Mexico, and settlers
who moved there picked up many Spanish words. Among these were
vocabulary pertaining to the ranching life in the “Wild West,” as well as
words for foods, music, and natural landmarks. Just for Fun
adobe hammock (Taino) pronto Use a Spanish-English dictionary
aficionado hoosegow (slang) ranch or ask a Spanish-speaking friend
barrio hurricane (Taino) renegade to find one or more words from
bonanza incommunicado rodeo Spanish that have not yet been
bronco junta serape incorporated into English. Pick
burro lasso sierra words that you like based on
canyon machete siesta meaning or sound. Use each in a
comrade mesa sombrero sentence.
desperado patio stampede
embargo pinto tornado
enchilada plaza vigilante
guerrilla poncho
guitar (Araucanian)

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 Tip Find a Spanish-speaking Try It Yourself
person at your school. Words borrowed from other languages were often altered from the
Interview that person to find out original in an attempt to make them sound more “English.” Look
what additional Spanish words he up each of the following words in the dictionary and copy down
or she knows of that are regularly the Spanish or Native American word it was taken from. Note the
used in the English language. definition for each word and use each in an original sentence.
1. mustang

Tip English words enter 2. papaya

Spanish as well—creating
hybrid terms such as lonche
(Mexican-Spanish for lunch). In
some American communities,
3. canyon
English and Spanish have mixed
together so thoroughly that locals
describe their conversational
language as “Spanglish.” This
process may seem alarming 4. desperado
to some, but it is nothing new.
The English language has been
borrowing and adopting foreign
words for centuries.
5. alligator

6. cockroach

7. incommunicado

8. stampede

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 14
Word of the Week
English Words from Asian Languages kowtow (kou> tou) v., try to win
the favor of someone by fawning
Understand the Concept over them, showing exaggerated
When you think of words borrowed from Asian languages, you may respect and deference; to kneel
first think of words for foods and martial arts that have become popular down and touch the forehead to
in the United States. However, Asian languages such as Chinese and the ground in token of homage
Japanese have contributed a wide variety of words to English. Below is a
Ben was so in love with Marsha
sampling.
that he kowtowed to her every
whim.
Words from Asian Languages
Japanese aikido, bonsai, futon, geisha, hara-kiri, honcho, Kowtow comes from the word
karaoke, judo, jujitsu, kamikaze, karate, kimono, kòutóu, a Chinese word used in
ninja, origami, ramen, rickshaw, sake, samurai, the Beijing area. To the Chinese,
shogun, soy, sushi, tatami, tsunami, tycoon it meant to kneel down and touch
one’s head on the floor as a sign
Chinese chop suey, chop-chop, chopstick, chow, feng shui,
of deep respect. English-speaking
gung ho, kowtow, kumquat, kung fu, mah jongg,
people who were not familiar with
shanghai, t’ai chi, tea, typhoon, wok, yen
this custom thought it seemed
Korean tae kwon do very exaggerated, so they used
Malay (Malaysia, Indonesia, amok, bamboo, cockatoo, compound (enclosed the word kowtow in a negative
Singapore, Brunei) settlement), gecko, gingham, gong (also Jav.), way, to refer to the actions of
ketchup, orangutan, paddy, sarong someone who is fawning or overly
Javanese (Malaysia) batik accommodating.
Tagalog (Philippines) boondocks
Polynesian Languages
Hawaiian hula, luau, ukulele
Tahitian tattoo
Tongan taboo

Tip Locate the following on a

Try It Yourself map: Japan, China, Korea,
Use context clues to determine the meaning of each underlined word.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore,
Then check your guess by looking in the dictionary. Copy down the Brunei, the Philippines, Tahiti, and
word’s definition as well as the etymology (explanation of the word’s Tonga.
origins) in your notebook.
example The family lived in a compound outside of Bangkok,
isolated from the city.
compound: a fenced or walled-in area containing a
group of buildings and especially residences. By folk
etymology from Malay kampung, group of buildings,
village.

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 The word compound, 1. An undersea earthquake generated a 75-foot tsunami that
Tip destroyed many homes in the coastal community.
meaning a settlement
or neighborhood enclosed by 2. The restaurant held a karaoke night every Saturday.
walls or gates, came from the 3. Lucy takes judo at a local martial arts school.
Malay word kampung. English 4. The children ran amok in the backyard, letting out some of their
speakers changed it into a word boundless energy.
they already knew so that it would 5. Mark didn’t really want to go to the party the night before the SAT,
be easier to pronounce. When a but his friends shanghaied him into it.
word is transformed into another, 6. Donald Trump is a real-estate tycoon.
similar-sounding word or words, 7. After the coach’s pep talk, the team was gung ho to get out there
this is called folk etymology. and win the game.
Another example of a word that 8. Harriet stopped by the vending machine to satisfy her yen for
has undergone folk etymology chocolate.
is cockroach. It came from the 9. In Japan, wearing shoes in the house is taboo; you must take them
Spanish cucaracha. off at the door.
10. I bought this batik sarong while on vacation in the Yucatan.

Just for Fun

Imagine that you have received this letter from a friend. Fill in the
blanks with words of Asian origin.
Dear Pal,

I hate my job! First of all, it’s way out in the __________ so I

have to take three buses. Then, the head __________ there is
a real jerk. He expects everyone to __________to him. And he
says annoying things like “__________! Get a move on!” When I
spilled __________ on my hideous __________ uniform, he got
so upset. The only good thing is, the __________ here is pretty
good and we get to eat for free.

Your Bud

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 15
Word of the Week
English around the World loaf (l9f>) n., Brit. slang, head

Understand the Concept Jeremy didn’t use his loaf when

he drove after drinking.
English is spoken all over the world. Among the many countries that
claim English as the primary language are the United States, the United Loaf is short for loaf of bread,
Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales), Ireland, a phrase which rhymes with
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Belize, and Nigeria. Many head. This whimsical phrase is
other nations, such as India and Singapore, count English among an example of Cockney rhyming
several official languages. slang in which a word is replaced
However, English is not the same in every place. If you have ever by an expression that rhymes with
had a conversation with someone from, say, Scotland, you may have it. Frequently the first word of the
realized that American and British English have grown apart since expression is used alone. Cockney
the Mayflower landed here nearly 400 years ago. The two dialects, or is an English dialect that originated
in the East End of London. It is the
versions, of English differ so greatly in pronunciation, spelling, and
dialect spoken by Eliza Doolittle,
vocabulary that you might need subtitles to watch a British movie, or
the heroine of George Bernard
footnotes to read a British novel.
Shaw’s famous play Pygmalion.
Following are some examples of how British English and American
English differ.
Tip Most of the countries
British English American English that count English as a
afters dessert primary or secondary language—
including, of course, the United
air hostess flight attendant
States—were at one time colonies
bap hamburger bun of Great Britain. That is, Great
bell telephone call Britain conquered and ruled these
bent dishonest countries.
biscuit cookie or cracker
bootlace shoe string
buck up cheer up
chips French fries Tip A dialect is a version of
a language spoken by the
cooker stove
people of a particular place, time,
dabs fingerprints or social group.
dodgy risky
dressing gown bathrobe
elevenses morning coffee break
football soccer
glass mirror
letter-box mailbox
lift elevator
macintosh raincoat

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 Tip Is there such a thing as British English American English
“standard English”—one milkboiler saucepan
version of the language that is
pay packet paycheck
considered correct? Well, yes
and no. There is a standard, prep study hall
formal English that is taught in
schools everywhere and is used in British spellings often differ from American spellings. Words ending
business and politics. This version in -ize are often spelled -ise in Britain (recognise, visualise, organise).
of English does not include slang Words ending in -or are often spelled -our (colour, flavour, favourite).
and colloquialisms that differ And words ending in -er are sometimes spelled with an -re in British
from region to region, so it can be English (centre, theatre). Following are a few more examples:
understood by almost everyone.
However, there are differences— British Spelling American Spelling
most notably in the way words are
aeroplane airplane
pronounced and spelled. There is
no “standard” accent. Most people aluminium aluminum
agree that a Caribbean accent is grey gray
just as “correct” as a British one. judgement, acknowledgement judgment, acknowledgment

English speakers in other countries often use the British, rather than
American, spellings of words. They also may use British terms rather
than American words.

Tip In Australia, teeth are Try It Yourself

called “choppers,” The following sentences include dialect from outside the United States.
mosquitoes are called “mozzies,” Try to “translate” each sentence into American English.
and your friend is your “digger” or
your “mate.” 1. Father sped up to overtake the lorry on the motorway.
2. Look at that bloke on the telly!
In South Africa, a mountain is a
3. Grandmother had me don my posh frock for the party.
“berg,” a tree is a “boom,” and
4. The Nelsons went on holiday to Paris.
“Howzit?” means “How are you?”
5. Denise got her hair cut today; don’t you like how the fringe frames
In Ireland, an untidy person is her eyes?
a “flipper,” and “gob” means 6. Bobby hit his loaf when he fell while running down the
“mouth.” pavement.
In Singapore, to “zap” something 7. Jason shares a flat with his cousin, a bloke from Southampton.
means to make a photocopy of it. 8. After changing the baby, Sarah yelled for Vern to take the soiled
nappy to the dustbin.
In Jamaica, “tall hair” means long
9. Mirna went to the chemist to have her prescription refilled.
hair.
10. After spending the afternoon toiling over the cooker, Mrs Burns
In Trinidad, to “lime” means to went to relax a moment in the garden.
hang around or loiter.
Just for Fun
To further investigate the differences between British and American
English, find a dictionary of British English on the Internet or your
local library. Jot down a few British terms and their definitions and
share them with your classmates.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 16
Word of the Week
Informal and Archaic Language agitate (a> j@ t6t) v., to excite
and often trouble the mind or
Understand the Concept feelings of; disturb
It is common to use formal language when addressing strangers or
I wanted to listen to that song
people of authority. Formal language should also be used when you
on the radio but I didn’t want to
are writing essays, business letters, or any other formal document. You agitate the driver, who preferred
would normally speak in formal English when interviewing for a job, classical music.
participating in a debate, or speaking to your elders. Informal language
includes everyday speech, popular expressions, contractions, and even While the word agitate is used in
sentence fragments. Most of us use informal English in our everyday lives. the modern English language, a
specific definition of agitate has
example Formal: “Hello mother, may I invite a guest to become obsolete. This definition
dinner?” is “to give motion to; to move
Informal: “Hey mom, can Sarah come over to eat?” with an irregular, rapid, or violent
There are many types of informal language. Two common types include action,” such as “the storm
slang and colloquialisms. Slang is a form of speech made up of invented agitated the sea.”
words or old words that are given new meanings. Colloquialisms
are informal expressions used in everyday speech. Many words or
expressions start out as slang and then, once they are used by a large
majority of people, become colloquialisms.
examples Slang: “That movie was sick!”
“My favorite actor is phat!”
Colloquialisms: “I get to work as soon as I can, but my
manager is always busting my chops.”
“Ya’ll want to meet for dinner tonight?”
On the lines below, write down a few slang terms and colloquialisms
and explain their meanings.
Slang Colloquialisms

Archaic and Obsolete Words

While slang and colloquialisms are introduced into the English
language fairly regularly, other older words drop out. This means that
the language is constantly changing. When you read works from earlier
time periods, you might notice that many of the words are unfamiliar
to you. Words or specific meanings of words that are rarely used in
modern English may be considered archaic, or “old fashioned.” In a

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 A register is any of the dictionary label, archaic means that the word or a specific definition of
Tip the word is found only in special contexts. A word that is no longer in
varieties of language
that a speaker uses in a certain use is called obsolete. In a dictionary label, this means that the word
social context. There are certain has not been used since the mid-1700s. Note the examples and their
words and expressions that you meanings below.
might use in a conversation with Archaic: afore = before
a friend that you would not use
clepe = to name; to call
when speaking with your friend’s
parents. When you speak to a Obsolete: gowl = to weep with anger
child you would usually use a quaddy = short and thick
register that is nonthreatening and
Encountering obsolete language can be difficult because it won’t always
simple to understand. Consider
appear in the dictionary. If that occurs, try to use the context of the
the types of registers you use
sentence to figure out what the word means.
throughout the course of your day.

Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Use context clues to guess the meaning of each underlined obsolete
word. Write your guesses in your notebook.
1. As the oldest sibling, he was the first to elden and pass away.
2. We must all work together to establish evenhood among the
different cultures of our community.
3. As the burdalane, he inherited everything.
4. My eldmother would send me a wool sweater each winter holiday.
5. At dinner, Lori was rarely content and would whingle until she was
excused.

EXERCISE B
Rewrite the following informal phrases and sentences using formal
language. Write your answers in your notebook.
1. Hey man, what’s up?
2. OMG, I can’t believe ya’ll let her borrow your ride!
3. Dude, you’d better pay me back!
4. I’m in the doghouse!
5. That was sick!

EXERCISE C
In your notebook, rewrite the following formal letter using informal
language.
Dear Jonathan,

I am writing to invite you to an evening of dancing and

merriment in order to celebrate the New Year. The New Year’s
celebration will take place on December 31 at Miss Danielle
York’s estate. Dancing will commence promptly at nine. I would
enjoy your presence at our celebration!

Sincerely,

Mr. Edward Barker

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 17
Word of the Week
Academic Language topography (t@ p5> gr@ f7)
n., the art or practice of graphic
Understand the Concept delineation in detail usually on
Many of the subjects you will study in high school and later in college maps or charts; the physical or
feature specialized vocabulary that you may not have encountered natural features of an object
before. Knowing common word parts can help you make sense of new or entity and their structural
vocabulary in mathematics (geometry, trigonometry, calculus); the relationships
sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, geology); social studies (civics,
Based on the topography, he
current events, political science, anthropology); and the humanities
could tell that a river had once
(arts, music, and literature).
flowed through the area.
For example, knowing that the word part -ology means “the study
of” can help you determine the meaning of many words you will The word topography comes
encounter in school. Attached to the word part bio-, it forms biology, from the Middle English word
the study of life. Combined with the word part psych- it becomes topographie, derived from the
psychology, the study of the mind. Greek word topgraphein, meaning
Following are some Greek and Latin word parts that you may come “to describe a place,” from topos
across in school. meaning “place” plus graphein,
meaning “to write.”
Word Part Meaning Example Words
anthrop- (G) human being anthropology, anthropologist
bio- (G) life biology, biography
eco- (G, L) home, habitat, environment economics, ecology
equ-, equi- (L) equal equilateral, equality
ethno- (G) race, cultural group ethnicity, ethnography
geo- (G) earth; soil; ground geology, geometry
is-, iso- (G) equal; uniform isometric, isopropyl
physi- (G) nature; relating to the body physics, physiology
psych- (G) mind psychology, psychiatry
-graph[y, ic] (G) written or drawn bibliography, topography Word parts particular to
Tip
-ism (G) system of belief; act, criticism, transcendentalism earth science include
practice, or process aqu and hydr, meaning “water,”
-metry (G) having to do with measure geometry, trigonometry geo and terr, meaning “earth,”
and helio and sol, meaning “sun.”
-nomy (G) study of; science of economy, astronomy
Study your Word Parts Charts for
-ology (G) study of biology, psychology other common word parts.

Why are so many academic words derived from Greek and Latin word
parts? The language and culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans had
a profound influence on nearly all other peoples in Europe. As a result,
all Western nations (nations founded or colonized by peoples from
Western Europe) have inherited a variety of Greek and Roman ideas
and words having to do with mathematics, sciences, social studies, and
the humanities.

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 For example, words having to do with fiction, nonfiction, poetry,
Just for Fun drama, and the fine arts often have Greek and Latin roots. Following
Write down your three favorite are a few examples.
subjects in school. Break each Fiction: protagonist, antagonist, realism
subject into word parts and Nonfiction: expository writing, thesis
brainstorm a list of words related
Poetry: tercet, quatrain, pentameter
to that subject.
Drama: dialogue, monologue, soliloquy
Painting: Cubism, composition
Music and Dance: symphonic, choreography

A word family is a group Latin and Greek word parts can also be found in many words having to
Tip do with social studies and the maths and sciences.
of words built around
the same word root. Words in Social Studies: monarchy, economics, McCarthyism
a word family are connected by Math: pentagon, exponent, diameter
the basic meaning of the word Science: proton, theory, ecology
root. Keep a special spot in your
word study notebook for word
families. For each word you write
Try It Yourself
down in a word family, write EXERCISE A
down its definition. As you learn The words in each group below are part of the same word family.
new words, add them to existing Identify and define the word part each group has in common. In which
families or start new ones. school subject might you encounter each word? Use a dictionary to
look up any words you don’t know.
1. symbolism, symbiosis, symmetry, symphony
Word parts that have to do
2. autobiography, geography, topographical, lithograph
Tip 3. isometrics, isomer, isotope, isosceles
with forms of government
include -crat, -cracy, -archist, and 4. trigonometry, pentameter, perimeter, diameter
archy. 5. aristocracy, theocracy, democracy, plutocracy

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Borrowed Words
Use your knowledge of borrowed words, as well as your reasoning skills, to
choose the word that matches each definition.

_____ 1. from Spanish, meaning “table”; refers _____ 6. from Latin, meaning “by heads”;
to a flat-topped elevated area refers to counting for each individual
A. mesa person
B. costa A. per diem
C. monte B. per capita
D. arriba C. corpus
D. vote
_____ 2. from Japanese, meaning “empty
orchestra”; refers to a device that _____ 7. from German, meaning “play”; refers
plays instrumental music while to a speech or sales pitch
someone sings along A. commercial
A. bonsai B. blitz
B. geisha C. spiel
C. kimono D. kitsch
D. karaoke
_____ 8. from Hebrew, meaning “ring”; refers
_____ 3. from French, meaning “someone to a hard, glazed, doughnut-shaped
in international relations”; refers roll
to a person skilled in negotiations A. bagel
between countries B. pan
A. government C. blintz
B. agent D. baguette
C. au pair
_____ 9. from Italian, meaning “in fresh air”;
D. diplomat
refers to something taking place
_____ 4. from Chinese, meaning “big wind”; outdoors (especially a meal)
refers to a tropical cyclone occurring A. picnic
in the region of the Philippines or the B. al fresco
China Sea C. a cappella
A. tycoon D. patio
B. taboo
_____ 10. from Italian, meaning “influence”;
C. tsunami
refers to a contagious virus
D. typhoon
A. bronchitis
_____ 5. from French, meaning “already B. infection
seen”; refers to the illusion of having C. fever
experienced an event before D. influenza
A. déjà vu
_____ 11. from Arabic, meaning “coffee”; refers
B. memory
to a cocoa-flavored coffee
C. debut
A. chocolate
D. again
B. mocha
C. café
D. cappuccino

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 _____ 12. from Greek, meaning “I have found”; _____ 14. from Farsi, the language spoken
an exclamation used to express in Iran and western Afghanistan
triumph upon discovery (formerly called Persian), meaning “a
A. euripides market”
B. presto A. divan
C. eureka B. bazaar
D. holy cow C. caravan
D. pagoda
_____ 13. from Norwegian, meaning “narrow
inlet of the sea” _____ 15. from Arabic, meaning “reduction” or
A. estuary “bringing together of broken parts,”
B. oceania refers to a kind of mathematics
C. agua A. calculus
D. fjord B. geometry
C. algebra
D. addition

Word Parts from Greek and Latin

Use your knowledge of word parts to choose the answer that best completes
each sentence.

_____ 1. The word autobiography literally _____ 5. A hydroscope is an instrument for

means __________. seeing under ___________.
A. nonfiction writing A. water
B. fiction writing B. earth
C. writing about a person’s life C. volcanic rock
D. writing about one’s own life D. swamps
_____ 2. The distance across a circle is called _____ 6. A person with heliophobia has a
its __________. __________ of the sun.
A. radius A. love
B. vertex B. fear
C. diameter C. hatred
D. circumference D. desire of knowledge
_____ 3. Dermatology is __________ of the _____ 7. A person who loves __________
skin. could be called a bibliophile.
A. the knowledge A. antiques
B. an infection B. books
C. the study C. boutiques
D. a cancer D. letters
_____ 4. If a monarchy is a state governed by _____ 8. A society that believes in many gods
one ruler, what is anarchy? is known as __________.
A. a state governed by several rulers A. incredulous
B. a state governed by the upper class B. polytheistic
C. a state governed by punk rockers C. physiognomy
D. a state with no government D. autonomous

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 18
Word of the Week
Categorizing and Classifying Vocabulary prudent (pr2> d@nt) adj., wise

Understand the Concept It was prudent of her to lock the

door of the house while she was
Have you ever been given a list of vocabulary or spelling words to
home alone.
memorize? Long lists of information can be difficult to remember. One
way to make this process easier is to sort words into categories—groups When categorizing the word
that share a theme, topic, or characteristic. Words may be classified in a prudent, you might group it
number of ways. with other adjectives (such as
For example, suppose your art teacher gave you the following list of sly, disastrous, or bold) or by its
terms to learn: meaning (cautious, careful, or
sensible).
Baroque Expressionism sculpture
ceramics hue shape
collage Impressionism sketch
Tip If your goal is to learn
composition line Surrealism
both the meaning and
Cubism lithograph texture
spelling of the words on your
Your task would be easier if you were to group these words into list, you might put the words into
categories based on meaning, as follows: word families—groups that share
a word root or word part. All of the
Art Forms Elements of Art Art Styles words in the category below share
ceramics composition Baroque the Greek root -onym, meaning
“name.”
collage hue Cubism
lithograph line Expressionism Words with -onym:
anonymous
sculpture shape Impressionism
antonym
sketch texture Surrealism eponymous
pseudonym
Try It Yourself synonym
EXERCISE A
Read the list of math terms shown below then sort them into the
categories given in the chart that follows. You may need to consult a
dictionary—or math teacher!—for help.
add divide multiply
area exponent quotient
calculate factor radius
circumference fraction square root
diameter median subtract

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 Just for Fun Actions in Math Measurements in Math Types of Numbers

In your word study notebook, you

can collect words that fit specific
categories. For example, you might
collect eponyms—words like
bloomers, bowdlerize, hamburger,
and sandwich that come from
names of people and places. Next, put the following literary terms into three different categories.
Get together with a partner or a Start by putting the words into three groups based on meaning; then
group of three to find words that label each group.
fit one of the following categories.
analogy folklore poetry
You may need to do an online
climax inciting incident resolution
search or visit your library. Share
conflict metaphor science fiction
your results with the class.
dénouement nonfiction simile
• Words for architectural styles drama personification
(e.g., Queen Anne style)
• Palindromes (words spelled the Category 1: Category 2: Category 3:
same backwards and forwards) __________________ __________________ __________________
• Words that end in
-phobia

The categories you choose will depend on your purpose. For example,
if the words you are sorting are spelling words, it makes sense to sort
them by spelling pattern, as in the chart below.
Words ending in -al Words ending in -le Words ending in -el
annual simple novel
personal tickle nickel
trivial vehicle quarrel

EXERCISE B
Sort the following words into 3 different categories based on spelling
pattern.
accede exceed recede
antecede intercede secede
cede precede succeed
concede proceed supersede

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 19
Word of the Week
Semantic Mapping affable (a> f@ b@l) adj., being
pleasant and at ease in talking
Understand the Concept with others
The word semantic descends from the Greek root sēmantikos meaning
The candidate was doing well
“significant,” which came from the Greek word sēmainein, meaning
because she was such an affable
“to signify or mean,” which came from the Greek sēma, meaning “sign, person.
token.” Today the word semantic means “of or relating to meaning in
language.” The term affable comes from the
In semantic mapping, you create maps, or webs, of words that Latin word affari, which means
have related meanings. Semantic mapping can help you expand your “to speak to,” from ad- plus fari,
vocabulary in two ways: it creates a visual image, which often aids which means “to speak.” Who do
people in remembering new words, their meanings, and their spellings; you consider to be affable? How
and it provides a method for connecting groups of words around a might you map this word in a
semantic map?
common theme.
One method of starting your semantic map is to list all of the words
that you associate with your main concept.
example Ecology
Related words: home, nature, environment, plants, biology, food,
protection, recycling, ecosystems, green, conservation, jungle, ocean,
organisms, microbes, science, forest
After you have made your list, do your best to categorize your
associations based on the relationship of each word to your main
concept. Below is an example of how a student might make a semantic
map from the above list.

Purpose Science terms

environment microbes
food organisms
home biology
protection Ecology ecosystems
conservation
recycle

Ecosystems
ocean
jungle
forest
desert

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 Try It Yourself
Try creating a semantic map of your own, based on a word of your
choice. First, using scratch paper, list as many words as you can that are
related to your word. Once your list is compiled, start putting the words
into categories. Label each category.

Category: Category:
___________ ___________

___________

Category:
___________

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 20
Word of the Week
Spelling Rules and Tips ensign (en> s@n) n., flag, banner

Understand the Concept Our ensign depicts a black bird

on a gnarled tree and we wear it
Spelling errors can be very easy to make. Knowing the following rules
proudly.
and tips can help you avoid the most common ones.
The word ensign can also mean
Silent Letters “a badge of office, rank, or
power” and “an infantry officer
Some spelling errors result from letters that are written but are not
of what was formerly the lowest
heard when a word is spoken. These will occur most often if you rely
commissioned rank.” The word
on the pronunciation of a word to determine its spelling. Becoming
contains a silent g. Note the
familiar with the patterns of letter combinations containing silent
pronunciation guide in the entry
letters will help you to spell more words correctly. above. A silent g usually appears
with an n.
Spelling Pattern Examples
Silent b usually occurs with m. crumb, bomb, comb, plumber
Silent c often appears with s. scissors, scent, scenic, science
Silent g often appears with n. foreigner, resign, gnome, foreign A silent b also appears in
Tip
Silent gh often appears at the end of a thought, sigh, through, although words such as debt and
word, either alone or in combination doubt.
with t (-ght).
Silent h appears at the beginning of hourly, heir, honestly, honor
some words.
Silent k occurs with n. knowledge, knew, knot, kneecap
Silent n occurs with m at the end of condemn, solemn, column, hymn
some words.
Silent p occurs with s at the beginning of pseudonym, psalm, psaltery, psoriasis
some words
Silent s occurs with l in some words. island, islet, aisle
Silent t occurs with s in a few words. castle, whistle, nestle
Silent w occurs at the beginning of some wrap, wrong, whole, wring
words.
Silent w also occurs with s in a few sword, answer
words.

Letter Combinations
Some letter combinations have different pronunciations when
combined, which can cause spelling problems. While understanding
these patterns will assist you in the pronunciation of certain words, you
will need to attempt to remember the proper spellings. Keeping a log
of words that contain these combinations can be helpful. Consider the
following patterns.

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 Tip Spell-check software can Spelling Pattern Examples
be helpful when you are The letters p and h produce the f sound. sphinx, photograph, alphanumeric, and
working on a computer. However, phosphate
keep in mind that spell check
The letters g and h produce the f sound, cough, rough neigh, weigh
does not always make the correct
usually at the end of a word (otherwise
decisions. For example, words
they are silent).
like where, were, and we’re can
be spelled correctly, but used The letter combination tch sounds the sketch, pitch, snitch, hatch, such, hunch,
incorrectly in context. same as ch. grouch, torch
If the letter c or g has a soft sound (of cyclone, giant, circle, gyroscope, cent,
s or j), it will usually be followed by e, i, region, regent, outrageous
or y.
If the letter c or g has a hard sound (of candid, gasket, congeal, engorge, convey,
k or g), it will usually be followed by a, garland, conjugate, argument, cunning,
o, or u. gun

Tip A compound noun Try It Yourself

consists of two or more
EXERCISE A
nouns used together to form a
single noun. Sometimes they are Underline the letters in the following words that are not pronounced.
written as one word (football, Review the patterns described in the list above to see if any of these
uptown); other times they are words follow them.
written separately (picnic table, 1. campaign 5. benign 9. abscess
tennis shoes). Some compound 2. plight 6. glistened 10. slaughter
nouns are connected with 3. kneed 7. wrinkled
hyphens (great-grandfather, fly-by- 4. descent 8. obscene
night). Consult a good dictionary
when you are unsure of the form EXERCISE B
of compounds.
Complete each word by adding the correct letter or letter combination.
Then write the full words on the lines provided to help you remember
the correct spelling.
ph, gh, or f
1. enou__
2. blas__emy
3. de__erence
4. a__orism
5. __raught

tch or ch
6. reatta__
7. dispa__
8. sti__
9. __astisement
10. la__

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 21
Word of the Week
More Spelling Patterns— Plurals, ei/ie, conscience (k5n[t]> sh@n[t]s)
ceed/sede/cede n., sense of right or wrong within
an individual
Understand the Concept He tried to insist that he didn’t
This lesson will help you avoid some common spelling errors. Many cheat on the test, but he could not
spelling problems arise from a common operation: forming plurals. hide from his guilty conscience.
Form the plurals of most nouns simply by adding s (as in flowers, The word conscience is an
smokestacks, mangroves, and landfills). exception to the ei/ie rule. Other
However, you should add es if the word ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh (as exceptions include seize, neither,
in businesses, taxes, fezes, churches, and wishes. and species.
If the word ends in a consonant plus o, you should usually add es.
However, musical terms ending in o, and certain other words, including
those borrowed from other languages, take the s ending.
examples heroes, vetoes, potatoes
concertos, pianos, cellos radios, tacos
Form the plurals of nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel by adding s
(as in plays, Saturdays, and turkeys). Form the plurals of nouns that end
in y preceded by a consonant by changing the y to i and adding es (as in
countries, butterflies, and babies). Tip The following rhyme may
help you remember when
to spell words ei and when to
Irregular Plurals spell them ie.
The plurals of some nouns are irregular.
Write I before E
examples child ➞ children tooth ➞ teeth Except after C
goose ➞ geese mouse ➞ mice Or when it sounds like an A
As in neighbor and weigh.
When forming the plurals of nouns ending in f, ff, or fe, you can usually
just add s. A few such words, however, form their plurals by changing
the f to a v. When in doubt, consult a dictionary.
examples knife ➞ knives
thief ➞ thieves

ei/ie
Other common spelling errors arise in words that are spelled with the
letters i and e. Remember that when a word has the long e sound (as in
shriek), you should put i before e, except after the letter c.
examples field, believe, shield
perceive, receipt, ceiling
Note that there are some exceptions, including seize, either, neither,
leisure, and species, as well as words with the suffix -er, such as fancier.

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 Tip Words taken from other -Ceed, -Sede, or -Cede?
languages sometimes Some spelling errors arise in words that end with the sound \seed\.
keep their foreign plurals. For Remember that there are only three words in English that end in -ceed:
example, the plural of the Latin exceed, proceed, and succeed. There is only one word that ends in -sede:
word alumnus, meaning student, supersede. Every other word that ends with \seed\ is spelled -cede as in
is alumni. accede, antecede, concede, and precede.
 
paparazzo (Italian) ➞ paparazzi Try It Yourself
crisis (Greek) ➞ crises EXERCISE A
thesaurus (Latin and Greek) ➞ In your notebook, rewrite the following singular nouns as plural nouns.
thesauri or thesauruses 1. soprano 5. bully
2. crutch 6. video
3. apartment complex 7. trench
4. Tuesday 8. personality

Tip Moose does not follow

EXERCISE B
the same pattern as
goose. The plural of moose is Read the following sentences and correct any errors in the formation of
simply moose! Other animal plurals in your notebook. If the sentence is correct as written, write No
words that are the same in plural errors.
as in singular include sheep, 1. The oxes swished their tails and stamped their hooves, trying to
swine, fish, and deer.
shake the flys off their backs.
2. My brothers are a couple of couch potatos; most Saturdays they do
nothing but sit around in their pajamas watching cartoons.
3. The experts gave several different analysises of the situation.
To form the plural of an 4. They had the best times of their lives in the 1990s.
Tip
abbreviation, number, 5. The police received several calls from people who claimed they had
or symbol, you may simply add seen UFOs; however, the reports turned out to be hoax.
s. You may add an apostrophe if
there is danger of confusion. EXERCISE C
IOUs, 1900s, #s (or #’s) mind Circle the word in each pair that is spelled correctly. Then write the
your p’s and q’s word in the space provided.
1. “How could you (deceive / decieve) me?” Sheila (shreiked /
shrieked), looking at her treacherous (niece / neice) in (disbeleif /
disbelief).
Keep a list of troublesome 2. The (chief / cheif) of police (siezed / seized) the (counterfiet /
Tip counterfeit) money from the conniving (theif / thief).
spelling words in your
word study notebook. Practice 3. My (wierd / weird) next-door (neighbor / nieghbor) always wears
these words until you know how the same heinous (biege / beige) (leisure / liesure) suit.
to spell them correctly. You may 4. The (conceited / concieted) man (conceeded / conceded) that his
also wish to make up sayings or hairline was beginning to (receed / recede).
other memory devices to help you 5. To truly (succeed / succede) in life, you must (procede / proceed)
remember correct spellings. with confidence, knowing that you can (excede / exceed) the norm.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 22
Word of the Week
Spelling Patterns with Affixes demoralize (di> m0r @ l8z) v., to
weaken the morale of
Understand the Concept
They wanted to demoralize the
Many spelling errors arise when an affix—a prefix or suffix—is added
troops so they issued a new,
to a word. To avoid making these types of errors, review the following
unprofessional uniform.
guidelines.
When adding the suffix –ing to
Adding Prefixes demoralize, one must drop the
silent e. This creates the word
When adding a prefix to a word, do not change the spelling of the word demoralizing, as in, “She found
itself. the new uniform demoralizing.”
examples mis- + spell = misspell
re- + arrange = rearrange
ir- + responsible = irresponsible
co- + author = coauthor Tip Note the following
exception for words
With some words, a hyphen may be used after the prefix. If in doubt, ending in ce and ge: the silent e
consult a dictionary. must be kept when adding a suffix
begining with a or o in order to
Adding Suffixes preserve the soft c and g sounds.
The spelling of most words is not changed by the addition of the (How would you pronounce
suffixes -ness and -ly. noticable and couragous?)

examples cheerful + -ness = cheerfulness notice + -able = noticeable

personal + -ly = personally advantage + -ous = advantageous
courage + -ous = courageous
Changing y to i
However, if you are adding a suffix to a word that ends in y, and that y
follows a consonant, you should usually change the y to i. No change is
typically needed if the y follows a vowel. Practice difficult spelling
Tip
examples pretty + -est = prettiest words with a friend. Take
airy + -ly = airily turns spelling words aloud to
employ + -er = employer each other until both of you have
memorized them.
say + -ing = saying

Dropping the silent e

If you are adding a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends
with a silent e, you should usually drop the e, unless dropping the e
would cause confusion or change the pronunciation of the word.
examples believe + -able = believable
make + -ing = making
but singe + -ing = singeing
dye + -ing = dyeing
ski + -ing = skiing

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 If a word ends in a However, if you are adding a suffix that begins with a consonant, you
Tip should usually leave the silent e in place. There are a few exceptions to
silent e, that is usually
not dropped before any suffix this rule, which you will just have to memorize.
beginning with a consonant. examples use + -ful = useful
However, there are a few fortunate + -ly = fortunately
exceptions, such as the following: encourage + -ment = encouragement
acknowledge + -ment = but acknowledgment, judgment, argument, truly, awful
acknowledgment
judge + -ment = judgment Try It Yourself
argue + -ment = argument EXERCISE A
In your notebook, add the prefix or suffix to each of the following
true + -ly = truly
words, being sure to spell each new word correctly. Then write a
awe + -ful = awful sentence using the new word you have formed.
1. perceive + -able =
2. dis- + similar =
3. category + -s =
4. jolly + -er =
5. un + necessary =

Doubling the Consonant

Spelling patterns with suffixes can sometimes seem to have no rhyme
Tip Improve your spelling by
or reason. For example, you may notice that sometimes, when a suffix
reading more—the more
you read, the more words you
beginning with a vowel is added to a word that ends in a consonant, the
see, and the more likely you will consonant is doubled.
be able to remember how they examples hot + -er = hotter
look on the page, and therefore, run + -ing = running
how to spell them. admit + -ance = admittance
Often, however, the consonant is not doubled.
examples heat + -er = heater
perform + -ance = performance
benefit + -ing = benefiting
Can you figure out the pattern? (Hint: Look at the letters that come
before the final consonant. Also notice which syllable of the original
word is stressed.)
Just for Fun
Try It Yourself
Organize an old-fashioned spelling
bee. Find a list of words in a book
EXERCISE B
used for SAT preparation. Make With a partner, write a spelling “rule” that tells when the final
sure everyone has a copy of the consonant of a word should be doubled before a suffix beginning with
list several days before the bee. a vowel. Test your rule by trying it out with several more words. Then
Your teacher will act as the judge. discuss your answer with the rest of the class.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Spelling with Affixes
Use your knowledge of spelling patterns to choose the word in each group that
is spelled incorrectly. If there are no mistakes, choose answer e.

_____ 1. A. misshapen _____ 6. A. outrageous

B. unecessary B. noticable
C. disregard C. mileage
D. coworker D. courageous
E. No mistakes E. No mistakes
_____ 2. A. joyfully _____ 7. A. truely
B. sincerely B. bluish
C. employment C. clueless
D. kindness D. awful
E. No mistakes E. No mistakes
_____ 3. A. fataly _____ 8. A. payable
B. shyness B. shyness
C. resolutely C. playing
D. remoteness D. tyrannycal
E. No mistakes E. No mistakes
_____ 4. A. messier _____ 9. A. defiance
B. merriment B. skillfully
C. shabbyness C. dissarray
D. loveliest D. reestablish
E. No mistakes E. No mistakes
_____ 5. A. unbelievable _____ 10. A. defiance
B. baking B. grieveous
C. retrievable C. comparable
D. compareable D. conceivably
E. No mistakes E. No mistakes

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 Using Spelling Patterns
Use your knowledge of spelling patterns to answer the following questions.

_____ 1. When forming the plural of a word _____ 4. To which of the following words
ending in y, when should you change would you add –es to create the
the y to an i? correct plural form?
A. when the y follows a consonant A. church
B. when the y follows a vowel B. home
C. Always C. deer
D. Never D. cow
_____ 2. When adding a suffix beginning with _____ 5. Which of the following words is both
a vowel to a word that ends in a silent singular and plural?
e, you should drop the e unless A. religion
A. dropping the e would cause B. sheep
confusion. C. radio
B. dropping the e would change the D. claw
pronunciation.
_____ 6. Which of the following is considered
C. All of the above
an irregular plural?
D. None of the above, you should
A. taxes
always drop the e.
B. countries
_____ 3. When adding a prefix to a word, C. Saturdays
A. always add a hyphen. D. children
B. drop the first letter of the word.
_____ 7. Which option accurately completes
C. do not change the spelling of the
the following sentence? When a word
word.
has a _______ sound, you should put
D. double the first letter of the word.
i before e, except after _______.
A. long e; d.
B. short e; c.
C. long e; c.
D. short e; d.

For each of the following questions, select the correct spelling of the word with
the sound \seed\.

_____ 8. A. excede _____ 10. A. procede

B. prosede B. cede
C. receed C. interceed
D. succeed D. ceed
_____ 9. A. supersede
B. acceed
C. conceed
D. antesede

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 23
Word of the Week
Syntax malicious (m@ li> sh@s) adj.,
mean-spirited
Understand the Concept
Larson was uncomfortable
European languages are classified into two major categories: inflected
around his malicious aunt.
languages and syntactic languages. The words in inflected languages
change form to tell speakers how they are used. The word order in these The word malicious is an
languages is not particularly important. Latin and German are examples adjective, a word that modifies
of this type of language. English is known as a syntactic language, in a noun or a pronoun (as shown
which syntax determines meaning. Syntax refers to the way words are in the above sentence). In this
arranged in sentences, or word order. Understanding syntax will help lesson, you will learn more about
you read and write more effectively. the relationship between modifiers
In English, words are arranged in specific patterns to create and syntax.
sentences. The most common pattern first tells who and then tells what.
example Linus (who) went to the basketball game (what).”
More specifically, English sentences often use the pattern subject-verb-
object.
examples Mr. Deluca’s class (subject) traveled (verb) to
Washington, DC (object).
Lydia (subject) failed (verb) the test (object).
Syntax makes the meaning of the sentence clear. Changing the syntax
can affect or change the meaning of the sentence as well. Consider the
following two sentences that contain the same words but mean vastly
different things.
Sentence 1: The horse bit the rider on the leg.
Sentence 2: The rider bit the horse on the leg.
The use of modifiers is also ruled by syntax. In the English language,
adjectives usually come before the noun or pronoun they modify.
examples She (subject) bought (verb) a red (adjective)
convertible (object).
The child (subject) could hear (verb) the barking
(adjective) dog (object).

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 Tip In the English language, Try It Yourself
most sentences follow the EXERCISE A
word order subject-verb-object.
In contrast, languages such as
Change the word order in each of the following sentences to make them
German and Japanese place the
clearer.
verb at the end of a sentence. 1. I will do well, if for the final I study.

2. About her sick aunt Neva was worried.

3. My time you’re wasting.

4. The computer crashed, but the assignment I tried to print out.

5. Fifty dollars wanted to earn the babysitter.

Just for Fun
Write a note to a classmate that 6. The embankment over the car flew!
describes a familiar story, but
scramble the words in each
sentence so that the syntax is 7. Terrified the cop had to protect the witness.
incorrect. See if your classmate
is able to decipher your story
accurately. 8. Unaware Carlos of the surprise party was.

9. Saving money we are for the vacation.

10. The burger and fries he ate.

EXERCISE B
Write at least three sentences using only the following words. Then,
with a partner, discuss how word order affects meaning, using your
sentences as examples.
dragon slimy ate
princess gigantic

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 24
Word of the Week
Commonly Confused Words eminence (e> m@ n@n[t]s) n.,
high importance
Understand the Concept
I knew to act respectfully because
Writers can be confused by words that have similar spellings and
I knew of his eminence.
pronunciation, but different meanings. Look over the following pairs of
words and practice using them correctly in your own writing. The word eminence is often
confused with imminence.
affect/effect. Affect is a verb meaning “to influence” or “to have an Imminence means “something
effect on.” Effect is a noun meaning “the result of an action.” As a verb, ready to take place; especially
effect means “to cause” or “to bring about.” impending evil or danger,” as in
accept/except. To accept means to welcome something or to receive the sentence, “Its imminence was
something willingly. To except is to exclude or to leave something out. certain, all we could do now was
It is most often seen as a preposition meaning “with the exclusion or to prepare for it to happen.”
exception of.”
decent/descent. Decent means “proper or respectable.” Descent means
“a trip downward.” It can also refer to one’s ancestry. Tip Effects are a person’s
goods or property.
eligible/illegible. Eligible means “fit or suitable.” Illegible means
unreadable, usually with reference to handwriting. Some of Thomas Jefferson’s
personal effects are on display at
personal/personnel. Personal means private or relating to an his home in Virginia, which is now
individual. Personnel refers to a group of people employed by a a museum.
company.
precede/proceed. Precede means to come before or go before. Proceed
means to advance or progress. Proceeds are profits or
Tip
Recognizing these types of pairings is half the battle, so you may want money gained.
to review this list a few times to be sure you remember them. Other The proceeds from the bake sale
examples include: advice/advise; allusion/illusion; angle/angel; council/ went to fund the new after-school
counsel; quiet/quit/quite; than/then; thorough/through; and tortuous/ program.
torturous.

Try It Yourself In a question or negative

Tip
EXERCISE A statement, use to is
Circle the word or words that correctly complete each sentence. Then correct.
write the word in the space provided. Didn’t you use to go to that store,
1. The chemistry test was even more painful and (tortuous / too, dad?
torturous) ____________ (than / then) ____________ the He didn’t use to go to school with
students had feared. me, but now he does.
2. My grandfather (counciled / counseled) ____________ me never
to (accept / except) ____________ a bribe.
3. Because of his poor grades, Lionel was not (eligible / illegible)
____________ to play on the school football team.

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 4. As we began our (decent / descent) ____________ down
Just for Fun the mountain, the guide warned us to (precede / proceed)
Think of three additional common ____________ with caution.
errors you have had trouble with 5. Sheldon said that his poetry was too (personal / personnel)
in the past. Write a short fiction ____________ to share with anyone else.
piece in which you deliberately
introduce these errors. You may Mixed-Up Expressions
also misuse other words you
Below are some expressions that are commonly misspelled.
learned in this lesson. When
finished, exchange your paper could’ve / could of. Could’ve is the contraction of could have. However,
with a partner and correct each people often mistakenly write it as “could of.” Use the helping verb have,
other’s errors. If you are having not the word of, with could, might, must, should, ought to, and would.
trouble getting started, you may
brainstorm short story ideas before Bill should’ve told us he was going to quit.
you begin. supposed to / suppose to. The correct phrase is supposed to, but it is
easily misheard as “suppose to.” Always use supposed to.
You’re not supposed to run with scissors.
try to / try and. Although many people use the phrase try and, the
correct expression is try to. Always use try to in formal speech and
writing.
Try to see if you can raise your grade to an A.
used to / use to. Used to is an expression we use when talking about
past actions or conditions. Sometimes it is incorrectly written as use to,
because the d cannot be heard in speech.
As kids, we used to visit the store every day.

Try It Yourself
EXERCISE B
Proofread the following paragraph for errors in word usage. Circle each
error, writing the correct word or words above it.
In ancient Greece and Rome, singers and bards use to travel from
town to town sharing myths and legends. One such tale is the story of
Dædalus and Icarus. In the story, Dædalus and his son Icarus try and
escape from the island of Crete by flying on wings. Their plan might
of worked, accept that young Icarus begun to fly higher and higher, up
nearer the sun, against his father’s advise not to fly too high or too low.
So jubilant was the boy that he failed to notice that danger was eminent.
The wax that held the wings together began to melt and down went
Icarus in a rapid and deadly decent to the sea. One moral of the story is
that it is better to keep to a middle course than to go to extremes.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 25
Word of the Week
Using Mnemonic Devices mnemonic (n@ m5> n@k) adj.,
assisting or intended to assist
Understand the Concept memory
A mnemonic (n@ m5> n@k) device is a catchy phrase or image that aids
To help herself remember how to
in remembering information. For example, you have probably heard
spell the word privileged, Charlene
the phrase “a princiPAL is your PAL” as a trick for remembering the used the mnemonic device “It is
difference between a principal and a principle. The rhyme “I before E vile to be privileged.”
except after C” is a mnemonic for remembering when to spell words
ie and when to spell them ei. Memory tricks may be sayings, drawings, Mnemonic comes from the name
jingles . . . whatever works for you. Following are some ways to create of the Greek goddess of memory,
your own mnemonic tricks: Mnemosyne. Remember to
use mnemonic devices to help
Find a word within the word. you learn and remember new
• seperate or separate? Remember: There is a rat in separate. vocabulary and spelling words.
• normal or normel? Remember: Norm and Al are two normal guys.
Can you think of a similar technique for remembering how to spell
restaurant?
Associate the word with others like it, that is with another word that
contains the same spelling pattern, word, part, or root. Tip Mnemonic devices can
• museum or musiam? Remember: We are amused at the museum. help you remember the
• reletive, relitive, or relative? Remember: A relative is someone related meaning of a word as well as its
to you. spelling. How might the drawing
• anonimous or anonymous? Remember: -onym is the Greek root at right help you remember the
meaning “name.” It is also found in the words synonym and antonym. meaning of parallel?

Make a mental picture that you can associate with the word. For
example, if you have trouble remembering that there is a double l in the
word parallel, you might try picturing those two l’s rising up into two
tall, parallel lines. Draw the picture to help ingrain it in your mind.

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 Break the word into its syllables and spell it syllable by syllable to be
Just for Fun sure you have not missed any part of the word. This is especially helpful
Help a younger kid—a relative, with words whose sounds we tend to drop in pronunciation.
someone you babysit, or examples math-e-ma-tics not math-ma-tics
someone in your neighborhood— li-bra-ry not li-ba-ry
with his or her spelling words.
choc-o-late not choc-late
Help him or her create memory
Feb-ru-a-ry not Feb-u-ar-y
tricks to remember how to spell
words. (You might want to keep
it simple and call them “memory Try It Yourself
tricks” instead of “mnemonic Below is a list of some commonly confused words. Choose four pairs
devices.”) For example, if the kid that you commonly confuse, and create your own mnemonic device
is having trouble remembering for each. You may create devices for any words not on the list, as well.
the difference between meat and Use the space below for your own mental pictures or draw these in your
meet, help him or her come up notebook.
with a saying like “We meet and
greet, then eat meat.” Have the accept/except council/counsel quite/quiet
kid copy out the mnemonic saying advice/advise dessert/desert real/reel
on a blank white sheet of paper affect/effect grate/great stake/steak
and then draw a picture to go allowed/aloud lead/led stationary/stationery
along with it. Bring the pictures in capital/capitol male/mail vial/vile
to class for a “show and tell.” cite/sight/site precede/proceed waive/wave

1. Word pair ______________________________

3. Word pair ______________________________
2. Word pair ______________________________
Tip Cemetery and stationery
are the only two 4. Word pair ______________________________
commonly used words that end
in -ery. Most words with this suffix
are spelled -ary.

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LESSON 26
Word of the Week
Word Meanings in Synonyms, Antonyms, arduous (5r> j@ w@s) adj.,
Homophones, and Homographs extremely difficult, usually
physically
Understand the Concept As Rebecca prepared for her
When building your vocabulary, it helps to understand as much as arduous journey, her neighbors
possible about new words. Knowing similar words or words that mean gathered supplies.
the opposite of the new word will help you build associations. These Synonyms for arduous include
associations will make it easier for you to remember the meanings of difficult, effortful, and rough.
words. Antonyms include effortless, easy,
One method of building associations is to identify a word’s and simple.
synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and homographs whenever
possible. A synonym is a word that has the same, or nearly the same,
meaning as another word. An antonym has the opposite, or nearly the
opposite, meaning as another word.
example word: enmity
synonyms: hostility, hate, animosity, rancor
antonyms: empathy, goodwill, understanding,
friendliness
Only some words are homophones and homographs, but it is important Tip Homophones and
to identify whether a word you’ve encountered qualifies as one. A homographs may be
homophone is a word that has the same pronunciation as another missed by spell-check software.
word, but has a different meaning and/or spelling. Consider the word Be sure to read over your work
bow—one bow can be tied with string or ribbon and another bow can be and look for words that might
used to shoot an arrow. Both are spelled and pronounced the same way, have been missed.
yet mean two different things.
A homograph is a word that has the same spelling as another word
but has a different meaning and sometimes a different pronunciation.
Using this definition, the word bow is also a homograph—bow (tied
on a present) and bow (bend at the waist to show respect for another
person or object). Both are spelled the same way, but have different
meanings and pronunciations.
When you encounter homographs and homophones, make sure
you do your best to understand and remember the differences between
the words. This will help you when you encounter these words again.

Try It Yourself
EXERCISE A
Write down two synonyms and two antonyms for each of the following
words.
1. remote

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 Tip Use a thesaurus if you are
having difficulty coming
up with synonyms and antonyms.
A thesaurus is a reference tool 2. impregnable
similar to a dictionary, but instead
of defining a word, it provides
lists of the word’s synonyms and
antonyms. A thesaurus can be
useful if you don’t know how to
spell a word, but know some of its 3. lament
synonyms. If you look up one of
the synonyms, the entry may list
the original word and its proper
spelling.

4. taciturn

EXERCISE B
Select one of the following words and complete a Concept Map using
the form below. You should write the word you select in the center box.
diabolical stickler grovel
anguish enamor

Contextual Sentences

Synonyms Antonyms

Examples Non-examples

Just for Fun

Homophones can be confusing. One thing that can help clarify
definitions is a visual dictionary, or a dictionary with pictures for some
of the entries. With a partner, brainstorm a list of five words that have
homophones. Then, for each word and its homophone(s), create an
illustration. Draw these pictures in your notebook next to the definition
of the word.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Commonly Confused Words
Each of the following sentences may or may not contain an error in word
usage. Read through the sentence, looking to see whether there is an error
in one of the underlined parts. If there is an error, choose the corresponding
letter, A, B, C, or D. If you find no error, choose E. Note: No sentence
contains more than one error. The errors are only found in the underlined
sections, so assume that the rest of the sentence is correct as written.

_____ 1. Janine learned quite a few stories while talking to her grandfather. For instance, she found
A B
out that her mother use to write fan letters to John Travolta on perfumed pink stationery.
C D
No error.
E
_____ 2. The members of the Security Council met in Geneva, the capital of Switzerland. Lead by
A B C
the Secretary-General, the group proceeded to discuss a plan for peace negotiations.
D
No error.
E
_____ 3. College can be expensive, but there are many options for financial aid available. Don’t be

afraid to ask your counselor for advise. He or she can help you determine whether you are
A B
eligible for any grants, scholarships, or student loans. Then, once you are accepted into
C D
the college of your choice, you’ll know how you’re going to pay for it. No error.
E
_____ 4. As we entered Canada, we were stopped at the border for an hour while the customs

officials searched the car and rummaged through our personal effects. Meanwhile, it
A
seemed that they waved everyone else through. By the time we were able to proceed, we
B C
were throughly annoyed. No error.
D E
_____ 5. The guide led us out to a remote cite where ancient peoples used to perform their religious
A B C D
ceremonies. No error.
E

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 Words with Multiple Meanings
Define each of the underlined words as it is used in the sentence or sentences
provided.
_____ 1. The wedding ceremony went off _____ 4. Many people who lived along the
without a hitch, and the happy couple Underground Railroad risked their
went off on their honeymoon. lives to harbor fleeing slaves in their
In this context, hitch means: homes.
A. to join in marriage In this context, harbor means:
B. a connection between vehicles A. take shelter in
C. a sudden movement or pull B. cherish
D. an unforeseen difficulty or C. give shelter or refuge to
obstacle D. be in the home or habitat of
_____ 2. The explorers continued to forge _____ 5. Corn is one of the staples grown
ahead through the thick brush, around and produced in Plainview.
looking for the river. In this context, staple means:
In this context, forge means: A. chief commodity
A. form by heating and hammering B. place of supply; source
B. make or imitate falsely C. raw material
C. move forward slowly and steadily D. U-shaped metal fastener
D. move with a sudden increase of
_____ 6. The colt was gray, with a cast of light
speed and power
brown on its underbelly.
_____ 3. Eric peered through the thick fog that In this context, cast means:
blanketed the rugged upper ridges of A. trace of an added hue
the mountain, looking intently for the B. something formed by a mold
crest. C. something shed
In this context, crest means: D. expression
A. coat of arms
B. top of a wave
C. climax; culmination
D. peak

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 27
Word of the Week
Literal and Figurative Meanings scapegoat (sk6p> g9t) n., one
that bears the blame for others or
Understand the Concept is the target of irrational hostility
Literal language is language that means exactly what it says. Figurative
It’s typical for Larry to blame his
language is writing or speech that is meant to be understood
little brother for the mess he
imaginatively, not literally. Look at the following examples. made; he’s always looking for a
literal Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849. scapegoat.

figurative The audience died laughing. The term scapegoat literally

means “escaped goat,” in
In the first example, the word died is used literally. Edgar Allan Poe reference to a story in the Bible in
literally died. In the second example, however, it is used figuratively. which a goat symbolically took on
We can assume that, no matter how hard they were laughing, the the sins of the people and then
audience did not actually die. The writer is making an exaggeration for was allowed to escape into the
effect. Below are some more examples of figurative language you might wilderness. Figuratively, it is used
hear in everyday speech. to describe anyone who is forced
That man is a shark. to take the blame for others.

It’s raining cats and dogs!

If everyone lends a hand, the task will be done in no time.
Obviously, no human can literally be a shark, nor can cats and dogs
rain from the sky. People cannot literally lend out their hands and no Tip The sentence The
one would expect a task to be completed in “no time.” Yet you probably audience died laughing
is an example of hyperbole.
had no trouble getting the meaning of these sentences, because you are
Hyperbole (h8 p@r> b@ l7) is an
accustomed to hearing words used figuratively in everyday speech.
exaggeration made for effect.
Figurative language is common in all types of writing, including
poetry, creative writing, and nonfiction. To interpret meaning as you
read, you must be able to distinguish between figurative and literal
language. Consider the following passage from Rabindranath Tagore’s
short story “The Cabuliwallah.” In the story, the narrator meets a
peddler from Kabul, Afghanistan, whom he calls “the Cabuliwallah.” The phrase “it’s raining
Afghanistan is a very mountainous country. The narrator says,
Tip
cats and dogs” is an
idiom, a common phrase that
“In the presence of this Cabuliwallah I was immediately
cannot be translated literally. Do
transported to the foot of mountains, with narrow defiles twisting you know the meanings of the
in and out amongst their towering, arid peaks.” following idioms?
Obviously, the narrator is not literally transported to the mountains of straight from the horse’s mouth
Afghanistan when he is near the Cabuliwallah. He merely feels as if he
behind the 8-ball
were. The word transported is used in its figurative sense. Following are
some common ways words are used figuratively in literature. on cloud nine

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 Words may be used Personification. Personification means writing about something
Tip nonhuman as if it were a human, as in the passage below.
figuratively or literally.
People use figurative language all
Have you not made a universal shout,
the time in their everyday speech.
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks

To hear the replication of your sounds

Made in her concave shores?

—from The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
The Tiber is a river. It cannot literally “hear” the shouts of humans.
Shakespeare is using personification.

Just for Fun Try It Yourself

EXERCISE A
Imagine that you are not a native
speaker of English and are having Identify each of the following sentences as literal (L) or figurative (F).
trouble telling the difference Use common sense, and explain your answers. Write your responses in
between literal and figurative your notebook.
language. Draw a picture showing
example The children tried to run, but were rooted to the
what you understand from each
ground in terror.
of the following sentences. Then
ask a partner to “translate” for you F. The children cannot literally have grown roots.
what the sentence really means. Their fear makes them feel as though they cannot
That car is a real lemon.
move.

Screams pierced the night. 1. My parents did backflips when I gave them the good news.
2. There were a million people at the mall today.
I tried talking to Mr. Swanson, but 3. Many people around the world are dying of hunger.
he was a brick wall. 4. She bit his head off when he tried to apologize.
The world held its breath as the 5. John lost his marbles, but he bought a new bagful in the toy store.
soccer game grew more intense.
EXERCISE B
Read the following sentences and underline the words that are used
figuratively. Rewrite each sentence using literal language. Then, write a
new sentence using the underlined word or words in their literal sense.
Write your sentences in your notebook.
example Keith’s brain swam with ideas.
Meaning: Keith had many ideas at once.
New sentence: I swam the across the pool.
1. Simone’s heart melted when she saw the kitten.
2. Our team pulverized the opponents.
3. The people rebelled, having carried the yoke of oppression for too
long.
4. After going dormant over the winter, the bonsai tree suddenly
exploded with leaves.
5. Lorenzo really wants to be a successful musician someday, but
in the meantime, he earns his bread and butter by working in a
factory.

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 28
Word of the Week
Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes pass the buck v., to shift
responsibility to someone else
Understand the Concept
When the state lawmakers
An idiom is an expression in which the language is fixed and in which
decided to cut their budget
the meaning of the expression cannot be deciphered by the meanings
for education, school leaders
of its parts. Idioms tend to be confusing for people who are learning complained that they were
English, because they are not meant to be taken literally. unfairly passing the buck to the
examples beat around the bush individual schools, which were low
as easy as pie on funds already.
pop quiz The expression “pass the buck”
quite a few probably came from the tradition,
once in a while among card players in the Old
What’s up? West, of passing an object (some
Some idioms are easy to interpret. Others are harder to decipher. For say a buck knife, others say
example, do you have any idea why we use the expression “it’s all gone buckshot, a type of bullet) to show
whose turn it was to deal. The
haywire” when something goes wrong? One theory is that people used
dealer was then responsible for
to repair machinery with the wire used to bind bales of hay. Machines
putting money in the pot.
and equipment on the verge of breaking down were said to be “going
haywire.”
Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is Tip Visit the website http://
spoken or written about as if it were another. This figure of speech www.GoEnglish.com to
view a new idiom every day!
invites the reader to make a comparison between the two things.
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back
ceaselessly into the past.”
—from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Just for Fun
In this passage, Fitzgerald describes his characters as if they were boats
in a strong current. This metaphor conveys in a vivid and memorable Get together with a partner and
way the idea that his characters are unable to move on from the brainstorm as many idioms as you
tragedies of the past. can that contain references to the
following:
A simile is a metaphor that uses like or as.
Food (e.g., piece of cake, humble
example A poem should be palpable and mute pie)
As a globed fruit
—from “Ars Poetica” by Archibald MacLeish Color (e.g., feeling blue)
Animals (e.g., chicken, bull-
A poem cannot literally be felt by the touch like a piece of fruit.
headed)
MacLeish is using a simile, a type of figurative language.

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 Tip When you hear an idiom, Try It Yourself
write it down on a page EXERCISE A
designated for idioms in your
Word Study Notebook. How many
Explain the meaning of each of the following idioms, giving your best
can you think of?
guess as to how the expression came about. You may wish to consult
a dictionary of word and phrase origins to discover the origins of the
phrase. Then use each expression in a sentence. Write your responses in
your notebook
1. burn the midnight oil
2. fly off the handle
3. when the chips are down
4. when pigs fly
Tip You may want to copy the 5. state of the art
definitions for metaphor,
simile, and personification into
EXERCISE B
your word study notebook for
Identify the figurative language used in each of the following passages.
convenient reference and review.
Then translate the passages into literal language in your notebook.
example “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your
knees.” —Delores Ibarruri
This passage uses metaphor. Translation: “It is
better to fight for what you believe in, even if
you risk your life in the process, than to live in
oppression.”_________
Just for Fun
1. “your thoughts are my brothers” —Marge Piercy, “Simple Song”
Many idioms are based on
vivid and amusing imagery. For 2. The driver ordered Mrs. Parks to give her seat to a white man.
example, picture someone who is . . . Rosa Parks was not in a revolutionary frame of mind. She had
literally “all ears!” Come up with not planned to do what she did. Her cup had run over. As she said
at least five idioms that are based later, “I was just plain tired, and my feet hurt.” So she sat there,
on images. Write these on slips of refusing to get up.
paper, then collect idioms from —Coretta Scott King, “Montgomery Boycott”
the entire class and place them 3. “Before Independence, like most children on our block, Mira and I
in a bowl. Each student should had never ventured [beyond our neighborhood] into the necklace
have a chance to draw one of the
of ghettos beyond.”
idioms on the board. Meanwhile,
—Bharati Mukherjee, “The Road from Ballygunge”
the class should divide into two
teams, with each team trying to be 4. “[Writing] is like trying to scale a glacier. It’s hard to get your
the first to guess the idiom. footing, and your fingertips get all red and frozen and torn up.”
—Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 29
Word of the Week
Allusions mecca or Mecca (me< k@) n.,
a place that attracts people from
Understand the Concept all over, often people who share a
An allusion is a reference to a person, event, object, or work from certain interest
history, art, or literature. Allusions appear in all types of writing.
Belize is a mecca for scuba divers.
Becoming familiar with common allusions will help you make sense
of passages that contain them. Here are a few examples of literary New York City is a cultural mecca.
allusions. The term mecca is an allusion to
Big Brother. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, Big Brother Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia which
refers to the government spies who are watching the people’s every is believed to be the birthplace of
move. Any authority that tries to spy on people, gather personal the Muslim prophet Mohammed.
information about them, or control their private lives may be called According to the Islamic religion,
“Big Brother.” every Muslim who is able should
make at least one hajj, or religious
Shangri-la. From Lost Horizons by James Hilton. Refers to an pilgrimage to Mecca, in his or her
idyllic place. lifetime.
“tilting at windmills.” Refers to Don Quixote, a novel by Miguel de
Cervantes. In one of the most famous scenes, the main character,
Quixote, attacks a group of windmills, charging at them “full tilt”
while under the delusion that he is a heroic knight battling giants.
The phrase “tilting at windmills” is now used to describe any
ludicrous or impossible task.
Also common are allusions to well-known fairy tales, legends, and Tip The more you read, the
myths—particularly Greek and Roman myths, which have served for more allusions you will
centuries as inspiration for poets and writers. be able to understand and use.
Anyone who has read George
“emperor’s new clothes.” Alludes to the fairy tale by Hans
Orwell’s 1984 knows what
Christian Andersen, in which an emperor parades through town
it means to be afraid of “Big
displaying a new suit of clothes. The townsfolk pretend admiration
Brother,” just as anyone who
until a young boy points out what should be obvious to them has read Romeo and Juliet will
all—the emperor is completely naked! Refers to any effort by the recognize the famous phrase
government to deceive the public, especially when the people “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art
appear willing to go along with an obvious lie. thou Romeo?”
Midas touch. Refers to the Greek legend of King Midas, who
was given the power to make everything he touches turn to gold.
Although this power became a curse for Midas, it is usually
considered a compliment to say that someone “has the Midas
touch.”
English speakers commonly make allusions to well-known people,
places, and events from the Bible. Being familiar with Bible stories can
help you understand these allusions.

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 Biblical allusions can often examples Ned and Bill are real philistines—they don’t appreciate
Tip fine art.
be found in poetry and
literature written in English. This is In a modern-day David and Goliath story, an injured
true because a majority of people worker sued a powerful corporation for damages, and
living in Great Britain and its won the case.
colonies were Christian or Jewish
and were familiar with the Bible. The Philistines were enemies of the ancient Israelites. One of the heroes
of the Bible is a brave young Israelite called David, who used a slingshot
to kill a fearsome Philistine giant called Goliath. Thus a “David and
Goliath story” is a situation in which an individual or group defeats a
powerful opponent, and philistine means an uneducated ruffian.
Tip As you come across Writers and speakers may also make reference to well-known
allusions in your reading, people and events from the past. To recognize these subtle allusions,
record them in your word study
you need to know a bit of history.
notebook, making note of the
person, event, object, or work example The latest scandal from the White House may turn
being referred to. These pieces of into another Watergate.
information can help you widen
The term Watergate refers to the Watergate Affair, one of the worst
your overall knowledge of history
political scandals in American history. President Nixon was forced to
and literature.
resign in 1974 after the country learned of his involvement in a variety
of high crimes, including a break-in at the Watergate, an office building
in Washington, D.C.

Just for Fun Try It Yourself

Create an illustrated dictionary EXERCISE A
of allusions for your classroom. Write a sentence in your notebook using each of the above allusions.
Each student should choose three EXERCISE B
or four allusions to define and
illustrate, including contextual
Explain the historical and Biblical allusions used in each of the
sentences where possible. Here following sentences. Write your explanations in your notebook.
are some ideas to get you started: 1. The island was as wild and beautiful as the Garden of Eden.
eat the forbidden fruit 2. The young man was being called “another Benedict Arnold” after
ugly duckling it was learned that he had joined up with enemy troops to fight
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde against his country.
pied piper 3. When the police officers entered the scene, the crowd parted like
albatross the Red Sea.
Xanadu 4. That problem is so difficult, one would need the wisdom of
cross the Rubicon Solomon to solve it.
sign one’s John Hancock 5. As the state was battling devastating floods, Governor Harris went
patience of Job on a relaxing spa vacation. Although her aides claimed she needed
tower of Babel the stress relief, Harris was widely accused of “fiddling while Rome
Panglossian burned.”
Falstaffian

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 30
Word of the Week
Language in the Media appalling (@ p0l> i4) adj.,
inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust
Understand the Concept
The leader’s appalling display of
Media outlets—including television and radio stations, newspapers,
wealth was too much to ignore.
magazines, websites, and listservs—pass information from its source to
you in the form of language and sometimes images. The word appalling is a loaded
The language the media choose to use shapes what you think word. In the sentence above, the
about the information you are receiving. Words can evoke powerful word appalling could be replaced
emotional responses and create associations that shape how you view with the word unrestrained to
a situation. Imagine that two reporters from rival newspapers attend produce a much more neutral
the same rally for a political candidate. Afterward, one reporter writes tone.
that the candidate received a “rock star reception.” The other writes
that the candidate has a “cultlike following.” In this example, the second
reporter refers to a cult; for most readers, cults have powerful negative
associations. The word cult is an example of loaded language, or words Tip The word media comes
that carry a heavy emotional charge. Writers of editorials, letters to from a Latin word
the editor, commentaries, and other opinion pieces may use loaded meaning “middle.” The media are
language to evoke an emotional reaction in the reader and, ultimately, literally “in the middle.”
to get the reader to agree with the writer’s position. For this reason, it
is wise to think critically about the words you read in newspapers and
news magazines or hear on television or radio news broadcasts. Loaded When reading news
language should not appear in news stories or other texts that claim to
Tip
stories and editorials,
be factual. be sure to distinguish between
example facts and opinions. Facts are
Loaded: The senator disregarded the pleas of his constituents as statements that can be proven
he fled in his car. by observation or by consulting
a reliable and objective source.
Loaded: The senator ignored the jeers of the protesters as he
Opinions are predictions or
sailed past in his car.
statements of value or belief.
Neutral: The senator did not respond to the crowd as he drove
past in his vehicle. 
Culvin Auto Repair is the best of
Euphemisms and Doublespeak its kind.

Slanted language is one kind of distorted language you might find in the 
media. Other kinds include euphemisms and doublespeak. The newspaper named Culvin
Euphemisms are inoffensive words or phrases that are substituted Auto Repair the best of its kind.
for those that might be considered offensive. The phrase fading quickly
is a euphemism for dying. Sometimes euphemisms are necessary to
avoid sounding harsh; at other times, they are an attempt to obscure an
unpopular truth.
examples
misspeak (euphemism for lie)
incident (euphemism for accident or tragedy)

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 Spin is a technique used The use of euphemisms to obscure meaning and mislead people is
Tip called doublespeak. Doublespeak is language that does not really
to slant public perception
of the news. Spin often uses communicate, makes negative seem positive, and avoids responsibility.
double-speak to create a more Replacing the word killing with neutralizing the target is an example
favorable opinion of an event or to of doublespeak. Many examples of doublespeak can be found in war
divert responsibility from a person coverage.
or organization.
examples
conflict, operation (rather than war)
regime change (rather than overthrow of a government)
friendly fire (rather than killed by his own side)
Governments and corporations often introduce doublespeak into
their communications with the media to avoid references to actions or
issues that may be unpopular, such as war or taxes. Learn to recognize
doublespeak and respond to the meaning of what is being said.

Try It Yourself
Just for Fun EXERCISE A
Read the following letter to the editor, and circle as many examples of
Write the lead, or first paragraph, loaded language as you can find.
to a news story about something
that has happened recently at The Harry Potter series should be removed from the shelves of
your school. Use loaded language our fine school libraries. This depraved book, with its references
to shape your reader’s perception to the dark arts and the occult, is a negative influence on our
of the event. Try to be subtle
valuable and impressionable children. I have heard enough from
about the loaded language so
that your reader thinks he or she those bleeding-heart liberals who want our youth to be able to
is just reading the facts about the read anything they want. They are the same folks whose hands-
situation. off parenting has created the juvenile lawbreakers who infest
the streets of this town. There needs to be a limit to what our
kids can read in school. Access to the kind of foul imagery in
the Harry Potter series is contributing to the moral decay of our
society.

EXERCISE B
Skim newspapers and Internet pages or listen to news reports. Create a
two-column chart in your notebook. Label the left-column “Double-
speak” and the right-column “Translation.” In the left column, make a list
of doublespeak terms you find. In the right column, translate the double-
speak into more direct language.
example altercation battle

Doublespeak Translation

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 31
Word of the Week
Standardized Test Preparation analogy (@ na> l@ j7) n., a
comparison between two things
Understand the Concept that are alike in some way,
As a high school student, you may be preparing for standardized although completely different in
tests, among them college entrance exams such as the SAT (Scholastic others
Aptitude Test) and the ACT Assessment. Flavio had never seen a game
Standardized tests may evaluate your knowledge in many different of ice hockey, so I gave him an
subject areas. Two types of questions that focus on your knowledge of analogy: “Ice hockey is like soccer
vocabulary are analogy questions and sentence completion. on ice skates and instead of
kicking a ball, you hit a puck with
Analogy Questions a stick.”
An analogy question is a type of word problem that asks you to identify We often use analogies to explain
the relationship between a given pair of words and then to recognize something unfamiliar. Here is
a similar relationship between another pair of words. Following is a a short way to express the ice
typical analogy question. hockey/soccer analogy:
ice hockey : puck :: soccer : ball.
ROBIN : BIRD ::
A. frog : reptile
B. canary : cage
C. parrot : speak
D. piranha : fish
E. early : worm
To solve this analogy, you must figure out how the words robin and
bird are related, and then find the other set of words that are related in In an analogy question, a
Tip
the same way. Follow these three steps: single colon (:) means “is
1. Identify the relationship between the two words or phrases in the to” or “is related to,” and a double
first pair. colon (::) means “as” or “in the
same way that.” So, for example,
A robin is a bird—a kind of bird that has a red breast.
ROBIN : BIRD ::
2. Create a sentence that clearly expresses the relationship.
a. frog : reptile
A robin is a type of bird.
would be read: “A robin is to a
3. Take that sentence and substitute the other word pairs to see bird as a frog is to a reptile.”
which one makes sense.
A frog is a type of reptile. [No, a frog is an amphibian, not a
reptile.]
A canary is a type of cage. [No. A canary may live in a cage.]
A parrot is a type of speak. [No. A parrot may be able to speak.]
A piranha is a type of fish. [Yes! The correct answer is D.]
An early is a type of worm. [No.]
It may be hard to figure out the connection at first, but there is always a
logical relationship between the two words.

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 Tip Some common Try It Yourself
relationships used in EXERCISE A
analogy questions are as follows:
For each of the word pairs below, write a sentence in your notebook
1. Synonyms telling how the words are related.
(
 :
)
example WRENCH : PLUMBER ::
2. Antonyms A wrench is a tool used by a plumber.
( : )
1. RAP : MUSIC ::
3. Part & whole 2. HORSE : STABLE ::
( :  ) 3. WATCH : WRIST ::
4. Cause & effect 4. JOVIAL : MOROSE ::
( : ) 5. SCENE : ACT ::
5. Description Complete the following analogies with a word pair of your own. As with
(  : ) the previous problems, you will first need to identify the relationship
6. Thing & category between the first two items.
( : ) 6. PAPER : BOOK :: _______________ : _______________
7. Thing & what it’s used for 7. ANNOYED : ENRAGED :: _______________ : _______________
( 
 : )
8. PRUDENT : IMPETUOUS :: _______________ :
8. Thing or person & what it lacks _______________
(
: )
9. OWL : WISE :: _______________ : _______________
9. Thing or person & where it
can be found 10. CAR : ROAD :: _______________ : _______________
( : )
10. Degrees of the same thing
Sentence Completion
(  : ) Sentence completion questions require you to do just that—complete
sentences. You will be given a sentence that has one or more blanks,
and you must select the word or words that best fit. This type of
question tests both your vocabulary knowledge and your ability to
understand what you read.
Tip Practice making up your
Here’s an example.
own analogies so that you
will feel more comfortable doing Stella’s _____ nature led her to volunteer her time to help others.
analogy questions on tests. To get
A. apathetic
started, look at words in your word
study notebook. Try to come up
B. modest
with an analogy for each word. C. zealous
D. ambitious
E. generous
The correct answer is e. If Stella is volunteering her time to help others,
Apathetic contains the it makes sense to say that she is generous. In fact, you might have been
Tip able to guess this answer without even reading the choices.
word root path, meaning
“feeling,” plus the prefix a-, Your first step should be to read the sentence carefully and guess
meaning “not.” It means “having at what word or words would fit. Then scan the answer choices. If you
or showing little or no feeling find one that is very close to the word or word pair you guessed, choose
or emotion; showing a lack of it. If not, reread the sentence looking for context clues. Then try each
interest or concern.” option and choose the one that makes the most sense.

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 The answer you choose must not only fit grammatically into the
sentence, but it must also be logical. Pay attention to context clues when
Just for Fun
choosing your answer. Look for words that signal contrast (such as Practice making up your own
although, even though, but, while, however, in spite of, and nevertheless) analogies. In the space provided,
and words that signal comparison (such as similarly, like, and just as). write down three analogies.
1. ____________ : ____________
Try It Yourself :: ____________ : ____________
EXERCISE B 2. ____________ : ____________
Try these sentence completion questions. Choose the word or pair :: ____________ : ____________
of words which, when substituted for the blank space or spaces, best
3. ____________ : ____________
completes the meaning of the sentence. :: ____________ : ____________
_____ 1. Unfortunately, our careful _____ of the crime scene turned
up not a single clue.
A. meticulous
B. detective
C. scrutiny Tip Look for words that
D. glimpsing signal contrast (such
E. subterfuge as although, even though, but,
while, however, in spite of, and
_____ 2. The cold spring was continually flowing, while the water in nevertheless) as well as words
the marsh was _____. that signal comparison (such as
A. murky similarly, like, and just as).
B. stagnant
C. lukewarm
D. putrid
E. rough
Tip Careful! Remember that
_____ 3. Although the nation’s food supply was _____ with aid from
the water in the marsh
abroad, the people still suffered from _____.
might well be lukewarm or putrid
A. limited . . . hunger
(disgustingly smelly), but the point
B. dwindled . . . famine
of the sentence is to compare the
C. flooded . . . greed
marsh water with the continually
D. replenished . . . malnutrition flowing water from the cold spring.
E. tainted . . . poverty Choose the word that provides a
_____ 4. Randy did not wish to work at the complaints desk, for he contrast to continually flowing.
knew that the demands of _____ customers would _____
him.
A. impertinent . . . encourage
B. enthusiastic . . . overwhelm
C. pointless . . . annoy
D. myriad . . . soothe
E. querulous . . . vex
_____ 5. At first Alejandro was _____, but after we _____ him, he
told us how he felt.
A. vocal . . . bribed
B. reticent . . . cajoled
C. buoyant . . . insulted
D. insecure . . . praised
E. courteous . . . welcomed

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

LESSON 32
Word of the Week
diaphanous (d8 a> f@ n@s) adj.,
Expanding and Applying
characterized by such fineness Your Word Knowledge
of texture as to permit seeing
through; extremely delicate Understand the Concept
The diaphanous fabric caused All of the activities you’ve done thus far in this book have helped you
quite a stir when they revealed to expand your word knowledge. Now you need to take that knowledge
the bridesmaid’s dress. and apply it to your daily life.
The word diaphanous comes Remember to read and listen actively and to keep track of new
from the Greek words diaphane–s words you discover. Remember the following tips that can help you
and diaphinein, meaning “to show build your vocabulary:
through.” Consider how you might • Keep a word study notebook
describe or illustrate this word in • Use PAVE to learn and practice using new words
your word study notebook. • When you encounter an unfamiliar word, use the following
techniques to determine its meaning:
– Examine context clues
– Break the word into its parts
– Check for diagrams, footnotes, and other text support
Tip It’s okay to borrow a word – Look the word up in a dictionary
or phrase from another – Ask for help
writer—just be sure you don’t
copy sentences and passages Word study can be a lot of fun. There are many interesting words
word for word or present original in English that you will have fun adding to your own vocabulary. Be
ideas as your own work. If you do curious about new words, and try using them in your own writing and
copy down an entire passage or speaking. Take delight in being asked, “What does that word mean?”
quotation, be sure to make note You can teach others some of the vocabulary words you yourself have
of the source. mastered.
Keep looking for quirky and odd words. They are what make the
English language so colorful and meaningful. Add these words to your
word study notebook. Then, use them!
Here is a sampling from one student’s word study notebook.

Words and Phrases I Like

eponymous—something named after someone. An

eponymous album is one that is named after the artist
or group (as in, “the Chainsaw Kittens’ eponymous album
Chainsaw Kittens”).

upscale neighborhood—high-class, expensive neighborhood

“lurid sunset”—means shining with a red glow, like fire

through a cloud—cool image. Also “lurid tales”—means
melodramatic, shocking, or gruesome stories (like in those
supermarket tabloid magazines)

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 If, while reading, you come across a passage that really strikes you, copy Reading is a great way to
that down as well. It may inspire you to use words in ways you hadn’t
Tip
increase your vocabulary.
thought of before. Try setting up twenty minutes
to an hour of time each day to
Try It Yourself dedicate to reading.
EXERCISE A
Use one or more of the strategies above to determine the meaning
of the underlined word in the sentence below. Create a word study
notebook page for the word in your notebook. Include the word’s
Tip Talk about new words
definition, pronunciation, and origins, along with an example sentence
you’ve discovered to your
or drawing to help you remember it.
family and friends. If you have a
Rather than answer the reporter’s question directly, the politician younger sibling, teach them the
bloviated for a while on the general topic, sounding rather new word. Talking about words
and discussing their meanings will
impressive but actually making no sense at all.
help you remember them in the
future.
EXERCISE B
Here are some quirky words to start with. Write an example sentence
for each, and add them to your word study notebook. Look in a
dictionary or other resource for further clarification on meaning.
1. corybantic: wild; frenzied Just for Fun
2. deasil: clockwise; widdershins: counterclockwise
3. defenestration: the throwing of something out a window Create a “found word” poem.
4. friable: easily crumbled or pulverized Open up a dictionary to any page
5. frippery: showy, frivolous item and, without looking down, place
6. hallux: big toe your finger at a random spot on
7. hornswoggle: bamboozle; deceive the page. Write down the word
8. kibitz: offer unwanted advice or comment your finger is touching, whether
9. malinger: pretend illness to avoid work or obligation the word is a main entry or one
of the words or phrases in a
10. ort: scrap of food left after a meal
definition. Continue to do this,
EXERCISE C flipping pages at random, until you
1. Use the following words in a paragraph. If you don’t know the have a list of at least ten words.
meaning of a word, use a dictionary or other vocabulary tool to Then, use these words in a poem.
figure out the word’s meaning.
bombastic figment gallivant levitate malaise
2. Get together with one or two other students. Together, use the
following words in a dialogue. Each person should construct the
spoken words of one character in the dialogue. If you don’t know
the meaning of a word, work together to figure out the word’s
meaning. Use a dictionary or other vocabulary tool as necessary.
When you are finished, read your dialogue out loud to the class.
sanguine quibble punctilious volatile nefarious
aghast loquacious gauche agog epitome
elucidate moribund

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 Name: ____________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Time Out for Test Practice

Idioms and Figures of Speech
Choose the best definition for each of the following idioms and figures of speech.

_____ 1. Jan is really between a rock and a C. full of mice

hard place—she can’t decide whether D. hissing and spitting
to go to the dance with Bill, her
_____ 6. When the singer released her first
brother’s best friend, or Gus, the boy
album, critics thought she was going
she really likes.
to be the next big star—but she
A. ready to explode
turned out to be just a flash in the
B. in a difficult situation
pan.
C. unable to move
A. commercial success
D. without options
B. pretty face
_____ 2. Bailey totally fell for Sammy, hook, C. one who fails to meet expectations
line, and sinker. D. one who lacks talent
A. totally and completely
_____ 7. Have you played any of the festival
B. caught or trapped
games yet? Most of them are like
C. turned off
shooting fish in a barrel.
D. in pain
A. involving accuracy
_____ 3. The teacher told us that we could B. involving hunting
collaborate on our projects, so we can C. kind of difficult
work on this together if you want— D. extremely easy
but if you just plan on copying my
_____ 8. Have you seen little Kendra? She is
work, now that’s a horse of a different
pretty as a picture in her new dress.
color.
A. better looking than in real life
A. bizarre
B. really lovely
B. more complicated
C. cuter than a photograph would
C. creative
reveal
D. a different matter entirely
D. two-dimensional
_____ 4. Ernest has too many irons in the fire,
_____ 9. Vera is slower than molasses; I’ve
being in football, tennis, chess club,
been late for class twice this week
debate, and student council.
after walking to school with her.
A. too much serious work and not
A. timely
enough fun
B. efficient
B. too much fun and not enough
C. extremely slow
serious work
D. quick
C. more activities than one is capable
of doing well _____ 10. I offered Mike a ride home, but he
D. a full schedule said he’d just as soon walk.
A. rather
_____ 5. Merlin has played some rotten tricks
B. get there more quickly
on me in the past, but this one was as
C. easily
low as a snake’s belly.
D. on second thought
A. mean and nasty
B. on the ground

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 Analogies
Choose the pair of words whose relationship is most similar to that expressed
by the pair in capital letters.

_____ 1. WORD : LETTERS :: _____ 4. MASK : FACE ::

A. email : computer A. rings : fingers
B. paper : book B. Halloween : costume
C. envelope : stamps C. face : make-up
D. paragraph : sentences D. costume : body
E. maps : atlas E. disguise : trickery
_____ 2. VILLAGE : CITY :: _____ 5. PHONY : GENUINE ::
A. hill : mountain A. theory : principle
B. cars : people B. imitation : faux
C. river : stream C. sinister : benevolent
D. suburb : town D. priceless : valuable
E. chaos : peace E. investment : gain
_____ 3. PHYSICIAN : CLINIC :: _____ 6. ANTLERS : DEER ::
A. patient : hospital A. rabbit : ears
B. bear : cave B. gills : fish
C. student : bus C. tusks : elephant
D. scientist : experiment D. fur : bear
E. preacher : church E. beaver : teeth

Sentence Completion
Choose the word or word pair that best completes each sentence.

_____ 1. When her best friend moved to _____ 3. During her trip to Thailand, Kari was
Patagonia, Lisa felt _____. able to ride an elephant for the first
A. morosely time; she was _____, but felt sorry for
B. melancholy the elephant, who seemed bored.
C. pathetically A. thrilled
D. despised B. oblivious
E. elated C. coerced
D. terrified
_____ 2. The _____ fans waited for hours,
E. inexperienced
hoping to be _____ backstage.
A. persistent . . . admitted _____ 4. The _____ land was _____ of
B. zealous . . . submitted vegetation.
C. excited . . . aloud A. abandoned . . . scarce
D. adoring . . . noticed B. arid . . . full
E. discouraged . . . recruited C. cultivated . . . evidence
D. flooded . . . demolished
E. barren . . . devoid

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 Answer Key
Lesson 1: Word Study Notebook, 5. forte: one’s strong point (may be
page 1 pronounced f9rt or f0r t6>)

Try It Yourself Lesson 4: Using Dictionaries and

Responses will vary. Students should include the
Thesauruses, page 7
pronunciation, origins, definition, and a sentence
illustrating the meaning of the word they choose. Try It Yourself
They may also include a drawing. E x e r c ise A
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
Lesson 2: Word Study Skills, page 3 1. Cryptic, which means “secret” or
Try It Yourself “mysterious,” comes from the LL (Late
Latin) word crypticus, from the Gk (Greek)
E x e r c ise A
kryptikos, from the Greek kryptos, meaning
1. Responses will vary. Students should be able
“hidden.” It entered English in about 1638.
to infer that prosaic means “commonplace,
2. Gregarious, which means “social” or
uninteresting, or dull.”
“sociable,” comes from the L (Latin) word
2. Responses will vary.
gregarius, meaning “of a flock or herd.” It
E x e r c ise B entered English in about 1668.
Responses will vary. The diagram shows a picture 3. Sheriff, which means “an important official
of the movement each of the terms describes. in a shire or county charged with judicial
E x e r c ise C duties,” comes from the Middle English
Responses will vary slightly. word shirreve, from the Old English (Anglo-
1. egocentrism: state where one is overly Saxon) words scīr, meaning “shire” or
concerned with his- or herself “county,” and gerēfa, the word for a local
2. scalding: burning something administrative agent of the king. It entered
3. unperturbed: not upset or agitated English before the twelfth century.
4. falteringly: in a hesitating or weakening way 4. Shtick, which means “a show-business routine,
5. inaudible: not able to be heard gimmick, or gag” or “one’s special trait,
E x e r c ise D interest, or activity,” comes from the Yiddish
1. relic: souvenir, memento shtik, meaning “pranks.” That word in turn
2. rifle: to ransack especially with the intent to came from the Middle High German stücke,
steal which came from the Old High German stucki.
3. cull: to reduce or control the size of by It entered English in about 1959.
removing weaker animals 5. Curfew, which means “a regulation
4. torrent: a tumultuous outpouring enjoining the withdrawal of certain persons
5. stout: physically or materially strong (usually youth) from the streets,” came from
Middle English, from the Middle French
Lesson 3: PAVE, page 5 covrefeu, a signal given to cover the hearth
fire and go to bed, from covrir, “to cover,”
Try It Yourself plus feu, “fire.” It entered English in the
Responses will vary. Definitions for each word fourteenth century.
are given. E x e r c ise B
1. redolent: scented; full of a fragrance Responses will vary.
2. ken: range of knowledge or understanding E x e r c ise C
3. desultory: marked by lack of a definite plan Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
or purpose; not connected with the main 1. We had a fabulous time at the party.
subject; disappointing in performance 2. The colossal mountain loomed up before the
4. subvert: to overthrow climbers.

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 3. Sammy Sosa is a first-rate baseball player. E x e r c ise B
4. Lisa’s weekend was going splendidly until Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
she remembered she had a test on Monday. 1. extro / vert
5. The senator lay awake all night worrying
about the momentous decision she would Word Parts Type Meaning
have to make the next day. extro prefix “outward,
outside, beyond”
Time Out for Test Practice, page 9 vert word root “turn”
Word Study Skills and PAVE Definition: One who is outgoing and friendly, or
1. A. noun who “looks outside” himself or herself for energy
2. C. the origins of the word and entertainment.
3. E. Only A and C 2. omni / present
4. A. It means it is considered incorrect in
standard, formal English. Word Parts Type Meaning
5. D. jargogle omni prefix “all”
6. B. you want to find an antonym of a word.
present base word present
7. C. Predict, Associate, Verify, Evaluate
8. C. the third Definition: Omnipresent means “all-present,” or
9. B. determine if the sentence you wrote using being everywhere at once.
the word does a good job of capturing its
meaning. 3. il / leg/ ible

Synonyms Word Parts Type Meaning

1. B. peculiar il prefix “not”
2. A. beloved leg word root “read; choose”
3. D. commanding ible suffix “able to be”
4. A. strong
5. B. meet Definition: Illegible means something that is not
6. D. fortunate able to be read; that is, unreadable.
4. re / vital / ize
Lesson 5: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes,
Word Parts Type Meaning
page 11
re prefix “again”
Try It Yourself vital base word vital
E x e r c ise A ize suffix “bring about;
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given. cause to be”
1. dis-: disqualify, discover, disaster, dismay,
disagree Definition: To revitalize something is to cause it
2. trans-: transfer, translate, transparent, to be vital again.
translucent, transatlantic Note: You might point out to students that the
3. cred: credible, incredible, credulous, credit, base word vital can be broken down into the
discredit word root vit, meaning “life,” and the suffix -al,
4. scrib: transcribe, scribble, scribe, describe, meaning “having characteristics of.”
prescribe 5. dis / astr / ous
5. -ment: basement, establishment, apartment,
government, development Word Parts Type Meaning
dis prefix “not; opposite of”
astr word root “star”
ous suffix “possessing the
qualities of”

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 Definition: Disastrous means something that has Lesson 7: Connotation and Denotation,
the qualities of a disaster. Originally, the word page 15
meant “an unfavorable aspect of a planet or a
star.” The current meaning came from the belief Try It Yourself
that one could read the future through the stars. Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
If an unfavorable future was read, this was called 1. A child who innocently asks a lot of
a disaster, or a “bad star.” questions might be described as curious or
inquisitive. Since the questions are innocent,
Lesson 6: Words With Multiple nosy or snoopy are not appropriate.
Meanings, page 13 2. A politician who has accepted a bribe might
best be described as corrupt, or more infor-
Try It Yourself mally as crooked. Villainous might also work,
E x e r c ise A although it seems to imply a more vicious or
1. Responses will vary. evil act. Devious could also work, but it may
2. Responses will vary. Merriam-Webster’s have the wrong emphasis, as it connotes a
Collegiate offers eight main definitions for cunning or deliberately deceptive act.
blind as an adjective, two main definitions 3. People in a nursing home might be
for blind as a verb, and three main described as elderly or aged. Old is a more
definitions for blind as a noun. generic term, with fewer connotations of
E x e r c ise B respect, whereas vintage is more often used
1. Definition 1: cardinal—n., a crested finch, to describe objects.
the male of which is nearly completely red in 4. A dad who is “tight” with his money might
color be described as miserly by his disgruntled
Definition 2: cardinal—adj., main; chief; and hyperbolic teenage son or daughter,
primary although he might describe himself as
2. Definition 1: fencing—v., selling stolen thrifty, frugal, or conservative, terms with
goods more positive connotations.
Definition 2: fencing—n., the art or practice 5. The words unique and quirky might
of attack and defense with a foil, épee, or be better choices, as they have positive
saber connotations, whereas strange has slightly
3. Definition 1: wax—v., to assume a negative connotations and different is rather
(specified) characteristic, quality, or state neutral and noncommittal.
Definition 2: wax—to increase in phase or 6. A child who doesn’t tell the truth might
intensity (used chiefly of the moon, other be described as a liar or fibber. A perjurer
satellites, and inferior planets) is one who tells a lie in a court of law, and
4. Definition 1: capital—n., money fabricator, while having the correct meaning,
Definition 2: capital—adj., involving is slightly more formal in tone.
execution 7. A delicious meal in a fancy restaurant might
5. Definition 1: bearing—n., way of behaving best be described as exquisite or fine. The
or carrying oneself words delicate and admirable don’t fit quite
Definition 2: bearing—n., pl., situation as well, although delicate could describe
or position, as gauged with the use of a a flavor, and the chef’s efforts could be
compass described as admirable.
Definition 3: bearing—a machine part in 8. An honest businessperson might best be
which another part turns or slides described as a merchant or trader. The
word dealer has negative connotations, as
in “wheeler-dealer,” and the word trafficker
has acquired similarly negative connotations
through association with the phrase drug
trafficking.

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 9. Someone who has committed a terrible crime Using Context Clues
would best be described as contemptible. The 1. A. inadequate supply
other words are far too light. 2. B. untouched
10. Money stolen from a school desk might best 3. A. skilled
be described as filched. Smuggled connotes 4. D. old
something imported or exported, or hiding 5. A. hardworking
something from inspectors. Pilfering implies 6. B. later
stealing repeatedly in small amounts. 7. D. time before birth
Embezzling usually describes the stealing 8. C. stalled
of money that is entrusted to one’s care, as 9. B. isolation
money at one’s place of work. 10. A. series of three books
11. D. plants whose fruit grows in pods
Lesson 8: Context Clues, page 17 12. C. brave
Try It Yourself
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
Lesson 9: Word Origins, page 21
1. transport—carry away Try It Yourself
2. impeded—held back E x e r c ise A
3. obstructed—blocked Responses will vary. Etymology from Merriam-
4. miscarried—went wrong Webster’s Dictionary is provided below.
5. rheumatic—suffering from rheumatism, or 1. coach [Middle English coche, from Middle
arthritis French, from German Kutsche derived from
6. scheme—arrangement, order Hungarian kocsi (szekér), literally meaning
7. accumulations—things that are “wagon from Kocs, Hungary”]
accumulated, such as wealth and possessions 2. bankrupt [modification of Middle French
8. capacity—ability & Old Italian; Middle French word
9. epitome—typical example banqueroute; bankruptcy from Old Italian
10. admonished—reminded word bancarotta, from banca, “bank,” +
11. threshold—doorstep, beginning rotta, “broken,” from Latin rupta, feminine
12. flitting—moving around quickly or abruptly form of ruptus, past participle of rumpere
13. gravities—dignities, seriousness which means “to break”]
14. inertia—quality of not tending to move or 3. chivalry [from the Middle English word
change chivalrie, from the Anglo-French word
15. imminent—ready to take place; on its way chevalerie, from chevalier which means
“knight”]
Time Out for Test Practice, page 19 4. horde [Middle French, German, & Polish;
from the Polish word horda, from Ukrainian
Defining Word Parts dialect gorda, alteration of the Ukrainian
1. B. half word orda, from Old Russian, from the
2. B. not Turkic word orda or ordu khan’s residence]
3. D. again 5. mammoth [from the Russian words mamont
4. D. without and mamot]
5. A. capable of E x e r c ise B
6. C. having characteristics of 1. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
7. B. believe 2. FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
8. D. hear 3. EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)
9. A. city 4. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
10. C. people 5. ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival or
11. C. self Employment and Training Administration)
12. D. one

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 E x e r c ise C Lesson 11: Word Families from Greek
Responses will vary.
and Latin Roots, page 25
Lesson 10: Place Names, page 23 Try It Yourself
Try It Yourself Students may define the word parts as follows,
then discuss how each word’s meaning relates to
E x e r c ise A
the shared word part. Definitions of each word in
Responses will vary based on research material
the groups are given for your convenience.
used.
1. -Ology is a combining form meaning “the
1. Washington—named after George
study of” or “the science of.”
Washington, the first president of the
oncology: the study of tumors; geology:
United States
science of the earth’s physical history,
2. Oklahoma—a Choctaw word meaning “red
particularly as recorded in rocks; lexicology:
people,” probably created from the Choctaw
the study of words; astrology: study of the
words ukla meaning “people” and huma
positions of the stars and planets and their
meaning “red”
supposed effects on human affairs; biology:
3. Rhode Island—Dutch for “red island,”
the study of living organisms.
named “Roodt Eylandt” by Dutch explorer
2. Ver is a word root meaning “truth.”
Adrian Block, it was anglicized when the
veracity: truthfulness; veritable: actual; true;
region came under British rule
versimilitude: the appearance of being true
4. Pennsylvania—named after William Penn,
or real; verify: to check or establish the truth
means “Penn’s woods”
of something; verdict: judgment.
5. Georgia—Georgia is the feminine Latin
3. Spir is a word root meaning “breathe.”
form of “George;” named after King George
perspire: to give off sweat; inspire: to cause
II of England
a thought or feeling, to bring about, also to
6. Maine—named after Henrietta Maria, queen
inhale; respiration: the process of breathing;
of Charles I of England; she was said to have
spirometer: an instrument for measuring the
owned the province of Mayne in France
air entering and leaving the lungs; spirit: a
7. Maryland—in honor of Henrietta Maria
force within a human being thought to give
(queen of Charles I of England)
the body life, energy, and power.
8. New York—in honor of the Duke of York
4. Verb is a base word meaning “a word that
9. Alabama—Alabama comes from a Choctaw
expresses an act.” It stems from the Latin
word meaning “plant cutters”
verbum, meaning “word.”
10. Vermont—from the French “verd mont,” or
verbiage: the wording of something; verbose:
“green mountain”
wordy; verbicide: the intentional misuse of a
E x e r c ise B word; adverb: a word that modifies a verb or
1. Jefferson City, MO—named in honor of another adverb; proverb: a traditional saying
Thomas Jefferson 5. Peri- is a prefix meaning “all around.”
2. Mississippi River—from Algonquian words perimeter: the measurement around
meaning “big river” something; pericardium: the lining around
3. Milwaukee, WI—based on a Native the heart; perihelion: the point in the path of
American word meaning “council place” or a planet that is nearest to the sun; peripheral:
“good lands” having to do with the outward bounds of
4. Palo Alto, CA—from Spanish words something, as a field of vision; periscope: a
meaning “tall tree” device that provides a view all around or on
5. Lincoln, NE—named after Abraham all sides
Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the
United States
E x e r c ise C
Responses will vary.

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 Lesson 12: English Words from French, Lesson 14: English Words from Asian
page 27 Languages, page 31
Try It Yourself Try It Yourself
E x e r c ise A Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
Students will probably say that the sentences 1. tsunami—a great sea wave. From Japanese
sound less formal when they use words from Old tsu, “harbor,” + nami, “wave”
English in place of words borrowed from French. 2. karaoke—a device that plays the
1. Rather than buy the book, Bob hid it under instrumental part of a popular song,
his clothes and stole it. enabling the user to sing the lyrics. From
2. The wedding will start at 7:00 at the house. Japanese kara, “empty,” + ōke, short for
3. My friends told me that they wished to eat. ōkesutora, “orchestra.”
E x e r c ise B 3. judo—a sport developed from jujitsu that
The definition and pronunciation are given for emphasizes the use of quick movement
each word. Students should also write a sentence and leverage to throw an opponent. From
using each word. Japanese jūdō, from jū, meaning “weakness;
1. faux pas (f9 p5>): a social error gentleness” and dō, “art.”
2. camouflage (ka> m@ fl5zh): something that 4. amok—in a frenzied or uncontrolled
helps to conceal or disguise manner. From the Malay word amok,
3. macabre (m@ k5b>): having to do with meaning “a murderous frenzy.”
death; gruesome; horrific 5. shanghai—to put by trickery into an
4. coup d’état (k2 d6 t5>): the overthrow of a undesirable place. From the city of Shanghai
government in eastern China. It was once common
5. panache (p@ nash>): dash or flamboyance practice for British sailors to be drugged and
placed on ships by force. Once they woke up,
they were often well on their way to a remote
Lesson 13: English Words from Spanish, port, such as Shanghai.
page 29 6. tycoon—a top leader or a businessman
Try It Yourself of exceptional wealth and power. From
Japanese taikun.
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
7. gung ho—extremely or overly zealous or
Students should use each word in an original
enthusiastic. From the Chinese word gōnghé.
sentence.
Some U.S. Marines adopted this term as
1. mustang—from Mexican Spanish mestengo, their motto, interpreting it to mean “work
originally from Spanish mesteño, meaning together.”
“strayed” 8. yen—craving or longing. From the Chinese
2. papaya—originally from Arawak papáia yīn-yáhn, meaning a craving that addicts felt
3. canyon—from Spanish cañon for the drug opium.
4. desperado—from Spanish desesperado, 9. taboo—forbidden or banned because of
meaning “desperate” beliefs or morality. From the Tongan tabu.
5. alligator—from Spanish el lagarto, meaning 10. batik—a fabric hand-printed by an
“lizard” Indonesian method of coating with wax the
6. cockroach—from Spanish cucaracha parts not to be dyed. From Javanese batik.
7. incommunicado—from Spanish sarong— a loose garment made of a long
incomunicado strip of cloth wrapped around the body.
8. stampede—from American Spanish From the Malay sarong.
estampida, from Spanish estampar

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 Lesson 15: English around the World, Lesson 17: Academic Language,
page 33 page 37
Try It Yourself Try It Yourself
1. Father sped up to pass the truck on the E x e r c ise A
highway. Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
2. Look at that guy on TV! 1. These words share the prefix sym-, meaning
3. Grandmother told me to put on my best “with, together.” The word symbolism might
dress for the party. be found in a literature class, symbiosis in
4. The Nelsons went to Paris on vacation. a biology class, symmetrical in a geometry
5. Denise got her hair cut today; don’t you like class, and symphony in a music class.
how her bangs frame her eyes? 2. These words share the word part graph,
6. Bobby hit his head when he fell while meaning “something written, drawn,
running down the sidewalk. or represented by graphics.” The word
7. Jason shares an apartment with his cousin, a autobiography might be found in a literature
guy from Southampton. class, geography and topographical in a social
8. After changing the baby, Sarah yelled for studies or geography class, and lithograph in
Vern to take the dirty diaper to the trash an art or art history class.
can. 3. These words share the prefix is- or iso-,
9. Mirna went to the pharmacist/pharmacy to meaning “equal; uniform.” The word
have her prescription refilled. isometrics might be found in a physical
10. After spending the afternoon working education class, isomer and isotope in a
over the stove, Mrs. Burns went to relax a chemistry or science class, and isosceles in a
moment in the yard. geometry class.
4. These words share the word part metr or
Lesson 16: Informal and Archaic -metry, meaning “measure,” “measuring,”
Language, page 35 or “having to do with measure.” The word
trigonometry might be found in a math or
Try It Yourself trigonometry class, pentameter in a poetry or
E x e r c ise A literature class, and diameter and perimeter
Responses will vary slightly. in a geometry class.
1. elden: to grow old; age 5. These words share the word part -cracy,
2. evenhood: equality meaning “form of government” or “social
3. burdalane: last surviving child in a family or political class.” All of them might be
4. eldmother: grandmother; ancestor found in a social studies, political science, or
5. whingle: complain or whine history class.
E x e r c ise B
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given. Time Out for Test Practice, page 39
1. Hello, how are you? Borrowed Words
2. Goodness, I am surprised you allowed her to 1. A. mesa
borrow your vehicle. 2. D. karaoke
3. Friend, you must return the money you 3. D. diplomat
borrowed. 4. D. typhoon
4. I am in trouble. 5. A. déjà vu
5. That was amazing! 6. B. per capita
E x e r c ise C 7. C. spiel
Responses will vary. 8. A. bagel
9. B. al fresco
10. D. influenza
11. B. mocha

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 12. C. eureka Lesson 19: Semantic Mapping, page 43
13. D. fjord
14. B. bazaar Try It Yourself
15. C. algebra Responses will vary.
Word Parts from Greek and Latin
Lesson 20: Spelling Rules and Tips,
1. D. writing about one’s own life
2. C. diameter
page 45
3. C. the study Try It Yourself
4. D. a state with no government E x e r c ise A
5. A. water 1. campaign
6. B. fear 2. plight
7. B. books 3. kneed
8. B. polytheistic 4. descent
5. benign
Lesson 18: Categorizing and Classifying 6. glistened
Vocabulary, page 41 7. wrinkled
8. obscene
Try It Yourself 9. abscess
E x e r c ise A 10. slaughter
Students should classify the math terms as E x e r c ise B
follows: 1. enough
Actions in math: add, calculate, divide, multiply, 2. blasphemy
subtract 3. deference
Measurements in math: area, circumference, 4. aphorism
diameter, radius, median 5. fraught
Types of numbers: fraction, factor, exponent, tch or ch
square root, quotient 6. reattach
Students may classify the literary terms as follows 7. dispatch
(group labels may vary): 8. stitch
Genres of literature: drama, folklore, nonfiction, 9. chastisement
poetry, science fiction 10. latch
Types of figurative language: analogy,
metaphor, personification, simile
Elements of plot: climax, conflict, dénouement,
Lesson 21: More Spelling Patterns:
inciting incident, resolution Plurals, ei/ie, ceed/sede/cede, page 47
E x e r c ise B Try It Yourself
Students may sort the words as follows. You may E x e r c ise A
point out to them that they have now identified 1. sopranos
the only three English words ending in -ceed, the 2. crutches
only English word ending in -sede, and the most 3. apartment complexes
common English words ending in -cede. 4. Tuesdays
Words ending in (or containing) -cede: accede, 5. bullies
antecede, cede, concede, intercede, precede, 6. videos
recede, secede 7. trenches
Words ending in -ceed: exceed, proceed, succeed 8. personalities
Words ending in -sede: supersede
E x e r c ise B
1. The oxen swished their tails and stamped
their hooves (or hoofs), trying to shake the
flies off their backs.

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 2. My brothers are a couple of couch potatoes; 9. C. dissarray
most Saturdays they do nothing but sit 10. B. grieveous
around in their pajamas watching cartoons.
3. The experts gave several different analyses of
Using Spelling Patterns
the situation. 1. A. when the y follows a consonant
4. No errors. 2. C. All of the above
5. The police received several calls from people 3. C. do not change the spelling of the word.
who claimed they had seen UFOs; however, 4. A. church
the reports turned out to be hoaxes. 5. B. sheep
E x e r c ise C
6. D. children
1. deceive, shrieked, niece, disbelief 7. C. long e; c.
2. chief, seized, counterfeit, thief 8. D. succeed
3. weird, neighbor, beige, leisure 9. A. supersede
4. conceited, conceded, recede 10. B. cede
5. succeed, proceed, exceed
Lesson 23: Syntax, page 53
Lesson 22: Spelling Patterns with Try It Yourself
Affixes, page 49 E x e r c ise A
Responses may vary slightly.
Try It Yourself
1. If I study for the final, I will do well.
E x e r c ise A
2. Neva was worried about her sick aunt.
The correct spelling of each word is given.
3. You’re wasting my time.
Students must also write a sentence using each
4. I tried to print out the assignment, but the
word.
computer crashed.
1. perceivable 5. The babysitter wanted to earn fifty dollars.
2. dissimilar 6. The car flew over the embankment!
3. categories 7. The cop had to protect the terrified witness.
4. jollier 8. Carlos was unaware of the surprise party.
5. unnecessary 9. We are saving money for the vacation.
E x e r c ise B 10. He ate the burger and fries.
Responses will vary. The final consonant of a E x e r c ise B
word is doubled before a suffix beginning with Responses will vary.
a vowel when the final consonant is preceded by
a single vowel (not when preceded by a double
vowel as in “heater,” nor when preceded by a
Lesson 24: Commonly Confused Words,
consonant as in “performance”) and when, in the page 55
case of a multisyllabic word, the final syllable is Try It Yourself
stressed.
E x e r c ise A
1. The chemistry test was even more painful
Time Out for Test Practice, page 51 and torturous than the students had feared.
Spelling with Affixes 2. My grandfather counseled me never to
accept a bribe.
1. B. unecessary
3. Because of his poor grades, Lionel was not
2. E. No mistakes
eligible to play on the school football team.
3. A. fataly
4. As we began our descent down the
4. C. shabbyness
mountain, the guide warned us to proceed
5. D. compareable
with caution.
6. B. noticable
5. Sheldon said that his poetry was too
7. A. truely
personal to share with anyone else.
8. D. tyrannycal

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 E x e r c ise B lipped, uncommunicative, wordless
In ancient Greece and Rome, singers and antonyms: chatty, talkative, uninhibited,
bards used to travel from town to town sharing unreserved, unrestrained
myths and legends. One such tale is the story of E x e r c ise B
Dædalus and Icarus. In the story, Dædalus and Responses will vary.
his son Icarus try to escape from the island of
Crete by flying on wings. Their plan might have
worked, except that young Icarus began to fly
Time Out for Test Practice, page 61
higher and higher, up nearer the sun, against his Commonly Confused Words
father’s advice not to fly too high or too low. So 1. C. use to
jubilant was the boy that he failed to notice that 2. C. Lead
danger was imminent. The wax that held the 3. B. advise
wings together began to melt and down went 4. D. throughly
Icarus in a rapid and deadly descent to the sea. 5. B. cite
One moral of the story is that it is better to keep
to a middle course than to go to extremes. Words with Multiple Meanings
1. D. an unforeseen difficulty or obstacle
Lesson 25: Using Mnemonic Devices, 2. C. move forward slowly and steadily
page 57 3. D. peak
4. C. give shelter or refuge to
Try It Yourself 5. A. chief commodity
Responses will vary. Students may use the 6. A. trace of an added hue
techniques suggested in the lesson to create
mnemonic sayings such as “We ate the cheese Lesson 27: Literal and Figurative
we had grated,” or “The fisherman reeled in an Meanings, page 63
eel.” Or, they may draw pictures or think of other
memory tricks to aid them in distinguishing Try It Yourself
between the commonly confused pairs. E x e r c ise A
Responses will vary.
Lesson 26: Word Meanings in 1. F (figurative). Most people’s parents are not
Synonyms, Antonyms, Homophones, limber enough to do backflips. The sentence
uses an exaggeration for effect.
and Homographs, page 59 2. F (figurative). Few, if any, shopping malls
Try It Yourself are large enough to accommodate a million
E x e r c ise A shoppers; furthermore, the person making
Responses will vary slightly. Possible responses the observation is unlikely to have had the
are provided below. means to count each individual. In this
sentence, “a million” probably means “a
1. remote
large number.”
synonyms: distant, faraway, removed
3. L (literal). Sadly, it is true that many people
antonyms: close, adjacent
are literally dying of hunger.
2. impregnable
4. F (figurative). To “bite one’s head off” is a
synonyms: indomitable, invulnerable,
common figurative expression meaning “to
unbeatable, safe, secure, defended, protected
snap at” or to attack with words.
antonyms: exposed, open, susceptible
5. L (literal). The expression “losing one’s
3. lament
marbles” is often used figuratively to mean
synonyms: deplore, bemoan, grieve, moan,
“losing one’s mind”; however, this sentence
weep
seems to indicate that actual marbles were
antonyms: exult, rejoice
lost, since “John” was able to find more at
4. taciturn
the toy store.
synonyms: silent, reserved, reticent, tight-

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 E x e r c ise B anger. This phrase may refer to the fact that
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given. if one chops wood too vigorously, the axe
1. Simone’s heart melted when she saw the blade may fly off the handle.
kitten. 3. when the chips are down—when the
Meaning: Simone had strong feelings of situation is urgent; when risk is involved.
affection for the kitten. This saying may derive from games such
New sentence: The ice cream melted when as poker in which the money being bet is
we left it sitting out. represented by chips. When the chips are
2. Our team pulverized the opponents. down, the bet has been made and the player
Meaning: Our team dramatically defeated risks losing money if his hand is not good.
the opponents. 4. when pigs fly—never (as in, “I’ll look for that
New sentence: The machine pulverized the to happen when pigs fly”). Since pigs never
rocks, grinding them down into sand. fly, this is simply a colorful way of saying
3. The people rebelled, having carried the yoke that something will never happen.
of oppression for too long. 5. dressed to the nines—dressed in a highly
Meaning: The people rebelled, having showy manner; dressed in one’s best.
endured oppression for too long. According to some sources, this expression
New sentence: The oxen strained under the was originally “dressed to the eyne,” eyne
yoke as they pulled the plow through the being the Old English word for “eyes.” A
fields. person dressed to the eyes would be covered
4. After going dormant over the winter, the in clothes from head to toe.
bonsai tree suddenly exploded with leaves. E x e r c ise B
Meaning: Many leaves sprouted at once. Responses will vary. Possible responses are given.
New sentence: The dynamite exploded. 1. In this passage, brothers is used as a
5. Lorenzo really wants to be a successful metaphor. Translation: “Your thoughts are
musician someday, but in the meantime, he related to, or similar to, my thoughts.”
earns his bread and butter by working in a 2. In this passage, the writer uses the metaphor
factory. her cup had run over. Translation: “Rosa
Meaning: Lorenzo earns his money by Parks . . . could not take any more.”
working in a factory. 3. The word necklace is used figuratively
New sentence: Bread and butter is a really to mean “something that encircles.” The
bland meal. ghettos encircle, or surround, the children’s
neighborhood. Translation:
Lesson 28: Idioms, Metaphors, and “. . . Mira and I had never ventured into the
Similes, page 65 ghettos that encircled our neighborhood.”
4. When writing, one does not literally struggle
Try It Yourself to get one’s footing; one’s fingertips do
E x e r c ise A not get all red and frozen and torn up. The
Responses will vary. The meaning and probable writer is making an analogy to explain
etymology for each idiom is given. Encourage how difficult writing can be. (Both similes
students to consult a dictionary of idioms, such and metaphors are types of analogies.)
as James Rogers’s Dictionary of Clichés (Random Translation: “Writing is difficult. One must
House) or Jordan Almond’s Dictionary of Word struggle to figure out how to say what one
Origins (Citadel Press) to complete this activity. means, and this can be a painful process.”
Some definitions below are adapted from those
sources. Lesson 29: Allusions, page 67
1. burn the midnight oil—to stay up late. In the
past, people staying up past sundown would Try It Yourself
have to use an oil lamp to work or study. E x e r c ise A
2. fly off the handle—to lose control from Responses will vary.

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 E x e r c ise B valuable and impressionable children
Responses will vary. Possible responses are given. bleeding-heart liberals
Encourage students to consult reference works to hands-off parenting
answer these questions. juvenile lawbreakers
1. Garden of Eden—according to the book of infest
Genesis in the Bible, the Garden of Eden was foul imagery
a paradise God created for the first people, moral decay
Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were forced E x e r c ise B
to leave the Garden because they disobeyed Responses will vary.
God by eating the forbidden fruit.
2. Benedict Arnold—The name of Benedict Lesson 31: Standardized Test
Arnold (1741–1801), a general who betrayed
his side in favor of the British during the
Preparation, page 71
American Revolution, has come to be Try It Yourself
synonymous with “traitor.” E x e r c ise A
3. Red Sea—The book of Exodus in the 1. Rap is a type of music.
Bible tells of how the prophet Moses led 2. A horse lives in, or is kept in, a stable.
the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The 3. A watch is worn on the wrist.
Pharaoh’s army caught up with them at 4. Jovial is the opposite of morose.
the shores of the Red Sea, but at God’s 5. In a play, a scene is part of an act.
command, Moses held up his staff and the 6–10. Responses will vary.
waters parted so that the Jews could escape. E x e r c ise B
4. wisdom of Solomon—Solomon was a 1. C. scrutiny
great king of the ancient Hebrews, who is 2. B. stagnant
believed to have taken power in about 970 3. D. replenished . . . malnutrition
bc. He is portrayed in the Bible as being 4. E. querulous . . . vex
extremely wise. Most often cited as proof 5. B. reticent . . . cajoled
of his wisdom is the story in 1 Kings 16–28,
in which he solves a dispute between two
women who both claim the same baby.
Lesson 32: Expanding and Applying
5. fiddling while Rome burns—Alludes to the Your Word Knowledge, page 74
supposed actions of Nero, emperor of Rome Try It Yourself
from ad 54–68. During his rule, a great fire
E x e r c ise A
destroyed much of the city. It was said that
Responses will vary. Students should create a
while the fire blazed, Nero recited poetry
word study notebook entry for the word bloviate.
and fiddled on his lyre. People in positions
Each entry should include the word’s definition,
of power or responsibility may be accused
pronunciation, and origins, along with an
of “fiddling while Rome burns” if they show
example sentence or drawing.
indifference to a great tragedy or are off
somewhere having fun during a crisis. E x e r c ise B
Responses will vary.
Lesson 30: Language in the Media, E x e r c ise C
Responses will vary.
page 69
Try It Yourself Time Out for Test Practice, page 76
E x e r c ise A
Idioms and Figures of Speech
Responses should include the following.
fine 1. B. in a difficult situation
depraved 2. A. totally and completely
dark arts 3. D. a different matter entirely
occult

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 4. C. more activities than one is capable of
doing well
5. A. mean and nasty
6. C. one who fails to meet expectations
7. D. extremely easy
8. B. really lovely
9. C. extremely slow
10. A. rather
Analogies
1. D. paragraph : sentences
2. A. hill : mountain
3. E. preacher : church
4. D. costume : body
5. C. sinister : benevolent
6. C. tusks : elephant
Sentence Completion
1. B. melancholy
2. A. persistent . . . admitted
3. A. thrilled
4. E. barren . . . devoid

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